We had a lot in common, it was neat. We went back in after walking around the
perimeter a few times. I rubbed my hands together to warm then up. It was a little
chilly out, I should have grabbed some mittens. Then Graham reached over and
grabbed my hands.

"To warm them up." he said, smiling at me. We held hands all the way to the rec
room and decided to part before everyone saw. He winked at me and waved as we
went our separate ways. I could tell my face was red. But I loved it.
I guess it was because I had never really felt that certain sign of affection.
Jeremy hugged me, but it just felt different when Graham did it. I told Eliza all about it
that night.
"But Kersey! You have Jeremy!" she shrieked, but she was excited for me.
"I know, but I don't think we are technically going out." I said. Maybe we were,
I just needed an excuse.
As always, Jeremy came over the next day and I couldn't help but feel bad
about what I had done. We stayed in my room for most of the time, Eliza politely let
me have it for the hour or two he would be here. He kissed my cheek, and I felt my
face turn red. I felt really bad.
We heard a knock on the door. My heart skipped a beat.
"I'll get it." I said, jumping up to prevent him from answering it. I knew it was
Graham. He came and the same time everyday.
I opened the door and there he stood, in his jacket. It was time for our walk.
"I can't right now, Graham." I whispered. "Jeremy's here." I said. Graham
looked shattered. He didn't even say anything, he just took off his gloves and walked
away.
I went back over to Jeremy.
"Who was it?" He asked. I felt it was time to tell him the truth.
"Graham." I said casually.
"What did he want?" he asked, saying ''he'' like it was a dirty word.
"It was time for our walk. We take walks together in the afternoon." I said.
Jeremy then told me he had to go and left with a harsh "Goodbye," and left my room.
I sat on my bed. I was torn between Graham and Jeremy. I layed in bed for
almost an hour when I heard another knock on the door.
"Who is it?" I asked, not moving.
"Eliza. Can I come in?" she asked.
"It's your room too, Liza." I said, smiling into my pillow.
She came in and sat next to me. "I saw Jeremy leave. He looked angry. Is
everything okay?" she asked. The truth was, he was acting more like Chad every
time I saw him.
"I guess. I'm fine." I said, rolling over to face her. "It's just that I can't even have
guy friends now that we're together." I said.
"He'll get over it. If he doesn't, he isn't for you." She said. She shrugged and
left.
I closed my eyes. I hadn't eaten for a while, and I thought it was time to eat. I
got up and stretched and put on my slippers. My feet were really cold. I heard
another knock on the door.
"Eliza?" I asked, puzzled.
"No, it's me." the voice said. It was Graham.
"Come in." I said, nervously. He came in, now without his jacket and gloves.
He sat next to me on my bed.
"Sorry I couldn't come with you." I said. I realized I was fidgeting with my
hands. I only did that when I was really nervous.
"It's alright. I should have known." he said. He looked up at the ceiling then
down to me. "Eliza told me Jeremy looked angry when he left, is everything okay?"
he asked. He was concerned. I loved that.
"I guess. He just acts more and more like Chad everyday." I said, shaking my
head.
"Chad?" he asked.
"Chad is my ex-boyfriend. He raped me about four or five months ago." I
said. I really didn't want to talk about it.
"Oh wow, Kersey, I'm sorry." he said.
"Yeah, let's not talk about it." I said. "I'm a little hungry, wanna go eat?" I
asked him.
"Yeah, one sec." he said. I wondered what he was going to do. I stood up
and stretched again, waiting for whatever he needed to do. He stood up and
grabbed my hands again. He looked into my eyes and I saw for the first time his
beautiful amber brown eyes. Before I knew it, our lips had locked.
We stopped and I looked at him. I couldn't help but smile.
"Thanks." I said. We held hands all the way to the kitchen. I had a grin
plastered on my face the whole time.
I told Eliza all about it. I was so excited. I just didn't know what would happen
between Jeremy and I. Later that night I called him.
"Kersey? What do you want?" he asked.
"I called to tell you... I... I... I kissed Graham." I said.
"You what? Kersey? What?"
"I'm sorry, it just happened."
"I knew it. Just don't call me ever again. If you need help go to someone
else." he yelled angrily.
"Jeremy, can't we be friends? You're taking this a little worse that I thought. I
though you would understand. We have been friends forever, can't we keep that?
We have a great brother-sister relationship." I said.
"I don't care. If you want Graham then have him." He hung up.
I slowly put the phone down. I was shocked. I thought maybe he would
understand that we didn't see each other much, Graham was so much like me. I
closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Like Eliza said, if he got mad, he wasn't for
me. Something was wrong with him. He said he never wanted to talk to me again. I
didn't see that coming. It was only my first week here and look what I have done.
I went out to the rec room to find Graham. He waved me over to the loveseat
where he sat the first day I saw him. I slumped down on the couch next to him. He
stuck his arm around my shoulder.