Tristan leaned over his bedroom window. He saw Erika changing her clothes. Just then she glanced over and saw Tristan watching her. She threw a shirt at him. "What do you think you're doing you Peeping Tom?" He blocked her shirt. "Can you come over?" Erika looked at him. 'He looks so sad.' She nodded. "Okay."

Tristan pulled her across from her house and into his room. She sat down and started to look around. She never had been in Tristan's room before but he was always in hers. "Well what do you want to talk

about?" Tristan looked at her with sad eyes. "Umm...is it true you're going to the U.S. in two days?"

"Oh you heard about it already?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why do you care anyways?"

Tristan got mad. "Why do you always assume that if there's something involving you that I don't care?" Tristan started to front her as she backed up into a corner. She was shocked. She never saw Tristan this mad before. "Because you never seemed to care before." Tristan grabbed her wrists and held them up. "Well you know what? I DO care." He began to let her go. "It's just that you don't care about me enough to realize it." He sat down on his bed.

Erika sat down next to him. "Tristan...what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Please tell me." Tristan looked at Erika. His mind kept telling him that this will be the last time he will ever see her. 'It's now or never.' Tristan took a deep breath and told her exactly how he felt.

"I love you."

Erika stood up in shock. "What?!"

Tristan stood up with her. "I love you." Erika couldn't believe her ears. "Wait...do you know what you're saying?" He nodded his head. "Yes and I do mean it. I love you Erika." She moved away from him.

"Do you know what you're saying? I'm going to leave Korea in just two more days with Andrew.

I'm planning to be with him forever."

Tristan nodded his head sadly. "I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Erika sighed in relief. "It's okay." But then it hit Tristan. "NO!" Erika looked at him surprised. "What do you mean 'No'"? He looked at her directly. "Why should I be sorry for saying that I love you? It's the truth!"

Erika backed up again and then she began to cry. Tristan tried to move near her to comfort her but she pushed him away. "No! After all this time you say that you love me?" He looked at her sadly.

Erika looked at him through her tears. "I'm sorry Tristan. I want to be with the one I love."

Tristan looked at her back. "But do you really love him?" She paused. She thought about it and couldn't find the answer herself. So she didn't answer and looked away. Tristan thought that was the answer. "It's okay because if I do truly love you then all I can wish for is for you to be happy." He leaned over to hold her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead. "Goodbye."

Erika looked at him as he walked away. "Tristan...wait."

He felt hope go through him. "Yes?"

"Is it okay if I take something of yours as a memory?"

That flicker of hope instantly died. He bowed his head down. "Go ahead. Take anything you want." Then he left his room and Erika left too. Tristan didn't know it but his journal was gone.

It was morning when Andrew woke up. He went over to Erika's tent but she wasn't there. He patted Chelsea on the shoulder. "Hey Chelsea. Do you know where Erika is?" Chelsea rolled her eyes. "That girl hasn't been back all night and neither was Tristan. She must have …"
Andrew left before she could finish talking. "Ahh!" she screamed because no one ever listened to her.
Andrew called the others so they can help look for Erika but he had the feeling she was with Tristan. He took them to the place where Tristan had fell. Sure enough, there they both were. Erika was leaning against Tristan asleep. Andrew was mad. "Hey!" The yell woke up Tristan and Erika up. They glanced up to see what it was.
Tristan stood up. "Hey you guys, help us out!" Stan started laughing as he pulled Tristan up. "Oooh...Tristan...what were you and Miss Erika doing down there all night?"
Everyone else except Andrew laughed. "Shut up Stan" said Tristan. Then he leaned over to help Erika up. "Let's go home," Tristan said to the others.
It was evening by the time Tristan got home. He was exhausted so he took a shower and headed straight for bed. He looked over at Erika's room, which was exactly across from his. Her lights were out so she must be asleep. Tristan sat down on his desk and began writing in his journal. He had kept one ever since he was ten and he wrote in it whenever something came up. When he finished his entry, he turned off his lights and went to sleep too.

It was eleven at night when Tristan woke up. It was dark out but he couldn't sleep anymore so headed downstairs to look for something to eat. His mom was in the kitchen.
"Hi mommy."
"Hi Tristan." She walked over to kiss him on the forehead. "How was camping?"
"It was fun."
He sat down at the table with his mom. She touched his hair and let out a sigh. "What's wrong mommy?" He began eating his noodles.” Nothing son. It's just that you're all grown up and going to be off to college soon."
"Don't worry mommy. It's only a couple of hours from here. I'll be back to visit you and dad often."
His mom smiled. "I know. Can you believe it? You and Erika know each other for ten years now and in just two more days it will be the last time you'll ever see each other." Tristan choked on his food.

