Ok, So this chapters shorter... there was a second part to it but I decided to wait one more ? because it's my story and I can do whatever I want to do. lol XD And it's kinda not done

So.... this shouldn't take long for you...to get through. And I so expect a review from each and every one of you.

Happy Reading. :)

When Stephen laughed his whole face lit up. His golden eyes sparkled like a hidden treasure trapped in a chest. His cheeks grew big and his lips broaden into a wild grin… He was the kind of person whose smile lit up a room. When you saw that he was happy you were happy too. When he smiled you smiled. And watching him laugh made Brittany want to laugh too… His moods were contagious… like some weird disease or rather a spell that he casts on you. Brittany was on the verge of bursting with laughter. Exploding right here and now… sitting down on his living room floor, her head resting on his bent knee… his arm wrapped around her back… his back propped up against his plush tan sofa... her toes digging into the soft, sandy brown carpeting…

For an instant… a moment… a split second… their eyes met and she felt her heart throb in her chest, her breath catch in her throat. He moved his hand out to touch her face… the tips of his fingers lingering as they traced the apples of her cheeks… then slowly reaching up to brush her bangs back. Stephen let her hair fall, his hand slowly fluttering back down to the floor.

"I love you so much." He whispered in her ear.

Brittany didn't answer at her first; instead she closed her eyes as if debating on what to say or what to feel. Her mind was in a constant civil war with itself; bombs blasting, guns exploding, the whole enchilada. Heating arguments were endlessly playing out in her mind; each voice struggling to shout louder than the first.

Her eyes blinked open, slowly cascading to the floor. "Yeah… me… yeah…" Brittany murmured softly, a soft pang of guilt reverberating though her mind as she did so.

She was happy. She couldn't think of a moment when she'd been happier- alright… maybe she could have thought of a few moments when she'd been happier if she truly attempted… but the point was… she didn't want to. She wanted to focus on what her heart was telling her now and push any decision making aside because if she thought too much about it she felt she might explode.

Brittany wanted to talk about it with someone. About how every time she thought that she'd made up her mind. Every time she was certain Alvin had won her over. That she absolutely, without a doubt, BELONGED with Alvin. Stephen would do that thing. She didn't even know how to describe it. The way he rolled his eyes, that irresistible grin that sent her rockets soaring, the way he said her name, that poke in the side he gave her, the way he kissed her…Whatever it was… it kept her coming back and left Brittany confused and undecided.

"Are you watching this?" That was Stephen; he was nodding at a program on the television that sat just a few yards away.

Brittany's eyes shot to him, she quickly shook her head. "No. I guess not."

Stephen groaned, reaching for the remote. The channel changed from a soap opera to a man in the Confession Booth on a dating show. Stephen ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, changing the channel again… and again… and again.

"Why are there so many reality shows on these days?" He finally demanded.

Brittany scoffed. "You sound like Dave."

Stephen looks back at her, questioningly. "Who's Dave?"

Brittany swallowed, suddenly realizing her mistake. She hadn't told Stephen about anything even related to Alvin… besides the reason for their break up. Especially not the fact that she lived literately across the street from him… that she and his brothers were so close they might as well have been HER brothers. That his adoptive father had served as her own on many occasions. She didn't know what to say or rather… she couldn't think of a lie believable enough for him to get off her back.

A full ten seconds passed and both were silent. Empty air hung in-between them, sounds echoed from the television. A woman on the screen stood in front of them, her lips stretched in a too-wide smile, her brilliant bleached white teeth beating at them like the sun as she gushed about her how clean her carpets were after "JUST ONE USE!!!" of this new product.

"Who's Dave?" Stephen repeated.

"Huh?" Brittany asked as if she hadn't heard what he said. "What?"

"Who's Dave?"Stephen a third time. "You said I sounded like… Dave… who's that?" He didn't sound angry. His voice was calm with a hint of curiosity leaking off of it. He just wanted to know. It was an innocent question.

Brittany blinked. "Just a neighbor, "she shrugged. "Nobody"

"Oh," Stephen said.

He watched her for a minute as if he knew there was more to it that just that. Brittany was certain he was going to push the question again, but he surprised her when he looked away. Stephen's bold golden eyes locked back on the television screen. Brittany bit her lip; feeling only slightly relieved as she side-stepped the question for now.

Stephen let out an irritated sigh drawing her attention back to him. "There's not even anything on the movie channel" He put the remote down. "You wanna see a movie? Like at the actually movie theatre?"

"Right now?" Brittany asked.

"No, genius." Stephen remarked with a roll of his eyes, Brittany furrowed her brows. "I have to take you home… I mean… maybe tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow" Brittany repeated. She was trying to figure out if she already had plans… Brittany fingered a strand of loose hair as she picked her brain. "Yeah, I'm free. Sure!" she finally declared. A movie sounded great… just the two of them… in a dark theatre… with absolutely no weird, frustrating, anxious thoughts clouding her mind.

"Awesome!" Stephen cheered. Brittany laughed as he pumped his fist. "I wanna see that new action flick." Stephen continued.

Brittany made a gagging noise sticking her tongue out at him.

