Thursday morning. Four days ago, I was in my first date with Stoney Gossard. Four days ago, I had my first kiss. I have to be honest, ever since he dropped me home that day everything else that did not involve him has been a blur. I have no idea how I've juggled through classes and taken tests these past days, or even how I've managed to act like a normal, functional human being, when all that's in my mind is him and that kiss.

We have hung out in school, at lunches and a little bit after school. He told me and Giada that his parents got a new car and now he'd be driving their old one, so he's taken us home every day since Monday. It's getting more and more comfortable between him and us. Sure, I'm still smitten, but I now feel at ease with him. Not only he is cute, he's clever too and I've started to understand his humor. He is nice to us, he compliments us and our conversations range from the smartest issues like pollution and the future of the planet, to the silliest topics such as the incredibly disgusting sloppy joe's from the school cafeteria.

We haven't had time by ourselves –just me and him– since Sunday, though... and I can't wait.

As me and Giada walk to school, in silence and surely both of us with Stoney in our minds, we're startled by a car horn. Lo and behold, it's him.

"'Sup, pretty ladies?" He sticks his head out from the driver's window. His hair dances in the wind in its usual poofyness and his face is framed by his trusty aviator sunglasses. He flashes a grin to us. "Want a ride?"

I notice he has other people in the car with him, including someone in the passenger seat. A girl, who grunts. "We're literally two minutes away from school." I have no idea who she is.

"Shh." Stoney turns swiftly to the girl. "Go on. Get in the back."

I can almost see this unknown copilot rolling her eyes as she exits the car to hop back in, this time in the backseat.

"We would definitely love a ride!" Giada exclaims happily, as Stoney eyes her from top to bottom. Today, Gi is not wearing what we would consider her usual attire. Instead, a beautiful long sundress I had never seen (paired with a fitted jean jacket) was her choice. It actually looks more like something out of my closet. She let her hair down in waves with a soft, half ponytail. "Grazie."

We both get in the car and sit next to him. Somehow we both fit but she gets the cake, to sit shoulder to shoulder with him.

"So, that's my sister, Star." He explains. "She missed the bus today 'cause she spent way too much time in the bathroom getting even uglier than she is."

He turns back only to see her flipping him off. I know both me and Gi are trying to hold in laughter.

"Yeah, whatever, I hate you too." He says to her. "These are Giada and Adriana. Be polite to them."

"Hey." She nods at us, still visibly annoyed of course.

"Excuse her." Stoney shakes his head and looks at us with his expressive eyes. "She's in that stage. You know, teenagers."

As if we weren't teenagers too. As if we didn't struggle with character too. But I get what he means.

Two other people are sitting next to Stoney's sister in the backseat. In the middle someone we already know, Stoney's friend Josh who spent the entire open rehearsal with a camera and eating sandwiches. History repeats, this time only with a sandwich. And beside him a guy I never met before.

"You already know Josh, and that giraffe behind me is Ben Shepherd." Stoney points at them with his thumb. "He plays bass in our band, March of Crimes. He was at the party the other night."

"What band?" Stoney's sister cracks up. "You don't even have one full song!"

The tall guy just smiles and raises his hand timidly. He seems nice, but quickly my attention is back to our driver. Even though our trip is short, I'm determined to enjoy and absorb every second of it. However this scenario is different and we can't be too out there, as we have company. Stoney starts driving again, looking at us from the corner of his eye.

"So, Giada," he says, "what's the occasion for this classy outfit?"

Of course he noticed how beautiful Giada's dress made her look. Her eyes sparkle at his compliment but also, for the reason.

"Oh! It's just that the auditions for the school play are today!" She explains, cheerily. "They're doing a modern take of Romeo and Juliet and I'm trying for Juliet of course, so I thought I'd wear this to, you know, get in character! A mix of old and new!"

She surely mentioned to Stoney in their date that her dream was to become an actress. I have never seen her act but I'm sure she is really good. Her personality gives it away. She's told me that it gives her a chance to be someone else, just for a little while, experience it, and then be back to who she really is. I confess it's appetizing.

"Ugh, that stupid play!" Stoney's sister keeps grunting from the back. I hear a muffled chuckle, probably from this guy Ben. "They do it every year and it sucks every year!"

Stoney slams the breaks, turns back and eyes his sister a killer glance that speaks volumes. Then, back to us.

