Taking in a deep sigh, she wondered where her life was heading. Her life didn't have a current love interest, she had a full time job to attend to everyday, and an empty house to return to at night. What a life, she thought to herself while getting out her keys for her house. Though she should have been happy for what she had, she was just hanging by a thread. Opening the door to her baby blue filled house, she threw her purse so it went sliding across the floor, and taking off her denim jacket she threw it onto the reclining chair. A silent tear began to run down her cheek as she thought about the words 'your standard of living' swept through her mind.

Justin's right, she said out loud to herself while she walked into the bathroom. Cleaning her face off with a small wash rag that was on the sink, she soaked it under the water and cleared the tears and redness away. Her make-up dissolved as the water touched it and the red became a light shade of pink. She dropped the wash rag so that it covered the handle of the cold water and then put a hand on each side of the sink. She stared deep into the mirror, trying to find the truth to herself. In her mind she was crying for no reason. Someone she hardly knew made a comment about her and she took it brutally. It was different though, this someone was a famous person who had all he wanted in life. When someone different comes along, he thrashes on them to remind them that he was the better one.

Was it her heart that she was keeping back? In her eyes she couldn't see anything except for a blank stare right back at her. She looked away with a deep sigh, staring at the water rushing to the drain. Knowing that Vesteva would be alone tonight baby sitting, she made a decision to walk over there and see what's going on over there. To get her mind off of things with a comfort hug from a friend. Grabbing her coat from the chair, she fixed the collar, grabbed the keys and locked her door once more.

Laying there while staring at the ceiling, the cold drift swept over her uncovered body. It must have been less than fifteen minutes since JC had left her house. She turned over to see that her sister was sound asleep with her face facing the wall and her blue eyes closed tightly. Vesteva stroked Lee's curly hair once, then very slowly removed herself from the bed. Making it crack a few times, she was able to escape the room without her sister waking up to call her name.

Before she was able to close her sister's door, there was a knock at the front one. Strange, she thought to herself as the person knocked twice more with a harder force. She walked into the front room and turned on a small lamp that was settled next to the couch. She got on her tips of her toes, peering into the half circle windows to find a tall, dark hair man looking down at the ground. She soughed while resting back on her flat feet staring at the lock. Quickly she unlocked it and pulled it open, not able to look back up at his face.

He flashed around speedily with one hand in his pocket to look down at the wavy brown hair and a forehead. Vesteva crossed her arms, shuffling her feet back and forth. She's never been in a position like this before and she knew she was addressing it wrong.

" You came back?" Vesteva spoke up without looking up. She placed her long hair back behind her ears and re-crossing her arms.

" Actually, I never left. I was in the car the whole time. Can I come in for a minute?" he replied, turning his head to face the car once he mentioned it.

" I don't think that's a good idea. Listen JC, I don't know what you are trying to pull here, but I would really appreciate it if you left." Emphasizing the really, she looked up at him for the first time, making contact right away with his eyes.

She saw his eyes travel all over her face, starting from the forehead, to the lips, to the nose, never keeping them in one place at a time. The uneasiness of the tension was sent from one body to the other. Vesteva stepped back and began to release the door in his face without a good-bye. Before the door reached half way closed, JC stepped forward for once and reflected quickly to stop the door from closing. With his strong body and force, Vesteva was unable to close the door all the way on him, giving up and releasing.

" Just hear me out. Can you come outside then? Just for a second?" he insisted through his arm, still holding the door in case she would close it once again.

She rolled her eyes back and forth and realized that he wasn't about to give up. She let go of the door knob and walked over to the kitchen table which had her jacket placed around a chair. JC held the door open and waited for her to come out onto the porch. She wrapped herself in it without zipping the zipper and walked slowly out, gliding by JC's thin body. Scared and worried, she felt completely uncomfortable while she stood in the wind on the autumn night. Vesteva's head felt as if it was spinning in circles, and her body felt lifeless, wanting to faint right there.

JC placed his hand between her shoulder blades on her back but she shrugged it off, walking towards the steps. She sat down on the first one, him joining her from behind. She faced forward with her knees pressed tightly together, while JC turned towards her. She didn't know what he was going to say because there was nothing he could say. They just met yesterday but she felt as if he was like a kid at school, following her and keeping an eye on her for a little bit, then striking on her with obscene words to make her shatter like glass. She didn't know if this guy was going to hurt her physically or emotionally, or if he just wanted a friend, like she has been searching for near and far.

She placed her head on top of her hands that covered her knees, waiting for him to say what he wanted to say. Raising her eyebrows she glanced up at the silver stars that looked back down on her.

" I know that I just met you, and you know nothing about me, but I want that to change," he began.

