As Ronnie Anne was approaching, Lincoln tried not to look like he was staring. He couldn't help but get excited every time they managed to spend some time together. It wasn't like no one knew they were hanging out – his sisters definitely knew and he had to tell his parents if he was going to be late after school. Bobby probably knew as well. But they still tried not to be seen around school – their friends sure knew how to make things awkward.

That's why this Wednesday Lincoln told his classmates he was going to wait for his sisters to pick him up after school. As soon as everyone left and he had said goodbye to Clyde, Lincoln went to the spot behind school where him and Ronnie Anne were going to meet. And now that she had finally finished her classes and was coming towards him, Lincoln was both happy and a bit anxious.

"The way it usually is, I guess." he thought to himself.

"Hey, Lincoln. You look happy to see me. Hope I didn't make you wait too long." Ronnie Anne said as she got to him, the usual smirk on her face.

"No! I mean, yes! I mean, I didn't mean…"

"Heh, heh. Take it easy, Lincoln. I'm not gonna bite." she said laughing as she started their walk home.

"I knew that." Lincoln awkwardly said as he caught up to her.

"You are such a dork." Ronnie Anne teased smiling. Lincoln also smiled. He took it as a compliment. It sure was an improvement over the names she used to call him. And he was glad they could just spend some time together.

"So, um… how was school today?" Lincoln asked trying to start a conversation.

"Annoying. Dull classes all day long. We don't even have P.E. till next week." she said mildly annoyed.

"The only thing keeping me from dying of boredom was knowing we can meet after school."

"It was?" Lincoln asked surprised.

"Sure. Wish we could do it more often." Ronnie Anne said nonchalantly.

Had she turned to look at Lincoln at that moment, she would have seen him blush. He really liked these little outings they had. It would have been much better if he knew exactly what they were though… They weren't dates, that's for sure. Ronnie Anne wasn't into all the mushy romantic stuff. Lincoln wasn't either. He was trying not to make things any more awkward than they already were. Even after the whole thing at Jean Juan's. If it meant they had to be just friends in order for him to be sure they would continue seeing each other, so be it. Yet he couldn't help but brighten up every time she complemented him, or every time she made a joke, or every time she smiled. Was that normal friend stiff? He didn't think that was normal friend stuff.

"I… I like hanging out too, Ronnie Anne."

And there it was again. The little smirk that made her face shine. Lincoln hoped against hope he wasn't blushing again. Ronnie Anne gave him a playful tap on the shoulder as they continued walking side by side. She was so close… Her hand was right there. There were no classmates around to see…

"Hey Ronnie Anne, can we… can I hold your… Can I hold your h…" he stuttered, trying to finish his sentence. She was looking straight at him. He couldn't do it.

"I bet she'd pulverize me for even saying it, let alone doing it." he thought.

"Hold my what?"

"H… bag! Yeah that's it - carry your bag. It looks heavy. Heh." Lincoln nervously said, trying to recover.

"My bag? I'm ok, it's not any heavier than usual. What's gotten into you?" she asked, rising an eyebrow.

"Have you been watching Lori's high school dramas again?"

That was a close one. Lincoln didn't feel like coming home sore today. Or was it worth the risk… Maybe a few bruises weren't that big of a deal…

"Hey we're almost there." Lincoln promptly changed the subject. They were approaching the corner where they went their separate ways home.

"You, um… wanna do this again tomorrow?" he asked. Maybe then he'd have the courage. Or maybe he could bring padding.

"Nah, not tomorrow."

"Oh…" was Lincoln's reaction. Didn't she want to see him again? Did he get too clingy? He knew he shouldn't have made things awkward.

"I've got a better idea." she said with a smile. "We can go to the skate park tomorrow."

Lincoln was relieved – she hadn't just gotten fed up with him.

"But everyone from school that has roller blades, a skateboard, or a bike will be there. They always go after classes." Lincoln pointed out. "Won't they see us going together?"

"I've got it all figured out. See, there's another skate park in town. It's brand new and it's right next to the high school on Ivy Street – we'll have to walk a bit to get to it, but there won't be anyone there. Bobby told me when their classes ended there and if we go straight after school, we should have an hour all to ourselves." She ended the sentence with a grin, waiting for Lincoln's reaction.

"Wow, that sounds amazing, Ronnie Anne!"

"I know, right? I don't know how long it'll be before everyone finds out about it, but until then we can totally make it our thing."

"I can't wait to hit the ramps with you. We'll have so much fun together!" Lincoln thought out loud. He couldn't hide his joy.

"Glad you like the idea. I think my classes finish before yours tomorrow so I'll wait for you there. Don't forget your skateboard." She said as she turned the corner and waved goodbye, heading home.

"I won't. See you tomorrow." Lincoln said happily.

He was smiling all the way home. Tomorrow was going to be awesome! They were going to see the new skate park and they were going to try new tricks and they were going to be… all by themselves... Lincoln swallowed hard. It wasn't a big deal, right? It's just a friendly… get together, isn't it? It wasn't like she asked him out or anything… right? Lincoln was starting to get anxious again.

"Don't get yourself all worked up." He said to himself out loud.

"You don't have to make it weird, Lincoln. You're just going to meet a friend and have a good time after school tomorrow. Nothing more, nothing less!"

Still, he made a mental note to finish all of this week's homework when he got home. He didn't want to have anything he had to do after the skate park. Who knows, maybe after that they could hang out some more? Would him wanting to spend the whole afternoon with her be too lovey-dovey? Would she be annoyed if he asked for something like that?

Lincoln let out a big sigh as he stopped in front of his house.

"You'd think worrying too much about tomorrow would be my only problem." he said as he turned towards the camera.

"But in a family like mine nothing is as simple as it seems. I'll have to be extra careful not to let my sisters know or things will get even more complicated. And they can practically smell when I'm nervous. There'll be no end to the questions and advice and general butting in if they found out."

With that he turned towards the door.

"Wish me luck." he said as he reached for the handle and went inside.

Later that night as Lincoln finally got into his bed, he caught himself smiling unwittingly again. Most of his sisters were busy this evening. He got to ask Lisa what the weather was going to be like tomorrow and she had said it would be a perfect day. The only one who noticed him being more excited than usual was Lucy, but he managed to convince her that he just couldn't wait for the full moon tomorrow – good thing he had an assignment on that.

"I understand how you feel – supernatural activity is always at its highest when the full moon rises." she had said.

Lincoln had even managed to ask his mom if he could come home later tomorrow if he showed her all his finished homework. She had agreed and even though he had to tell her what he was going to be doing, all she had commented was "Have fun and be careful. I expect you to be responsible.". Lincoln didn't know what she meant exactly, but he had managed to ask her when everyone else was watching TV, so unless he talked in his sleep again, none of his sisters would be the wiser and that's what was important.

"Tomorrow is going to be great." he whispered to himself.

And as he was falling asleep, Lincoln's thoughts drifted towards all the things that were going to happen tomorrow – a bit of annoying school stuff and then a beautiful sunny day, and then some awesome skating, and Ronnie Anne smiling…