Sitting on the stairs of my parents house, in the rain, crying. Not exactly what I thought I'd be doing tonight.

They said if I was going to waist all my time on childish dreams then I could do it somewhere else. The only problem it that I don't have anywhere else to go.

They even turned off the porch light.

They believe I should finish collage, get a normal job, get married, and have a normal life. But I don't want normal. I want adventure. I don't want to wake up in the morning not knowing exactly what I'm gonna do, and exactly when I'm gonna be doing it.

Sure you'd think I had some kind of relatives to stay with, but my family moved across the country, and the rest of my family stayed behind.

So I live in Ohio, because my dad got a job here, but the rest of my family lives in Texas. There's only one person I even would've considered going to, but we're not speaking at the moment...Actually it's just that he doesn't want to speak with me.

And I could go back to my collage dorm, but my room mate, Ally, and I got into a big fight. That's the reason I'm back here in the first place. Because I needed somewhere else to go.

I could go to my friend Andy's apartment, but he's on a date with his girlfriend, Janelle.

So here I am. Cold, wet, sitting on what used to be my front porch, at night, in the dark, in the rain, crying my eyes out. Wearing only a pair of pj shorts, a tank top, a pair of M&M socks, a pair of purple uggs, and a super thin jacket. And I'm not just crying because my parents kicked me out, but because I miss him.

I need him to wrap his arms around me, to protect me, to let me smell his scent, so let me look into his brown eyes, for him to run his fingers through my hair, to make me feel like all my problems have disappeared.

Just then I see a truck driving down the street, and I immediately know who it was. I've been in that truck enough times to recognize it even in the dark.

It's Friday night, so he's probably on his way to some party. That's what he does now. We used to spend Friday nights together, but ever since he ditched me for his stupid girlfriend he's been doing this same thing every Friday night.

I look up again to see the dark blue truck backing up in front of my house, and someone getting out of it.

He runs over to me, and sits down in front of me.

"Emily? What's wrong?" he asks sounding worried for a change

"And why exactly do you care?" I ask through my tears

"Emily I...I care, because I care about you"

"Well I don't care about you, Ryan" I say

"You're lying" he says, and wipes the tears from my eyes with his thumbs

I move his hands from my face "No I'm not" I say

"Yes you are, and don't deny it. I'm sorry. Emily I made a mistake, and I know it now. I'm sorry"

"You said that already"

"I could say it a million times, and it still wouldn't be how sorry I am" Ryan says

I sniffle back tears threatening to spill, and choke out the words "Where's Nicole?"

"We broke up with a few months ago" he says

"But you two always seem to get back together" I ask shakily

"Not this time. She broke up with me a couple months ago, and I haven't talked to her since"

"But you two really liked each other"

"Sorta. She was just using me to get more attention for herself. She never cared about me, and after she broke up with me I realized I never cared about her all that much either"

"If you didn't care about her then why did you ditch me for her?" I ask. More tears threaten to spill, but I won't cry. Not in front of him at least.

"Emily, leaving you was the worst mistake I ever made. Can you ever forgive me?"

I shake my head

"Please, Emi-Bear"

"You don't get to call me that anymore"

"Emily, I know I messed up, but I want to fix things between us"

"You only want to, because Nicole broke up with you. You never wanted to before. I'm just your second choice"

"No, Emily, you've got it all wrong. You've always been my first choice. Always. Nicole was my second choice, but I just didn't really realize that until she broke up with me. When she said it was over I wasn't that upset. I thought about why, and it was because I had already lost someone way more important than her. Losing Nicole didn't hurt near as much as losing you did"

"You say that now, but next week you'll be making out with the next girl that looks at you" I say

"Do you really think that? I know we haven't been hanging out for a while, but I haven't changed that much"

"Oh, really? While I'm walking through the halls to get back to my dorm room I hear a whole bunch of girls talking about how good a kisser Ryan Baker is, and that he told them he loves them" I say, and he hangs his head

"Okay, I'll admit I did go through a phase like that for about a month"

"That many girls in a month? Really?"