Vesteva sat there silent, as if nothing had been flowing to her head. She was just waiting for the words to be spit out so that she could rush right back in and go straight to her room. JC sat there for a second, waiting for a reply and hastily finding out that he wasn't going to get one. She was acting just as she did in the car the night before. That mystery sensation about her was showing once again which he lingered for.

" There's just something about you, something different that I saw in you at the hospital."

Vesteva rapidly lifted her head up and looked right at him. In her head, she thought that maybe he was hiding that he knew she wasn't a volunteer but there for counseling. Her body began to shake while worries ran through her head. He was putting her through so much in just those few seconds on the porch that she wanted to scream.

" Just spit it out, what are you saying?" Vesteva yelled, using her hands to help talk.

The sky was now a deadly dark blackness, except for the stars while Abby walked down the two short blocks. She put her hands in her pockets, draining back the wanting to cry. It made her head pound by the temples while she trudged along the block. In the distance she recognized a car that sat in front of her house, not remembering if it was one she saw the neighbors using. Approaching bushes that blocked the view from the house, she snatched a leaf from it and looked up at the porch.

There sat Vesteva with JC, her paying close attention to whatever was being spoken. Before they were able to see her, she took a couple short steps back, placing herself behind the bushes. Looking through the branches she had a perfect view of the two of them.

She couldn't believe that JC actually listened to her, thinking that he would chicken out of it. Seeing Vesteva actually interacting with someone, instead of running away or crying. Twigs snapped below her feet as she moved around uncomfortably.

Vesteva sat there staring into his eyes, holding her jacket close to her body. She breathed in deeply, waiting for him to answer her question. She wasn't asking for friendship, she wasn't asking for a relationship or even for him to leave at that second, just for an answer.

He sat there with a blank look on his face, not knowing what to say. His blue eyes were opened wide, gazing at Vesteva with a sincere look. He tried to reach for her hand but it was buried within the jacket and she would have nudged away from him anyway. He then suddenly stood up on the wood stairs and looked out into the night. he let out a breath and you could now see it in the air. His hands were in his leather jacket while he stalled to answer. Vesteva let out a 'hm', being impatient for the long silence. She was nervous from what he was going to say, scared tangled in with the feelings.

" You know, I don't want to scare you off, or rush into anything. But when I saw you in the hospital, I felt a connection between us. Though I would like to add it was also physical attraction on my part. Now, I've known you for two days and whenever I try to talk or anything you have completely ignored me. I am believing that this is just you, and not me." He breathed out in one breath, still looking at the sidewalk in front of the house where his car sat.

Vesteva was blown away, though she had a feeling like she was expecting this from him. It was to much pressure to handle, never having someone say that to her. The only kind of dates she has been on are ones that Abby had set up for her, or a relative she needed to escort her some place. It seemed as if JC had known her for a long time, close friends, but those were hard to find in her world. It couldn't be as simple as this, or else why would be living so lonely, so depressed.

Laying her head back down onto her knees, she covered her ears up with the large coat. Squeezing her eyes closely together, she hoped that maybe this would all go away. Everything would be like it was when she woke up yesterday morning, everything normal.

He sat there waiting for some kind of response, one that would tell him that he was wrong and that she was wanting the same thing and was just shy about saying it.

Rocking forwards and back in a slow repetition, she whispered to herself, " I'm not listening. I'm not listening."

JC heard the soft murmur of her voice, unable to identify the whisper of the words. He saw her sitting there, like a scared child who didn't know what to do. He intensely sat back down on the step next to her, watching her rock. He didn't understand, while becoming scared he brought his arm up to wrap around her small tense body. Enveloping his hand around her arm, she clenched back her arm to herself.

She stood up and raced back to her closed door, so panicked that it was incredible that she was unable to turn the doorknob. JC turned around, still sitting on the step and watched her struggle. It was horrible to watch, and he felt like he was cemented to the seat.

In a frantic rush, Vesteva began to cry, then able to open the door she ran right in and slammed the door behind her, forgetting about her sister sleeping. Rushing over to the stairs she raced up them, two at a time and went straight into her room where she pounced onto her bed.

Sitting outside, alone, JC didn't know what to do. What just happened, he said to himself while running his fingers through his dark hair. He rested his elbows on his knees breathing in the soft winds in the air, making an 'O' shape with his lips, he breathed out a deep sigh. There was nothing else to do except leave. He could have knocked on the door, or let himself in but he felt like he did enough damage tonight. She asked for him to leave but he ignored her words and returned. He looked down at his Rolex watch and saw that it was eight at night. He stretched his arms out and got up with a large moan.

Abby still sat behind the bushes, watching Vesteva and his every move. Seeing her jump up like that, she wanted to go give JC a piece of her mind, but she kept hidden. Her fight with Justin was enough for today.

