Trixie settled into her seat at the theater. She and Jim had been out to dinner and now were getting ready to watch a movie. It was their 2 month anniversary of being an official couple.

She looked up in time to watch Jim come down the aisle toward her with their sodas. Handing her one of them, he took his seat next to her.

“I saw Dan out there. He’s here with Ruthie Kettner.”

“Oh, really?” Trixie looked around to see if she could spot them, but the lights went down as she saw them enter the theater.

Dan had seen Jim and Trixie but purposely moved to another aisle to give each of them their privacy.

Trixie could see the other couple if she turned back to look at them. It wasn’t long before Dan and Ruthie were in an embrace and kissing.

Mmmm? They aren’t even a couple and they sure are going at it.

Jim settled his arm around her shoulders and Trixie leaned into him as they watched the movie. But Trixie’s mind wasn’t on the movie.

We only have a couple of weeks before Jim has to go away to school again. I’m going to miss him so much! This summer has been the best of my life.

Trixie felt the warmth from Jim’s arm. She loved their relationship. She often wondered what they’d been thinking in waiting to pursue their relationship.

Jim was very affectionate, always quick to kiss her and equally quick to hold her hand.

What is going to happen when Jim gets back to school? Will he decide our relationship won’t work as a long distance one? Will he find someone prettier, more mature?

The closing credits were rolling when the lights came up and startled Trixie from her fog.

“That was good.”

“Umm. Yeah.”

Trixie had no clue what had happened during the movie. Jim stood up and took her hand and led her from the theater.

They briefly spoke with Dan and Ruthie before getting into Jim’s Ford Taurus.

“It’s early yet, let’s go down to the river and park.” Trixie suggested.

Jim agreed and turned the car toward the river. He parked and unbuckled his seat belt and turned to face her in the seat. She did the same. Jim collapsed the console in the center, and she slid over to sit next to him.

Trixie snuggled into his arms again and he kissed her. The kiss was sweetly gentle. When Jim lifted his head again, he leaned back and breathed in the summer air from the window.

“I think I will miss this most of all when I go back to school. I’ve gotten used to seeing you as much as I wanted. And it’s these times when we’re alone- I love being with you Trixie.”

“Me too, Jim. I know we talked about seeing each other as much as we can, but I’m going to miss you.”

Jim kissed her again and Trixie wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers playing with the soft hairs at the nape of his neck.

Trixie pulled him tighter against her and he deepened the kiss. When he lifted his head to get a breath, she kissed his chin and neck. Trixie ran her hands down his chest and brought them back up under his shirt.

The feel of her soft hands on his torso nearly sent Jim over the edge. He gasped and before he could say a word, Trixie captured his mouth for another searing kiss.

Jim’s fingers tangled into her hair as he let himself go. Feeling Trixie’s fingers on his belt buckle brought reality crashing in.

“Trixie” He murmured on her mouth, a mouth that was still devouring his.

Trixie didn’t seem to hear him, intent on trying to open his belt.

Finally, he pulled his head back and pulled her hands from under his shirt.

“Trixie, stop!”

Trixie raised her eyes to look into his.

“Why? Don’t you want to?”

“Want to? Trix, we aren’t even close to being ready for that.”

“I’m ready, I think you are too.”

“No, I’m not and I don’t think you are either.”

Trixie shoved away from him and sat back on her side of the car. She kept her face turned toward the window, while she blinked back tears.

She felt Jim move closer to her and gently placed his finger under her chin. He used it to turn her head so he could look into her eyes.

“Trixie, what is wrong?”

“Don’t you want me like that, Jim?”

Jim groaned inwardly. Oh no! I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.

Finally, he answered her.

“Trixie Belden, you are the most wonderful, beautiful woman I have ever known. I love you.”

“You didn’t answer the question. Do you want me? Physically?”

Jim took a breath, and plunged into the answer he knew he had to give her.

“I love you, and of course, that means I want you like that.”

Trixie shifted closer to him, and he continued, “But, we have time for the physical part of us. I don’t want us to rush it. Do you understand?”

Trixie nodded and tried to look away again.

“Trix, I hope you know I want you. But we just aren’t ready to move to that step yet.”

“Why not? I mean, I’m 18, and you’re 20. We’re old enough.”

“It has nothing to do with age. I just don’t feel ready. Can you respect that?”

Trixie chewed her lip, thinking. How could she not respect that? He was right. But still, it worried her that he was going back to school soon with other women there. That were probably prettier and sexier .Would Jim be tempted?

“If that is what you want, Jim.” She said to him, quietly.

Jim frowned.

“Why did you decide to do this tonight? I mean, we’ve been alone a lot this summer and you’ve seemed happy with the rate our relationship was progressing.”

“I was. I am.” Trixie took a breath. “I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy, I have you.”

“I mean when you go back to school.”

A light bulb went off in his head.

“Trix, it doesn’t matter to me where I am, I love you. I’m happy to be with you, as your boyfriend. You trust me, right?”

Trixie looked up at him, her eyes big as saucers.

“Of course I trust you. It’s just other women I have a problem with.”

Jim almost laughed, but she was serious.

“I haven’t looked at any other women in so long- much longer than you know! What they do or think or want, means nothing to me. Only what you think, want or feel is important.”

Trixie absorbed his words and he added, “I don’t want us to move our relationship to another level because we’re insecure about it. I want it to mean we’re ready to be all the more committed to each other. It shouldn’t be about anyone else, but us.”

He was right, as always! Trixie smiled at him and kissed him.

“Are we ok, now?” He asked when she pulled her head back.

“Perfectly, perfect.”

Jim slid back to his side of the car and buckled his seat belt.

“So, Jim, when do you think we’ll be ready?”

“I think, that will be up to us. We’ll know. We’ll both be ready and want it to move to that next step. Does that sound reasonable?”

Trixie grinned, “Yes, that sounds wonderful. I love you, Jim.”

She reached across the seat to hold his hand as he drove her home.

He kissed the back of her knuckles, and said, “I love you, too.”

Original Universe

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