True Love is Not a Diamond Ring

Corina drove and drove without thinking. She let her body do the driving while her mind was planning out the rest of her life.

Or that's what she thought.

She found herself in Lutherville, Maryland, on her old friend's doorstep.

Knocking lightly on the door, she wondered if he still lived here.

The familiar long face opened the door.

"Cee?" The gangly boy said in disbelief.

"Yup. Hey Jacky Boy," she cracked a tired smile.

He stepped, or rather skipped, outside and squished Corina with a bear hug.

"God, Jack," she gasped, "for a skinny dude you have a bunch of muscle!"

Jack put the olive-skinned girl down, grinning ridiculously at her.

"Ger in the damn house and tell me why you've suddenly decided to grace me with your presence."

She held up her hands in defeat. "'Kay, fine. But one question first."

"Shoot, betch."

"One. Can you stop quoting Kelly? And two, d'you mind if I, you know," she shifted her weight back and forth, "move in with you?"

Jack's deep brown eyes widened dramatically, and he exclaimed, "Damn, that would be better than sex!"

Corina rolled her eyes, let out a dry laugh, and grabbed her bags. "You mustn't have scored well then."