"Like an apple on a treehiding out behind the leaves, I was difficult to reach, but you picked me." You Picked Me – A Fine Frenzy

Just Friends

Chapter Four

"Here, you guys do this side of the tree, and I'll work on the other." Shane says, his voice still tense. Finally, shaking his head, he lets it go. "We need to have a banging tree with a billion lights – enough to make mom yell at us again for the electricity bill." He says with a new smile. You look down ashamed, the tears stinging your ears. The ornament you grab is one that a baby Shane made – a little chicky dressed in Santa gear that had a little hat that had Shane written in silver glitter.

"Shane made that in second grade. He was a weird child." Nate says quickly, trying to break the awkwardness that has settled in the room. You play with it and Shane focuses on putting up all kinds of Christmas decoration. "Hey, don't get stuck in the tinsel, ok?" Nate rolls his eyes as Shane tries to separate the rope. Your best friend shakes his head but doesn't say anything. His shoulders are so set, and his face is getting a little red.

Fuck.

You are so angry at yourself. You can't believe you said those things out loud – and to another person instead of Shane in the first place. You hang the chicky, shaking as you hook it around a branch, still not focusing on either brother. Nate sighs, annoyance filtering into his tone. "Alright. I'm done. Fix this. Bye. I'm gonna call Hannah." He excuses himself, rolling his eyes again. When the two are left alone, you both focus on the tree. You in particular feel tears gathering in your doe eyes softly, blurring out your vision of where the branches are. You open your mouth to say something – anything – just as your fingers slip and a glass ornament falls to the ground.

And this is why you hate Christmas.

You both gasp and you jump, moving your feet quickly as the shards go everywhere. "Are you okay?" Shane immediately asks, his eyes wide with concern. He doesn't wait for you to answer before going over to you and bending down to grab the glass. When he is done – and you stop yourself from just throwing yourself on top of him and not letting him stand up till he forgives you – he puts his hands on your ankles. You shiver and look at him strangely. "What are you doing?" you ask, your voice cracking a little. He sighs as he runs his hands up and down slowly and then lets you go.

"Checking for cuts." He mumbles, still not looking you in the eyes.

"Well, I'm fine." You say back awkwardly. He nods, putting the broken glass on the table. No. See! This is why you don't know if you want to be together. Because the two of you – as best friends – can call each other out on bullshit or when one another does something wrong, but as whatever you are now? Everything's so different. Awkward and off. "Shane!" you say exasperatedly. He looks up and you can finally see the hurt in his eyes. He looks like he is holding back some angry tears.

You sigh and take a step towards him, and he lowers his eyes. "I…" you start but you are cut off.

"Come on, kids. You can continue the tree later. It's dinner time and then I'm assuming you're staying over?" Shane's dad comes over to you guys. You both try to wipe the emotions from your face. You look at Mr. Grey strangely and he gestures outside. "Have you seen the weather out there? You're not driving in that." He yawns as he stretches his arms over his head. "Come on. Your mother still refuses to talk by the way." He says to Shane, rolling his eyes.

Shane barely lets a smile out before following dully. You sigh and go along as well, staying a faraway distance from Shane. You see Nate sitting at the table and you almost smirk. He is at the table with his head in his hands and the phone pressed to his ears. "…Ok, Hannah. I understand." He says, shifting as you and Shane sit down. "I have to eat. Okay…We'll talk later? Thanks…You too." He says before hanging up. Even though he has a smile on his face, he is shaking his head.

"Why do you put up with her?" you ask, raising an eyebrow. Nate laughs before shrugging, looking at the phone wistfully.

"Because I love her. Because she's worth it. Because even though we doubt stuff and we question everything and we worry, she means everything. Because I want to." He finally settles on, smiling timidly at you. You and Shane both look at each other at the same time, and both of you blush and look away the next second. Nate pretends not to notice – which you are thankful for – as Mr. and Mrs. Grey both sit down with the rest of the food.

"So, who wants to say grace?" Mr. Grey asks, looking at you all. No one says anything and suddenly, he is focusing on you. "How about the guest?" he suggests, but it's one of those suggestions that you know isn't really a choice. You clear your throat, your cheeks turning a little pink. You clear your throat as it's still rough from the tears that were coming up before.

"Ok." You say, your voice high pitched. You clear your throat again as Shane gives you a strange look. "Um…Let us thank God today for all he has blessed us. That we can all be together today and…that we all realize that we never want to lose one another…because that's bad. I…uh…love you guys. A lot. And I don't ever want to lose you…guys because you're all amazing and you make everything okay when things are bad. And um…" you can feel the tears in your voice and you know you aren't making sense. "I just wanted to say that, I'm sorry that I ever thought that we couldn't be together because I'm scared. And that's the truth. I'm just scared because I never want to lose you because you mean everything and I love you." you finish, looking straight at Shane. "I'm sorry for what I said." You mutter before pushing yourself from the stunned family. "I need to go to the bathroom. I'm sorry." You excuse yourself as a couple tears fall from your eyes.

