Preface

"Will you marry me, Charlie?"

I looked into his deep blue eyes. My heart skipped a beat as I watched him get down on one knee and present a daisy before me.  His black skater-boy hair to the side of his face as he blows it out of his eyes.

"You're so silly Nathan Woods." I laugh as I smack his shoulder.  Nathan gasps as he places his hand over his heart.

"You wound my heart Charlotte Reece, one day I will make you my wife." he smirks as he stands up.  A devilish gleam appears in his blue eyes.

My eyes widen and I turn and run.  I run fast across the yard as he begins to chase me.  The tree house we built is just up ahead as I turn to head for it.  Just as I reach the stairs, I feel a hand grab my shirt and instantly pull me back tackling me to the ground.  Nathan straddles me as he tickles me from head to toe. I begin laughing uncontrollably as I try to get away.

"Okay!  Okay! I give! You win!" I say between laughs, but he doesn't stop. "Say it, Charlie! Say you will be mine forever!"

"I will be yours forever!"  I said the words, mainly to get him to stop tickling me.  But those words held some truth to them.  I was his, I would always be his.

As I say the words the tickling ceases as he stares into my eyes.  It was as if time had stopped as we lay in the grass staring at each other, like we were the only two on earth. Then I felt it. His lips on mine.  They were soft and perfect, as if they were always meant to be connected to mine. His hand slid down behind my neck and pulled my head closer. My first kiss. It sent shivers down my spine as butterflies engulfed every inch of my body.  As if acting on instinct, I ran my fingers through his shaggy black hair.  The kiss was electric, it was perfect.  This was the moment most girls waited for.  This is the moment that will be imprinted in my mind for years to come.

"Charlotte!!" I heard my mom scream instantly from the balcony making us end the kiss. "We are leaving, let's go!"

We both froze in place.  Our eyes staring into each other.  Fear showing in our faces.  Leaving?

                                                             **********************

I tried to talk to my mom. I wanted to know what was happening. I know my mom and Mrs. Woods don't always see eye to eye, but they were close friends, best friends actually.  The Woods were there for us when my dad died, when we had nowhere else to go. 

My mom was hired as Nathan's nanny a year before I was born, he was only one at the time. I had grown up here with Nathan, well, all my twelve years of life.  He was my closest friend.  My only friend.  The last thing I wanted was to leave the only home I ever knew, to leave the only friend had.  After earlier today, I wanted to stay and see what would happen next.  As I think about the kiss in the backyard earlier, sadness began to take over and the thought of never being able to see what could have been.   

I sat on my bed as I packed my clothes, tears stinging my eyes. I couldn't believe this was happening.  My mom wouldn't explain what happened she just said to pack light and that we were to leave tonight.

I heard a knock on my door, "Come in."  I said, trying to wipe the tears from my eyes.

I look up as Nathan enters my room with a sullen look on his face.  Tears began streaming down my face even harder. His eyes meet mine and instantly he is by my side his arms around my waist pulling me into his chest.  His hand is against my head as I lean my head on his chest.  I feel him rest his cheek on the top of my head. We stand in silence just holding each other.

I feel tears hit my cheek; I know these ones aren't mine. I look up at his face and I see that his sullen face now has tears streaming down.  My heart breaks for both of us. 

"I can't do this Nate; I don't want to leave. I don't want to leave you."

He pushes me back just a little as he tilts my chin so that I am looking into his piercing blue eyes. "Don't worry Charlie, we will be together again. Besides, I promised you I am going to marry you.  I never break my promises."

And with his words he placed a soft, lingering kiss on my lips before hugging me tightly to him.  A hug that, I wished so hard, would never end.