Forever...

Michael and Katherine drive away and pass Overlook Hospital, where Katherine works as a candy striper. She tells Michael this and that she was born at Overlook, and Michael says that he was, too. They discover that Katherine is one month older than Michael.

They park at the Watchung Reservoir and take a walk. Michael asks what her plans are for next year after they graduate high school, and Katherine tells him she plans to attend college at Michigan, Denver, or Penn State, although she is not sure where yet. Michael shares that he plans to attend college in Vermont. Michael takes Katherine’s hand as they walk and discuss their interests. Katherine learns that Michael loves to ski, which she has never done, and Michael offers to teach her.

They realize the time and go back to the car. While they wait for the car to heat up, Michael asks if he can kiss Katherine. Katherine teases him but agrees, and he removes his glasses before kissing her. He kisses her again when he drops her off at Sybil’s house.

That night, Katherine tells her mother about Michael and that she has plans to see him again Friday and Saturday night. Katherine introduces her family members, explaining that her mother, Diana, is a librarian and that her younger sister, Jamie, is 12 and already a talented artist.

When Jamie offers to embroider a pair of Katherine’s jeans, she asks if she can do it by next weekend because she has a date with a guy she just met. Jamie asks if this means that Katherine is in love again like she was with her last boyfriend, Tommy Aronson, and Katherine scoffs at the idea she was ever in love with Tommy: “That was childish infatuation” (14). Katherine regrets dating Tommy, whom she recalls was only interested in sex, one major reason for their breakup. Katherine thinks about how different Michael is from Tommy and how she appreciates that Michael calls her every night.

Their conversations range from Michael’s dog, Tasha, to Katherine’s interest in tennis. On Thursday, Michael tells her he will pick her up for their date at 7:30 the next day. Michael arrives at Katherine’s house and meets her family. They go see a movie, but Katherine cannot focus as she thinks about being alone with Michael.

After the movie, Michael asks if she knows anywhere to park nearby, and Katherine recalls her parents’ warning not to park anywhere with a guy because there are people known to “prey on couples who are out parking” (20). Katherine suggests instead that they go to her house. Katherine and Michael sit in her family’s den with her parents asleep upstairs.

Michael and Katherine begin to kiss, but Katherine stops him when he tries to put his hands underneath her sweater, asking that they save something for tomorrow. Michael asks Katherine if she is a virgin, and she responds that she is but asks, “Does it matter?” (21). Michael insists that it does not but that it is better for him to know and that she should not be ashamed. Later that night, Katherine realizes that Michael asked whether she was a virgin to determine “what I expected of him” (22) and that if she had not been a virgin, they probably would have had sex. Katherine cannot decide how she feels about this.

Katherine introduces her father, who is a pharmacist and from whom Katherine inherited her love of tennis. Katherine’s parents plan a trip at the end of January to Mexico, and Katherine’s grandparents come to stay with her and Jamie. Katherine explains that her grandmother once ran for Congress and that her grandparents practice law together in New York City, although her grandfather has taken more of a symbolic role since his stroke the previous year. She explains that her grandmother is also active in Planned Parenthood of New York City.

The night before Katherine’s parents leave, they permit her to invite Erica, Michael, and Michael’s friend, Artie, over. Katherine is thrilled to see that Artie is attractive and thinks he and Erica will get along well. Artie suggests they play a board game and goes to get Backgammon from his car. After the game, the couples split: Erica and Artie go to the living room, and Katherine and Michael return to the den.

Michael tries to unbutton Katherine’s jeans, and she stops him, stating that she does not want to go further when their friends are in the next room. Michael rolls over and groans but insists he is not angry with Katherine. They agree to take a minute to themselves, and when Katherine returns to the kitchen, Erica and Artie are playing Monopoly at the table. Katherine excuses herself to splash water on her face and thinks about how she would not have stopped Michael if their friends were there, but now she wants the boys to go home.

When Katherine returns downstairs, Michael and Artie are preparing to leave. Michael says he will see Katherine next week and gives her a quick kiss. Katherine wishes to be alone, even though Erica is staying overnight, so she finds an excuse to return to the den and sits on the rug for a while.

When Katherine returns to her room, she asks Erica if she likes Artie, and Erica says that Artie did not even try to kiss her. Erica asks Katherine to tell her about Michael and asks if Katherine loves him. Katherine thinks she likes Michael but is not ready to say she loves him yet. Erica asks if Katherine is still a virgin and says, “It might not be a bad idea to get laid before college” (30). The friends discuss their opinions on whether one has to be in love to have sex, and Katherine argues that it “means more” (30) if the people are in love. The girls agree that they have different outlooks on sex and respect each other’s perspectives.

Katherine’s grandparents stay with her and Jamie while her parents are away, and Katherine notes the difference in her grandfather since his stroke. Michael picks up Katherine from work and asks her why she chose to work in the geriatrics unit.

Katherine explains that when she was younger, her father’s mother was in a nursing home, and Katherine was afraid of her. When her grandfather got sick after his stroke, Katherine realized that “he was old too…but I wasn’t afraid of him…because I loved him” (35). Katherine explains that being with the patients makes her feel good.

Michael invites Katherine to his high school play, where Artie will play the lead role. Katherine is surprised to hear this as she believes Artie is “self-conscious” (35) based on his interactions with Erica. Michael tells her that there is an after-party at Elizabeth’s house, the girl Michael was kissing on New Year’s Eve. Katherine asks if Michael used to go out with her, and he says that they did not and that New Year’s Eve “wasn’t anything special” (36).

Katherine and Michael arrive at her house and join her grandparents and neighbors for dessert. After Michael leaves, Katherine’s grandmother says that he is a nice boy and warns Katherine to “be careful” (37) of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection. Katherine is aghast and tells her grandmother that she and Michael are not having sex, but her grandmother only responds that it is a matter of time.

Katherine reflects on the generational differences in attitudes toward sex. While Katherine is grateful that girls are no longer so harshly judged for their sexual decisions, she is still annoyed that older generations assume “everyone in my generation screws around” (37). On their last night, Katherine’s grandparents go into the city to see a show, and Michael comes over to keep Katherine and Jamie company.

After dinner, Katherine and Michael offer to clean up and begin a water fight, leaving them soaked. Katherine states that she has to change her shirt, and Michael follows her to her bedroom, promising not to touch her if she lets him watch her change. Michael begins kissing the back of her neck. As she asks him to stop, Jamie knocks on the door and asks what they are doing in Katherine’s room.

When Michael leaves after they watch a movie, Jamie asks Katherine if she and Michael were having sex. Katherine says that even if they were, she would not tell Jamie, and Jamie teases, saying that Katherine’s generation is “so hung up” (43) about sex.