You are already at the stairs when you hear Shane apologize to his family and then also excuse himself. You lean against the bathroom door, not even bothering in going in. "Mitchie?" he calls as he rounds the last step. "Whoa!" he gasps as he tries to stop himself from crashing into you. You, however, are expecting him and pull him closer to you. Before either of you know what is happening, you are on your tippy toes and pushing his head down.

This is technically your first real kiss. Yes, you have pecked before, but never like this. He is caught off guard as you push your lips against his, but quickly pushes you gently against the door. The kiss is slow, barely getting any speed at all. It wasn't about that. It was about proving that even though you do have your doubts, you would do it for him. You never want to hurt him like you just did ever again. And you know you are hurting him by not letting you two at least try. When the two of you separate, he tries to go for another kiss and you almost stop him, but decide against it.

He's a good kisser.

His lips caress yours so gently and lovingly, you almost start crying again. You have had boyfriends before. They have all been too rough and too old and too dark. They have pulled you down and made you hate who you are. They have confused your fans and made you question your career. But Shane? Shane cares. Shane actually loves you. And the way he is holding you, like you are the most fragile thing in the world is filling you up with butterflies and disbelief that he even cares.

The next time you pull away, you don't let him back to your lips. You jab your finger in his chest and he looks up to your eyes, startled. "I'm sorry." You let slip out of your lips, what you wanted to say lost for the moment. He looks at you, his eyebrows furrowing as some pain goes back in his eyes.

"Do you really think that I don't really love you? Or that it's because of the pressure from the fans? Or that you will ever be just another ex? You're everything, Mitchie. Yes, I don't know the future. I can't predict that. I don't know how we end up. If we'll end up hating each other or having our fans spilt or whatever. I don't know that, but what I do know is that in this moment, I have never been more in love with a girl than with how I am with you. I want you, Michelle Torres, and I already told you I won't take no for answer. But that's not to have another notch on my belt or to have another famous girlfriend or whatever. That's because I love you and you make me so happy. I want us to be what I can count on and fall even more in love with."

Wow, you think to yourself. First, he's putting a lot of pressure on you. But…you don't necessarily mind that. You think you want the same. You want a healthy relationship. One where you don't have to be styled and made up every second of the day and yet still feel beautiful. One where he appreciates you and realizes that you aren't perfect because he already knows your flaws. No. What bothers you is something else. "No." you tell him, going back to jabbing his shoulder. His eyes widen and he just stares at you. "You have to promise me that if we do this, if we get together, you will never hate me if it goes bad. I don't want to lose you, Shane Grey, and… I would much rather be friends with you forever than to be your girlfriend for five seconds and then never talk to you again. You mean so much more than that." You cross your arms in front of your chest, feeling tears come up again.

He bites his lips before pulling on your crossed arm. "Come with me for a second. I want to give you one last gift before tomorrow." He says, his eyes pleading. You feel yourself relax and suddenly you go with him. He interlaces your fingers together as he leads you to his room. "Sit." He mutters, letting go of your hand, absentmindedly gesturing to the bed. You nod and climb on his bed, smiling at the picture by his bed. It's the same picture he showed you the other day when you were video chatting.

The one taken at Camp Rock where you were careless and free. "You ever wish you weren't famous?" you ask softly, and he sits on the bed next to you with a guitar on his lap. He looks at the picture and smiles that smile that's reserved for you.

"No." he whispers. "Because if I wasn't, then I wouldn't have been there that summer. I wouldn't have met my best friend, and that means too much for me to ever take away." He emphasizes the last words before smiling. "I wrote you a song." He changes the subject, excitement going into his voice. "A song…" he laughs somewhat. "A song I've been writing for the past four years. A song I never really want to stop writing. You are the song in me, Mitchie Torres. If I'm not near you, then the song is gone and I don't want that." He tells you, his voice barely above a whisper as he brushes your hair behind your ear.

You snicker softly. "Oh, so I'm only here to provide you with a song?" you jab at him.

"Of course." He answers right away before smiling to indicate he's just joking. "You're here because I think if you weren't, I would never be happy." He says, looking past you a little before blushing and looking down. "Wow. Shane, you are so cheesy." He chides himself.

You shake your head, putting your hand on top of his. "For four, I've been in love with you." you let out in a small whisper. He looks up surprised. You take a deep breath before continuing. "I never told you because I didn't know if you felt the same, and then we became the best friends ever, and…I didn't want to lose that. I've never been able to talk to anyone like I have with you. You know all my secrets. You know everything about me, and you are the only thing that keeps me grounded sometimes. I need you, Shane Grey. I need you in my life like I need air. Do I love you as more than a friend, as more than a best friend? For years." You confess and his eyes sparkle. "Promise me we won't lose this. That we will always be there for one another. That you will always be my number one because you are." You say with a small smile.

