Wanting to make an entrance, I arrived at Split It exactly five minutes late. I parked the motorcycle in front of the bench where Tyler sat waiting for me, handsome as ever with his thick black hair, dark bronze skin, and that charming grin.

I kicked the stand down, swung my leg over the seat, and waved at him. I took off the helmet and smiled, wishing I had a camera to record the astonished look on Tyler's face when he recognized me.

"Hi. Sorry, I'm late." I set the helmet on the seat and brushed my fingers through my hair.

Tyler stood up and came to greet me. He wore a navy-blue polo shirt and shorts that matched the deep, dark blue of his eyes.

"Hi. Cool Harley," Tyler declared, admiring Dean's motorcycle.

"Thanks. It's my brother's. Did you ever ride one?" I asked, admiring him. He had an athlete's body, the broad chest and muscular arms of a swimmer and the slim waist and long legs of a runner.

He shook his head.

"You should. It's such a rush," I bragged.

I unzipped my jacket and each pant leg and quickly peeled off the protective layer of pale pink leather and then placed it inside the cargo case. I wore my new, cream-colored, lace-trimmed cami, Daisy Duke blue jean shorts, and pale pink suede cowboy boots I had bought at the mall after Melaney left for the theater.

I would do almost anything, even wear pink, to get Tyler's undivided attention. As he stared in appreciation of my appearance, I knew the cowgirl ensemble was worth every penny.

Tyler and I walked together to the outside window of the restaurant. He was so tall, even taller than Dean.

"Do you still want an ice cream bar?" I asked.

"That's why we're here," he confirmed.

I ordered, "Two ice cream bars please."

The sales lady told me the total, and I gave her the cash from my wallet. She removed the ice cream bars from the freezer and handed them to us.

Most of the redwood picnic tables were filled with families eating ice cream cones of all sizes and flavors. We strolled to an unoccupied one under the branches of a giant maple tree and sat beside each other on the hard bench. Tyler and I partially unwrapped each bar and carefully began to eat the French vanilla ice cream covered with a dark chocolate shell before it melted in the summer heat.

"So does Mimi know you're here with me?" I inquired after a few bites.

"No," Tyler quickly replied.

"You didn't tell her?" I asked with fake amazement.

"No. Mimi and I broke up," he explained without even a hint of regret in his voice.

"Unbelievable! You two have been a couple since third grade."

"I thought it was time for us to date other people."

I pondered his statement while we finished our ice cream and then left the table to toss the wrappers into the trash bin.

"So is this a date?" I questioned him when we returned to our bench.

"Do you want it to be?" he asked with a beguiling grin. His beautiful blue eyes gleamed like sapphires on black velvet.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I thought to myself. Out loud, I said calmly, "No. This is just a thank you - for saving my life. I'm not allowed to date. My parents don't even know I'm here. They think I'm at a friend's house. So please don't tell anyone," I pleaded, conjuring my saddest, puppy dog eyes.

"The truth is my parents don't know you saved me at the pool. I was supposed to go on rides, not go swimming." I paused for a few seconds to organize my thoughts. "I'm hoping you and your friends can be discreet at school and not mention the extremely embarrassing pool incident or this undate to anyone. If my stepfather finds out I disobeyed him, I'll be grounded for eternity."

"Don't worry. We won't tell anyone," Tyler promised.

"Thank you. You really are a life-saver."

I leaned over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek, but he turned his head and our lips met. He tasted like chocolate. His lips were soft and warm and delicious. Everything I imagined a first kiss would be.

I completely forgot where we were until someone coughed, and we reluctantly separated.

"I've wanted to do that since third grade," I confessed with a sigh. "I had such a crush on you then, ever since you played Frosty in the winter play. I almost cried when you melted, but Mimi saved you, and you never looked at another girl again."

"I had forgotten about that," Tyler murmured more to himself than to me.

"Mimi is very lucky to have you for a boyfriend," I stated with complete sincerity.

"I'm not Mimi's boyfriend anymore," he insisted.

"You'll get back together in a few weeks," I claimed. "You always do."

"Not this time," he refuted, shaking his head. "Mimi and I are attending different colleges after we graduate. We have such different plans for the future. It doesn't make sense to stay together anymore."

"Where are you going to college?" I asked.

"Bucknell for Business Administration," Tyler answered. "How about you?"

"My parents want me to attend Bloomsburg. I sent in the application, and I'm sure I'll be accepted, but . . ." I paused.

"But?" He encouraged me to continue.

"But once I graduate, there is no way I'm spending another minute of my life in a classroom listening to boring lectures. The day after graduation I intend to borrow Dean's motorcycle and head out west to wide, open spaces," I explained, spreading my arms out like wings and then dropping them to my side. "No plans. No rules. Just freedom."

"What do you want to see out west?" he inquired with genuine curiosity in his voice.

"Everything!" I listed my favorites: "The Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, the Redwood Forest, and the Pacific Ocean."

"What will your parents say when you don't go to college?"

"Well, if they lose their deposit, they will probably disown me." I smiled at the idea.

"I'm guessing you don't get along with your parents," Tyler easily surmised.

"Jonathan and Sharon aren't really parents. They're more like prison wardens. Speaking of which, I have to leave. I am expected to be back in my jail cell before dark."

"Already?" Tyler protested. "It's only eight o'clock."

"Time flies when you're having fun."

"When can I see you again?" he requested with absolute confidence in his appeal.

"I'm sure we'll see each other at school," I presumed with a nonchalance that deserved an Academy Award. I acted like it didn't matter if we ever went out again, but in reality, my whole world depended on it.

"I mean privately, just the two of us." His midnight-blue eyes were so alluring my heart actually skipped a beat.

"My eighteenth birthday is May fifteenth. We'll meet here, and you can buy me an ice cream bar."

"That's nine months away!"

"Exactly 277 days."

He followed me as I walked to the motorcycle. I opened the cargo case, took out the protective leather, and slipped back into the pale pink jacket and pants. I straddled the seat and turned the key in the ignition.

"If you have any ideas on how to break me out of prison sooner, I would be glad to hear them," I shouted over the roar of engine. "Thanks for meeting me tonight and for saving my life."

I put the helmet on and the kickstand up. Tyler just stood there in a daze as I waved goodbye and rode off into the sunset.

A/N: Video above is Heart on Fire by Jonathan Clay. 

"Now you know

 I've been crazy for you

 All this time.

 I've kept it close

 Always hoping

 With a heart on fire." 

Are you crazy about someone? Let me know in the comments. 

Forever Remember to Live, Laugh, and LOVE! - 3L