Hiya!

(BTW) Don't kill me!

Hope you love it!

Are you sure you want to know?"

I looked into his eyes, wondering what he was about to share with me. Then I said determinedly "Yes, I'm very sure." I sucked in a breath, hoping it would not be something bad.

Nick severed the eye contact, then he said, "It's not really my place to tell you, but we can go together to ask Matthew."

I let the breath out, disappointed. "Fine." I said, a little bit harsher than needed.

~End of Flashback.

I started to turn to leave, but he grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop. "Rachel, we don not have to go right now do we? After all I'm leaving tomorrow, and I was hoping I could spend some time with you." As he said those words, a sharp pain erupted in my stomach. I clung to his arm, and then choked out, "So soon." I forgot all of my silly anger and in that one moment, it was replaced by a burning need for him to stay.

He must have noticed that I was trembling, because he wrapped his arms around me. "Yes, the notice arrived this morning. The battle has gotten intense, they need more men and quickly. I would have left this morning, but I hadn't said goodbye to you yet." His hand moved up and down on my back, trying to comfort me.

I took a deep, albeit shaky breath. I was not going to make this harder on him than it absolutely had to be. "What did you have in mind?" I tried to cover up the shaking in my voice with a laugh. However, it came out sounding more like a choked gurgle.

He leaned away, and then laughed. "Well first off, you're a mess! And second…" He bent his head down, his lips hovering just above mine. Instead of our lips touching, he pressed his forehead to mine, and sighed deeply. Then he whispered, "You torture me so." He closed his eyes as he said this,

My eyes widened, "I torture you? You're the one who acts like you're going to kiss me!" I said incredulously.

He laughed humorlessly and walked a little ways away from me. Facing the other side of the woods, he rubbed the back of his head in a frustrated manner. "I- I just can't!" I felt my stomach start to twist, "Why?" He walked a little further away as he answered. "Because I'm not… able to."

I walked stubbornly over to him; I grabbed his hand and turned him towards me. I looked into his eyes, and I noticed they were leaking tears, as I studied his face the pain in his eyes intensified.

He whispered again, "I'm not able to." However, this time it seemed there was an urgent message behind his words.

"I don't understand." I felt like I too was on the verge of tears.

He grabbed my shoulders, and shook them slightly as he said, "We can only be friends! I do not love you like that… I never have." I stared at Nick with large eyes until it sunk slowly in; when I finally got the message, I thought I was going to be sick.

I have always loved you like that, even if I hadn't realized it then. My head swam and I hoped I would not fall over."Rachel, are you okay?" He asked in a worried tone.

I looked up at him, then replied in a tone that portrayed nothing had happened between us, "Yes, what did you have planned for today?" I smiled a very convincing smile.

He looked almost disappointed. Then he straightened up and replied with, "I thought we could have a picnic." Then he pulled out a basket from where he had left it behind a tree.

A/N

Whaaaaaaaaaaat?

I know it's short, and I have the next chapter all typed up..

But I wanted to have all of ya'll in agony, waiting for the answer to your questions.

Do not panic I will post it soon... maybe.

*Evil Smile*