"What's that for!" Stephen protested.

"Watching cars crash and buildings explode for an hour and a half?" Brittany questioned. "Yeah, that sounds realromantic."

Stephen poked her in the back. "You had something better in mind?" He questioned.

Brittany shrugged. "Uh, maybe"

"Well then let's hear it" Stephen offered. "And none of those 'boy meets girl' movies…"

"What's wrong with those kinds of movies?" Brittany demanded.

"They're so boring." Stephen moaned. "And you can always guess the ending after the first two minutes of the movie."

"Like you can't do that with action movies?!" Brittany exclaimed.

"No," Stephen said. "Ya can't! Things are always happening! It's exciting! The possibilities are endless!"

"Sure," Brittany said. "But the star never dies and the bad guy always has a plan to take over the world or something."

"That's not always true." Stephen dissented.

"And when that doesn't happen and the star actually dies" Brittany added. "His best friend or brother or son or something comes back to finish the job in a sequel."

"Once again" Stephen said. "That doesn't always happen."

"Yeah, then there's the ones with the guy racing against time to get a suitcase full of money somewhere" Brittany continued. "And it ALWAYS ends with some building bursting into flames."

"It's better than watching a stupid movie about a stuffy couple falling in love." Stephen commented.

"Yeah?" Brittany asked. "Says who?"

"Every guy with half a brain." Stephen scoffed. "Every movie starts with some single girl who thinks something's missing in her life… she meets a guy and they usually get off to a bad start and hate each other. And by the end of the movie they're kissing. It's predictable. At least action movies provide a few more twists and turns.

"I don't care." Brittany told him. "I'm not seeing a STUPID action movie."

Stephen rolled his eyes before finally sighing. "Hey, how about you pick one and I'll pick one… we'll see them both… then decide which is better."

Brittany grinned, satisfied. "And whoever wins gets something right?" she asked, her blue eyes gleaming.

Stephen looked down at her skeptically. "If YOU actually convince me that some chick flick is better than any movie Bruce Willis has ever made…." Stephen said. "I'll give you anything you want."

"Fine!" Brittany exclaimed. "It's a deal! You're on!!"

"Great, figure it out" Stephen suggested. "And I'll pick you up tomorrow."He yawned. "You ready to go home?"

"Sure." Brittany cried. "But prepared for when I win. I'm talking mani-pedi's and a new haircut!"

Stephen only laughed as the two stood up, their feet shuffling as they slipped into their shoes… Brittany's boots stomped through the slush covered pavement as she made her way to his car. Glitter and diamonds flew through her mind as she thought of the prize she'd ask for. Brittany's fingers ran over the smooth blue metal as her hand slid across the hood. Stephen opened the door for her as he complained about the old Mustang before running around to the other side to open his own door. Brittany sunk into the leather seat, soft with worn.

The engine started and he pulled out of the driveway, waving his hands as talked about something that had happened in science class the day she was late. Brittany laughed at the part where a desk caught on fire. He finished his story with someone throwing a bucket of water on the desk just as the teacher hosed down the entire area with a fire extinguisher. Brittany laughed again before proceeding with her own story. Stephen shook his head as she told him about a time when there an explosion in the school auditorium during play rehearsal; a science experiment gone wrong. The entire place; stage, seats and all left covered with some weird looking green goo that reminded her of something from R.L Stine books.

The conversation somehow drifted to school food; Stephen recalling a day when his friend was dared to eat the school's tuna salad and hence spent three days sick in bed. Brittany laughed, swearing that the last time she had the school's food it crawled right off her tray. They talked like this for a while, trading stories back and forth, laughing and joking until there finally reached her street. Stephen turned to her when the car finally came to a stop just in front of her house, laughter fresh in his eyes.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Hetold her. "I love you"

Brittany smiled back at him with wide blue eyes. "Yeah"

He leaned forward, his right hand catching her hair and brushing it out of her face. Her head spun and knees shook as he pressed his lips to hers. Stephen pulled away and she reached back for him, kissing him once more. The kiss only lasted for a second but when it was over… she knew.

"I love you too." Brittany murmured.

They kissed again and there wasn't a doubt in her mind… she wasn't lying… not even to herself. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she slid out of his car and eased up to her house. Her fumbling key found her lock with just a little effort and Brittany eased open her front door, slowly closing it behind her.

There was a difference between being in love with someone and loving them. She loved the color of the sun just as it was setting… she loved the way the wind felt on her face on a warm October day… she loved the chaos of her household and the constant chattering where it felt like you could never be lonely… the way her sister's faces glowed when they were happy… the grace of a fresh coat of lip gloss against her lips…

When you loved someone you cherished them. You enjoyed the smell of their shampoo, perhaps the scent of their cologne. They hold out their hand and you take it, complete trust in them. And you wanted the chance to get even closer to them.

But… there is a difference… A strong barrier that divides loving and being in love…

Brittany sighed as she made her way through her house, up the stairs and into her room.

There is a difference between loving and being in love.

She just wasn't sure what that difference was yet.

I know what your thinking... and just wait... one more chapter...

Actually I don't know EXACTLY what your thinking so tell me!!!!

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