“I don’t wanna fall in love tonight. I don’t wanna have you turn down the lights,” Sara sang as she played the guitar. It had been a full day since she had seen Brian. She was on their bus away from her friends. She needed some space.

She couldn’t erase the image of Brian’s face when she had kicked him out. It hadn’t bee none of the most rational moments of her life. It would have been smarter to talk to him or explain why he had to go. Brian had deserved that much, at least.

Sara glanced out the window. She wished she could explain it to herself. Brian had broken down part of her wall that had been up since Scott and her had split. Well, even before that. She had never gotten weak in the knees over Scott. They had been friends, great friends. But they had both known their relationship wouldn’t go any farther.

She took a sip of her now cold coffee. She usually detested the stuff. But she had take up the addicting drink as a pick-me-up for the early wake-ups.

“I don’t wanna have you make love to me. Even though the time feels right,” she continued. She didn’t notice that her friends had joined her, she was so wrapped up in the song.

“That was beautiful,” Dani whispered not wanting to ruin the peaceful moment.

Sara jumped at the sound of her voice. She turned slowly to see them all standing in the doorway that leads to the kitchen. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to know that that song was awesome,” Kayla said sitting down beside her. “You’ve never played that one before.”

“Is it new?” Kristen asked sitting across them at the kitchen table.

Sara nodded. “Yep, I wrote the song a week ago.”

“And you already have music to it,” Dani said impressed.

Sara sighed knowing she’d have to explain. “I work on it every day. It’s a song that just means a lot to me.”

“Why?” Kristen asked confused.

Sara rolled her eyes. Her friends either couldn’t tell she didn’t want to talk about it or they didn’t care. “It’s my feelings towards Brian. If you read all the words, it describes my emotions perfectly.”

“You’re falling for him,” Kristen said softly. Even though she saw the terrified look in Sara’s eyes, she smiled. She was happy for her. Not everyone found his or her soul mate.

“Yes I am,” Sara agreed surprising them. “It happened. When I least expected it, it happened.”

“You’re knees,” Dani said as a smile spread across her face. “Sara, that’s great. You said it would happen and it did.”

“But I didn’t want it to happen!” Sara exclaimed shocking them once again by her outburst. “That’s right, Sara Grosfield, the romantic. The one who can’t get enough of romance books. The girl who dreamed of meeting her guy. The one for her. Doesn’t want it anymore. Love hurts to much.”

Kayla sighed. “Yes it does, but it can also feel amazing. There’s pain in every emotion.”

“Yeah,” Kristen agreed. “I’m falling for Nick and I’m scared. What if he doesn’t feel the same way? What if he dumps me? I don’t know how to explain this without being mushy. All the fear goes away when I look into his eyes.”

“I’m scared,” Sara said quietly. “My dad loved me. And now he practically disowned me. Plus Scott and I aren’t talking. He claimed to love me and now we can’t even talk. Strike one and two. I don’t know if I an handle strike 3.”

Kayla leaned over and gave her a hug. “Sara, sometimes you have to take a chance and pray that doesn’t happen. I know Brian would never hurt you intentionally, just like you wouldn’t hurt him.”

Sara looked at Kayla. “How do you know?”

Kayla sighed. “Cause I know you and him. Sara, I know you don’t like hearing this but I swear you two are meant for each other.”

“Sara, I saw his face the night you made him leave. He was hurt, badly. He was ready to just leave you alone,” Kristen said. Sara looked at her with her eyes wide open. He didn’t like her anymore! “But, he decided that the next move would be yours.”

Sara closed her eyes. She liked Brian, who didn’t? He was everything Sara wanted in a guy. He was smart and funny. Not to forget gorgeous. He was just amazing. And now it was time for her to put aside her fears. Not forget about them but work through them, with Brian.

“What do I do?” she finally asked. Her friends squealed as they began to form a plan that would show Brian she cared. Hopefully he still felt the same.

Dani was smiling as she made her way to the rec room. She was so happy for Sara. Sara hadn’t lead a very normal life, not many good things happened to her. Dani had actually had a very happy childhood. Her parents had loved her unconditionally. Some would say she was spoiled and Dani admitted it. She had been spoiled.

In high school, she had gone through a phase where she thought she was better than certain people. Just because of the jeans she wore or because she had a certain outfit that was better than anyone else. She hadn’t had a lot of friends during that period of her life. She had been selfish and inconsiderate at times. She regretted it now but you couldn’t change the past.

Dani hadn’t realized she had said that out loud until a voice from behind her said, “no you can’t. No matter how much you want to.”

Kayla bit her bottom lip as she saw the look in Dani’s eyes. She was still mad at her. “I am so sorry about the things I said. You know me, sometimes I open my big mouth without thinking through. This was definitely one of those times. You know I’d never say those things or I should say that thing and meant it.

“How do I know that really?” Dani asked glaring at her. “We aren’t exactly the closest of friends Kayla. You could truly think I’m easy behind my back. It’s not completely unheard of.”

Kayla groaned. “I don't’ think that! I couldn’t think that. Dani, you have to believe me.” At Dani’s skeptical stare she tried to explain it better. “Dani, I’ve liked AJ for the longest time and I knew that I was wrong after that dumb fight he and I had.”

“What fight?” Dani asked confused.

“Oh...he never told you,” Kayla said surprised. “We, well fought about your hair.”

“My hair,” Dani said bringing her hand to her rainbow hair.

“Yeah, it was the dumbest fight ever. I was wrong and I should have admitted it. But I’m too stubborn for my own good. When I found out you two were dating, I nearly broke down. I thought I had lost him. But then I decided that if I even stood a chance, I would have to apologize.” Kayla paused. She noticed Dani listening intently so she continued on. “I knocked on his door expecting to have one of the hardest conversations of my life. Never, in my mind, would it occur to me that you would be in his room too.”

“But so what! I was in Alex’s room! I was sleeping,” Dani yelled.

“I was so overcome with jealousy, and I couldn’t see or think straight. All I knew was that you had AJ. I was jealous. It’s not easy for me to admit that.”

Dani stared at her. Jealousy did make people act in weird ways. It cold consumes the mind and makes all sensible thoughts vanish. Dani had experienced it a one or two times herself. Well, probably more than that.

“I understand your feelings, I just...I’m hurt Kayla. Really hurt,” she said softly.

Dani took a deep breath. “Look Kayla, I’m not ready to forgive and forget. I need time to think through all of it. You should have trusted me, that’s what friends do. That makes me wonder if we are friends.”

Kayla opened her mouth to protest but she was already walking away. Kayla hung her head, she had messed up this time. And she still had one more person to apologize to.