I had just turned eigthteen in July and the following September I had moved up to the twelve grade. I was happy that my graduation was near,and then f...nally freedom and the exuberance of going from adolescence into adulthood and being able able to do whatever I wanted. Now everyone in their later years can remember having a crush on someone in high school. My crush was Ellen Johnson. I had known her since the tenth grade, but because I my shyness the fear of rejection, I had never gottened pass. I mean LOOK at him."She blushed as Megan's eyes got a little wider. "I mean... well... you saw him. He's handsome isn't he?"Megan's eyes got wary. This had to be a trick question. "I guess some girls might think so" she said, safely.Valerie frowned. "Megan, if I was twenty years younger I'd be all over him. Why wouldn't he have a girlfriend?" Valerie suddenly thought the thought that terrifies every heterosexual mother at least once in her life. 'You don't suppose he's..."Megan didn't get it.. Dawn likes to think her work is better than just a ‘distraction’.”Her comments got Dawn giggling as well, and after a few seconds Matti realized what he had said. He was a bit embarrassed as he corrected himself, “I ... didn’t really mean that everything on TV is a distraction. I just mean I ... enjoy getting away from the city, and all of the ... sounds of the city.” The two women were now showing their amusement at Matti’s tortured attempt to dig himself out of the hole he had created for. We finished our meal without further discussion and left for the hour-plus drive north to Courtenay. There was very little talk along the way. I thought Charlotte might drop off to sleep once more, but each time I looked over at her, she was still awake, looking out the windshield into the darkness beyond my headlights. I wondered what was going through her mind at the time.It was a quarter past nine when I walked her to her apartment lobby. She thanked me for the ride and I reminded her we.