They made their way up Jeff's walkway, laughing as they reviewed the events of the night at Matt's house. Gil had left early, leaving the remaining guest with high energy and an abundant amount of alcohol. Things had gotten particularly entertaining when Shane had suggested a game of strip beer pong. Needless to say it made for a quite interesting evening. Especially when an extremely inebriated Joey, clad only in a pair of navy blue boxers, began shouting at Shannon, who was also half naked, accusing him of cheating. But the part Emilie enjoyed the most was Gil reminisces of Matt and Jeff's childhood. Complete with some incriminating pictures. As they walked through the front door Emilie couldn't help but pick on him over the embarrassing photos.

"No! The one of you in the bathtub was my favorite! I had no idea what a cute kid you were. With your puffy little cheeks!" She said in a baby voice as she pinched his cheek.

"Knock it off!" he laughed playfully swatting her hands away. "Well what about you? What was with you and Crystal talking in Russian all night. I didn't even know you spoke Russian."

"All my grandparents came from Russia. My grandmother, the only one alive at the time, came right off the boat from Kyiv. She didn't speak a word of English so I picked it up as the years went on. I don't even think I realized that I was doing it."

"Are you fluent?"

"No, I know the basics and a couple of curses. Enough to carry on a simple conversation but not enough to actually survive in Russia."

"How do you say 'hello'?"

"Zdrastochye."

"How do you say 'How are you'?"

"Kak dila."

"How do you say 'I love you'?"

Emilie stopped in her tracks. Did that mean what she thought it meant. She looked up at Jeff with fearful eyes, unsure of how to respond.

"I forget." She whispered.

She turned to walk away but Jeff stopped her. He grabbed her arm forcing her to turn and face him. He put his fingers under her chin tilting her head up to meet his gaze. His eyes were filled with such intensity that it nearly made Emilie's knees buckle underneath her.

"I love you Emilie. I know it hasn't been that long but I can't help it. You make me feel things I thought only existed in cheesy chick flicks. And the truth is I think I loved you from the moment we first met."

Emilie stood in shock for a moment. Not really knowing how to react. She knew Jeff was waiting for her to return the feeling but the words would just not come out. She wanted to say something, anything, but instead she just stood there blankly staring up at him.

"I..." but before she could get another sound out she was interrupted by the loud ringing of the telephone. Jeff cursed out loud before going to answer the annoying ring, leaving Emilie alone. She was relived but at the same time silently berating herself. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she say it? She knew she felt something for Jeff but was it love and if so why couldn't she say it out loud? What was she so scared about?

Emilie waited for Jeff to fall asleep before she quietly snuck out of the bedroom and into his T.V. room. She had managed to avoid the 'love' subject for the entire remainder of the night but now she needed some advice. Advice that could only come from the one person that knew her better then she knew herself. She picked up the cordless phone and dialed the familiar number. It rang a few times before a very drowsy sounding female voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Bee?"

Becky, or Bee as Emilie called her, had been Emilie's best friend since middle school. Through out the years the two had done nearly everything together, including getting matching hawk tattoos on their lower backs. Even after Becky moved the Boston they still remained close. She was the one person Emilie knew she could always rely on.

"Em? It's three in the morning."

"I know, I'm sorry but I really gotta talk to you."

"Don't worry, the burning sensation should clear up. Just keep using the ointment." She joked.

"I'm serious Bee. This is major."

"Alright alright I'm listening."

"He told me he loved me."

"Who?"

"Mr. Gunning our 9th grade social studies teacher." Emilie answered sarcastically "Jeff! Who do you think!"

"And that's bad?"

"It's just so early. Isn't it?"

"There's no time limit on love Em. Either it happens over time or right away or not at all. It's
whenever it feels right."

"How will I know if it's right?"

"Well that depends on you. It depends on if you're ready to except love."

"And what if I'm never ready?"

"Can I ask you a very important question?"

"Could I stop you"

"Do you love him?"

"Yes...No...God I don't know!"

"Well I don't know what to tell ya babe. But I have a feeling that your doubts are really about Jeff."

Emilie knew what she meant and even more she knew she was right. Some times she hated how accurate Becky could be but it made Emilie realize what she was really afraid of. She has put a wall around herself ever since Chris died, sheltering her from ever feeling that kind of pain again. But all it really seemed to protect her from was giving and receiving love. Would Jeff be the one to knock down that wall? And if so would Emilie allow him to?