"What?"
"Oh didn't you know? Erika came over an hour ago and made those noodles for us. She told me she's leaving for the U.S. with her boyfriend in just 2 more days.” Boyfriend?!"
"Yes. A boy from your class. I think his name is Andrew."
Tristan stopped eating. 'So Erika is going to go back to Andrew.' His mom looked at his unfinished food. "Something wrong dear?" Tristan shook his head. "No mommy. I'm full. I think I'll go to my room."

Tristan started to gasp for air. That scared Erika. “Tristan…. are you okay?” He shook his head. Then suddenly, he leaned over and hugged her hard. He buried his face into her neck and didn’t let go. Erika stood still. She didn’t know what to do. “Tristan… are you okay?” Still no answer.
She continued to hold him as he shivered in her arms. She ran her fingers through his hair and whispered in his ear like he was a little child that needed comforting. Tristan began to breathe easier and calmed down. Then he realized he was holding onto Erika a little too hard. He let go, his face blushing. “Uh, sorry about that. I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s okay.”
Tristan gazed at Erika from the light that the moon shone on her. Her eyes were closed. She was like a sleeping angel. She looked like it too with her raven hair flowing down her back, her little white dress, and she was so naturally beautiful that she didn’t need make-up. Tristan began to lean forward to kiss her but then suddenly she opened her eyes. He pulled back instantly, his cheeks turning red. ‘Crap! Did she know what I was about to do?’

Erika patted him on the shoulder. “Hey Tristan…”
“What?”
“Look. There’s a full moon out tonight.”
Tristan looked up at the sky. The moon was full and bright. Then he looked over at Erika, who was smiling. Then she asked him, “Do you remember when we were ten, and we saw the moon’s reflection on the lake? You told me the moon was a ball so I would go in and get it.”
Tristan smiled when he reminisced about his childhood past. It had been a happy one ever since he met Erika. “Yeah. You went into the lake and started to get the moon ball. And you kept asking me why the ball would disappear every time you came near it. You were so stupid!” He started laughing. Erika gave him a look. That made him stop laughing. But then she gave him a little smile to show that she wasn’t mad and it made him feel better.

“Yeah because of your dumb lies I almost ended up drowning.”
“Yeah…I had to jump in and save you. I was so worried.”
Erika looked at him. “Were you?”
Tristan faced her. He was gazing directly into her eyes. He always thought the best part about Erika were her eyes. They were big, innocent, and honest. Every time he looks back, he always remember them as the first thing he saw when he met her. “Yeah kinda. I mean if you ended up drowning then I have no one else to pick on.”
Erika looked down and smiled. She knew what Tristan really meant though. They continued talking about their past and before they knew it, they both fell asleep on each other’s shoulders.

As Andrew walked back to camp he heard a voice calling for Erika. He recognized Tristan’s voice. In the middle of the road Andrew looked down. He saw a huge hole that was about ten feet deep. Andrew gave an evil smile. He had a plan. He began to rustle the leaves near the hole.
Tristan heard a noise. ‘Is it Erika?’ “Erika is that you?” No answer. “Come out come out wherever you are.” The leaves continue to rustle. ‘What if she’s hurt and couldn’t answer?’ Tristan started to walk towards the noise and ended up falling into the trap. It was so cold and dark in there. Tristan began to panic.

“Help!”
Andrew came out from where he was hiding. “Hey Tristan. Looking for something?”
Tristan looked up and saw Andrew’s face. “Damn you Andrew! Get me out!” Andrew just smiled. “This all seems so familiar. You know, it took me a while but then I remembered. Didn’t I do this to you before ten years ago?”
Tristan started to tremble. Because of what Andrew did to him, he had a fear of the dark and being trapped alone. But he wasn’t going to show it. Tristan glared at Andrew. “So what? I don’t give a damn. Just get me out!”
Andrew laughed. “I guess history repeats itself when you mess with me or anything of mine. This time I mean Erika. She is my girlfriend and I want you out of the way. And I guess this solves my problem.”

