Teenage Dream

by Lucy Samb

You/ Darren Criss fanfic. The story is about your life with Darren in high school, college and professional life among friendship,love,fights,comings and goings and how you both go through serious stuff such as bullying,suicide,discrimination and life itself. It starts when you meet Darren, a guy of your school in St. Ignatius College Preparatory who never noticed you, a loser.

45. Mr Fluffy

A/N: Hi guys! Guess what? I'm back! Yeah, finally! It's been a really rough week because of my final exam, which was today, and unfortunately it didn't go so well! But I'm being positive about this... So, I should stop rambling and talking about boring stuff! Now back to the fanfic... It was weird to me not to have updated last week, I must admit I got used at updating weekly. I hope you're excited to read this new chapter! W is back! Oh yeah! Would W be the same person or would be someone new? Ah! You'll figure out within time. Anyway, this part of the story doesn't focus mainly on W, so it's not gonna be like in High School, maybe it's gonna be worse or maybe not. Anyway, I think that bringing W back was an interesting plot twist, I want to keep this story interesting and maybe complicated and the less I want is to make this boring; I hope I'm getting that! Besides W is back, we have Darren and Freckles; would they be able to be friends or not? Would Freckles believe what Darren said? Would Darren forgive Freckles for what she did? What would happen with them? And, we have Brian, poor Brian; would he be able to make it with all the things that are happening to him? Why would W threaten only Brian? These are questions only to make it sound really intriguing, just bullshit! One more announcement: tomorrow is my birthday, so you better send me virtual cakes! I'll be waiting for that! Haha. Okay, with all of that, I'll start answering your reviews!

alicegursk: The lovely W is back! I think that many things were left unfinished, like why Jim appeared that day in the hotel room, if that was something Jim was forced to do or not, and more things. Now it's time to figure it out with time, only with time. It's time to know who is Jim, why is he now threatening Brian, if that is Jim as Darren and Freckles think or if that is other person, who is involved in this, and a lot of things that you'll figure out with time, only with time. Am I being very repetitive? Punch them on their faces because they're so sweet! Or you punch them or I'll eat them, it's up to you! They must taste like chocolate and I'm hungry. In this chapter maybe you'll want to punch them too. No teddy bear? Well, I know I have you! For a moment I thought you wanted to get a divorce and I started to worry! And you, missy! I know what you did there! You must know that I cannot live with suspense because I'm very curious! I need to know what feeling you have! Do not keep it in your mind! Tell me! Tell me! Let's make a deal. If by the end of this chapter you think I deserve to know because I wrote something you liked, then you'll tell me; if not, well, I'll have to suffer! Is it a deal?

PotterHead62: Yes I'm an evil a cruel person! I think Lucifer took over my body! That bitch! Don't worry, soon I'm gonna call an exorcist; I hope it works out. If not, I'll have to deal with that for the rest of my life, which isn't a cool thing. I think I'll go with Deckles! I don't know, I guess I like how it sounds; I'm repeating it in my mind. And you don't have to worry; I never break a promise! Remember that I have to write also about their lives in their professional life; so we have time and they have time to work everything out; but first they will be just friends. You said it! Where would the fun be if they get back together right away? I think it'll be interesting if one of them feel jealous because they see the other person with someone else. How would they feel if that comes to happen? Are you still sick? I hope you aren't! But if you are, I'll send you this: . . (copy and paste this link). I hope it works (because it's not allowed to post links here) and I hope you like it!

Vcriss: Yes, Jim (or someone else?) messed with Channing's dad! But maybe it was just a threat; W didn't do it for real. I agree, Jim or whoever that person actually is, is a jerk. Yes, I wouldn't be convinced about that either. I mean, it sounds like a lie; for sure I wouldn't believe it; even if the person is being honest, I would doubt. Yes, poor Freckles because she's struggling with all of that; but also poor Darren who notices that she doesn't believe him when he's telling 'the truth'. Maybe she ends up believing him, or maybe not and she will have to look for more evidence; or maybe Darren will feel very offended because she doesn't believe him so then things will get rough for them, or maybe not. I'm just saying possibilities that may or may not happen. Let's see what will happen!

Guest 1: Why do you hate Jim? Poor Jim! I'm just joking, obviously. But the question is: Is that person Jim or is someone else? We only have what Freckles and Darren suspect, but maybe they're wrong! But yes, I give you the permission to punch his face if you want! You could help Darren and Freckles with this. Yes, I know, Brian is going through real shit and his situation is very tragic. Maybe things will get better for him or not; maybe he won't be able to make it. Who knows? I'm glad you liked the part when Darren and Freckles start remembering things of their past; I enjoyed writing that; I needed to add something cute to much drama!

Nicole: So many feelings? That means something good for me! It'd be lame if what I write doesn't make you feel anything at all! So I find that interesting. Yeah, I know, things seem to get worse and worse for him, it's kind of tragic, isn't it? And may I say that I loved when you said "loco in the coco crazy"? I laughed a lot and I may or may not be laughing right now while writing this. Yes I am and I'm proud of it because I got a totally awesome nickname! This loco in the coco crazy made official the return of W! Maybe it won't be as important as it was in high school, but lots of things (and maybe worse things) will happen from now on thank to W. Exactly, W has Freckles' number and she changed it when she was hiding from Darren. How has W got it? That's a mystery that won't be soon revealed. Don't you like mysteries? Yes, he will get a new girlfriend. How do you picture her? Would she be a bitch like Karen or would she be a nice girl? Ah, we'll see. Hey, I need to find where that magical place called "bathroom" is, maybe I'll also find some first years to play with them too. I want to play hide and seek with them, because apparently I'm a good finder. Dumbledore will never be dead as long as someone remembers him, and I remember that old man. Maybe now it's time for Neville to take action on the matter. And you know what? You know what, draco-nicole? Fuck that year! Okay? You told me 'courage'; now I feel super honored! And thank you a lot for wishing me an early happy birthday! I'm getting older, man. Too sad! haha. And thanks for what you said at the end, I guess I needed someone to tell me something like that; not only about the fanfic but I also took it for all the aspects of my life; I guess I still need to relax and take things easy or I'll explode. And I wouldn't like to explode, it'd be disgusting to see a lot of blood and entrails and organs everywhere. That's very morbid. I guess I need to stop talking.

Emma: I wasn't kidding! W is back, that bitch or asshole! I'm very cheeky and cruel! But W had to appear again because many things were left unfinished and it's time to figure out everything, something that will take time, only to make this more intriguing. But W and the threats won't be the main topic of this second part as it was in the first part of high school. I don't know, I found interesting the plot twist, I missed the action and mystery and wickedness of W! When you mentioned the Golden Gate National Recreation area, I googled it and I saw some pictures. I must admit that it's a beautiful place and its landscapes and views are fantastic. I wish I could live there! If the restaurant you mentioned is the Cliff House, then I must admit that the place is truly wonderful. But by what you described I could picture the place and it's seems a very relaxing and nice place, so I'd really like if you take me there if someday I go to San Fran! I know what it feels to go somewhere away from your family when you start college. It happened to me, so I have an idea. If there's something I can tell you is that at first you're gonna feel bad and you're gonna miss your family a lot, not only your family, but the places where you used to be, the people of your city, your friends, the weather (seems something stupid but it is not); just the comfort of living in a family home with all that that implies: you'll be kind of forced to do things you weren't used to do because others always did it for you, such as cleaning, paying bills, buying groceries, cooking and doing dishes; and besides all of that you have to study. It seems something really silly, but when you face that reality it turns to be a tough reality in which you're alone and no one else will do those things for you if you don't do it or if someday you feel like not doing it. While it's true that you'll be forced to carry an adult life full of responsibilities and it'll be hard, don't worry, it's not as bad as you'll feel at first. You'll acquire independency and that's something amazing; you'll have a different kind of life, yes, but that's gonna be as good as you want to make it. You'll live new experiences and when you get your degree, everything since that moment will be easier for you; you'll learn how to manage everything and you'll figure out how and where you want to live your life in the future. Your family is always gonna be there for you, even if they're distant; you can always visit them or they can visit you; and thankfully we have internet connection, so nothing is too bad. So, don't be afraid of choosing a University that is away from home; sometimes it's worth it. Another thing; now talking about what you want to be and what people think about it or what they tell you. When I had to decide what to study, everybody (not kidding, it was everybody) wanted me to become a lawyer because that way I'd earn a lot of money; they tried to convince me for a whole year to the point that I thought that it was what I wanted to be, which was a lie. My mom was the only one who stood for me and told me: It's your life and whatever you decide to study is gonna be part of your life forever, so you're the only one who can decide what you want to become because no one else is gonna live your life for you. And that's when I decided to go against everybody and study something that no one wanted; no one (except my mom) supported me and no one believed in me and in my ability to be an architect; it was really hard because they couldn't understand that I don't give a damn shit about money, I have other ideas and things in my mind; I only want to help people by designing houses for them for free because of personal reasons (I don't wanna bore you with this). But here I am, and only now, after 5 years I've been studying this, people started to believe in me, because I'm good at it and I'm good at it because I love what I do. And Darren said: Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do what you're doing because the only person who's gonna stop you from doing what you want is you. You want to be an actor because you fucking love it and you're fucking good at it? Become one; if you do something you love, you'll succeed. Yes, maybe you won't be rich and famous as other people think you want. But since when to succeed in life is to be rich and famous? To succeed in life, as I see it, is to live your life with passion, giving everything of you, doing what you love, sharing your talent and inspire people with the things you love doing to show them what true happiness is; to show people that true happiness is not about being rich and famous as lately everybody thinks; because money cannot buy happiness. You'll succeed because you're gonna be happy; that is what matter. So screw everybody who tells you that you can't do what you love; this is your life, live it the way you want; life is too short to live it any differently. You don't annoy me and it wasn't inappropriate, don't think that. I'm really glad that you decided to tell me all of that, because somehow I already experienced what you're experiencing, so maybe something of what I said could help you. I love talking and I do appreciate chatting with you, so don't worry about writing long messages; as you can see it, I write long messages as well! About Darren's family house, the way you described it made me picture it in my mind; after 5 years I learned how to picture it with little things! haha. So, you got the scholarship and you have to decide on a University soon! I bet you're amazed and also a bit nervous! Just remember, don't be afraid of anything, of what people tell you or of being away from your family. Human beings have the ability to adapt to different circumstances, despite how different from what you're used at it is. Just believe that what you decided is the best option for you and your future and never regret anything you decided to do in a certain moment in your life. Decisions are hard, but what matters is not the decision itself but what you make of it. That way, all the options are good. I wish I helped you somehow!

