I glanced over at my sleeping best friend wondering what she would think of me if I gave into the desires that were coursing though my body. To walk out of this room to find her older brother and confess to him the feelings I had. Her peacefulness was something I could never achieve even while sleeping.

Thoughts of only two things ever racked my brain constantly: not disappointing my mother's ideals and her brother. I knew if I asked my mother would shut down my idea of a marriage filled with love. It had only caused her pain, a pain she refused to let me feel.

Still it didn't stop my mind from wondering towards the boyish blonde who slept close by, I rose trying to quiet my footsteps as I stepped into the hallway. I took one step towards his room before deciding to head to the kitchen instead.

My friendship with Emily was worth more than a thousand diamonds, no matter what my feelings were I had to protect that relationship at all costs.

My head jerked up towards the chuckling I heard in front of my brought my head away from my thoughts as a figure leaned against the counter drinking from a glass. My eyes met the ones they had been searching for, and all at once my heart leapt to my throat.

"Fancy seeing you here at," The figure glanced at the bright digits on the oven screen, "1:43 am." I could hear the humor in his voice, the darkness fading away into a new kind of darkness.

I closed my eyes just allowing myself to feel his presence, his essence, before going to get my own glass of water. Passing by him I could smell the scent I had gotten so familiar to, and my mind could only think of him.

I stood with the door open to the fridge trying to remember why I had came out here in the first place, "Lost Sierra?"

"Um, no I'm fine Michael." I spoke as his voice shocked me out of my frozen state, grabbing the closest bottle of water from the fridge before closing it far too quickly. I took a drink trying to give myself time to think, but even though my thoughts were racing not a single one was sending me help in this situation.

"Can I help?" My eyes locked with his in confusion, his green orbs flashed held concern but flashed amusement for a moment. "You seem worried Sie."

I tilted my head at the nickname, the entire time I had known him we had always called each other Michael and Sierra. It took me too long to respond with my usual I'm fine, the longer I stayed silent the worse I felt.

"I have a crush on you!" The words came tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them, both of our eyes widened as we started to stare at each other once more. The silence was deafing and eventually I couldn't stand it, I abandoned the water on the counter quickly making my way towards Emily's room not caring if I woke her.

I heard the footsteps trailing me halt as I reached Emily's room, somewhere he couldn't follow. I glanced back at the door closed behind me, part of me wanted to go back and face him. But the stronger part in my bones kept me in place, head over heart.

Tearing my eyes away from the wooden door I made my way back to where I had been sleeping moments before. I couldn't fix anything tonight, perhaps I could blame it on lack of sleep tomorrow, but tonight I could only rest my head wishing for my words to drown within the sea of useless information.

"Sie Mis?" My friend's groggy voice filled my ears as she looked up from her pillow with lidded eyes.

"I'm here Em." Her head flopped back on the bed not so gracefully her head once more trotting off to dreamland. I smiled slightly, whenever I spoke with her at least, my words never were worthless.

I blinked my eyes twice realizing I had been nodding off at work, the sound of my mother's heel clicked against the hallway outside my office. My hands quickly typed along the keys of the computer desperate to appear busy, still for a moment my thoughts drifted back to that night. One of my greatest regrets was not waiting to hear his response.

"I hope you've finished looking over Mr. Heron's proposal." My mother stood in the entrance of my office, no knock or hello just her impatient tone to greet me. When we were at the company I was not her daughter and she was not my mother.

"Of Course Ms. Ruiz." I responded simply, we were meeting with Mr. Heron tomorrow about a new line of glow in the dark lipstick he had made. My mother was already against the idea believing that it didn't fit the image of the company.

"Have you made a decision yet?" Although she was asking her voice was anything but curious, her cold eyes watched me with a blank expression. It'd been years since I had seen those Amber eyes show any true emotions, far too many years.

"Yes Ms. Ruiz." Her heels clicked as her longs strides carried her away from my office, her power resonating with every step. The wind outside even seemed to quiet respecting her more than Mother Nature, instead it bowed towards the Queen.

