Cherys turned from her spot and smiled at me. For a second I hesitated, unsure of exactly how to greet her. There had been no repeats since I took her ‘virginity’, and I wasn't expecting there to be any either.

We'd had our moment together, a culmination of long held fantasies. And yet, we hadn't verbally discussed how things would go from here on. So

I kind of froze in place, trying to decide what to do.

Cherys made up my mind for me when she opened her arms for a hug. I stepped into them and we were pressed close together, chest to chest while she Lay her cheek against my shoulder.

I waited until she let go first, and then pulled back to look into her eyes. But Cherys just closed them and then softly pressed her lips against mine.

The kiss was fleeting, and then she leaned back and looked at me. Then she turned and faced the headstone we were standing beside. "See sis, your man is doing just fine.”

I slipped my hand into Cherys'. We both turned and said our prayers for

Ellie.

FALL QUARTER, SENIOR YEAR (September 2001)

“Well, this is certainly going to be weird."

“What, you having second thoughts?" Amber squeezed my hand. We'd just finished unpacking my stuff. Phyllis had moved into an apartment with her boyfriend, and I was taking the empty room at Amber, E-Beth, and

Diane's house.

“Oh, no. Nothing like that," I squeezed back.

“I'm used to rooming with girls. Just... not girls that I'm sleeping with.”

“Well, to be fair, you're not sleeping with Diane," Amber smiled.

"Yet..."

I held up my hands.

“Hey, I haven't touched her!"

E-Beth walked by behind us. "Yet..." she called in a sing-song voice.

Apparently she overheard the conversation.

Then Diane came by.

“What are you guys talking about?"

I turned beet red. Amber just answered, “Nothing, nothing."

I rolled my eyes.

“Okay, I'm going to my room now.”