Guest 2: Of course W wasn't gone! Lots of things were left unfinished and let's be honest: someone who has been messing for so long wouldn't disappear all of a sudden, right? Yes! I told you I'd mention the adorkable thing again! I'm very glad to know that you were excited and it made you fangirl when you read that! Maybe I'll make them mention that again, it's something really cute and I love that. Ah! I don't know if that is gonna bring them together as it happened the first time. I think this time something really important must happen for them to be together again, and it's gonna be beautiful! You have no idea how much I enjoyed writing Freckles as a badass! Besides, I don't want to repeat what happened to her with W in high school; I want to show how with this new personality she's gonna face W, I found interesting. And ahhh! So cute! Your guy best friend calls you Freckles and sometimes Sunny? Yes, you never told me before. That is so very cute! It's funny that you're like her! You must be a really good person since that is the way I picture Freckles! The only thing that isn't cool is the fact that you've been harassed; I hope that part of your life is over since no one deserves that, that's cruel. No, thank you for reading this story! I'm really happy that you do it and what you said made me brighten my day, so I guess we're even! Thank you for saying that, honestly!

Vicky: I think one day I told you that you're very clever and you have the ability to guess things that will happen. If I said it, I remind you that; and if not, now you know. Yes, W was back! But it won't be like in high school, thought; this time is gonna be different; maybe it's gonna be worse or maybe not; and this time W won't be the main topic of the story. Yes, Brian's situation is getting worse with time and maybe more things will happen, it's kind of tragic. But maybe someday everything, somehow, will get better in the future. You're the first to tell me that you appreciated Darren's behavior! Darren is a nice person and I wanted to show that, what he can do for people who aren't even his friends; and Brian was the perfect excuse to do it. Maybe they will become good friends, it'd be really nice, I think. About the W team; it has old members but also new members and one of the new members is gonna be an important person that maybe I mentioned before or maybe not. It's a secret! Yes, in this part I wanted to make Freckles different, to show a different thing and not to repeat what happened in high school; so definitely it's not gonna be like in high school; and do not forget that W is interested in Brian now, not in Darren and Freckles. Or yes? You'll find out with time. Ah! Your last question was a very interesting one. How would W have found that Brian was stirring up the past if he only looked in internet? Maybe that's not the only thing that Brian has done and he lied because of a very important reason; maybe he knows something that he shouldn't know. Did I say that something very dark is gonna be involved? Karen... She will appear, but there's something behind Karen that could be good or bad. For now, it's a secret.

MeMi83: Yes! W is back because I'm mean and I wanted to add more drama! haha. And you were right, I wanted to bring W back because after all W was very important in the past and also because many things were left unfinished. Why would W disappear so easily? After doing all that W has done, W wouldn't give up so easily. But it's gonna be very different from high school because nothing is the same and because I don't want to repeat what happened in high school because that way it'd be boring to read. I think that after a while things will start to make sense because you'll find out things that before you didn't know and also because I love, I truly love, plot twists. Maybe nothing is what it seems; or maybe I just want to make you believe that something mysterious is gonna happen and at the end nothing was mysterious. Yes, poor them! But they're stronger now. Freckles is different, she's more self-confident and she's stronger; so is Darren; they now know how to deal with bullies, after all they had to go through. Brian's case is different; this is the first time for him. No, not in the shins! Kick my stomach, but not the shins! haha. And thank you a lot for wishing me happy birthday! I totally could hear the sound of you singing to me! And I pictured myself with a birthday bonnet! haha I'm weird sometimes. Oh! It didn't go so well. Well, my thesis I think is going well, but not the last exam I had, it was really hard and they killed me; but I have a chance to make it again on July, so everything is fine. Thank you a lot for all the things you sent me! Here I am now, smiling like a goofball! I'll send your way a portion of my birthday cake!

Guest 3: First off, thank you a lot for understanding me. I also understand you that you were busy so for that you couldn't comment! I guess this is a hard time for everybody! We all are busy thanks to the stupid exams! Yes! I think that Freckles and Darren really needed to talk, in a quiet way. I think this time things between them will work out. And who knows? Maybe they end up falling in love again! I think that would be cute, but first they're gonna be friends, what I think it'll be interesting too. It'll be like a new side of their relationship now that they're different. Would that person be Jim or someone else? Is only one person or is a team like the last time? Thing is, it's gonna be different from high school, because Freckles and Darren are different, because now Brian is also involved, because there are things involved that you still don't know, and because maybe this time W wants to mess only with Brian because of something in particular. Anyway, W won't be the main topic of this second part of this story that takes place in college. Yes, you'll hear about W but you'll find out things slowly.

Caroline Boeira: Yes! W is back! But it's not gonna be like before. Different things will happen because different people and things are involved and because no one is as they were. Who is W this time? Is it a team? Is it only one person? Is it someone new or not? You'll find out with time. However, W won't appear so much since it's not the main topic of this part. Is that good or bad news?

amritsoomal: Yay! You're back! Firstly: Yes, W is back, but don't worry because it's not gonna be like in high school. Things, people and just everything is different, so the way they're gonna deal with W is gonna be different. Besides, W wants to mess with Brian and Freckles and Darren are gonna be involved, but only because they're friends with him. Why is that? Because there's something behind all of this. Besides, W won't appear so much since it's not the main topic of this second part. There are still things that must be solved. Secondly: Maybe they will be all cuddly like in high school, but they will try out new things first. I believe in happy endings! Thirdly: Brian, for Freckles, is just her best friend. Actually that is the problem, how their friendship will end up after Freckles finds that her best friend is in love with her. I just want to show what happens when your best friend falls in love with you and you don't love him back the way he does, something that happens too often. Fourthly: That's right; Freckles' name isn't in the story because I didn't want to give her a real name, just the nickname that Darren gave her, or the nickname that Brian gave her. I don't know why, I thought it could be cool if I don't give her a name and believe me, it's hard sometimes! I prefer to keep her as the 'you' with the nicknames. Fifthly: You love food? Ah! Me too! Especially sweets. Specifically chocolates. I can't picture my life without chocolates! Sixthly: Thank you very much! I'm getting older, I don't understand. I thought I was Dorian Gray! Such a shame! haha. Seventhly: You gave me a Krispy Kreme doughnut and a jar of Nutella! My life is complete, you have no idea how much I love that! Time to eat! Only because sometimes I'm nice I'll share that with you! Eighthly: No, unfortunately I'm not going to DC' tour! I don't live in USA, so I guess we're two who will have to eat a lot of food to face this depression. Ninthly: Do you suspect of them? I like your idea of them all being a massive family; it'd be cool and really nice! So, if it wasn't Mandy, maybe Mandy could meet Joey someday. Tenthly: Oh, don't worry about that, I tend to ramble too! Eleventh: Maybe I should leave too so I can let you read this new chapter. Twelfth: I don't like the number eleven either! So, I decided to finish it in the twelve just as you did. Now I can really let you read this new chapter. I hope you can enjoy it! I think it's cute.

Okay guys, that was all for today. I really hope you can enjoy this new chapter. As the name of the chapter, I think this chapter is fluffy and sweet and all. Drama is still present, but it's a cute chapter, I think. Anyway, I'll let you read it and I'll be waiting for you to tell me what you think. Do not forget to send me virtual cakes! I wish you all magical days full of magical hugs and magical laughter. Warm fuzzies and till next Saturday!

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Teenage Dream – Chapter 45 – Mr. Fluffy.

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"Come on, bud; this is the last box we have to unpack!" Joey said opening the box and I huffed, feeling weary.

"Cannot we take a break? I'm very tired and I'm sweating; ugh, this is disgusting. Who sweats in fall?" I said annoyed, running a hand through my sweaty forehead and sitting on the floor.

It's been a month since the incident of Brian's room. Now it was early October and Joey and I finally moved to a bigger apartment with 2 separate rooms, kitchen, living room and dining room. It was an off-campus cozy apartment in the 1001 S Forest Ave. Yes, it wasn't so near the North Campus, but it was really close to downtown. And I was really glad that finally we found a place, now Jen would be able to come here whenever she wanted with no complications.

"I don't know exactly where this should be." Freckles said frowning and amused, showing a light-blue rocketship printed blanket.

"Hey, that's my blanket! Gimme it!" Joey said grabbing the blanket and wrapping himself in it as we all laughed.

"And what about this?" Brian asked also frowning and amused, showing the sorting hat I made. I laughed out loud when I saw it.

"I really think you shouldn't be helping us. These are private things." I said still laughing, grabbing the sorting hat and placing it on my head. "I'm a Harry Potter fan, okay?" I said proudly and everybody laughed.

"We all are, yet we don't have a sorting hat and... a wand?" Freckles said pulling out from one box the branch shaped wand I once carved.

"That's because you're a muggle." I said grabbing the wand.

"Who told you I'm a muggle, Criss?" Freckles said raising an eyebrow, mischievously.

"You don't even have a wand." I said shrugging, pretending to be indifferent.

"How are you so sure? Maybe I'm not a common witch..." She said mischievously, in an intriguing way.

"Oh my wizard God! Are you a horcrux?" I asked raising my eyebrows with my eyes wide open.

"Maybe, who knows? It's a secret that it's not gonna be revealed to an ordinary wizard like you, Criss." She said superbly, raising an eyebrow and smiling mischievously.

"I don't care what you all say, I'm Ron Weasley and I'm totally awesome." Joey said eating a redvine with his blue headband.

"And I'm a Hufflepuff. Really, once there was this game..." Brian started saying but Joey interrupted him.

"Man, what the hell is a Hufflepuff? Seriously." Joey exclaimed disturbed.

"Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders..." Brian started explaining but I wasn't listening anymore.

A bunch of ideas popped in my mind, thinking that it'd be cool to make a musical, like a parody based on several of the Harry Potter novels. I knew that Matt Lang, Nick Lang and Brian Holden were writing a book about this, but what if we turned that into a musical? What if we performed it on the University of Michigan campus? Everybody loves Harry Potter and everybody is like a little kid and totally nerd when it comes to Harry Potter; look at Joey, Brian and Freckles arguing about Harry Potter as though it was a defense of life or death; they're so excited. People love it. This could be actually a good idea.

