Totally adorable in this chapter.

I woke up to the scent of flowers and fresh grass. I sat up and yawned, stretching and looking around to see my window open; a light breeze flowing in.

Getting up, I padded across the wooden floor to my wardrobe and swung it open. To the side, where nothing else hung, was a summery green dress, spaghetti straps and light prints over it. I didn't recognize it at all; it looked brand new. I took it out and examined the dress. It was so pretty I thought I'd eat it.

Instead I slid into it, put my hair in low pigtails and barely skipped out of my room. The house was quiet, very quiet.

I cleaned up around the kitchen, beer bottles littering around as if there had been a party here before hand. As if.

I pulled my phone over from the counter, looking at the millions of missed calls from yesterday, caller ID: PogueyBear. (Thank you Leah and Alex.)

"Morning," I jumped as arms slid around my small waist. I turned in his arms and smiled up as he pressed his forehead down to mine.

"Hey,"

"Where'd you get the dress?" He eyed the low fabric across my cleavage and I could swear he almost licked his lips.

I shrugged, "Just happened to be there," and then I smirked.

He grinned, "It occurred to me about a week ago that I'd missed your birthday."

I scoffed, "It was like… a month ago."

"Clearly missed," He kissed me quickly and pulled back, "so I got a little advice from the girls…"

I rolled my eyes, "Thanks meat head," I stole Alex's line and kissed him, arms curling around his neck.

He pulled back and looked over my shoulder, then his eyes flicked down to mine, "Fancy getting breakfast out?"

I grinned, "Race you to the car…"

He laughed once, "Right," then he grabbed me around the waist and threw me over his shoulder like a potato sack. Oh wow… his shoulders…

-

We had gotten breakfast out, and spent lunch in town. There was a small market near the footy field that Pogue was refusing to go to. I had my fingers laced in his, barley on the grassy field and pulling at his arm with three quarters my strength, "Come oooon!" I whined.

"No thanks," He said, a grin of satisfaction on his face as he jolted, getting better footing and then pulling back, our arms stretched between us.

"Please Pogo? It'll be fun! I might see a few old friends…" I smirked at him and threw myself forwards into his arms, "I can show off my boyfriend to them. Make them jealous."

He chuckled, his chest vibrating against mine, "Show me off? What am I? A trophy?"



"Of shorts." I kissed him quickly before claiming his hand again and pulling him behind me. He didn't refuse this time and we got to the gate and then in.

We wondered around, kids on rides screaming, parent's shopping, people chatting, couples eating cotton candy on the hill- oh! Cotton candy!

I bought some and waved a pink cloud in front of Pogue's lips. He ate the piece from my fingers, curling his hand around mine and my finger slipping between his lips. I giggled and replaced it with my lips.

My tongue pressed against his lower lip, the sugar passing onto my tongue.

"Don't eat me, Rach…" He whispered when I pulled back, licking my lips. "I know I taste good and all,"

I groaned lowly in his ear, "Oh you have no idea," with that I giggled, threw the naked stick into the bin and skipped off down the path.

Pogue insisted on being the man and winning me a big toy, but I refused. I didn't have any use of a stupid pink elephant when I had a hot boy on my arm already. "You rather I replace you with that thing?" I pointed at the elephant in a little kid's arm. It was twice his size.

"Replace me?" He nuzzled my neck, "Never."

"You'd be surprised," I smirked at him and he pulled back, his eyes intense. Oh, crud. "Uhh… I was joking. I swear it." I ran my fingers through his hair, letting strands fall into his eyes and make my stomach twist and turn.

He looked over his shoulder, "Do you know that girl? She seems to like staring at my feet."

I glanced over and scanned until I found her. She was tall, taller than me, rakey with fuzzy chestnut colour hair, eyes a light shade of brown… or was it gold?

"Pogue, she's not staring at your feet," I rolled my eyes and pushed him slightly away, hand lingering on his chest. My eyes narrowed down to her, "That's Hazel Derk… Dork as I recall it actually."

"She's hot," He said and my eyes snapped around to him. He looked at me with humour all over his face; he burst into laughter, "Rach, don't look like I just ran over your cat! She's hot for a broom."

I folded my arms, glaring back at her. She knew who I was, and she knew why I was glaring at her with such irritation. But worst was that… she knew I had something she didn't.

-

"Two… four… five… I win," Pogue grinned as we sat on a seat near the fair, watching the people walk by and counting how many of them were wearing band shirts of likings.

"Oh shut up," I glared playfully at him as I was curled up next to him, legs crossed with his hand on my knee as I tried to tie a thin string bracelet around his wrist. It wasn't much, but I'd worn it forever. It had been a gift from my mom's sister when I had turned thirteen and become a woman. She was totally over the top like that, but she was the closest family I had. It felt like something I should give him, other than kisses and… sex… and myself.



