Between late May and late July of 2003…
This story starts off with a sixteen-year-old boy named Marshall Elks. He and his mom are preparing to have visitors at their house: A woman, Miss Rayne and her daughter Elizabeth Rayne who was about seventeen. Marshall and Elizabeth were close friends as young children, though they were quite shy of each other. Unfortunately, they became separated many years ago.

Now that you have the background to the story, (look at me I broke the fourth wall) I will bring you into the plot already in progress:

“Marshall, you remember Elizabeth Rayne, right?”

“Of course I do. I think about her every day.”

“How would you feel if I told you that she was coming to visit us?”

“I would be overjoyed!”

“Well, she and her mother will be here in about two hours.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Nope. Serious as a heart attack.”

“Then I’ll get ready.”

“Good idea, Marshall.”

With that, he went into the bathroom where he scrubbed his body and hair, then shaved. Afterward, he brushed his teeth and rinsed his mouth.

Marshall wanted to appear as neat as possible for Elizabeth, as he had feelings for her those many years ago. In actuality, those feelings had never left him, but instead multiplied and strengthened. His only hope was that somehow, even after these twelve long years, Elizabeth would feel the same way.

He paced the floors nervously, awaiting Elizabeth’s arrival. Finally, he heard the minivan pull up and saw Elizabeth stepping out of it with her mom. Marshall watched them through the transom as they walked to the door, then rang the bell. Immediately he opened the door and beheld Elizabeth face to face.

He choked up and blushed but then regained his composure as he spoke to her, “”I’ve been wanting so badly to see you again for such a long time.”

Elizabeth smiled from ear to ear and giggled, then embraced him.

Marshall continued, “Do you even remember me?”

Elizabeth hugged him tighter, then looked into his eyes as she said, “I’ve thought about you every single day since we last saw each other. I’ve missed you so much. If only you knew.”

Marshall smiled, and said, “I am elated that we have this chance to meet again!”
He hugged her once more and then they came inside.

The two mothers began talking.

Mrs. Elks asked Ms. Rayne, ““So what brings you back out here?”

“I got behind on my rent and we were eventually evicted. So we loaded up my van with what we could take and headed back east. I called you on my cell phone but I didn’t want to say we were homeless over the phone.”

“Don’t worry you can stay here as long as you like. I don’t think Marshall would mind.”

“I don’t think Elizabeth would mind either, look how gaga they are over each other. However, I am a little concerned since I’m a single parent and I hope they don’t make the same mistakes as me.”

“I think if they did, they would stick with each other, they’re so much in love. If you would have seen their faces. And furthermore, I’m now a widow. Barry’s death left a huge void in my life.”

“Barry was indeed a good man. What happened?”

“His passionate temper got the best of him and he stroked out. As much as he had that temper, though he was always good as gold to me and Marshall.”

…So…

After a long drive and a tiring day, Ms. Rayne and her daughter Elizabeth unpacked their few items and settled in at the Elks’ house.

They each took a sofa in the living room and Marshall went lay down in his bed. He tried to sleep, but couldn’t. He was much too excited that the girl he had feelings for so long was finally under the same roof as him. He grabbed his Energizer Find Me flashlight, walked out of his room and saw Elizabeth laying down on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. The yellowish-white glow from Marshall’s flashlight frightened her briefly, but then she smiled from ear to ear when she realized it was him.

“Would it be all right if you came to my room?” Marshall asked with slight nervousness.

Elizabeth brightly beamed and nodded, then hand in hand they walked to his room.

They sat on his bed, awkwardly, but then Marshall spoke, ““Elizabeth, you’re just as sweet as I remember and even more beautiful now that you’re a young lady. I’ve been in love ever since we met as children, I just didn’t realize it until after you left. I want you to be by my side now and forever. And my only hope is that we’ll never be away from each other again.”

Elizabeth held Marshall’s hands and pulled his head into her breasts as she spoke, “I too had feelings for you back then. I thought we would always be near each other and grow up together. I was crushed when I had to move far away. But, now, we have a chance to be together again. I cannot promise that we’ll never be away from each other again, but I definitely want to cuddle with me throughout the night and every night afterward if at all possible.”

