Greg let the usual 3 days rule slide by before attempting to approach Stephanie's fortress. He felt a walk there would do him good, get him thinking. The winter's chill cleanses your soul. His heated breath tangoes with the chilly air, his chest comfortably toasty beneath his blue jacket. As he rounded the corner, his heart rounded beating a million beats a minuete. Tiny beads of sweat popped up on his palms. He was scared to lose Stephanie, or was he?

He took 2 steps up the wooden steps, gathering his strenght and thoughts like a mother gathers toys as he knocked on the door. Seconds past, painful, blistering seconds until Stephanie opened the door, her brown eyes fiercly spearing into Greg.

"Umm," Greg started, his brain still leaking of Railyn.

"He's here for my forgiveness," Stephanie dryly stated, leaning against the white doorpane rigidly and staring into the wall like she wanted to destory it with her mind's magnitude, "And he starts with 'umm'."

"We need to talk," Greg replied confidently.

Stephanie rolled her eyes in response, ripping her black adidas jacket from the clothestree and slamming the door behind her. Stephanie walked past him, leaving pins of coldheartedness to stick Greg where it hurts in her wake. She sat down on a dark brown bench and Greg sat on the opposite side. "It really hurt, Greg," she started quivering, making sure not to give Greg the pleasure of seeing tears spatter onto her face.

"I'm sorry," Greg apologiesed meekly. "I don't know what came over me. I can't believe I forgot."

"Well you did," Stephanie replied curtly, crossing her arms defensively across her chest. "You've been rather forgetful latley...Besides, I know what came over you...it's that Railyn girl...Am I wrong?"

If she was a gambling girl, she would have hit the jackpot. Greg knew she was right. He couldn't deny it any longer, he had a thing, something for Railyn. He turned to her, her body and face remaining stoic. Stephanie shifted her head to his, the salty remains of her tears crystallizing on her tanned face. "Tell me...are you seeing her behind my back? I know about Aunt Mary's. If you are, let's just get this..."

"No," Greg assured her, brushing his fingers gingerly over her arms. She drew her arm away as if a disease lurked in his touch.

"I just want the truth, Greg," Stephanie pleaded, emotion flooding to her face. She gripped his hand with incredable strenght; she was lost in the moment. "Where were you Friday?"

"I...I was at Serenity with Chris, Railyn and Danielle," he said softly, laying his free hand on his green pants and lowering his head down slightly, only slightly, ashamed.

Stephanie tilted her head back, shaking his hand loose from hers and whiping her hands fustratively over her eyes. "That's two, Greg," she informed him with authority, turning violently and staring him down. "One more and I'm going to have to end this...You better leave, the wounds are still fresh."

Greg nodded, rising slowly from the bench. He hurt her and he was sorry. He didn't know what he'd do if the tables were turned on him. He started the trudge back home, taking one last glimpse at Stephanie. Her dark hair wasn't up-to-par; she looked as if she just stumbled out of slumber, blue polkadot pajama pants and a long sleeved white therman her attire. Greg liked that about her; beauty always emcompassed her.

Stephanie didn't dare watch Greg leave, it would send her water works into unecessary overdrive. A vengeful glimmer surfaced in her face. She was on her way to Gaffney's......

"Thanks and come again," Railyn sweetly said to the elderly man. He nodded with a smile and took the brown bag with him out of the store. Railyn delicately placed the 30 dollars into the cash register draw but didn't close it. Stephanie parked her red car by the curb with slapdash percision. She thrusted her door into oncoming traffic and belted it close. She took a deep breath; she didn't want to make trouble; just to lay down the law. Stephanie stepped into Gaffney's; an aroma of cinnamon and chocolate surrounding her. Railyn squinted to see Stephanie; girls don't come in much. "Stephanie?" she yelled to her, waving.

Stephanie's expression turned cold as she approached the counter. She spilled her keys on the counter angrily. "Can I help you?" Railyn asked, confusion floating about in her head.

"Maybe you can," Stephanie replied neutrally, flickering her hand over the turning key chain display standing tall by the cash register. "What's going on between you and Greg?"

"Nothing," Railyn told her, narrowing her eyes at this question. "What's this about?"

"Let me keep this simple so maybe you can understand," Stephanie continued, disdain dripping from her tone. "For some unknown reason, Greg has been very distracted from our relationship because of...you. Greg missed our 6th month anniversary because he was parading at Serenity with you. I would appreciate it if you would keep your hands where they belong and find your own boyfriend."

Offense hammered in Railyn's skull. She blinked a few times just to assure this girl was for real. "Listen," Railyn started, puffing out hot air and spreading her hands out on the glass counter. "I don't appreciate aligations like that. I did NOTHING to make Greg 'be distracted from your relationship'. You seem really overprotective of him. What are you afraid of?"

"In case you are blind, he is Greg Raposo of Dream Street," Stephanie yelled, thrusting her finger to the counter to emphasise her point. "He's the catch of the day...more like the decade. He's gorgeous, smart, talented and gives incredable gifts. Every body wants him, I guess even orphaned girls with no self-respect or morals!"

Railyn became enraged at these comments, but she hid it well beneath her baby blues and placid face. She wanted to tear Stephanie's face off and chuck it in the street; that's where it belonged, but Todd trudged in from the back room, interrupted their irate, scortching battle of wits. "Is everything...OK?" Todd asked, lowering a box of shirts to the ground but keeping his eyes on the two, intense red sparkles flairing in their malicious glares.

"Just fine," Railyn spatted through clenched teeth, eyes attracted to Stephanie with deadly, magnetic force. "This young lady was just leaving."

"Right," Stephanie agreed, finally ripping her eyes away from Railyn, pushing herself from the counter and bulldozing out of the store.

Railyn was like a pressure cooker seconds away from combustion. She slammed the cash register close, it ringing back at her in pain. She never lets anyone speak to her like that, but that girl isn't worth her words. She was very ignorant and insecure. Why would I steal Greg? Friends...that's all we are? . . .