“So Sam can we have the royal tour of Princeton?” Zac appeared in my doorway, “Ike can drive.”

“Oh! You should have woke me up earlier, we could have left already!” I said throwing the covers off my bed as I hopped out.

“That’s all right Sam, we don’t mind,” Zac happily said as he strolled off into the living room.

I quickly showered and dressed. I wore a pair of old jeans, despite the summer heat, it was cool this morning. I also wore a tight pastel pink zipper t-shirt. I combed my hair and head out to the living room where Zac and Ike eagerly awaited.

“Ready?” Ike asked, keys in hand.

“Ready,” I responded.

We left and hopped into Ike’s rental, a red Honda accord, “I’m hungry! Is there any place we can get a bite to eat?” Ike asked.

“Sure,” I said, “Follow Nassau Street down a little more, there’s a pancake place that’s just the best.”

“Okeee,” Ike drove on.

Zac and I were seated in back. It felt so good to have him close to me. I felt his warm hand move a top of mine. It made me shine in happiness. His touch was comfort. For the first time though, I felt a little more than just that comfort. I loved Zac, my best friend, but with his touch I loved him in another sense as well. I wanted him. I wanted him near me. I wanted him to hold me. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and for him to be mine and me to be his. I wanted to be Zac Hanson’s girlfriend.

“It’s right up here, PJ’s Pancake House,” I directed Ike. He parked about 50 feet away, which was still the closest spot. Jamie and I loved PJ’s. I loved it cause of the food, she loved it because of the manager. Jamie was actually dating the manager, Ian. He was pretty cute, well, for a 29 year old anyway. He was a little old for her, but if it made her happy and kept her off my back, I didn’t mind the slightest bit.

“Ahhh, Samantha!” Ian greeted me at the door, “You’ve brought friends!”

“Guys, this is my sister’s boyfriend, Ian. Ian, this is Isaac and Zac.” I introduced.

“Nice to meet you,” Ian shook their hands, “You look like someone I know, hmmph,” Ian shook his head as he thought hard about it. Strangely enough, I don’t think he could recognize the two as “Hansons” without Taylor. It was rather amusing.

We all ordered the chocolate chip pancakes and talked a while. I kept going in and out of the conversation because I kept getting lost in Zac’s eyes. They pulled me in, and I longed to just curl up and stay there forever. He was growing so handsome. His shoulders broad, his voice deep, and his face more defined. I could get used to this.

“I’ll be right back,” Ike said as he left for the bathroom.

There was an awkward silence between Zac and I. This was this first full conscious minute that we spent together this visit. I gazed at him as he looked down at his plate then up at me. Without any words exchanged, Zac stood up and leaned toward me, I leaned toward him and we kissed. Not just one kiss, many kisses, one after the other after the other, like a runaway train, we went on nonstop. I couldn’t get enough of his lips and his kiss, and obviously he felt the same way. Our kisses in synch to the every move, it was amazing. Amazing until Zac stopped, looking up at Ike exiting the bathroom. We immediately parted, just in time too. I don’t think Ike saw our little scene.

“So, you guys just about ready to go?” Ike asked sitting back down in the booth.

“Yep, I’m good,” Zac said simply.

Ian stopped at the table, “It’s on the house,” he smiled, “see ya Samantha.”

“Thanks Ian,” I smiled while scooting out of the booth.

“So Ike,” I started as we walked back out onto the sidewalk.

“Yep?” He replied.

“How would you like a tour of the Princeton campus?”

“That would be great!”

“Okay, I know someone who goes there, he’d love to give a tour, I’m sure.” I went over to a campus phone and called Darren. Darren is another friend of Jamie. He’s a total dork, but kinda funny. He’s never really busy. He was glad to give the tour, “Okay, Ike, Darren is going to meet you over by the tiger in 5 minutes.”

“Nice. Thanks! Where do you want to meet me?” He asked.

“Um, how about Dillan gym. Tell Darren to take you there when you finish the tour and we’ll be waiting for you.”

“Great- later!” Ike jaywalked across the street to the big black gate and to the tiger.

“Sooo...” Zac said as we were finally alone.

“Soo...” I responded, trying to think of something else to say, “want to see palmer square?”

“Sure.”

We strolled the two blocks reminiscing of our days back in Tulsa.

“Do you remember when we had that ice cream sundae fight?” I laughed.

“Oh yeah!” Zac began to laugh, “And we threw our gooey clothes out the window-”

“And they landed on Ike’s head!” I finished and we both chuckled.

“Remember when we first met?” Zac asked.

“At Laser Quest. I beat you at Car Chase!”

“I beat you once!” Zac argued.

“Did not. We tied once, but you never won,” I teased.

“I thought you had coodies at first,” Zac said, we both laughed, “But after I found out you were so good at Car Chase I took a liking to you,” Zac smiled and elbowed me a little with a slight smirk.

“I thought you were kinda cute,” I confessed. We reached Palmer square and sat close to each other on a nice wooden bench.

“I think you’re beautiful,” Zac said, looking me straight in the eyes.

I smiled, my heart racing in joy. I hugged Zac. The feeling of never wanting to let go made me squeeze him even tighter in my arms. When we loosened our embrace we kissed. It tasted sweet and warm like the first time we had kissed at my school dance. I loved the feeling all over again.

“Remember when we first discovered the river?” Zac asked.

“Of course I do.”

“Our secret hide out. It was so nice there, the sound of water spilling over the rocks and the jumping eeps of the water spiders!”

“I miss it,” I sighed.

Zac put his arm around me, “We’ll go back together one day.”

I remember that afternoon well. I can remember just about every day with Zac, but this one, this was special. That day was the beginning of the rest of our lives. What was once fantasy, now a reality. I Zac Hanson’s best friend, and I was his girlfriend.