A Little More Than Xs And Os

Light Bulbs

Trevor, Ryan, and I finish hanging the last bit of porch lights on the rail and go inside. "I thought we'd never get done! Geez, it was cold out there!" Mom hands Trevor a cup of hot chocolate and he shuts up.

"Tomorrow's Christmas!" Kelsey updates. She has been making a daily announcement. As if we couldn't forget.

"Dude! We need to go see LeAnna and Peyton!" Trevor sets down his mug and grabs his keys. "Leggo!" he grabs my wrist before I can object. Which I certainly don't object to seeing the love of my life. Just so we're clear, I'm talking about Peyton, not LeAnna.

"We should take them on a date." Trevor suggests. "In that case, we should take my car. Considering your truck only has two seats and it smells like wet dog."

"I told you. I can't help that my dog jumped in here after she ran through the creek."

I laugh. The things Trevor says.

We drive to LeAnna's house first and Trevor moves to the backseat to sit with her after he gets out of the car and says "Ma lady, would you like to go on a date?" He says it with an accent. I stare straight out the window and laugh silently.

It's when we get to Peyton's house I get giddy. She doesn't know we're coming and I'd love to see her reaction.

I park the car while it continues to run and when Peyton doesn't come out running, I'm a little surprised. Until I see her working on the truck.

"Peyton! What are you doing, it's freezing out here!" I grab her hands and bring them to my chest to keep them warm. She's not wearing gloves or a hat or even a thick jacket!

"I promised I would have this truck running and I'm going to have it running." I bring her to my chest and kiss her forehead. "Peyton, go get dressed. I'm going to take you out." She looks up at me from her embrace. "Really?" she says with a smile. I grin back and nod. She rushes to the house and is out within five minutes, looking stunning. Wearing the outfit she wore the first day I ever saw her.

"Hey guess what?" I playfully shove her. "What?" She sticks her hands in her black pea-coat. "I'm dating a college girl." She rolls her eyes and shoves me back.

I'd take us to Mack's but I feel like a movie might be better. I've been to Mack's with Peyton several times but never a movie.

"I heard How to Train Your Dragon 2 is out!" Trevor yells from the backseat. So loud, I barely hear Peyton say "Can you turn down the heat?" I laugh at Trevor as I turn the knob for the heat down for Peyton.

"Oh my gosh! Turn it up! This is my song!" Trevor screams and I blast the radio when I hear it too. Obviously, Trevor and I start screeching together. It's hard to sing like Taylor Swift, but we try. 

We were both young when I first saw you.

I close my eyes and the flashback starts:

I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air.

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.

See you make your way through the crowd

And say, "Hello, "

Little did I know...

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles,

And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"

And I was crying on the staircase