"So...what do you think?"

"About what?'

"About going home for Christmas?"

"When?"

"At Christmas?"

"Yeah,"

"Yeah what?"

"Yeah, go,"

"Are you coming with me?"

"Yeah,"

"Taylor!"

"Yeah?"

"Be serious!"

"Okay,"

"Taylor!" Gia throws her hands up in the air in exasperation,

"What?"

"I'm trying to talk to you,"

"Now's not a good time,"

"Why?"

"Because I'm in another realm right now, I think I'm bordering on comatose," I reply. I really am. I'm lying down on the carpet in my living room amidst all of Gia's magazines (which she's conveniently left lying around while she temporarily inhabits my place as hers is being fumigated). My gaze is focused on the ceiling and I can hear a faint buzzing sound that I think may be Gia rabbiting on.

"Taylor?"

"Mmmm?" I sit up on my elbows and look at her. She's wearing a low cut shirt that I hate to say isn't leaving much to the imagination,

"Did you just check out my boobs?"

"No," I stare at her, feigning indignation,

"Swear?" She narrows her eyes at me,

"No," I reply,

"Taylor!"

"What? I'm a guy! I'm meant to do stuff like that!"

"I'm your best friend. We've been friends since before the foetus almost. You can't look at me like that. Especially not now. What would Asher say if I told him you did that?"

"There are several things I'm going to comment upon here. Firstly, we were friends since the beginning of puberty so it automatically gives way to the fact that we're going to be looking at each other somewhat sexually. Secondly, I can look at you like that and I have. Like you haven't looked at me like that before..." I raise my eyebrow and she flushes. Wooh! Score one to Taylor! "And thirdly, Asher would completely understand if he sees you wearing the same shirt you're wearing now,"

"Taylor!"

"It's true, don't deny it," I smirk,

"Not true,"

"Okay, so you've never looked at me in a sexual way whatsoever?" I ask, looking at her intently. Ladies and gentlemen: This is the moment of truth.

"No..." she hesitates,

"BULLSHIT," I state emphatically, "When we slept together you didn't enjoy one single thing I did for you? You didn't like the way I ran my fingers across your back? Or the way I flicked my tongue across your breasts? Or the way I rubbed your clit?"

"TAYLOR!" she gasps, horrified. I suppress a giggle. She looks well and truly uncomfortable. Just the blush in her cheeks tells me she loved it. She loved it and hates admitting it.

"Well did you?" I press,

"For the sake of argument, no I didn't,"

"Really, so if I were to do that to you right now, you wouldn't enjoy it," I get up off my elbows and stand. I place my hand underneath my shirt on my stomach, glance at her seductively and start striding towards her,

"Don't you dare!" she scuttles across to the opposite side of the room.

"I won't. On the condition you tell me the truth," I look at her, "Have you never thought of me sexually? You've never fantasised about me?"

"Taylor,"

"Come on, tell me. Or I'll walk over there and kiss you,"

"Taylor! Asher? Remember?"

"Yeah, I remember. So your answer?"

"I've fantasised about you,"

"Really?" I ask,

"Shut up, you know I have," She remarks.

"What have you thought about?"

"You know. Stuff..."

"Like,"

"You first," she looks at me.

"You first,"

"You first,"

"You first,"

"Quit it!" she puts an end to our immature little game.

"What does it involve?"

"I dunno,"

"Yes you do. Come on....please?" I plead as I walk over to the couch. I sit down and motion for her to sit next to me,

"What have you fantasised bout? Involving me, I mean?" She asks tentatively. I figure the only way I'm going to get an answer out of her is to answer. And I really want to know. My mind is racing with a million thoughts. Most of all I want to know whether she's fantasised about me whilst being with Asher�

"A jumping castle,"

"A jumping castle?"

"Yeah, don't you think it'd be fun?"

"Having sex on a jumping castle?"

"Yeah," I reply. She pauses for a moment, sitting on the couch.

