Secrets To Be Told

Chapter 1:

Text Messages:

J- Hi!

Z- Hey babe!

J- Missed you today :(

Z- Don't be sad boo, you'll get wrinkles on that pretty face of yours

J- aww Zach :) always looking out for me

Z- That's better

J- You always make things better

Z- You are the reason I live

J- You are the reason I learned to love again

Z- I need to meet you...

J- Soon...I promise

Z- Why are you so nervous?

J- Because I want to be good enough for you

Z- You are, always will be

J- Promise to stay?

Z- Forever

J- Alright. Fine

Z- Love you

J- I love you too

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"Who are you taking to? You seem to be really into whoever your texting. Is it a boy?" My mom said.

I pause for a few seconds to think of a response but all that comes out is,

"Yeah mom, a boy." I smile a warm smile at the thought of him.

"Is this boy a friend?" She asks.

"Yeah mom, a really good friend." I say. I giggle a little so she doesn't notice.

"So when do I meet this friend?" Emphasis on friend as if she knows he's not just a friend.

As I re think her question I suddenly realize, 'How can my mom meet my boyfriend if I haven't even met him?'

The fact I hadn't met my boyfriend in person yet was something I never really thought mattered until My mom found out someone new was in my life and she had every intention on meeting him.

"Um...not for awhile, mom. He lives far away." I say without trying to sound nervous about it.

She puts down her glasses and looks down at the table slowly.

"Don't tell me you met this boy online...you know what happened to cousin Becky. Please don't do this to me like she did to Aunt Mary. I real-"

"Mom please! I know what happened to her...I didn't meet him online. We went to Berkley Middle School together but then he moved."

"You swear?"

"I wouldn't lie." But I did lie.

"Ok sweetie. Go finish your homework."

"Thanks mom."

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My cousin Becky met her first boyfriend online when she was 17. They messaged for 2 years until they met in person. When she met him, he wasn't at all who he said he was. He was a high school drop out. He was 40 years old. And he didn't intend on falling in love with her. All he wanted was to get in her pants. She was raped and a year later she killed herself.

My mom always brought up online dating and how she never wanted me to do it. I never wanted to until my first break up last year. I dated Mike Lakers for 2 1/2 years. He was someone I would never forget. I always compared guys I met to him and if they weren't as handsome or sweet or smart as him then I always thought they weren't good enough. Finally, I was done with meeting boys that my sister set me up with and I wanted a choice in who I met and talked to. That's when I went to online dating. Then I met Zach Lynn. He was better than anyone I had ever met. In the back of my head I always had a little voice asking if I could trust him or if what happened to Becky would happen to me but I was done with the worrying and I needed to start dating. And if hiding him from the world was what I had to do to keep him mine, then that's what I would do. The only thing that worries me is sooner or later, we will have to meet, and that scared me more than anything.