After Grant and I left the diner we met up with Vanessa and the twins. The annual fair was tonight, we never missed it. We hadn't missed one in the last ten years. I was so caught up in what was happening with Grant and I that I'd almost forgotten it was today. I was grateful for the much needed distraction.

Grant and I never finished our conversation, but judging by the change in his demeanor he seemed to have forgotten the whole Trisha incident. I wondered if under the surface, he was still thinking about her though. I hoped that the fair just excited him into a better mood.

"I want funnel cake." Vanessa cut off my train of thought. Before anyone could give their opinion, she was off. I followed her. Today was definitely a sugar type of day. We made our way through the crowd of people, until we came up to the large read and white van with the label, "Fran's Funnel cakes." The line was long, which was typical. Fran's Funnelcake's were the best in town. I noticed the rest of the group didn't follow. It wasn't unusual for us to split up and do our own thing, as long as you were with one of the other group members. I felt guilty for wishing Grant was the one that I'd gotten separated with. I just felt like we had a lot left to talk about.

"Mmmm, don't you just love that smell?" Vanessa moved her hands, willing the smell to her.

"Big time." My absolute favorite thing about the fair was the smell in the air. The smell of warm sugar, cheese, fries, pepperoni, all the wonderful foods. It made me feel homey, relaxed. I associated it with all the good memories I'd had here with my friends. The rides and the trouble causing were bliss in my mind. I remembered climbing off the ferris wheel while it was still moving with Grant a few years ago. The two of us had wondered off together. We chose it because it had the shortest line. When we got on Grant decided the ride was going to slow for his liking, so he began to climb down it. I followed him. The man running the ride was horrified, he stopped the ride, bewildered. We laughed and ran away.

I loved the fact Vanessa and I could have silence. We could be hanging out, say absolutely nothing and it wouldn't be awkward. However, there were things I wanted to talk to her about. "How are things with you and Alec? Did you guys talk about what happened yet?"

Vanessa stared at the truck. "Yeah, we did." She took a deep breath. "We agreed it would be better if we just pretend it didn't happen. For the good of the group. I mean, we were both drunk anyways." She tried to seem cool with what she was saying, but it was clear to me she wasn't.

"Who's idea was that?" I questioned her.

She looked at me. "Both of ours. Can you imagine what would happen if we broke up, how awkward it'd be for everyone? I like him, but our friendship has always come first." Her words sounded a little rehearsed to me. She felt guilty.

My own guilt suddenly became unbearable. I knew a way to make us both feel better. "Ness, if I tell you this, I need you to swear you won't tell anyone else, okay?"

Vanessa loved gossip. She was always in the know. She looked eagerly at me. "Yes, I swear. I promise. It'll stay between us." She stared at me, full of anticipation.

"Grant and I hooked up." I said the words before I had time to change my mind. They lingered in the air a moment. Vanessa tripped over herself and hit into the guy in front of us.

"Sorry." She said quickly to the guy and moved back. He nodded, not even turning around. She directed her attention back to me. "What?! Zephyrine, how'd this happen?" We just stared at each other. I tried to speak, but was tongue-tied. After a moment, I watched it dawn on her. "You were a virgin."

I was hoping she forgot that part. I nodded. "I was ready. It was a one time thing. Grant and I are so close. I wanted to lose it to someone who cares about me, you know?"

She nodded slowly. We stayed silent for a moment before she spoke. "Do you like him?"

This question caught me off guard. I spoke before I thought. "As a friend. We already talked about it. We agreed that it was a one time thing, a memory."

"And you're okay with that?" She stepped forward as the line moved.

I nodded. "Yes, I am. Grant and I are too close."

"Since when has being close to someone been a reason not to be with them?"

"It'd be the same as you and Alec getting together." I retorted, unable to think of anything else to say.

"No, we didn't hook up. You don't hook up and not feel anything." She challenged me.

Confessing felt good and bad at the same time. I needed to talk about it, but the lecture was hard to take. "One night stands are a real thing, Vanessa."

She laughed. "Yes, they work because you never see the person again. You see Grant everyday."

I couldn't dispute her logic. "We don't hang out everyday." I muttered.

"You like him, Zephyrine, admit it!" She pointed an accusatory finger into my chest.

I grew tired. "I like him, okay? I like Grant. There, is that what you wanted?"

"Be with him." She said quietly.

My heart missed a beat. "What?" I returned her soft tone.

"If you like Grant, tell him and be with him. It's that simple."

I shook my head. "I wish it were, but it's not. Do you really think that Grant would give up all the women throwing themselves at him?"

She nodded. "For you, yes. You have to at least talk to him. You can't just assume how he feels."

"I can't do that to him. I can't put him in that awkward position." I stopped a moment. "I want you to know, I am fully behind you and Alec. I think you two should try and work things out."

Her laugh sounded miserable. "We're both screwed." She threw her hands up in defeat.

"What are we going to do?" I whispered.

"We've both decided our fates, so there's only one thing to do. Help each other."

"Help each other?"

She moved up in line. "Yeah. Getting over those two isn't going to be easy, we need support. I'll stop you from hooking up with Grant and you keep me from being alone with Alec."

I smiled. "I'm so glad I have you."

"Right back at ya." She winked.

Then, we heard yelling behind us. "He skipped me!" A young male voice protested. Then, more angry voices joined in. Vanessa and I turned around to see what all the ruckus was about. We gasped as the boys cut through the line.

"Hey ladies." Grant said, moving up next to me. I tensed feeling his breath on my neck. Alec moved beside Vanessa.

"Hey." I said, smiling. Vanessa and I made eye contact. She took a step away from Alec, towards me. I caught her hint and switched her spots. The guys squinted at each other, confused. We got our funnelcakes and walked away from the foodtruck.

"What should we do next?" Alec asked the group.

"We were actually planning on going shopping. There's this one of kind dress I've had my eye on. It won't be long before it's out of stock." I smiled. "Wanna come?" Vanessa's eyes questioned me.

"I think we wanted to hang out here a little longer." Aiden cut in.

"You're leaving?" Grant asked, stepping closer to me.

"I have to, the mall is going to close soon." I thought I saw disappointment on his face.

"Why don't you go shopping then come back here?" Alec offered.

Vanessa smiled. "Sure, yeah if we have time. You know how girls and clothes go..."

"Always trying to be difficult, huh?" Alec shook his head at Vanessa.

I was too busy watching them to notice how close Grant moved in. "We'll miss you."

I jumped. "I don't believe you."

He put his hand on my arm. I moved into him.

"We have to go." Vanessa said, tugging on my free arm. I waved goodbye.

"Thank you." I said when Vanessa finally let go of me.

"It was a mutual thing. We helped each other back there."

"He was so close." I breathed.

She nodded. "He was so sexy."

I laughed. "You're talking about Alec right?"

"You're talking about Grant right?" She hit me playfully. "So, are we really going to the mall?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind. I have to pick up a few things."

"I'm always down for the mall." She turned right and headed in that direction. "What do you need to get?"

I smiled to myself. "Room decorations." She squinted and continued driving.