"I don't care what you say! I'm not listening! It's cooler to be a Hufflepuff than to be a Gryffindor." Brian exclaimed, arguing like a child. "My motto is 'Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil'. What is your motto, eh? 'Their daring, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart.' That's so lame. Lame, lame, lame."

"You know what? Both of your mottos are boring! Mine is totally awesome. 'Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness.' I'm awesome, bitch!" Freckles exclaimed superbly, amused.

"Are you a Slytherin?" I asked intrigued, frowning amused.

"No, but I should be because that is my motto." She said smiling amused, crossing her arms.

"I bet you're a Ravenclaw." I said almost sure. "You know, you value intelligence, creativity, learning, and wit."

"Oh, I feel flattered and surprised." She said smiling. "Yes, I'm a Ravenclaw. What are you?"

"Apparently I'm a Hufflepuff too, like Brian. But I should be a Gryffindor." I replied shrugging.

"Who wants a RedVine?" Joey asked offering some.

"I want!" Brian exclaimed like child, taking one. "Oh man, I love this candy so freaking much."

"I want too, I'm starving!" I said taking one. "RedVines, what the hell can't they do?" I said laughing.

"Freckles?" Joey said handing her the package of RedVines.

"Oh no, thanks." She answered politely. "I brought my very own snack." She said pulling out from her bag a low calorie cranberry snack bar. I looked at her serious.

"That seems awful." I commented indirectly.

"It's not so bad, actually." She answered smiling, eating it. "And it's healthy."

"Hmm..." I commented disgusted, eating my RedVine.

I looked at Brian and he had just the same disgusted expression as me; he was shaking his head slowly. Well, Brian and I started to know more about each other in the last month. I found out he was actually a cool guy and that was great. I started getting along with him and we were kind of friends now. Even Joey and Meredith were his friends too. Brian told me more about his life: he told me what he was studying and why; he told me about his passion for football and how he enjoyed being part of the football team in high school; he told me what things he liked to do and what not; he told me about his favorite foods, movies and books, his favorite bands and songs; and lot of more random things. I told him mine too. We had a lot of things in common, as we also had things we didn't share. But this for sure helped us to know more about each other. And there was this night in which we started talking about more deep stuff, I started telling him some things about my past and he felt comfortable enough to start telling me things about him. So then he told me the story of his father, even if I already knew it thanks to Freckles; but he also told me something about his past, how her mother ran away when he was eight and his father had to take care of him by his own with his illness. He told me he hasn't seen his mother ever since; he didn't know anything about her and she never tried to find him; so it was as though he never had a mother and he was fine about it, because his father was all he needed, his father was like his mother as well. That was something I didn't know and that made me feel even worse. Like, his father was the only family he had and then all this thing of W happened. I was feeling really bad for Brian and really mad at Jim or whoever the person who stole the money was. Ever since Brian told me all of that, we started to have a better relationship and he was just like any other of my friends. Freckles was really happy about this, because this also made grow my friendship with her. Anyway, one of the things I talked to Brian was my concern about Freckles' health and he admitted he was also concerned. He told me he tried to tell her that she should eat more and that this was serious stuff, but he could never do anything relevant because Freckles was like a pain in the ass whenever he tried to talk about it. He mentioned about her work as a model and he told me that Freckles' explanation was that she needed to maintain her body for her work; so she was eating healthy foods all the time and she usually skipped dinner. He told me that since they started living together in his old room already repaired; the only way he got to make her eat more and better was if he cooked and lied her telling that all she was eating was low in calories meals. But she then found it out and she was really mad at him like for an entire week; ever since he couldn't do much. Brian looked at me raising an eyebrow and I nodded.

"So, guys, are you staying for dinner? We have to use for the first time our new kitchen." I asked on purpose.

"Probably not. We have to come back to our room before it's too late, we live away from here." Freckles answered.

"I'm pretty sure we can stay. It's Friday, we don't have anything to do tomorrow and it won't be a problem if we have to come back late in the night." Brian said and I nodded in agreement.

"And you guys, if you think it's too late you can spend the night here now that we have two rooms." Joey said and I nodded again.

"Yeah, totally. Come on, Brian could cook a lasagna, considering neither of us are good when it comes to cook; and I really don't wanna burn the kitchen yet." I said laughing and Brian accepted.

"Okay fine, but not lasagna..." Freckles said. "What about a tuna salad?"

"No one wants to eat that shit. Lasagna, that's it. Right?" I asked looking at Brian and Joey who nodded. "Seems that we win. Anyway, wasn't lasagna your favorite food?"

"Yeah, it is, but..."

"But nothing. We should probably go to a grocery to get the ingredients." I said standing up.

"Good, I'll take a shower because I stink." Joey said, also standing up.

"Yeah, and I could start cleaning the kitchen so by the time you arrive I can start cooking." Brian said, also standing up.

"Hey wait! No one is gonna accompany me?" I asked frowning.

"I can go with you, Darren." Freckles offered, standing up.

"No, I don't wanna go with you because I know what your intentions are." I said looking at her fixedly.

"And what are my intentions?" She asked curiously, frowning.

"You're gonna force me to buy the stupid tuna and lettuce for the awful salad that no one wants to eat. And we're gonna cook only lasagna." I said firmly.

"I'll buy it for myself. You are gonna eat lasagna and if you don't want to cook the salad, I'll do it. End of the story." Freckles said sighing.

"No, you're not coming with me. I'll go alone, then." I said looking for my wallet.

"What's the problem if I eat a salad? Why are you so mad for it?" She asked incredulous.

"Because I just wanna have a good dinner the first time at this apartment, all together; and you're just blowing it. Why cannot you eat lasagna at least one time? It'll not make you fat if you eat it only once! You're pushing the envelope with your demented obsession with not getting fat and that is completely insane and sick." I exclaimed very loudly and a bit harshly, raising my eyebrows, a bit upset. Brian and Joey looked at me astonished, they knew I shouldn't have said that but I was tired of trying to convince Freckles all the time to eat more. "And I'm not gonna take my words back because you know I'm right!"

"Well, Darren, guess what? I work with my body, so I have to take care of it and if that makes you mad, I'm so sorry but I don't care. This is my work." Freckles answered coldly.

"That is not your work. Your work is what you do when you paint and draw. And if you're talking about your work as a model, let me tell you something..." I said a bit harshly, looking fixedly into her eyes as she was looking at me angry. "Sexy and appealing models aren't the ones who are extremely thin and so sickly skinny that you can see their ribs and bony legs; that is repulsive in the eyes of many." I said in all seriousness with a disgusted grimace as Freckles was looking away, clenching her jaw and crossing her arms, furious. But I didn't care, I wanted to say this. "A sexy and appealing model is the one who looks like... Marilyn Monroe, for example. She had a very curvy body; she had a body that filled out clothes and made her look really great instead of just hanging off of her, as happens to models nowadays." I assured and Freckles kept ignoring me. "And you have a really sexy body, but you're on your way to look sickly skinny and that is not good, it's not healthy. You try to convince yourself that you're eating healthy food and shit, but it's not like that, you're getting sick." I exclaimed exasperated looking at her, but she kept ignoring me, feeling furious. "And I'm so sorry if you are mad for this I'm saying that you don't want to hear; but I'm worried about you just as Brian is; we're worried about your health." I said firmly and sadly, softening my voice, still looking at her. She shot a withering look at Brian. Brian was looking at me astonished and he didn't know what to say, but when Freckles looked at him, Brian sighed.

"Sorry, but I do think Darren is right." He admitted.

"I can't believe this!" Freckles exclaimed bitterly. "I can't believe you're on his side, Brian!" She exclaimed incredulous, looking at Brian and pointing me.

"I'm on his side because he is right. You're making bad decisions and you're gonna get sick if you keep being like this. And you know that; you know but you play dumb and this is how anorexia starts." Brian said in all seriousness.

"Anorexia? Really? I can't believe you're saying that! How dare you to tell me that I'm anorexic? I am not!" She yelled really mad.

"You don't look like one yet, but you're starting to have the same symptoms. You seriously need to stop with this obsession of being extremely thin. You're already thin and you look good like this; and I think you'll look even better if you gain a little weight." Brian said and I nodded in agreement.

"You're an idiot, Brian. You too, Darren. You all are idiots." Freckles said coldly and really furious as she grabbed her bag.

"Yes, we are all idiots worrying about you! We want to see you healthy, Freckles!" I yelled exasperated as she started walking to the door. I quickly ran to there and I stood in between her and the door. "And you won't leave. You said you were strong enough to face any kind of problem. So face this!"

"This is not a problem! This is you being an idiot, thinking that I'm anorexic!" She yelled angrily.

"You say you aren't one, so let me ask you something... When was the last time you ate an ice cream? And not a dietetic ice cream, a real ice cream." I asked harshly looking at her.

"That's none of your business." She replied coldly, looking at me fixedly and severely into my eyes.

"Last year, when she graduated from high school." Brian replied and Freckles looked at him fiercely.

"When was the last time you ate a chocolate? You always loved chocolates, so when was the last time you ate one?" I asked looking at her intently into her eyes. She was really upset. She didn't answer.

"Same day." Brian answered for her.

"That was a long time ago, Freckles. Look all the things you're missing only because of a stupid obsession! You're not doing or eating the things you love because of that obsession. So tell me, it is sick or not?" I asked sadly looking at her and she was looking away, biting her lips and frowning. "You need to stop with this, please, Freckles." I said distressed placing my hands on her shoulders and trying to look into her eyes.

"This entire scene because of a stupid lasagna?" She asked in disbelief looking into my eyes, frowning.

"No, the lasagna was an excuse that Brian and I made up to finally tell you all we think. We care about you, Freckles, and we're worried." I said softly and still distressed.

"So, have you planned this?" She asked in disbelief looking at me and Brian.

