That night, things were just as awkward as always. Ryan wished he could embrace Janelle, professing his love for her once again, in case it didn't fully sink in the first time. Only, he just stood there in front of her, in his pajamas, absolutely silent.

He looked up into her blue eyes as he chewed the inside of his cheek, words refusing to come from his mouth, although his mind was racing; heaven knows she was killing him.

When he finally found the words to say, he swallowed, running a hand through his hair. "You're helping Abby pick out a dress tomorrow, right?" He asked, to which she nodded.

"Yeah. She's going to pick me up around noon." She Said, lifting up her hand to twirl a strand of her hair around her finger.

He nodded. "And the wedding is.."

"Saturday." Janelle Said, before smiling a little. "You know, I'm glad you're coming."

He smiled back, feeling his heart skip a beat. "Really?"

"Of course." She nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It'll be nice to go with someone."

He gazed into her ocean-blue eyes for a moment, before they both averted their eyes to the floor, as the atmosphere went silent once again.

Say something, Ryan's mind urged him, yet he kept his mouth shut. He didn't know if this was the right time; if there even was a right time.

Janelle glanced up at him, and he lifted his head to see that her gaze was fixated on the side of his head, where the wound from Joshua had yet to heal.

"How's your head?" She Asked quietly, causing him to lift his hand, brushing his fingers over the wound gently.

"Better," He said. "Not healed, but better."

She nodded. "Good.." she mumbled, looking back down at her feet. "I guess I should go to bed."

He nodded. "Yeah, me too."

They stood there for a moment, before he hesitantly held out his arms for a hug. She looked at him for a second, but stepped into his embrace, letting him wrap his arms around her.

He rubbed her back lovingly, giving her a light squeeze. "Goodnight, Janelle."

"Goodnight, Ryan."

When she let go, part of Ryan wanted to pull her back and hold onto her for longer, however, he remained composed, as she gave him a final smile, before turning and walking into her room.

He swallowed, looking down at his feet for a moment, before turning and going into his own bedroom. He propped the door shut, pulling off his pajama pants, leaving him in only a T-shirt and boxers, before he crawled into bed, pulling the blankets to his chin as he buried his face in his pillow.

His mind swirled with thoughts of Janelle, that, try as he might, he could not silence. He shouldn't be so anxious anymore; she was living with him, after all. Only, he just didn't want to lose his chance. Perhaps he'd have to repeat it to her; he loved her.

Only, maybe she was just afraid to love him back.

The next day, Abby picked Janelle up just after noon, and the two headed to the dress shop, where Abby would finalise which dress she would wear for her wedding. As always, Abby was talkative, especially excited to show Janelle the dresses she had chosen.

Janelle, however, was far too distracted by her racing thoughts to hear everything that her best friend was saying. Something had been off about Ryan ever since she moved in with him. His demeanour seemed to change dramatically, and she couldn't help but wonder why.

Her main worry was that he didn't really want her there; after she had finally found a place where she was safe and cared for, the thought of being unwanted hurt her more than anything. She could only hope and pray that this change in Ryan's behaviour wasn't him having second thoughts about letting her stay with him.

"Janelle. Yo, earth to Janelle."

Janelle lifted up her head upon hearing her name, to see Abby looking at her, a slightly unamused expression on her face.

"Daydreaming again?" She questioned, causing Janelle to let out a light chuckle.

"No," she stated, before clicking her tongue. "Just thinking."

"About who?" Abby Asked nonchalantly, looking back out at the road as she stopped at a red light.

"Who said that it was a person?" Janelle questioned, looking over at her friend.

Abby glanced over at her, giving her a look. "Who is it?" She Asked.

"No one." Janelle scoffed.

"Let me guess.." Abby started.

"Please don't."

"Ryan?" Abby gave her a small smirk, and she shook her head.

"No." She replied flatly. "Of course not. It's no one, okay?"

Abby let out a soft sigh. "Just ask him out."

Janelle bit her lower lip, gazing out the window. "We're not teenagers, it's more complicated than that."

Abby shook her head. "Then profess your love for him, whatever you have to do." She looked over at Janelle, who swallowed, looking down at her feet.

It wasn't that easy. She didn't know if Ryan truly loved her. She wasn't willing to pour her heart out again to a man that might reject her. She didn't want things to be like they were with Joshua; her heart just couldn't take any more.

"Janelle.." Abby mumbled, noticing Janelle's silence. "If you love him, you should tell him."

Janelle sighed. "But that's the thing, I don't know if I do." She Said, her voice beginning to break. "But every time I look into his eyes, I just...I feel something."

Janelle ran a hand through her hair, before the both of them went silent, for what lasted for about eight minutes, until Abby pulled the vehicle into the parking lot of the dress shop.

Janelle swallowed, deciding to forget about their conversation; this was special for Abby, and she wasn't about to spoil that with her problems. She shook away her thoughts, putting on a small smile for her best friend as they both exited the car, before making their way over to the shop doors.

When they got inside, the owner of the shop immediately recognised Abby, giving her a large smile.

"Abigail, you're here." She walked over, her words causing Janelle to let out a light chuckle.

