He navigated his boat to a secluded beach on the back bay. He anchored, and then they played in the water like dolphins. Afterwards, she spread out their special blanket, the one with a picture of a Seminole Indian in the middle, the emblem of Florida State University. They rubbed lotion on each other's back, and laid in the sun. They were together, and that was enough.

When the sun started to set, he cruised back to her house where they showered and changed in separate bathrooms. She spread out the garnet and gold blanket again, this time on the luxuriant grass at the outskirts of her backyard, away from prying eyes. They laid there, looking up at the stars, shoulders touching, linked by pinky fingers. He was barefoot, barechested, wearing only jeans, smelling of Irish Spring soap. She was barefoot, wearing a yellow summer dress, smelling of hazelnut shampoo.

"Micah, what are you thinking?"

"Nothing." He was thinking about how wonderful it felt to hold her next to him.

After a while, he asked, "What are you thinking, RaeAnn?"

"That today was the best day of my life."

"Yeah, it was pretty good."

He thought back to when he rubbed sun tan lotion on her, how luscious her skin felt underneath his hands.

"Micah?" She interrupted his thoughts again.

"Yes?"

"Do you believe in love?"

"Sure, someday. But not right now."

"I think love is the best thing that ever happens to us."

"I'd rather be rich." He laughed to let her know he wasn't serious.

RaeAnn turned to him, and put her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer. The feel of her against his side made his heart gallop. She ran her fingers through the hair on this chest and his breathing became deeper.

She rubbed her foot with her cute polished toenails down his leg and along his feet. He was afraid he would be embarrassed by a moan that was starting to surface. She stopped and smiled.

"Do you think you'll ever love me, Micah?"

"Maybe."

She kissed him playfully. He turned on his side, put his other arm around her back, and pulled her tight to him. She was breathing deeper now, too. He enjoyed seeing the look of pleasure on her face as he caressed her. She sighed in his ear and a warm breath of air tantalized his senses.

Then without warning, she pushed him away.

"Only if you say you love me," she demanded.

"RaeAnn ..."

"No, only if you say it."

He shook his head, disengaged himself, and lay on his back, his hands under his head. She studied his face, pensive, waiting for a reaction. When none came, she turned away from him. She didn't try to disguise her sobs.

He wondered why once again, without meaning to, he made her cry. He reached out and gently rubbed her back. She recoiled from his touch.

"RaeAnn?" He squeezed her arm. She pushed his hand away.

"For God's sake, RaeAnn. You want forevers, and I can only think of right nows."

"It's never going to be better than this."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do."

He tried to turn her around, but she resisted. He jumped up, and lay down facing her again from the other side. Bending his elbow, resting his head on his hand, he smiled into her tear-filled eyes.

"Do you really want to know how I feel, RaeAnn?"

She put her hand over his heart. "Yes."

"If I say the words, can they only be for right now?"

"Yes."

He wanted to hold her as tight as he could, satisfy his hunger for her, but he still had a stubborn need to keep a part of himself separate.

"I'm sorry, I can't say it now, RaeAnn."

She flinched as if he punched her. Then she wiped her eyes and stood up. He called after her, but she walked back to her house and locked the door. He waited on the blanket. When she didn't return, he folded the blanket, placed it on a patio chair, and left.

He laid awake many times after that night, unable to sleep, his body aching for her. He didn't think it was possible to need someone the way he needed her, so he waited, and the ache eventually became tolerable, but didn't go away.

He still thought of her many years later. With the passing of time came the bittersweet understanding he would never feel that special way again - when he was 18, and she was 16, and they were together on a blanket of garnet and gold.

THE END