Brynn tells me all about her Dad's plans for her and how she's so not looking forward to a new school but is thankful that it will only be for a few months. I pull up outside of Brynn's house or at least it will be for another day. "How is Gran doing?" I ask hesitantly.

"She has her good days and bad. Now that I'm moving out she going to sell the house and move into assisted living."

I wish I could remove the sadness from her features, remembering how she shines when she smiles. Brynn looks at me and shrugs. "I guess in a way it will be better for her as there will be people close by 24 hours a day, should she need any help."

"That's true," I say. "I'm going to miss her cookies."

I get just a hint of a smile. "Yeah, me too. I'll have to ask her for the recipe so I can make them some time."

"If you do... send me a box?"

This got an even wider smile. "Sure, but I have to tell you, I'm a lousy cook, baker... whatever."

"Even burnt I'd bet they'd be good."

Brynn chuckles. "I'm not sure about that but I'll try not to."

There's a long pause, both of us have run out of things to say but neither of us, it appears, wants our time together to end.

"If it would make you feel better. I'll check in on her, while you're at your Dad's. I can easily stop by on my way home from school or if you're concerned you can call me and I can be here in minutes."

Her eyes shine. "I would like that very much. I hate leaving her before things are settled. I'm scared something will happen and I won't be there to help."

"Consider it done."

A genuine smile graces Brynn's lips and my breath gets caught in my throat. How am I going to survive her going away? I reach out for her hand and run my thumb over it and let out a slow breath.

She looks away and at the house. "I should be getting in."

"Yeah," I say but don't relinquish her hand. She looks down at it and back at me.

"I don't want to say goodbye," I say lamely.

"Then don't," she tells me.

"Really?" I ask, my heart hungry for this morsel of hope she's offering.

She leans over and for a second I think she's going to kiss me. My heart leaps from my chest only to be thoroughly disappointed when she grabs my phone. She hands it back to me, "It's locked."

I rattle off the passcode and she looks at me when I give her the last two numbers and I smile knowing she has recognized it as the day we met. She smiles briefly before getting into my contacts and a few seconds later she hands it back to me.

"You already have my number. I made Gran her own entry and the address of the house should you... need it."

"Let's hope that won't be necessary."

Brynn presses her lips together and nods her head. "My new house address is under my name. I wouldn't advise ever showing up there unannounced since our parents have a history."

"Noted," I tell her but I can't help but smile. She's letting me in. Good God... she's not cutting me off.

"Finn, I ..."

"I know you can't make any promises, Brynn but I want you to know you ever need me, for anything, don't think you have to go it alone. I'm just a phone call away. Okay?"

"Okay," Brynn says and briefly smiles, she goes to open the door and then changes her mind. She shut it and in one quick movement my face is between her hands and her lips are on mine and I wrap my arms around her as she kisses me... not goodbye but just kisses me and I sigh.

"Your kisses, Brynn..." I shake my head and laugh.

"Yeah, I'm going to miss yours too. Consider it something to remember me by." She grins.

"Oooo, speaking of that," I reach into the backseat and pull up her print.

"Thank you again for this, Finn and for everything else."

"My pleasure. So... see you when I see you."

"Or hear from me even sooner."

"Later then, Brynn."

She smiles and it lights up my world. "Later," she shuts the door and walks up the path. I wait till she opens the door. She looks back and waves. I wave back and then she slowly shuts the door.

"Yes!" I scream out in my car, before driving away.

___________

I get to work on Saturday. Paris' eyes widen as I enter the kitchen.

"Holy Crap! You did it!" She runs over to me and gives me an impromptu hug. I laugh and hug her back. I had no chance of hiding this information from her. I can't stop smiling. Even my Mom and Dad commented on it at dinner last night.

"My face hurts from smiling this much."

Paris lets me go and looks up at me "Well don't stop, now. We have to celebrate. On your brake... brownie sundae on me."

"Thanks!" I tell her.

"Finn! One time and raring to go I see," Mr. Brock says as he enters the kitchen.

"You know it," I tell him.

"Happy to be back on the team?"

I briefly look at Paris and back at her Dad, "Among other things."

He too looks at his daughter and his smile widens. "Oh, you didn't waste a minute did you?"

"Dad!" Paris is making some weird hand gestures between throat slicing and trying to flag down an airplane.

I look at her momentarily confused.

