As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I turn around to see who had grabbed me.
"Maroh got spooked again," a familiar voice whispers in my ear. I kiss him on the cheek and take advantage of his surprise to wiggle out of his firm, bear hug.
"Well why does that matter," I ask with a smirk on my face. "If Maroh is at a show this weekend?" I hear Troi curse under his breath.
"Why didn't you just ask me to spend time with you?" I say as I turn on the stable lights. "We're best friends."
"Right. Friends." I hear him mutter. Does he sound...sad?
I mount my horse and trot out of the stable making my way to the courtyard. I hear Troi jogging to catch up behind me so I slow down to a walk.
"So tomorrow's the big day, huh?" He asks while he shoves his hands in his pocket and looks down at the cobblestone path. His a-bit-to-long brown hair falling into his face.
"Yeah. I'm terrified." I say with a forced laugh.
I see him smile a bit.
"Well no matter what I'll always be here for you. Wether you like it or not." He says as he punches me playfully in the shoulder.
"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" I say with a real laugh.
He sighs. "I love you, Char." He says as he kicks a little pebble down the path.
I giggle. "I love you too. Always have and always will."
He looks up at me, surprised.
"What? Really?" He says with a smile peaking though his usually solemn expression.
"As a friend. And I know it's the same for you."
He stops walking and his chiseled face drops its    smile alarmingly fast. I stop my horse too.
"Right. As a friend." He mutters with a bit of bite to his voice.
I gasp. "No, Troi. You can't be serious!" Sure Troi was the most handsome boy I'd ever seen, but I'd never felt that way about him, or anyone for that matter. And if he feels that way about me...
He takes his hands out of his pockets and crosses his impeccably muscles arms. "I've never been more serious in my life," He says with a drip of sadness in his voice. It breaks my heart. Him saying this stuff out loud could tear our bulletproof relationship to shreds. Yet he took the chance because he thought I felt the same. Except I thought we mutually, nonverbally agreed to just be friends. Apparently I was wrong. I just can't imagine us being anything other than just friends. Not like I haven't had fantasies before...
"How could you not know, Char?" He's obviously fighting back tears now. "I love you," he pleads as a tear races down his beautiful face.
I dismount my horse and grab her lead. I quickly walk her back to the stable, keeping my head low. I don't want him to see me cry. This day could not get any worse.