"Three months ago when she broke up with me I told her I was done with her, and there was no way we would ever be together again. I dated a bunch of girls to keep myself away from reality, because in reality...The girl I wanted to be with was you. When we broke up I wanted to run over here, and talk to you, because you could always make me feel better"

"Y-You did?" I ask

"Yes. Emily, we've been best friends since forever. Do you remember the plan we made up when we were seven?" he asks, and I smile and nod

"Grow up together, always stay best friends, go to collage together, get married, and live in a castle made of gummy bears" I say, and he nods

"No, it was a palace. Not a castle. Only the best for my princess" I smile "And we almost finished our list. We grew up together, we stayed best friends, we went to collage together, we still go to collage together, but if you don't forgive me we can never get married and live in a palace made of gummy bears"

"I don't know if I can though" I say

"Emily, do you know what I've been doing just to keep tabs on you? You still hang out with Andy, and every day I ask him the same questions. All about you. I don't even need to ask anymore. He just answers, because he knows what I'm gonna say"

I stare at him, but don't say anything.

"Do you remember when that guy, Evan, broke up with you last month? And that some guy beat him up the next day" he asks

"Yeah"

"That was me. I saw you, and you looked completely heart-broken. I couldn't stand it. And I figured you were too mad at me to comfort you like I used to, so I punched him a few times"

I stare at the ground, and sniffle a few times.

"Emily, look at me. I want you to know that I care way too much about you to lose you again, and I won't take no for an answer"

"Persistent...Not everything has changed...But after not talking for over a year...Too much has changed"

"Maybe for you, but I still consider myself the same guy who used to sit in your basement with you, eating no-bake cookies, playing Mario Cart on your Wii" he says, and I laugh

"There's that laugh I love so much" I smile, but feel a tear slide down my cheek

He pulls me into his chest, and I wrap my arms around him. Crying softly, I squeeze him a little tighter, and me puts his hand on my head, holding me protectively.

I've missed this so much. His smile, his eyes, his scent, him. The way he talks to me, the way he always knows how I feel, the way he holds me in his arms. I haven't felt like this in over a year, and I've missed it so much.

I cry about it all. The year without him, the day he lied about not being able to come over because he was busy with Nicole, the day he said we weren't friends anymore, my parents kicking me out, them not believing in me, and right now. All my emotions are so messed up, and I just want to cry until I dehydrate myself, and die.

Ryan starts whispering into my ear, and stroking my hair. He used to do this whenever I was upset. He always knew just how to make me stop crying, and everytime I cried it seemed like he was there.

He was there when my dad died; he was there when my first boyfriend broke my heart, and he made sure that guy got his punishment for it; he was there when my mom got remarried; he was there when my step-dad hit me when I got home ten minutes late; he was there every year for my dad's birthday when I would sit in my in my closet and cry; he was there every time my parents said my going into music was stupid; and he is here now.

Now that my parents kicked me out for wanting to follow my dreams, he is here. Holding me in his arms while I cry just like he used to, and I never want him to let go.

"I've missed you so much" I say

"I've missed you too, Emily" he says, and I pull away from him

He wipes the tears from my eyes with his thumbs, and this time I let him. He pulls me up, and hugs me again.

We pull apart, and he does something I've dreamed of since high school.

He kisses me.

It was quick and simple, but enough to make me smile.

I pull him in for another kiss, and he doesn't reject.

He pulls me in closer to him, and I wrap my arms around his neck.

All of the emotions we've both been feeling for the past year all come out in the kiss

We finally break apart to breathe, and we're both smiling.

"I've wanted to do that for so long" he says, and I smile

"I have too" I say

"Come on, Emily" he says walking me down the driveway

"Where?" I ask as he opens the passenger side of his truck

"Back to my apartment. So you can get warmed up" he says, and I smile

I get in, and he goes around the front of the car to get in the driver's side of the truck.

