"Did you tell her?" Brian asked as he sat down on the couch and flipped on the TV.

"No."

"Why not?" You gotta tell her you like her." He reasoned.

"I cant tell her"

"Why not? They got any coke here?" Brian asked, flipping the TV off and heading towards the kitchen.

"Uh huh. In the fridge."

"Thanx, but you didnt answe my first question."

"Yeah, i know."

"Nick, I know you have a short attention span, but not when it comes to lindsay. Whats up? Why wont you tell her you like her.?"

"Shhh!!" He frantically whispered. "She'll hear you!" He said, sitting down at the kichen table.

"Good, then i wont have to listen to you moan and complain about her everyday."

"I do not." Nick argued. Then sighed, resting his chin in his hands.

"Seriously, you need to tell her you like her." He said sitting across from him at the table with 2 cokes and sliding a can across the table at him.

"Thats just it. I dont just like her. I think i might love her." He said, fidling with the tab on the can.

"WHAT?" Brian said, shocked. "Nick, this is serious. Were never around here. I care about you both and dont want either one of you hurt. If you dont tell her, your both going to end up hurt in the long run."

"Dont you think i know that? Thats why i wont tell her, because i dont want to break her heart when i have to leave again! The last thing i want to do is hurt her. I dont think i could live with myself if i ever hurt her."

"If you dont tell her, I will." Brian said, standing up and walking towards the stairs.

"NO!" Nick cried, running in front of him. "You cant tell her!"

"Why not?"

"Well- you just cant! Please. Just let me tell her in my own way."

"I dunno..." Brian thought about it.

"Please?"

Brian sighed. "Okay, okay. I wont tell her."

"Promise?"

"I promise"

"Thank you. Im gonna go check on linds."

"Tell her!"

"yeah yeah." Nick muttered as he climbed the stairs, two at a time untill he reached Lindsays room. He grabbed the doornob and turned, forgetting to knock, and walking in on Lindsay standing there drying off.

"Woah" He replied, turning around. "Sorry."

"Nick!" She cried, covering herself with the towel.

"What?" He asked, turning around to face her again. "Ive seen you naked before."

"Yeah, when we were 5! Things are different now."

"Linds, I'm 18 years old. Ive seen women naked, I know all about how a girl develops. I saw that cartoon in 4th grade too, ya know.

"Thats not what i mean. I mean, our friendship is different" She said, sitting down on the bed.

"What do you mean?" He asked, sitting beside her.

"Well, we havent seen each other in a long time. We both changed. Our personalities change. Our friendship changed too."

"So, what? You dont think were best friends anymore?"

"No, im not saying that, Im just saying that-that i-I dont wanna lose you." She whispered, looking down.

"Your not going to lose me." He said, wrapping his arms around her in a hug.

"I never even had you" She said, bravely.

"What do you mean? Youve always had me." He said, pulling out of her embrace, but leaving the tips of their noses less than an inch apart.

"Not like i want" She admitted, drowning in his eyes.

"How do you want me?" He whispered, his heart racing.

Linds closed her eyes as Nick leaned forward to give her the passionate kiss they had both waited so long for.