“Erika doesn’t like you! She’s with me.”
“Oh really? Didn’t seem like it when your ex held you like that. I guess you can’t let your first love go and I think you know that I’m Erika’s first. She’ll come back to me.”
Tristan sat down on the cold ground. Erika did say that before. ‘Is she going to go back to him?’ As he was thinking, Andrew had left already. Tristan looked up. “Hey!” His worst nightmare had came back and this time Erika was not there to save him. He was stuck here all alone in the dark. “Erika…where are you?”
After a while Erika headed back to camp. She took out her flashlight to shine her way back on the main path.

[Down in the pit]
Tristan looked up and saw a beam of light. He stood up. “Help!”
Erika looked around. ‘Was someone calling for help?’ “Hello? Is someone out there?”

“HELP!”
Erika ran to where the voice came from. She saw Tristan jumping up and down in a hole. “Tristan! What are you doing down there?”
“I fell in. Help me out!”
“Okay.” She placed her flashlight on the ground. Then she reached over and tried to pull Tristan up but he was too heavy for her. “I can’t”
“What do you mean you can’t? Use those puny muscles you have!”
“You’re too heavy! Let me go back to camp for help.”
“Hell no! What if you leave me here?”
“What? I’m not like that!”
“How do I know?” 
“Tristan. Let go!”
“No!”
Tristan ended up pulling Erika into the pit with him. She landed on top of him. She got up and started yelling at him. “You selfish jerk! Now we’re both stuck down here!” Tristan backed up against the wall. Then he started yelling. “Damn! Not again! Why me? Why does it have to be so dark?” Erika looked at him. “You’re afraid of the dark?”

“Yeah! You got a problem?”

Erika looked at him surprised. “No.” She started to look at the real Tristan for the first time in a long time. The smart-aleck tough guy was gone. And there he was. The innocent and vulnerable Tristan she first fell in love with when she was eight. But she still hasn’t realized it yet….

The next two weeks went by fast. Tristan acted like the perfect boyfriend. He treated her nice and was always there by her side with flowers. Her parents like him a lot. Before Tristan knew it, his dating charade with Erika was over and so was school. Her parents stayed until their graduation and then afterwards they took a plane back to the U.S. Then entire graduated class decided to go on a campout because it will be the last time they will see each other since everyone is going their separate way to college.

[The Camping Trip]
Everyone was sitting around the campfire and talking. Chelsea had sat herself between Tristan and Erika. Andrew was watching Erika the whole time. Stan was telling a scary story about a psycho killer in the woods.

“He goes around chopping of peoples’ heads and he especially likes girls. Heh heh…”
Martin threw a stick at him. “That’s a stupid story Stanee.”
Christopher threw in more wood into the fire. “But I heard it’s true though.”
Albert widened his eyes. “For real?”
Tristan laughed. “Oh come on. It’s a bunch of bull. Even if it is for real, he’ll just be after the girls.” He gave Erika a supposedly scary face but it turned out so goofy she ended up laughing. Chelsea grabbed onto Tristan though. “Tristan! I’m scared. Hold me.”

Tristan was taken by surprise. He tried to pry Chelsea off of him but she held on tight. Erika glared at them both. ‘That Casanova. Just because every time he smiles his eyes would light up and his hair is so soft he thinks he’s—‘ Erika stopped herself. ‘What am I thinking? It sounds like I want him or something.’ She stood up. “Excuse me but I think I’ll got for a walk.” Then she left.

Andrew stood up too. “I think I’ll take a walk too.”
That alarmed Tristan. ‘He is not going to take a walk with my Erika.’ He ended up having to force Chelsea off of him and ran where he saw Erika disappeared. Chelsea was mad. “Tristan, you come back here!” Everyone at the campfire started giggling.

[Somewhere in the woods]
Erika looked all around her. ‘It figures. Tristan wouldn’t come after me,’ she thought sadly. ‘I mean why would he?’ Then she heard a voice. “Erika!” She smiled and turned around. It was only Andrew. Her face fell. “Oh hi Andrew.”

He sat down on a rock next to her. “Aren’t you going to come back to take Tristan away from the Chelsea girl?” She shook her head. “No…I guess they’re meant to be together.” Andrew looked at her. “Kind of like you and me?” Erika scooted herself away as her eyes widened. “Uh, Andrew. It’s over between us.” Andrew grabbed her hands. “But you can give me a second chance!” She pulled her hands away. Then Andrew asked her, “Remember what you told me what you wished for a long time ago?”

