“That was very wrong, Jayson Renee,” a voice said from behind her.

            Jayson blinked thinking that she must be dreaming. Standing in front of her was Keegan. “Wh-What are you doing here?” 

            “That doesn’t matter. Holland’s downstairs and you lied to your brother. Why?”

            Jayson crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Keegan. “I don’t have to tell you.”

            Keegan walked over to the bed and sat down beside his best friend. “No, you don’t…but I wish you would,” he said quietly.    

            Jayson’s heart melted and she started to tell him her fears. “If they date and she hurts him or he hurts her, Holland and my relationship won’t be the same,” she finished.

            “Honey, didn’t you tell me that Landon and Miss dated, and Holland was acting like this?”

            “Well…yeah.”

            “And didn’t you think she was overreacting?” Keegan asked softly.

            “Yes,” Jayson said feeling horrible.

            Keegan smiled and cupped her face in his hands. Jayson smiled too but felt confused. Keegan lowered his head until his lips were only a breath from hers. “Jay?”

            She answered his unspoken question by lifting her lips to his. Jayson broke the kiss quickly and kissed him again at the adorable confused look on his face. “I have to go tell Land to call Jack. I’ll be back,” she promised.

            “Soon.”

♫

            Holland sat in front of the T.V. watching Friends, drinking her Pepsi, and eating chocolate moose-tracks ice cream.

            She looked up when she heard footsteps and froze. There standing in the doorway was Jackson. He approached the couch and sat down a cushion away from her. Holland felt hurt and then pushed it away. He looked over at her and said, “I got your message.”

            “Oh.”

            “And I got one from your brother.”

            “Oh.”

            Jackson scooted closer. “He said that you needed me.”

            Holland inwardly groaned.

            Jackson continued towards her and took the empty bowl from her hands and set it on the table. Then he turned off the T.V. Holland looked at him puzzled, as he turned back towards her. “I know now why you needed me,” he said leaning towards her.

            “And why’s that?” Holland asked nervously.

            “Because…”Jackson trailed off and kissed her.

            Holland sat as still as a statue, afraid that if she moved, he’d disappear. Then tears fell from her eyes and wet Jackson’s cheeks. Jackson pulled away and searched her eyes with his. He couldn’t tell if she was happy, sad, or mad about the kiss. His heart fell down to his feet as his face fell too. 

            Jackson turned away, so she wouldn’t see, but her hand stopped him. “Oh, Jack, these are good tears. I never thought it could happen between us,” Holland said caressing his cheek before kissing him.

            Jackson held her tight, vowing to himself that nothing would ever come between them.

♫

            Jayson nervously went down the stairs and peeked into the den. What she saw made her freeze. Her brother and best friend were making out on the couch. You’re supposed to be happy, the voice in her head scolded. I can’t do it. Jayson told it retreating. I just can’t!

♫

            Holland smiled up at Jackson. “Wow! I can’t believe that I’m kissing you…Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine kissing you outside of my dreams, and yet here we are.”

            He smiled and caressed her cheek. “I never imagined this either.” Jackson leaned in and kissed her again.

            Holland sighed contently and rested her head on Jackson’s chest and breathed deeply. “You smell so good.”

            “I just came from work,” Jackson said laughing.

            Holland wrinkled her nose and said, “Not the B.O. the cologne and…you.”

            Jackson smiled and said, “I was teasing. You smell pretty amazing, too.”

            Holland smiled self-consciously and hid her face in his chest feeling her cheeks heat up. 

            Jackson chuckled softly, when he saw her cheeks turn red. “You look beautiful as a tomato.”

            Holland laughed and asked, “Is that a compliment?”

            “Yes, Hol, it’s a compliment,” he said kissing her again.

♫

            Jayson raced up the stairs and into her room. Keegan stared at her incredulously. “What happened?” he asked worried.

            “I can’t so this,” Jayson said shaking her head.

            “What do you mean you can’t do this?” Keegan asked.

            “I can’t accept Jack and Land together. I went downstairs and saw them kissing!”

            Before she could continue, Keegan smiled and said, “People who like each other tend to do that.”

            Jayson glared at him and said sarcastically, “Ha ha! I just can’t do it.”

            “You can,” Keegan said emphatically. 

            “Then I won’t, okay?” Jayson yelled at him. “Are you happy now?” she asked crumpling to the floor in tears. 

            Keegan walked over to her and put his arms around her. “Shh, baby, it’s OK,” he murmured soothingly. “It’s OK.”

            “It’s not OK,” Jayson said angrily. “I’m horrible! I don’t want my best friend or my brother to be happy.”

            “You do want them to be happy…You’re just scared of losing one or both of them. It’s OK.”

            “Quit saying that! I don’t want them to be happy, or I’d let them be happy!” Keegan was quiet for a moment, and then he kissed her. “Let’s not worry about it right now. We don’t even know how it’s gonna work out.”

            Jayson smiled and said, “You’re right.”

            He smirked and said, “Always.”

            Jayson just kissed him.