oing　to　take　the　dress　off。　I　mean；　I’m　going　to　change！”　Jenny　said　quickly；　even　though　she　kind　of　liked　the　way　Nate　was　looking　at　her。　“I　didn’t　think　you　were　here。”

“I　was　in　the　bathroom。”

Nate　grinned；　causing　cute　crinkles　to　emerge　around　his　sleepy　green　eyes。　“The　dress　looks　nice。　You　look　nice；”　Nate　clarified；　his　eyes　flicking　from　her　chest　up　to　her　large　dark　brown　eyes；　and　then；　without　meaning　to；　to　the　old　antique　sleigh　bed　behind　her。

“You　look　nice　too；”　Jenny　said；　hooking　her　dark　curls　behind　her　small　ears。　She　grinned。

“Thanks。”　Nate　willed　his　bare　feet　to　remain　planted　on　the　cold　beams　of　the　floor。　Girls　made　him　crazy；　an　unproductive；　pot…smoking　mess。　The　past　year　at　Deep　Springs　he’d　worked　harder　than　he　had　in　his　life　and　had　finally　lived　up　to　his　potential　in　school。　And　it　was　all　because　he’d　given　up　chicks。　They’re　bad　for　you；　he　told　himself　now。　But　Jenny　seemed　so　simple　and　pure；　and　Nate　couldn’t　imagine　her　being　bad　for　anyone。　He　took　a　tentative　step　toward　her。

“So；　I　guess　this　is　Blair’s　mom’s　dress；　right？”　Jenny　asked；　shrugging　her　milky　white　shoulders。

He　reached　up　and　brushed　an　errant　curl　off　Jenny’s　shoulders；　then　quickly　yanked　his　hand　back　to　his　side。

So　much　for　staying　strong。

Jenny　giggled　and　tilted　her　face　toward　his。　He　pressed　his　lips　against　hers；　slowly　at　first；　then　more　urgently。

“Nate；”　Jenny　murmured。　She　felt　his　hand　on　her　bare　upper　back；　right　above　where　the　zipper　had　stopped　on　the　dress。　She　wondered　if　he　could　feel　how　quickly　her　heart　was　beating　in　her　chest。　The　stubble　from　his　chin　tickled　her　face。　Her　fingers　fluttered　up　behind　his　head；　to　pull　him　closer。

Suddenly；　Nate　pulled　away。