I picked Dana up at nine like she asked. She was so beautiful, sitting on her porch step waiting for me. Her hair was up in a pony tail and she had on a bright pink shirt that read 'hyper' across the front in a fancy, rainbow colored script. Her jeans hugged her skin and were decorated with pink flowers. She wore simple white tennis shoes and carried a black purse.

She jumped from the porch and almost ran to the car, sliding into the passenger seat.

"You okay?" I asked as I saw her face.

She nodded and slid into silence. I turned on the radio and started driving to the fair.

After a few minutes of silence Dana said,

"My mother's been taken to rehab. My father had her arrested this morning after you dropped me off." She stared out the window. "I found her and her boyfriend naked in my bed."

"Is that a good or a bad thing?" I asked as I turned into the parking lot. "The rehab part I mean."

 She sighed.

"I don't know. I mean, I love my mom and everything, but the past few years have just been out of control. I hope she straightens up."

I turned to her, and said,

"Don't worry, Dana, she'll be okay."

"You think?"

I shrugged.

"I'm positive. Any body who can raise the amazing girl sitting in front of me has to be a pretty amazing person. Amazing people just don't fade away to alcoholism."

She smiled and leaned forward to give me a peck on the lips. We sat there for a moment, then I got out and came around to her side of the car, opening her door and helping her out. I kept her hand in mine as I paid for some tickets and entered into the bright fair.

We hit the booths first and I failed miserably at almost everything while Dana cheered me on. Ironically it was the test your strength thing that won me the bright pink stuffed panda bear that I gave to Dana. She'd told me that her favorite animal was the panda bear when we'd stopped to eat. She'd also mentioned her favorite color was pink when I'd noticed she was wearing pink ankle socks. 

She rubbed her hands over the panda's soft fur as she looked up at me with an adoring look. 

"Thank you, Evan," she gushed. "This was so sweet."

I smiled. "No problem." 

By the end of the night, there was no hesitation about holding hands. Her hand was small and warm, dainty in mine.

It was almost time to leave when I decided it would be nice to go on the ferris wheel as our last ride. I led her over to the line saying,

"Why don't we go on one last ride?"

She looked up at the ferris wheel, biting her lips. 

"I'm afraid of heights," she said. I smiled at her. 

"I'll be right there with you," I said. "I'll even hold your hand. Come on, face your fears."

She looked back up at the ferris wheel once and then nodded. 

After five minutes of standing in line, I noticed she had started to shiver so I slid my jacket off and helped her into it.

"Here, take this, it'll make you warmer."

She smiled at me and took my hand.

It was another ten minutes until we were seated on the ride. Dana looked nervous as she stared at the ground. I wrapped her hand in mine and she held on tightly, a white knuckled grip. I smiled at her, swiping my thumb across her hand.

"Relax," I soothed, "the ride will be over quickly and nothing's going to open." She nodded but was still tense.

But when we started moving upward, she let out a whimper and covered her eyes with her hands. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. And when we stopped at the top, the view was too stunning to waste.

"Open your eyes Dana," I murmured. "You won't regret it."

Slowly her hands came down and she gasped.

"It's beautiful," she marveled. "Look at all the lights."

She turned to me and pulled me into another sweet kiss that lasted the rest of the ride.

                                     I walked Dana to her door, holding her hand again. She turned to me on the steps with a smile.

"This was really fun, Evan," she said, rubbing the panda's fur again. "I enjoyed it."

She kissed me once again, handed me my jacket, and went into the house. Before she shut the door she peeked out and asked,

"Does this mean we're boyfriend girlfriend?"

I smiled.

"I'd like that."

"I'll see you tomorrow for lunch, Evan," she whispered. "Good night."

"Night, Dana." She closed the door and I jumped from the steps whisteling, never having felt as wonderful as I did just then, and I couldn't wait for tomorrow.