"What a sapp!" Chris yelled to Greg as Greg scampered out of Vietta's Cards and Gifts, a precious present wrapped decoratively in purple paper attached to Greg's hand.

"Shut up, man," Greg replied, jokingly pushing Chris out of his way.

"So what's the count with Stephanie?" Chris implored, peering at his steamy breath mixing with the chilly November air. They walked down the grey, grease-spotted sidewalk of Main St. of Greg's hometown, glancing at the sparatic cars gliding through the streets. Dark cotton coulds crept through the blue sky, draining the sun from Chris and Greg's faces.

"5 months," Greg responded with a smile, cradeling the perfectly-wrapped box close to his heart.

"Has it been that long already?" Chris asked innocently, looking at the package curiously. "What is it?"

Waiting for a responce, Chris's eyes sneaked across the road to four girls sitting on a red stairway. Two of them looked young; about 13 or 14. They had blonde hair down to their shoulders. The other two were more to Chris's liking; they had to be 16 or 17. The one on the left had curly red hair that flowed gently over her shoulders. The girl on the right had long maroon, yes, maroon hair and crystal blues. Greg was about to respond, but Chris's obvious flirtateous ways told him to stop.

"You wonder why you don't have a girl yet," Greg told him honestly, peering loosely at the girls smile and wave to them.

"Single is the way to be," Chris informed him, tossing a wave over to the girls. The girls started to giggle, cluttering into a circle of gossip. "It's fun and no one gets hurt."

Greg never viewed it that way. To him, love was something special, something worth-wild. He wasn't sure if he loved Stephanie or even if he was in love. This was all new to him. Stephanie was his first serious girlfriend.

"How about some pizza?" Greg asked with an evil smile because he knew what Chris's reply would be. Greg clamped his hand on Chris's left shoulder as Chris sulked.

"Again?" Chris whined, frowning and thrusting his hands into his black coat's pockets.

"You know you want some," Greg laughed as they made a right turn to Aunt Mary's Pizza and Pasta.

Aunt Mary's is a landmark in Greg's town. It's been there since the 1950's when 'Aunt Mary' built it with her family. It's been a family business ever since. Teenagers flocked there after the movies or the clubs late on weekend nights. They take their time relishing in pizza and a few breath before heading home to castigating parents; ready to lock them away for ignoring curfew. Black booths with red-and-white chekered table clothes stood orderly around the perimeter. Simular tables were jutted sparatically in front of the booths. A red jukebox hovered in the far left corner of the place, next to Greg's favorite booth. Chris and Greg stepped through the light-colored wooden door complete 2 paines of glass, the ringing of bells at the top of the door startling them.

"Greg, Chris," a woman in her early-20's named Val smiled, approaching the glass counter from the broiling ovens. Her short, curly black hair was sticking to her blemish-free but pale forehead and cheeks, the heat spitting water on her neck and red T-Shirt. "We haven't seen you guys in a while."

"Yeah," Greg agreed, taking off his blue jacket and laying it in his usual booth with the company of Stephanie's present.

"You know how it is," Chris replied, leaning on the glass counter with a Casanova glimmer in his eyes, "The girls can't get enough of us."

"I bet," Val laughed heartily. "What can I get you boys?"

"A regular slice for me," Chris told her with a smile, sauntering back to their booth.

"My usual," Greg said, looking at the display of pizzas waiting to be devoured. "You remember, don't you?"

"I think I do," Val replied with a wink, walking to the back to get their orders.

"Eww, green peppers and olives?" Chris replied when Greg's phrase clicked, a disguisted look meshed on his face as Greg settled across from Chris.

"Hey," Greg defended himself, sliding his jacket and package over. "I like what I like-"

"Speaking of liking," Chris interrupted, tapping Greg on the shoulder for him to turn around. The two girls from the stairs ran in, their red and fushia hair waving wildly behind them. They glance around nonchalantly, running their damp fingers over their wet coats. They were soaked; the clouds finally unloading the burden outside.

"Well, what do we have here, Railyn?" the fire head asked as she strolled over, placing her hands on her hips, her dark blue jeans scooping just below where her hands were placed. The girl with fuschia hair turned to Greg and Chris, a peaceful look on her face and an intriging twinkle in her eyes.

Her eyes were locked on the boys like radar. "I think these boys took our booth, Danielle," Railyn responded with a raise of an eyebrow, walking over leaning her hand on the back of Chris's seat. Her tan pants hugged her legs tightly and Chris couldn't help but look.

"Your booth?" Greg asked the girls, his eyes narrowing at Railyn's accusation, "We've been eating here for months."

"Well, you guys have been MIA, then," Railyn replied suspiciously, raising herself up right and peering at Greg. Her eyes were so intense, they could scortch a hole through metal. Greg could tell her wheels were always turning in her head as she stared at him blankly. "This booth is ours."

"Do you girls want to sit with us?" Chris asked eagerly, already moved over to make room.

"That's...sweet," Danielle informed him, trying to hold back a fit of laughter. "But we're just here to pick up a pie."

"Can't wait to taste my pepper-and-olive cheese pizza," Railyn admitted, closing her eyes and licking her red lips hungrily. Greg raised his brown peepers at her, interested at her admittance.

"Freak," Danielle whispered under her breath, rolling her eyes and glancing at Chris diagnol from her. They both smiled, the smiles reeking of lust.

"Peppers and olives?" Greg replied intrigued, scanning her face. It remained unemotional until a smile appeared.

"Yeah, a delicacy only fit for a deep and sparatic woman like myself," she replied, holding her hand to her chest and looking up at the ceiling like she was higher than everybody else. "You got a problem with that?" Railyn asked aggressively, tearing her eyes back at Greg; but a placid smile appeared and her crystal blue eyes began to laugh.

"No, Maim," Chris replied, afraid of her wrath.

"Girls," Val called from the counter, sliding the white box on the counter. "Your pizza is ready."

"Thanks, babe," Danielle yelled to her, skipping over to the counter and tossing the money on the box. Val smiled and took the green. She stuffed it into the cash register as Danielle carried the box to Railyn.

"Well," Railyn started, looking at Danielle evily. "It's been a jam, but we better be going."

"Do you girls want to hang with us sometime?" Chris sputtered out. He was thrown a shocked look from Greg. Chris purely held out his hand as Danielle laughed softly before Railyn clamed a hand over her pinched mouth.

"If you really want to hang," Railyn replied, slowly walking to the door as Danielle pulled her along with all her might. Her eyes darted to the floor, then raised back up, her lips curved in a seductive grin, "You'll find us next time." With that, they linked arms and held the pie, pushing each other through the small door into the rainy weather.

"I have a girlfriend, Genius," Greg reminded Chris passionatley, pushing Chris's hands back to his side of the table as Val brought their pizzas out on a round brown tray.

"They're cuties," Val said, watching them walk down the street and leaning against Chris's seat. Greg and Chris both listened to her intensely, sipping at their sodas. "They live with a few other girls at a Halfway House, the Gaffney House it's called...on Main St. They come here every Friday for a pie and a few laughs. They sure are characters."

"Railyn was totally sweating you, Greg," Chris congradulated him, reaching over the table to give him a punch in the shoulder.

"Greg has a girlfriend," Greg replied in 3rd person, taking a delicious bite of his pizza.

"Isn't that sweet?" Val said outloud, retreating back to the counter. Greg turned and looked at the final figments of the girls walking away, his mind wondering if having a girlfriend really was "sweet".