Things between everyone seems to be pulling in the direction of their destinations. Gwen is still at odds with her mother over moving back home. James and Justin both begin part-time jobs with Circuit City in the car audio department. Josh and Alex still head downtown at night and even go as far as Ironton, Ohio, to grow their racing funds until the early snowfall hinders their nightly hustling.

There's been plenty of changes in their lives since the previous year. Christmas feels very off for Josh this time around. Tensions between him and Gwen are at an all-time high. He picks up the vibe that something is wrong, but she denies it even though her eyes glaze over. After everyone heads off to bed, he stays up Christmas night with a heavy heart due to memories racing through his mind.

"Man, oh man, today was too weird." He tells himself, reflecting on the day.

"I'm so fed up with arguing with Gwen, and compared to last Christmas, this one feels like just another day."

He rolls over to pull his wallet out, taking out his pictures, flipping back to the last one of Winter Formal.

A smile comes across his face, with a warm tear forms in his eye. The basement is relatively cool and damp than the rest of the house. Josh gets warm by the reminiscence in the picture with Nikki.

"Everything felt so right that night." He reminds himself.

"I had so much fun with her, and hell, even just sitting up talking in the front room all night made me realize how much she meant to me back then."

He wipes away the tear and slips the picture back into its spot hidden away from Gwen or anyone else who doesn't know the photo still exists. Soon after the trip down memory lane, Josh relaxes into one of the most peaceful nights in a while.

The next morning James heads over to Scarlett's. He goes to surprise her by sneaking through the house on his tiptoes, but before he can jump into the bedroom, he overhears Scarlett and Gwen chatting.

"You need to tell Josh the truth!" Scarlett mentions which is where James stops dead in his tracks.

"He needs to know that you're getting forced to go back to Columbus. Gwen, half the school year is over already. Look, I know you don't want to hear or know this, but I watched him struggle before you two met. He was devastated when his ex-left."

Gwen nearly flies off her rocker when she feels like she's compared to Nikki.

"I'm not HER I know he's a good guy, and he's turned himself around. Other than the racing, I can't find much wrong with him. Which is one thing I love about Josh. I mean, c'mon, I let him take my virginity at homecoming. I know he's going to be crushed by this. I can't bring myself to tell him. You say anything, and I swear I'll kick your ass. Remember, I know you have a secret of your own!"

James stands there with his mouth half-open, stumped that Scarlett would keep anything from him. He stands there and continues to listen for a couple more minutes.

"You know when this comes out, it'll..." Scarlett pauses when she thinks she hears a noise.

"Did you hear something out in the hall?" She gets up to investigate, and when she pulls back her bedroom door, she sees nothing.

"Must've been my imagination or something."

James holds his breath after he dives into the bathroom. After he hears the coast is clear with the bedroom door shut all the way, he sneaks out to his car. His heart pounds a thousand beats per minute it feels like when he fires up his car, pulling away squalling the tires.

"Oh, no!" Gwen barks out, peering out the window.

"I think you're right when you heard someone; your boy toy is pulling away in a hurry!"

Scarlett's heart drops to the bottom of her stomach. Her hands over her belly, she asks Gwen for a favor.

"We need to catch him before he squeals to Josh. Dear God, I wonder how much he heard?"

The girls rush to Gwen's Sebring, trying to catch up to the turbocharged Grand National. They run the risk of a hefty speeding ticket but manage to catch up to James. Gwen cuts him off when they reach the stop sign that turns onto Route Two's main drag.

"Don't wait for me. Go spend time with your man!" Scarlett orders Gwen.

"James," she yells, getting out of the car. "We need to talk!"

James' face goes ghost-white by the time Scarlett gets into his car. He knows whatever her secret can be that it could either make or break his life. His worst fear is that she wants to end things.

For the first time in his youthful years, James knows what it's like to be in love. It's a sensation unlike anything else he's felt. Something he's tried to avoid for so long now gazes back at him with the everyday fear that it could come to an end.

"Uh hi, baby..." James leads the conversation with a shaky voice.

"We need to go somewhere and talk; it's something important and cumbersome," Scarlett tells him without any details after James gives her a hard gulp.

"Y-y-y-yeah, s-s-s-sure..." James stutters from his lips, feeling the palms of his hands start to sweat.

While they vanish, Gwen heads over to spend time with Josh. After she arrives at the house, she notices his car is gone.

"That son of a bitch! He's out and didn't invite me!" She tells herself and ready to use her anger as an excuse to start another intense argument.

"I'll kick his ass when I see him. He's supposed to be accessible all the time for me."

She pulls out to head for home and waits online for Josh to appear. She starts arguing with him again. It's an argument that lasts several days this time. Gwen doesn't hold back her frustrations or her feelings at being ignored again.

Between all the disagreements and mini battles, Josh and Gwen make up with passion-driven fiery sex. It's one reason why Gwen keeps his temper boiling since it draws out Josh's animal instincts. From the living room couch to the kitchen table, Gwen finds new innovative ways to keep things refreshing when they make love.

