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"Oh sure," I said. "We've run away, stolen a car, been robbed, don't know where we're going or what we'll actually do when we get there, but I'll land on my feet. That's being realistic?"

"Yes," he insisted. "In your case, yes."

I reached up. He lowered his head so my hand could go around his neck, and then he let me pull his lips close enough for mine to meet them. It was our most delicious kiss because it was our seal, our promise, our kiss meant to last forever and ever.

Mrs. Slater didn't tell me that she locked the front door after eleven. It was embarrassing to have to ring the bell and then when no one came, to knock and knock. Finally, she was there. She wore a dark brown terry cloth robe at least two sizes too big and men's slippers.

"I'm sorry to wake you," I said.

"I didn't know you were still out, dear. It's always been my rule to lock my doors at eleven unless someone tells me otherwise. I thought you were all upstairs, snug in your beds. Where have you been?" she asked stepping back.

"Fixing our car," I said. "Thank you. Good night," I said before she asked another question. I hurried past her and up the stairs to my and Raven's room. She was awake, lying there with her hands behind her head, the small lamp on the nightstand lit.

"You don't have to tell me," she said as soon as I walked in, "I can see it on your face."

"What?"

She laughed and looked at the clock.

"Nearly four hours to fix the water pump?"

"It was difficult," I said. "The old pump was rusted and . ."

"Pleeeze. I recognize that look on your face," she joked, but there was a bit of sadness behind her words. She, too, had felt this in love with Taylor, and his awful behavior still stung.

"Oh Raven," I cried in a voice that even I didn't recognize. The joking look dropped off her face.

"What?" she asked quickly, her eyes filled with more concern than curiosity.

"I think . . . I know I'm in love."

"What? In love? You hardly . . . now wait a minute, Brooke. You can't be serious," she declared, sitting up with her hands on her hips.

"Why not?"

"Why not? You just met him, Brooke. You know what can happen if you go too fast . . . you don't want what happened to me with Taylor to happen to you!" There was such grief in her face I wanted to listen, but my heart told me Todd and I were different.

"I know you mean well, Raven, and I'm sorry that Taylor broke your heart, but Todd is different, he's not like Taylor."

She looked at me closely and then sat back against her pillow.

"Tell me what happened, Brooke. I want to believe you're right about Todd."

"Well, I didn't go there expecting anything romantic to happen." Her eyes grew smaller. "Really, Raven, I didn't. We talked a little and I helped him as he worked," I continued.

She started to giggle and I shot her a mutinous look.

"I'm sorry. It's just a garage is probably the last place on earth I'd expect to have a romantic time."

She pressed her lips together and pretended to zip her mouth shut.

"He's a very sensitive guy. I began to feel more sorry for him than I did for myself. His father's an alcoholic and his mother ran off with someone else years ago," I said.

"This is your Mr. Right?"

"You can't blame him for his parents, Raven. How would you like us to be blamed for ours?" I shot back at her. The devilish look in her eyes faded quickly.

"You're right," she said softly.