When I started to come around again, I felt something cold and wet on my forehead. God, it felt good. The water slipped in little streams down my face, but no matter how much they tickled, I refused to move.

Blast my brain, I wanted more sleep. I had the best dream… Spot had actually saved my life. Then he had picked my up and carried me back to my bed in the lodging house and nursed me back to health.

If only.

There was that annoying person calling my name again. It was the same voice from the Hall, I realized. Once they shook my shoulders to try to revive me, I nearly bit their hands before opening my eyes slowly. They wanted me up? Oh, they'd get me up…they'd get the worst of my temper, too.

That's when I met a pair of blue-grey – VERY worried – eyes. They could only belong to one person. "Spot?"

His relief was obvious as he sat back in his chair. He was sitting beside my bed with a bowl of water that had almost turned red because of the bloody rag that lay inside it. Spot slowly smiled at me, and then stopped with a grimace, gently touching his split lip. I assumed he got that from the fight.

"Did…did you get that from those two?" I bit my lip, and then stopped once I figured out that it hurt to do so. "Yeah. It was a lucky hit. They didn't get to do it again." He replied. There goes his ego again. I could tell from the way he was sitting that they had gotten a few more "lucky hits" in. Then again, I might be dead if it weren't for him. "Thanks…I mean I could have done it myself…but thanks anyway."

"You were getting the shit beat out of you." Spot pointed out. "What else could I do? You're my best friend. Besides…it was fun to beat their heads in." He smirked at me.

I sighed despite myself. There goes my knight in newsie's clothing idea.

"I was doing okay…" I defended belatedly, looking at the ground. "You know I could have handled it myself…you just kind of butted in." At the right moment. I had to give him props for timing. I don't think I could have been sitting there talking to him if it weren't for his knack for sudden appearances. He does those a lot. He's like a flipping magician or something…

"You lied to me."

My head snapped up at that. What had I lied about! "Say what?"

"You promised me I'd get the last dance. You didn't even stay for one in the first place." Spot said, his face stern.

So, he HAD seen me. Well, that was just fine. I didn't care. Bastard…kissing that girl in front of me…

"You were kind of busy." I said ruefully. "I didn't want to butt in on your… 'dancing'." So what if I was bitter? I'm sure he has Danielle to comfort him later on.

"Look…about that Timber. It just sort of happened, you know? I didn't-…"

"Why should you apologize to me? You didn't do anything wrong. It's not like we're together or anything…we're just friends-…"

"Listen to me, Timber." He interrupted. It sort of shocked me…all that intensity.

I feel like a heartsick schoolgirl.

"I don't know how to explain it…I mean, she sort of just leaned in expectantly, like I was SUPPOSED to kiss her…and I didn't want to. I kinda felt like I had to, though. So I did."

I looked back down. Here we go again with the kiss-and-tell. I'M FEMALE BLAST YOU! I HAVE FEELINGS! I LOVE YOU! …where did THAT come from? I think I need chocolate…

"I didn't feel anything." I looked back up at him for his explanation. He was looking right at me. "I didn't feel a thing with her. I mean, yeah, she was pretty…but I didn't really like her like that. I didn't want her. That's when I looked around…and you weren't there. I wanted to know something, and you weren't there. So I went looking for you…and there you were getting the shit beat out of you. I can't tell you how furious I was…I've never been that angry in my life. I just went after them. They're still there for all I know." He spilled.

I tell you, when that boy spills the beans…HE SPILLS ALL. He tells his personal business in his sleep. Quite funny, actually. Blackmail, my friends, is a wonderful thing.

I'm getting off track again…

"As I was carrying you up here," He continued, "All I could think was 'Please let her be alive…I couldn't live not knowing'." Spot ran a hand through his hair. "I'm so selfish sometimes… but I still want to know now that you're awake." He looked me in the eyes.

"Want to know what?" I asked cautiously.

"If you love me." He said softly.

My jaw dropped. "Look…Conlon…I-…"

"Kiss me."

"What?"

"Just kiss me…" He said leaning in and catching my lips with his before I could protest.

You ever hear of fireworks? I think I could have shot through the roof if his arms weren't holding me in place. Right then…the last stair holding me up crumbled as I fell hard for him.

Once he pulled away, he smiled at me. I couldn't find my words. "Did you find what you were looking for?" I asked dully. Man, am I stupid.

He nodded, and then kissed me again. "I love you, Timber." He murmured against my mouth. "I love YOU."

…I'm betting right now you'd like for me to tell you "And they lived Happily Ever After." Am I right?

Well, too bad! IT DOESN'T END LIKE THAT!

Seconds stretched to minutes, and minutes to hours as we just sat there, holding each other.

Normally, this type of thing would have sickened me, if it was somebody else. But it was me. I'd actually fallen in love…and I had someone that loved me. And I'd like to say one thing…

IN YOUR FACE DANIELLE!

That's when he spoke. "I believe you owe me a dance."

I looked up at him, reflecting his smile. Spot took my hand and led me up to the roof, reveling in the night air. Then he took me into his arms and held me – just the way I'd taught him. Then we'd slowly begun to glide along the roof.

You know something…maybe dances aren't so bad after all…