The doorbell chimed on and on for a good two minutes, but Timber was oblivious to it, still fast asleep. Knowing her door was always open, her callers let themselves in, slinking through the house silently and searching for any sign of life.
"TIMBER!!!!!" Jeanine called from the foyer. "TIMBER!!!!!"
The young girl stirred from her sleep, sitting up suddenly and causing the full bathtub to overflow with a sweep of water.
"Jen?" she asked, pushing the switch down for the water to run out. She stood and grabbed a towel.
"We're here Tim!" Jeanine continued, starting up the stairs with Angela, Kelly, and Carmen behind her.
"Are you ready to get totally decked out?" Carmen asked excitedly.
Timber peered around the corner from inside her bathroom as her friends invaded her room with bags and make-up cases. Tiny droplets of water flowed from her hair's ends.
"One sec guys, I fell asleep." she admitted, disappearing back into the bathroom and beginning to close the door.
"Wait!" Kelly said quickly, slipping past the door. "I need to talk to you." she whispered.
Timber nodded, shutting the door with the two of them in the bathroom. "What's up?" she asked, taking out lotion; she was neurotic about moisturizing her skin. "What time is it anyway?" she rambled on, pumping a wad into her palm.
"It's like six." Kelly replied, sitting down on the closed toilet seat.
Timber nodded, glad she had fallen asleep and the time had lapsed greatly. Otherwise, she would have been sitting around, dying of boredom while the time chugged slowly past. "So what's up?" she asked, securing her towel.
"Okay, you have to swear not to tell anyone." Kelly began urgently, dropping her voice dramatically.
Timber looked at her friend, eyeballing her carefully. "You okay Kelly?" she asked with concern, noticing the look of despair in the young girl's hazel eyes.
Kelly shrugged. "I guess so." she sighed, thinking about what she was going to say. Did she really want someone else to interfere? What if it was no big deal and she was just overreacting?
"So..." Timber urged her on.
"It's about Trevor." Kelly blurted out, deciding that she was doing the right thing.
"Mmmmhmmm." Timber nodded, warming the lotion in her palms before rubbing it into the warm brown skin of her lower leg.
Kelly was silent, as if awaiting permission to continue. Timber caught on to this and looked at her friend expectantly. "Well???" she asked impatiently.
"Maybe I'm just overreacting..." Kelly's words shot out of her mouth like a cannon. "I mean, maybe this is the way it's supposed to be. He's my boyfriend... we're supposed to do stuff like that together... right? I'm probably just not used to it, that's why it feels so strange when he touches me. But I should get used to it. I just wish it didn't feel so... gross..." she babbled on.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa Kelly. Slow the fuck down." Timber said. "Pardon my swearing." she added, though her friends never minded her cursing. "Trevor touches you and you obviously feel uncomfortable." she clarified, turning away as she smoothed lotion over her chest. Kelly made no effort to reply. "Right?" Timber urged.
Her friend nodded ashamedly. "Timber, I mean, it's not rape or anything..."
"Are you talking about sex?" the younger girl asked, wrapping her towel tighter around her body and replacing the lotion bottle back in the cabinet.
"No! If course not. You know how I feel about sex." Kelly rhapsodized. "Not until I have a ring on my finger and a signed wedding certificate." she avowed. "I am totally waiting. You know that."
Timber shrugged. "Well the way you're talking about it seems pretty serious."
"No..." Kelly started to say, through a sigh. "It's not really that serious. I mean... I... he says that's what boyfriend's and girlfriend's do so I really shouldn't complain. I wanted a boyfriend and I guess I have to take all that comes along with it. I mean, maybe I'm not used to it and that's why I shower after we're together, because I'm not used to it. Nevermind, forget I said anything..." she began to insist.
"No!" Timber exclaimed, a bit louder than she should have. She instantly dropped her voice. "If you said no, if he makes you uncomfortable, then he damn well better stop! I mean, fuck that! Just because he has an overactive libido doesn't mean you do too! I don't care how many times he insists he loves you, if you don't want his slimy, horny hands on you then you tell him to get the fuck away! If he cared about you so much, he wouldn't make you do stuff you don't want to, and I mean, if you shower after he touches you, there's something wrong there. That's ridiculous Kelly. I thought you were smarter than that. No means no and if he touches you again and you don't like it, I'll rip him a new ass." she clarified.
Kelly sighed wistfully, always loving it when her friend slipped into a tirade in a friend's defense. One thing she loved about Timber was her never-ending loyalty.
