Since I couldn’t visit with Zac after school that day, I called him. I told him about everything that happened in school that day. First about my math teacher, but then mostly about the girls at lunch.

“They asked me to prove that I knew you, that’s why I left, I shouldn’t have to prove myself to anyone, right?” I said to Zac.

“Right. You don’t have to,” Zac said, then continued, “But, why don’t you anyway?”

“What?” I asked Zac in confusion.

“Well, why don’t I go with you to your school dance on Friday night?” He suggested. Wow, I hadn’t even thought of that!

“Really? You’d do that?” I asked him.

“Yeah! Course I would Silly Sam!” He replied.

“Ok, well, you know, I just want you to know that we don’t have to stay long, I mean if you’re not having fun, I don’t want to force you to be there-”

“Sam! I want to go, that’s that,” Zac finished.

“Okay, well, how about you sleep over Friday night to make it easier?” I asked him.

“Sure,” He said.

“Ok, cool, well, I’m not going to be playing sick for a while, so I’ll see you tomorrow around 4pm, okay?” I said to Zac.

“Okay, bye Sam,”

“Bye Zac!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday went by quickly. Zac and I acted as if nothing was happening, just after school games and play. I even did a pretty good job of forgetting they were leaving on Tuesday. Zac didn’t remind me and I didn’t remind him. When Friday came around I didn’t go to Zac’s house after school. I gave him a call though and told him that we would come to pick him up at 6:30. The dance started at 6:30, but I didn’t want to be there early. After I called Zac, I went up to my room to get ready. I wore a pair of jeans, and a white short sleeve v-neck tee shirt. I put on some make up too. I never wore make up, except for chapstick, but that really didn’t count. I put on some shiny vanilla lip gloss and a touch of brown mascara. I let my straight brown mane of hair down out of it’s usual bun. It went about 2 inches below my shoulders. I pulled it back with a sparkled white clip on one side, brushed it again and went downstairs.

“You just about ready?” My dad called from the kitchen.

“Yes, I’m ready!” I called back. Jamie walked through the front hall where I was.

“Aww! Sam! You look nice! I love your hair down,” Jamie said to me and gave me a big hug.

“Thanks Jamie,” I told her, hugging her back.

“Have fun!” She told me.

“I hope I do!”

My dad walked through with the keys to the car, “You look nice honey,” he told me.

We picked up Zac, and he sat next to me in the backseat of my dad’s Saturn. I was looking out the window when I felt Zac’s gaze. I turned and saw him smiling at me, I smiled back then looked out the window again. We got to the school and my dad told us he would be back at 10 PM on the dot. We agreed and started for the double green doors of the school.

“You look really nice Sam,” Zac said to me, “You should wear your hair down more.”

“Yeah, but it gets in the way!” I said.

“I like it,” he said.

“Well, thank you,” I told him.

“You’re welcome,” Zac smiled.

“Okay, now be prepared,” I told Zac.

“I’m ready,” he said to me and opened a green door for me as I walked in.

Once inside of the gym, Zac and I sat on the bleachers, no one was really dancing yet. I saw Alyssa, Michelle and the rest of the ‘popular’ girls in the corner of the gym. They obviously spotted me too because they squinted, then several combed their hair and walked toward us. They were in a big group walking toward us except Alyssa was leading the pack. She slicked down her purple skirt as she walked over. She slowly climbed the bleachers to the top where we were perched, the other girls followed of course.

“Hi Samantha!” Alyssa said to me as if we were good friends or something.

“Hey,” I replied.

“Who is this you have with you?” She said with wide eyes and an enormous smile, “No, I know! You’re Zac Hanson!”

“Hello,” Zac said to her, and smiled at the other girls.

“I’m Alyssa,” She said.

“Hello Alyssa,” Zac said.

“Oh! Where are my manners?” Alyssa said still with a huge grin, she turned and pointed at her pack one by one, “This is Michelle, and Sheryl, and Laura, Tara, Karen, and Lisa.”

Zac waved at the girls and said hello for the third time.

“Anyway,” Alyssa continued, I noticed she was using her hands like crazy! She never put them down as she talked. Was Alyssa nervous? “You know, I’m a HUGE fan,”

“Really? Thank you,” Zac said.

“I’ve seen you four times!! Don’t you remember me?” She asked him.

Zac gave me a look then said, “Uhhh...hmmm...I, uh, have you heard the new single?” He asked Alyssa trying to change the subject.

“MMMBop, right?” Amy stepped in trying to get some attention.