Their lips met, guided by the glow of Marshall’s flashlight.

After sharing that very sweet kiss, they lovingly held each other close and talked into the night. At sunrise, Elizabeth returned to the sofa without either mothers’ detection.

The next day, Mrs. Elks woke Marshall up and said, “”Miss Rayne and I are going shopping. I want you to take Elizabeth to the park and show her a good time.”

He nodded.

Elizabeth was already up and she winked at Marshall.

The two mothers left the house.

Marshall and Elizabeth got ready.

“We can take my old Buick Regal to the park.”

They walked out of the house and began to lean against Marshall’s car and lovingly caress each other until they were confronted by Marshall’s bullying neighbor, Boyd Bachmann.

“Stop that word I no longer use in my writing right now!” He shouted at them.

“Just ignore him,” Marshall whispered in Elizabeth’s ear.

She nodded and they continued to engage in their passionate affections.

Boyd came back with a long broomstick and shouted, “If y’all don’t knock it off right now, I’m going to take this stick and beat both of your words I no longer use in my writing!”

“This is none of your business, Boyd, go home!” Marshall shouted.

Boyd replied, “Marshall, I beat your word I no longer use in my writing when you were a little boy and I’m not afraid to do it again.”

“I’ll call the cops if you touch him,” Elizabeth said.

“I know the sheriff; his men won’t touch me. Furthermore, I’ll tell any deputies that come here what you and Marshall were doing in that house.”

“But we didn’t do anything wrong in there,” Elizabeth protested.

“It’s my word against yours and my word speaks louder because I am a working, tax-paying, property-owning, contributing member of society and y’all are just teenage punks and your mothers are on government assistance!”

Marshall gave half the peace sign to Boyd.

“Did you just flip me off you little word I no longer use in my writing?”

Marshall said, “Yes I did flip you off.”

Boyd then struck Marshall across his back with the broomstick.

“That’ll make y’all stop. Y’all think that y’all can act like dogs in heat, but it’s not going to happen while I’m around. And I’m going to beat both of your words I no longer use in my writing again if y’all talk back.”

“Well word I no longer use in my writing you, Boyd,” Marshall said.

Boyd punched Marshall in the face, knocking him to the cement, then struck him several times with his broomstick.

“Now, I’m going call the cops on both of you,” Boyd said, then walked back to his house.

Elizabeth said in distress, “Come, on Marshall, let’s get out of here.”

“Can you drive us, Elizabeth? I’m hurt.” Marshall asked.

She nodded and they stepped into Marshall’s Buick and started it.

They drove off but then Marshall saw Boyd’s truck in passenger-side mirror. He began to shake with anxiety.

“I love you so much, Marshall!” Elizabeth looked at him and said, beaming.

“I love you too…” Marshall replied as his voice trembled at the sight of Boyd following them.

Elizabeth saw his distressed appearance and asked, “What’s the matter?

“That good for nothing Boyd Bachmann is following us.”

“Should I tap your brakes?” Elizabeth asked.

Marshall nodded and Elizabeth tapped the brakes.

Boyd flashed a revolver at them.

Elizabeth saw and sped off. Boyd followed just as fastly. There came a change in the weather and it began to storm. Elizabeth slowed down because of the wet road. Boyd continued following them.

“Maybe we can lose him if we get on the freeway?” Marshall said.

“That’s what I’ll do then,” Elizabeth replied.

They approached the on-ramp and began to make the semi-circle on that part of the cloverleaf.

Boyd followed.

They began to switch lanes, but Boyd continued to angrily pursue them. Suddenly Elizabeth lost control and Marshall’s Buick struck a Propane truck. There was a huge fireball that overtook the car.

They were both killed in the fire, but they were in love so much it did not matter. Now they are together for all eternity. The fire was like absolute zero compared to the warmth of [the passionate] love they shared.

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