*a couple days later*

I awoke to the sound of Rian's voice echoing through my house. Why he was here was beyond me, why he was here early in the morning worried me.

I stretched my arms out and slipped out of my covers. Adjusting my black shirt ,so that it actually covered my torso. I looked at myself in the mirror making sure my black shirt and neon pink fuzzy pajama pants were appropriate for my spying escapade.

I slyly crept to my door and opened it to a loud creak. "damn" I said to my self as the house became quiet.

Walking down the stairs I heard a bunch of "shhhh" and "dont tell her yet" making me more curious than I was before. Like what the hell! don't tell me what? I was borderline angry that I was out of the loop! I haven't been out of the loop since first grade!

I crept down the stairs hoping that they would think I had gone back to bed but my attempt had no avail. So instead I decided to pretend I heard nothing and sauntered into the kitchen as usual.

I rested my elbows on the marble counter and popped a grape into my mouth. My mom and Rian were sitting at the table with both their arms crossed. Not one touching the delicious food in front of them. They both turned to me and gave me a fake smile. Bitches.

"Good morning Rian" I sing songed in the best voice I could muster, trying to hide my curiosity mixed with frustration.

"Good morning angel" Rian responded standing up to hug me. I pushed him away and stuck out my tongue.

My mom muttered a quick good morning and picked up the array of breakfast foods off the table.

"I don't want your cooties!" I tried to make my voice sound as juvenile as could. It worked to some extent. A look of sadness crossed his face but was immediately swapped out with a look a pure evil. He started to tickle me, gasping for air because of how ticklish I was I tried to escape to catch some air.

He finally let me go after a while, but not until I said that he was the best person in the world and made me promise I would call him Mr. hot stuff from now one.

My mom rolled her eyes at us. She muttered something about how childish we were and left the kitchen.

The perks of having a new best friend down in Baltimore is that you can fool around like this all the time. My mind wandered to Cassadee.

"Oh shit!" I shouted

"Tianna! that is no language for a young lady!" My mom scolded from the living room but I ignored her attempt at parenting and Rians attempt not to laugh.

Grabbing Rian's hand I sprinted up the stairs and grabbed the Mac book sitting on the bed. Opening it I was greeted by the noise indicating it was awakening. Patting the space next to me I made room for Rian to sit. He shot me a questioning look as to what I was doing but all I did was nod and started to click away opening my face time. For a brief moment I glanced at Rian who was sitting criss cross apple sauce laying on my pillows. what a loser.

My FaceTime rang once, twice, three times before Cassadee answered. The screen expanded showing off her freckles and candy apple green eyes. Her eyes wrinkled with a smile but soon her smile dropped when she noticed Rian. Whatever she was thinking about she quickly recovered from it because she started to smile again.

Cassadee seemed to be in her room because I saw all the photos of us from past times. She even had the shirt we made for our third grade talent show hanging on the wall. that girl kept everything sentimental to her. I noticed that she had painted her room blue after I left, she also had stuffed animals lined across the edge of her bed. Cassadee's new room looked awesome and I wished I could have been there.

I decided to break the pending silence.

"CASSADEE!!" I shouted sending her into a fit of giggles.

"I want you to meet my best friend Rian" I shifted my body to show him off better.

"Hello Rian!" Cassadee said gleefully blushing slightly. Rian gave her his famous grin and a tiny wave. He seemed shy because after he looked down at the blanket and started to pick at the fabric.

We started to fall back into our old routine of gossip and laughter.

*Rians POV*

Tianna had dragged me upstairs for what seemed like a pow wow with one of her old friends. Sitting there I was almost ready to leave but the soft bed kept pulling me in.

As soon as she made the call a girl appeared on the screen. Her hair was a soft brown and flowed like a river down her back. She had piercing green eyes that sent shivers down my back and to top it all off her freckles made her seem more adorable. She took my breath away.

"CASSADEE!" Tianna yelled blowing out my ear drum. Gesh, I was going to be deaf by the end of this.