"I never did ask, but why were you outside?" he asks

"Do you remember when I said I wanted to go into music?"

"They flipped didn't they?"

"Yeah. My dad mostly, but my mom too"

"But your mom used to be so supportive of your music career"

"Well, my dad changed her mind"

"Did you ask them if you could move to California or something?"

"No, I just said that when I finished collage that I wanted to go to LA for a month to test things out. See if I even had a chance"

"That was always your plan" he says

"Yeah...You remember that?"

"Of course I remember"

"I only mentioned that plan, like once in front of you...And we were in middle school"

"But it was important to you...That made it important to me too" he says

He looks at me and smiles, and I can't help the smile creeping onto my face.

He starts the car, concentrates on the road not saying anything. I look out the window trying to calm down.

Not that it's really hard. Something about this truck makes me feel at home.

"I really am sorry" he says

"I know" I say

-:-:-:-:-

We drive the rest of the ten minute drive to the collage in a comfortable silence, and go to his apartment that he shares with Andy Nob.

We met Andy in high school, and instantly became friends. Andy and Ryan played basketball in his driveway while I cheered for them - I don't have an athletic bone in my body - and we all used to play video games in my basement.

Just not Mario Cart. That's a game Ryan and I saved just for us.

"Hey, Ry" he looks at me "Emi?"

"H-Hey, A-Andy" I say waving

he jumps up from the bed, and runs over to us "What happened?" he asks

"Long story. Just keep her warm. I'll be right back" Ryan says, and then leaves the room

Andy takes me over to the sofa, and sits me down on it.

"What happened?" he asks placing a blanket over my shoulders

I lay my head on his shoulder, and sigh "My parents" I say

"Ah. About your music career?"

"Yeah. They...They said if I want to spend all my time on music I can do it somewhere else"

"They kicked you out?"

"Yeah" I say

He pulls me into him, and holds me tightly. I feel safe, and protected. I like it better when Ryan holds me, but Andy is almost as good.

At least Andy never left me for his stupid girlfriend...But that's all behind us now.

"I thought you were on a date with Janelle?"

"I was going to, but she said that Christy was sick. So she had to stay, and help her"

"How sick?" I ask

"She threw up all over Janelle and Katie"

"Gross" I say, and we both laugh

Ryan walks back in dressed in some dry clothes, and I let go of Andy. He sits down next to me.

"You okay?" he asks

"Yeah" I say sniffling

"Come on. Let's get you out of these soaking wet clothes" he says

"Okay" I say, and he walks me to the bathroom

-:-:-:-:-

I wash my face to get all of the tear stains off, and change into the clothes Ryan put in here for me.

A pink t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants. Why on earth does Ryan Baker own a hot pink shirt? I'll probably never know.

I walk back out, and see them in the kitchen.

"Hey, Emi-Bear" Ryan says walking over to me, and this time I don't object the nickname he gave me when we were ten

"Hey"

"You feeling any better?" Andy asks

"A little" I answer

Ryan sits me at the island next to Andy, and gives me a mug.

"Hot chocolate with cinnamon. Just how you like it" Ryan says

"Thank you" I say and sip it. I completely forgot that Ryan makes, like, the BEST hot chocolate in the world. He's also the only other person I know who likes cinnamon in theirs.

"Wanna watch a movie? I just bought Frozen lest week" Andy says

"I thought you said you were renting it for the weekend while you were babysitting your cousin, Cami" Ryan asks

"I was, but I liked it so I bought it" Andy says, and I giggle

"There's that giggle" Ryan says

"Sure. Sounds like fun. As long as you promise to sing along to Let It Go" I say

"Deal" Andy says

"I don't even know the words" Ryan says

"Don't worry, buddy. I got the sing along version too" Andy says walking into the living room

"Joy. If it'll make you happy, then I guess so" Ryan says, and we walk into the living room with our mugs

-:-:-:-:-

During the whole movie Ryan held me in his arms just like before. Tonight was exactly how we would spend Friday nights when Andy wasn't busy.

