Friends

She'd been surprised when her friends had shown up that morning. Excited but surprised nonetheless. But it was summer and summer was for freedom and friends. She'd already committed to cleaning the garage and having a boring morning because of it but it had gone much more smoothly and a great deal faster with her friends helping her.

Gradually, her friends had gone into the house, leaving her alone with him.

Trini kept her eyes focused on the book she held. Every fiber of her being was focused on the boy still lingering in the garage but he didn't need to know that. Wasn't going to find out until she was sure of what she wanted.

They had been friends for so long that she would do nothing to change it until she was entirely clear. Zack, Billy, Kim, and Jason had been her friends for as long as she could remember. The feelings she had for Zack were different than the ones she had for the other three. She couldn't explain it, couldn't make sense as to why. They just were.

Her head, the logical side, was warning her heart, the more emotional and romantic side, that life was not a fairytale. Girls did not get a happily ever after, especially not so young. The practical side knew it. The other swore there was always a chance. Her heart and head warred every time she was in his presence. It sure did make life interesting.

"Girl, don't forget to eat."

She smiled. Miss a few meals and her friends decided she was too forgetful to come out of the rain. Strangely, it made her feel loved instead of annoyed. "I won't."

"Watcha reading?"

"One of Grams' songs. I'd forgotten it until I saw it again." Her Grams had been a talented composer and jazz singer until she'd given it up for love and family. She hadn't stopped writing though and the family had journals full of songs.

"You want to sing to us?" Zack asked.

She saw the smirk on his face. Everyone thought she was shy but there was a difference between being shy and being quiet. She had always been better one on one, even with her friends, than she was in a big group.

"Maybe one of these days." Trini glanced up from underneath her lashes and his expression, one that had never been aimed at her before, gave her a secret thrill.

"Okay. Catch ya inside."

She watched him leave and a wild idea hit. She waited ten seconds, eyes locked on her watch. Trini ignored the twisted nerves cramping her stomach before singing the first two lines of the song she'd been looking at.

Her voice wasn't a source of pride even though her parents had told her it was a lovely one. It was just another part of her, like her hair color or her dark brown eyes. The thought of Zack being the only one to hear gave it an added richness and an intensity she'd never shown before.

Sometimes I lie awake at night

Wondering if you think of me

She let her voice trail off and she sighed as she stroked her fingers gently over the journal on her lap. Someday she hoped that Zack would feel the same way that she did. And that one day she'd have the courage to explore it.