For as long as Becky could remember, ever since she was a child, she had always wanted to move to the United States. Not that she didn't love Dublin, her small hometown. After all, it was there that she was born and raised and she had a few good memories associated with Dublin—enough memories to bring a smile to her face whenever she thinks about them. Most of these special memories involve sitting with her large family on Christmas nights and eating a bountiful feast together while the Christmas tree twinkled and glinted in the living room. It also involve sipping warm, delicious tea with her father in the garden as they chat about school and boys. She missed the hearty talks she used to have with her mother, the feel of her mother's fingers skimming through her hair as she gives her advice on school matters and healthy tips for when she finally ushers into puberty. Those had been the good old days, the happy, contented ones that manages to lift her spirits in dark times.

But more of her days in Dublin had been nothing short of problems and misfortunes. In just a month, Annette had lost her job and her source of livelihood. Her father, Kennedy had been diagnosed with lung cancer that had threatened his life. Although she had been just thirteen then, she still remembered the hardships her father went through and all those times he will assure in a voice full of tremor that he was going to be alright. Becky never believed him at that time, no matter how many times her father assured her. Because every time he will try to, she always saw right through him——right through the fear and despair he desperately tries to hide behind a smile. She had seen enough of those smiles on her mother's face when she stumbles into her crying in her bedroom at nights to know they aren't real and everything isn't right.

Annette had grown distant afterwards. Hardly speaking to Becky when she comes home at nights after spending the entire day looking for a job unsuccessfully. She will kiss her on the forehead, tell her she loves her in a tired voice and reheat the leftover food from the previous night for her. Becky never minded eating the leftover foods but what had bothered her at the time was the dark circles around her mother's eyes in the morning and how completely drained she always is after coming home.

They didn't celebrate Christmas that year and the family didn't come by to eat a feast. Becky only talked to her relatives over the phone wishing them a Merry Christmas——one she wished she could have done in person. Her father had been in the hospital receiving treatment, doing everything he could possibly do to get better but the doctor only said his health was getting worse despite the best efforts Kennedy was putting into it. She had maintained a sense of calm for those three months that had rolled by but by the fourth month, the stress finally got to her.

She began slacking in class and failed miserably in Physical Education classes——not that she was ever good in that class but she grew worse and worse each single week. She will spend her nights worrying and crying about her father. The terrible nightmares of her father dying will wake her up in a sweaty mess and sleep hardly came again until dawn which was never enough. Since her mother was barely at home, Becky spent time with her friends instead of going home. Through her friends, she discovered ways to relieve herself of her stress and problems and if it weren't for one cold night she had spent in a police station, Becky would have never come into terms with her mother that she was taking the dark path and move with her to the United States when she finally found a job as a flight attendant.

Shaking her head, Becky cleared her mind of the bad memories of the past and focused on the present. Meeting Seth have been one of the best things to ever happen to her. He helped her in ways he didn't know and couldn't fathom. He helps her focus on things that doesn't lead her on the dark path she once walked. The attention he always showers on her makes her feel loved and appreciated without even having to do anything.

She thought back to the kiss they shared yesterday after coming home from the park. Seth had dragged her away from the park, leaving Josh to whatever fate he might have with the girls. They had raced down the road, hand in hand until Seth had dragged her down an alley, pushing her so roughly against a wall she had screamed. He had kissed her slow and gentle and Becky had savored each and every minute of having his lips on hers. They had kissed for several minutes and would have continued much longer if Becky hadn't pointed out that the sun was setting and they needed to head home before their parents arrived. Seth had groaned against neck, making his displeasure felt but he had kissed her for one last time before smoothing down her wrinkled clothes and messy hair, whispering into her ear how he wouldn't let her go the next time even if she begged him.

Becky smiled at the memory and hugged her small pillow closer to her chest. It was Saturday which meant school–free so Becky was still in bed after showering and eating breakfast while her mother watched one of her boring TV shows in the living room. Although Saturdays were school-free and that means a reason for joy, Becky didn't feel an ounce of happiness because Seth wasn't at home. He was the only person she wanted to spend time with not sit with her mother in the living room and watch one of her many dull TV shows. Besides, sitting in the living room with her mother might eventually lead them into talking about topics she didn't really want to discuss.

Just as she was about to reach for one of her books to read, a sound came from her window. At first she thought it was one of the children playing pranks but then the sound came again. She jumped out of bed and opened the window. She peered outside, looking for the prankster but there was hardly anyone around except some people who were walking their dogs. She was about to close the window when she spotted Seth, leaning against her wall, looking up at her. "Seth? What are you doing there?"

He waved at her, "I've never been more glad to have a girlfriend with an orange hair. It makes spotting you very easy in a crowd. In this case, it helps me avoid aunt Annette catching me throwing stones at your window."

Becky blushed. It was only this time that it finally sunk in, stealing her breath away. She is officially Seth's girlfriend. Wow. "What are you doing here? I thought you had gone to the supermarket to help your mother with her work."

He winked at her, "Yes, I did. But as I was sitting there doing nothing but watching my mother and her mathematical intelligence, I realized I could have more fun kissing you than watching her. So I feigned sickness so she can send me home and here I am."

"You lied about being sick so you can come home and see me," she asked in surprise.

Seth shrugged and pulled out a stash of cash from his pocket, "Of course. Look at this. She even gave me money to buy drugs for my stomachache. More money to save for the wrestling school and I get to make good word of the promise I made to you yesterday. But that will only happen if you come outside and see me."

Becky shook her head, smiling. Seth was crazy sometimes. "Although I hate for you to lie to your mother, I can't complain. I wanted to see you too. But unlike you I can't complain about sickness just to get away from the house."

