Author's Note: I like that I have all this inspiration and all this time to write. It's making me feel good. This takes place a year before Options. Sit back, enjoy and look out for the next chapter of The Fall From Grace. it just needs to be looked over and hopefully it will be done by tomorrow.

Strawberries

Hiking.

Jesus.

Not just any hiking...it's like cross-country hiking...okay, maybe I'm slightly exaggerating but that's exactly what this latest adventure feels like.

Jesus.

And all of this for a boy. Maybe I'm setting the women's movement back like Lil says but I can't help myself because ladies, this isn't just for any boy. It's for Timmy McNulty.

Exactly.

This just happens to be one of the few things we don't have in common. Yet, here I am surrounded by four (okay three, Chuckie doesn't really count), I'm surrounded by three of the most adventurous and athletic guys and Kimi (on a Sunday morning nonetheless) walking like a madman. For this though boy, I would hike all of over the world. Maybe I should have stayed with Lil and Susie just picking berries and making lunch but no I had to try and be Miss Superwoman. As I am having these dark thoughts, Timmy turns around and flashes me his one million watt smile.

Maybe setting the women's movement back isn't so bad after all.

"The waterfall is just around this bend," Tommy was saying when Chuckie and I finally join them at what the sign calls Fishhead Peak. Oh, brother.

Chuckie beats me to a seat on a flat rock. He stares at my cousin who along with Kimi, Phil and my soon-to-be boyfriend look very excited about this hike. "How long is this bend?"

Good question. Although, I don't say so because I'm supposed to be this great nature enthusiast. I try to hide my pain but Tommy catches the forced look on my face and gets up as if he can't possibly sit down any more and I ease into his abandoned seat. He checks his map again and smiles brightly. "Don't worry," he says to Chuckie but I'm sure that was also was directed at me. "It's only two miles."

Only two miles. Jesus.

I lost track of time some where around the third boulder and hoping for a stray bullet to come get me when we finally reach the waterfall. It truly is stunning and I can totally understand Tommy, Kimi, Phil and Timmy's excitement about this but all the hiking is really unnecessary. Fortunately for me, Chuckie voices all of my opinions so that I can save face.

"I hate it when you drag me on these adventures."

Tommy only smiles. Phil is laughing at him. Chuckie says this so often that it doesn't even affect these two anymore. I roll my eyes and let Chuckie burn off steam and rest. I didn't come here to here him complain.My main reason for this hike is standing by this cliff taking pictures and staring at the rushing water.

"Hey Angelica." he calls out to me without looking my way. He is the only one that calls me Angelica since Phil found it so convenient to call me Angie. He takes a picture of Kimi throwing her arms around my cousin and for a tiny moment, I feel a little jealous. He smiles at me again. "I bet you'd never thought you'd see yourself spending Spring Break at home."

I return his smile with one of my own. "Not true. Ever since we've all become close I saw myself spending every vacation here until Tommy and the rest joined us at State."

He takes a picture of Phil and Chuckie talking a few yards from us then nods. "True."

Rushing water fills the silence and I tempted to just stare at him as he snaps pictures of Kimi and Tommy then Phil and Chuckie. But for some reason, I'm drawn to the bushes of strawberries behind me. Maybe it's because strawberries are my favorite fruit and these babies are ready to be picked. I rinse a few that I picked with my water bottle and munch happily until I hear a few shutter clicks and that's when I want to throw Timmy off this cliff.

I'm hot and sticky with strawberry juice dripping down the side of my mouth.

"Smile pretty for me, honey." he laughs.

"If you don't put that camera down..."

He does and for a moment I'm shocked. He never does what I tell him when I tell him. Timmy McNulty never gives in and for a moment I want to throw his behind off a cliff anyway because I think this Timmy is a pod person and I want the old Timmy back. He runs his hands through his mass of red-blond hair and gives me this grin that I can't quite describe but it's making me feel all sorts of weird things inside.

"What?"

He opens his mouth to say something but he can't seem to find the words so he closes it again. I take another bite of the strawberry whose juice decided that it would drip down the side of my mouth and hands. Kimi pulls her lips off my cousin long enough to realize that it's food that I'm munching on and of course where there's any mention of food, Phil Tommy and Chuckie are not too far behind. Usually, Timmy is included in that group but he hasn't moved from his spot. I notice that he is still trying to form something to say. He picks up his camera and snaps more pictures of us as Phil and Chuckie devours theirs whole while allergic Tommy is feeding Kimi the "best ones he can find". Therefore, I am the messiest one.

"I think we should head back now," Chuckie, always the responsible one, picks three more then turns to Tommy. "We told Lil and Susie we would be back at one."