"Are you saying I should dump him?" Kelly asked.
"Kelly, I'm saying that if he can't handle you saying no to him, then he's not worth keeping. Life's too short to take shit from people. You follow your heart, but if you don't want to do something then don't. And tell him that." Timber explained, leaning back against the counter.
Kelly sighed, standing from the toilet seat. "You're right." she smiled weakly. "Maybe my heart's telling me that I should get rid of him."
"Well if he's going to be a shit-head." Timber agreed.
Kelly gazed towards the ceiling for a moment thinking about the one guy she knew would never have her in that situation. Maybe she should have held on to Clint...
"Thanks Tim." she sighed, hugging her friend. "I'm going to really think about this."
"Good." Timber nodded. "Us girl's need to stick together and not let any man hinder our free spirits." she grinned.
"Definitely." Kelly smirked. "I'll see how tonight goes."
"Promise me you'll dump him Kelly.... if he goes too far. Promise." Timber beseeched. "I have a bad feeling about him right now. You have to swear that you won't let anything bad happen."
Kelly nodded. "If things go too far, I'll get rid of him. I swear." she vowed.
* * *
Clint pounded on the door furiously with his fists, as he had been for the past ten minutes. And much like in the last ten minutes, he received no reply. Once again, Scott was hogging the shower and he would have minimal time to take care of his hygienic issues.
"Come on Scott!" he exclaimed, frustrated beyond belief. "Damn! The dance is as eight! It's seven fifteen! I need to get in the shower you reject! Hurry the fuck up!"
Striking the door with his fist once more, he aimed to give up.
"Hey Clint, what's got you so red in the face?" Bob asked chipperly, strolling past with his towel cinched around his waist. His chest was still damp and shining in the hallway's light.
"Scott's hogging the Goddamned bathroom!" Clint ranted. "And he thinks I won't know he's in there if he ignores me! What a shit head!"
"You can go use Dad's bathroom, I'm all done." the middle triplet offered, smiling happily as always.
Clint's shoulders slumped in relief. "Thank you Bob! Good to know you aren't an ASS like my older brother in there." he snapped, directing his comment for Scott beyond the door.
"Go to hell Clint." Scott snapped back, the first words he had uttered in a while.
Clint flashed his middle finger at the door before progressing down the hallway to his parent's bedroom.
Bob smirked, shaking his head as his brother's display of hateful-love. He continued on to his bedroom to get dressed.
"Hey Bob!" Dave called as his brother passed his bedroom. "Come here!" he urged.
"Dave..." Bob started to object. "I have to get dressed..."
"Just get in here." Dave ordered, yanking his slightly older brother into his bedroom.
"What?" Bob demanded, slightly irritated, as Dave shut the door.
"Tonight's the night." Dave announced, standing uncomfortably in his black suit pants and pale green shirt. He had not yet put on his tie, it was a metallic blue and laying on the bed next to his black suit coat.
Bob had also chosen a black suit but with a purple shirt, in order to match his date, and a black tie. Clint, however, decided to be different with a grey suit, black shirt, and metallic silver tie; while Scott went classical. The eldest of the foursome insisted on purchasing a black pin-stripe suit to wear with a black shirt underneath and a red tie. He knew Angela was wearing red and wanted to be coordinated. Infact, all the boys had checked with their dates in order to look uniform to some extent.
"I know. The dance is going to be so awesome!" Bob said with an excited smirk. "I can't wait. It's been so long since I've been able to hang out with a bunch of kids unless it was a party or something."
"No Bob." Dave said, his serious mien telling the other boy that he was indeed very serious. "Tonight's the night, possibly the most important night of my life."
Bob paused for a moment. "Sex?" he asked with an eyebrow raised.
Dave chuckled despite himself. "No Bob." he rolled his eyes.
Bob still stood bemused by the bed. "Then... what?" he asked, watching Dave as he approached the bed and sat down.
"Tonight's the night I tell Angela." he replied.
* * *
It was eight o'clock sharp when the foursome floated across the darkened street in the already dark night. Their strides seemed to be so measured and smooth, as if the pavement was a catwalk. The evening breeze swept at Bob's shaggy hair, hitting the smooth complexion of his face with a fresh feeling. Shiny black shoes crunched nicely on the driveway of the Moore house.
It was Scott's long finger that did the deed of ringing the doorbell. Voices were heard inside as someone approached the door, the slice of high heels on the marble tile cutting through the otherwise still porch air.