Tianna introduced us briefly and a strange feeling overcame me. Was I shy? I began to occupy myself by picking at her blanket and Tianna and Cass started to like I wasn't even there.

Zoning out I started to think of Cass and how her face was perfect and her skin looked so soft and how her laugh made my heart swell. I hugged a pillow to squeeze out my emotions.

Suddenly, someone nudged my arm and I looked up to meet Tianna's worried stare.

"Rian?" she said a sense of concern filled her voice.

"Yesssssss, yes IM FINE!" I said coming back into it and jumping up out of freight for who knows what reason.

"Sooo, wouldn't it be cool if Cassadee came for a visit?" Tianna asked trying not to react to what weird thing I just did.

I blushed and nodded my head slowly. Tianna squealed excitedly and hugged me making me topple off the bed.

Looking down on me, Tianna helped me up and then immediately turned back to finish up the conversation with Cass. She mentioned something about Charles, whoever he was, but I didn't pay close attention because girl stuff.

Soon, she said a quick goodbye and then closed her laptop and gave me a knowing smirk.

"What" I said innocently playing with my fingers, swaying my body back and forth.

"Don't what me! You know what!" Tianna smiled pointing at me. She forward rolled off the bed and skipped to the closet. Pulling out a black sweater, she slipped it over her head. That had given me a brief moment to prepare for the interrogation soon to follow.

"You like her don't you" Tianna said placing a hand on my shoulder. This girl cut right to the point!

"Pssh I don't know what you're talking about! I just met the girl! over a video chat for that matter." my voice pitched higher and you could literally hear the lie in every word that I spoke. I was pretty sure my nose was getting longer as well.

Tianna pinned me on the bed. She may seem skinny and not strong but let me inform you that she is way far from weak. My face must have given away my surprise of how strong she was because she smiled down at me. Her blonde hair falling in my face. Her green eyes sparkled with the information that she withheld.

"Admit it Dawson you liiiikkkeeee her" her tone getting all knowing and cheery. How do girls know things so well? She knew already so why not tell her.

"Jeez, okay can't a man have some privacy! yes my god I think she's very pretty!" I shouted closing my eyes as if the truth would blind me.

She let me go with a squeal and started dancing around chanting "I knew it! I knew it!"

After she finished her little victory dance we made our way to the car to meet up with the guys.

*Tiannas POV*

After I had cracked Rian like an egg he said that we had to get a move on because the guys wanted to see us and would be waiting for us at Jack's house. My heart swelled at the mention of Jack's name.

Before walking out to the garage I turned to Rian

"Don't worry Ri she likes you too" sending over a wink and he blushed

Slipping on my brown flip flops I made my way to Rian's red jeep, thinking that this would be the perfect time to ask Rian what he was talking to my mom about this morning.

Rian started the car and went off down the street heading down town to Jacks house. I placed my hand on my lap and rubbed my thighs.

"Rian" I said taking in a deep breath

"Yes T?" Rian looked over moving his hand so it grasped mine, in a comforting way. flashbacks of what happened only a few days ago with Charles came through. How he reached out for my hand the first time pulling it back, but putting it back for a second time letting it linger.

The past consumed me because Rian was calling my name repeatedly before I came back down to reality.

"Tianna? Tiaannnnaaa???" Rian waved his hand in front of my face to get my attention.

"Yes hmmm?" I said blinking my eyes rapidly trying to remember what it is I wanted to ask him. The thought struck me like lightening and the wheels in my head started to churn. Time to play detective one more time.

"What were you and my mom whispering about this morning?" I pursed my lips waiting for an answer.

"Oh, nothing just how great the school is down here and how everyone is going to love you." Rian offered a small smile and I nodded knowing he was lying but decided to leave it alone, why waste a good day on something that will only come out with time. Deciding I wasn't in the mood for talking the rest of the ride was continued in silence. The only noise was the music blaring through the radio.