(Chanel's POV)

"Ma, what do you mean Galleria is leaving?! Is this true?" This can't be happening. She can't leave now. I need my best friend, I need my Bubbles! I can't believe she is THAT mad at me; that she would just leave. I've got to go find her right now, so we can sort this out. I tell my mom and Auntie Dorothea that I've got to speak to Galleria but they stop me. They both try to calm me down and tell me to give it some time. But everything within me screams that I should go find her right away.

My mom MUST know what's going on in my head, because she insists that I spend the night in her room. She tells me that it's better to wait until morning before I talk to Galleria. I grudgingly agree, but now all I can do is just stand here blaming myself for letting things get so messed up.

Aqua tries to ease my guilt by admitting, "We've all been distracted."

Dorinda joins in with, "I can't believe I wasted so much time. I wasn't there for her."

"She thinks I dumped her for Marisol," I think aloud.

"Well you did."

Aqua's response immediately pisses me off. I jump down her throat in a heartbeat. "And how would you know that, Miss Fashion Designing Diva?"

I didn't really mean to be rude to Aqua, but she caught me off guard. I hadn't really thought about the way my previous statement sounded. All of a sudden it hits me: I used the expression 'dumped.' An expression you only use when you are talking about dating. Why did I say it that way? We're not… She doesn't like me like that. And I don't like her like that. Realizing where my train of thought is headed, I walk away from the other girls to have some privacy. I curl up into the corner of the couch and clutch at a blanket before I let my mind resume its feverish pace.

I don't like her like that, do I? But, well, maybe. I think about all of the strange little feelings I've been having lately that I have just ignored or explained away. As the memories wash over me, so does a strange sense of warmth. I always sleep better when Bubbles is around. Like on the plane ride, when I woke up and realized that I had snuggled up to her shoulder. And anytime we have sleepovers. She just makes me feel so safe and secure.

Also, her touches have had a weird effect on me lately. Whenever our hands touch my skin tingles and my heart skips. I remember feeling the tingles at the little café where we met Angel. As soon as Galleria touched my hand to get my attention, I felt them all over. That's why I put my hand back on hers after she took it away. I liked the feeling. And the kiss…. If I'm honest with myself, I've been thinking about that kiss A LOT since it happened. What would have happened if I'd just angled my lips toward hers? Would the tingles have been fireworks?

Then there's the fact that the girl is gorgeous with a capital G! So thick and curvy, and she knows just how to dress. And her smile--I don't even know how to explain what her smile does to me. It just lights up her entire face and makes it next to impossible for anyone who sees her not to smile back. Wake up, girlfriend! This all adds up to a very big crush! I have a crush on my best friend. Except now I've gone and ruined everything. I was trying to act normal and ignore my feelings, and ended up pushing her away. And now she must think that I've replaced her as my best friend. How am I ever going to fix this?