"Kind of." I replied honestly and she huffed and shook her head in disbelief. "Please, Freckles, promise us that you'll stop with this; that whenever we invite you to dinner and it's a high calorie but a delicious dinner you love, you're gonna eat it anyway with no guilt and with pleasure. Promise us that you'll stop seeing how many calories a product has and if you like it, you'll just eat it. Promise us that you'll stop looking in the mirror and think that you should be thinner, because damn, look at you! You're completely sexy with that body and you'll be even sexier if you gain a little weight as Brian said. Promise, Freckles." I begged her with soft and supplicant voice, looking deeply into her eyes. She looked down for a while and then she looked at me.

"I'll try." She said sighing.

"I'll try is not enough." I said distressed.

"I'll try is enough for me for now. And we should really go to buy the ingredients for the lasagna before the grocery closes." Freckles said serious, walking to the door and opening it.

I just remained looking down, biting my lips, feeling frustrated because I couldn't get it. I totally failed. I knew her 'I'll try' was just a stupid lame excuse to end with this conversation; I knew she really didn't mean it. Brian walked to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You tried your best, man." Brian said and I nodded discouraged, still biting my lips. "Really, what you said was all that had to be said; and thanks for taking the first move. She's gonna change her mind soon and she'll stop doing that. You were really great, so don't feel frustrated."

"Thanks, man. You did your part too. I guess we'll have to keep trying." I said shrugging.

"That's right. But for now, let's just feel good because at least we got her to accept eating lasagna. That's a big progress, I guess." Brian said and I smiled slightly, nodding. "Now you probably would like to reach her, just to make sure she's not gonna run away." He said jokingly and I giggled.

"Yeah, better if I move my ass." I said.

I walked fast to try to reach Freckles and I even forgot to bring a coat, damn. But I saw her, she was walking alone. I ran to her and I started walking next to her, in silence. Neither of us talked and I wasn't going to be the first one talking; I wasn't going to apologize for what I said because I wasn't sorry. And I knew she wasn't going to talk because she was kinda prideful. She only stepped closer to me and linked an arm with mine when she noticed I was trembling because of the cold. I finally looked at her; she was serious and she didn't mention anything, she didn't even look at me. We arrived at some supermarket and when she noticed it was warm inside, she let out my arm. I looked for a shopping cart and we started walking in silence. I started putting some ingredients for the lasagna on the shopping cart and she was doing the same. It was something quick; in fifteen minutes we already had everything we needed. I stopped only to take a pack of beers. Then we walked to the line and waited until our turn to pay, still in silence. I saw Freckles walking away and coming back after few minutes.

"Can you buy me this?" She asked softly.

I didn't want to look at her, so I only looked what she had in her hand. I saw a Ferrero Rocher chocolate. I looked up at her and she was looking at me with a supplicant face like a little kid. I looked sweetly into her eyes and I smiled.

"Yes, I can." I replied softly.

"Thank you." She answered smiling, kissing my cheek. "I'm sorry for the way I reacted minutes ago. I was just upset because you're right. Yes, I have this obsession but it's only because I need this job, you know? And I cannot be fat; but you were right when you said that maybe I'm pushing the envelope. So thanks for not being afraid of telling me what you think. You're right and I really promise I'll try to work on that. Sorry." She said apologetically, looking into my eyes. I stared her eyes for a while before smiling again and wrapping an arm around her as she rested her head on my shoulder.

"It's okay. I really wish you can stop with that, for your own health." I said softly as she wrapped an arm around me and I kissed her head.

"Do you really care about me?" Freckles asked resting her chin on my arm and looking into my eyes with her big and bright eyes. That was an intense look.

"Of course I do." I answered frowning slightly. "You're my friend." I said smiling softly and she smiled back.

"And do you really think I'm sexy?" She asked still looking intensely into my eyes. Geez, this was awkward.

"Well, if you gain a little more weight you'll be the sexiest girl alive." I said giggling softly and that made her giggle as well. Then she rested her head on my shoulder and kept looking straight ahead. "And what about you? Do you think I'm sexy?" I asked amused.

I quickly made a very silly cross-eyed face, raising my eyebrows in a very exaggerate way and smiling with all my teeth, tensing my lips and jaw. When she looked at me she burst out laughing.

"Oh my god! You're so silly! You're a complete dork!" She said still laughing loudly and I started laughing along with her. "I always loved that about you; the way you make me laugh without even trying." She said smiling amused and that made me smile but it also made me feel a bit awkward. "And yes, you're sexy even with those silly and ridiculous faces." She added and I chuckled softly. "And also even with your scruffy beard and your... bushy and big curly hair that looks like an afro." She said looking at my hair with an amused smile.

"What? What about my hair?" I asked amused, touching it. Yes, it was way bushier than the way it was in high school.

"Nothing, I like it..." She said smiling still looking at it, and now running her fingers through my curls and placing her free hand on my chest. "It is still very soft..." She said with her lips parted, apparently mesmerized. This was feeling weird. "You should keep the afro; it gives you like... a personal brand." She said and finally looked into my eyes, so our eyes met. She stared my eyes very intensely and it made me feel uncomfortable. "And your eyes are like a huge contribution to your sexiness." She said and I raised my eyebrows and looked away to break the eye contact.

"Thanks." I said uncomfortable, still looking away.

"You're welcome, sexy guy." She said stepping away, smiling amused and looking at me mischievously. Could she be flirting with me? No way. "Are you okay?" She asked frowning slightly; I was surely looking like a fool.

"Yeah... Yes, I am." I replied and I looked away. Why wasn't the line moving? "I was just thinking if we were forgetting something or not." I lied and she wrapped her arms around me again. I just didn't like this so much for some reason.

"Don't worry, silly. We're bringing all we need, unless you need something else for yourself..." She said looking at me and smiling.

"Umm... Yeah, I think... I think I need something." I said nervously. I needed to stay away from her for a little because I was feeling weird. "Umm... Take this." I said giving her my wallet. "Just in case the line moves and you have to pay this stuff. Be right back." I said really quickly and she frowned.

"Okay..." I heard her saying, but I was already walking away.

I walked away and I grabbed the first random thing I found. Shit, why was I feeling so weird? I wasn't supposed to feel like this. Why would I feel so uncomfortable? I wasn't even feeling attracted to her; I wasn't feeling uncomfortable because I had the urge to kiss her unlike other times. I was feeling uncomfortable because she was being so close and it felt weird. In other circumstances, I'd have loved to have her so close; but now I didn't like it somehow. Why? Why would I feel like that? It just had no sense. And just thinking about the idea of her flirting with me freaked me out; it didn't make me feel happy, it made me feel weird. Maybe because now I could only see her as a friend and it was weird because this was something new. Maybe I should clarify her I didn't like so much to hear her saying flirty things. Or maybe not, because I didn't know how she was going to take it. Alright, enough. I needed to come back. When I walked to the line, Freckles wasn't there anymore. She was waiting for me in the entrance with the merchandise bags. I left the random thing I grabbed, and thanks god I left it because it was... a pregnancy test? Really? Oh shit, I should have really seen what I was grabbing. I walked to Freckles.

"Let's go?" I asked and Freckles looked at me frowning.

"I thought you were going to buy something." She said.

"Oh yeah, I was about to buy a toothpaste but then I remembered I already have one. Give me the bags, I'll carry them." I said attempting to grab the bags.

"No, it's fine, really." Freckles said moving the bags so I wouldn't grab them.

"Come on, Freckles." I said and I tried again to grab them. "Hey, really, gimme the bags." I said looking at her but she shook her head. "Freckles..." I said serious. "I'll tickle you if you don't give me the bags."

"Okay, okay, take them! You cheater!" She said laughing, finally giving me the bags and I just laughed.

Like that we went outside and hell damn, it was cold. Freckles stepped closer to me and linked her arm with mine again. I just felt weird by her touch, but she was doing it because she was nice. We walked in silence and we finally arrived to the apartment, I was about to get in, but Freckles stopped me.

"Wait, Darren. Before we enter, I'd like to talk to you now that we're alone." She said and I looked at her frowning. What would she want to talk about?

"Umm, yeah, sure." I said while placing the bags on the floor.

She walked closer to me and hugged me. I felt surprised by this because I was definitely not expecting this. I got strained, but I hugged her back. She rested her head on my chest and I just remained motionless.

"What's this about?" I asked softly.

"I just wanted to thank you." She said now resting her chin on my chest and looking into my eyes, still wrapping her arms around me.

"What for?" I asked curiously.

"For all you've been doing, for me and Brian. It's just so nice from you." She said smiling and I smiled back, nodding. "And also because you haven't told Brian about that text message I received that night when someone broke into Brian's room."

"Yeah, sure. We agreed we weren't going to say anything. Have you received more of those text messages?" I asked curiously.

"Yes, just two more... But nothing important." Freckles admitted.

"Why haven't you told me?" I asked frowning.

"Because we agreed we weren't going to give a damn shit about this. We agreed we were going to act as if nothing was happening because Jim or whoever this person is cannot do anything to us." Freckles replied.

"Yes, I know we agreed that. But I'd like to know if they keep sending you those text messages. I don't want to meddle in your life if you don't want me to, but I want to know about this, because somehow it involves me." I said kinda offended.

"I'm sorry. I'll tell you next time, I didn't know you wanted to know." She defended herself and I sighed.

"It's okay. What did they send you this time?" I asked.

"Just the usual. That if Brian keeps stirring up the past they're gonna kill him and they're gonna kill me if I keep insisting. That they're watching me, that they know where I live and what I do. Shit like that. But they didn't mention you, Darren, so don't worry." Freckles explained and I frowned.

"Well, it doesn't matter if they didn't mention me. I worry about you, Freckles. You should be careful about this. I know we agreed we were going to keep living our normal lives because we wouldn't let this affect our normal activities; but you shouldn't take this so lightly." I said in all seriousness, looking fixedly into her eyes.

"Well, Darren, I told you I'm not that fearful teenage girl I used to be. I'm not scared of this. They're pure threatening words but they don't dare to do anything when it comes to act. Now the roles are different, they're the coward ones and I'm the strong one. So I'm waiting for the day they decide to face me." Freckles said confident and courageous.

"Yes, you said it like thousand times. But still. You should be careful, Freckles. And you should tell me when they send you those things; I told you I wanted to help but you're not letting me. And I don't like when you do that." I said frowning.

"Okay, I told you I'm gonna tell you next time, Darren." Freckles said raising her eyebrows as if she was starting to feel a bit annoyed. "I promise."