Abby didn't prefer her first name much, rather, her nickname. Hearing Janelle's quiet laughter, she looked over, giving her a joking glare.

"Yep, I'm here." She Said, looking back at the shop owner. "This is my friend, Janelle."

"Best friend." Janelle corrected, causing her to nod.

"Right, best friend, Janelle." She smiled a little. "She's here to help me decide on a dress."

"Perfect!" The woman said, twirling a strand of her curly red hair around her finger. "I have them in the back, if you'd like to follow me."

Both Abby and Janelle nodded, before following the woman through the store, into a back room, which was full of different dresses not yet on the racks in the other room. She stepped up to a closet, opening it up and revealing three different dresses hanging inside.

"There you go." She gave them both a smile. "Just let me know when you've made a choice."

Abby nodded. "Thank you."

The woman waved at the two of them, before leaving the room. Abby stepped over to the closet, reaching inside and lightly touching one of the dresses.

"So, What do you think?" She Asked, looking up at Janelle.

Janelle made her way over, reaching out and pulling one of the dresses out a bit so she could see it better.

"Maybe you could try them on?" She Asked.

Abby put her hands on her hips. "Where exactly?"

Without a word, Janelle motioned towards the closet.

"No." Abby Replied. "Nope. I'm not getting in the closet."

"How else am I going to see how the dresses look on you?" Janelle questioned, raising her eyebrows at her friend.

Abby let out a small groan. "Fine.."

Fifteen minutes later, Abby had tried on all three dresses for Janelle, who waited for her patiently as she she changed into the dresses inside of the closet.

Finally, the two of them stood there, Abby in her normal clothes again, as the two of them stared at the three dresses.

"So, what do you think?" Abby Asked, looking over at Janelle expectantly.

"Why didn't you make this decision sooner?" Janelle mumbled.

"I mean, which dress do you think?"

"I don't know," Janelle reached out, touching the fabric of one of the dresses. "I really like this one."

Abby nodded. "Me too."

She pulled her hand away, pointing to another one. "But I also like that one."

Abby nodded again. "Yep." She muttered. "So which one?"

Janelle looked back at the first dress. "I don't know.." she mumbled. "That one looked really good on you."

Abby smiled a little. "You think so?"

Janelle nodded, before Abby pulled the dress out of the closet, holding it up to herself.

"Then I think this is the one." She smiled widely, looking down at the dress.

Janelle smiled, before her eyes wandered over to the corner of the room, where, a dress was being displayed on a mannequin. She was a little taken aback by it; it was beautiful, it seemed to be the perfect dress.

Abby followed her gaze, catching sight of the dress. "It's so pretty." She gushed. "Janelle, That would look amazing on you."

Janelle swallowed, shaking her head. "I doubt it." She let out a soft chuckle. "Besides, it doesn't look like I'll be getting married anytime soon."

"Try it on!" Abby urged.

Janelle shook her head, although she had been considering doing just that. "No, I'm good."

"Come on, please?" Abby begged. "I want to see you in it."

"Abby.." Janelle mumbled.

Abby shoved her dress at Janelle, before making her way over to the dress and beginning to pull it off of the mannequin.

"Abby!" Janelle whisper-Shouted, worried the store owner would come in. "Stop that!"

Abby shook her head, as she finished taking the wedding dress off of the mannequin it had been on. She carried it over to Janelle, taking her own wedding dress out of her friend's hands, and replacing it with the dress.

"There." She Said. "Go try it on."

Janelle sighed, looking down at the dress.

"You made me dress in that closet, the least you could do is-"

"Okay." Janelle sighed, cutting her off, before turning and stepping inside of the closet.

As she shut the door, she heard Abby cheering outside. "I can't wait to see it on you!"

"Yeah, Yeah." Janelle mumbled, beginning to remove her shirt. Afterwards, she took of her jeans, just tossing them over in the corner along with her shirt, before slipping on the dress.

To her surprise, it fit her almost perfectly.

Figures, she thought to herself. Of all times she could find the perfect wedding dress, it had to be when she was single and going through a, well, interesting time in her life.

"Are you almost done?" Abby knocked on the door, and Janelle jokingly rolled her eyes.

"Hold on." She Said, just as she finished zipping up the dress. She opened up the door, swallowing, before hesitantly stepping out. She looked down at herself, as Abby smiled.

"Janelle, you look beautiful!" She exclaimed.

Janelle felt her cheeks blush, but she shook it off. "Thank you."

"Here, look in the mirror!" Abby grabbed her hand, pulling her over to the other side of the room, where a mirror hung on the wall.

Janelle looked at herself for a moment, swallowing a little. She felt her eyes well up with tears for a moment, but she blinked them away. She always thought that when she did this, she'd be getting married soon. Now, there didn't seem to be much hope for that, really.

"You look really great, Janelle." Abby Said quietly, laying her hand on her friend's back.

Janelle looked down at her feet, letting out a soft sigh.

Maybe someday, she would be wearing a dress like this. Maybe someday, she'd walk down the aisle.

Someday, she thought to herself, gazing back up at her reflection.