"Ready to go?" Conner asked coming up behind me once school was over. "Sure." I said. We started to walk out of the building. "Baby wait!" It was Megan. "Just a second." He said turning to her. "Hey." "Hey sexy, glad i caught you." Said Megan pulling Conner to her for an awkwardly long kiss. "I'll miss you." She said. "You too. I've gotta go. But I'll call you later." He said squeezing her hand. "Okay bye boo." She waved and we finally headed to his truck.

             "Sorry bout that." Conner said. "No I'm sorry." I sighed. "I know this can't be easy on her having to share her boyfriend." I said. "It's one week, she'll survive." He chuckled. The drive to the store didn't take long. We got in and made quick work of the shopping. They even had a bakery that had chocolate cake. When we were done he paid for everything and we left.

Standing inside Conner's kitchen, he held the plate of steaks. "I'll throw these bad boys on the grill." He said once he'd added some spices. "You know how to grill? Well color me impressed." I said. "Yea, my dad taught me a few years ago." he said bringing the pan out to the grill. The mashed potatoes were already cooked and cooling while the biscuits continued to cook. "So tell me what's something your dad taught you how to do?" He asked. "Leave when things get tough?" I asked shrugging. "Oh, i didn't know I'm so sorry. When was the last time you saw your dad?" He asked. "Mm bout five years old? He drove away and never looked back. You know how they say when parents divorce that you shouldn't blame yourself? Well i can. I know it's not my fault my parent's split up or anything but my dad never came around. Never called. He didn't even send a postcard!" I said.

"Ugh i hate that." He said. "I mean i learned how a good marriage is supposed to be by watching my parent's I mean they're so in love you know?" He said. "Yea, i mean i know enough to know i don't want a guy who gives up when things get tough i want him to fight for me. I mean i have a list of standards and traits I'd like in a man but who knows i have zero life experience." I shrugged. "Really? I'd think you'd have more life experience than all of us." He said. "Hm you'd think." I said. He pulled the steaks off the grill and we headed inside. He checked the biscuits and pulled them out. "I didn't know what sides to cook but i know you're from the south so i thought these two would be pretty good." He said. "It's perfect, thanks for being so thoughtful." I said smiling. He smiled back. "Not a problem." Once everything was on the plates i cut the steak and took a big bite. "Oh that's good! Oh how I've missed steak." I said. He beamed. "I'm glad i could help then." He said. "Yea, hey you did great on the grill." I said. "Thanks." We finished the food and he cut the cake. I took a big bite closing my eyes and savoring the sweet chocolate flavor. "I like watching you eat cake. I feel like I've been taking it for granted." He said chuckling. "Maybe you have." I smirked.

---The next day---

"Okay student's please place your shopping list in the bins. I want to see the sheet where you have planned out your budget. I'm going to give you your homework for today and then you'll each come up here as a group and talk about what you learned. Now tonight i want you to go on a date. You can go get dinner go do an activity. I want you to arrange for a babysitter should you need it. Then while you are there i want you to come up with an argument you and your spouse would have and how you would resolve it. Then i want you to share something personal with your spouse." Said Ms. Roma.

         Megan raised her hand. "Yes Megan?" She asked. "I don't feel comfortable going on a date with a girl." Ms. Roma sighed. "It's just pretend Megan. You or her are supposed to be the husband." Ms. Roma said sighing. "Ugh whatever." Said Megan. "Why don't you get us started." She motioned to the podium. Celine started. "Well my spouse um didn't really work with me on paying the bills. I took care of them myself but i suppose that's okay because sometimes one spouse handles all the bills so..." "Celine." Megan hissed. "What? It's true." Celine whispered back. "See I'm a teacher so I'm busy molding young minds. But we um learned that you have to pay bills or they take your things." She said. "Very good." Ms. Roma said and Megan and Celine took a seat.

        Conner and i went next. "We didn't realize how expensive things were." Said Conner. "Right, and if i work full time as a nurse i still have to find time to get groceries with two kids. We found time to cook dinner and we used that time to catch up. In other words being an adult is hard." I said. "Right and when we looked up what everything cost we realized we had tv and internet and we were supposed to have time to use all of that." Said Conner. "Very good you guys! You are learning." Ms. Roma said. Once everybody had gone she asked us to make our plans for the evening.

          "I'm confused as a doctor i would take you to Rigatonis that fancy Italian restaurant but as a high school kid I'm gonna take you to chilis." He shrugged. "Oh i know, you got the steak I'll take us to Rigatonis." I said. "Oh no i couldn't ask you to do that." Conner said. "You're not asking, i offered and it's the least i can do. Marriage is about give and take. I'll find a way you can pay me back." I said smiling. "Okay, I'll get us a reservation." He pulled out his phone and dialed. "No phones in class Conner." Said Ms. Roma. "It's for the assignment I'm making date plans." He said. She mulled it over. "Okay, just make it quick." She said.

