"Two weeks ago you look like you were going to kick the bucket," Matt stated from his bunk as Greg friviously swung his head back and forth to Ja Rule's "Livin' it up" in the tour bus, "And know you look like..."

"The king of the world!" Greg interrupted, raising his hands in victory.

"Are you on something, man?" Frankie asked seriously, lifting his head from his US History homework that he was completing in the cramped aisle.

"He's been bitten by the loooove bug," Chris announced to his bandmates as he climed out of his bunk and rested his hands on Greg's shoulders like an encouraging coach. v "Well..." Greg started timidly, unsure if love was the proper word. "I guess you can say that! I talked to Railyn on the phone a few minuetes ago. It was so...rejuvenating!"

All three boys shared glances of confusion. They've never seen Greg acting so strangely, so stupid over some girl.

"What the hell are you on?!" Jesse piped in the conversation conserned, popping his head from the depths of his bunk as his hand was clasp to a dripping peanut butter and jelly sandwich just like his mommy makes.

"Jesse!" Chris yelled, darting just before the goopey strawberry jelly dripped on his shoe, "This isn't your house, you can't treat it like a pig sty!"

Greg ignored Jesse's question; he didn't know what this felt like. It was indescribable, like the excitement of a weekend and Gramma and Grandpa's when he was younger, full of fresh lemonade, sickly-sweet flowers and home-made apple pie, steaming on the kitchen's windowsill. He was counting the days until Railyn and him would be reunited. He floated to the front of the bus, his eyes scanning the road elatedly, praying the next bend would bring him that much closer to Railyn.

"U got it bad, Greg," Frankie yelled to him, his eyes refocusing on his homework......

"This is delish, Jane!" Danielle sqealed, her mouth tentalized by the pepper steak sauce seeping through. "Thanks for everything."

"You only turn 17 once," Jane replied, taking a sip of her iced tea and smiling sweetly. The day has been blissfully wonderful for Danielle. She couldn't picture a better day; ice skating in NYC, the cold biting at exposed skin, visiting TRL Studios and then a home-cooked mean that could warm up the frostiest snowman.

"I'll bring the dishes in," Natalie offered, reaching clumsily over to gather the skillet in her hands.

"Don't be silly," Janie interrupted, lifting Danielle and Railyn's plates up to clash with her own. "You can't do this all on your own." Danielle gave Hannah a headnod, but Hannah wasn't receptive. Then, Danielle stomped her foot forcefully down on Hannah's.

"Ow!" Hannah shrieked, pain twisting her pale face. She turned quickly to Danielle and received the nod again. She reluctetly grabbed a few used glasses and trotted to the kitchen.

Railyn's eyes were staring a hole through the blue wall. She slumped in her chair, only her neck up were visable to the eye. Her composure was one of a spolied child that wasn't allowed the last of the chocolate cake. Danielle knew Railyn wasn't comfortable enough to talk in front of Natalie and Hannah. "Anything you'd like to get off your chest?" Danielle asked quietly, knowing what Railyn would say, as she sipped at her water.

"You just love this, don't you?" Railyn asked grumpily, spitefulness tinting her tone, but she hid it well behind her composed face. She brushed sadly at her hand and submerged her eyes to her jeans.

"Moi?!" She asked with forced innocence as she raised her eyebrows. "I just want to hear it from you."

"What do you need to hear?" Railyn defended herself, her eyes suspiciously shifting to Danielle's. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and threw her eyes to the floor. "I miss him...that's all."

"If you say so," Danielle doubted, shrugging her shoulders and raising from her chair. Railyn could never look at her straight when she was lying.

"UGH!" Railyn yelled boisteriously, angrily pushing her wavy mane behind her ears. Danielle sharply turned to her, her eyes filled with surprise. "You want me to pour my heart out, right?! To say there's some kind of magic between Greg and I? That I feel something forbidding for him? That I run to Greg every time it gets dark and unbearable? To say it was because of me he and his girlfriend broke up?" Fustration forced her hand to slam on the table so hard, the chandelier above shuttered in fear. "That I go to bed every night wishing that something could happen, something, anything? That I fucking love him?! Is that what you want to hear?!?!"

Danielle opened her mouth, but no words could tumble out. Railyn's eyes of fire scortched through Danielle's soul as she slowly sat down in Jane's seat. Danielle had never witnessed Railyn so angry, so passionate about how she felt. It was even a little frightening. Railyn's heated expression slowly smothered to water. Tears inched in her eyes, realizing what she said. Her hands blanketed her sorrows as Danielle crouched to her side. Gingerly Danielle's hand weaved through Railyn's hair as Railyn sniffed back the tears.

"It's undenyable, right?" Danielle cooed in her ear, a faint smile piercing Danielle's lips.

"Yes," Railyn gasped, that word cutting through her body like a butcher knife in some '90's horror cliche. She sunk her head to her knees and cried some more. "But Danielle, I can't love him. I can't!"

"Look," Danielle started, cupping her hands sister-like around Railyn's face. "I'm not saying marry the guy, but what harm could a date do?"

"A date could turn into something more," Railyn pressed, the tears screaming from her eyes as her hands grazed over them. She was getting so worked-up, she started to tremble from her feet gravitating up to her hands and head. "I don't want to hurt him."

Danielle rested her hand on Railyn's knee before she said words that needed to be heard. "Live the life you have while it's here."