I was planning on leaving the ending as was- but suburbs hinted that I should continue it a little- and after rereading it for the millionth time, I thought why not? There will be more- but I just wanted to post a snippet of what I've been working on.

Warning: This is a lot more fluffy than the 1st Chapter.

Disclaimer: Disclaimed.

Nick sighed-the lyrics weren't matching the rhythm. He needed to buy a punching bag. Why had he never thought of it before? That would be an excellent way to let loose his frustrations- taking a thwack at something was sometimes all the therapy he needed- and a punching bag wouldn't complain. That's it- punching bag is going on the must-have list.

"Do you want me to walk ahead so you get a good look?"

What?

Nick turned to see Kevin walking in, Macy following him, her face flushing. Nick focused on the wide true smile on Kevin's face something he hadn't seen in a few days. Nick sighed in relief, almost grinning. He had never seen Kevin so out of it- when Nick asked him about it, he simply deflected. Nick had let him be, hoping that Kevin would shake it off.

"You are never going to drop this are you?" Macy groaned, her hand reaching to massage her temple.

Kevin shrugs at her "Maybe in a few years."

"Ok- well I'll see you a few years" Macy turned back to the door.

Apparently neither had noticed Nick was sitting on the couch in full view of their interaction.

"No! No Macy" Kevin moved in front of the door "It's dropped."

Nick couldn't see Macy's face- but he could imagine the measuring stare she was giving Kevin.

"Okay- but I still do have to go," Kevin's posture slackened in disappointment "I just came in to get my book- oh Nick, hi!"

Macy had turned facing him and finally both saw they were not alone.

"Hey"

"Hey how many pickles do we have?" Joe asked as he slid into the room- spotting Macy and Kevin he stopped. "Where have you two been? You disappeared like 5 hours ago!" he accused.

"Joe, they were only gone a couple of hours"

Joe shrugged waving Nick off. "Same diff. so where were you?"

"Feeding ducks." "Discussing Spoon River"

They responded simultaneously- they turned to each other and laughed.

"We were feeding ducks and discussing Spoon River"

"I've got my eye on you two" Joe said in his crime scene cop voice, and walked away muttering something about pickles.

Nick noted the nervous smiles on their faces and watched them change when they looked at each other.

This should be interesting to watch.

----

Stella stood in her most brilliant invention to date, it was time again to rotate the clothing. Not her favorite thing in the world to do, but it needed to be done. Joe, as expected, weaseled out of helping her with some ridiculous excuse involving pickles. Nick didn't care as much about clothing as he did about fine tuning his latest song, currently work through the 12th draft. Kevin actually had the legitimate excuse of homework with Macy- though now she was beginning to doubt that since he and Macy went out for a drive 2 hours ago. Maybe it was best for him to get out of the house- he had been acting strange for the past few days. Stella grumbled and changed the radio station as another 30 minute long commercial break started.

"Stella!"

She jumped away from the radio and stumbled into a rack of clothes- falling into the unwanted pile. She was really glad she didn't land on the shoe pile next to it.

Hands with extremely calloused fingertips helped her up.

"Kevin!" Stella chided when she caught her breath "yeesh! I thought you were with Macy, out somewhere."

"Yes- I was we got back a few minutes ago- she just left. That's not the point"

"oh so there was a point to scaring me into the discard pile?"

Kevin just smiled and drew her into a hug.

"Oh okay." Kevin hugging friends was not so unusual- he was a very caring sweet guy. There just seemed to be no reason.

"Stell's you are awesome." Kevin drew away- still holding her shoulders. She blinked at him

"Thanks Kev- um what brought this on?" Something had definitely changed while he was gone with Macy.

"Electric guitars and tight pants."

Well that explains everything.