7 Lessons in 7 (Glorious) Days

Lesson #1: It's not exclusive until they tell you it is.

How long do you date someone before the guy is your boyfriend? A week? Two weeks? A month? It doesn't matter. Until they look you in the eye, grip your hand, and solemnly tell you that he wants to date you and only you, it isn't exclusive. Everyone is fair game.

I learned this the hard way.

"Carter, it's only going to be a week," I said as I licked a dribble of ice cream off my cone. "You don't expect my parents to leave me behind, do you?"

"Why not? You're sixteen, Lisa. You don't need a babysitter." He bit off a large piece of his cone and continued talking. "Besides, no parents means party at your house!"

A piece of the cone flew out of his mouth as he spoke and I tried not to look at it. "They're going to Cancun. You expect me to stay home just because you want a party?"

He shrugged and took another large bite. "I thought you liked me."

"I did! I mean, I do!" I focused on my ice cream so I wouldn't get distracted by his open-mouthed chewing. "These past three weeks with you have been awesome. I'm not going to be gone forever. Like I said, it's just a week."

"You'll be having fun without me."

"I'll be with my parents."

"You prefer them over me?"

"It's Cancun! Wouldn't you go?"

He shoved the last of his cone into his mouth and shrugged again. "Maybe. But that's not the point."

"And what is the point?"

"I'm going to ask Tiffany Waltman out."

"Wait, what?" My hand tightened around the cone, causing melted ice cream to ooze through my fingers. "My going on vacation gives you the green light to date other people?"

He leaned back and licked his fingers, not disturbed at all by my distress. "I shouldn't have to put my life on hold. Besides, I never said we were going steady."

It took all my willpower not to throw the soggy cone at him. I stood and forcefully pitched it into a nearby trash can instead. It splattered noisily. "You do whatever you like, Carter."

I stalked past him, wiping my sticky hand on his polo shirt as I passed.

"Hey!" he protested and plucked at his shirt. "Are you mad?"

Carter was cute and totally dateable. All the girls thought so. You can imagine how thrilled I was when he asked me out. But now, I was beginning to have doubts about how good a catch he actually was.

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