“What?”
“You said you wanted to find your first true love and be with him forever.” Erika stood still. She did say that. Andrew was her first love. But then she thought of Tristan. Or is it Tristan? “I don’t know!” she yelled as she took off running. Andrew smiled. ‘She’s coming back to me.’

Just as they got out the door Erika slammed Tristan against the wall.
"What the hell are you doing here? Where is Christopher?"
Tristan smiled and said, "Is this how you treat your boyfriend?"
"Answer me!"

"Christopher couldn't make it so I decided to help him out."

"Oh no. My parents are staying for two weeks! Christopher can't pretend to be my boyfriend then."

Tristan gave out a sigh. "Well, I guess I'll torture myself for a few weeks and pretend to be your boyfriend. Erika looked at him suspiciously. "How do I know you didn't do anything to Christopher to take his place?" Tristan was stunned. He hadn't thought about Erika thinking that. Truth was, he had to beg Christopher to let him take his place. But Tristan played it smoothly. "Yeah right. Look at you Erika. Only an idiot would date you. What makes you think that I would do this if it wasn't for a buddy?"

Erika looked at him with doubt. But then Tristan continued talking. "Besides, this means you have to be nice to me or your parents will find out the truth." It seemed like blackmail to her.

"Oh I'll be nice to you alright," she said as she raised her fist. But just then her dad opened the door and she dropped her fist immediately. "That's so cute. You don't want to say goodbye to Tristan? Stay out with him then. It's just ten but be home by midnight. There's school tomorrow."

"Thanks Mr. So," said Tristan and he pulled Erika away before she could answer. "I'll have her back by midnight." He took her hand and led her to the park.

"Okay. Here are the rules if you want me to be your boyfriend."
"Rules? Puh-leaze! I don't want to date you!"
"Oh yeah? Tell that to your parents then."

That made Erika shut up. She listened as Tristan went on.

"First of all, I have good taste. My girlfriends will be wearing dresses and smell good. And you look like a guy! And you smell" Tristan took a whiff of her. "Eww! You smell like a guy too!"

Erika took a smell herself. "Do not!"

"Do too! Second rule. When we kiss you have to promise to let go because I know you can't help yourself and you'll end up gluing yourself to me."

Erika gave him a disgusted look. "Gross! That's my rule! No kissing!"
Tristan cocked an eyebrow. "Won't it look weird if you never kiss your boyfriend?"
Erika shuddered form the thought of kissing Tristan. "The things I do just to please my parents.
"Hey I'm the one who's sacrificing. Now I have to go two weeks without dating any girl.
I'm supposed to be with a beauty and not a beast."
Erika sighed. "Alright. Then go ahead. Kiss me."
"What?!"

"You heard me. Remember when you kissed me in front of Andrew? You were aiming for my mouth weren't you? But you missed and hit my nose. I guess we have to practice."

Tristan swallowed. He always imagined what it would be like to kiss Erika but he didn't really think he was going to have that chance. "Well at least take off your cap so I know I'm kissing a girl." Erika took her cap off. Long strands of hair fell down past her shoulders and down her back. Tristan ran his hand through her hair. "Hey your hair grew back!"

"Yeah."

"Why do you always keep it up in a cap then?"
"Oh I don't know. May be because I have a fear that a psycho would chop it off."
Tristan pulled his hand away. "Look it was an accident. Besides, it was five years ago. Can't you forget and move on already?"
"How would you feel if I cut your hair?"
"It's different because my hair is nice while yours is nappy," he said.
"Oh yeah? Could have fooled me.
I thought your hair was a dead animal with all those spikes."
"So are we gonna kiss or not?" he asked.
Erika sighed. "If you only would stop making fun of me."

"Okay I guess I have to stop for now since I'm your boyfriend." Then she slowly closed her eyes. Tristan looked at her. Her innocent face reminded him of all the good times they had together. Well actually, good for him, nightmare for her. But there she was standing very close to him. Eyes closed, her long hair swaying. Then he bent forward to kiss her. And there it was. Magic and fireworks.

