The boys were leaving next week for the Aaron Carter tour, so Greg invited Railyn to come over to they could hang out one last time before he leaves. Railyn loved the freedom of walking. It may be kind of strange to some teenagers who dream of owning a car and going wherever the winding road takes them, but then you can't see, can't understand the little things you wouldn't even register if you were whizzing by in a fast car. Railyn loved walking.

Greg's house loomed closer and closer with every step. The freezing air scraped at her throat, dying to eat away at her moist flesh so she tied the maroon scarf more securely. She quickened her pace as she reached the pathway. Little did she know, someone was watching her every move from their car, their eyes twitching angrily and mouth curled in a wolf-like sneer.

"Hey," Greg greeted her, wrapping his arms around her neighborly.

"Hey Handsome," Railyn replied, brushing her hand against his stomach. Her touch was electrifying; it sent sweet shocks through his body. "What's up for today?"

"Just hanging, I guess," Greg replied, closing the door. "You wanna watch some TV?"

"Surely," Railyn agreed, walking briskly to the couch and jumping over the arm, landing safely in the cushions. "There's a Real World Marathon on now, I love Colin...he's so dreamy."

"You can turn the TV on," Greg laughed as he retreated to the kitchen. "The clicker is on the coffee table. I'm going to get us some drinks."

"Clicker? Haha Alright," Railyn hollared back, leaning foward to grab the remote.

As Greg grabbed a bottle of Orange soda from the deepness of the refridgerator, he couldn't help but wonder what Stephanie would think if she knew Railyn was here. 'Are you married to her?' his conscense asked him. 'You can hang out with girls, it's innocent.' But what if the tides were turned, if Stephanie was hanging out with a guy alone? He grabbed two glasses from the cabinet and poured the soda gently into them. The bubbles floated to the top of the glasses, as if trying to fly away into the air. Wrinkles, Greg, his mind reminded him. You're too good-looking for wrinkles. Maybe this is all a mistake...maybe every thing is.

Greg brought the cold beverages with him into the livingroom as Railyn was concentrating on MTV, her hand supporting her chin. She turned and smiled at Greg as he handed her the drink gingerly. "Thanks," Railyn said, slowly sipping on the soda. Greg's eyes were glued to her shapely mouth. The soda and his eyes traveled smoothly down her soft, pale throat. "You didn't get in trouble the other night, did you?"

"Oh No," Greg assured her, lounging his feet on the coffee table as his eyes skimmed the TV. "My sister found out, but she won't tell a soul. It's our secret."

"Good," Railyn smiled, placing her drink down on the coffee table. "I would hate to not be able to see you. Man, how long are ya leaving me for?"

"About a month," Greg replied, his face vibrant but his heart cold and sagging. "But it's no sweat."

"Nope!" Railyn agreed, leaning back on the couch's floral-print pillows.

"I was wondering," Greg started, twiddling his thumbs as his mouth spattered out words. "Have you ever considered bring a professional singer?"

"Every girl has thought of that, Greggy," Railyn responded, pushing at his leg. After a few moments of delibration, she continued. "It would be awesome, but I don't think I could do what you guys do all the time; traveling everywhere, being away for weeks at a time without seeing your friends and family. Those girls are almost blood to me. But doing it sparatically, I could accomplish that."

"'Cause your voice is incredable," Greg gushed, involuntarily clamping his hand on his wild mouth.

"Aww," Railyn squeaked, her smile causing her eyelids to crawl over her crystal blues. She dramatically brushed her hands at her eyes. "Don't make me cry."

They layed in silence for a few minuetes, watching Teck flirt around with the ladies on the screen. She crossed her arms firmly against her light green sweater as if she held a personal grudge to the TV. "It kind of amazes me," Railyn started, resting her hands on her stomach. "That someone like Tech, so sincere and intelligent just treats woman like they're nothing."

"It isn't right," Greg whispered, his insufficient treatment of Stephanie popping up in his mind. He sloched down a little.

"You're so different, Greg," she replied, staring deep into his pools of brown, almost into the confusing matter of his mind. Greg looked back, the unexplained force pinning his eyes to hers. "You'd never do something like that."

A sinking feeling submerged in the pit of his stomach. You don't know that, Railyn, he thought to himself.

The akward silence diverted Railyn to a new topic. "You know what's kind of sad?"

"What?" Greg asked, shifting his body away from the TV.

"We're kind of floating on the same boat," Railyn started, turning to him. She wrapped her feet under her legs and reposed her arm on the back of the couch. "You know, we may be having the time of our lives. You traveling all over, doing what you love, what you were born to do, meeting so many people and touching so many lives. Me free to do my schooling at home and at my leisure, running amuck and just living it up. We see so many things other people don't see, but we miss out on so much. I mean, for example, don't you just want to go to a nice dance at school?"

"Yeah, that'd be nice," Greg replied, nodding.

"Yeah, well, I won't ever get that opprotunity. I'm a hopeless romantic, no doubt. I want to go into a dark gym, white and blue lights twinkiling, fast and slow beats swirling at my feet. Food, music, friends, fun...it's all a girl could want! Slowdancing to a nice *NSYNC or Boyz II Men ballot, holding onto the one person that matters most is a plus, too. And the dress...Oh, it's gotta be light blue with a bell skirt. Oh, I wish that could happen."

Did they share the same brain matter? Greg totally agreed with what Railyn was saying, well, except the dress part. Just for one night, to be treated like a regular Joe Shmoe, to be lost in the music, to be with your friends...it would be great. Railyn sighed heavily, layting her pink cheek on her palm as she peered out the window, observing the birds that continued to sing their tunes even through the harsh winter. "Dreams can come true, right?" Railyn asked Greg, her crystal eyes engulfing Greg in her gaze.

"Of course," Greg breathed, snaking his hand into Railyn's free hand. Railyn looked down, a little startled at Greg's gesture. But she finally smiled, a smile that could brighten up the coldest, darkest, inhumane day in history. She blanketed his hand in hers, a connecting that will forever abide in their touch. All of Greg's doubts, all of his worries, all that's bad could be forgotten with a glimpse of Railyn's smile, just knowing she was always going to be around to smile for him. Greg knew dreams can come true; he was looking at his.