8th Grade Love.

When I had once felt loved, everything had been happy. Duh. But the point to this tale is not to dwell on my present crisis, among my many, but it is to dwell on a happy tale of mine when I was in the 8th grade, so many years ago...1

I run to Kyla, my friend. I have no best friend, though I'd thought about what to do with her, or him, when they came along.2

"Kyla! Did you hear about the break-in?" We go to a small school and any news is big news.3

"Yeah, it was probably a student."4

"Seriously, who else would know the school that well?"5

"I know-"6

Someone's presence behind me cuts off Kyla's sentence and she smiles at me.7

"What?" I ask, turning around.8

Behind me stands Eric, my closest thing to a best friend, and the closest thing I have to a crush, which is saying a lot. Alright, so maybe I have an actual crush on him, no big-gy okay?9

"Hey Ashley," Eric says, standing beside me.10

Kyla turns and walks away with a knowing smile on her face and I just stare after her appalled. 'And there she goes...'11

"So, what have you been up to Eric?" I look up at him, he's one of the tallest kids in the 9th grade, and one of the cutest. I inwardly sigh.12

"Nothing much, just wishing school to be out." He leans against the wall beside and I lean against it too.13

"I feel you bro-"14

Eric laughs and I grin, it always makes us laugh when we call the other "bro" or "sista."15

"Anyway," Eric says, getting serious. I look up from the ground to see his serious face. 16

"What's wrong Eric?"17

"I-" something in his throat cuts off his voice and he looks at his feet.18

I start panicking, "Are you crying?"19

"No." He recovers quickly and looks at me. 20

"Then, what's wrong? Wait, did Brandon come home drunk again?" Eric's younger brother Brandon, sometimes comes home drunk, and it breaks Eric's heart to see him like that.21

"No," he laughs a little. "I'm just trying to think of a way to ask you something, without it seeming like... what it isn't."22

"Well, try," I say gently, it's difficult for Eric to speak aloud at times, he's really shy, even around me sometimes and we've known each other forever.23

"You know the dance that the school is hosting on Valentine's Day for the 8th, 9th, and 10th graders?"24

He looks at me and my throat goes dry. "Um, yeah, why?"25

"Well, I was wondering if you were going because none of my other friends are and if none of my friends are going then I'm not going to, even though the dances are always fun."26

My hopes diminish.27

"Oh, yeah, I'm going. You can hang with Kyla and I."28

Eric's face turns red and I remember him telling me on the phone last week that he had a crush on one of my friends. I have the suspicion that it's Kyla and I've been pushing her away a little by accident.29

'He can like who he wants to Ashley.'30

"Thanks Ash, can I ask you one thing? About girls?"31

"Sure," I turn back to him, struggling to keep control of my anger.32

"How do you ask a girl out? I mean, you don't know if she likes you, but, you really like her? Should you go ahead and try?"33

"Well, based on me, not that the girl is like me because I'm... confusing, I'd say that you should at the least try. I mean, if she says no, then, hey, at least you tried, and maybe it won't be so hard the next time that you go to ask a girl out."34

He smiles at me and I smile back. 35

"Thanks Ash, I knew I could count on you."36

The bell rings and I hurriedly say good bye to Eric, tears clouding my eyes.37

'You'll be alright, he's just some boy, girl-y.'38

~~~~~~~~~39

At lunch the same day, I wait for Kyla to get to our table from the line. I don't eat lunch, in fact, I don't really eat at all.40

Eric sits down across from me.41

"Hey Ashley."42

I smile vaguely, "What's up Eric?" 43

"Nothing, what's wrong, when you have that depressing look on your face, something has to be wrong."44

I smile, a true smile. "I can't hide anything from you can I? Kyla and Annea are fighting again, and they expect me to pick. I can't do that! I mean, they're both good friends, but Kyla is obsessive and Annea is annoying. I don't know what to do!" I hit my head on the table and feel Eric move to sit beside me.45

"Does someone need a hug?" he asks quietly and I nod. Eric wraps his arms around me as I lift up my head and wrap mine around him. His old spice cologne make me feel at home and I relax in his embrace. I bury my head in his neck, feeling happy, and he hugs me tighter.46

I start to feel his heart beating with mine and as I pull back, I feel detached from myself.47

'I never knew a hug could feel so good.'48

"Feel better?" he asks teasingly and I nod, wiping the tears from my eyes. He starts to say something else, but one of his friends call him over to their table. "See you, Ash."49

"Ttfn," I whisper in return, but he hears, having enhanced hearing like he does.50

