The beginning

Jenny had never had a boyfriend. Many, many crushes but never a boyfriend. Honestly, she wasn't even certain that she was allowed to have a boyfriend. That discussion had not yet taken place with her parents. Besides, what would a boyfriend really mean to a 13 year old who was homeschooled? Nothing more than a title really. Of course, Jenny did not envision boyfriend/girlfriendhood in these terms. To her 13 year old mind having a boyfriend meant a multitude of things - Dates, holding hands, phone calls, someone to hang out with at youth group, and, though she would never have said this aloud, an important first among her friends. None of them had ever had a boyfriend either and to have a boyfriend before any of them would be simply fantastic. But she would never let her friends know for a second that she would be proud of such an accomplishment.

Unfortunately, simply dreaming of a boyfriend did not get one. Flirting, Jenny had discovered, was an art to be mastered. Flirting worked. She saw the success of its powers as many a girl giggled their way into the affections of her older brother Josh. Her flirting guide was Gone with the Wind. Scarlet O'hara emobodied the confidence Jenny dreamed of having. She would never admit to a soul that she actually admired any part of this selfish, conniving fictitious character...but she did. And Jenny picked up a few things from this civil war belle. In short, giggling, flattery, and being a "lady", were the keys to success. Shy girls did not get the guy, at least not the right ones. And Jenny had her eyes set on the right guy, for sure.

Troy, 14, was a public schooler, tall, blonde and had an easy smile that made Jenny giggle whenever in his presence. And while his looks were definitely an appealing point, his personality was the clincher. Everyone loved him. Girls flocked towards him, all the guys were his friend. He was in every meaning of the word popular, but did not think it for a moment. He was just himself. This attribute was particularly appealing to Jenny. There was something in her that, even when trying to perfect the flirting, could not help but be herself around him. His easy smile and the way he would look at her somehow made her feel like he still liked her, the real Jenny that would sneak out despite her best efforts.

Of course, Jenny, would never in her wildest dreams imagine for a second that he actually did like her, for real. That would be impossible. She was shy, dorky, silly, and so...so...boring. Simple, really. And Troy was everything but that. He was, in her eyes, perfect. Perfect. Her diary was filled with all the perfect details of the things he wore or did or said to her on her favorite day of the week, Sunday, the only day of the week she saw him. They were certainly holy days, those Sundays.

Then it happened. Four days of Sundays. The annual youth group trip to Corpus Christi. It would be pure joy. Four days, on the beach, with Troy. It was going to be heaven, pure flirting heaven.