"Fine, I take your word." I said looking at her and she nodded. "Besides that, has anything else happened?" I asked and she shook her head. "Good. And have you already found something about Jim?"

"No, nothing." She said kind of frustrated. "What about you?"

"Nothing either." I answered bitterly. "It seems he has disappeared, but he keeps sending text messages. It's just weird."

"Yes, it is. I was starting to think that maybe he has changed his identity." Freckles said thoughtful.

"Do you think he's capable to do something like that?" I asked.

"Yes, I do think that. He never had a good reputation, so if I were him, I'd change my identity." Freckles said and I nodded, maybe she was right. "Okay, we'll think about this later; now I think we should get in, you're trembling."

"Yeah, we should." I said laughing softly.

We got in and Joey already took his shower and was now helping Brian to clean the kitchen. I greeted them and Freckles walked to the kitchen asking if they needed some help as I left the bags on the table and then I put the beers in the refrigerator.

"Guys, I'm gonna take a shower." I said while everybody was helping to clean the kitchen and started cooking. "It won't take so long."

I walked to my new bedroom where all the boxes with my clothes were and I grabbed a towel, underwear and a white long sleeve t-shirt and black jeans. I thought that probably the best would be to get dressed in the bathroom now that Freckles was around; I was trying to avoid any kind of uncomfortable situation. So I got in the shower and I started enjoying the warm water on my body after the cold I suffered outside; this was pleasant. This shower was so cool, it was better than the old room; I really didn't want to leave the shower. I was thinking about the idea I had of turning the book that Brian Holden and Nick and Matt Lang were writing into a musical; I was almost sure they were going to like the idea; I could write the songs. And when I thought about writing the songs, I started singing a random song.

"I gotta get back to Hogwarts; I gotta get back to school." I sang grabbing the shampoo bottle as microphone, really getting into the song as if I were a rock star. "I gotta get myself to Hogwarts, where everybody knows I'm cool."

"Darren?" I heard a voice behind the door and I startled, feeling like a fool.

"Yeah?" I asked leaving the shampoo bottle.

"Are you singing?" Freckles asked and I felt a bit ashamed because I was surely singing very loud.

"No..." I lied and I started washing my arms and back with the soap.

"If you say so..." She said giggling. "So listen, Hogwarts, dinner is already done; so better if you hurry. You gotta get yourself to the dining room, where everybody knows we're hungry." She said laughing, obviously making fun of me. She totally listened to what I was singing.

"Okay, I'll be there in a minute." I said chuckling softly, because yeah, it was funny to have been caught.

"Good. See? Now everybody knows you're cool." She said laughing again and then I heard steps walking away.

I finished washing my body and hair as fast as I could. I was so deep in thought with my ideas and songs that I haven't realized I spent like half an hour in the shower. I dried my hair and my body and I quickly dressed up while trying to comb my wet curls with my fingers. When I was ready I walked to the dining room. Everybody was sitting and the table was already set.

"Oh that smells so good!" I exclaimed cheerfully walking to the only empty seat next to Joey, in front of Freckles.

"Yes, and we're starving." Joey pointed.

"Sorry, I didn't realize I was taking so long." I said with an amused smile.

"What the hell were you doing in the shower?" Joey asked frowning.

"He was playing to be in the Hogwarts Express on his way to Hogwarts, where everybody knows he's cool." Freckles commented with an amused giggle, grabbing her fork. I looked at her really amused.

"I am Harry Potter, biatch." I commented jokingly and everybody laughed.

"How was the song you were singing in the shower?" Freckles asked amused, obviously to make me feel ashamed in front of Joey and Brian, but this was funny. "I gotta get back to Hogwarts!" Freckles sang very loudly and in a theatrical way.

"I gotta get back to school!" I kept singing very loudly and also in a very theatrical way.

"I gotta get myself to Hogwarts!" Freckles kept singing in the same way.

"Where everybody knows I'm cool!" I sang standing up in the chair, using the fork as a microphone, pretending I was a rock star.

"Oh my God." Brian exclaimed amused, chuckling.

"Oh shit, man!" Joey exclaimed looking at me in disbelief, but I knew he was amused. Then he looked at Brian, frowning. "Can you see with what I have to deal every single day of my life? This is a torture! Who made me choose that idiot as a roommate? Who?" Joey exclaimed in a very theatrical way, as if he was aghast.

"I know the feeling, bro." Brian answered laughing. "I know exactly how it's like to live with a person who acts insanely all the time, every single day." He said looking at Freckles amused.

"Man, we totally should live together and leave those two drown in their own insanity and nonsense lives." Joey commented pretending to be very serious about this.

"We should plan something to lock them in a room, so we can live peacefully." Brian commented, nodding.

"Brian Thomas Clerk, I'm gonna kick your balls if you keep talking like that about me." Freckles said in a threateningly way, but jokingly; pointing him with her fork.

"See? She threatens me, man!" Brian exclaimed with his eyes wide open, pretending to be scared. Freckles laughed and leaned to hug him. I finally sat on the chair again.

"You two..." I said pointing Brian and Joey with my fork. "Just envy us..." I said now pointing Freckles and myself with the fork. "Because we're cool."

"And that's totally awesome!" Freckles exclaimed joyfully as she gave me a high-five.

And we started eating the lasagna while joking and fooling around. Oh, man! This lasagna was truly delicious. I didn't even know Brian was a good cook. I practically devoured my portion of lasagna; and of course, I repeated as everybody did except Freckles. But I wasn't upset for it because at least she ate all her portion. We were now drinking the beers and joking about random things as Joey was washing the dishes and I was helping him. We actually were playing a game in which Freckles was drawing random stuff and we all had to guess what it was.

"Don't shit me! That is a fucking alien planet inhabited by giant insects!" I exclaimed loudly looking at Freckles' drawing while I was drying the dishes.

"I thought you admired my drawing skills but you're not guessing anything at all, Criss." Freckles said giggling looking at her drawing.

"Sorry, Freckles, but that really looks like insects..." Joey said also looking at the drawing. "I think Darren is right this time! That looks like a caterpillar carrying an egg sac."

"Yeah, and that looks like a flying bug and those like mosquitos." Brian commented.

"What is wrong with you, people?" Freckles asked frowning, checking her drawing.

"Considering that no one of us guessed because you actually don't wanna admit that we all are right; tell us what the hell that is." I said putting the last dish in the cupboard.

"These are people attending a costume party whose theme is insects, because they are trying to recreate the Disney movie A Bug's Life." Freckles answered.

"Oh, suck my balls!" I exclaimed loudly in disbelief. "Who the hell would have thought all of that? You kept saying there was something wrong with us and nonetheless we weren't so far."

"Cheater!" Joey exclaimed loudly, looking at Freckles.

"That's right! You fooled us! I do think we should come up with a sort of punishment for her." Brian proposed and Joey and I nodded energetically.

"What?" Freckles exclaimed alarmed, in disbelief. "Oh, no! Only because you aren't creative enough to guess the drawing doesn't mean I have to be punished! What is that shit?"

"I'm so sorry; you looked for it, Freckles. You could have drawn something simpler." Joey said raising an eyebrow and nodding.

"Yes, we have the enough proofs to prove you've done this only to make us look like completely incompetent people, which is very cruel; so you do deserve a punishment." I added.

"This is bullshit! Only because I'm the only girl here you think you can do the shit you want with me? That is not fair!" Freckles complained.

"This has nothing to do with your gender." I said firmly.

"Yeah, after all you're like our bro, Freckles!" Joey exclaimed while laughing.

"What? Are you gonna treat me like a boy now?" Freckles asked frowning.

"Aren't you a boy? Oh gosh, I've been blind all this time." Brian commented jokingly as Freckles looked at him in a severe way, frowning.

"I'll kick everybody's ass in here." Freckles said huffing and crossing her arms, like throwing a tantrum as a little kid.

"So... What are we gonna do, guys?" I asked looking at Brian and Joey.

"She'll have to massage our feet." Joey proposed while giggling.

"That's gross. I won't do that!" Freckles exclaimed with a disgusted face.

"Be thankful I proposed the feet instead any other part of the body." Joey said in a very perverted but jokingly way, so Brian and I laughed; but Freckles looked at Joey agape, frowning.

"You're a perverted, Richter!" Freckles exclaimed.

"I don't know what you were thinking... because I was actually thinking about armpits." Joey commented laughing and all laughed as Freckles looked at him in disbelief, shaking her head, but smiling amused.

"Who is the cheater now?" Freckles asked amused.

"Talking in all seriousness now, I think she could give us a massage. I really could use some now; my back hurts because of all the boxes we had to carry." Joey said.

"Yeah, my back also hurts." Brian said nodding. "So what do you think about her giving us some back massages, Darren?" Brian asked looking at me. I just remained silent because I didn't like so much the idea of her touching me so much, but on the other hand, I really could use those back massages.

"Yeah, why not?" I finally replied.

"So that's it! Get ready for giving us some back massages, Freckles." Joey said and sat on the couch next to Brian.

"Fine! But only five minutes for each one!" Freckles said and we all nodded in agreement. Five minutes, I could take that.

Freckles sat next to Joey and she started massaging his back. I sat next to Brian, still drinking beer. Joey started making weird sounds of pleasure mixed with pain and that almost made me choke with the beer. That was so funny. Brian looked at Joey and started laughing. Then Brian looked at me raising his eyebrows and still smiling amused.

"Seems that someone is enjoying the massages." He commented and I laughed.

"Oh yeah, he is surely overreacting." I joked looking at Joey then looked at Brian again. "You guys don't mind if you share a bed, right?" I asked looking at him and pointing Freckles with the bottle of beer. "We only have two beds, so I was thinking I could sleep in Joey's bed tonight and you and Freckles can sleep in my bed."

"Umm, well..." Brian started saying uncomfortable.

Well, maybe they weren't used to sleep together occasionally and that was going to be a little problem. Freckles wouldn't want to sleep with Joey and I didn't want to sleep with Freckles.

"Of course we don't mind." Freckles answered for Brian. Brian looked at Freckles and then he looked down, pursing his lips. That was a bit weird.

"Are you sure? Because if you want... I don't know, maybe someone can sleep on the couch." I said when I noticed Brian didn't like the idea of sleeping with Freckles. "But I don't have any extra blankets yet... Do you Joey have any?" I asked looking at Joey who was behind Brian and he shook his head while still making weird sounds. "I don't know, guys..."

