A/N: here is a gift for you guys i figured that since i took so long to update i decided to post a new chapter. this one isnt very long but its one of my favorites. its really one of those halmark moments that you wish lasted RXR please i will love you for ever and Edward Cullen will feed you chocolate covered strawberys.

Chapter 8

First light

Abby

I awaken slowly to the pink light of the sun as it rises from behind the trees. I'm sitting on my balcony, still wearing the same dress I went to dinner in, with Ryan snoring lightly in my ear. We are snuggled up in the comfy swing that my mom installed on my balcony so that I could sleep outside during the summer. It's big enough to for Casey, Karly, and me to all fit on it and not be squished, so Ryan and I are able to cuddle up comfortably.

I turn to look at Ryan as he continues to slumber next to me even though the sun is rising steadily now. His dark hair is sticking up in all directions and one lock near his nose sways back and forth as he breathes in and out. He looks even more beautiful as he sleeps. All the worry and stress is gone from his face and only peace is left behind.

I decide to let him sleep a while as I let my mind wander. Its been just a month since Ryan appeared in the halls of Spartan High but it seems like forever. Already he knows me so well. It's almost like we've known each other for longer than a few short weeks. In any normal relationship things wouldn't be moving this fast but for some reason this thing that Ryan and I have doesn't seem like anything remotely normal. Somehow I know that I already love him. I don't even know why I do. I barely know him but I don't pry into his past cause for some reason I can tell that he can't tell me more that what he already has. I don't know his past yet I still love him. I'm still unsure of his feelings for me as well. I mean its not like I can just bust out and go "Hey Ryan I think I'm in love with you". If he doesn't already think I'm crazy that will definitely leave him questioning my mental satiability. But what if he loves me to and I don't tell him how I feel. Will he think I don't like him? Maybe it is best to just come out and say it. I've never been one for commitment but if those three little words scare him off maybe he's not the right guy for me after all. I could just wait for him to say it first. But the question is would he. Maybe he is waiting for me to make the first move. Gah! Relationships are so complicated.

I'm still contemplating this last train of thought when I feel Ryan start to stir beside me. I look over and my eyes stare into the deep emerled green of his eyes bright from sleep. "Hey," I say as a smile comes to his lips. The small piece of hair still hangs in his face. I brush it back with my fingers and he takes my hand and kisses each of my finger tips.

"Hey," he says his eyes shining brighter as they stare into mine. I'm so caught up in the sweetness of this moment that I fall out of the swing in surprise when Karly bangs on my door.

"Are you up yet Abby? I need to borrow a hair bow. Casey keeps losing all the ones mom buys," She hollers from the hall.

"I do not" Casey screams from their room just down the hall from my room. I hop off the ground and rush to my bedroom door grabbing a hair tie as I pass my vanity.

"Here you go," I say reaching just my hand out the door to pass the hair tie to the waiting Karly. She hollers her thanks as she skips down the hall back to her room. I walk back out to the balcony leaving the glass door open. Ryan is standing when I get back out side. His hair is highlighted by the bright morning sun behind him and his arms are open wide waiting wrap me in their warm embrace. I fall into his arms without thinking, pressing my face to his chest and pulling him close so that I can inhale the scent that is purely him. After a moment he pulls back to look into my eyes. He lifts my chin with his finger and presses his warm lips to mine in a kiss that I feel all the way down to my toes. When we pull apart we're both grinning like fools. He pulls me close again but the moment doesn't last. After a beat he lets out a sigh against my hair.

"Abby I wish we could spend the whole day like this but I have to go home some time," he says a smile in his voice.

"No," I say against the front of his shirt. "I wont let you leave." I pull him even closer to me hugging him around the waist. I give him a squeeze but then I let him go. He smiles at me but I see the reluctance in his eyes. He gives me one last kiss.

"I'll see you later," he says as he climbs over the side railing.

"Yeah" I say rubbing the back of my neck. I wasn't happy to see him go knowing that I might not get to see him again till Monday. He climbs over to the tree and then down the branches. His hair bounces lightly as his feet hit the ground. He looks up at me one last time before he races to his car parked in the neighbor's yard and then drives out of sight.