Disclaimer: I own nothing. Only the drama and tension I'm going to cause. Enjoy.

-

Chapter Seven

"I'm going to miss your lips. And everything attached to them."

-

"I don't want to go." I said from my cross-legged position on Mattie's bed, as she threw a number of shirts from her wardrobe to the floor.

"Tough." She shrugged, uncaring, as more shirts were discarded.

"She hates me. She stalks around the house when we're alone and she doesn't make any attempt at conversation. She's still cut that Pippa cried and ran into my arms on Christmas morning when she didn't like the present Parker had got her." I rambled, as I played nervously with one of my plaits. "How is that my fault?" I cried, even though I knew I was beginning to sound like a broken record.

"I don't know." Mattie muttered tiredly, but I continued ranting. "But obviously I'd bribed the five year old into hating her. So she hates me." I huffed. "Stupid cow." I finished, as Mattie threw me a look.

"Okay, now you sure there isn't some tension coming from somewhere else?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow and looking at me suspiciously. "Something to do with someone who's name being with an R, perhaps?" She finished slyly, and I shook my head quickly, crossing my arms over my chest stubbornly, refusing to give in to Mattie.

Of course, by acting in such a childlike manner, I'd given her exactly what she'd wanted.

"Oh no." I groaned finally, my head falling into my hands, as Mattie sat down on the edge of the bed. "Its just, so hard. He's always there. In my head, in my heart. When I'm at home, there's him and Parker. Perfect and content." I spat "But he's always there, right in front of me, tantalizing me, tormenting me. And even when I'm not with him, he's in my mind. Haunting me. Its like, no matter how hard I try to move past it… try to remember how I had moved past it, I never really did." I finished sadly, brushing away the stray tear that had slid down my cheek.

"Oh hun." Mattie said, crawling up the bed and wrapping an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to her "I didn't… I wouldn't…" She stuttered, obviously lost for words.

"It's okay." I sniffed, smiling a little. "I thought I did the pretending job a little too well."

"But I should have known." She exclaimed, obviously annoyed with herself. "I'm your very best friend in the entire world. The fact that you're still so in love with well, your only love, should have been painstakingly obvious to me!"

"Mattie." I cried, as she turned to me red faced from yelling. "Calm down." I said, as she breathed in and out slowly until her face returned to her normal, lightly tanned colour.

"Better." I said, smiling at her, as she gave me a little half grin back.

"Sorry." She said, "I just, worry about you." She finished, offering me an apologetic look, causing me to laugh.

"Oh Mattie." I said, pulling her into a hug, which she gratefully accepted.

"This is why you have to come tonight." She mumbled into me "To get wasted with me and forget the world. I mean, what else are we supposed to do on New Years when we're fricken miserable?"

"Sit at home and cry while watching Titanic for the billionth time while we scream 'No Rose, there IS enough room on that board' over and over?" I replied, grinning, as Mattie pinched me.

"It was one time. One time!" She said as I yelped in pain. "Can't I ever live it down?"

"Nope." I replied happily, finally knowing why I was still able to act and function as a normal human being. Because she was there too.

-

"So, maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Mattie whispered next to me, as Parker and Sara sat across from us, their eyes set forming small slits as she gave them a little wave. Rolling her eyes, Sara leant over and whispered something into Parkers ear, to which Parker grinned rather evilly in response, as Luke and Ric approached them.

"Is it sad that we're so intrigued by their relationships?" I turned, asking Mattie, only to find her over at the cooler, reaching for another Cruiser. "Hmm?" She replied as she sat down next to me, her eyes falling instantly on Lucas.

"Never mind." I replied, shaking my head and laughing a little, before stealing the drink and skulling half. "Nothing like New Year in Summer Bay, right?" I replied, ignoring the rude gesture she threw my way.

"Nothing like New Year in Summer Bay." She replied hastily, skulling the rest of her drink before pushing it to the side and turning to me. "You know what?" She asked, as I shook my head. "I'm sick of being ogled at by those two." She continued, rather loudly. "I think its time we danced."

"I agree." I said loudly, taking her hand and leading her towards the jukebox that Sally had rented. Looking over the songs, Mattie pointed out several that soon had us in hysterics.

"I don't see why you won't let it play." Mattie pouted at me, as I stood in front of the machine, refusing to let her put her song choice in. "Backstreet Boys were a huge deal during my childhood. I don't see why playing "I Want It That Way" is really so wrong?"

