Can True Love Survive High School? by Natalie Standiford Page A

tumbled onto the couch in the great room. Luckily, Curt and Jen were at a country club dinner. It wouldn't be good for them to see this—Jen might report everything to Peggy Fowler.
    “God, that's so unfair,” Holly said. “Don't they understand what he means to you?”
    Every day Britta gave Holly an Ed Report, and Holly was hooked on them. The flowers, the candles, the kisses, the poetry … It was all so romantic, like a dream. No one Holly knew had ever had a love affair—and that was what this was like, a grown-up, movie love affair—and Holly was enthralled by every detail.
    “I know,” Britta sobbed. “They're so mean! What am I going to do? My whole life has changed since I met him. Now I can't live without him!”
    “Your parents are so overprotective,” Holly said.
    “Overprotective! All they care about are my grades and getting into Harvard. Superficial, status-conscious social climbers!”
    Holly silently agreed. She thought of what Lina would say: What kind of cold-hearted people couldn't see true love when it bloomed like a desert cactus right in front of their eyes? And she'd be right. Holly wasn't about to let them quash it. It meant too much to Britta—and to Holly.
    When Holly looked back on the relationships she'd had with boys so far, they all seemed kind of piddly. Ordinary, everyday. She'd felt attracted, she'd felt irritated, she'd felt pleasantly comfortable, she'd felt angry. But she'd never felt the huge emotions Britta had. She'd never felt like her love was a matter of life and death. And she wanted to. She was willing to make a sacrifice to keep Britta's love story going.
    “Look, there's a very easy answer,” Holly said. “You can see Ed whenever you want. Just tell Peggy and Gord that you're with me. I'll cover for you.”
    Britta lifted her head, sat up, and stared gratefully through her tears at Holly.
    “You would do that for us?”
    “Of course.”
    Britta started crying again. “Thank you … so much …”
    Holly wrapped her arms around her and let her cry. A tear sprang up at the corner of her own eye. Ed and Britta needed her. Without Holly to protect it, their relationship would be trampled by a cruel world.
    The doorbell rang. Holly got up to answer it, leaving Britta crumpled on the couch.
    It was Rob. They were supposed to go out that night. In the midst of Britta's crisis, Holly had forgotten all about it.
    “Hey,” she said, kissing him lightly on the lips.
    “Ready to go? I thought we could grab some Chinese food—” He came in and saw Britta on the couch. “What's up?” he asked, nodding at her.
    “An emergency,” Holly explained. “I can't leave her right now.”
    “Oh. What happened?”
    “Her parents won't let her see Ed more than once a week,” Holly said. “They're ruining her life!”
    “Bummer.” Holly could tell that Rob was trying to be sympathetic, but he really didn't get the implications of this. “Can we go out later, after she's calmed down?”
    “I don't know.” Holly led Rob over to the couch. Britta's face was buried in a cushion. “We'll see.” She helped Britta up to a sitting position. “Would you like a glass of water?”
    Britta nodded. Holly went to the kitchen. Rob followed her.
    “How long do you think this is going to be?” Rob asked.
    “I'm not sure,” Holly said. “She's so in love, she takes everything to heart, you know?”
    Rob didn't look too sure. Holly brought the glass of water to Britta. He followed her.
    Britta drank the water and seemed to feel better. “Thanks, Holly. I guess everything is okay now, since you're going to help us. I'll call Ed and tell him what's going on.” She pulled her cell phone out of her purse.
    Holly and Rob stepped away so she could have some privacy. “Isn't it amazing?” Holly said. “I've never seen two people so in love. It's like this incredible Shakespearean super-love, like a fairy tale. Unreal.”
    Rob looked uncomfortable. “Unreal is a good word for