"Are you sure this is the right way?"

"Yeah. It’s what’s called a Barn Burner party. It’s held in an old abandoned barn."

"Is that safe? What if it’s not structurally sound."

"They have ways to check, and they only use safe ones. You are such a worry wort. Chill out! Have a good time for once!"

"Ok, just asking. I’m really looking forward to this, really. You just know how I am."

"Yes, I know," Julia exclaimed sarcastically.

They bounced their way through the weeds and soon could see an old barn hidden behind some trees. There were lights streaming from every crack and crevice and you could tell that there were many disco lights and such inside. Even from their car they could hear the pounding of the bass.

"Wow," Dani gasped, "This is incredible."

As they approached the cars and looked for a good place to park, Dani gasped.

"What is it?" Julia asked.

"He’s here."

"Who’s here?"

"I don’t know… Him, he’s here, that’s his motorcycle." She then proceeded to tell Julia about last weekend and the awesome stranger she had seen.

"Well, maybe you’ll finally get to meet him. You could use a boost in your love life."

"Don’t I know it! Geez, what do I say though?"

"Don’t sweat it. You look to die for! I’m sure he’ll be the one doing the talking."

They climbed out of the car, and headed for the barn. They were blown away by the inside of it. In the arena, they had laid a dance floor the length of the barn. On either side, under the haylofts, there were chairs and tables. Up in the haylofts was a fully stocked bar on one side with more tables and chairs, and another dance floor on the other. And the place was packed!

"Let’s go get a drink," Julia yelled over the music. And they made their way through the crowd to the stairs and up to the bar. It was quieter up in the haylofts, as there were many bales of hay scattered about to add to the ambiance. Julia ordered a strawberry margarita, and Dani ordered a beer.

"God, I haven’t had a drink in ages. This is going to be interesting," Dani said.

Danielle was scanning the crowd as best as she could to see if she could spot the stranger she longed to see. There were many, many people crowed on the dance floor. She saw several old friends from the City and they waved hello to her. She waved back and smiled. But she didn’t see him anywhere.

"Let’s sit down for a minute and drink these," Julia suggested. So they sat near the edge of the loft as to see all below and across from them.

"This is really cool." Said Dani.

"I knew you would love it!" Julia replied.

They slowly drank their drinks. Dani was already feeling warm before she finished her beer. As she downed the last drop, Julia grabbed her hand and they ran down to the dance floor below. They danced until they could dance no more and returned to the bar for another drink.

"What’ll it be?" Asked the bartender.

"Ummm, I’m not sure, what do you suggest?" Asked Dani

"How about a Jell-O shot?"

"Ok, what’s that?"

The bartender laughed and handed her a shot glass with Jell-O in it. "It’s Jell-O, only made with alcohol."

"Ok, looks good." And she downed it in one swift toss of her head.

"Yummy," Dani said.

"Want another?"

"Sure, one more, then I’ll just take a Coke."

Dani made quick work of the second shot and took her Coke over to where Julia was sitting on a hay bale.

"Have you ever had one of those?" asked Julia.

"No, it was good."

"Oh, it’ll be real good in a little bit. Those innocent looking shots pack quite a punch."

Playfully slapping Julia’s arm Dani said, "Why didn’t you warn me? I’ll probably pass out now."

"Well, we’ll just have to keep you moving then… Uh, oh, don’t look now, but I think you’re being scoped out."

"Where?"

"Over in the corner across from us in the other hay loft."

Dani almost hid behind Julia as she snuck a peek. What luck! There he was. He was hidden in the shadows, surrounded by several other good looking men.

"Oh God! That’s him!"

"Well, don’t hide. Flaunt what you got girl!"

At that, they returned to the dance floor below and did just that. There were fewer people around now as it was getting to be very late. Dani glanced overhead and saw the mysterious stranger peering over the edge of the hayloft watching.

"He’s watching me." She whispered as quietly as she could and still be heard.

"That’s a good thing." Reminded Julia.

They danced the next couple of songs and decided to sit down when a slow song began. Dani glanced up again, but the stranger was no where to be seen.

"Well, great, he’s gone." She pouted.

"Really? I didn’t see him leave…"

"Well, he’s not up there anymore, and he’s not down here anymore."

"We must have missed him. I wonder who those fellas were who were with him. They were pretty delectable themselves…"

At that, an old friend who constantly obsessed over Julia came up. "Want to dance?" He asked her.

