Love is a burning thing

"What's going on with you and Shepard?" Dallas asked making me straighten from tending the laundry.

I knew this conversation was going to happen soon, but I still wasn't ready for it. The weeks had flown by smoothly, and the thing between Tim and I hadn't lessened at all. Sure it wasn't always lust, and passion; we bummed around town, went to the Dingo, and just hung out together. I don't think more than a day had passed where I hadn't seen him since I first arrived here. I couldn't really explain it, we just dug each other, and trust was something rare in this life, which was why we valued our relationship so much.

"I don't know Dall, you know I'm not one for getting so attached so quickly, but with Tim its' different… next to you he's the best friend I ever had," I whispered smiling as I thought about the flowers he'd swiped from someone's garden cause they reminded him of me.

"Best friends don't do what y'all do," He said pointedly.

"Maybe the lucky ones do," I said tossing a pair of balled up socks at his head.

"Seriously Dal, I mean there's passion, but he's my best friend, I can talk to him about anything, and we have a great time together."

"I just don't want to see you hurt Star, Tim's always had a wandering eye , and I want to know you'll be ok when that happens."

"Shit Dal, aint like we're married, we're not evening dating for Christ's' sake," I said shaking my head at my brothers nit picking. The boys would have died if they ever saw him acting so motherly.

"I'll be fine Dal, I always am."

"Its different this time," He said holding his hands up in mock surrender as I rolled my eyes.

How could I explain something to him I didn't even understand myself yet.

Headed to Tim's I asked myself once more what I was doing. It wasn't like me to be so into a guy, and it was driving me crazy. Especially since I had no ideal what we were exactly. Maybe Dallas was right, there was something different about this time with Tim. I was dressed in the jeans, and t-shirt that Tim seemed to prefer , cursing myself for caring what he thought so much.

"Hey Shyla," Tim said smiling as I walked in and plopped on the couch beside him.

He was the only who ever used my first name besides Dal, but I didn't mind. I mean he let me call him Timmy.

"Hey Tim," I mumbled pretending to watch the television show on.

"What's wrong?" He asked making me frown. Was I That damn transparent?

"What do you mean?"

Tim's pov

Frowning at the defensive tone her voice took on I turned her face to look at me.

"Hey did someone say something to you?" I asked angered at the thought.

I'd gladly pound any one that ever said anything to her.

"What do you care?" She asked making my eyes widen.

She never talked to me like that, something really must have happened to piss her off.

"Look Shyla Star, you're the best friend I ever had, I want to know if some punk is giving you hard time so I can take care of it, ok?"

"You're my best friend too Tim," She said smiling as I gave her a hug.

"I'm just pissy cause me and Dal had a disagreement, no biggie," She said making me nod. I knew how it could be with a sibling.

" So what's up tonight?" I asked wondering where we could hunt up some action.

" I don't know, there's always the daily," She said shrugging as we leaned back to watch the television.

Star

Hearing him say the exact words I'd told Dallas made me feel better, and I relaxed. A best friend was a good as anything else. We ended up heading to the Daily that night, and I tried to ignore the trampy blonde who was doing everything but lifting her barley existent top to get Tim's attention.

"Tim, I think she's trying to get your attention," Curly said making me want to punch him in his mouth for pointing out the obvious.

"Yea I noticed Curly," he said sarcastically.

" You aint going to do anything about it?" He asked making me clench my fists.

Me and him weren't in a relationship he could do who and what he wanted, I reminded myself wishing I didn't care.

Tim's pOv

Thinking about how it might hurt my rep if ignored the easy mark I studied Star out of the corner of my eye. She looked cool as usual, like she could care less what I did or who I did it with. Now was my last chance to break her hold on me before I got in any deeper.

Sides Curly would never let me live it down if I passed up the opportunity.

"What's her name again?"

"Janie," He said smiling as I moved to go talk to her.

"Keep Star company, okay?" I said not wanting to ditch her completely.

"I'm fine alone," She said shrugging as Curly headed over to talk some girl he'd been charming previously.

Deep down I knew it wasn't okay with her, but I was Tim Shepard, and I had a rep to uphold. Besides I'd never been the one-woman type better to do it now than wait for later.

Star

Fuming I feigned indifference as he went over to talk to "Janie". I'd been telling myself for weeks now that it wouldn't matter when he moved on, but I had lied. It burned, God did it burn. I obviously had way more feelings for him than I cared to admit. Never one to be kept down long I turned my attention to the attractive tow headed boy I knew was named Jake.

"Hey Jack, Shep ditched me, come keep me company," I said patting the seat next to me.

Two could play this game.

"You got ditched huh?" He asked laughing as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Happens to the best of us right?" I asked laughing as he winked.

" I'd take you over Janie any day," he said scowling at the overly made up Barbie a few seats away.

"How kind of you to say," I said smiling as he leaned down to kiss me, and I let him.

Tim

Kissing Janie I glanced over her shoulder, and almost broke away. Jake was kissing Star! Who told him he had the right to even put his hands on her. Just the thought of her with any other guy made me see red. Watching them made me sick to my stomach, and made me feel like my heart was on fire.

"Oh Tim," Janie said, clueless to what was going on.

Shoving her away I stood. I wasn't going to go through with it. It just hurt too fucking much. Swearing I walked over to where Star and Jake were making out. So I'd finally met my match, it wouldn't make me any less tuff. Hell every leader needed a girl he could trust , and if any one was that girl it was Star.

"Get your hands off her," I said deceptively calm as he looked up and the make out session stopped.

"Hey man, I didn't know you and here were a thing, I mean I saw you with Janie," He stammered as I ignored him locking eyes with Shyla Star.

"We're not a thing," She said coldly.

"We are now," I said grabbing her hand and pulling her up and in to my arms.

"You can't just- " She started cut off by my mouth as it met hers.

Fanning the flames that always came when we were together I told her everything I wanted to say with my kiss.

"Okay," She whispered shakily as we pulled apart.

"We are a thing," I told Jake knowing he would spread the word that she was off limits.

" SO this is what love feels like" I thought kissing her once more as the flames exploded.