"Why didn't I see that coming? Aren't we supposed to be connected? Why didn't I know she loved me? If I knew her feelings, it would have been obvious, right?" Nick muttered to himself as he jogged to his car. He felt a large drop of water fall onto his arm, and shook his head in frustration.

"Perfect, just perfect! As if this day wasn't bad enough already, let's add some water to the mix!" Nick reached his vehicle and looked around, but Sky was no where in sight.

"Sky! Sky, where are you!?" Nick cried out in vain. "D*** it! Sky, why are you doing this?" Nick turned the key in the ignition, and ventured off in the rain to find her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Why is he doing this to me? Why can't he just love me back? Why does he have to hurt me so much?"

"Because he's a man, and men are stupid."

Sky snapped to attention, as she sat up. "Who's there?"

"Shhh, relax, Sky. Don't look for me, because I cannot be seen."

"God?" Sky asked.

The voice chuckled softly, "No, not God."

"Then who?"

"Just someone trying to tell you the truth."

"The truth about what?"

"About Nick."

Shame seized Sky's entire body at just the mention of his name.

"What about him?"

"He loves you."

"No, he doesn't. I'm sorry, but you're mistaken Miss um, Sir?" The voice was unlike any that Sky had ever heard, and she was unable to tell if it belonged to a man or woman.

Once again, the voice laughed lightly and replied, "I'm neither a miss or sir. I'm not human. I may not even be real. It's possible that you're just making me up. But, no need to worry about that now. Just listen to me, because I have the answers you're looking for."

Sky didn't say a word, so the voice continued. "Nick really does love you. He just doesn't want to admit it to anyone. You must forgive him, after all, he's only an ignorant male."

"But, he told me he didn't. I knew he wasn't lying, if he lied I would have felt it, wouldn't I?"

"No, maybe not. But, I speak no lie. Nickolas Gene Carter is madly in love with you, Sky Summers. Now, sit back, and don't think anymore. You're exhausted. You need to rest."

"But, I can't" Sky said, even as she lay down.

"Yes, you can," the voice said soothingly.

"I really shouldn't" Sky murmured as her eyelids came down.

"Don't think, just dream."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Where is she! I'm never going to find her! This is fricking impossible!" Nick banged his head against the steering wheel once, twice.

"Stop, that will do no good, you silly man!"

Nick looked up in surprise, but no one was in sight. "Carter, you gotta get a grip. You're loosing it, man." Nick mumbled as he rested his head on the wheel once more.

"You're loosing nothing, except for a friend, that is."

"Who is that?!" Nick cried out.

"Calm down, no need to be alarmed."

"Oh yeah, there's no need to be alarmed. A voice coming out of thin air, making conversation with you; that's nothing to be alarmed about!" Nick yelled.

"Shhhh, stop your shouting. I'm just trying to help you."

"Who is that!?" Nick asked again.

"Nick, I'm your friend, and I'm here to help. I'm not visible, and I'm only audible to you. That's all you need to know."

"Fine, whatever. What do you want?"

"My, my, impatient aren't we?"

"Yes, I suppose we are!" Nick mimicked the voice, and rolled his eyes.

"I'll ignore that, because I know you are terribly upset. Now, I know you are crushed over loosing Sky, but I have a way for you to win back her friendship."

Nick said nothing, but he was listening attentively.

"Give her this," said the voice, as a flower fell from the sky, and into Nick's lap.

"A rose!? What is this going to do?" Nick prepared to throw it out the window.

"Don't Nick. Perhaps to you that rose looks like a normal one, but it's not. Sky will be able to tell the difference, and maybe if you examine it closely, you will too."

Nick looked down at the flower he held between his fingers. The petals were a brilliant blue, covered in silver sparkles, and perfectly shaped. It was definitely gorgeous. As he admired the color once more, he realized, "This is the same color as Sky's eyes."

"Yes, you're correct about that."

"Is that what makes it special?"

"That and something else."

"What else?"

"Smell the rose, Nick. You'll see then," the voice said softly.

Cautiously, he lifted the flower to his nose, and inhaled slowly. Nick had to close his eyes at the sensation that came over him.

"Do you see why it's so special?" the voice was faint.

He nodded and returned the key to the ignition.

"Go give the rose to Sky, Nick."

He nodded again, and drove off.