We need to talk Red." I hated the look that came into her eyes. Fear and hurt. I had a pretty good idea what had just entered her mind. Hopefully after today I can put some of those fears of hers to bed. It was the first time we'd been alone together like this, the first time I'd touched her in more than friendship. I had given what I was about to do a lot of thought, because I needed to be sure that this was more than just one of those high school things. Somehow I knew that with her, I had to be on point or s**t could go south fast. A part of me wanted to lighten up and be a teen, but I guess I inherited my dad's intensity when it comes to the woman in my life. There was nothing even remotely subtle about what I had begun to feel for her in the short time we had known each other, and

