Author: royal_chandler

Summary: Only Ethan can get away with it.

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I don’t own 90210 or any of its characters.

A shy boy would walk over to her desk in grade school timid but endearing. Hands were stuffed in his pockets as he bowed his head slightly. She would know and extract a pencil from her backpack. And when he held out a hand, a grateful smile would appear on his face, crimson blush rising. “Thanks, Erin.”

At lunch the boy walked over to her table. The dreaded cooties didn’t scare him when he pressed graham crackers into her palm. The other girls with her would giggle but Erin didn’t mind. He was sweet and could get away with it.

“Erin!” came his strangled cry. Puberty was a jerk to the boys. He was anxious again and she wondered when he would ever stop being uneasy around her. For the past several weeks he’d been acting so weird and nervous, it was a little offsetting. As he approached, Erin couldn’t help but to notice how handsome he was getting. Winter was outside and butterflies were hibernating within her. The grin reserved only for him shined. Once at her locker, Ethan shoved daisies into her face. She looked at him with question. Ethan shrugged unsure, “Do you think she’ll like them?”

Her parents were fighting again.Erin rubbed angrily at her tears and wrapped her arms around her midsection to steady herself. A shadow cast over that blocked the porch’s light. She could smell the sweat from lacrosse practice and cinnamon from his Big Red as he sat beside her. She flinched when his hand first touched her skin but didn’t resist to being pulled against him, his chest much warmer than the cool night. Pressing a kiss to her temple, Ethan whispered, “I’m here, Erin.” Sobs racked through her body while his hand soothingly traveled up and down her arm.