The Pledge by Chandra Sparks Taylor

popped him on the arm. “Why are you teasing me?” I asked.
    â€œYou thought I really wanted to come over here just to study?” he said.
    â€œYeah,” I admitted. “You said this wasn’t a date. Besides, I’m just a junior.”
    â€œWell, I want to date you,” he said. He looked like he wanted to kiss me, but then he changed his mind.
    â€œWhy?” I asked, really wanting to know.
    â€œBecause I think you’re something special. I’ve been checking you out since last year, but I didn’t know how to approach you. Word is that you’re stuck-up, but I know now that’s just a cover.”
    â€œReally?” I asked.
    He nodded as he dried his hands on a paper towel. “I also know that you’re into me just as much as I’m into you. My spies have told me about some of the conversations you and your friend Bree have had about me.”
    My mouth dropped open in shock, and he grinned.
    I didn’t think I could be any more surprised than I was at the moment, but I realized I was wrong when Allen took my hand and looked deep into my eyes. “Courtland, will you be my girlfriend?”

four
    Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night wondering if I dreamed the night Allen asked me to be his girlfriend, but then I slip one of the letters he’s written me from under my pillow and reread it or look at all the text messages he’s sent me over the last month and realize that it’s very real.
    Allen Benson, star basketball player, likes me, and although I haven’t told him yet, I love him. Since that first night he came to my house, he’s been here every chance he gets, and we get together during lunch and study hall and whenever we have a few free moments. We’re the new it couple at school, and I can’t believe it.
    Momma thinks it’s cute what Allen and I have. She says he’s a nice guy who comes from a good family. Cory likes him, too. I’ve never seen my little sister open up to someone as quickly as she’s done with Allen. They spend time playing video games and the three of us shoot hoops.
    Even Daddy came around. The few times he was home when Allen was there, they actually held decent conversations. Daddy even came to see Allen play, which surprised me because it had been a while since he came to any activity I participated in.
    I guess Daddy was really feeling Allen because a few weeks before my seventeenth birthday, Aunt Dani, who was thrilled I was dating a baller and who had decided to stay in Birmingham indefinitely, stopped by and went off on my parents for not letting me date. Daddy came into the kitchen where Allen and I were studying for finals, which were going to take place the week after Thanksgiving, which was only a few days away.
    â€œYou can go out with her,” Daddy said, “but Dani has to go with you.”
    It took a second for his words to register, but when they did, Allen and I looked at each other in surprise.
    â€œThank you,” he said, getting up to shake Daddy’s hand.
    I walked over and hugged Daddy, trying to ignore the alcohol I smelled on his breath and trying not to think about how awkward it felt. The last time I had really hugged Daddy was at my junior high school graduation. That night had been one of the best of my life. Daddy hadn’t stopped grinning the whole time, and as I was getting ready for bed, he came into my room and told me how proud he was of me and how much he loved me. We had really talked that night. He had told me how he felt about finding out right after he finished high school he was adopted and how he always dreamed of becoming a police officer.
    His faith in me that night was what made me decide I was going to lose weight, and I vowed I would always pursue my dreams.
    â€œThank you, Daddy.” I looked over his shoulder to where Momma and Aunt Dani were standing, and Aunt Dani winked. I reminded myself to thank her