"I guess so...it could be quite amusing,"

"What about you?" I probe,

"Water,"

"In water?" I ask. That's interesting and I say so,

"It'd be nice, don't you think?" she asks. I look at her and suddenly she withdraws, "I shouldn't be talking about this kind of stuff, Taylor," She says seriously. The mood has suddenly changed and the atmosphere is filled with tension. You could cut the tension with a chainsaw, that's how thick the tension is. A knife wouldn't even be able to make a dent.

"Gia,"

"No," She states with a finality that scares me.

"Gia, one more question?"

"No,"

"Please,"

"I said no, Taylor. I'm sticking to it,"

"I always do shit for you and you won't even answer one measly little question of mine," I tell her. She looks at me,

"One question,"

"When was the last time you thought of me like that?" I ask her. She stops and stares at me,

"What difference does it make?"

"Was it while you were with Asher?" I ask, knowing I'm heading into dangerous territory. If I were an antelope I'd be heading straight into lion feeding ground. If I were a policeman I'd be heading into Harlem. If I were Taylor I'd be heading straight into "What the fuck are you doing?" land.

"Why do you want to know? And like I asked, what difference does it make?"

"It makes a difference?"

"Taylor, why does it matter whether I fantasised about you while I was with Asher,"

"I just want to know,"

"WHY?" She yells,

"Gia..." I start. I can feel that this is going to be one of those moments that changes everything. You move from being friends into a weird territory that is undefinable. From here it's either good or bad. I lean over and brush my lips against hers and pull back only just slightly, "I'm in love with you,"

I almost physically hear the clock stop ticking. She is staring at me not moving a finger. I'm frozen. I don't know what to do. Thoughts are running through my brain at fifteen hundred miles per second. Suddenly I feel a heavy weight land on my chest. I glance down and realise she's thrashing her fists against me,

"You mother fucker!"

"What? What have I done?"

"You mother fucker!" She repeats, "You've only been able to have me for twelve years and now you decide you want me. Now when I finally find a boyfriend and am happy! You figure out NOW you're in love with me? God, you are a piece of shit! I've only wanted you for the past five years and you freaking realise now that you're in love with me?" She glares at me and as the silence descends the doorbell rings. She walks over towards the door and grabs her jacket,

"And just so you know, I'm going to finally sleep with Asher tonight," And with that she walks out the door. I sink into the couch.

I stare at the clock and watch the seconds, minutes, hours waver into oblivion.

My eyes flutter open. I'm staring at a vision of Gia with a halo of light surrounding her hair.

"I didn't sleep with him," she states. I jump up from my horizontal position on the couch. I'm on eye level with her. She looks dazzling. But that could be my eyes adjusting to the light. I take her in. She racoon eyes, her mascara has rubbed around the rim of her eyes. Her hair is pushed back and flying in all different directions. And if I'm not mistaken she has a bit of food stuck in between her two front teeth. But she's the most beautiful sight I think I've ever beheld,

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you,"

"Taylor,"

"No, just let me say what I have to say. During these last few months I've been walking around like a complete zombie. I've just wanted you so badly and I haven't been able to have you. And the amount which I liked you just got bigger and bigger and bigger up until I realised that I love you, Gia. I can't be without you. Not just as a friend but as something more. And if you don't have me I don' t think that I will really be able to look at another woman again. I want you that badly,"

"Taylor?" she begins. I look at her, "You're a nerd," She replies and places her lips on mine, "And just so I can repeat it, you're a mother fucker," she laughs and cups my face between her hands and draws me in back onto her. Our tongues fuse; we break apart and lie there. Her lips rest on my chin and mine just touch her nose. Her leg is resting between mine and I'm holding her so tight I don't think I'll ever let go.

"Gia?" I mumble against her skin,

"Yeah,"

"I'm not talking shit, I'm in love with you,"

"Taylor, you always talk shit," she murmurs, "But I love ya anyway. And I do mean love,"

I feel better than I have in weeks. Months. Years.