Sunshine stood at the window and looked out at the falling snow. There wasn�t any snow on Christmas and she thought that it didn�t seem like Christmas without it. Howard came up behind her and stuck his arm around her shoulders.
She just looked at him and he asked, �What�s wrong?�
�Nothing,� Sunshine replied. �Just watching the snow fall. Ain�t it funny how the snow didn�t come until after Christmas?�
�It didn�t snow on Christmas?� Howard questioned.
�I keep forgetting you live in Orlando and not Pennsylvania,� Sunshine answered.
�Sorry,� Howard said.
�I�m not blaming you.� She went back to her thinking.
�Well, I�ll leave you alone to your thoughts.�
He started walking away and Sunshine said, �Howie.�
�Yeah.� He looked at her and hoped for the best.
Sunshine looked at him and then at Nickolas who laughed at something Danielle said and she said herself, �What do you think of the idea of me moving to Orlando?�
�Is it something you want to do? If it is then I say it�s a good idea.�
�I�ve been thinking about it a lot lately. Even more so now that me and Nick are discovering our feelings for each other. I just want to be closer to him so we don�t have to keep flying back and forth to see each other.�
Howard just looked at her, as if he was betrayed in some way. He didn�t speak for a few seconds then said, �Sunn, if it�s something you really want to do, even if it�s because of Nick, then I�ll support ya.�
�Thanks.� She hugged him. �That means a lot to me.�
�Anytime.� He returned the hug. �Anytime.�
�You two seem awful chummy,� Danielle said interrupting the hug.
�I was just thanking Howie for being such a good friend,� Sunshine replied looking at Nickolas and he smiled. �Ya know what; I�m going for a walk.� She started walking to the door and grabbed Nickolas� hand. �And you�re coming with me.�
�Oh I am,� Nickolas said.
�Yeah,� Sunshine said opening the door. �Don�t wait up.�
�We won�t,� Venus said, as Howard went to follow and Venus stepped in front of him. �What did I tell you earlier?� Howard and Danielle looked at her. �Leave her the hell alone. She wants to be with Nick and not you. Just leave her be.�
�They�re wrong for each other,� Howard said.
�No they�re not,� Danielle said. �Nick makes her happy and I�ve never seen Sunn that happy.�
�I can make her happier,� Howard stated.
�No you can�t,� Venus said.
�I think that�s the happiest someone can get,� Danielle pointed out. �Just forget whatever�s going through your mind. Why be against this?�
�Because I want her,� Howard said. �Is that so wrong?�
�Yes,� Danielle and Venus said simultaneously and Venus added, �She wants Nick and Nick wants her. You�re not going to be able to ruin that or stop that.�
�I�m going to my room,� Howard said.
�Go,� Danielle said. �And think about what we told you.�
�Whatever,� Howard said walking out and both girls sighed disgustedly.
�He better not even think about coming between Sunn and Nick,� Danielle said. �I�ll beat him to a pulp if he does.�
�And I�ll help ya,� Venus said. �I want all my friends to be happy, but Nick actually makes Sunn happy and I don�t want anyone to ruin that for her, ya know.�
�Yeah,� Danielle said. �Howie�s a great guy and all, but Nick is one of his best friends. If he�s even thinking about taking Sunnie Jo from Nick he�s not going to be any friend to anyone. Kevin said this is the first Nick�s been this happy. And it�s the same with Sunn. Howie just better stop thinking about ruining it.�
�Yeah.� Venus laid on her bed. �I�m not a really big fan of Nick�s, but if he can make my best friend happy like he does then I guess he is something special like Sunshine said.� Danielle nodded in agreement and laid on her bed. �I can�t deny Sunshine that happiness she finds when she�s around Nick. I never in a mill dreamed that if Sunshine met Nickolas he�d make her this happy. I guess I was wrong.� Danielle nodded again.
�We all were.� They both sighed. �Ya know, it�s actually nice not having anyone around.
�I agree.� Venus sat up and looked at Danielle. �Can I be honest with you?�
�What�s on your mind?�
�I like Alex.� Danielle looked at her closely. �I mean I like Alex. I know he�s with Josephine, but sometimes he�s all I ever think about.�
�Are you serious? When did this start? I remember a time when you just thought he was down right nasty.�
�I know, but now that I met him he�s not all that bad.� Danielle smiled. �I started too really like him the week before we went back home for Christmas.�
�I never knew.�
�I hid my feelings very well. The same stuff I tell Howie I tell myself. Perhaps it�s all just a fantasy.� Danielle nodded. �Well Howie�s is more like an obsession. He�s trying to get between Sunshine and Nickolas, but I�m not trying to get between Josephine and Alexander.�
�And if it�s not just a fantasy?�
�I don�t know. I guess I�m in some serious trouble then.�
�This is so cool. I thought I was the only one with a problem who wasn�t sharing with anyone.�
�What do ya mean?�
�I like Kevin.�
�Seriously?�
�Yeah; since you�re going to ask, I started liking him the day we went back down to Florida after Christmas. I mean we were all just sitting there together and he just looked so heartbroken watching Sunn and Nick and my heart went out to him.�
�So it�s a pity like?�
�No; well maybe at first, but when I kissed him last night there was something there. There was something in that kiss, ya know.� Venus nodded. �It was, like, magnetic.�
�Right.� Danielle sighed. �You hid your feelings very well too. What do you tell yourself?�
�Sometimes nothing, but sometimes it�s just a phase I�m going through. If it�s not a phase I�m in big trouble also.�
�This is your chance, Dani. Kevin�s single, you�re single so why don�t you ask Kevin out?�
�Well he�s still heartbroken over Sunn. He might not be ready for a relationship.�
�I can understand that, but he�s not going to get over it if he doesn�t get involved with someone else.�
�I know.�
�So do it. Don�t be a chicken and don�t think about Kevin�s broken heart.�
�I don�t know, V. I hope it�s just a phase.� Venus nodded. �I really hope it�s just a phase.�
CHAPTER 28
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