"Okay, so I need another word that means lonely." Bright stopped typing and adjusted the phone with his left hand.

"Why?" She asked.

"I'm writing a paper," he replied.

"Solitary?" She offered.

"You really are a genius, you know that?" He smiled and typed the word in.

"Yes, I know." She smiled. She pushed her glasses up and continued to cut up apples for dinner. "How are classes, by the way?"

"Classes are good. Getting stuff done without too much effort, at least without a lot of pain."

"That's really good, Bright. I'm glad things are finally falling into place in your life."

"The only thing that's missing is you." He sighed. She was silent for a moment.

"You're still coming up for the fourth, right?"

"Wouldn't dream of missing it, my first chance to see you in over two months?"

"OW!" She muttered loudly into the phone.

"What's wrong?" He asked alarmed, his voice switching into protective boyfriend tone.

"I cut myself with the knife I was using." She replied. "Just a second," She set the phone down and ran it under cold water in the kitchen sink. It stopped bleeding and she grabbed a bandage out of the nearby drawer where her family kept them. "Okay, I'm back." She stated picking up the phone again.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yes." She giggled a little at how serious he was about the whole thing.

"Do you still have all your fingers?" He asked, lightening the mood with a little humor.

"Let me check." She began to count. "1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9, oh no, where is number 10?" She pretended to be scared. "Bright, I can't find number ten!"

"Count again." He suggested. She did. This time she came out with ten.

"Oh good, I just have a counting problem. All ten are present and accounted for." She smiled.

"Good. I wouldn't want a girlfriend with nine fingers." He added.

"Are you saying you wouldn't love me if I had nine fingers?" She seemed hurt.

"Love," he repeated with a rising reflection as if in question.

"You know what I mean; I mean you wouldn't like me if I had nine fingers?" She fumbled trying to cover up for the obvious slip she had just made with her emotions.

"Of course I'd still like you with nine fingers, but I'd obviously rather that you had all ten just like God intended all the pretty girls to have." He replied.

"Well, we are all good there, like I said."

"Very good," he answered. He typed in silence for a bit longer, and on the other end she cut some more apples. Their phone calls were less about actually talking than just knowing that the other was there if they did have something they wanted to say. Just to be there to listen.

"How's your mom?" She asked breaking the silence.

"She's doing better. Dr. Brown's surgery is being called a success. It's too soon to tell for sure, but she may make a full recovery. She's back at home with us, getting around better than before." He inhaled deeply thinking about her. He saved the file he was working on and shut off his computer.

"That's amazing, Bright. I was praying for her."

"Thanks." He replied. What an angel. "Well, I should go. I think Amy needs to use the phone or something, she's kinda doing something that looks like the potty dance, only different."

"Put her on, I wanna say hi." Hannah requested. Bright handed the phone to her.

"Hannah! Hey, how are you?" Amy asked all smiles.

"Doing pretty well, yourself?" She asked.

"Well, I'm keeping busy."

"Have you heard from---"

"No."

"I hear your mom is doing well." Hannah commented, making the last statement a little less awkward.

"Yeah, she's doing great."

"That's amazing, Amy. I'm glad to hear that."

"Thanks. Well, I'll give you back to Bright now. E-mail me, okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, no problem, bye Amy." She replied.

"She's still here." Bright said, getting back on the phone. "How do I get rid of her?" He asked, puzzled.

"I have no clue, Bright. Go to a different room."

"Good idea, gosh you are just full of those." He nodded, stepped around Amy, and shut the door a few doors down in the guest bedroom. "Well, I probably should go before she finds me again." He replied.

"All right, it was nice talking to you." She conceded.

"I miss you Hannah."

"I'll see you in a week and a half for the fourth."

"Keep your schedule open, I have quite the events list planned out."

"Really?" She blushed.

"Yep, it's gonna be awesome." His face lit up.

"I'll be counting the minutes." Her heart sped up a little bit with excitement.

"I'll see you then, Hannah. I love you." He replied. She smiled. That tricky boy, making her feel guilty for letting it slip out when he very well felt the same way.

"I love you too, Brighton." She smiled and pressed the talk button on the phone. The pungent aroma of freshly cut apples filled the room. She couldn't wait to see him. She just wanted to run a hand through that curly mop of hair he had and to be swept up in his arms and kissed again like he had before she left.

Amy found Bright two seconds before he hung up. She teased him about saying he loved her. He shrugged it off. He wasn't gonna let his little sister tease him about something so real.

A/N: Please review, I need feedback