Me and Ryan were never busy on Friday nights, because our parents knew we always spent Friday together, so they always made sure we were free.

Andy, however, had to go to his cousin's house some Friday nights, so it was just the two of us. When it was just me and Ryan we would stay in my basement, or his, for hours playing Mario Cart.

But, when all three of us were free we would do exactly this. Sit on the sofa, with our hot chocolates, watching a movie.

Ryan would be on my left, Andy would be on my right, and I would be in the middle. Sometimes when we watched scary movies they would cover me with their bodies, because they know I don't like blood.

They both have their arms around me, and I feel protected. It hasn't been the same doing this with just Andy. If just feels right with them both by my side.

-:-:-:-:-

When I wake up I see what is not my room. I look up to see Ryan's face, and I realize I'm still in his apartment. Ryan's arm is around me, and I'm lying in his bed.

I close my eyes, and all the memories from last night come back. I snuggle in closer to him, and as if he had some sort of alarm in his head telling his when I woke up he opens his eyes, and looks at me.

"Morning" he says

"Morning"

"You sleep okay?" he asks, and I nod my head

"Mmhmm"

"Good" he kisses my forehead

I sit up, and Ryan puts his arm over his face.

"You okay?" I ask

"Yeah. Just thinking"

"About what?" I ask sitting legs crossed next to him

He looks up at me, and smiles.

"The last time the three of us did this...When was the last time you slept over here?" he asks

"Last week" I answer

"Huh?" he says, and I chuckle

"I've stayed over here alot the past year" I say

"How come I wasn't aware of this?" he asks

"Because I didn't want you to be. Remember this was when you were kinda ignoring me, and I was mad at you"

"Right...Okay then. So when was the last time?

"Last week. You were gone, and Andy said he saw a bear trying to break into the living room"I say, and this time he laughs

He sits up, and looks at me "Was there?"

"No, it was a big fuzzy blanket he left covering a bunch of pillows"

"It could've been a bear" I look over to see Andy standing at the door

"Yes, it could have been, but it wasn't"

"Well my bad if I was scared of a bear" he says with his hands up "You guys want to join me for breakfast at the diner?" Andy asks

"Yeah"

"Sure"

"The three of us haven't done that in a while" Andy says, and gives me a bag. I look at it, and see my clothes.

"Ally dropped them off this morning right after she freaked out that I didn't tell her where you were"

"She freaked out?" I ask

"Yeah, she said you guys got in a fight, and you said you were going to your house, but when she called to apologize your parents said you weren't there, and she flipped. She figured you wouldn't come here, because "Ryan The Devil" was here" Andy says.

"Seriously?" Ryan asks looking at me

"Ally came up with it" I say shrugging

"As long as you tell her to stop it's okay"

"And why would I do that?" I ask playfully

He rolls his eyes, and pulls me on my back on the bed so that he's on top of me.

"Because if you don't, I'll do this" he says, and then kisses me

"Well, now I reallt don't want to" I say once he pulls away

He smirks, and kisses me again.

"Okay, well I'll be in the living room. You two have thirty minutes to do that, and get ready to leave, or else I'm going by myself" Aldy says chuckling before leaving the room

"How long does it take you to get ready?" Ryan asks

"About ten to fifteen minutes" I answer, and he smirks again

"Well, then we have about fifteen minutes to finish"

"I can be ready in ten" I say

"Make that twenty" he says, and kisses me

He lays down beside me, and pulls me into him. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, and play with his hair, and his arms go around my back as his fingers slide through my hair.

His hand goes down my back, then up my arm, and rests on the back of my neck. He gently bites my bottom lip, and I gasp. He takes the opportunity to slide his tounge into my mouth.

