*Author's Note - This series is Rated M due to some chapters (but not all) having a degree of sexually mature content. Chapters featuring mild sexual content will have one dash: "-" before and after their title names, and chapters featuring much explicit content will have two dashes: "-" right before and after their title names for those that want to skip chapters that feature this type of content.

Jackson was laying down alone in his bedroom one night wearing just a t-shirt and shorts. There was a loud thunderstorm outside keeping him awake but with Max gone for the weekend to visit their grandfather, Jackson was just happy to have the bedroom to himself. However Jackson's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his bedroom door opening. Jackson sat up and saw Ramona stepping into his bedroom wearing a bath robe. A confused Jackson said, "Ramona, what's wrong?" A slightly nervous looking Ramona said, "I'm sorry. It's just... I've always been afraid of thunder storms and there's never been one this bad since I moved in, and... I'm just scared of being in my room alone during a thunder storm." Jackson rolled his eyes and said, "Can't you just bother your mother?" Ramona then said, "Oh no I can't. If I do, my mom will get all over motherly and demand I start sleeping in her room. I just can't do that. Do you mind if I... just stay with you for a bit." Jackson then said, "Okay I guess. You can relax on the floor if you want."

Suddenly there was the sound of very loud thunder outside. Ramona squealed in terror and jumped onto Jackson's bed sitting next to him. Jackson rolled his eyes as he said, "Or just relax in my bed. Okay then. I'll take the floor." The sound of loud thunder could suddenly be heard again causing Ramona to grab onto Jackson's arm tightly as she said, "No! Please, just... just stay with me here... until the storm is over." Jackson sighed as he said, "Okay." Jackson and Ramona simply sat still for awhile as Ramona kept a hold of Jackson's arm tightly. After several minutes passed, Jackson said, "So... how is it living in my old room?" Ramona made a small smile as she said, "It's good. I love the privacy." Jackson sighed as he said, "And I sure did until you took it from me." Ramona then said, "Oh. Sorry to rub it in. I am so thankful every day I have that room though. Thanks again." Jackson then said, "Well I'm glad you're enjoying it. I sure do miss being alone in there." A curious Ramona then said, "Why would you want to be alone in your room so much? Max isn't that much of a bother is he?" Jackson sighed and said, "No. It's just... there are times a man likes to have long periods of privacy so he can... keep himself pleased." A curious Ramona said, "What do you mean pleased? I mean you didn't have food or a TV in there. All you could probably do in there is look at your phone and... Oh! When you meant pleased you meant..." Jackson interrupted Ramona and said, "Lets just stop right there." Jackson and Ramona remained sitting where they were in silence.

Eventually the silence was broken by Ramona who said, "So... you and Rocki seem to have become a happy couple." Jackson smirked as he said, "Yeah. I guess so." Then Ramona said, "Well I hope you're being careful with her. I hear that Rocki is a bit more... experienced than you are. You two are being safe right?" A wide eyed and startled Jackson said, "Okay. This conversation is getting way too weird now." Ramona then said, "Look. I care about you and don't want you getting in any kind of trouble. So... you're keeping yourselves protected right?" Jackson sighed and said, "Don't worry about it. We haven't even got to that level yet?" Ramona sighed and said, "Oh good. Good to hear." A curious Jackson then said, "So uh... when me and Rocki eventually do... do it, do you have any tips." A confused Ramona said, "Excuse me?" Jackson then said, "You know. How do girls like it when they're doing it with a guy?" Ramona then said, "I, um... wouldn't know." A confused Jackson said, "You mean you never... not even with Popko..." Ramona's face began to turn a bit red as she said, "No. I um... I've never gotten beyond kissing." Jackson and Ramona again remained still sitting in silence.

Suddenly Ramona giggled a bit. A confused Jackson said, "What? What's so funny?" Ramona then said, "Nothing. It's just... this is all kinda playing out like a fantasy I had when I was young." A curious Jackson said, "What do you mean?" Ramona then said, "Oh that for some contrived reason I'd be living with a boy I liked and that one night I would be alone with him in his bed and we'd just start talking for a long time." Jackson then said, "Oh? And what boy was it that you fantasized about when you were young?" Ramona began to blush as she said, "Oh... nobody." Jackson to smile as he said, "Oh come on. You can tell me. Is it someone I know. Come on. Spill it out." Ramona brushed some hair away from her face as she turned her head just a little bit to look into Jackson's eyes as she said, "It... it was you." A surprised Jackson said, "Me? You mean... but... but I thought growing up you didn't like me." Ramona rolled her eyes as she said, "Come on Jackson. When a girl or young preteen lady acts like she doesn't like a boy but keeps spending time around him, it obviously means she likes him." A surprised Jackson then said, "Whoa. I... whoa." Ramona then said, "I... I just never told you because I thought you didn't like me." Jackson then turned to look right at Ramona as he said, "I didn't like you because I thought you didn't like me." A surprised looking Ramona said, "Wait. You mean if I had just... but that means..." Jackson and Ramona looked away from each other as they sat in silence for some more time.

Eventually Ramona broke then silence again as she said, "But I guess it 's too late now. You're with Rocki now and we're kind of become like brother and sister living together. It would just be..." Suddenly Jackson turned Ramona's head with his hand and kissed her right on the lips. Seconds later, Jackson moved his face away. The two both began to blush as Ramona said, "Whoa. Just... whoa." Jackson nodded as he said, "Yeah. Whoa." Ramona closed her eyes as she said, "I'm sorry I bothered you Jackson. I'll just go back to my room and..." Suddenly the sound of loud thunder could be heard again. Ramona grabbed tightly onto Jackson's arm again. Jackson then said, "It's okay Ramona. Come on. Lay down." Jackson then laid down on the right side of his body. Ramona soon after laid down on the left side of her body so she would face Jackson. Jackson pulled a blanket over the two. The two teenagers laid still as they looked into each other's eyes. The sound of thunder was then heard again. Ramona squealed in fear as she wrapped her arms around Jackson's body tightly. Jackson then put one hand behind Ramona's back and another on the back of her head as he said, "It's okay Ramona. It's gonna be okay." Ramona smiled as she began to snuggle close to Jackson. The two remained in each other's arms as the rest of the night continued.

TO BE CONTINUED...