"Since grade 7? Wow that's long," Ryker said, smiling. His gait was jovial.

"They disappeared for a few years, though."

"Did they really? Or did you just suppress them hard enough for you to forget you had them?" Dani stopped. The thought had never occurred to her. She gave her boyfriend a quick glance.

"It had never occurred to me... before," she replied. "But I suppose it could be true." Catherine and Kayla joined her on her right. She gave Catherine a quick smirk. She caught Kayla's look and a silent vow was made. They would make Tim and Catherine end up together. She also had caught Ryker's gaze, he shared the look. Ryker would work on the Tim end.  Ryker had already been 'accepted' into the group. He and Dani's friends were pretty close already. A dove flew in through the window. If it weren't for her blue gaze, Dani wouldn't have recognized her. "Sister?" She asked as the dove transformed into a human. The girl was smaller than Dani, maybe around 13-14. Her blue gaze was blank as she stared at Dani.

"Dani," the girl said. The girl turned around, and then she saw Ryker. "Who's that?"

"I'm Ryker, Dani's boyfriend, who, if I may ask, are you?" The girl face-palmed.

"I'm so rude. I'm Shelby," said the girl said. Shelby turned toward Dani. "I'm her sister." Shelby's voice was low and dark, and sounded deeply troubled. Dani gave her a look. Shelby had not looked that way when she'd last seen her. "I was sent here," she murmured. "By Mother, said it would help with my depression." Depression?! Is that why she looks like that? Dani felt a pit in the back of her stomach. If Shelby was depressed, she was volatile. "But I still have time to think about it." Shelby transformed back into a dove and flew out.

"Dani?" Said three voices undistinguishable. Ryker put his hand on her shoulder. "Do you really think she is depressed?"  Dani didn't answer.

"She did make it clear," Kayla answered for her. "Dani, don't worry about it for right now. It's lunch time." Dani's stomach seemed to disagree with her head. Dani followed them pushing the thoughts to the back of her mind. Dani forgot about it completely once food was in front of her and she hungrily dug in, savoring the flavour. Ryker giggled at her as she messily ate the lunch. Kayla was whispering something in Catherine's ear. I wonder how Catherine feels right now.

"Kayla was right about one thing," Ryker laughed. "You really love your food." Dani looked up at him.

"She told you about me?"

"Yes. I had secret feelings for you for a year, remember?"

"Yes..."

"Now that I think about it... You never ever picked up on the hints I gave, did you?" Dani felt herself blush from guilt.

"Maybe I did.. but didn't think anything of them and thought it was normal behaviour for a theatre kid like you." Ryker gave her a hurt but playful look.

"Dani, I would never act my feelings for you, theatre kid or not," he said, hurt tinged with playfulness. "Unless it was a play that is." His eyes sparkled. Dani giggled. "And you're a bit of a hog." He added, pointing at her messy plate.

"To be perfectly straight with you Rykie-Wykie, you're not much better yourself." Dani said pointing at his plate.

"Dani!" He tried to sounded stern but was giggling. Dani had completely forgotten about her sister's condition. Ryker was also blushing.

"Sorry to backtrack, but what hints did you give me?" She asked, pretending to bat her eyelashes.

"The hints? Well, there was the fact that I probs blushed a lot, stammered a lot, looked at...you... a lot. Oh and," his expression changed to one of 'really?' the flat look," the biggest one that you freaking missed! Me mentioning thinking I'd already found my soulmate!" Dani's whole face turned red, from guilt and her feelings.

"You were talking about me?" Ryker sighed.

"Yes. I was basically telling you I had a secret crush on you, and you missed it! It completely flew over your head." Ryker didn't sound angry, just frustrated.