AN: Sorry, it's taking so long to update. But, between finals and track and my family, I'm having little time on the computer. Plus writers block doesn't help. Thank you all faithful reviewers. Hope you like it.

Previously: As if he saw her nod, Seth continued on, tasting something bitter in his mouth. “Who is he? This guy you love?”

Chapter Seven

An uncomfortable silence ensued between the two as Asia tried to work up some answer and something clenched painfully in Seth’s chest. Leaning his head against her door, Seth took a deep breath steadying himself. Her silence was slowly tearing something up inside of him. He just wanted to take it all back; his harsh words, the fight with Thomas, violating Asia’s space. He wanted it to forget it all. Wanted everything to go back to before when she was comfortable around him. When he thought just possibly she could love him.

But no. Thank you, reality. Harsh, cold reality. She admitted to his face that she liked someone else. Not just liked either, but loved! God, how could he be so stupid? How could he fall for her like this? Why did he have to be so damn pathetic?

Sensing his mood take another turn, Asia put aside what he had asked her - not like she was going to answer him anyway- and became concerned. He’d been acting funny since the accident and, well, she wanted things to go back to normal. She didn’t like fighting with him. It didn’t feel right.

Coming up behind him, she placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling him tense under her touch.

“What’s wrong with you?” She asked softly this time and pulled him away from the door so he would face her. He stared down at his feet keeping his mouth shut.

“You don’t seem like yourself. Are you sick or something?” she pursued.

She reached up to feel his forehead, but he brushed her hand away and shook his head. Why was she so naïve? He took her hand in his and held it, contemplating on what he should do next. Should he just tell her?

No. It would make things awkward between them and that was the last thing he needed. Look how these past few days had gone. He’d barely been able to stand it and ended up doing something totally uncharacteristic of him- punching Thomas into oblivion.

That and he didn’t think he could stand the rejection.

Asia stared a her hand and felt heat rise in her cheeks. God, why did he have this effect on her? His warm hand held hers and the calloused pad of his thumb ran absentmindedly across the back of her hand sparking feelings she’d been trying to did he stop being a childhood buddy and start becoming something else? Something more? Something like… “Love.” The word escaped her mouth before she could stop it.

“Asia?”

Roused from her thoughts, she brought her attention to him and found herself inches away. When had they moved this close? She didn’t know, yet she didn’t care.

“Love,” she found herself saying again. “That’s why you’re acting weird.”

Her light breath blew across his cheek and Seth’s expression turned startled. She was tempting him, making him want to kiss her. To admit what he kept a secret so close to his heart.

He dropped her hand and backed away. How did she know? How did she figure it out? No words would come from his mouth to help him out of the situation and Asia’s eyebrow rose.

“I’m right, aren’t I? You’re in love.”

Seth, against his will, found himself nodding, unable to lie to her and Asia fell silent as a thought leaped into her mind. The feeling of his hand…this position…is familiar? Why…?

“Don’t you understand! I love you!” His hands shook as he held hers. “I won‘t loose you!”

She remained silent, outwardly impassive as he begged and pleaded with her. Finally, finding the situation useless, he dropped to his knees and cried.

Seth perceived the sorrow that clambered in her heart, weighing down in the depths her eyes and slipped his hand out of hers, opting to place it on her shoulder. Gently, he shook her to bring her back to the present. She blinked once, twice gazing up at him.

“Why do you think we dream together, Seth?”

So she had momentarily forgotten or had found something a greater importance to ask him. In a way it relieved him from having to spill his thoughts, but it also pressed a bit of despair in him.

Smiling, he patted her head, telling her he had to be home soon, for he was supposed to be grounded, and that they would talk about it tonight. Nodding and saying nothing more, Asia bid him farewell at the door and waltzed back upstairs to collect her belongings off the roof.