“You didn’t have to walk me home, Ethan,” Theresa says, a huge smile on her
                 face. “Although I can’t say I mind that you did.”

                 Ethan takes Theresa in his arms for a last, lingering embrace before saying
                 good night. He backs away slowly as she pulls open the kitchen door. “Good
                 night,” she whispers, then closes the door behind her.
                 Ethan exhales shakily. “Good night, Theresa.” He stands looking at the door
                 for a moment longer, then turns to walk away in a dream-like state.

                 ***

                 Theresa twirls smoothly into the living room. She flips on the light switch,
                 and glides to the window. “Wait until Whitney hears about this!” she
                 whispers dreamily.

                 Suddenly, two hands reach from behind Theresa to cover her eyes. “Guess
                 who?” the familiar male voice says.

                 “It can’t be! Noah?!” Theresa cries. She spins around, and exclaims, “It is
                 you! Welcome home, I’ve missed you so much!”

                 Noah laughs delightedly. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you,
                 Theresa. Come here!” He snatches her into a warm hug, their arms wrapped
                 tightly around one another.

                 *****

                 Ethan walks with a bounce in his step to the end of Theresa’s street. He
                 pauses for a car to pass, and shoves his hands in his pockets. He closes his
                 right fist on a small metal object. “Theresa’s barrette! I promised to hold
                 it for her until the end of the night,” he remembers. “I’m sure she wouldn’t
                 mind if I kept it for the night, but…this would give me an excuse to see her
                 again.”

                 Ethan turns on his heels and jogs along the sidewalk until he reaches the
                 Lopez-Fitzgerald home. He looks up at the house, and sees a light shining
                 from a lower window. A figure sways in the light, and long dark hair swishes
                 gently around the person’s shoulders. “There she is,” Ethan whispers,
                 butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He dashes to the window to let her
                 know he is there, but when he moves closer, he sees that Theresa is hugging
                 someone. His brow furrows, and he ducks behind a hedge so as not to be seen.
                 Theresa leans away from the other person – a young male, to Ethan’s dismay –
                 and takes his face in her hands. She perches on her tiptoes and kisses his
                 cheek sweetly.

                 “Maybe it’s her younger brother, Miguel. I know that it’s not Luis. That
                 must be it, Theresa’s just…” His breath catches in his throat. The male
                 touches Theresa’s chin and leans in to kiss her mouth. Ethan whips his head
                 around and looks at the barrette in his hand. He tosses it into the grass
                 angrily, and tears away from the house.