It was a feeling he couldn't describe. He never felt this way when he kissed a girl before. And he knew it too because he had kissed a lot before. Erika wrapped her arms around Tristan's neck. 'Hmm...I never felt like this when I kissAndrew. I could kiss Tristan forever. Wait a minute....what the hell am I thinking?' Erika broke the kiss off. "Okay that's enough practice." She put her cap back on because she knew her face was turning red. Tristan was kind of disappointed that it had to end so soon.

"Uh, yeah. Come on Erika. I'll walk you home."

~Ding dong~
"Mommy! Daddy!"
"Erika!"
Erika hugged her parents as they came inside the house. "We miss you so much." "I miss you too." Then Grandpa came out and they all had tea while they talked. After awhile the subject of her boyfriend came up. Her mother asked her,

"So Erika dear, where is that boyfriend you have always been talking about?"

"Uh..."
Erika glanced at the clock. It was 7:30. 'Damn Christopher is half an hour late! Christopher, why aren't you here yet?' It seemed to be an answer because just then the front door bell rang. She jumped up and ran for the door.

"I'll get it! It must be him."

She opened the door. "I'm so glad you're here" but she was cut off by her scream. It was not Christopher but that thing Tristan. He was holding flowers and he leaned over to hug her. "I miss you too honey!" he said really loud for everyone to hear. Erika blocked the door but he made it inside her house anyways.

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. So. Hello Grandpa.

I've heard so much about you from Erika. My name is Tristan."

He shook hands with all of Erika's parents. The parents nodded their heads in approval. The grandpa just smiled. He knew what was going on. He didn't say anything because his wish for Erika to be with Tristan is going to come true.

"So you must be the boyfriend Erika is always talking about."
"I think so. Erika is the best thing that ever happened to me.
I can see she got all her good qualities from her family."
Erika rolled her eyes while she listened to Tristan's political speech. 'He must be the world's best liar!' But her parents were pleased. They like Tristan. But then her mother asked, "Do you know the young boy who lives next door?" 'Oh no,' thought Erika.

Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Umm...kinda. Why Mrs. So?"

"Erika mentions that boy too. She said he was an annoying pest but we haven't gotten the chance to meet him yet. So I just want to see if you know him too."

'Annoying pest?' he thought. 'I'll let that one slide.' "I do know him Mrs. So but he's not an annoying pest. It's just that a long time ago...Erika wanted to date him but she could NOT so she has a grudge against him." Erika opened her mouth but quickly shut it. She needs Tristan's help so she couldn't say anything. Her mother asked, "Is that true dear?"

Erika gritted her teeth. "Yes it is mommy."
Tristan smiled. They sat down and talked. Hours past and it was getting late and he had to go home.
"Well it was a pleasure meeting you Mr. and Mrs. So. Good night."
"Good nightTristan."
"I'll walk him home," said Erika.

Erika sat down on the bench. ‘God…I hope she’s not gonna cry,’ prayed Tristan as he sat down next to her.

“Go ahead and laugh.”

“Huh?”
“I know you want to. Now is the perfect time to make fun of me.”

Tristan wanted so bad to put his arms around her and let her cry on his shoulders.

“Naww…not in the mood tonight. I’ll save it for some other time.”
Then suddenly Erika began to cry.

“You’re not crying over that jerk are you?”
“Why do you care?” she yelled at him.

“I…I don’t care except I think you’re wasting your tears.”

Tristan felt his heart breaking as he saw Erika cry. ‘He’s not worth it,’ he thought but he kept those words to himself. ‘She’ll never cry over me.’

“No. I’m not crying over him.”

“Yeah right.”

“No really. I’m not.”

“Then why are you crying?”

Tristan felt a bubble of hope rise inside him. Erika let out a sigh. “My parents are going to come visit me tomorrow and they want to meet my boyfriend.” Tristan looked at her.

“So…what are you gonna do now that Mr. Wonderful is gone?”

“I don’t know. Gosh I’m such a loser.”

Tristan let out a fake sigh. “Well…I can pretend that I’m your boyfriend.”

Erika looked at him surprised. “You’ll help me?” ‘Maybe Tristan isn’t so bad after all. I guess he can be really sweet sometimes.’ Just looking into Erika’s big warm brown eyes wanted to make him tell her all of his feelings. But he couldn’t.

“Yeah. It’s Be Kind To Geek Week.”

Erika stood up. “I don’t need your help you conceited snob! I’ll just ask Christopher!” Then he ran off. “Damn!” Tristan cursed himself. “Why did I have to say that?” he asked himself. But he received no answer.