Our tongues dance with each other, and after a while his tongue finds it's way back to his own mouth.

"Humph!"

We let go of each other to see Andy standing in the doorway of the bedroom.

Ryan looks over at the clock, and then back at Andy.

"It's been half an hour, hasn't it?" I say, and Andy nods his head smiling slightly

"Fifteen more minutes?" Ryan asks

"That's the only extension you get!" Andy yells already walking out the hallway

We laugh, and both get up. Ryan goes to his bathroom, and I go to the main one.

I quickly brush my hair and teeth and get dressed. I always have my stuff stocked over here for when I spend the night.

I take a look at the outfit Ally picked out for me. Hot pink skinny jeans, white sweater with pink, black, blue, and green fairies on it, and a pair of light brown uggs.

She also packed my ruby heart necklace (the one Ryan gave me for my fourteenth birthday), and some colorful, sparkly bracelets.

I guess Andy told Ally that Ryan and I made up, because she knows that I haven't even looked at this necklace since Ryan decided to ditch me. So I guess she knows we're friends again.

I take one more look at myself before walking out the bathroom door. Seeing as it's only been nine minutes I go to Ryan's room.

I don't see him, but I do see something that interests me. I walk over to his nightstand, and look at the picture.

It's a picture of the three of us at my fourteenth birthday party. Although it wasn't much of a party. We all went to Disney Land that year, and it was definitely the best birthday I've ever had.

I feel someone wrap their arms around my waist, and I look over my shoulder to see Ryan standing there.

"Hey" he says

"Hey" I copy

"Wacha doing?" Ryan asks

"I forgot about this picture" I say

It's a picture my mom took of the three of us after out food fight we had. We were all covered in cake, pasta, cheese, you name it we were covered in it.

Us at fourteen, with food all over us, and our hair all a mess, our big smiles, and me wearing my necklace Ryan gave me.

"Yeah...You're wearing it" he says

"What?"

He puts the picture back on the nightstand, and turns me to face him.

"The necklace. I haven't seen you wearing it in a while"

"Yeah...I haven't worn it in about a year...I guess Andy told Ally we're friends again, because she wouldn't have sent it if she didn't know"

His smile fades "You were really mad at me, weren't you?"

I look up at him, and see the guilt in his eyes "You said 'were' as in past tence. I forgive you, so don't beat yourself up for it. The past is the past, and we can move on with our lives"

We both sit on his bed.

"The part of our lives where you become a musician, I become an actor, and Andy is our manager?" he says and I laugh

"That's the life I've wanted since my fourteenth birthday when we made that plan" I say, and he puts his arm around me

I lay my head on his shoulder, and sigh.

"What's the matter?"

I don't answer, but instead count down "3...2...1..."

"Time's up!" Andy says walking into the bedroom

Ryan looks at me, confusion written all over his face, and I just shrug.

"You two ready?" Andy asks

"Yup" I say

-:-:-:-:-

As soon as we get to the diner the manager greets us saying that she's glad to have the three musketeers back.

We used to come here for breakfast every morning when collage started, and now everyone who works here knows us.

They knew Ryan and I liked each other before we even did, and Rose (the manager) helped me find out my feelings for what they were.

We spend about two hours at the diner. Talking, eating, and more talking. Alot goes on in a person's life in a year, and so we all share what has happened. Mostly my life and Ryan's, because we both stayed friends with Andy.

I guess everything worked itself out. I mean, my parents kicked me out, but if they hadn't then Ryan wouldn't have found me, and we wouldn't have made up.

Ryan tells me about how he's been working on becoming ab actor, and that Andy has been taking management classes. Apparently Andy told him tha I was still working on my music, and he wanted to make sure our plan didn't fade.

The three musketeers are back, and we won't be splitting up again anytime soon. Andy has Janelle, and Ryan and I are together now too.

And it wouldn't have happened if Ryan hadn't found me in the rain.

-:-:-:-:-

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SpaceUnicorn1831