7 weeks earlier

"Cocoa!" Adrienne giggled as she struggled to complete her Algebra homework. Her chocolate-colored dauschan who has seen his years jumped up into her lap and started to lick her neck. "I need to do this before I'm 30," she informed Cocoa, placing him gently on the wooden floor. He looked at her lovingly, his tounge hanging in the steamy air then scampered away.

Adrienne smiled and turned her head toward the opened window. The shadows of New York City grew longer with every minuete and the buildings were casted with a golden glow. The sun glistened into her large loft apartment and brightened up everything, the white leather couches to her left in the living room, the marble countertops of her small kitchen, even the 30' TV sitting quietly on its stand. She pondered where her parents were. 'Must be a late court night,' she concluded. She stretched tiredly and heard a knock at her door. She bolted from her spot at the computer and asked "who is it?!"

"Who else, silly?" a girl voice replied as Adrienne laughed and opened the door.

"What's up, Dev?" Adrienne asked as her friend Devon, strolled in. Cocoa heard the commotion and came running for his traditional belly rub.

"Cocoa, darling!" Devon greeted dramaticially, her long strawberry blond hair tickiling Cocoa's plump tummy as she rubbed it.

"Don't you have voice lessons right about...now?" Adrienne implored, looking down at her purple Roxy watched which displayed '7:30'.

"My drill sargent has strep throat," Devon laughed, her grey eyes sparkling at the thought. "So I'm freeeeeeeeee."

"That's good," Adrienne replied, strolling back to the computer desk and her tiresome task at hand.

"Oh!" Devon yelled, running over to Adrienne's side, scaring Cocoa in the process. "Guess who's coming home tomorrow?"

Adrienne stopped writing. She peered straight outward. "Chris?"

"The one and only," Devon replied with a smile. "He's got a signing and a show Saturday but he's all yours Friday night."

"Please, Devon," Adrienne sighed, "We went out when? 5th grade? You have to lay off."

"I sowwy," Devon apologiesed, giving Adrienne a tender hug. "But really, you guys should..."

"Just keep things the way they are. Best friends and nothing more," Adrienne interrupted coldy, tapping her pencil fustratively on her blue notebook.

Devon layed off the subject. She knew when to stop or else Adrienne would eat her alive. "Well, I better get going. I have homework still, Blah," Devon complained, sticking her tounge out.

"Ask the braniac Danny to do it for you," Adrienne suggested, escorting Devon through the large loft apartment to the door.

"I would but I don't have any money," Devon replied slyly. Danny is Devon's twin brother who goes to school with Adrienne. Devon attends the same Performing Arts school as Chris.

"You're a card, Devy," Adrienne informed her with a chuckeling sigh. She then opened the door and gasped in bewilderment.

There stood Chris who was equally surprised. His warm brown eyes were hidden by his signature sunglasses. His spikes were up to their perfection. His hands were shoved deep into his black pants pockets. "Chrissy," Adrienne said with a giggle, motioning him to come in.

"I've missed you calling me that, Rina," Chris told her as he step inside. A familiar sense of friendship permeated the room; a friendship seeming to be forgotten but was about to be renewed.

"Well, I gotta shake it. I'll see you two later," Devon informed them with a wink.

"Bye, girl," Adrienne called after her. They stood there in silence, watching Devon walk to her apartment next door. Chris glanced at Adrienne, leaning against the TV and he took the initiative, sweeping her into his arms.

"Ah, my ribs," Rina cried as his arms indirectly attempted to suffocate her.

"Sorry, girl," Chris apologiesed, letting her go. "I've missed you...and your cooking."

Adrienne laughed at his responce, tugging at her long-sleeved yellow shirt. "I've missed you, too," Adrienne informed him, smiling sweetly. "And so has Cocoa."

"Where is that rascal?" Chris asked, scanning the perimiter for the walking hot dog. He whistled and Cocoa peaked his head from Adrienne's room. Cocoa's eyes lit up at the sight of Chris and he came running, slipping and sliding on the glossy floor. "Hey, boy," Chris smiled, bending down to pet a dog that was almost his own, too. Adrienne was in awe at the sight, taking two steps down into the pit of the living room and sitting down on the arm of a white leather couch. "Anyway, Rina, How's school and everything?"

"Pretty good," Adrienne replied as Chris got up and sat next to her. She ran her hands awkwardly through her long, curly light brown hair as she continued. "I'm still working at Baker's. Nate went back to college last week. He's living in this huge..." Adrienne paused, noticing Chris's attention was diverted to the window. "That's not why you came over here, is it?"

"Damn, Ri," Chris laughed, looking back at her. He scratched his ear and glanced at Cocoa sitting obediently at Ri's feet, his tail wagging gleefully. "You could always read my mind. I was wondering if you wanted to...go with me to Erik's party tomorrow?"

"You mean like a date?" Adrienne questioned, raising her eyebrows at him and smiling.

"You know I could never date you, we tried that, remember?" Chris leaned back, memories of him and Rina flooding into his mind.

"Don't you have a signing and stuff Saturday?" Adrienne questioned, rubbing her knee.

"Yeah...but I'm sneaking out...don't tell," Chris whispered to her with a somewhat evil smile. "Besides, the signing anfd show isn't until late."

"Then I guess I can...if we go as...friends," Adrienne replied, resting her heavy head on her hand and turning her face to his.

"I wouldn't expect it any other way," Chris told her tenderly.