"Hey guys." Angela smiled, swinging open the heavy front door.
Scott eyed her up and down. "Wow." he grinned. "You look hot." he bluntly asserted.
His arms coiled around her waist, pulling her closer to him and crushing his lips on hers. "Very hot." he added after they parted from a rather lengthy peck on the mouth.
"You look pretty hot yourself." she complimented, giving him another kiss on his soft lips.
Clint cleared his throat, making both aware that yes, there were indeed other people in the universe.
Angela pulled back from her boyfriend, always seeming to get slightly embarrassed when forced to publicly display her love for Scott. "You all look very nice." she smiled, her voice coming out like silk with her sweet accent.
"You do look hot." Clint lightly flirted with a smirk.
Scott elbowed him good naturedly. Angela looked gorgeous, but she was all his. Her dark swirls of hair were pulled back from her face with two, ruby studded bobby pins on either side. Her rosy lips were stained with a tint of crimson, and she wore two ruby earings. Her dress was another matter. It was an elegant shade of deep red with a layer of black lace over it, creating an interesting illusion of both colors. Down to her black platforms, everything was perfect. Neither one of the boys could manage to take their eyes away, especially Dave.
As Angela ushered them into the living room, they became exposed to Kelly sitting on the couch in a pink ball-gown style dress having a fitted top and a layered bottom that ballooned out slightly from her body. Clint had to admit that she looked gorgeous, her shoulder length brown hair curled loosely and pinned elegantly. Even Trevor, who sat beside her, looked nice in a dark grey suit with a white shirt and blue tie underneath. He had never noticed, but the two complimented each other, though he did get a bad vibe from Trevor.
"Timber isn't ready yet." Jeanine announced, entering the room in her gorgeous dress. Her hair was also swirled neatly and she wore the perfect shade of pink lip gloss. Her dress was a lovely sea green, having no straps, and a short, puffy bottom, ending above her knees. She had always had very nice and sculpted legs, never passing up a chance to wear a short skirt. The pale sea green had very thin white stripes of satin ribbon running across horizontally. Her tan skin was complimented very nicely by the hue.
"You look pretty Jen." Dave managed a smile. It wasn't fair for him to forget about his date, though he was on a mission.
"Thank you." she replied sincerely, embracing him as she always had.
"Where's my date?" Bob pouted.
"Right here." Carmen called from somewhere beyond the living room.
"Where?" Bob asked, peering around the corner.
"Right here." Carmen repeated, sweeping into the living room by another entrance.
Bob smiled, pleased with her appearance.
Her dress was a dark shade of purple, hugging her body nicely. It extended to her knees, cut off with a nice lacey hem in black to match the very tiny straps. She had managed to style her very short and shaggy auburn hair with tiny silver clips with jeweled butterflies at the ends. Her eyeshadow matched her dress; Bob had always noticed the minor details about people.
"Someone looks sexy." he commented teasingly, placing a greeting kiss on her lips.
"Thank you." she grinned.
"I was talking about me, but you look good too." Bob joked, his arms wrapped tightly on her waist.
Clint rolled his eyes upon seeing this display, leaning back against the table. Even Ben had a girlfriend; the two of them had been nestled in the corner making out and going unnoticed. From what he could see, Kiki had curly red hair and was wearing a navy blue dress that appeared a bit too short. Ben had always had an interesting taste in women. As all the couples were engulfed in one another, he sat back, griping about his eleventh wheel status and wishing Timber would hurry up. The limousine driver had pulled up in front of the house. He was sure he was the only who noticed. Why had he agreed to go to the dance anyway? Something told him that Timber didn't exactly want to go with him. She probably just asked him because she was obligated to.
Then she arrived.
She went unnoticed at first, standing in the doorway of the living room in her tight black tube top that Carmen had coaxed her into wearing. She hadn't wanted to wear something so tight, her flat chest always making her very uncomfortable. Her long, metallic-silver, fanning skirt hung loosely around her thin legs, stopping at her mid calf. But the main attraction of her outfit was her silver-sequined and glittered platform shoes, sparkling in the light and casting unusual shadows on the wall. Carmen had assisted her in sweeping her now short hair up, with the help of a myriad of black bobby pins, some silver for decoration.
"You guys ready?" she asked, her voice coming out nervous and uneasy.
All eyes in the room shifted to her and all was silent. The others gawked in disbelief. For the first time, it was as if the awkward, skinny girl had transformed into a svelte, beautiful creature. Clint's lips turned into a smile. She was all his, even if just for a night.
