Alright here's one more chapter to keep you all pleased until I can write some more. Assuming there are still people actually reading this story. I hope you all like it....as usual I'm not that great at the "romance"....but I suppose you can review and tell me what you think :D...anyways move along...read and review!

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Meg stood by her window, watching as the wind blew wispy clouds in front of the moon.

Suddenly a face appeared right in front of her window. She gasped and stepping backwards, caught her foot on the hem of her dress and tumbled to the floor.

She heard muffled laughter outside and getting up she strode to the window and yanked it open.

"Bob Younger, what the hell do you think you're doing?"she hissed.

"Watching you prove yet again how truly graceful you are,"he grinned.

Meg started to slam the window shut but Bob caught it before she could and forced it open again.

"Hey,you wanna come and catch fireflies with me?"he asked.

Meg stared,"Now?"

"Well they don't exactly come out in daylight now do they?"he retorted.

Meg glanced back to her bed before sighing and lifting one leg over the window sill. "Now only if we do it quickly, I do want to get some sleep you...."her foot caught on the ledge and Meg tumbled forward, knocking Bob down with her.

"Like I said, graceful,"Bob smirked.

Meg's ears were flaming as she blushed, so she quickly rolled off of him. She pushed herself into a standing position and brushed off her dress before gesturing to the field.

"Shall we?"she asked.

"Indeed,"he replied and offering his hand, the two took off running.

They wandered around for almost an hour before stumbling upon a glittering group of the insects. Meg's breath stopped as she watched the tiny sparkling spots dance in the air before her.

Bob started to move forward but Meg reached out and grabbed his shoulder,"Don't scare them, just let 'em be,"she whispered, afraid of breaking the spell-like moment.

Bob watched her for a moment, the way her eyes were sparkling and her hair was wild around her face. He turned his gaze away, but his hand found hers in the dark and the two of them stood frozen for what seemed an eternity, watching the endless spectacle in front of their eyes.

Suddenly Meg blinked, as though awakening from a trance and glanced to the east where the sky was growing pale.

She shivered,"I think I better head home."

Bob turned to her and grinned,"Yea, you need as much beauty sleep as you can get."

Meg rolled her eyes and smacking his head she turned and dashed home as quick as she could. She crawled back through her open window into her room, which had grown cold from the night air. Meg pulled off her dress, and leapt under the covers, pulling them up to her chin and falling asleep with a smile on her face.

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Meg sighed as she tucked her hair behind her ear. She didn't really know why she was putting so much effort into getting ready, after all, she was excited for Cassie's birthday, but it's not like there was going to be anyone worth impressing that she didn't see everyday anyway. She sighed and stepped back to glance at her skirt and blouse once more. It was simple, but it looked pretty enough on her, and the green in her shirt made her eyes stand out.

"Meg, are you about ready yet?"her aunt called from outside her door.

"Yes Aunt Anne, I'll be out in a minute,"she sighed and taking in her hair one last time, she turned and raced out the door so that she wouldn't be late.

When she arrived at the Weston's farm, she could hear plenty of shouting and laughter out back already. She jumped off her father's wagon and with a wave ran around behind the house. She could see her friends sitting out on the back porch, enjoying the warmth and drinking cold glasses of lemonade.

Cassie looked up and grinned,"Perfect. Now that Meg's here we can start the fun. We're going to all get partnered up and have a scavenger hunt!"she proclaimed, smacking Cole's head when he rolled his eyes.

"All right,"she said glancing around at her eight friends,"Let's have...Clell and Abby go together, and Jesse and Zee,"she winked at her friend,"and how about Bob and Meg together." she smiled.

Cole stood up smirking behind her,"Well I guess that just leaves you and me, birthday girl."

Cassie's eyes widened as she realized that pairing up her friends had left her with Cole. But she stalked off and after handing everyone a list and directing them to be back in a hour, with as many items as possible everyone dashed off in separate directions.

Bob and Meg hurried towards a wooded section at the back of Cassie's property and ducked through the various branches. They picked up several items as they ran along:a red berry, some leaves, a spider that Meg insisted Bob place inside the little bag they'd been given, and a dead twig.

They continued to search for other items, and were having trouble finding a pine cone, suddenly Bob turned to Meg, summoned his courage and asked,"Hey Meg, you ever kissed anyone?"

Meg tripped over a root and spun on Bob, "WHAT?.....WHY?"she demanded.

Bob shrugged and pretended to be searching the ground for other items,"Just wonderin."

Meg narrowed her eyes,"Well no, I haven't,"she said and turning her back she bent to retrieve a smooth stone for their growing stash of belongings. It was silent a few minutes before Meg finally cleared her throat,"Well actually....it's not like anyone ever wanted to."

"How come?"

Meg shrugged,"Well, when you and me are planting snakes in people hats...it doesn't give you a likable reputation with all the guys...at least not as someone they'd want to kiss."

Bob stood on his toes to pull down an old birds nest,"I would..."he mumbled.

Meg paused,"Excuse me?"

He averted his eyes and kicked at the dust, which sent a pine cone flying over into Meg's boot, she bent to retrieve it and when she straightened Bob was standing right in front of her. He leaned in slowly and at the last second Meg shoved the pine cone in his face, forcing him to pull away.



"Got the pine cone!"she exclaimed excitedly. Bob blinked and Meg couldn't help but giggle, when suddenly he planted his hands on either side of her face and before she could pull away leaned in a kissed her, pulling back and grinning triumphantly.

"There,"he stated,"Now I can say I've finally kissed ya!"

Meg's face turned a bright crimson and her eyes narrowed to slits,"What am I?Some sort of goal of yours?"she hissed, and winding up she kicked him in the shin as hard as she could, before dropping all of their items and racing back to Cassie's house.

Bob stood stunned in the middle of the woods, rubbing his throbbing shin and grimacing. He hadn't expected Meg to react like that, and now his best friend was more angry at him than he had ever seen her. He sighed and gathering their things started limping back to the Weston's yard.

When he came in, Jesse and Zee were already back, and Jesse smirked,"Weren't you supposed to come back with your partner cousin?"

Bob glared,"Shut up Jesse,"he muttered and tossing his load of junk on the ground he stalked over to the opposite end of the table to where Meg was and the two of them sat avoiding eye contact.

Jesse and Zee ended up winning by default seeing as no one else had all the items, and Cole and Cassie returned after the set time limit, even though they had all the necessary requirements. They proceeded to have supper, in which Meg made a pointed effort to sit as far away from Bob as possible. Finally when supper was finished and they had gone outside to sit on the porch and talk, Meg went and sat off on the side away from everyone else.

Bob watched her sitting off by herself, and feeling immensely guilty he went and sat next to her, she turned away but he placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her back,"I'm sorry for being so rude Meg."he said.

Meg's face softened slightly but she still looked angry,"Why did you go and do that Bob?Maybe I didn't go kissing anyone because I didn't want to yet."

Bob dropped his gaze to his feet,"I know, It's just that Frank said when you like a girl....you should kiss her."

"Yea well Frank's just a big...."Meg trailed off,"did you just say you like me?"

Bob shrugged and got to his feet, he started to walk across Cassie's yard,"Yea, but seeing as how you don't like me, it don't make much difference now does it?"

Meg sat dumbfounded for a moment, before getting up to follow her friend,she reached out and grasped his hand,"No, I do like you Bob, I just don't want to get all mixed up about kissing you yet. Maybe let's just start out slow, ok?"she smiled faintly and he grinned back, glad to not have his friend mad at him anymore. Meg reached up and kissed his cheek softly before leading him back over to sit by their friends.