"It's okay, Darren. We really don't mind sharing a bed." Freckles repeated.

"Yeah, it's okay." Brian said, nodding slightly.

"Okay, good." I said nodding while taking a sip of my beer, feeling relieved because they agreed to sleep together.

"Okay, Joey; I hope you enjoyed my delightful massages." Freckles said smiling softly while standing up.

"Yeah, now I'll sleep like a baby." Joey said with a relaxed face. "So you guys, if you don't mind... It's been a long and strenuous day, so I'll get some sleep." He said yawning.

"Yeah, it's alright. Have a good sleep, Joey. And oh! You better give me room in your bed and if you start kicking me in the middle of the night, I'm gonna kick your ass and I'm gonna throw you out of bed. So, you're warned." I said in all seriousness but with an amused smile.

"Oh, geez! Now that is a good way to go to sleep." He said frowning. "Goodnight, guys."

Everybody greeted Joey and he walked to his bedroom. Then Freckles sat right where Joey was sitting and moved closer to Brian. Brian gave her his back and she started massaging his back. Just as Joey, Brian started making weird sounds of pleasure and pain. I really didn't know what to do while they were doing that, so I looked at the floor and kept drinking my beer. I still wasn't sure if I wanted Freckles to give me massages; but it seemed she was good at it, so whatever. It was going to be only five minutes. I glanced furtively at Brian and Freckles and I found it a bit weird. Brian seemed to be enjoying her massages way more than Joey enjoyed it. While Freckles started massaging Brian's shoulders, Brian leaned his head slightly and touched Freckles' hand with his jaw, smiling very softly with his eyes closed. I frowned slightly and then I drifted my gaze to the floor again. Well, they were really good friends... Still, there was something weird in Brian's facial expression.

"Okay, we're done, Bri." Freckles said smiling and I looked at them again.

Freckles, still behind Brian, wrapped her arms around Brian's neck and kissed his cheek slightly, still smiling. I noticed how Brian shivered when she did that and he smiled very softly as he opened his eyes and then I could see the twinkle in his eyes. If I didn't know about their relationship, I'd swear they had something more than a friendship; especially because of Brian's reactions and faces. Brian caught me looking at them, so he frowned and looked away; apparently uncomfortable.

"I think I'll go to sleep too. I'm really tired." Brian said quickly standing up as Freckles looked at him smiling.

"Yeah, that's alright. You know where the bedroom is, right?" I asked.

"Yes, I know." He replied shortly, nodding. "Well, goodnight, guys." He said and he quickly walked to my bedroom.

It was weird the way he seemed to be very rushed to go to bed. Well now I noticed I was alone with Freckles and I started feeling awkward again. I didn't want to feel like that; we weren't doing anything weird, I shouldn't feel like that. As to hide my nervousness I took a sip of my beer, but it was already empty. I left the bottle on the floor and I didn't look at Freckles, not even a single time. I noticed how Freckles moved closer to me, but I remained motionless staring the floor.

"Come on, Darren, give me your back." Freckles demanded softly.

"You really don't have to do this if you don't want." I said uncomfortable, still staring the floor.

"It's not a problem. After all, it's only five minutes and you are surely as strained as Joey and Brian were and you surely have contractures as them." Freckles said softly and I finally looked at her. She was smiling friendly.

"Alright." I replied and I gave her my back. She placed both of her hands on my lower back and begun making small circles by going up the back and down again.

"You have to relax, Darren." Freckles said softly and I tried to relax my body. Then she placed her hands on my spine and pressed it, as indicating me to sit upright.

Freckles started to rub my back slowly and gently and it felt so good that I closed my eyes and I relaxed for real. I had no idea how much my back hurt and this was feeling good but also a bit painful. She worked her way down from the back of my neck to my shoulders, working her thumbs in small, deep circles, starting in the interior part of the shoulder blades. Then she worked at the base of my head, deeply pressing the tips of her forefinger and middle finger into the furrows. Then she massaged my biceps lightly with her fingertips and then she worked the back on either side of the spinal cord using upward strokes laterally along the spine until she reached my tailbone, teasing the area around the base of the spine.

"Oh yeah, right there!" I exclaimed with a moan of pain but also of pleasure when she massaged a tedious area that was hurting me. This wasn't a bad idea after all.

She stopped on that area for a while until it didn't hurt me anymore. Then Freckles continued massaging my back like this for several minutes. Now I understood why Brian and Joey couldn't stop making weird sounds; this was feeling really good and I wasn't aware of how much I needed some massages.

"Yeah, this feels so good." I moaned again with my eyes closed.

This was extremely relaxing and I realized why Joey and Brian wanted to go to sleep after this. Freckles didn't say anything at all. She kept massaging my back right on the sides of my spine with deep and smooth circles and then she went up to my shoulders again. There she started working her thumbs in small and deep circles. My shoulders were literally hurting and I was still feeling something tedious on them. I was sure this was being more than five minutes, but I really didn't want her to stop now that she was doing it. I groaned when she massaged an area that was hurting me, so then she paid especial attention to that area. Her hands were like magical, now it wasn't hurting so much. Everything was going really well and I was enjoying this way too much; until I felt it: She started kissing my neck. I abruptly opened my eyes, and I turned my face to look at her frowning and aghast. I didn't have time to say anything because she pulled me into a deep kiss, placing her hand on my jaw. This wasn't feeling good, I wasn't feeling good; I was feeling weird. Yes, I always loved her lips and her kisses, but now it was feeling different; I wasn't feeling the same as always. And the difference was that before I was in love with her, and now I wasn't; she was only my friend, so this wasn't right. I softly pulled her away and I looked at her frowning and serious.

"This is not right, Freckles." I said softly but in all seriousness.

She looked at me with eyes wide open and her lips parted, as if she was scared; then she looked down, nervously. She babbled some things I couldn't understand and then she stood up.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered avoiding my gaze.

And she walked away really fast, going to my bedroom. I remained looking at the direction she walked away and then I looked down, sighing and pursing my lips. Why would she do something like that? We were friends now and we were fine like this. I didn't want to think she was now feeling something else for me, now that I was really sure I wasn't in love with her; now that I was sure I only wanted to be her friend. And her kiss didn't feel as amazing as always. I just didn't want to be more than her friend. Hopefully she was feeling the same, regardless of that random and unexpected kiss. This was going to be tough.

---

You walked to Darren's bedroom, feeling very astonished and abashed for what you just did. You couldn't believe you just kissed him. Why have you done that? Why? Everything was going well, and then you kissed him. And the way Darren looked at you was hurtful. He had to pull you away to stop you; he had to stop you. He was so confused, he was so serious; he didn't like it at all. Why were you so stupid? You were only friends; you agreed to be friends with him, you proposed him to be friends. And he rejected you; even if he had reasons to have done that, it felt rough to be rejected. You walked slowly to Darren's bed in which Brian was sleeping. You sat on the bed and you took off your shoes in silence, feeling really bad. Brian noticed you were already here, so he moved to give you room in the bed. You lay down in bed staring the ceiling, still very astonished for what you did.

"Brian?" You whispered in the dark and silent room. "Are you asleep?"

"I'm not anymore." He replied after a while with voice husky with sleep.

You didn't say anything, you turned on your side and wrapped your arms around him, resting your head on his chest and you broke. You started weeping in silence. Brian noticed this and wrapped his arms around you.

"Hey, what's going on, Sunny?" He asked softly and concerned, while caressing your arm with his thumb.

"I just kissed Darren." You answered still weeping. And then there was a very long silence that you thought that maybe Brian fell asleep again. "Brian?" You asked with choked voice. You heard how Brian sighed.

"Why have you done that?" He asked in a whisper.

"I don't know! I just felt this impulse of kissing him." You replied sobbing, burying your head on Brian's chest. There was another long silence and you could feel his heart beating fast.

"And... And what happened?" Brian asked in a whisper again, hoarsely.

"He pulled me away telling me this wasn't right. He rejected me, Brian! And I don't even know why I kissed him, but it felt rough anyway." You replied crying on his chest as Brian started caressing your hair. Again, the silence. Why was he so silent?

"I though you agreed to be only friends..." Brian whispered and that made you feel even worse.

"Yes, I'm aware of that, Brian! I told you, I don't know why I kissed him." You said frowning, still shedding tears but feeling troubled more than sad.

"Be honest, Sunny... Do you still feel something for him?" Brian asked hoarsely.

"No... I mean, yes, I like him but just as a friend. He's funny, nice and he always makes me laugh. But I don't feel the same I felt for him when I was in high school." You answered in a whisper, still frowning. You didn't know what was wrong with you. There was another long silence.

"Do you feel attracted to him?" Brian finally asked hoarsely as though he hasn't spoken in years. His voice kinda trembled when he asked this, maybe because he was trying hard to ask it in a whisper.

"He is... handsome." You whispered and there was a very long silence again in which you felt how Brian tensed his body. "Yes, I might find him attractive, but no... I just don't like him as something more as my friend. No, I really don't wanna be more than his friend."

"So, in all honesty, what has led you to kiss him?" Brian asked in a whisper, gingerly. You took a moment to answer, you had to admit it.

"I felt lonely, and he was the closest person and we shared so many things in the past... I'm just feeling lonely." You replied honestly, weeping again and burying your head on his chest again, hugging him even tighter.

"What do you mean when you say lonely? Because as far as I know, you've got a lot of friends who love you." Brian asked softly, caressing your hair.

"I know that and I love them, I really do. But I'm talking about having a man in my life to love and be loved. Since Ian I've been alone. And I just feel bad, I feel unwanted, I feel ugly, I feel like... there's no one. And I just miss having someone with who I can cuddle, I can caress and kiss and go to the movies and then to go out to have a dinner together, someone to talk, someone who can look fondly at me and tell me he loves me; I need someone with who I can have intimacy. I miss that romance. Now it feels as though I don't have any of that and it makes me feel really alone. Like, I have so much love to give but there's no one with who I can share it, someone who can love me back and can make me feel like a woman. I need a man; I need to feel that romance again. And I can't have it and it makes me feel really alone and sad." You said weeping, admitting all your feelings. Brian stayed silent for a really long time.

