I found myself on the wedding venue's balcony with the doors behind me, muting the reception music. Of course, Jake would get married overlooking a lake. It shouldn't feel like a slap. Jake's wedding was not about me. But like everything, gazing out on the tranquil lake stretching out to the horizon brought back more memories. Fond or callous, memories always feel warm. The fond ones have a soft yellow glow like a gentle breeze filled with the sweet smells of freshly cut grass and apple blossoms. The callous ones burn with an orange tint that could erupt into engulfing flames at any moment. Most memories are tied to love; friendly, lustful, sweet, romantic, love is the thread that ties the bonds.

"Jen, you will not believe this. It's amazing; the best news ever!" Ari was about to explode right in front of me.

"What?" Her excitement was spilling over to me.

"A boy likes you, and not just any boy; Will Turner likes you."

"What?"

"Will told Adam, who told his older sister, Julie, who told Johnny because they are like totally together and have zero secrets. So, of course, I heard from Sarah." This made sense; Sarah was Johnny's little sister. "So, this is basically first-degree intel," Ari continued. At least it was when you were thirteen years old.

"This means..." I trailed off thinking of the implications. Will was cute, one of the cutest boys in school, and he liked me.

"This means you have a boyfriend."

"I mean, we haven't even spoken... but," I was still in shock.

"He is going to ask you out today after, well, right now. Sarah said he would look for you after school and ask you to Tricia's end-of-the-year party. You're going to say yes; you have to say yes." All Ari's words strung together when she was excited.

"Yes," I paused, "if he asks me." I slung my bag over my shoulder, trying to act cool. "Let's go."

"Wait, you can't just head out there at a time like this. You have to primp!"

Ari pulled me into the nearby girl's room and began to unload an entire store's worth of prep products: hairbrush, scrunchies, lip gloss, all the necessities. She was always prepared. I half expected a wardrobe change to pop out of her bag as well. She was the fashionista of our pair. I found myself gravitating to t-shirts and jeans. Ari was constantly pushing sundresses and blouses that flowed in the breeze and had little flower patterns on them.

"Okay, you are boyfriend ready," she announced after a few moments of primping. "No more bride of Frankenstein."

"Bride of Dr. Frankenstein's monster," I corrected. Jake and I had watched the movie recently.

"What?" Ari's tone was annoyed.

"The monster's name isn't Franke.."

"Jennifer Morse, it does not matter. Seriously, you are about to get your first boyfriend, and you are in here talking about monster movies with me. You're so weird sometimes."

"Jake and I..."

"Nope, we agreed no more talk of he-who-shall-not-be-named."

"Ari, Jake and I are friends; we can say his name. I am so over him." I meant kind of over him, but she didn't need to know that. "Besides, he has a girlfriend," I said almost to myself.

"And you will have a boyfriend if I can ever get you out of this bathroom! Now go before your face melts!" I don't think Ari knew what that meant, but she had heard her mom complain that her face was melting just after getting ready so many times, she probably assumed it was applicable.

As I walked out, I was so nervous, I knew I was going to trip, and on the next to last step, I did. Will was there, though, and caught my hand.

"Just like a movie," Ari would say dreamily that night as she slept over at my house.

"Hey, Jen," his eyes did not meet mine as he spoke. His evident nerves somehow made me feel more confident.

"Thanks, Will!" I said, a little too cheery for my liking.

"So, it was a good school year, right?" I could tell he was working up his nerve... this was going to happen.

"Yeah, it was."

"Did you sign my yearbook?" From his tone, it was clear he was proud he had found a topic to string into the conversation.

"Yeah, I signed it in homeroom, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, I remember." He went shy again. "So, are you going to Tricia's end-of-school party on Saturday?"

"Yeah, I was planning on going. I think everyone is!" Again, too cheery.

"Would you want a ride? I mean, my mom is taking me, and she could pick you up too. We could, you know, go together."

"Um," pause for effect; I was nailing this, "yeah, that sounds fun."

His eyes met mine then, and a smile spread across his face. "Really? I mean, yeah, it does sound fun!"

"Here, let me give you my number so you can call and give me the specifics. Okay?" I was a teenaged-boy-slayer.

"Yeah, that would be awesome. Thanks, Jenny." I could hear the excitement in his voice as I wrote my number down on his hand. I looked up when I was done, and we were close, kissing close. "So," he said in almost a whisper. Then so quickly I barely noticed, he kissed my cheek. "I'll call you," and he gave me the biggest grin I had ever seen.