Seth waved at someone as she heard the sound of a car parking but Becky couldn't see who it was. "Make up anything that comes to mind. Tell aunt Annette you've to pick up something from school or you want to borrow a book from the library or something. Just come down. I want to see you. I missed you."

"I missed you too." She bit her bottom lip, thinking hard. "Okay. I'll see what I can do. Meet you in five minutes."

He blew her a kiss, "Meet you in five."
Becky humoured him and caught the kiss, holding it close to her heart. She closed the window when Seth was out of sight. Checking herself one last time in the mirror, she grabbed her jacket and raced down the stairs to the living room.

Annette glanced at her suspiciously behind the rim of her coffee mug, "Where do you think you're going young lady?"

Becky pretended to be in a hurry. She quickly dashed for an apple and kissed Annette on the cheek. "Forgot to tell you. I have plans with some of my friends from my school. We are going to a park not from here. I promise I won't be long."

Annette smiled at her, "Glad to know you're making new friends, my dear. What are you and your friends going to do?"

Becky sighed in exasperation. Whenever her mother asks her that, Becky knew what she is referring to and she didn't like it one bit. "Mom, it's not what you think. I already promised I will behave and be mindful of the people I hang out with. These friends aren't bad. In fact Seth knows them. He can vouch for them. They are good."

Annette nodded, "Okay, sweetheart. Just making sure you're okay. What will you like for dinner? I have had enough of your cooking, no matter how delicious they always are."

Becky rushed to the door. Seth is waiting. She didn't have time to discuss dinner. "Anything. Whatever you want, mom." She sighed a sigh of relief when she was finally out of the house. Her heart leapt when she saw Seth, tall and handsome, in a dark shirt and a faded blue jeans, his hair curled up in a man bun. "You know. I like your hair better when it is loose."

He placed a lingering kiss on her lips. "Just wanted to try something different and new. But if you don't like it, you can always untie it. I won't mind if it means having you close."

Becky stroked his forehead, "Hmm, I think I will let you keep it for now. The appropriate time will come to untie it along with tearing these sexy jeans you're wearing."

He trailed his fingers along the waistband of her black pants, "Two can play at that game, you know." He breathed against her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. "So what will you like to do?"

"I thought you had something in mind. I remember you saying something about making good word of the promise you made to me yesterday. I'm waiting."

He chuckled, "I rarely make promises but when I do, I always keep them. And when it concerns kissing you, I will be stupid to be stuck in the boring supermarket with my mother. But first, let's get some coffee."

Becky twined her hand in Seth's, "With the money your mother gave you to buy medicines?" She pointed out. "She is going to ask if you bought the medicines you know?"

"I know. I will just tell her it got lost or something. Whatever. But now, all I'm thinking about is how to make you squirm when I kiss you."

She shoved him playfully, "You're terrible." After they got their coffee——Seth's treat of course——they walked to the park, never letting go of each other's hand. Since Seth insisted on knowing everything about her, Becky had no choice but to tell him of her favorite colours, her favorite genres in songs, the books she loves to read, her brother and her father and among other things. But she left out the part of her father's sickness and the difficult times she had back in Ireland. She didn't want to spoil their day and what was wordlessly their first date.

Since it was Saturday, there were people in the park but not too many. Becky and Seth watched a family of four having a picnic together. Their little girl was just too adorable and Becky noticed the glint that lit in Seth's brown eyes when he saw their dog. Soon the family left and Seth's eyes trained on their white, fluffy dog the entire time. "Want a dog so badly, huh?"

"I just miss my dog. The poor thing died and he didn't even have a proper funeral."

Becky almost choked on her coffee, "You must be kidding. A funeral for a dog? Your mother will go crazy."

Seth shifted close to her, "I was thinking of inviting only you and Josh but then again the dog might resurrect to take revenge on me for replacing him so soon with you."

Becky wrapped her arms around his neck, coffee forgotten on the soft grass. "I'm ready to fight your dog and the world for you. You're that worth it. Now," she untied his man bun, "back to the promise."

They spent the entire afternoon kissing. The temptation to touch his bare chest was great but Becky didn't dare remove Seth's shirt in public. But she roamed her hands freely on his back, around his neck and going as far as rubbing him through his jeans.

Seth gasped at the contact. Becky laughed teasingly. "I will get you for that, I promise." He drew her into another kiss, biting hard on her bottom lip to make her yelp but his lips felt too good to pull back.

"If we were adults," Becky said breathlessly as she tilted her head to give Seth more room to kiss her neck, "I might think you have sex on the menu with the way you are kissing me."

He pulled back to look at her, "It's not too late to add it to the menu you know."

"It's not," she conceded, "but where and how?"

Sett grinned deviously, "You're seriously considering it, aren't you? What happened to taking it slow?"

Her hand drifted lower, "Whoever said that is a fool. Don't mind her. She doesn't know what she is saying sometimes."

"Having a date and sex on the same menu isn't bad at all. But let's wait, shall we?"

Becky smiled and squeezed him. Seth swore. "As you wish."

He leaned his forehead against hers, "You do realize that it will be our first time. . . . that is if you haven't. . . ."

Becky gave him a quick kiss, "No, I haven't. You're my first crush, my first love, my first date, my first boyfriend and my first kiss. You're my every first. If we do it, then you will be the first person I ever do it with."

He pulled into a long kiss, full of every emotion Becky could detect he was feeling. "You're my first everything too——in the human aspect that is. You know my dog comes first." Seth teased.

Becky snorted, "Very funny."

"Your first time should be special and I want it to be special." He ran a hand through her hair, "Let's take it slow, okay. At the right time. Besides, I still have to get condoms."

"I will also have to give you enough kisses to sustain you so you won't tear my panties on that day," she teased.

"On that day," he whispered, breath hot on her cheek, "On that day."