"I do love you." Brian whispered hoarsely and deeply, also with trembling voice, still holding you in his arms. You snorted anguished while still crying. "I think you're beautiful and you're the less ugly person I know. I think you're wanted; a lot of people want you. And do not think there's no one, because I'm here, so you're not alone." Brian kept saying in a whisper, very kindly and still hoarsely. You wouldn't stop crying, he wasn't getting your point. "You have someone with who you can cuddle; I thought we were cuddling right now." He said and held you in his arms even tighter, resting his chin on your head that was still burying in his chest. "I can caress you." He said softly, caressing your hair very smoothly with one hand and caressing with his thumb your arm that was wrapped around him. "I also can kiss you..." He said very hoarsely and with trembling voice as he kissed your temple. You were crying even more, this wasn't helping you although this was very nice from him. "And believe me, I'd kiss you all the times you need and want. And I wish I could have the money to take you to the movies... But you've got imagination and I've got writing skills, so we could create our own movie and it would be way better than going to the movies. I also wish I could have the money to take you out for dinner together, but I could always cook for you, something you like, and make you think we're in a very luxury and amazing restaurant." He said really sweetly.

You wept even harder, feeling really bad because he wasn't understanding and also feeling really moved by the way he was trying to make you feel better anyway with all his gentleness and humility. He didn't have so many things but he'd give you everything of him anyway and this was very thrilling and sweet; but you couldn't help feeling bad.

"You can always talk to me, I love when you do that and I really love talking to you. I could spend hours just talking to you and that would make me really happy. And we have intimacy when we share our deepest dreams, fears, thoughts and feelings. And now try to look into my eyes..." Brian said amiably, placing a finger on your chin to lift it. You tried to look into his eyes but it was very dark. Anyway, you noticed the twinkle in his eyes as he held your hands. "I love you." He whispered hoarsely but fondly with choked voice.

You stayed silent for a long time, just looking into his eyes and crying. Yes, you loved him too, but this wasn't what you meant. He wasn't getting your point and this was making you feel even worse. You just buried your head on his chest again and kept crying as you felt how Brian's heart was beating fast. He cleared his throat.

"You can share your love with me. I'm willing to receive your love and to give you mine; and we could have our own romance." He whispered fondly and hoarsely again while his heart was beating just as fast if not even faster. And again, you didn't say anything; this was really making you feel worse although you were aware that wasn't his intention. "We could write a romantic novel, I write it and you design the cover of it."

"Brian..." You whispered weakly while still sobbing. "I really love you and I really love all you said and all you're saying to try to cheer me up..." You started saying feeling really bad because you didn't want him to think that all he said was in vain because he didn't get your point. "I really love and I'm very thankful for all the things you always do for me and for all the things you're willing to do for me. I know you love me and I know you'd give me all of that. But you're my best friend, and what I meant is that I feel lonely because I want a boyfriend. I need the love of a boyfriend." You finally explained what your point was, trying to make it sound as soft as you could. "Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate your love as my best friend and I'll never change that; you'll always be my best friend. But I need a boyfriend." You added and Brian stayed silent for a really long time and you felt how his body tensed.

"Right..." He whispered with cracked voice. He didn't say anything else and his body was really tense.

"Please, Brian; believe me when I tell you that I really appreciate all you said and I love that. Do not think I don't appreciate all the things you do for me, because it's not like that." You said feeling really guilty, because you knew he was probably thinking that by the way you answered him as though you didn't appreciate all his kind words.

"I know." He whispered again with cracked voice. But, again, he stayed silent.

"Brian..." You said distressed, still feeling guilty.

"I know, Sunny, I know." Brian said again, clearing his throat. "I know you love me as your best friend; that you appreciate all the things I do and say as your best friend; and I know I'll always be your best friend..."

"Yes." You said smiling softly but still feeling a bit distressed.

"And I do understand that you want a boyfriend and not a best friend to give it all to you." Brian whispered hoarsely and a bit sadly.

"It's not so like that..." You said sighing anguished. "I also want to receive it all from my best friend, that is you; and I also want to give it all to you. But I... I need..."

"You need a boyfriend to feel completely loved, like a woman." Brian said for you.

"Exactly." You replied gloomy in a whisper and Brian stayed silent for a long time.

"Sunny, you really don't need a boyfriend or any guy to make you feel loved and like a woman. You only need yourself." Brian started saying softly. "You may think that being single is very sad and lonely; but I think no one owes you happiness because happiness comes within you. You may think that being single means that nobody wants you; but I think it means you're taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with; not being satisfied for any random guy that is not worthy of your love. You have to realize that your life is full and that you're very content and happy right now with all the things you have, materially and emotionally talking; and that's with or without a man." He said very kindly while still holding you in his arms and caressing your arms with his thumbs as you were listening to him, still shedding tears. "You don't need a man to rectify your existence. The most profound relationship we'll ever have is the one with ourselves. You don't need to be loved, not at the cost of yourself. The single relationship that is truly central and crucial in a life is the relationship to the self. Of all the people you'll know in a lifetime, you're the only one you'll never lose. So, you can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and you won't find that person anywhere." He kept saying just as sweetly.

This time you rested your chin on his chest to try to look into his eyes. You could notice the twinkle in his eyes again. You wiped away your tears as you were intently listening to him. You could also notice a slight smile on his face as he placed one hand on your jaw and caressed softly your cheek with his thumb.

"The reality is that you don't need a man to be happy. You only think you do, and you need to find out why you feel that you do; because, after all, the wonderful thing about love is that it's all around us, all the time. It's not locked in one person or one thing, it's everywhere." He said yearningly, still caressing your cheek with his thumb.

You placed your hand above his and you took it to your lips to kiss it as you started shedding tears again, but this time it was because you were feeling thrilled. You moved up, closer to him so you could kiss his cheek and then caress it.

"Thank you, Brian. Thanks." You said with cracked voice, looking into his eyes. "You have no idea how much I needed to hear this. Thank you; I honestly don't know what I'd do without you, Bri." You said again with cracked voice and you wrapped your arms around him again, resting your head on his shoulder as he held you in his arms tightly. "I really love you." You whispered against his neck and he shivered.

"I love you too, Sunny." He whispered with trembling voice as he leaned to kiss your temple. "I really do. So much."

---

Next morning I woke up moody because apparently Joey was having a nightmare and kicked me out of bed. So, I didn't wake up on the wrong side, I woke up on the floor which was even worse. This was going to be the last time I was going to sleep in his bed; I decided that I was going to buy blankets so next time I was going to sleep on the couch. I got up from the floor and I looked at Joey, he was still fast asleep. I wanted to punch him, but I let him sleep instead. Maybe a coffee was going to help me to change my mood. I started dressing up and I heard sounds coming from the kitchen that scared me. Right. Freckles and Brian were here; probably they were already awake and they were having breakfast. Thinking about this led me to think about the kiss Freckles gave me last night. Man, this was going to be awkward now. I really wanted to be her friend because she was a cool person; but shit, I didn't want more than that. Maybe I shouldn't be so affectionate with her because maybe being this way with her was confusing her so she couldn't distinguish the limit. Damn, I didn't want to go to the kitchen and stay with her right in this moment because I knew I was going to feel uncomfortable. But oh, I was so starving and I really needed my morning coffee. First I went to the bathroom and I peed and brushed my teeth as I washed my face and tried to tame my curls. Then I walked slowly to the kitchen. Oh whoa! What was all of this? Breakfast was already made. There were already four coffee mugs and four glasses of orange juice. And there was also food: four dishes with pancakes with bacon and eggs on the side; there was a bowl with butter croissants, a bowl with strawberries, a bowl with banana slices, a bowl with cookies, and a bowl with donuts. This was something I wasn't expecting at all. I looked around but no one was in the dining room; I walked slowly to try to see if there was someone in the kitchen, but no one was there. What the hell was this? Who has done this? We didn't even have all this food. I walked to the table and I noticed that in the top of each pancake, each one of our names was written with whipped cream. I recognized the handwriting, it was from Freckles. So, Freckles has done all of this but she wasn't here. This was creepy but also very nice from her. Why would she do all of this? And where was she? I sat on the chair that was in front the dish with the pancake with my name. And what now? Should I wait for the others? I looked around again; still, no sign of anyone.

"Is anybody here?" I asked like a fool in the empty room. Of course, no one answered.

Okay, it seemed that no one was going to come and I was starving; so I grabbed my coffee mug and I took a sip of it. Oh man, this was fucking delicious! How would Freckles remember that I loved coffee with steamed milk and chocolate syrup? It's been a long time since I drank this coffee and I loved this. Then I grabbed my dish of pancake with bacon and eggs and I moved it closer to me. When I did it, I saw a lot of notes under it. Curiously, I took the first note. Yes, it was definitely from Freckles; I recognized it because of the amazing drawing. It was a cartoon of a sleepy bear in pajamas with a nightcap with a talk balloon that spelled:

"Good morning, sleepyhead! I hope this can help you to start a peppy morning! If I were you, I'd start eating a banana slice and a strawberry."

I smiled slightly when I saw this and then I looked at the bowls of strawberries and banana slices, but I didn't take any of them, I just put that note aside to read the next one. It was the same sleepy bear in pajamas with a nightcap but this time the bear was frowning and it had another talk balloon that spelled:

"Mr. Criss, I'll be a sad bear if you don't eat a banana slice and a strawberry before continuing reading the notes. Would you want to see a sad bear?"

I read that frowning in disbelief and I laughed softly. How the heck would she know I wasn't going to do that? Man, this was absurdly weird. I looked around to see if Freckles was here, but she wasn't. I was alone. Anyway, I grabbed a banana slice and a strawberry and I ate them.

"Okay, I've done it!" I spoke with my mouth full like an idiot in the empty room.

No one answered and no one came; so I grabbed the next note. The same bear was there, now with a huge smile and with the thumbs up. This time, the talk balloon spelled:

"Well done, Darren! By the way, my name is Mr. Fluffy and I recommend you to take a sip of your coffee. You really don't wanna choke with the food, do you?"

"Hey, what if I didn't do what you asked me to do?" I asked in the empty room, knowing that surely no one was going to answer.

And in fact, no one answered. So I just took a sip of my coffee as I started reading the next note. Mr. Fluffy was now sitting with a coffee mug in his hands and it had glasses because it was reading a newspaper. I laughed slightly when I saw this drawing, this was very cute.