"What?" Timber asked, shifting uncomfortably. The body glitter on her arms and chest reflected in the light from overhead as she moved. "Is something showing?" she asked, looking down at her chest to make sure everything was covered completely.
Comic relief had always worked before, but this didn't seem to be one of those times. All eyes still remained on her. It was funny how all she ever wanted was beginning to make her very uneasy.
"Whoa." Clint finally broke the silence and she was eternally grateful. "You look absolutely stunning." he breathed, approaching with a roving eye.
"Thanks." she mumbled, slightly embarrassed by the compliment.
Clint passed her a nice kiss on her cheek, sliding his hand into hers. He was aiming to milk this night for all it was worth.
"You guys ready to go?" he asked as if he didn't notice their stares.
Scott's grip tightened on Angela's waist. "Yeah, we should head out." he agreed, clearing his throat.
Clint silently smirked to himself, knowing the night wasn't going to be a complete waste of his time. His light feelings for his friend began to grow with each moment he was in her presence. He looked at her and smiled, giving her another kiss on the cheek.
"You really do look gorgeous." he informed her, just in case she had forgotten within the minute it took to walk to the car.
"So do you." she countered, slightly uncomfortable with his gesture of affection towards her. No one had ever just kissed her out of the blue like that before. She liked it. Maybe her wish had come true. Maybe she was Cinderella for the night.
* * *
The high school gym had transformed into a sparkling ball, with silver streamers and white balloons everywhere. The lights were turned out, the only illumination provided by several white strobe lights, splashing shapes and streaks across the ceiling. The effects of being in a crystal ball was palpable, adding to the gloriousness of the perfect night that was unfolding.
As the cohort of teens piled out of the stretch limo, the feeling of togetherness hung heavily in the air. They vaguely realized that the good old days were upon them and that each moment should be savored.
Clint's hand snaked into Timber's once more and she smiled at him, beginning to like the attention she received from him. Jeanine took it upon herself to take Dave by the hand and he too passed her a gentle smile, feeling a pang of guilt for ignoring her and watching Scott and Angela so closely. But he had to mentally prepare himself, grabbing the moment when it came. Tonight was definitely going to be the night. They were leaving in a matter of days.
"I love you baby." Scott informed his girlfriend, wrapping his arms around her bare shoulders. It was early December and very cold.
"I love you too." she purred, kissing his lips even as they walked.
They stopped walking and his arms conformed to her waist, deepening the kiss and inserting his tongue in her mouth.
"Come on you two." Ben grinned, sweeping past them with Kiki under his arm. "Wait until you get inside at least."
Scott grinned after his buddy.
"I mean, you don't have to freeze to heat things up!" Ben punned over his shoulder.
Scott and Angela chuckled, following behind the others.
You don't know what we can find, so why don't you come with me little girl, on a magic carpet ride...
The music boomed in their ears as they entered the large space. Clusters of dressed up students stood here and there, filling the room comfortably. Some were dancing while others were standing off to the sides talking above the music.
"Come dance with me!" Jeanine beckoned to Dave, pulling him by the hand out towards the front of the gym where most of the dancing was taking place.
Ben and Kiki had already reverted to their excessive making out, standing off to the wall where they wouldn't be interrupted. Carmen took Jeanine's lead and yanked Bob after her.
"Wanna dance?" Scott asked his girlfriend, his arm never leaving her waist.
"Sure!" she said above the din of the music. "Let's go."
Clint didn't even ask. He laced his arm around Timbers waist and guided him with her, only commenting on how he loved that particular song.
Kelly and Trevor were the only ones left. "Are we going to go out there or what?" Kelly asked him, smiling excitedly. She had always possessed a lot of school spirit, and dances were her favorite activity.
"I dunno." Trevor wrinkled his nose. "I kinda wanted to say hi to some of my friends. But I'll catch you in a bit?"
She sighed, feeling a bit rejected but nevertheless nodded, heading for the punch bowl while he left to where a few of his closest friends were.
"Hey Trev! I thought you were going with Kelly, not the sugar plum fairy!" Cy, possibly the most androgynous of them all, commented.
Trevor half shrugged. "You know how she loves pink and shit." he muttered.
"You know what they say about pink dresses." another guy, Matt, commented.
"What do they say about pink dresses?" Trevor and the other two guys, Seth and Kurt, asked.
"Pink panties!" Matt cracked, chuckling to himself.