His eyes were locked on mine, but I avoided them as I tried to tie the knot in the string, cheeks blushing, the longer it took. Finally I let go and smiled down at it.

He looked down too, his eyes flashing with some sort of emotion I wasn't really used to. His eyes traced up my body to my own eyes and he leaned forwards, kissing me passionately for the first time today.

He was the one to pull away, kissing my freckled nose and twirling a piece of string between his fingers, "Thanks, I love it."

"Be glad it's not feminine looking…" I smirked, trying to cover up my bashfulness with a cocky comment. "…that'd be embarrassing on your part."

He laughed and traced along the one red string amongst the beige ones, "Now I have to give you something of mine,"

"Oh don't be stupid," I slapped his hand very lightly, "you already got me this… and I already have you," I pecked his lips, "I'm totally happy."

He smiled and caught my chin, pulling me back to his soft, moist lips. I breathed him in and got lost in a world of just us, but one small thought picked at the back of my mind like a loose thread, if I pulled too hard, I'd come undone…

Not once had we said we loved each other. We'd given each other everything and anything we wanted, that was enough for forever and more. But for some reason, my lips didn't fit around the words as easy as they did for say, Alex or Leah. I loved them like my sisters. They basically were my sisters. But this was different; the thought of saying those three words to him felt like I was signing a contract… except I couldn't find that small print.

What would I commit to if I said it? How much was I bonded to him if I did sign the contract with those words?

Could I deal with that? I was scared. I'd never admitted to anybody that I'd loved them like this. Not like this.

Pogue pulled away and ran his fingers over my shoulder, "Rach, what's wrong? You're all tense?"

"I think I need the bathroom," I mumbled, getting up quickly and bolting to the block. I didn't, however, enter. I walked around the side, pressing my back to the wall and sliding down into a protective sitting position.

I took my phone out with a shaky hand and pressed in two phone numbers. I was glad that my phone was able to pull off more than one call at once. This was an emergency…

"Alex, Quincy?"

"What's wrong, Rach?" Alex was the first to answer, her voice rushed, "You sound scared? What's happening?"

"Rachel? Are you alright?" Leah asked in a light, soothing voice.

I sighed and tried to get the words out, but my gut jolted again and there was silence for a moment.

"Do you know what's going on?" Alex whispered.

"Not at all," Leah said back, "Honey? What's wrong?"

"I can't…" I choked, "I can't sign it."

"Can't sign what? Dude, what the hell?!" Alex shouted into the phone.

"Shhhhhut up Alex," Leah hissed, "What are you signing? It isn't for anything illegal is it? You know-"

"I can't say it…" I whispered, "He- I do, but- I can't –"

"What can't you do?" Alex asked slowly, her voice more calm and that calmed me. I breathed slowly and then said the words.

"I can't tell him I love him."

There was a long pause in which I could hear them both breathing, almost hear them thinking. "Oh," That was Leah.

"Crap… umm…" Alex muttered.

"It's ridiculous," I hissed, curling up on myself, "I'm ridiculous, but…"

"Aw, hon," Alex sighed, "well you said you do, so why can't you tell him that?"

I wanted to transfer thoughts, make them see it the way I did. The whole contract signing and fine print and- "You're scared of commitment?" Leah said. It wasn't a question, it was a statement. And it hit me in the gut.

"Aw, Raaaach!" Alex laughed lightly and then went back to her serious mode, "He won't make you do anything you don't want to…"

"It's not that…"

"Then what is it?" She asked urgently.

"I don't know what it is," I sighed, pressing my fingers to my temples, "Quincy's right I think, but I don't understand why I'm so scared of it… it's not like… well…"

"You're a wild child, Rach," Quincy laughed.

"Too right, dude, it scared me first time too… but you know why?" I could hear the grin in Alex's voice. That confused me.

"It's because I meant it."

I chuckled with the two of them, "Well I guess that sort of makes sense."

"You do too, Rachel. You love him, we all know it." I could imagine her now, rolling her eyes at me in irritation.

I sighed and Alex laughed again, "He won't own you if you say it, you know. Reid doesn't own me and… I'm pretty sure Baby Boy doesn't own any party of Leah accept her feet." Lean snorted but Alex ignored it, "You give yourself to them, yada yada, but they can't claim you or anything. There's nothing to worry about."

I nodded slowly, my breathing taking on a new level, "Okay… Thanks… That's what I needed to hear I think,"

"Rachel, you're hyperventilating into the phone…" Alex said lamely.

"Do you need me to fly back there right now?" Leah asked.

"No, I don't need a baby sitter." I shot quickly and then licked my lips, "I've gotta go. Talk to you later."

"Bye Rachybug," Alex's tone was bubbly again.

"See you soon," Leah's was soft as always, and for once, I actually hesitated hanging up on them.