They do this back and forth cat and mouse game that lasts for months. It's one way they beat the brutal winter months with near-zero temperatures some nights. By the time the Spring season arrives, it turns from snow everywhere to almost nonstop rain. It nearly ruins everyone's plans for prom. Various parts of downtown flood, creating a problem at underpasses and sections along Third and Fifth Avenues.

Unlike at homecoming, both schools have prom planned together at the Executive Hyatt Suites. Downtown will be the hottest scene that night inside the Grand Ballroom.

Momma C has a special surprise for the kids. While the girls take care of hair appointments, getting their nails polished, and get into their dresses, the boys are busy trying to get used to wearing tuxedoes.

"Damn, this thing feels a little snug dawg," James says, rolling his shoulders, trying to stretch the jacket to move a little more freely.

"F'real bub, but it's only for a few hours. Then when we leave, it is off to our hotel rooms for some sweet lovin'." Josh reminds him, flexing his arms over his chest to get used to the suit.

By the time the girls arrive, so does Justin with an old friend. They greet each other with a kiss, prepared to head out for the evening.

"Josh, James, surely you remember Macey from back in the day. Well, she's my date for the night." Justin explains, holding her hand.

Macey is the same height as Justin, but she's a little on the chunky side with dark walnut hair and matching color eyes. She used to have an immense crush on James but never made a pass with how he treats girls from school.

"Hey girl, been a while." Josh greets her with a quick hug.

"Hi everyone, glad to be part of this," Macey says, blushing.

Momma C sits there in her chair with a camera, ready to snap plenty of pictures. She stomps a couple of times on the floor to get their undivided attention.

"Excuse me, my children, but I want some pictures and good ones. It could be the last time we're all together, and this is one memory all of you will want to capture."

She gives out her instructions of where she wants everyone to stand.

"Josh, you and Gwen on the far-right end, Justin and uh Macey in the middle, and James and my beloved Scarlett, I want James holding you close with his arms around your shoulders."

All six get into a position where she snaps a few pictures before getting each other in their photos.

"You kids grew up too fast on me. I can still remember the first time the three of you had a sleepover in this house. Back when Nintendo and cartoons ruled the world. Now it's sports cars, you young ladies and college. Soon it'll be engagements, kids, weddings, and for one of you boys, deployment to a faraway country leaving me to worry." She continues, wiping tears away from her baggy eyes.

"That may be true, Momma C, but we'll always have each other's backs. We might be a bit dysfunctional at times, but these two a-holes right here will always be my brothers because of other mothers." Josh says, putting his arms around the shoulders of James and Justin.

Momma Cline then snaps a few more pictures of the boys together and gets the girls resting on the couch until a horn blare comes from outside.

The three couples go to the window to find a limousine waiting for them along the side of the road.

"No way!" James yells, turning his head to his mother.

"Yeah, we all got together, and well, here you go, kids. Make it a night to never forget and be careful. I won't wait up and most of all, have fun!" She explains, waving as they head out the door.

One thing Josh doesn't notice sitting in the next-door driveway is Pops' truck. Watching from afar, his parents sit on the tailgate as Josh holds the door for everyone else. They finally get a glimpse of Gwen and get a few of their pictures before the limo pulls away, and they head back home without him ever knowing they were there.

The limo pulls up to the hotel, where valet opens the rear doors helping each person out of the vehicle. Under the canopy, the kids stay dry from the drenching downpour. Once inside, they take the elevator to the second floor, following the Grand Ballroom's signs, where they split apart.

"Time to get our room keys." Josh reminds James trying to keep his voice low.

"Yeah, let's go dawg, time for a night to remember!" James replies, heading back for the door.

Justin follows them out of the Ballroom, where he asks what they're doing.

"What's up, bros? Forget to do something?"

"Yeah, we uh got a couple of rooms for tonight. You know it's prom, and well gotta keep with the tradition of every other senior class before us." James explains with a cocky smile on his face.

"I see; well, I didn't get a room because I'm not a player, so have fun. I'll pick all of you up in the morning, and we'll go have some fun." He tells them then returns to his date.

After the boys get checked-in, they hurry back to their dates as they wait along the back corner.

"About time! Where did you go?" Gwen asks with a bit of an attitude.

"Had to secure our room, baby. Remember I told you that we were spending tonight together." Josh says with the keys to the room in his hand.

"Oh yeah, I forgot, my bad, babe. I can't wait to have some fun later." She winks with a hug around his ribs for good measure.

Josh can't take his eyes off Gwen that night. She takes a different approach to her prom dress. She found a Japanese style double high slit black dress with an opening in the middle of her breasts, exposing a fair bit of skin along her chest.

She uses this to her advantage when chaperones aren't looking; she turns, grinding up against Josh's crotch, feeling him get hard every time she does it. She knows he's playing right into her hands, and she keeps pouring on the gasoline to keep working him up until people begin to leave.

