nina V.o.

I remember seeing him the first time. They were playing next door. Running around like boys do. I never had a brother. And I generally avoided the boys at school. I was fascinated. The way they wrestled, the way they fashioned weapons out of sticks. Jeremy was interesting, but John...I was mesmerized. In ever scenario they played out, he was always the just hero. Always defending someone. Always...beautiful. He'd make these grand speeches. He became my hero, my protector. Little girls always find someone like that- someone they place into their day dreams to save them from the evil world. I mean, I don't think he even knew I was there. I was just little. Then he saw me...

fade to:

int. - old church craft fair, 1984

People are milling around, picking up handmade things from boothes. Nina is holding Jeans hand. She brushes past John who looks back at her, locking eyes with her.

NINA V.O.

He finally looked at me. He made the strangest face- aalmost like he was afraid of me. It made me feel powerful, but yet, I wanted so badly for him to smile at me. He didn't for a while. And when he did...

fade to:

ext.- Morris's back yard, summer 1984

Kathy Morris is buzzing around with a patio full of guests for a birthday party. Nina is sitting on Neils lap. John and Jeremy enter.

John looks up and sees Nina. His face shows the same strain it usually showed when he looked at her.

Nina looks up at him from Neils lap. She beams brightly. John stops....and smiles back.

NINA V.O.

I felt so happy. It was like bright light shooting through all my veins or something. Something changed. Like everyhting in me turned over into something else entirely. My blood pumped a different direction. My nerves processed things differnetly and his face became the backdrop for all my dreams.