He shakes his head, a grin going on his features. His eyes are sparkling with happiness and he reaches forward to pull you in a hug. "Kid, you are my only number." He jokes before kissing your softly. "We're a team. Others can fall apart or fight or rip apart, but me and you? We are made of different glue. The kind that last forward, k? Cool." He kisses you again, and his lips fit so perfectly against yours, that it makes you smile. You push yourself forward and he moans playfully as he pulls you into a hug.

"You're amazing." You whisper.

"You're adorable." He whispers back before setting you down again. "Can I play the song?" he asks, his eyes bright. You smile and nod, leaning against his backboard as he starts strumming on his guitar.

XXX

You wake up to kisses on your cheeks and neck, and then to your lips when you squirm. You laugh against his lips as he continues to kiss whatever skin he could. "Merry Christmas, kid!" he says, before pecking you gently again. You sit up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes and he laughs again. "I should just change your nickname to Scarecrow. Your hair is gonna scare off the kiddies, gurl!" he teases and you pout, as you try to flatten your hair. You look at him and notice something, and you look around the guest room in awe.

"When did you do this?" you say, a big smile going to your face. You just look at him astonished as he shrugs.

"You're a heavy sleeper." He says vaguely as you push the covers off of your body and sit up.

You start laughing, feeling incredibly loved. "There's hearts." You point out, as if he didn't know. He smiles and shrugs again. "That say Happy Valentine's Day…It's Christmas." You remind him before shaking your head with silent laughter. "But I guess that's why there's fake snow." You can feel your voice start to go sour with tears and you pull him to you in a big hug.

Shane had decorated the room, from top to bottom in Valentine and Christmas decorations. He laughs but hugs you back, kissing your forehead. "We can't be together this year for V-Day, but don't think I'm not gonna celebrate it with you. I made you breakfast, by the way! And I cooked it myself." He sings as he breaks your embrace.

"So, it's not edible? Are you warning me?" you laugh between your tears of joy. You feel like such a ball of emotions.

"Ha ha." Shane says drily as he takes the tray you didn't notice before off the dresser. "I worked really hard on this." He pouts and you smile at him. He puts the tray on the nightstand but you don't notice the food yet. You reach up and kiss him fully on the lips.

It takes your breath away.

When he pulls away, his eyes are sparkling again and he has a big smile on. "I love you." you whisper up at him, your eyes on his. He melts in your arms and he pulls you in a strong embrace.

"God. I love you too. You have no idea what it is to hear you say that – and it not be in a dining room with my whole family watching us." You groan and hit your head on the backboard, your face flushing. Shane laughs and brings the tray over your legs. "Half of that's mine, Scarecrow." He teases but you aren't focus on him.

You are focus on the fact that you are the luckiest girl. Ever. No other boyfriend you have ever had compares to him. No other boyfriend in the world compares to him. Tears rush to your eyes again as you look at the breakfast he prepared. Pancakes cut like Christmas trees. Colored chocolate cookies to look like lights. Powered snow to look like snow. Little gingerbread people that are circling the tree. "I had a little help…but I mean, mom doesn't count." He says nervously as you look at him in a mixture of amazement and sadness.

"You've gotten me and have made me so much stuff, but…I can't ever give you what you've given me this Christmas." He scoffs and rolls his eyes, going behind you to wrap his arms around you.

"Pish posh, love. I only wanted one thing this Christmas and you gave it to me." He reminds you before bringing your chin over so that he can kiss you on your mouth sweetly. "I already told you, kid. I just wanted you." he whispers, and your heart explodes in happiness. Butterflies travel up and down your body. "Now eat up, so we can go play in the snow!" he says, squeezing your sides happily.

Your eyes light up. "It snowed?" you ask excitedly and he nods with a big smile.

"Last night! I don't know what New Jersey was waiting for, but we got our white Christmas." He flicks your nose playfully. "Now, eat, love, so we can go open presents too. Oh and have hot chocolate! And build a snow fort. Probably not in that order." He adds with a laugh.

You chuckle with him, still in amazement that it snowed. You smile brightly and lean back into him. "You know…This may be the best Christmas ever. Hope you know that." You tell him softly. He nuzzles your neck and kisses your cheek.

"I know. I agree." He whispers as well.

THE END

XXX

Ok. Wow. It's been a long, long time since I last updated. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for not posting, but I wanted to finish this. Actually, I'm gonna finish every story I have in the CR section, including the ones I abandon and the one I just started. And once it's done, I'm done. I don't know how many people are reading this, but this is my first official announcement.

I will continue writing other things in other fandoms, and maybe when CR2 comes over, who knows? But I will finish every story.

Thank you.

Sandra.