Yesterday my son went out with some friends from his football team (girls were there too); he had a good time and was real responsible with communication but today he wants to go out again with them and I'm feeling apprehensive. I'm grateful and very proud of Raymond for being a 'regular' teenager, but at the same time, it's a little frightenning. I will let him venture out but it takes all I have not to 'tag' along. He's extremely independent but very kind to my feelings. He tells me, "Mom, don't worry, I'm fine." We'll see. I find it really hard internally to let him go; it's like a panic. He has no idea how frazzled I am; he asked me to take him to a basketball game in about an hour then he told me their going down to 'the pike (arcade).' I used to wish for this day, the day my son faced the world on his own without mama there. My husband used to tell me .. "Be careful what you wish for." It's true, I wished he would speak, and now he's CONSTANTLY on the phone, I wished he loved sports, he CONSTANTLY holds my TV hostage to ESPN, I wished he would have friends, Now he's doing everything kids do ... I have a hard time viewing him as a teenager and not the little boy I saw engulfed in autism. I am not complaining, just sad that my son grew up so fast. I often kid him and tell him that him and his wife 'n kids will live with us. He tells me, "Mom, that's gross!" haha.

Even though my son was never able to get anywhere near where your son is I understand your fear. I honestly felt the same way with my NT daughter when she started to go out with friends in her teens too.
I think the most important thing is not to get your feelings confused over what you fear and what you want for him, with the rules you know will keep him safe.
With my daughter we told her when she was in her early teens what the rules would be as she got older. No drivers licence until age 17 (not 16 1/2 like the other kids) no hanging out at the mall, no driving with friends until they had been driving 1 year, etc... etc...
And she was great with all our rules because we told her when she was so young that she had time to get used to the idea.
She wasn't a wall flower, or lack for friends. She went out a lot and had a lot of fun she was just not allowed to do things we felt would put her in risky situations.
She was the only one of her friends who went to the hot night club downtown to go see concerts with big name bands, WITH HER DAD! Her friends went with them too and thought we were so cool because her Dad would take her in the mosh pit.
I guess what I am trying to say is stick to your rules, and follow your gut with things you know are risky and could leave him open to getting in trouble even unintentionally.
Then for the other stuff, let him fly! That what you have been teaching him all this for anyway!
Jan