Nodding, he gives Kimi one last strawberry and begins the trail back home. Timmy closes the lens and extends his hands to me. "Come Angelica. I know where there is a little river where you can get cleaned."

Frowning because I did not want him to see me this way, I take his hand. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Besides," he continues when we start walking behind Kimi and Chuckie. "I wouldn't want you to suffer back here by yourself."

So he knows. I never said I was that good at masking how I feel about things I hate to do. "I wasn't suffering alone. Chuckie is good person to be with when you're suffering because he usually is too."

Chuckie sticks his tongue out at me.

"Oh, watch out Angie!" Kimi giggles.

Timmy is chuckling at our little exchange and I find myself laughing too. It's amazing how close we've all gotten over the years. Thanks in large part to Timmy and of course that scheming cousin of mine. The walk back isn't as hard at the walk to the waterfall. I know it's because of Timmy's hand in mine but who is complaining. By the time we reach the last mile of the trip, the only person complaining is Chuckie.

"We'll meet you guys there." Timmy calls out to Tommy. Kimi turns to me with a knowing glint in her eyes. She smirks and ushers the clueless boys ahead. "It's a girl thing." She whispers to me.

Of course it is. Kimi's way of saying I need to get my claws on Timmy like Kimi and Susie attached theirs to Tommy and Phil. I have to admit (to myself, of course) that the feeling I was feeling earlier is intensifying with each step Kimi takes the boys away from us. However, I'm proud that on the outside, I am composed but if this boy grins at me one more time I'm not sure I can control myself.

You know what I mean, don't you?

This forest is giving me good vibes. I know I have to do something now or never. The river is calming my nerves as I rinse the sticky juice off my hands. He's taking pictures of me but I'm took wrapped up in plotting my next move that I don't notice...or care rather. If I don't do something now, that air head Elsa Mae St. Josef will be batting her cheesy plastic eyelashes at him when we get back to State.

No offense but what kind of name is Elsa Mae anyway?

And what does he see in her? I mean really fake eyelashes, nose lips and a fake butt. All plastic. She is definitely not Timmy's type.

"Who is not my type?"

Damn, I need to remember to keep my thoughts to myself. It's one of those damned Pickles habits. Thanks, Dad.

"Huh?" I looked up, realized that he was standing directly over me and this boy looked very confused.

"Well...you said 'she is definitely not Timmy's type' so I want to know. Who is not my type?"

I opened my mouth to answer but he cut me off.

"Don't lie."

Damn.

"All right. Elsa Mae St. Josef...that girl is not your type."

His blank stare is bothering me. Then he begins to laugh...loudly. "Why...would...you say that?" he manages to get out.

"It doesn't matter." I mumble. I hate that this is taking away all of my confidence...it is taking away everything that makes me...well, me. Damn him. "I'm done."

He helps me up.

He keeps my hands in his.

He is giving me that grin.

Damn. (That was like 'damn' number what? 2 million in the last five minutes.)

"Of course she is not my type Angelica." his voice is slow and deliberate.

I shrug. "It doesn't matter." I feel myself gathering strength. "It doesn't matter what bottom feeders you call girls are your type."

He smirks and doesn't let me go. "Don't you want to hear what I have to say, Angel?"

Ladies and gentlemen, I don't think you understand what he just did. Drop dead gorgeous Timmy McNulty just called me Angel. His pet name for me we went out sophomore year in high school. It rolls off his tongue effortlessly and for a few moments as I'm staring into his blue eyes. I feel extra girly. I don't feel menacing or anything. Kimi put it in the best words "It's like he makes you feel like you are the only girl in the world. all that other stuff like my being a tomboy (or in my case...what's the word Phil used...mean-spirited) doesn't matter. It's just boy likes girl. Tommy likes Kimi."

At the time, I thought she was being absolutely ridiculous and I tossed a throw pillow at her but I get it now.

I give him a grin of my own. "Just kiss me, Timmy."

And for the second time today, he doesn't argue with me. 'It's just boy likes girl. Timmy likes Angelica.' That girl makes a lot of sense lately. By the time we get back, we're grinning and holding hands. This is the third time for us but I get it now. Kimi mouths 'it's a girl thing' to me. I feel the feeling in my stomach again when he squeezes my hand but it calms me. He gives me that grin that makes me weak at the knees but I'm not ashamed of the feeling it gives me either. All I know is that if Elsa Mae even glances at Timmy she will be eating her eyes and picking her shattered pride off the floor. I bit into my strawberry and glance at the boy with that grin.

Timmy McNulty is mine.

Author's Note II: Angelica is always the most fun to write. Leave it at the box, it fuels the writers soul. What am I talking about? Reviews! Thanks for reading. I'm Starry Nights