She opened her eyes slowly and gazed at the clock, it was not quite dawn yet and she was glad. Rolling over she remembered that there was a body next to hers. She stared at his sleeping features; eyes shut lightly and lips open slightly. She ran her finger along his cheekbone and smiled to herself as she laid her head against his chest. The rhythmic breathing of his heart caused her to close her eyes and let out a sigh. The events of the night before replayed in her mind as she drifted into a light sleep.

"I can't believe you're actually here," she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"You think I'd miss your twenty-first birthday? You must be gettin' old!"
"Geeze, boy you look great," she grinned up at him, as she looked him up and down.
"You look good, too," he flashed her a genuine smile. She did look good, her face wasn't as pale as it had been and her eyes shown bright and full of life and mischief.
"Everytime I see you, I remember how must I've missed you," she mumbled burying her face in his shirt.

"Hey wake up," he shook her lightly.
"Mmh," she moaned opening her eyes.
"I have to leave. Get up," he sighed as she sat up a little.
"Sorry, you couldn't go to Six Flags with us," she wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"That's ok, its not like I'm not used to sittin' round while other people go out and have fun."
"I'm still sorry, I mean you did come all the way to see me on my birthday and I left you here, in my house all by yourself. I know you're super busy."
"No, it's all good. I've gotta get my butt outta here."
"Thanks for droppin' by," she kissed his cheek lightly. "Happy Halloween."
"You too. Love ya," he whispered standing up and walking over to her side of the bed. He leaned down kissed her cheek and hugged her tightly.
"Love ya," she watched him as he pulled his hat over his face and walked out her door.

"So, how is your friend Nick?" Jeff asked sitting himself down next to his friend.
"He's good, busy, but good." Candice said with a smile; turning on the TV.
"Nothin' new?"
"Not really."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothin'."
"NO! What's really wrong, you're never this quiet and you're kinda pale."
"Jeff, do you ever think, in life, there's nothing to live for anymore?" She tore her eyes away from the TV and looked straight at her friend. His blue eyes full of concern. "I just don't get it anymore, not one bit! I wanna know why Nick and I are friends! Why I lost the one person I loved. Why I met you! Why?" She screamed collapsing in his arms.
"I don't know," he whispered in her ear, stroking her hair lightly.
"I just don't know anything anymore," she looked up at him sadly. "Where do we stand?"
He looked down at her watery eyes and smiled. "You're my best friend and," he sat her up and moved away from her a little. "And maybe someday my girlfriend."
"Maybe," she whispered.
"And maybe you should call Nick and see where you stand with him, too." She thought about it for a while, where did her and Nick stand? She didn't know and she doubted even Nick knew.
"I will," she smiled up at him.

"Hello," a quiet voice answered the phone.
"Did I wake you?"
"No," he smiled at the sound of her voice.
"So, how are you?"
"I'm good. Little tired, but good."
"Yeah, have you started rehearsing yet?"
"Yeah, kinda, a few moves here and there and some vocals."
"Coo. Talk to Mandy lately?"
"Yea, she called."
"So," she paused knowing she was prying, but it was her friend, so she continued. "So, sup?"
"We've decided it was best if we take a break cuz I'm gonna be busy and so will she, so."
"Sorry," along silence followed her words, which seemed to echo through the phone.
"Don't be," he said suddenly.
"Nick," she took a deep breath. "Where do we stand now?" Her wasn't as calm as she wanted and tried to make it sound, she shook a little. What would he say? I hate you go away? Or I love you come live with me! All of these thoughts scared her; she didn't want any special relationship with Nick. She just wanted to be his friend.
"I don't exactly know, but I know we're friends and that's enough for me." Candice let out a huge sigh.
"That's where I want to stay."
"Me, too, I don't really want a girlfriend right now."
"Me, either."
"Well, now. Something you haven't told me?" Nick chuckled moving his eyebrows up and down suggestively.
"No! Ohmigod Nick! That's sick! You're sick. I don't want a boyfriend!"
"Umh..I see," Nick rubbed his chin.

"So did ya talk to Nick?" Jeff asked taking a sip of his steaming coffee.
"Yeah." She beamed, "we talked for two hours, I don't even wanna see my phone bill."
"So, it's worth the 500 dollar phone bill," Jeff asked winking at her from across the kitchen table.
"Damn straight."
"Tell me bout it."
"Well, we're friends and we want to keep it that way, which I think is awesome."
"Wow, that's truly great," he smiled genuinely.
"Yeah. And him and Mandy aren't fighting much anymore," she grinning taking a gulp of her milk.
Wow, just talkin' to him brightens her day this much. Wonder what she's like when she's around him?
"Penny for your thoughts?" He shook his head and smiled at her.
"So, what classes are you taking this semester?"
"I was thinkin' the same ones that I've been takin' all year," she snickered. "Why?" She laughed at his attempt to change the subject. "So. What or should I say who were you daydreaming about?"
"You," he grinned evilly.
"Aww. You're really too sweet," she smiled standing up. "You know what?"
"What?"
"I must go get started on that durn homework, I have an 11:30 class today," she started to walk away from the table.
"You've been talkin' to Tiffany way too much," he chuckled.
"Ain't it great?" He stood up and wrapped his arms around her.
"My faith isn't gone," he whispered in her ear, kissing her cheek lightly.
"And neither is mine," she smiled kissing him back. Or at least I wish it wasn't..