We made our status official at Tricia's party, and I got my second cheek kiss. I was thirteen and officially in the dating game. If I only knew then what I knew now.

Will Turner; oh, how Jake had hated him. Not that Will had been any fonder of Jake. Still, as my mind wandered to Will, it brought a smile to my face for the first time since I had arrived at the wedding. I let my mind continue to meander through memories of Will.

"Can we have a movie night just the two of us soon?" Will didn't bother to mask his annoyance. After two years of dating, Will did not hesitate to hide his disdain for Jake.

"I guess, but what's wrong with Jake and Shelly?" I knew the answer, but I asked anyway.

"Shelly's fine, but Jake hates me. I think he has a thing for you." Will knew I hated it when he said that. Partly because of how untrue it was and partly because of how true I wanted it to be.

"Seriously, that's gross. He's like my brother. But fine, tomorrow we can do a movie night at your place. You can even pick the movie."

"Anything in color," he said quickly. "These old movies are so boring."

"I agree," Shelly concurred, coming in from behind us.

"The old movies are my favorite. They are just more mysterious," I snuggled into Will as I spoke.

"Mysterious like they don't make sense," Shelly griped.

"They make sense if you pay attention," my unhindered annoyance came through in my tone.

Jake arrived then with two bowls of popcorn. "To Kill a Mockingbird, classic," he excitedly announced.

I couldn't help but let out a little laugh while Shelly began to pout. She started early, trying to get Jake to make out with her in the dark that night. I couldn't help but watch out of the side of my view. She would lean in; he would give her a quick peck and point to the screen.

Will yawned next to me. I looked up at him as he smiled down at me, close. The next thing I knew, we were kissing. I felt his hand move behind my neck, and I got lost in his lips.

"Hey," I heard from across the room before a pillow hit our heads, causing them to knock together.

"Ouch, what the hell, Jake?" I growled, throwing the pillow back at him.

"It's a living room, not a motel, and you two are barely fifteen years old." Jake's voice had a low roar of anger.

"Ugh, fifteen-year-olds are getting more action than I am," Shelly lamented.

"Shelly," Jake was full-on pissed.

"Well, I guess movie night is over. Jake, Shelly, it was nice to see you." I tried to get up and usher them to the door.

"I'm not going anywhere." Jake glared between Will and me.

"Jake, my parents are home. It's not like we are going to do it right here on the living room couch."

Jake recoiled as though I had punched him. "Do it... Like sex," he sputtered. "Are you seriously bringing up sex right now, here, in front of everyone? You aren't... what the fuck is going on?"

"Okay, this conversation is just not happening. You guys can watch the movie. Come on, Will." I took Will's hand, and we started for the kitchen

"You are not heading to your room with him. Carol!" Jake yelled out.

"You are telling my mom on me. Jake, you are ridiculous."

"Damn straight! You are in way over your head here, Nifer."

"Jake, I am not eight anymore. Get out of my house."

Then my mom was there. "What's up?" She had her fake cheery voice.

"Nothing, Jake was just leaving."

"Yeah, we're calling it a night. I'll give Will a ride home for you, Carol." Jake had a smirk as though he had won.

"That would be very nice of you. Thanks." My mom knew something was happening, but I could tell she was not quite sure what.

I did the only thing I could do. I turned to Will. "Thanks for coming; I had a great time." And then I kissed him, not a peck, but a full-on he-was-sure-to think-of-that-later kiss. Even my mom was a bit shocked.

"Car now," Jake barked at both Shelly and Will.

Shelly and Jake broke up for a month after that night, but Will and I were as strong as ever. Jake and I never spoke of it again. But my mom did...

That night as I was brushing my teeth, my mom came in. "Jen, I wanted to talk to you about... you."

"Mom, please, I know what you are going to say. Will and I..."

"Let me stop you there. This is not about Will or any boy. This is about you. Relationships are complicated, and hormones only complicate things more. You should never do anything you are not comfortable with for any reason." Was my mom talking about my spite kiss or sex? I couldn't tell. "This is your only body, so take care of it. You're in control."

"I know, mom." I felt relieved by the macro approach to her sex talk.

As she headed out of the room, she added, "And we are getting an appointment for you to get the pill. Don't tell your father."

"Mom, I'm not."

She cut me off again. "I know you are not, but you should start taking care of yourself now for when you are ready... in twenty years." Sometimes my mom was the best, but I was not going to be having sex anytime soon.