I didn't have my driver's license yet. Two more months and then it was look out world, figurativly and literally.

What I did have was an old purple Schwinn bike, which I rode to meet up with Cindy. The night air was muggy- the kind that made me wonder why I bothered to shower that day- and the sky sparkled with crisp stars and a full moon.

The perfect night for magic, I thought onl half wistfully and snorted. But I did live in Salem Massachusetts, after all. If magic were going to happen anywhere, it'd be here.

Our regular spot was a movie rental place called Warehouse Video. Classic movie posters were plastered on the windows and a neon sign hung along the top. It actually said AREHOUSE VID thanks to several missing light bulbs, but I liked it that way. It was "our house."

The place probably would've closed up a long time ago, but the owner's son got the brilliant idea to add a coffee shop. The inside reminded me of what I thought a seventies disco would look like, and it smelled like stale popcorn and frothy coffee.

It was fantastic. At least I thought so. The adults? Not so much, which is probably why I loved it. Cindy and I have been coming here since we were twelve.

Carefully getting off my bike I grabbed the bike chain, stuck it between two spokes of my front tire, locked the otherend to a chipped green concrete post. The parking loth was full of cars and teens. I searched for Cindy and her blue Altima, but couldn't see either.

Ryan, one of my four besties, was there though, leaning aginst his black motor cycle. A flock of girls surrounded him. He must've said something funny because they started laughing. I smiled and shook my head. His eyes found mine and I sucked in a breath, stumbling backward. My hands and butt hit the pavement about the same time. Ryan was at my side immediately.

"Jeez, Snowflake, if you wanted my attention all you had to do was wave. This falling all over yourself for me is unnecessary."

I heard his rough tone and laughed. He was using his batman voice. He was good at teasing me, the best of all his brothers-but I'd recently developed a crush on him somehow and I took everything he said way to personally. "Ha. Ha. Could you help me up, please?"

He already had a hand around my waist and his other out for me to grab. A deep blush immediately spread over my face. I couldn't look at him. If I did, I'd get a close up view of his gorgeous holly green eyes and his black hair that curled slightly, perfectly, in a way that made me want to touch it, wrap my fingers in it.

The whole crushing on your friend really wasn't working for me. I pulled my hands from his.

"Thanks Ryan. But you better get back to your groupies, they're getting impatient." I moved away,trying to focus in the sting in my hands and not the strange tingle in my heart.

He stopped me by pulling on the waist of my baggy jeans and forcing me to look at him. He stood an inch taller then me, so we were practically eye-to-eye. His green eyes were serious, searching. I looked away toward the girls still hanging out by his bike. "I need to find Cindy."

He ignored my statement and asked, "Snowflake, are you okay? Let me see your hands." He grabbed them and flipped them over. A couple of rocks were still embedded.

Tenderly he brushed them away. Each place he touched created a buzz. I felt jittery, like I'd had one to many espresso shots.

I tried to pull my hands away but he held them firm. "I'm fine, Ryan." I said, flustered, and made the mistake of glancing up. My breath hitched.

"You're constantly falling because of these clothes. If you'd wear something that fit instead of," he paused and wrapped his fist in my red American eagle shirt, pulling me close, so close I could smell his cologne. It was my favorite, like clean sheets that'd been dried on a hot summer day. "this shirt used to be mine." A wondrous smile ignited his lips and spread all the way to his ears. "actually, that's kind of sexy."

"Ryan, quit it." I pulled away, knowing my face burned red hot.

He wrapped his arms around my waist. His breath tickled my cheek, warm and delicious. It smelled like minty toothpaste.

"Pressing me closer, he said, "You aren't always going to think of me as a brother. Someday, Snow. You'll see me the way I see you." He released me, stepped back, an walked away. "See ya, Snowflake.

I was shocked. Did he mean he had feelings for me? I really needed to talk to Cindy.

Right on cue she tapped me on the shoulder and jumped in front of me. "So, are the guys coming over for the movie?"

I laughed. Cindy overflowed with bubbly happiness. "I don't think so." I snuck a peek at Ryan. He'd returned to his bike and the flock of girls. They were laughing again. That was one of the reasons I wass glad Cindy hadn't dumped me for cooler friends. Sometimes I needed girl time.

Her face fell. "Did you invite them?"

I grabbed her elbow and we walked into the video store together. "I did invite them, told them to meet at my house at ten-thirty. They might show." I decided to change the subject. "Are you going to crash at my place tonight?

"No, my parents are taking me to the Cape this weekend."

It was my turn to frown. "How come you didn't tell me?" I really needed to talk to her.

"I just found out silly." She smiled. "Besides I'm sure the guys will keep you company."

I hid a sigh. There was no ay I could talk to the guys about my feelings for their brother. That'd be... gross.

"Let's find us a scary movie, something that'll let me snuggle up to Ryan. I hope they show." She swiveled around and I knew she was searching for Ryan because thats what I did.

Abruptly my mind registered what she'd said.

"Wait. What? Ryan, why Ryan?" There were three other brothers, all of them good looking in their own way. Besides I thought she liked the new guy Chace. "What about Chace?" I paused midstride. Her glossed lips pouted and her perfectly lined eyes got all dreamy. She looked like one of my stepmother's figurines.

Cindy headed toward the horror section and started browsing. She picked up a movie. I plucked it from her hands and put it back on the shelf. After several movie denials she said, in a hushed voice, "All the girls like Chace. Besides, I talked to his and..." she shrugged. "He isn't for me."

I had a feeling Chace hadn't gushed over her, which was what most guys did, including my guys, my best friends.

"And Ryan," she went on, "Well he's totally gorgeous, and so sweet."

She'd noticed he was sweet. When? How? Had he done something to impress her recently? This was just no good.

"How about S-" She held up a movie case.

I grabbed the movie from her well-manicured hand, cutting her off. "Please, no. Not Scream again. That movie is terrifying." I shuddered. The first five minutes, with the girl hanging in the tree...ugh, it gave me the heebie jeebies. "What about a love a love story, like Titanic, or The Lucky One? That one has Zac Efron, and I know you like Zac Efron."

She paused a moment, debating, then shook her head. "Not if the guys are coming. We need gory death, and sex, and gory death during sex."

I groaned inwardly. Should I tell her I had a crush on Ryan too? Even as I thought about telling, I cringed. If Ryan knew Cindy was interested, there'd be no contest. I glanced sideways at her. She was wearing a baby blue mini skirt with a sleeveless white peasant shirt. On her feet were strappy silver sandals, which matched the thin silver bracelet on both of her tiny wrists. Her hair was down and curled to perfection. Her honey skin had that just lotioned look.

I glanced down at my black Converse, gripping my tee shirt the way Ryan had. He'd said it was sexy that I wore his old tee shirt. I seriously doubted that.

It felt like something inside me had deflated. Maybe if I told her how I felt... "Cin," I started.

"Aha, this is the one." She held up the case.

"Okay." I agreed without looking.