Lauren shook her head. "Are you ever gonna tell me what happened?" she asked.

Ever since Josh and Olivia had come back to the bus, Olivia hadn't really said anything to anyone. Lauren had sat there and tried to guess why she was so silent. ("He's a vampire. He's mad at you because you broke his bass. You realized that you don't really like him anymore.") No luck. Olivia was still mute.

"Whatever." Lauren tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. "If you don't wanna talk, fine. Don't talk. I'll just go get comfy with Josh in the meantime."

Olivia watched Lauren walk away. As soon as she was sure she had left, she smiled. Good luck with that.

…

"I'm telling you, I can't explain it."

Jacob nodded understandingly as his twin told him what had occurred on the beach. Love was a strange thing, didn't he know it. Thanks to his ex-girlfriend Tameka, he had been left with nothing but an empty wallet and a broken heart. But even that was nothing compared to the rejection Josh had experienced when he had proposed to his ex years ago.

Jacob clapped a hand on Josh's back. "Bro, if she makes you happy, just go with it. A connection like that is hard to find."

"But…it's just…I mean, I'm 30 years old. And let's just say that Olivia's not 30. Or close to it."

"Doesn't mean she isn't the one for you," Jake assured him. "Love knows no bounds."

Josh rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Dr. Phil."

"Hey. Respect your elders or they won't respect you. I may just start calling you Robert again," Jacob laughed as he ducked the pillow chucked at him.

…

Out in the TV area of the bus, Lauren was sitting with Solomon on the bench couch. She was amazed at how fast she and Olivia had become friends with their idols. Just yesterday, they had been meager fans. Today, they were like, BFFLs. It was totally awesome.

Nosy as ever, Solomon leaned forward. "So did you find out anything?"

"Nope. She won't talk. It's driving me crazy." Lauren had found yet another similarity between Sol and her: their need to know everyone's business.

Sol grunted disappointedly and sat back. "Josh's lips are sealed too. Hey…you don't think…"

"Think what?"

Sol grinned. "You don't think anything, you know, HAPPENED on the beach, do you?"

"What?"

"Maybe they kissed or something."

Lauren laughed. "Nah, she would've told me immediately if that happened."

…

Left to her own thoughts, Olivia laid alone in Derek's bunk. She stared at the ceiling that was three inches from her nose. Her mind was flooded with feelings, so many that it was confusing. That's why she hadn't told anyone about the beach. It wasn't that she enjoyed torturing Lauren; she just, like Josh, needed time to think.

She heard a soft knock near her head. The curtain was pulled back, and she was looking into the face of Nathan Currin. "Hey," he said.

She nodded her acknowledgement and looked at the ceiling again. Would she ever be able to organize her thoughts? Maybe it was best just to ignore them…

"I brought you some food," he said, handing her a plate. She took it from him and saw that it was 8 or 9 cookies. Realizing how hungry she really was, she stuffed them into her mouth. Nate just smiled as she ate. When she had one cookie remaining, he stood up to go. "I'll just leave you two alone then."

…

Josh fingered his bass guitar as Jacob rambled on and on. He put the instrument down once he realized that he messed with it whenever he felt uncomfortable.

"And that's just how you know, you know?" Josh hadn't even been listening to his brother talking, so he just nodded.

"Look, I know I like her. I might even…"

"You might what?"

Josh looked out the window. "Love…her."

Jacob squealed girlishly. "Awww, that's so cute! I'm so happy for you. I just wanted to share my views on love. I've had more experience with it than you have."

"Would you just stop?" Josh stood up. He also then realized that he acted intimidating whenever he felt cornered or pressured. "Just because you were born 4 minutes earlier doesn't make you my father figure."

"I'm just trying to help."

"Well, you could help by…!" Josh stopped and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I just…I'm not used to feeling this way."

"What way?"

He thought for a second before answering. "Giddy. Kind of like how you act all the time."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Well, Lauren sure seems to like it well enough."

He watched in surprise as Jacob's face turned a bit red. "Yeah, well, that's my business," Jake said, turning away.

Josh raised his eyebrows. "Oh? Have you found your 'soulmate' in Miami too?"

"Just drop it, Josh."

"Oh-ho-ho, so you DO like her!" Josh punched his twin's arm. "You liiike her, you liiike her!"

"Just…I…shut up!" Even Jacob's ears were red.

"Okeydokey. I'll just go stroll out to where she's sitting and act as giddy as you, and see how she reacts then." Josh's grin spread from ear to ear. "I bet she'll love it so much she'll hop right out of her chair and kiss me."

Jacob furiously stepped up into Josh's face. "And I bet YOUR soulmate Olivia would looove that, wouldn't she?"

"She would understand that it was just an experiment."

"Yeah, right. She's crazy about you."

Josh's smile faded a bit. "Is she really?"

Jacob backed down. "You should've seen her when we thought you were lost."

"Hmm." Josh's eyes grew dreamy. "Maybe I should get 'lost' more often."

Jacob smiled. "Separation sharpens love, but togetherness strengthens it."

"Then go be with Lauren. It's okay, I understand. I won't mention it to anyone."

"Thanks, brother. Go be with Olivia."

The two men exchanged a brief hug and left the tiny compartment. Josh headed toward the bunks, while Jake made his way to the TV area.

But before he made it there, Jacob ran back and grabbed an open bag of Cheetos.

…

Blue, white, yellow.

Blue, white, yellow.

Blue, white, yell—

Olivia awoke from her dream. It had been just an array of colors. Did it mean anything? Probably not.

She swung her legs out of the bunk. She must've dozed off after eating the last cookie. It had been delicious.

As her feet touched the floor, the small sliding door at the end of the hall opened. She quickly looked up. It was him.

"Hey. Did I wake you?"

Without saying a word, she stepped forward and hugged him. Caught off guard, he stood there for a second, unsure of how to respond. He had been hurt so many times that it was difficult for him to accept affection easily. But then he remembered that this was THE girl. He embraced her.

After what seemed an eternity, she looked up at him. "Josh."

"Yes?"

"Nothing."

He drew a sharp breath in and couldn't believe what came out of his mouth next. "Olivia, I'm in love with you."

"I've only dreamt of hearing you say that," she whispered.

Cradling her head in his arms, he stroked her hair. "I've only dreamt about meeting someone like you."