"It's not like I'd fucking know!" Trevor bemoaned. "She's as prude as fuck. It's so annoying. She gets all uncomfortable. It's like, 'Bitch! It's the fucking nineties, almost the twenty-first century! Everyone's having sex in high school! No one waits anymore!'"
The other four roared with laughter.
"Sucks for you though." Kurt chuckled. "You're the only one out of all of us who isn't getting some from his girl."
"Yeah, you must be sick and tired of coming home after a date with her and raping you bean-bag chair." Seth shook his head, exchanging a high-five with Matt for his quip.
"Dude, shut the fuck up! One thing is that Kelly's as gullible as shit. I'll be getting som'ma that in no time. You wait and see. I bet you twenty bucks that I'll have her pussy shaped like my dick by next Friday."
"Yeah but you won't have us smelling your fingers by the end of the night!" Cy taunted.
"Fuck you Cy! You're girl's a whore anyway! Just last week she fucked Sammy Leverence!" Trevor pointed out.
"Yeah, but just last night I fucked her sister Julie!" Cy grinned. "Nothing like some revengeful sex. Damn. Her sister may be thirteen, but she can fuck like an L.A. stripper."
"Dude that's SICK!" Trevor shuddered. "You're fucking sixteen with a thirteen year old!"
"Shut up man, Julie's a bigger whore than her sister! She's fucked guys twice my age!" Cy defended. "And at least I get some." he added sadistically.
"I will be getting mine. And I will be getting it good. I mean, what else are those BATS on her there for."
"Bats?" Kurt asked, not familiar with the term.
"Dude, where have you been?" Cy demanded. "BATS? Big-ass titties? Get with it."
"Sorry, I'm not getting a lot of blood circulation to my brain. That happens after you fuck your girl four times in one afternoon."
"You did not fuck Chris four times this afternoon." Matt clarified, punching his friend's arm.
Kurt grinned. "I fucking did too!" he defended. "Just now in the car." he insisted, holding the index and middle finger of his left hand up to his friend's nose.
"You did!" Matt exclaimed, taking another deep breath. "There's nothing like the scent of a horny chick." he sighed.
"Yeah, except the scent of a virgin." Cy commented, elbowing Trevor. "You better jump on that soon." he advised.
Trevor looked towards the punch bowl where Kelly had met one of the girls in her English class. His eyes narrowed with determination. "Don't worry man. I will."
* * *
Within a half hour, the group of teens were still out on the dance floor, spending the night to it's best advantage. Kelly had managed to coax Trevor out with her and they were having a blast.
Ooops I did it again. I played with your heart, got lost in the game...
Brittany Spear's raspy voice played over the speakers, the beat encouraging a grinding motion of the hips.
Timber smirked, thoroughly enjoying her grinding session with Clint. They managed to get lower and lower with each beat, as did his hands.
"I can't go that low." she finally told him. "My skirt just doesn't allow it." she giggled regretfully.
"I can fix that." Clint smiled, taking the hem of her dress and sliding it up her legs to her mid thighs.
She chuckled at the forwardness of his gesture, but they continued dancing none the less.
"Did I tell you how good you look?" he asked her again.
"Um... yeah actually, but thanks." she replied.
"Not just tonight though." he said slowly, not sure how she would react.
She giggled, nervously again, then began to chew on the corner of her lower lip. "Thanks Clint. That's really sweet to say."
The music faded to a slow song.
"It's the truth."
The introduction of acoustic guitar created a swaying rhythm and he pulled her close to him. Over a few feet, Scott and Angela also held each other close as a familiar song began. Carmen and Bob stood together right next to them, Carmen's head on his shoulder and her eyes closed. Even Trevor had agreed to dance with his girlfriend. Ben and Kiki were still preoccupied with sucking the oxygen from one another's mouths, but Dave and Jeanine had grown comfortable, although Dave's eyes were trained to Scott and Angela. He couldn't help but watch them whenever given the chance.
The strobe lights whisked across the ceiling, creating a beautiful illusion of being with the stars. Scott felt overwhelmed by the love he felt for his girlfriend at that moment.
Saying I love you is not the words I want to hear from you. It's not that I want you, not to say but if you only knew, how easy it would be to show me how you feel... More than words... is all you have to do to make it real. Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me.... cause I'd already know...
He pulled her closer, humming along with the words. Her arms were enclosed around his shoulders and her face buried in his neck. Being so close to her made him feel so full... it was strange. She had made him fall.