"I don't normally let her attend those things but it is her Junior Prom and well I know I can trust you. Right?" Mr. Brock gives me that I'm going to break you in two if you hurt my daughter look and I am wondering what I missed.

I look over to Paris who just facepalms herself and groans.

"Yeah, of course," I reassure her Dad hoping Paris will fill me in on this sooner rather than later.

He gives me a hard slap on the back. "That's what I want to hear!" He announces before leaving the kitchen to check the floor.

My eyebrows raise and I look over at Paris whose face is brighter than the pizza sauce she dumping in the tray.

"Paris? Prom?"

"Okay," she says putting the bucket down and turning to face me. "I never get to go to these things, like no dances, EVER. My dad really seems to like you and even more importantly trusts you so when I mentioned wanting to ask you to the Prom, he actually floored me and said okay."

I blink a few times. Prom... with Paris... Good Lord! I just got things straightened out with Brynn. "Paris I'm flattered, really I am but I can't."

She looks at me and I swear she somehow dimmed. It was like I said 'I don't believe in fairies anymore' and I'm now watching Tinkerbelle's light go out.

"Oh Paris, don't look at me like that. You know how hard it was to get things going with Brynn? If I go on a date with you..."

"I understand. It was stupid of me anyway. I didn't expect my dad to just blurt it out like that. I was hoping to explain we'd just go as friends and I thought I might have more of a chance if...well... you didn't patch things up with Brynn. But of course, you did. You are WonderBoy. It's okay." She turns away from me and continues to stock the toppings.

Shit. I hate that she looks so disappointed. She's been so awesome to me, yet do I really want to go back to Brynn so soon and say, "Hey Brynn what you think of me and Paris going to the prom together?" I shudder at the thought.

"Isn't there anyone else? Anyone at all?"

Paris shakes her head no. "It's okay it was just a thought. I understand. Really."

It was an awkward time at work. Everything ran smoothly but Paris was all business and not her usual jubilant self. On my break, she did meet me outside with a brownie sundae as promised.

"I really am happy for you, Finn."

"Thanks, Paris," I say taking it from her. She gives me a brief smile and disappears back into the kitchen and I sigh. This sucks; I wish I could help her.

I come back in. "There is enough to share here."

She smiles at me as I hand her a spoon. She takes it from me and digs in.

"I was thinking there has to be a way to figure this out."

Paris is already shaking her head. "My dad never lets me go to dances. So guys have stopped asking me to go. All my friends already have dates and well..." She shrugs.

"There's got to be a way. I got Brynn not to throw me out of her life didn't I?"

"What are you saying? You're somehow going to convince my Dad to let some other guy take me? Not even you are that good, WonderBoy."

"Don't count me out just yet, Paris."

She shakes her head at me. "Alright. You've got 2 weeks. I'll buy the tickets but if you don't find someone, I'm going to expect you to reimburse me."

"Deal," I say holding out her hand and she shakes it.

"Here's hoping."

_____________

I get home and my phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out and see Brynn's number. I eagerly swipe to talk to her.

"Hey there? All settled in?"

"Almost," Brynn tells me.

"How's your Dad? Is he excited to have you there?"

"Yeah, crazy as it seems. He really is."

I smile. "I'm glad, Brynn. So is this a social call?"

She pauses for a long time... "Can you do me a favor?"

"You know I already said I would help. What do you need me to do?"

"It's Gran. Tonight is her first night alone in the house. I was wondering if you'd go over there for dinner?"

I laugh. "So am I just to show up? How does this work exactly?"

"I already told her you're coming over. She was rather excited about the idea."

"Easy enough. What time?"

"Five o'clock okay?"

"Perfect," I tell her. I hear an audible sigh on the other end of the phone.

"Thank you!"

"Brynn?"

"Yeah?"

"Does you're Grandmother have a favorite flower?"

"What?"

"Gran does she have a favorite flower?"

"Carnations, I think?"

"Thanks!"

"Finn, what are you up too."

"Me? Up to something? Now Brynn, surely you know me better than that."

"I do and that's why I'm suddenly concerned."

I laugh. "To bad you not here to stop me from doing anything stupid."

"Low blow, Finn Dashiell Nash."

"Oooo she pulls out the middle name." I chuckle, "Well if you'll excuse me I have a dinner date to get ready for."

"Finn? Dinner Date?? What are you???"

"Later Brynn."

"Finn don't you dare hang up on me."

I'm laughing hysterically as I hang up on her.