I pulled into the school parking lot early Friday morning. My family took the news about our vigilantly, vampire in stride although Benjamin was deeply concerned about how much Cathy knew. We both agreed however, that there was probably nothing either one of us could do about her special powers at this point. I needed to focus, to trust Cathy's intuition, this day needed to be about Jason and football. What was it he said I was asking him to do? Right, compartmentalize. That's what I needed to do. There would be time for the other and Benjamin and my family would come through like they always did. "Football," I said. "Jason," I added. Just then I saw the roof of his Rover over the top of the hill and got out of my car to meet him.
Jason skidded to a stop next to me and hopped out wearing his football jersey, #10.
I waved my hand next to my face as though I were faint. "Oh my."
"Be still my beating heart." He pointed and flashed a toothy grin. "Just kiddin'."
I ran around the front of his Rover and jumped into his arms. "You are gorgeous!"
"Well, it's a big day."
"The game tonight?"
"Sure, that's part of it, but the way I see it, this is the first day of the rest of our lives and I can't wait to get this show on the road." He set me down, wrapped his arm around me and we started a slow stroll toward the school. "Oh wait, I forgot something." He pulled me along back to his Rover. "I got you something." He reached in the passenger's side and pulled out a present. "Go ahead, open it."
"Now?"
"Yeah, now."
"Okay." He didn't have to tell me twice. I quickly tore open the package and held up a Warrior # 10 Jersey in my size.
"Go ahead, put it on... yeah, now." He smiled a devilish smile. "Need some help with your top?"
"Would you?" I turned my back and pointed to the clasp at the back of my blouse. I thought his knees were going to buckle. I laughed as he undid the clasp. I slipped on the jersey and then wiggled out of my blouse underneath it, pulling it out from the jersey's right sleeve. I tossed my blouse in the back of my car and then posed. "Perfect fit."
Jason's smile was from ear to ear and his heart was racing. "You're going to have to show me how you did that one day."
"Secret girl stuff."
"Right. Well, we make a perfect pair."
I smiled. "That we do."
Jason took my hand and we resumed our stroll across the parking lot.