"Sure, why not. See ya later Dani."

"Yeah, have fun. I think I’m going to take a walk down to that pond I saw as we were coming in. Those shots are burning me up. I need some fresh air."

"Ok, be careful. See you in a bit."

Dani stepped out of the barn, thankful that there was a slight breeze blowing. She made her way past several couples making out by their cars, and several more inside their cars doing more than making out. Dani approached the gravel road and began walking down it towards the large pond. As the sounds of the party faded behind her, she became aware of the nature around her. Crickets were singing their night songs, and frogs called to each other in the distance. Soon she could no longer hear the unnatural sounds from the barn, and she was surrounded by nature. She breathed a sigh, grateful to be alone.

A noise behind her made her jump, but when she turned, there was no one there. She was coming near to the pond now and saw an ancient sandy beach on its shore. Weeds grew in several places. She found a clear spot and sat down. She looked up at the moon and remembered the weather forecast.

"Lunar eclipse," she thought, gazing at the now half-covered moon. It was peacefully reflected in the pond before her. It seemed huge to her. So full it almost burst. Full moons always had a calming effect on her. She settled in to watch the show.

Suddenly, she jerked awake. Somehow in the peace of it all, and no doubt from the effects of those shots she had dozed off. But what had caused her to wake up? A noise. What was that? Something rustled in the brush to her left and then stopped.

"Hello? Is that you Julia? Knock it off, I’m not scared." But only the frogs answered. "Ok, just some night creature." She told herself, "it’s ok." She glanced up at the moon just as the final sliver disappeared behind the shadow of the earth and it took on an eerie red tone. "Beautiful," she said.

"Hello."

Dani jumped at the voice and turned around. Behind her stood the man she was trying to reach all night. She stared for a minute that seemed lost in time. Finally, she stammered out, "Hi."

"What was that you were saying?" He asked.

"Oh, um… just that the night is very beautiful."

"Yes, it is," he said, not taking his eyes from her. She blushed and looked away. "You’re Danielle," he told her. It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes, how did you know that?"

"I asked around."

"Oh. Where did you come from? I didn’t even hear you come up. You scared me."

"You don’t have to be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you."

She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He was even more gorgeous up close. He wore black baggy pants, and a tight red shirt. His muscles were very visible through the thin material and she could her hands rubbing across them. He wore a black leather jacket. He wore his hair long, and now that it was visible she could see the playful colors he had dyed into the blonde tresses. His eyes were even more intense than she remembered them. She felt as if he could see right through her, and shivered at the thought.

"Are you cold?" He asked.

"Um, yeah, a little." She hadn’t noticed how much it had cooled off since she came out here.

"Here," he said, and draped his coat over her shoulders. His hands brushed her cheek and he did so and she shivered again as a spark flew between them. He sat down beside her and they sat in silence and watched the moon. Dani had never felt so comfortable with a man before. Frankly, they made her nervous and a silence like this would have killed her, but she felt no need to speak as they stared into the sky. Soon she felt his eyes on her again. She glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw him staring intently at her.

"Um, what are you doing?" She asked.

"Just wondering what you would do if I did this." At that, he took her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. At first she was startled, but she soon relaxed and enjoyed his embrace. His kiss was gentle, yet firm and she soon felt his tongue searching her lips for an opening. She gladly reciprocated and returned the deep kiss. Time stood still once again. Above them, the moon began uncloaking itself from its shadowy robe.

The stranger suddenly pulled back. "I’m sorry," he said, "I have to go now."

"Wait," she said confused, "Why?"

"I just do, our time is up for now."

"Our time is up? What does that mean?"

"Trust me ok? Do you trust me?"

"I don’t really know you, but yes, I trust you."

"Ok then, I’ll be in touch. Good bye." At that he stood and turned from her and began walking away.

"Wait. I don’t even know your name." Dani said.

"Jeff," he said almost inaudibly, "My name is Jeff."

Then he was gone.

Dani sat for a few more minutes in wonder at what had just happened to her. Then she gathered herself up and realized that she was still wearing his jacket, Jeff’s jacket. "I guess he will be in touch, he forgot his jacket." She began her trek back to the barn to see if Julia was ready to go.

She shivered. In the distance she could hear a chorus of wolves singing to the moonlight.