          "Five o'clock okay?" Conner asked. I nodded. "Tuesday nights are slow." He said. "Great." I nodded. We had about ten minutes to plan stuff. Then Ms. Roma passed out some paper to us. "These are blank checks. I'm going to show you how to write one." She said. "Ugh please Ms. Roma nobody actually writes checks anymore." Megan said. "Well some people do and you need to know how to do it. Then we'll learn how to balance a checkbook." She said. Megan rolled her eyes. "Now i know for sure nobody does that anymore. I mean for real people just keep tabs on what they spend. Since people hardly write checks..." Megan whispered.
             Once class was over we headed to lunch. I saw Megan and Lucy talking. Megan was shaking her head. I walked quickly past both of them and into the lunch room. "Wait up!" Lucy called. "Oh, hey...i didn't see you there." I said. She laughed. "Yes you did i know you saw Megan and i talking." I rolled my eyes. "Okay so maybe i did." I shrugged. "Well you don't have to worry she was just asking what was up with you and Conner." I furrowed my brow. "And what did you tell her?" I asked. "The truth, that Ya'll were just working together on a school project but i did tell her if she was worried you'd take Conner that maybe she should befriend you. She laughed at that. I told her i was serious that if Ya'll were friends you'd feel guilty and i don't know...not do anything? And that she'd be able to keep better tabs on you. I mean you're not gonna make out or flirt with him in front of her and if you did she'd...ya know...notice." She shrugged sliding her tray down the metal counter. We got to the end and she paid.

         I looked around the room for an open seat. I noticed Conner sitting next to Megan. He looked up at me and caught my eye. He smiled and waved. I waved back. A few guys at the nearest table shoved down quickly to open up seats next to them. "Ah being your friend does have perks." Lucy said taking the open seat. "Hi boys, thanks for the seats." I said. "No problem." Said Joel. "Anything for you." Said Trey. "You guys know Lucy." I said motioning. "Oh yes, Lucy and i had Math last year." Said Joel. He was cute. He was. He had dark brown curly hair but not the kinky kind like screech. He had freckles dotting his ruddy cheeks. "It was my last math thank goodness." Said Lucy. "Mine to, math is so crazy. Y'know i tried to show my mom the math and she was confused by the new math." He shrugged. "Right my dad tried his best to help me. He had to learn it though." Said Lucy. They chatted and i beamed. She needed a cute guy. Maybe it was Joel maybe it wasn't but i wanted her to be happy. I knew we had home coming in a few weeks. I didn't have a date nor would i. But i mean I'm sure I'd get asked by a few guys. Only problem is, i didn't want to go with anyone but I'd probably go with Conner and he was taken. So maybe i should just go with one of them so i didn't go alone and so i had somebody to dance with.
          I looked at Trey. He was tall with sandy brown hair that came to a gelled point. He had bright blue eyes. He was thin but he was decent looking. I looked around the room. Who would i take to the dance? I had high standards. I wanted a guy who was cute but also a guy who was sweet and nice, even funny would be great. "What are you doing?" Lucy asked. "Oh i was just looking for a date." I said. "To where?" She asked. "Oh, well i know homecoming is coming up and i don't wanna go solo." I shrugged. "I'd be happy to go with you." Trey shrugged. "Thanks, I'll think about it and let you know." I said.

         "Oh of course, i don't know why you'd wanna go with me." He shook his head. "Oh no, it's not you. It's just i don't really know you and there's kind of this guy i was hopping would ask me. That's all." I said. "Oh well of course." He nodded. "Just y'know let me know." He said. "Of course i will." I said. Once lunch was over i headed to the commons area with Lucy. "So Joel is nice." I said. "Ah i see what you did there..." She said "Well he is." I said. "I know and you're right but i have no idea who I'd wanna go with." She shrugged. I wanted to call bull on that. That maybe she had a crush that all girls had one. But i was new to high school so who knows.

          "Really? There's nobody?" I asked. "Well, okay Maybe Joel is nice." She said blushing. "Oh I knew it!! think he'll ask you?" I asked. "Oh no way he doesn't even know i like him. I mean we talk and he's nice and stuff but...well other than that...y'know..." She said shrugging. "I could talk to him?" I said shrugging. "Look I'm glad you don't get nervous in front of guys and all but no. That would be really embarrassing and he'd probably just be interested in you anyways." She shook her head. "Then maybe we need to throw a party. I haven't been to one of those yet and it's totally on my list. I can invite him." "Fine then I'll invite Conner who will have to invite Megan." I put my hand up. "Point taken." I said. "If i need your help i know where to find you." She said. "Oh alright, that's fair."