"Ready to go?" She whispers into his ear, leaning into his body, pressing her breasts against him.

"Been ready for a while." Josh indicates with anticipation.

Once they're off the elevator on the sixth floor, they head down to the very last room on the right side of the hallway. Inside the room, Josh doesn't waste time making his move on Gwen after the door shuts. He nearly attacks her when they kiss. He picks her up then wraps her legs around his waist until he sits her on the edge of the table.

"Do whatever you want to me tonight. I'm your play toy." Gwen instructs him to slip his suit jacket off, followed by unbuttoning his shirt.

"Just make me scream like never before is all I ask."

That's a request. Josh is more than willing and ready to do. Josh opens her legs wider after he pulls off her thong. Josh slips out of his slacks and boxers, closing the gap between their bodies. In one motion, he shoves deep inside of Gwen's anticipating body, waiting for him to invade. She shutters, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, hanging onto him with staggered breathing.

"Yes, baby, yes, uh yes, harder, harder!" She tells him, holding on for dear life until he stops to break her grip to lie her back on the table.

"YES!" She repeatedly screams with her legs in the air as she's almost dangling off the table.

"Don't stop!" She demands, feeling her body tensing up more.

"Didn't plan on it." He hurries to say, feeling his own body about to release in pleasure.

Within seconds of their brief exchange Josh and Gwen orgasm at the same time. She covers her mouth to keep from screaming too loud while he grips her hips shoving entirely into her body until their sensation comes to an end.

"Now that was intense!" Gwen mentions sitting on the edge of the table.

"That's because we got into it before I could put on protection," Josh comments when they both realize what just happened.

A look of shock hits them both, but Gwen is the first to speak.

"Well, if that's how it feels without it, then I say we risk it. I can get birth control. I'm 18 now, so baby, get ready for the best night of your life." She puts her hands on his chest, pushing him back on the bed.

Out of her dress, Gwen crawls on top of his body, leaning down, kissing him whiles he slips him back inside her body since he's still hard with a continuation as Gwen's in control.

She sits straight up, grinding her hips, but without hesitation, Josh sits up, holding her close as they kiss with Gwen placing her legs around his waist still grinding her hips against his body, sending him as deep as she can ride it until her body can't ride any longer.

"I can't go like this anymore. Your turn if you want to keep going." She tells Josh, out of breath.

Without a single word, Josh pushes her off and pulls away. Using only his hands, he flips Gwen around and places her legs apart, keeping her upper half bent over the bed. He inserts himself, keeping up where he left off when he started with Gwen on the table.

Buried face first on the bed, Gwen muffles her screams of pleasure. Her body responds to these new positions with extreme orgasms occurring in record time. It isn't until Josh grabs her by the wrists, pulling back, that her head leaves the mattress, making her cries of desire noticeable.

"Damn it, it, Josh, don't stop, baby, please for the love of God, don't stop!" She cries with one final orgasm inching closer.

Josh keeps the pace up after Gwen cries out. By the time she finishes, he's letting loose another shot of his seed into her womb. He collapses beside her on the bed. She's covered in sweat as he is covered in it as well.

"That... Now that was intense." Gwen says in-between each deep, drawn out-breath.

"That's never felt like that before. Holy hell, that was worth the wait." Josh tells her, relaxing his hands under his head, feeling his body calm down from its natural high.

The young lovers manage to work their way up to cuddle under the sheets. They kiss for a while, then slowly fall asleep.

When they wake up in the morning, they fool around again but nowhere near as long. Josh gets on top, stopping after he explodes inside of Gwen. That isn't the last time they have sex that morning. Even in the shower, they go at each other's bodies again. Once it's all said and done, they're both exhausted from over excreting themselves.

They meet up with James and Scarlett in the middle of the lobby right before they check out.

"Have a fun night?" Josh asks with his eyes saying the kind of night he shared with Gwen.

"Can't say we didn't have fun. I can tell you two did dawg." James winks as they wait for their receipts for the rooms.

"Thank you, gentlemen, and you both have a lovely day." The female desk attendant says to them.

Justin is already waiting out at the curb.

"Cram on in y'all, it's gonna be tight, but that's just how it's gonna be 'til we get home." He tells the two couples, with Josh, James, and Gwen squeezing into the back seat, allowing Scarlett to sit in the front seat.

The morning is finally filled with sunshine and birds singing. It's a morning that signals the end is drawing near, with graduation only three and a half weeks away. Along the way home, no one knows what's coming next or what life has stored with adulthood right around the corner.

Soon Gwen and Scarlett take off for home after Justin drops them off. That leaves Josh and James to go inside to change back into street clothes and relax in the living room for the day.

For now, all they enjoy the fun that lasts for a couple of days. Things between Josh and Gwen even settle down with no arguing between them. She still hasn't informed him that she's packed-up after finals to head back home for college. She doesn't dare to be honest, which will break his heart all over again.