I sat and fiddled with the arm of the chair, but my brown eyes focused completely on the stage in front of me.  It was a classical piece, played beautifully by an orchestra, which was pretty well hidden in a ditch in front of the plain, wooden stage.  I almost wanted to hum along, but decided against it, since it would be rude and not polite during the performance.

            As I plucked a thread from the arm of the maroon color chair, the female ballet dancer bowed gracefully, her fingertips grazing the floor slightly, and the audience that I was seated in clapped politely.  I have to say, the girl had been good, but I knew just what to expect from the next dancer, I knew just who was up next.

            Another song filled the large arena, something unlike the one before.  Maybe it was because I was so anxious to see this very performance.  I had been waiting four long, grueling months to be in the seat that I sat in.  It was a great seat; too, front row center, and I didnt even have to pay for it.  I sure was lucky on that account.

            I smiled widely as she began her graceful steps.  Spinning, jumping, twirling, all of them were filled with an emotion that I couldnt figure out, and so much of that went into the dance.  I wanted to jump up, clap, and cheer loudly right then.  And, it was only the beginning.  She was one of my best friends, and I remembered how it all began.

            I was six, Taylor was only two, and we were all still waiting patiently for the arrival of little Zac.  I remembered fidgeting throughout my cousins entire performance; I wasnt a very patient child.  But, when she got onto the stage, I froze in place, and my eyes were glued on her form.  She was only five, but she had been so fantastic, everyone in the auditorium had stopped chatting and watched.

            She had tan skin, deep brown eyes, long black hair, and wonderful dancing ability.  I met up with my cousin in the back, and was introduced to her within minutes.  I immediately became her friend; both of us followed each other around for at least two more hours before we were dragged to our cars.

            The music ended soon after, I was the first to stand up from my seat and I clapped as loudly as possible.  The rest of the audience followed, the rest of my family started the chain reaction after me, I was happy to see that this crowd knew talent when they saw it.  Suddenly, her eyes locked with mine, and I somehow managed to shuffle out of the aisle and toward the exit.

            I looked left and right, searching for her long black hair.  But, that would be pulled back into a tight, neat bun on the back of her head.  Yet, I could easily spot her in any crowd, much less an empty and silent hall.

            After a minute or so, I was twirling the single red rose that I held in my hand, and I caught sight of her.  "Krislyn" that was the only word I could manage to call of to her at that very moment.

            She was still in her costume, a powder blue light dress, Pointe shoes of the same color, and natural tights and make-up.  She looked absolutely beautiful, and I couldnt help but smile proudly toward her.  She returned a warm and trusting smile to me as I watched her.  "Isaac" she breathed softly as I jogged over to her, wrapped my arms around her slender waist, and buried my face on the top of her pretty hair.  Her hair that always smelled like berries and pine, or, as I referred to them as, natures scents.

            "Krislyn, I missed you," I mumbled into her raven colored hair.  She slung her arms loosely around my neck, and smiled.  "I missed you so much."  That was true, I hadn't seen her in at least six months, it was hard not to miss someone like that.  I always managed to miss her, even if I tried not to think about her.

            Soon, we pulled back, and I looked her over.  She looked healthy enough, for a dancer, but I knew that she would never make her own body suffer to maintain a figure that she could easily keep.  "You look stunning," I whispered softly in her ear.  A smile spread on her full lips, and the twinkle in her eyes that I loved so much glittered like a star in the night sky.

            Krislyn, I loved her name.  It was unique, and I could say it like my own, or maybe Zac's and Taylor's since I said them just as often.  She was sweet, kind, and the girl next-door type of deal.  Anyone that didn't love her had been hit in the head too many times.  But, she did have a different side, one that not too many people were allowed to see.  I was glad that I happened to be one of the chosen few.

            I quickly handed Krislyn the rose that I was still holding in my hand.  She smiled shyly and took the red flower from me with her gentle and graceful hand.  "Thank-you, Isaac" Krislyn said softly.  She was always so proper and polite, never using most nicknames.  I was and always would be Isaac to her, not Ike.

            After another hour or so, I led Krislyn toward the group of our awaiting families.  Taylor was the first to spot us, followed by the rest of the lot, and they all turned.  Wide smiles were on all of their faces, and it made me smile with pride, for some reason.  Krislyns parents hugged her and handed her a large bouquet of arranged flowers first, followed by my parents, then Taylor and Zac.

            "You were absolutely wonderful, dear" my mother commented.  Krislyn smiled happily, and I watched intently as two men about my age passed by us, they were watching us closely and carefully.  I suddenly felt a little over-protective over my friend, and I wrapped my arm around Krislyn's waist and pulled her lightly to my side quickly.

            Within a half an hour, I was headed back Tulsa with my family, and Krislyn was off to Oklahoma City with her parents.  True, I wanted to beg and plead with my parents to let me go with her, just for a few days.  But, I had to suck it up inside of me.

            Quickly, I hugged Krislyn tightly, kissed her on the top of her head, and opened the back car door for her.  I handed her all of her flowers and presents, along with a tiny teddy bear that Zac had tossed in through the opened window.  He must have forgotten about it, it had been in the trunk all night.  "Give the others my love, please" Krislyn said.  I smiled and nodded as a silent answer.  "I'll miss you very much, Isaac."

            I wrapped her in a hug, kissed her cheek, and left.  "I'll miss you, too" I replied softly to myself.  I watched as her father started the car and drove off, I actually watched their dark blue station wagon until it was completely out of sight.  It made me entirely torn up inside, I always got like that when I had to leave anyone, for any reason.

            Within a second, my mother had her gentle hand on my shoulder.  I looked over at her and tried to force the lop-sided, glimpse of a grin to spread on my lips.  I failed, miserably.  My mother could see clear through my act, as if it was only the glass of a window.  "Isaac, I know my own son better than some fake smile," she said, honestly.

            "Mom" I mumbled under my breath.  I was about to open my mother to continue, but she pushed her index finger to her own lips and shook her head back and forth slowly, making eye contact with me all the while.

            "Dont talk back to me, young man.  A mother always knows best," she warned, removing her finger from her lips and looking at me clearly.  Within a split second of my mother saying that, the car horn honked loudly.

            I looked over at my family's well-known white van.  Zac was leaning over the drivers seat, and his hand was firmly pressed onto the steering wheel, where the horn was located.  Dad was laughing, as was Taylor, as Zac quickly sank back into his seat, which was directly behind the drivers seat where dad sat.