"So, the school play, huh?" He smiles, shifting moods instantly. "Interesting. I never tried for that."

"Should be fun!" Giada pats his leg briefly. "It'll be my first play in English. I'm in every play back home but I perform in Italian, ovviamente."

"I'd love to see that." He grins mischievously.

"Juliet is Italian," I remind them, "so this part is made for you, Gi."

"Actually, you know what?" he taps the driving wheel, "I'm going to try for this one."

"What?" Me, Giada and his sister exclaim in unison. Another hidden talent? Acting?

"Sure! Why not?" He shrugs. "They say you should try everything at least once, right?"

"What," His sister snorts, "are you going to try for Juliet?"

"No, Miss Smarty Pants." Stoney rolls his eyes from behind his shades. "I'm trying for Romeo. Or Mercutio. Or whatever."

"Preferably Romeo, please." I manage to hear Giada whisper.

Seconds later we arrive in school. Stoney's sister sprints out of the car, and once she's away Stoney asks us to come close.

"Hey, girls," He hands us both two cards, "here are your fake IDs for tonight."

"Oh my God!" Giada gasps, "How cool!"

"Hold on," I reply in a bit of panic, "Are we actually going to this show at that club?"

"Of course we are." Stoney replies, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to try and get into an over-21 club in a school night.

Okay, maybe it's not that rare and maybe I'm just a prude.

"But, but," I stutter at Giada, "what are we telling our host parents?"

"Pffft." Stoney heard me, "I'm sleeping over at Ben's, Ben is sleeping over at Josh's and Josh is sleeping over at mine." He points at the two boys, who are still hanging near. "Think of something similar, don't sweat it."

"We'll figure it out!" Giada shakes my shoulder gently. "Come on! We can't miss this!"

"Yeah, you will. See you later," he leans very near to us, "my beautiful temptresses?"

We both chuckle and nod yes. We watch him walk away.

"Adri!" Giada cannot contain her excitement. "Fake IDs! The audition today! A club tonight with Stoney! Can this day get any better?"

I admit I am excited too, of course, but also terrified. This could go so wrong, everything could go wrong.

But I'm all in anyway. For him, I am.

***

Thursday night. Giada and I told our hosts families we were staying at another classmate's house, to study for a big test. I don't really like lying, especially if there is a possibility to be found out, but it looks as though Giada has done this before. I go to Giada's to get ready, and I borrow almost my entire outfit of the night from her. I believe we look sharp, and most importantly, old enough to get into this club and thus, discover a whole new world.

Giada chooses a leather jacket and I pick one of her coolest dark denim jackets that looks more like a blazer. Both of us go for tight jeans and cool t-shirts (hers a Bowie one), big earrings, more makeup than what we wore to the open rehearsal and our hair tied up in high ponytails. I wear dark burgundy lipstick for the first time and I must admit it looks really good. Gi, on the other hand, is wearing red.

To get out of the house, we wear raincoats to conceal our clothes so that her family is not suspicious, and we met Stoney a few blocks away. I can spot the shock on his face upon looking at us... nice move from our part.

He's having fun.

We arrive at this club, the Off Ramp, and I'm trying to brace myself for what I'm about to experience. I glance at all the people standing in line outside. Luckily –or magically, we get in without much inspection from the bouncers. Still, Stoney didn't lose the chance to perform his part as Suarez, the person he's supposed to be according to his fake ID. I tried hard not to laugh in front of the bouncer.

Once inside, the air is smoky and stuffy, the place is packed... rockers, punks with all sorts of hairdos and outfits, more casual people... Giada and Stoney (and his friends) appear to be in their element. Me, I'm still watching my step and trying not to trip into people while my senses overdose with lights, sounds and smells.

"See, I told you I could act!" Stoney brags and smiles. "What did you think of that accent, huh?"

"Mr. Suarez!" I chuckle. "I can't even do it that good and I speak Spanish!"

"Hasta pasta, muchas gracias." He bows, jokingly. "Speaking of acting," he throws his arm over Giada's shoulder and pulls her towards him, "how about this future Oscar winner today?"

"Oh, shut up." Giada seems embarrassed. "I've done better."

"You'll get it!" Stoney assures her.

"But you, on the other hand!" Giada pats his chest teasingly. "How come you never auditioned before?"

