She touched the spot in shock, but soon smiled and kissed his cheek in return.

Isaac remembered that day well. His first kiss. He laughed lightly at the memory as he glanced down at his watch. Emily was going to be there soon. They were going out to a movie together. But just as friends.

“Hey, Ike!” He heard Taylor call from the front room.

He leaned his head out his bedroom door. “Yeah?” He called back.

“Phone!” Taylor shouted as he appeared from around the corner. The cordless phone in one hand and a sandwich in the other. “Es Emahee.” He said through a mouthful of food.

Isaac groaned in disgust. “That was just plain sick.” He stated laughing.

Taylor smiled and just shrugged before he left.

“Yeah, Emily?” He asked gently into the phone as he shut the door quietly.

His face started to fall. “No, it’s okay, Em.” He replied with false cheerfulness. “It’s good he asked you out. Nah, forget about it. We can do it another time. Yeah, sure. Okay, bye.” He said quietly as he hung up.

“So you and Emily going out tonight?” Zac asked as he stepped into the room, grabbing for his sketchbook.

Isaac looked up at him. “Nah.” He replied shaking his head nonchalantly. “Decided not to.”

Zac stared at him for a second. Then he nodded his head in understanding. ‘She blew him off again.’

Isaac nodded his head. “Yep.” He said quietly.

“Come on, Ikey!” Emily shouted. Her voice cheery as she tugged on Isaac’s hand.

Isaac willfully followed her, his smile wistful and content.

Emily pulled him into the musty old shed near the creek in her backyard. She grinned over at him and pecked his cheek. “I love you!” She shouted gleefully to the dark room.

He had giggled sheepishly, before he gave her a long kiss on her cheek. “I love you!” He shouted out into the room as well.

They both landed in a fit of giggles, but continued to stare at each other.

Kirk, Emily’s older brother came in. He glared at the two and demanded that they leave so that him and his friend Tommy could play in their fort.

But when Isaac went to take her hand, she refused and stared intently at Tommy.

Isaac knew he’d already lost her to him. Sighing hurtfully, his voice strained as he told her he had to go.

She barely acknowledged it and Isaac ran as fast as he could to get away.

Isaac sighed as he dropped his head into his hands. How many times had that happened? How many memories did he have exactly like that one? Why did he keep letting them happen?

The next day Isaac was up and wandering around the house earlier then usual. So were Zac and Taylor. So as a tribute to their early rising, they decided to play “kids” and vegged out in front of the t.v. with their cereal and watched cartoons all morning.

Halfway through “The Tick” the doorbell sounded.

None of them made a move to get up. Their eyes glued to the screen.

It sounded again, near impatiently.

Sighing, Isaac stood up and tried to walk towards the door and still watch the t.v. at the same time.

“Yeah, hi.” He said distractedly.

“Hey, Ikey.” Emily said grinning at him.

Instantly, Isaac’s eyes were on her. “Hey, Em.” He said smiling back at her.

“Listen I wanted to say sorry about canceling last night, so I was wondering if you’d let me make it up to you, by going to the mall?” She suggested as she twirled her now dark red hair innocently.

Without even thinking, he accepted. “Sure just let me change.” He said as he opened the door wider to allow her entrance.

She denied it and stated that it was such a nice day out she was going to stay outside and wait.

Isaac nodded and shut the door, and ran for his room.

Taylor and Zac rolled their eyes at each other before the resumed their game as kids.

Returning a few minutes later, Isaac swung the door open, but didn’t step outside. Emily was already walking down the driveway with Taylor’s friend Kyle.

“Hey, Tay.” He called out weakly.

Taylor didn’t remove his eyes from the cartoon. “Wha?” He asked, not caring.

“Come here for a second.” He commanded.

“Why?” Taylor whined, not moving.

“Isn’t that your friend?” He asked pointing out the door.

Groaning, Taylor extracted himself from the couch and walked over to the door. He watched as Emily flirted with his friend as they walked down the driveway. “Yeah, that’s Kyle.” He said slowly. “He just broke up with Courtney yesterday.”

Isaac nodded slowly. “If he didn’t, he would’ve today.”

Taylor shook his head, and clapped his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Come on, Ike.” He stated. “Duck-Tails is on next.” He said grinning.

Isaac gave him a weak smile. “Nah.” He said waving his hand. “I think I’m gonna go back to bed.”

“Okay, man.” Taylor said shrugging as he went back to his seat on the couch.

Looking back out the door, Isaac couldn’t see Emily or Kyle any more. Slowly he shut the door and even more slowly walked back down to his room. Sleep was the only thing that he could think of doing.

“Guess what, Ikey?” Emily asked sweetly as she licked at her ice cream cone.

“What?” Isaac questioned as he stared at her ice cream enviously.

Smiling, she tilted it, allowing him to have a small lick. Once he had she returned to licking at it as well. “When we get older, I’m gonna marry ya!” She said giggling.

Isaac grinned. “Really?”

She nodded her head quickly. “Uh huh. Mommy says that we only marry people that we love.” She said before taking a bite out of the cone. “So I’m gonna marry ya!”

“Isaac, honey?” Mrs. Hanson asked, as she stuck her head into his room.

Isaac murmured sleepily from the top bunk. “Umm hmmm.”

“You have a visitor, sweetie.” She told him, as she stepped inside.

He began to sit up and rub his eyes. “Who is it?” He asked before getting out of his warm bed.

Mrs. Hanson smiled sympathetically at him. “It’s Emily.” She answered.

He was slow moving… but he got himself into the front room where Emily was still waiting on him.

She grinned and gave him a hug. “Hey, Ikey.” She greeted.

“Hey.” He replied softly, they both sat down; her on the couch and him in the armchair.

Emily looked up at him from her short skirt. “I have some news to tell you, Ikey.”

Isaac nodded his head slowly. Knowing he was not going to like what was going to come out of her mouth.

“We can’t be friends no more.” She told him flat out.

He didn’t flinch or even blink. His eyes stayed transfixed on the cushion next to the one she was sitting on.

Emily continued on. “I know you think you love me, and that someday I’ll love you too,” She trailed off looking at him.

But Isaac just remained silent.

“But it’s not going to happen.” She confirmed. “I don’t like or love you in that way.”

Cautiously, Isaac stood up. He walked to the door and opened it. “See ya around, Emily.” He told her softly.

Emily nodded her head and stood up. She walked to the door, but pecked his cheek before she left.

He lightly pecked her cheek as well.

After he closed the door he returned to his room.

Sitting on the floor he grabbed for his guitar and songbook. He needed to get something out.

Before he could even pick up his instrument Taylor burst through the room grinning a huge stupid grin. “I’m in love!” He stated happily. “Love is the most beautiful thing in the world!”

Isaac frowned slightly. “Love?” He questioned. “Is she friend or foe?” He asked quietly.

Taylor looked at him, confused by his question. ‘Is he asking me, or himself?’