"Trying to be intellectual, Mr. Fluffy?" I asked amused looking at the bear and then I read what was in the talk balloon.

"It's always cool to read the newspaper in the morning. Oh look! The news is talking about you! If you want to know what it says, you first have to eat a butter croissant."

And I did it, as if I was actually talking to that cartoon. I didn't even care if I looked like a fool, this was a very odd way to start the morning and I liked it. I ate a butter croissant and it was really delicious. Then I took another sip of my coffee before grabbing the next note. This time there wasn't a talk balloon. This time Mr. Fluffy was showing me the newspaper and there was a cartoon of Freckles. Geez! That cartoon was truly amazing and funny! Anyway, right next to the cartoon of Freckles there was something written with the same letters that newspapers use.

"Confidential sources have informed us this morning about an event happened recently. A girl whose nickname is Freckles has spoken to the media to bring us a message for certain short boy."

"Hey! I'm not short! I'm just a tall hobbit!" I exclaimed laughing and then I kept reading.

"The name of the boy is Darren Everett Criss and if someone knows him, it'd be helpful if you let him know that he must read this. This is a matter of life or death."

"Whoa! So serious!" I exclaimed amused.

The note didn't say anything else, so I grabbed the next note. It was the bear looking at me with eyes wide open, so open that was scary and cute at the same time. There was a talk balloon again that spelled:

"Darren, that is you! Are you ready to know what the message is? You must be ready because it's a meaningful message."

"I am ready, Mr. Fluffy!" I exclaimed loudly in the empty room.

I smiled widely because this was very entertaining and funny; then I grabbed the next note. This time there was only the cartoon of Freckles with a talk balloon that spelled:

"Darren, I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for what happened last night. I'll be honest and I'll admit that I've done it because I was feeling lonely and I let myself carry away by the feeling of having someone so close to me in that moment. I wish you could forgive me. I know it was wrong because you're only my friend and we are fine like that. I wish you can keep being my friend and I promise I won't do it again. You're truly a friend for me and I hope that what happened last night didn't change it. I'm so sorry."

When I finished reading it, I read it again and then I remained looking at that. So this all she has done was only to apologize to me. Well, this was a very original and very cute way to apologize. And even if I'd have preferred to see her face while telling me she was sorry, this was very sweet and this was something that only she could do; so I was fine with it. I looked around to try to find Freckles.

"Freckles? Can you come already?" I asked and my voice echoed in the empty room. She didn't answer and she didn't appear. "Freckles, come on."

Again, she didn't answer. I just sighed and looked down. I waited a little more for her, but she didn't appear. Then I noticed there was still another note. I grabbed it and I saw it. There was the cartoon of Freckles with sad eyes and it was looking another cartoon. That was me, man! I laughed softly when I saw my cartoon; it was really funny and awesome. She exaggerated each one of my features, enhancing my curls, my eyes, my eyelashes and my triangle eyebrows. There was a talk balloon for Freckles that spelled:

"Would you forgive this fool girl?"

And then there was another talk balloon from my mouth. But that talk balloon was empty. I frowned slightly. Why wouldn't it say anything? Then something scared the crap out of me. A pen appeared in front of my eyes. I turned my face to look behind me and there was Freckles, handing me the pen with a slight smile on her face.

"Damn, Freckles! You scared me!" I exclaimed with a nervous giggle. She didn't say anything at all, so I frowned. "Well, I wanted to say that..." I started saying but Freckles interrupted me by placing her hand on my mouth.

I looked at her frowning, very confused and she insisted with the pen while she was shaking her head. Then I got it. I had to write my answer in the talk balloon. So I grabbed the pen and I stared the drawing for a while before start writing.

"I forgive you. So do not think you can get rid of me so easily because I'm gonna be your biggest pain in the ass, my friend. Now, would you accept a hug from this goober?"

I handed the note to Freckles and I observed her while she was reading it. I could see a very thankful smile on her face when she was doing it. Then she looked at me sweetly and she didn't say anything, she just leaned to hug me and I pulled her closer to make her sit on my lap while hugging her tightly. She rested her chin on my shoulder.

"Thanks for forgiving me, Darren." She whispered in my ear.

"Thank you for doing all of this." I whispered in her ear, still hugging her. "This was a really good way to start the morning. I loved Mr. Fluffy." I said laughing softly and she giggled before parting the hug. She looked at me with bright eyes and a joyful smile.

"I'm glad, because..." She said mysteriously and I looked at her intrigued when she stood up and walked to the couch. I haven't noticed that there was a box. Then she walked to me again. "I have this present for you."

"Have you got me a present?" I asked amused as she was handing me the box. She nodded with a cheerful smile. "I feel bad because I didn't get you anything."

"I got your forgiveness and that's enough for me." She replied with the same smile, still handing me the present. I finally grabbed it.

"Okay, let's see what's in here..." I said amused as I opened the box.

When I opened it, I laughed. Actually it was very cute, but I laughed anyway because of her ideas. There was a teddy bear with a heart that spelled 'Forgive me' and she placed a note there that said 'Mr. Fluffy.' This was very cute. This was the very first time a girl gave me a present like this. I looked at Freckles with a kind smile as she was looking at me joyful.

"So? Do you like it?" She asked.

"If I like it? Hell, no. I love this! I think I've got a new friend called Mr. Fluffy." I said still laughing as I hugged the teddy bear and Freckles laughed.

"I'm glad because Mr. Fluffy was desperate to know you in person. He wouldn't stop wishing to be your friend. I know he's in good hands now." Freckles said smiling widely and I looked into her eyes. She was really sweet.

"Can I hug you again?" I asked amused, still looking into her bright eyes.

"What kind of question is that, mister?" Freckles asked amused, frowning. I just left the teddy bear on the table and I stood up to pull her into a very tight hug. "Darren, you're choking me!" She exclaimed exaggeratedly and I laughed, but I kept hugging her that way.

"Mr. Fluffy just taught me how to give bear hugs!" I exclaimed loudly, rubbing my cheek on her cheek. After a while I parted the hug but I kept placing my hands on her waist while looking into her eyes, smiling. "You're so cute, Freckles. Thank you for all of this! This is totally awesome, really."

"Thanks." She said smiling kindly while placing her hands on my shoulders.

I just remained looking into her eyes, thinking how sweet she could be, how beautiful she was and thinking how happy I was to have her as my friend. Her eyes were radiating happiness and I couldn't take my eyes off her, this was weird. I mean, how could she bring me so much happiness by just looking into her eyes? Only her. I was about to say something, but I was interrupted. Thankfully; otherwise I was going to screw it.

"Oh my dead lord! Look at all of this!" I heard how Joey exclaimed amazed.

I was still looking bewitched into Freckles' eyes until she drifted her gaze to Joey and giggled. So then I finally came to reality again and I looked at Joey, now letting out Freckles' waist. I was very close to have screwed it. Joey was looking at the table very astonished and happy.

"Look at this shit! A pancake with my name! Hey guys, look! It has my name! I feel so special right now." Joey exclaimed like a little kid, sitting on the chair that was in front of the pancake with his name.

"You're special, Joey!" Freckles exclaimed cheerfully walking to him to give him a kiss on his cheek. "Good morning."

"Good morning? Awesome morning to you!" Joey exclaimed happily as he hugged Freckles by her waist while he was sitting and Freckles was standing.

"Morning guys! Oh wow!" Brian exclaimed loudly, also astonished when he saw the table. "Hey! My name is on that pancake!" He exclaimed as a little kid just as Joey has done. Brian walked towards Joey and Freckles. He first kissed Freckles' cheek. "Good morning, missy." He said friendly and then he looked at Joey; and then he high-fived Joey.

"Good morning, bro." Joey greeted.

"Hey, I wanna be a bro too!" Freckles exclaimed in between giggles.

"Come on, bro-sis! Give us a high-five!" Joey exclaimed cheerfully and Freckles high-fived Joey and Brian at the same time as they all started laughing.

I was just there standing, looking at them happily. This was amazing. Look at them all getting along; I'd have never imagined it a month ago. And look at Freckles. All colorful, all happy, all beautiful, all nice and sweet; and all sexy. She was very different, yet I liked her, I really liked her; there was something new she didn't have before, something positive... She was just so... So... Oh no, I shouldn't be thinking about this.

"Hey dude, come and join us!" Joey exclaimed with his mouth full of pancake, looking at me.

"Yes, of course." I said smiling widely. I couldn't remember the last time I had such a great morning like this one.

I was about to sit and start having breakfast with Joey, Freckles and Brian but someone knocked the door. Who could be? We weren't expecting anyone. Maybe it was a neighbor; maybe it was Meredith or any of our friends. I just walked to the door while Joey, Brian and Freckles were talking joyfully, too busy to pay attention to the door. I opened it. Oh what the hell? I wasn't expecting this at all!

"Chuck?" I asked completely amazed, frowning because of the surprise and smiling widely because of the sudden happiness.

"Stupid little bro!" Chuck exclaimed laughing as he pulled me into a hug.

"Oh man! What are you doing here?" I asked still amazed and really happy, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, mom and dad told me that you moved. And considering I had free days and I haven't seen you in a while, I just decided to come over to see your stupid face for the weekend." Chuck answered still smiling.

"Oh, fuck! This is awesome!" I exclaimed merrily.

Then noisy laughs came from the dining room. In between all the laughs, the most boisterous laughter was Freckles' laughter. This caught Chuck's attention and he popped his head to see what was happening inside and who were there, because he surely thought I was only with Joey. When he got to see who was there, he frowned and got serious.

"Is that...?" He asked disturbed.

"Yeah..." I replied uncomfortable, looking down and biting my lips. "That is Freckles."

Yeah. Chuck still didn't know I met Freckles again this year because I haven't told him anything because he was kind of overprotective. He was still thinking that I was very sad because I could never find Freckles last year. He witnessed how desperate I was when I was searching her and I couldn't find a damn shit. He was still thinking that Freckles was a bad person because she completely disappeared from my life, even if I tried constantly to explain him it wasn't so like that. He inevitably compared that to the experience he had to go through in his first year at college, when his ex-girlfriend cheated on him and abandoned him. He didn't like Freckles now.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Chuck asked rudely.