"I suppose I needed a little motivation." Stoney squeezes her arm. "We're going to be the coolest Romeo and Juliet that dump of a school will ever see."

I can't deny, I feel a bit left out during this exchange. But I believe Stoney notices in an instant, and throws his other arm over my shoulders and gets close.

"Is this your first time at a club?" He whispers in my ear. I shiver and struggle to contain myself. Having him so near, saying things to my ear, feeling his breath in my neck just like the other day...

I bite my lip and smile.

"Oh, no! I've been to clubs, back home." Well, that's a little white lie. "Um... well, maybe not like this club, more like..." I gesture, a bit nervous, "a place where they serve food and play music?"

It's a soda fountain, Adriana. What you're thinking about is that soda fountain where they serve 1-yard-long hot dogs. That is certainly not a club.

"You're in for a treat, then!" He rubs my arm. "You're in a true Seattle music club. A bit of an institution. Just..." he brings his face close again, "try and stay close."

"To be safe?" I look into his eyeliner-rimmed eyes.

"No, because I'd love for you to stay close." He replies, plain and simply. "Both of you."

I struggle again to control myself. So I come up with a counter question, one of those things that just come out of me without much or any thought.

"Is this your first time at a club?" I raise my eyebrow.

"Um..." he snuggles even closer, "this club in particular, yes. But, the key is to act natural. We cannot look too starry eyed. We just cruise through, be cool, no big deal."

We keep making our way through the crowd and towards the bar. Stoney orders beers for us and I spot another interesting character from the corner of my eye. His face looks very familiar and so does his outfit: a ripped, fitted black shirt, chains, superimposed skinny belts with studs, faux leather trousers and boots. His hair is big, he probably spent a can of hairspray on it. Makeup around his eyes, lots of it. I quickly put two and two together.

"Oh, wow." I say to Stoney. "Is that the guy from the coffee shop?"

"Who?" Giada hears.

"The guy who got us here." Stoney replies and nods at him. The guy, whose name I remember is Jeff, acknowledges him and walks up to us.

"Hey man." Jeff greets Stoney and quickly notices me. "Hey! Strawberry girl!"

I smile and giggle.

"Strawberry girl?" Giada mouths at me from behind Stoney's back.

"I'll tell you later." I mouth back.

"Nice of you all to come. Thanks." Jeff says.

"Sure, man, we go see music all the time." Stoney replies in his usual cool tone. "That guy over there, the tall one, he's the bassist in my band, March of Crimes." He points at Ben, who's talking to a girl not far from us. "So, we go around, see other bands to, you know, seize the competition."

"Right." Jeff shrugs. "Well, we're on in a minute. I hope you enjoy the show, um..."

"Stone. Gossard." Stoney replies matter-of-factly. "Owner of a Marshall and a Les Paul. Remember the name."

"Okay, Stone." Jeff chortles. "Hard to forget."

I guess if these two are expecting to get familiar with each other, someone will have to learn to understand the other's sense of humor.

"And—" Jeff points at me with his hand and I realize I better introduce myself before I become 'Strawberry girl' forever.

"I'm Adriana," I say and then point at Giada, "that's Giada."

"Cool." Jeff nods. "Have fun, see ya in a bit."

As he walks away I can see Giada checking him out.

"He's hot." She says very casually and has a sip of her beer.

"What?!" Stoney exclaims.

"I can say that!" Giada laughs. "I'm not blind!"

"Um," I chuckle, "he's a bit extravagant, I think?"

"He's not from around here, girls." Stoney shakes his head. "I can tell because he's trying a little too hard, with the clothes and all."

"Don't be jealous, Stoney." Giada kisses him on the cheek, in a bold move.

"What?" He seems indignant so he cools himself off with a sip of beer. "Ha! I'm the least jealous person in this world."

"We're not from around here either, Stoney." I remind him, whispering in his ear.

"Yeah," he turns to face me, "but that's different."

Soon enough, Jeff's band, Deranged Diction, starts playing. I can't tell what it is exactly that they play. It's a bit too messy but at least Jeff seems to be having fun. He jumps really high, that's for sure. But all I care about is being next to Stoney and holding his hand, in public, yes, but at the same time in the dark where nobody can really see, not even Giada.

The rest of the night just flies by between beers, music and teasing... as I keep getting lost in his eyes and wishing and praying for a moment alone, me and him.

This is getting more difficult by the minute.