Out of all the things stupid and or weird that to me, in my life, nothing can ever amount to what I'm going to tell you. It all started one day, when a few of my friends and I went to the mall.
     "You are retarded," Stacey said to me as we came out of the movies.
     "I am not!" I exclaimed stomping my foot.
     "You are too!" Tina said following us out.
     "I am no-" I was about to deny it again, when Stacey exclaimed,
     "Look Katie, there's that guy you like!"
     "I don't like him," I said, and just then he turned around and waved to me.
     Of course, being polite, I waved back.
     "I thought you didn't like him," Tina whispered in my ear.
     "I don't," I mumbled though toothy smile.
     He paid for something and ran out the store he was in.
     "Hi," he said to me out of breath.
     "Hi," I said shyly looking past him.
     "You're not very talkative today," he said putting his hand on my cheek.
     Tina nudged Stacey with her elbow and said, "We better leave before this gets really mushy."
     "Nothing's getting mushy between me and Darren," I said turning to stare at Tina.
     "Why wouldn't it?" Darren asked jokingly.
     "You sicko," I said.
     "Why am I sick, she started it," he replied pointing to Tina.
     "Now you're acting like a child," I answered pinching his cheek.
     "They're fighting now," Stacey said sarcastically, and Tina started giggling.
     "Shut up, you guys," I said trying not to laugh.
     "You know she really likes you," Stacey said intentionally making me mad.
     "I already knew that," Darren said putting his arm around my shoulders.
     "What made you think that," I asked looking up at him.
     "Remember the day I met you in the park?" he asked.
     "Yeah," I answered looking up at him, puzzled.
     "Well," he began, "You had a notebook with you and on the cover it said Kate - N - Darren forever and always."
      My mouth fell open and I glared at Stacey.
     "What did I do?" she asked.
     "You're the one who wrote that," I said.
     "I did not," Stacey said.
     "Yes you did," I yelled.
     "If you two are going to fight, I'd better leave," he said. He kissed my cheek and whispered I love you in my ear, then walked away.
     "I think he likes you," Tina said as her and Stacey burst into a fit of laughter.
     When we got home to our apartment Tina went to get a shower, and Stacey and I went into the kitchen.
     "So, what did Darren whisper in your ear?" Stacey asked, her eyes glowing with excitement.
     "Nothing you need to know," I answered pulling things out of my mini book bag.
     "I have to know," Stacey begged.
     "First," I began, "I would like to know what this is." I held up a green velvet box that I had found in my bag.
     "I don't know, OPEN IT, OPEN IT!" Stacey begged me again. I popped the lock with my finger nail, and inside there was a gold bracelet. Inscribed on the front was KATE AND DARREN FOREVER AND ALWAYS.

Forever and Always