"Stephanie!" shrieked Micah impatiently. "Are you ready yet? We'll be late for the ball!"

Stephanie checked herself in the mirror one last time and slowly walked out of Micah's walk in robe. "How do I look?"

"Wow!" Micah appraised her best friend with a smirk. "Hunter is gonna go bass ackwards when he sees you."

"Don't start Micah." Steph warned, trying not smile despite herself. Micah had taken great delight in teasing Stephanie about her little 'date' with Hunter two nights ago. She and Mars had arrived home at the same time as Hunter and Stephanie and Micah immediately knew something was going on. Since then, Stephanie and Hunter hadn't had any chances to be alone, as Micah was practically shadowing them, waiting for something to happen.

Mars reported that the visit to Tawny had gone better than expected. She'd remained quiet and seemed to realise that she'd pushed things too far, which didn't stop her from throwing a minor tantrum when Micah gleefully informed Tawny that they weren't going to post bail until after the ball.

Talking excitedly, Micah and Stephanie walked down the stairs into front parlor. Hunter and Mars were already there, along with Mr and Mrs Williams, waiting for the girls and talking. Mars saw them first and elbowed Hunter. He looked up, eyes going wide. "Wow."

"Ah, here we are." Mr Williams turned to Micah and Stephanie. "If your ready to go, I'll go to the garage and get James to bring the limo around."

"We're ready." Micah replied. Mrs Williams gasped in dismay. "I left the invitations upstairs!"

"We'll run up and get them." Mars kicked Hunter lightly in the ankle. "Where are they?"

"On the sideboard in the breakfast area." She replied. Mr Williams sighed. "Well then your mother and I will get the limo, you boys run up and get the invitations and you girls... stay here."

For once Micah had the sense to wait until nobody was within earshot before opening her mouth. "Oh my god. Did you see him? He's gorgeous! Cliff, gotta remember Cliff..."

"He is attractive." Stephanie nodded, double checking her hair in the mirror. Micah stared at her. "Attractive? Attractive? That's like calling the Great Wall of China a white picket fence. That's like calling the Statue of Liberty a garden gnome. That's like calling Niagra Falls a fountain. That's like -"

"I get the point!"

"Steph, Hunter's completely into you! And I know you're into him!" Micah put her hands on her hips and glared at her friend. "I'd bet anything that he makes his move tonight."

Upstairs, Mars was looking for the invitations. "I saw that look on your face when you saw Stephanie."

"If your leading up to something buddy, get to the point." Hunter warned lightly. "If we're late, then Micah will have a coronary."

"Steph is.... well she's... " Mars paused, trying to organize his thoughts. "Stephanie is very important to me. I'm not going to tell to stay away, just make sure you treat her right okay?"

"Mars, I wouldn't hurt Stephanie if it can possibly be avoided." He smiled for a second. "I barely know her, but -"

"But you're head over feet." Mars grinned and punched his friend affectionately on the shoulder. "We've noticed. Let's get going."

~~~

"There you are!" Hunter exclaimed, hurrying over to Stephanie. She turned to him with a smile. "Oh so you noticed I was missing?"

"Of course I did!" He leant next to her on the balcony. "So what drives you out here away form the festivities."

"I just came out for some fresh air. I was starting to feel a little smothered in there."

"You felt smothered? I was the one who -" Hunter cut himself off in mid sentence. "Oh. I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine." She reassured him. They fell into a comfortable silence, looking out over the lake, standing close enough to be barely touching. Hunter's arm brushed against Stephanie's, a patch of goosebumps rising on her bare skin. Hunter noticed immediately. "You're cold."

"No, it's gorgeous out here."

"Take my jacket." He ignored her rebuttal and moved behind her, placing his tuxedo jacket over her shoulders. She smiled at him and drew the jacket around her. He smiled back and put his arm around her waist. Steph leaned into him and sighed. "This view is beautiful."

"I couldn't agree more." Hunter replied. Something in his voice made Stephanie look up at him. "You're not even looking!"

"I'm looking at what is the most beautiful thing at the party." He answered seriously, looking intently at Stephanie. She blushed. "Hunter, I -"

"Steph, I like you. I like you a lot. I think you're charming, funny, sweet and absolutely gorgeous." Hunter tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I've had enough experience with females to know when one is interested in me and I know you're interested. Now I could be reading the signals wrong and if I am, I apologise. But either way, whether you're as into me as I'm into you or not, there is nothing more I'd like to do right now than to kiss you."

Stephanie's eyes went wide. It wasn't that she hadn't expected something to happen with Hunter, it was just that she'd never heard anyone be so up front and open about their feelings for someone. It was with a shock that she realized that getting involved with someone Hunter's age would bring a whole new dimension to their relationship, one that wasn't there in a relationship like Cliff and Micah.

Hunter watched Stephanie closely as she turned away from him. He knew that she was probably used to guys beating around the bush and friends running as go-between, but he wasn't the type to get involved in that and he hadn't thought Steph was either. Judging by the look on her face however, Hunter decided he'd been wrong and had probably come on a little too strong. He stepped away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out." Hunter said quietly. He'd blown it. He'd thought she want just as interested in him as he was in her just because he'd wanted her to be as interested.

Something in his voice made Stephanie's head snap up. Oh hell. He'd misread her. "Hunter?"

"I'm sorry. I thought -" He cut himself off for the second time in their conversation. "It doesn't matter what I thought. I'll just -"

"Hunter." Stephanie repeated, a little more firmly this time. "Just shut up and kiss me."