I glanced outside watching the wind pick up once more, the clouds twisting into stormy shades of grey. I would give anything to be outside feeling the crisp October air against my skin, to not be confined to my desk like the days before. A small sigh left my lips as I went back to work, filling out paperwork and preparing for the meeting tomorrow.

Over an hour had pasted when my phone gave off a quick buzz, I recognized the rink tone instantly. I glanced over at the device that laid face-down on my desk, shaking my head I turned back towards my work. Another ping sounded just as I had placed my hands on the keys, my eyes found the device once more from my peripheral vision.

Snatching the phone from off the desk I flipped over looking at the notification, Emily 2 messages, I unlocked my phone my curiosity overcoming my brain.

Hey Sierra Mist, How's Work? -E
Wanna met up later and watch a movie? I invited the rest of the gang. -E
Be over at 7. -S

I shook my head slightly as I placed the phone back on my desk, even after all these years she still called me that awful nickname. Still a small smile came upon my face as I began to whistle a little tune while I typed away on my computer going through my work. True to my word I arrived at Em's house at exactly seven, although I may have broke a few dozen traffic laws to get there on time.

"Hey Sie." I rolled my eyes as the nickname rolled off of his tongue, ignoring the way my body shivered at his voice. He leaned against the wall making him the first thing I would see when I entered the house.

His eyes never left mine those jade orbs darkening at the sight of me, things had changed tremendously since I had first confessed to him. Our story was one of bad timing and missed opportunities, still I think both of us believed that eventually our souls would intertwine.

"Michael." I greeted half-way, making my way past him towards the living room where the rest of the group would be. Martin and Noah were both in town for the weekend, Noah was meeting his publisher early this morning giving the pair the perfect opportunity to visit us. Nick was busy heating up some popcorn in the microwave, as Emily talked to him about what kind of movie we should watch.

Every couple seconds she would slap Caleb's fingers just as they reached the popcorn, his face would droop slightly turning into a puppy dog face. I could hear Michael's footsteps behind me as he followed me to the living room like a puppy.

I elected to sit next to Noah and Martin, heading towards the adorable pair. Michael followed along but I could feel his gaze piercing my jacket. He had been hoping for more than a one worded greeting.

Ever since that night so many years ago things had changed between us. Emily used to always joke about how we would be a cute pair and every time we would have to awkwardly laugh telling her how it was impossible.

Eventually after that night several weeks later had been the next time I faced him. When I did he seemed to be singing an entirely different tune, I could tell something was different about him. I couldn't exactly place it though. That was until Shauna Dinton walked into school with him attached at the hip.

I knew then that I had lost him, not staying that night had cost me more then I could ever imagine. Because the apologetic face he sent my way that day...hurt more the a hundred rejections that could have happened that night. The face he sent me was a slap to the face.

"Sierra?" I heard his voice behind me questioning my frozen stature. Everyone was in the living room now, besides the two of us, all waiting for us to sit so they could start the movie.

I had been leaning on the wall at the time, slowly I walked over and sat between Noah and Emily.

"Who choose this time?" I asked looking at Caleb hoping it wasn't his turn, "It's not another good documentary right?"

"Hey that was one time and everyone learned a lot about pancakes!" He retorted eagerly defending his pancakes, the crumbles of popcorn that hung from his lip didn't help his argument much though.

"Nah, it was my turn tonight so I thought a comedy would do us all some good." Michael knew that my favorite genre was Comedy, the second best being Horror of course.

"A comedy sounds great Bro biscuit." The sound of Emily's voice ripped me away from watching her brother like a movie. Instead as the beginning credits began to play I snuggled into our blankets and settled in for a good movie.

Ahhh! The first chapter is out oh my gosh this is so exciting! What do you guys think? Like this different kind of pace? Don't worry they aren't going to get together right off the bat. There will be plenty of flashbacks and memories to help you understand how these two ended up so close yet so far apart.

But anyways I'm back babies and ready to write once more!!