“Yep, that’s it!” Zac said. Alyssa turned around and gave Michelle a nasty look as if she were the only one allowed to speak.

“I’ve got an idea Michelle,” Alyssa said to her, “Why don’t you go request it! Now!”

“Um, ok, sure!” Michelle headed off toward the DJ. Alyssa turned back to Zac, smiled and slicked her skirt down again. Alyssa continued to brag to Zac, who was as polite as he could be until MMMBop started to blare over the speakers. The whole pack smiled.

“Come on Zac!” Alyssa said to Zac, “Let’s dance!!” She grabbed his hand and started to run down the bleachers as fast as she could in her skirt and heels.

Zac didn’t have much time to reply, he looked back at me, a look of terror, I laughed and called for him to have fun. I went down myself and found some guy pals to dance with. I couldn’t help it though, I had to keep my eye on Alyssa and Zac. It was her whole pack dancing in a circle, her and Zac dancing in the middle. She pushed his shoulders and started to walk around him in a circle. She danced a bit too, raising her arms and shoving her front toward him. I slowly moved my dancing partner, Jay, a little closer to the pack so I could make sure no more happened. Thankfully the song ended and Zac saw me. He came to me and blamed me for not saving him. I laughed at him again, the pack was just a few feet behind getting punch. A slow song came on. It was a Celine Dion. Zac looked at me and I looked back at him.

“Do y-” he started, but could not finish because Alyssa came behind him.

“Do you want to dance with me??” Not waiting for a reply, she put her arms around his neck. This time I didn’t laugh. I wanted to dance with Zac. He was going to ask me too, I knew it, I could tell he was going to! I sat on the bleachers sulking. The song seemed to never end even though it only lasted for 4 minutes...27 seconds... ok, so I was watching the clock. Things seem to go slower when you watch the clock, but it was better than watching them. At the end of the song, Zac pushed away toward her just as another slow song started. Two in a row. Zac came to me again.

“Do you want to--” He started, but was once again interrupted.

“Zaaaac!” It was Alyssa calling, “Do you want to dance again?” She asked, her hands clasped at her front.

“I’m going to dance with Sam now,” He told her and took my hand. I could feel my face light up as I smiled and took his hand too. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he wrapped his around my waist. The song was “I Will Remember You” by Sarah McLaughlin. The lyrics were perfect. I would always remember Zac, no matter what. I held onto Zac tightly. I reluctantly realized Zac and I had less than a week. 3 days really. Not even half a week. I didn’t want to lose him again. I knew he’d come back, but I missed him so much. I couldn’t go a day without seeing Zac, I missed him every day in school!

When the song ended we let go of each others embrace and Zac looked down into my eyes, “this is our song,” he told me.

I smiled and let out a small laugh, but then I began to tear up right there. A tear rolled down my cheek.

“Oh no. Sam? What’s wrong?” Zac said to me in a low tone, wiping the tear from my cheek, “Want to go talk?” I nodded.

We went out of the gym and out the back doors of the school. We walked out into the moonlit fields and sat at the bottom of a small hill. We hadn’t spoke this whole time, just held hands.

“Don’t you like our song?” Zac finally asked me.

“I love our song Zac,” I swallowed, “But...I don’t know, I’m going to miss you, Zac! Don’t leave me...” I cried more.

“Shhhh. Shhh...” Zac started to run his fingers through my hair. I rested my head in Zac’s chest where he continued to caress my hair. After a moment of silence, Zac began to sing softly in my ear, “Now I don’t have anymore songs to sing, cause you were everything, everything to me,” I was curious and a little bewildered, but Zac’s voice was soothing to the ear, “I didn’t realize that I felt this way, until that day. Today I’m missing Sammy,” I smiled, he had replaced Lucy with me, “and you say that she’s OK, I hope she is. Now I don’t have nobody and no one will ever replace... my Sammy. I love Sammy...” As he finished his voice got softer until it faded out, “My Sammy.”

I looked up at Zac, tears in my eyes, but a smile on my face. He smiled too, but almost in syncly, our smiles turned into an antique phenomenon. We gazed into each others eyes, looking for something in the others, searching. I felt butterflies in my stomach as Zac slowly leaned in toward me, I leaned in toward him too. Inches from each other, I could feel his warm breath. As our lips met I closed my eyes and drew myself into his embrace. His kiss, so soft and compassionate, his hands gently covered over mine as I scooted closer, cuddling around him, cherishing his love. Our lips parted and we once again looked into each others eyes. I rested my head back into his chest and actually fell asleep in his arms.