What would you do, if my heart was torn in two? More than words to show you feel, that your love for me is real. What would you say, if I took those words away? Then you could have made things new just by saying I love you... More than words....
He couldn't live without her. He hoped he would never have to. Little did he know that as he made that silent vow, his younger brother was behind his back, plotting to betray him.
Now that I've tried to talk to you and make you understand. All you have to do is close your eyes and just reach out your hands... and touch me. Hold me close, don't ever let me go. More than words is all I ever needed you to show. Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me.... cause I'd already know...
He sighed, inhaling the scent of her hair.
What would you do, If my heart was torn in two?. More than words to show you feel, that your love for me is real. What would you say, if I took those words away? Then you could have made things new, just by saying I love you... More than words.... More than words... More than words...
His lips grazed barely over the skin of her cheek and found her lips where she met him halfway in a kiss so passionate. She didn't have to say it, and neither did he. Keeping with the theme of the song, they exchanged their feelings of love for one another in silence.
"We're going to keep it slow with another jam here..." the DJ announced. "So all you guys out there find yourself a lady and hold her tight."
I've already found mine... Scott thought contentedly to himself. Forever...
* * *
By ten-o'clock, the dance was going stronger than ever and everyone was dancing. The DJ announced once more that he was going to play another slow song; he had interspersed them throughout the night.
"Hey, Tim." Bob said, tapping her on the shoulder. "Mind if I have this dance?" he asked disarmingly.
She smiled at him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. "Of course not." she replied with a friendly chuckled as he tickled her lightly.
Clint took Carmen around the waist. Jeanine and Angela also decided to switch partners; Scott reluctantly allowed his girlfriend to stray.
I would give up anything before I'd separate myself from you. After all the suffering, I've finally found unvarnished truth... Bob's arms pulled Timber in close to him and he leaned his cheek next to hers, swaying gracefully with the piano. She enjoyed the softness of his skin, and his scent. That was a scent she would associate with him for the rest of her life.
I was all by myself for the longest time, so cold inside. And the hurt from the heartache would not subside, I felt like dying... until you saved my life...
Timber sighed a breath, listening to the lyrics of a song she vaguely recognized. She slowly came to realize that this song described her feelings for her best friend so well... it was as if it were fate that drove them together at that moment.
Thank God I found you, I was lost without you. My every wish and every dream somehow became reality. When you brought the sunlight, completed my whole life. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude 'cause baby I'm so thankful I found you...
She felt the tears sting in her eyes. She needed him so badly. Her grip around his shoulders tightened as if he would drift away from her if she let go.
I would give you anything, there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do. To ensure your happiness I cherish every part of you...
"'Cause without you beside me I can't survive, don't want to try..." Bob sung along, lowly in her ear. "If you're keeping me warm each and every night, I'll be alright. Because I need you in my life..."
She blinked vigorously, her chin on his shoulder, as tears streamed steadily form her eyes. She needed him, she had never needed anyone so badly before.
Thank God I found you I was lost without you. My every wish and every dream somehow became reality. When you brought the sunlight, completed my whole life., I'm overwhelmed with gratitude, my baby I'm so thankful I found you...
"I requested this song for you." Bob spoke. "For us."
She didn't say anything, not trusting her voice as she silently cried where he couldn't see her. Her shaking fingers swiped at her tears as she tried to suppress a sniffle.
"I guess it's my way of saying... thank you." he continued. "Thank you for being there for me... always. Thank you for being a true friend. Thank you... for just being you, Timber. You're my best friend, and you know that. And I wouldn't give that up for anything in this world. I value my relationship with you more than the stars themselves... This is something forever is only half of..."
I love you... she kept tucked away in her head.
* * *
Tell her... you have to tell her Dave! The moment is here! Tell her!!! Dave fought ferociously with his id. The smell of Angela's hair calmed him somewhat, encouraging him to just blurt out his feelings for her.
"Angela..." he started to say, his throat a bit parched. He cleared it and swallowed.
"Hhhhm?" she asked, raising her head from where it had been rested on his shoulder.
"Can I... uh... talk to you about something?" he asked.
"Sure Dave." Angela replied, looking deep into his eyes.
Dave took her hand. "Can we go outside? I kinda have to say this in private." he admitted.
She nodded, slightly concerned with the urgency in his wavering voice. "Yes Dave, of course... are you okay?"
"I will be." he replied as they headed for the door. "Once I get this off my chest."
* * *