::hides behind couch:: It is...insanely...short. I don't even know what happened! It just absolutely would not get any longer. I tried! I really did. But, I think it actually kinda sounds good this way. Hopefully anyway.

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The leaves on the trees up and down the street had been painted in bright reds and oranges in the last month, making everything seem to be a kaleidoscope of fire and sunlight.

Fall was Dylan's favorite time of the year by far. He would sit out on his porch, like today, and feast his eyes on all the colors and bask in the crisp air. It made you feel invigorated...alive. The chill would run through your veins and the silence would echo through your mind, leaving nothing but serenity in it's place. Sometimes, fall reminded Dylan of Marco in a way. The after effect was always the same. A smile across his face, a dreamy expression in his eyes, and a contented sigh playing across his lips.

Even though the colors of the leaves may have been changing, the feelings Dylan had for Marco had not. Unless the intensification of said feelings was considered a change.

Unluckily for him, he wasn't the only one who knew this.

"Dylan, hun. We need to talk."

Dylan turned around from his spot on the front steps to look at his sister behind him. She closed the door behind herself and took a seat next to him. "Do you have any idea just how long I have kept quiet and left you alone, oh brother of mine?"

Rolling his eyes, Dylan started to stand up, but Paige was quicker. She grabbed the bottom of his hoodie and yanked him back down beside her. "I am serious Dylan! It has been almost two months. This is getting disgraceful!"

"Look, Paige, leave off would you? This is none of your business." He got up to leave again only to be hauled back down again quite painfully.

"No, I will not lay off! You've been the moodiest jerk lately. What's going on!? Why on earth can't you two quit acting like a couple of...boys...and just get on with it!"

Dylan stared at her in disgust. "We can't just get on with it! Especially if it's not going to happen in the first place, Paige!" Paige thwapped him on the back of the head.

"Ow!"

"Ask...him...out...Dylan! Or else I will do it for you! I am tired of watching you two mope around like a couple of lovesick school girls and not do anything about it because your self-esteems are lower than average! It's too tiring trying to stay quiet and let you figure it out!" pouted Paige.

He snorted and made to leave. This time he actually made it to the door without being pulled to the ground. In his room, things weren't much better. He lay on his bed thinking about what Paige had said. If only it was that easy.

"No! No...we're just friends."

Marco's words still haunted him. It was such a long time ago, but it still floated around his mind, dragging him lower and lower. He would have happily fell into his dark little downward spiral, but Paige had other ideas.

"Dylan, you cannot hide from him forever you know! God, two people can't be as deep friends as you are without something else going on underneath it! I mean, I know these things! I'm a girl!" Paige roared as she busted into his room.

He stared at her, doing his own impression of a goldfish. he?...but....what if...no. No. No. NO! He was not going to ruin this over some pathetic crush.

"I'm sorry Paige. I just can't." Wow, that hurt alot more when said out loud.

Paige walked over to her brother and knelt on the bed behind him, draping her arms around his shoulders. She kissed him on the cheek then whispered into his ear. "He likes you Dylan. I know you can't believe it...but he really does." She nuzzled into his hair. "He's also scared to death. And you, more than anyone, have helped him with that fear. Why should this be any different?"

Dylan stared forward at the wall blankly. "Ask him out, Dylan. If I'm wrong, then you can kill me. But I'm not. And, further more, you know I'm not." She kissed his temple and wiggled her way off the bed onto the floor. "I don't care how you go about it. Just make sure it gets done. Marco will be very grateful. He's just as chicken as you are."

She was walking out of the room when Dylan stopped her. "And how do you know he feels this way, Paige?"

"Well, in all honesty, I don't. But...I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. He smiles more when you're around. He's just been...altogether, way more happy since the second he started speaking to you." She looked into his scared eyes. "He'll say yes. You'll see." She stepped out of the room and walked down the hall.

Dylan watched her go. Then fell back on his bed with a resounding thud.

"No! No...we're just friends."

"He likes you Dylan. I know you can't believe it...but he really does. He's also scared to death."

"I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. He smiles more when you're around. He's just been...altogether, way more happy since the second he started speaking to you."

"Marco will be very grateful. He's just as chicken as you are."

"Ask him out, Dylan."

Dylan slowly sat up on his elbows and looked over at his phone, his doorway, then back to the phone. Nodding resolutely he picked it up and dialed.

"Yeah, hey Marco. Can you come watch movies over at my place this weekend?"

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Anyway, that was it. It will be longer next chapter. Of course. Just kinda...grit your teeth and bear it I suppose. What can you do when my brain goes all stupid, right?

R&R