"Hello Ladies." A smooth voice said from behind me, interrupting what was really going to be the rebuttal of the year.

Turning, I found Ric standing suspiciously close to me, his arm resting gently on the edge of the Juke Box. He threw me a half smile, as if he knew his close proximity to my body wasn't enough to make my heart melt already.

"Oh, hi Ric." I said nonchalantly, as Mattie laughed a little next to me.

"That's it?" He asked, as I grinned a little at him.

"What else do you want?" I said, cocking an eyebrow at him, and I swore I saw him blush a little.

"How about a dance?" He replied, winking at me.

I checked over his shoulder, and found that Parker and Sara were nowhere in sight.

"Won't the girlfriend get a little jealous?" I replied, ignoring Mattie's not so subtle nudging.

"Ah, she and Sara have gone for a walk. They said the music was giving them a headache." He said, actually rolling his eyes.

"Seriously…" I replied, as Mattie stifled her giggles behind me, before yelling over my shoulder. "She'd love to. Where's Luke?" She asked abruptly, in a not so subtle fashion, and Ric rolled his eyes once more.

"I think he mentioned something about getting more drink, went inside." He answered, and Mattie was gone in a flash.

"Something is seriously wrong with that girl." Ric said, as we walked towards some empty seats. "She's not still all loved up about Luke, is she?" He asked, and I just had to laugh,

"Mattie. No no no. She's just had a little too much tonight…" I said, wobbling a little as I eased myself down into the chair.

"Apparently she's not the only one." Ric mocked, as I stuck my tongue out at him ever so maturely. "I'm fine. Just a little giddy." I replied, and as I turned to look fully at Ric, I found him gazing back at me intently.

"What?" I asked, smiling at him, turning red under the intensity of his look.

"It's just, you haven't changed, have you?" He said, his hand instinctively reaching out and tucking a lose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Haven't I?" I retorted, pulling away from him a little.

"Cass." He said, his hand reaching out and cupping the side of my face gently. His thumb brushed lightly over my skin sending shivers down my spine, my body responding naturally to his electric touch. My eyes fluttered closed as his hands continued their soft caressing of my skin, his touch tender, loving. All rational thought was pushed aside, and I was dragged into the dream world of yesteryear, all because of the intensity of his touch, his tantalizing touch that I couldn't say no to.

"Ric I…" I muttered, but his hand pulled me closer to him. His breath was on my lips, and he smelt of a mixture of alcohol and something else, something enticing. Cautiously, he closed the gap between us his lips connecting with my own, causing fireworks. Around us the crowd was screaming, yelling, welcoming in the New Year, but we were lost, in feelings and memories that should never have resurfaced, should never have been allowed to play out.

Pulling away from him, I pushed myself up, creating space between us. His darkened eyes looked up at me, and I fought to stop the tears from falling.

"That shouldn't have happened." I said finally, as Ric looked away, a little crushed. "You've got a girlfriend Ric. Tall, brunette, tanned, goes by the name of Parker?" I said sarcastically, as he turned and glared a little at me. "And I, I have morals." I said, breaking down a little.

"I…" He began, but I cut him off, knowing I would be unable to hear whatever he had to say.

"You look at me, and my heart flutters. You kiss me, and my world moves. And I can't live like that again. I can't live knowing that you kissed me while you're with her. I can't live knowing that wherever you go my heart will go with you, but you're heart is torn between two people. You can't have this both ways." I said, pleading with him. "You can't have us both in you're life. I can't be that person any more… I can't be that plutonic friend. Not when I want to be so much more." I cried. Ric stood up, closing the distancing between us, his arms wrapping themselves around my frail form, pulling me to him.

In his arms I felt safe. But in his arms, I felt memories flow over me, of happiness, sadness, good times and bad, and knew that if I stayed there too long, I'd be in danger of losing my heart fully to him once more… when I didn't know if I had his own.

"Ric." I mumbled, pushing him away. "Just… walk away. Go back to her. And forget me. Life will be easier for you that way. Simpler. It will just, be perfect." I cried, the tears spilling, as I turned and walked away from him for the last time.

-

AN: Thanks to Jade for proofing. You rock girl! Well... hmm... did you enjoy? Reviews tell me of such enjoyment... and they also make me want to write faster... hmm.