~~~~~~~~~51

I walk out of the parking lot. It's raining and I feel anger growing inside of me. 'Why- no how, can he like someone else? I mean- here he comes.'52

"Hey Eric, where you going?"53

"Nowhere, just walking with you." We walk for a little while and then I stop, a realization hitting me strong.54

"The dance is tomorrow! Oh no! I'm still got to pick out a dress, but it can't be too expensive, and I need a new pair of shoes-" Eric places a finger over my lips and I feel my insides quiver.55

"Listen, today's Friday, you still have time."56

I breathe deeply, "You're right. I'm okay, I'm okay."57

~~~~~~~~~58

I walk into the dance behind Kyla. The dress that I'd bought was dark green with a lighter green veil around the skirt, which is not a full skirt, but isn't a tight one. It's strapless and the design on the bodice is where at the middle of the bodice, it's pointed and then it flairs out like a triangle. The material in this triangle is a lighter green. My shoes are black wrap around.59

I look at everyone, a lot of the boys were in suits and the girls were all wearing prom dresses. Kyla is wearing a red one that flatters her brown hair and eyes. Alright, I admit it, my red hair really matches this green dress.60

We walk down the stairs to the tables and Kyla goes over to dance with Jake, her boyfriend. 61

I watch the picturesque couple dance and then swing my head towards my right. My face breaks out in a smile. "Hey Eric."62

"Hey Ashley," he leans back, watching the dancers. Shifting uncomfortably, he looks back at me. "Do you want some punch?"63

"Sure." I shrug and he takes off, and I giggle at his speed. 'What a dork!'64

He comes back and hands me a glass filled half full. 'Hey, I guess I'm an optimist.'65

"Eric, what do you think the bubble part of this punch is? Someone told me once, but I forgot." I look up at him to see him looking at me intently.66

He blinks out of his daze, "Um, I really don't know, I forgot. My mom told me once, maybe you should ask her."67

I grin at him, "Thanks Eric, one of the great mysteries of life will be solved."68

He laughs. "Yeah."69

"Don't make fun, I honestly have thinking addictions." The tone in my voice causes him to laugh more.70

The dance ends and Kyla and Jake come over to us.71

"Hey Eric," Kyla says, sitting beside me and Jake beside Eric.72

"Hey Kyla."73

"What are you two doing?" she asks me and I look at her.74

"Talking," I mumble, knowing what she's trying to do.75

"What about?" Jake asks Eric and I look at Eric, wondering what he's going to say.76

"Punch," he says lamely, but honestly, and I laugh.77

"Well," Kyla says, glancing at Jake as a slow song comes on. "Jake and I are going to dance, what are you two going to do?"78

The question was directed at Eric, but he opens his mouth and nothing comes out. I really didn't know either, I guess we were planning on talking the night away.79

He finally manages to shrug and Kyla continues looking at him. She glances at me and then, standing, says, "Well, you guys can always dance."80

She walks away with Jake following her.81

I look up at Eric to continue our conversation, but something in his eyes stops me.82

"Do you want to dance Ashley?" he asks me, looking me straight in the eyes. 83

I catch my breath and manage to stop swooning.84

"Sure." I set down my punch and let Eric take my hand and lead me to the center of the dance floor.85

I wrap my arms around Eric's neck, hardly daring to breathe with my happiness, while he puts his hands around my waist, not on them, around them.86

"So," I say quietly, "what do you want to talk about?"87

"Well, first, I-" he stops himself and looks right into my hazel eyes. He brings a hand to my cheek and puts some loose hair behind my ears. He looks down at me and then leans in and kisses me. 88

My breath escapes me as we stop dancing and I feel him pull me closer to him. My hands rise to his hair and I feel our lips separate.89

"Come here," Eric whispers to me when he sees the look of disappointment on my face. He cradles my jaw and kisses me again, but this time, he doesn't even try to end it. And this time, I can't even bring myself to be pulled away by anything. 90

I finally pull back and look up into his beautiful green eyes.91

"I've always loved you Ash, always, ever since we met on the playground in Pre-K and Kindergarten. It was love at first sight. I love pushing the swing for you."92

I giggle and bow my head against his as we continue to dance.93

"I loved you ever since that day too Eric."94

"Now, Ashley Hallie Andrews..." 95

I look up at him, scared that he's going to tell me that he can't love me because he'd already fallen for another.96

"...will you be my girlfriend?"97

I blink at him, and then realize what he just asked.98

"Are- are you serious? Oh my gosh! Yes! Yes!"99

I hug him tightly and he laughs, hugging me back.100

"I love you Ashley."101

"I love you too Eric."102