When the door slammed shut from JC's car door, she jumped up and watched the car drive off. She stamped her foot on the ground and walked over up to Vesteva's door, letting herself in quietly. She could hear the soft moans and groans that came in an echo downstairs. The sobbing sounds were uncontrollable in a light tone.

Abby traveled up the stairs and stood to Vesteva's door without opening it yet. She eyed it for quite sometime, wondering what to do. She knew that she was right for being there, she needed a friend during these times. But what was she going to say? It's okay Vesteva, you'll never see him again. Guys are asses, you are going to find them everywhere. Nothing sounded good to her ears.

Lightly she tapped her index finger against the door. The cries didn't stop and no one came. She opened the door just slightly and under all the screams she heard her stereo playing a light song. Trying to blank out Vesteva for just a second, she heard the soft harmonies of the words, " A little more time on you". The words sounded so familiar that played on the c.d. that Vesteva's father specially made for Ves.

She walked into the room and called Vesteva's name out. Her head was buried into the dozen of pillows with her back arched up high. Her hair was thrown wildly everywhere as Abby went over to the bed and sat next to her. She put her hand on Ves's back, trying to grab her attention.

Vesteva disregarded her comfort, continuing to cry her eyes out. Her held was swelling and it was difficult for her to breathe out of her nose now. Abby rubbed her back slowly. She came up a few centimeters every second, trying to calm down her nerve so she would be able to talk. Then sitting up straight besides Abby, she looked up at Abby with her red eyes that showed pain. Her body felt so weak, wanting to fall back against the cotton and shoot up with the springs in the bed.

After Abby saw her face, her eyes saddened. Vesteva saw the emotional downhill that happened with Abby's body as soon as Abby saw her face. Putting both hands then over it, she hid the redness and the swelling from all the hurt that she was causing for her friend. Abby then wrapped her arms around her shoulders, trying to calm her down.

Knowing that her friend was so close to her, she began to cry harder, still holding her face while shaking her head back and forth.

" It's going to be okay," Abby calmly insisted with a soft whisper.

Vesteva continued to shake her head, though harder. " Abby, it's never going to be okay!" She sounded muffled through her hands.

The two of they sat there together until Vesteva calmed down and you could hear the music clear... " Just how I ever did without, the warmth of your smile, the heart of a child...".

JC traveled in his car through the dark night, swinging around the block and back onto Abby's. He fixed his rear view mirror nervously, then looking out the window once he past Abby's house. Even in the darkness you could see the shadow of someone sitting outside on the one cement step that lead to the door.

Knowing that it could be Abby, she could help him out with Vesteva. Just because of that happening, he didn't want to forget about her. He knew that there was something between that that he couldn't describe, but he also wanted to find out if it was true or not.

He pulled the car up into the small driveway. Walking around the car, the person who was sitting there was standing up with a confused face as they approached each other.

" What are you doing here?" Justin exclaimed, turning around to sit back down on the step.

JC followed in his tracks though kept himself on his feet.

" I went to Vesteva's house like I said I would do and, I don't know. Dude, everything's just so fucked up, or maybe it's just me." JC answered, kicking stones beneath his feet while slamming his hands down to his sides.

Watching Justin sit there, he stared up at him like his answer meant no sense. He already had problems himself that he didn't was to claim anymore or get involved. JC slowly sat down on the step next to Justin and put his head in his hands.

Remaining silent as he looked out into the darkness, Justin though of where Abby could be at that moment. Thinking to himself that he could be the fault of her getting into some danger, why didn't he think before he talked. He grew up in front of the camera's, not being able to go to high school and make a real living, dealing with peer pressure, relationships, or anything of the kind. For interviews, everything was always planned out for what he had to say, knowing exactly what the answers were. Or having the words printed out for him, like song lyrics. Now, something different popped up into his life that wasn't right there in front of his face, and he blew it.

His thoughts became muddled the more he thought of her. Finally, he pushed all the feelings to the back of his mind. Over and over he told himself all the reasons why he didn't like Abby, but nothing helped. He kept going back to the picture of her face, when she had gotten so upset, and guilt washed over him.

"Man, let's just get out of here," Justin asked finally as he turned to JC who was still crouched over. He glanced up and nodded with a red face where all the blood had rushed. The two guys sluggishly made their way to the black Jeep with the keys still in the ignition. JC slowly pulled out of the driveway watching out his mirror to see if anyone was coming.

The whole way back to their rented house along a small lake, JC couldn't stop thinking about the way Vesteva was acting. She kept pushing him away with no answer, though he keeps calling out the question. He knew one thing for sure, he had to talk to Abby. Abby held the key to get behind the wall Vesteva had put up around herself. Abby was the key to open the door.