Jumping up off the couch, tired of feeling locked up, I blurted, startling Mady, "Get up. Let's go get some pizza." For the past hour, we were on edge. Afraid to talk, I think for the most part. I knew what was happening, Everyone was going to start acting differently around me now. It wasn't much but a pizza run and seeing me act normal might help.

"You're hungry?" She asked. I wasn't sure if she was surprised about the pizza or me jumping off the couch.

Shrugging my shoulders, I told her the truth. "Not really. But I really need to do something, and sitting here is driving me crazy." The longer I sat around the more my brain insisted on working through what I saw today and what I did. A drive and a purpose might be temporary but it was something.

Mady said, "Sure. It might do us both some good." Getting up, grabbing her purse we walked outside.

Opening the car door the roar of engines in the distant turned Mady's focus to the back of the house. Leaving the door open, she quickly changed direction, walking to the side of the house. I knew it was Nate as soon as I seen Mady's face light up. I had to admit that look she had on her face made me little envious but mostly happy that Mady found her one and only true love. Slightly disappointed that our pizza run was going to be cancelled, I closed the car door and then Mady's.

"Where are you ladies heading off to?" The sound of Dmitri's voice wrapped around me like a favourite blanket, the unease, and feeling of being cooped-up, vanished and was replaced with tranquillity. Whipping around to the direction his voice came; meeting those magnificent blue eyes, made things seem a bit better. At least for the moment.

Mady muffled something as she hugged Nate. Words were then exchanged between Dmitri, Nate, and Mady but they were too low for me to make out. Not wanting to intrude I stayed by the car. After a brief conversation he started to head my way. I could feel his eyes on me but I did not have the strength or willpower to look him in the eye. Not after today.

Stopping two feet away, leaning against the car with his hip, giving me space, which I appreciated. "How are you doing?" he asked with some hesitation.

"I'm fine," I replied with my automatic response. I had eye contact for a few moments before lowering my eyes.

"Would you mind if I come with you to pick up the pizza instead of Mady?" he asked, voice still hesitant.

"Sure." Even to my own ears there was too much enthusiasm in my voice. Catching a glimpse of Mason rounding the corner with his hands in his pockets, shoulders slightly slouched. Definitely not the confident Mason I was beginning to know at all. Meeting my stare a diminutive smile lifted the corner of his lips. "Can you give me a minute?" Asking Dmitri, and then giving him a smile of thanks when he nods.

Walking up to Mason, I reached for his hand. "Will you talk to me for a minute?" I asked hesitantly.

"For you, anytime," he entwined our fingers together.

Pulling him back around the house before stopping, not wanting an audience. Taking his other hand as we stood face to face. "First, I want to thank you for today as well as apologize." He started to cut me off but I stopped him by laying two fingers gently over his mouth. "Please let me finish. I lost it pretty bad earlier, and if it wasn't for you...Anyways thank you," taking a deep breath before I continued, "Now about the kiss thing." Meeting his gaze again, "I really hope I didn't screw up our friendship with that. You mean a lot to me and I really don't want to wreck that."

Taking the fingers that still lay against his lips in his hand, kissing my knuckles he said, "Never. Like I said before, a different time I would have been all over that request like pigs in mud." His Casanova smile lit up his face. "I'm glad I was there for you. Don't get me wrong I wish it didn't happen but since it did I'm glad it was me there with you."

Relief flowed through my body at his words. I didn't realize just how nervous, scared I was to losing this man in my life. "You're one of a kind Mason, and I'm one hell of a lucky chick to have you in my life. We are going to grab some pizza. Are you going to be here when we get back?"

His smile slipped. "Umm, no. I have to get home and pack. I'm heading to Vancouver for a couple days on business. Putting a bid on a new security contract at a large firm there," his voice lacked the confidence he always showed.

My smile slipped to. "Oh." I have seen Mason almost everyday since the BBQ. The news of not seeing him for a couple days made my stomach cramp. "Well...well I will just have to text you while you're gone. Can't have you forgetting about me." Joking around usually helped put on my big girl face. This attachment I felt towards these people was borderline unhealthy and a whole lot of needy. That was one thing no one has ever accused me of, being needy. That feeling made me comfortable.

Mason laughed, "Oh Sam, I could never forget you. But that doesn't mean I don't expect those good morning and good night text from you." He seemed to be in better spirits. Now if I could only get there.

Stretching up on my toes, to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and whispered, "Ok gorgeous. Have a safe trip and I will see you when you get back." Giving his hand one last squeeze before letting him go. I left my friend and headed back to the car.

Conversation was somewhat strained and completely impersonal on the way to and from the pizza joint. My reaction to the news of Mason leaving for a few days really bothered me. Maybe it wasn't a bad idea about putting some distance between us. Between all of us, even if that meant Mady as well. It was starting to feel like I needed these people in my life. There was no way I could go one falling apart as soon as one of them left. This was completely ridiculous.

Between thinking about that, wanting to know what happened to that young girl in the clearing and her family, I barely had any concentration left to focus on the road. Dmitri's voice snapped me back in time before I drove us off the road for the third time.

"Ok, pullover!" He demanded. "That's it, get out of the car. I'm driving. Don't know about you but I prefer to make it back home." He wasn't mad just worried for his safety. I didn't blame him for that at all.

"Sorry. My mind seems to be wandering." I apologised as I walked around the car to the passenger side.

After we were back on the road, Dmitri seemed to be a bit nervous. "That's understandable. Umm Sam, I've been doing some thinking...," he started.

"That's probably not a good idea," I teased, trying to release some of the tension in the car.

Dmitri looked over at me from the corner of his eye, "Hahaha. Very funny," he mocked displeasure. "Anyways, back to what I was saying. You haven't had a night out since you have been here, so I was thinking that Friday, you should come down to my bar for some drinking and dancing. I'll get Nate and Mady to come as well. What do you think?"

Staring off into the dark sky's through the windshield, fidgeting with me fingers. "Oh, I don't know," I answered, not overly thrilled with the idea of going out. I could dance if I was drunk, plus putting some space between me and them sounded like a good idea. Maybe even a healthy decision.

"Come on Sam. It's nothing formal. I have a good band playing. You'll have fun," he coaxed, and then turned to give those puppy eyes.

How could I refuse those eyes? The answer, I couldn't. "Fine. But I will not promise on the dancing thing," I agreed in defeat. Then comprehension hit. I only assumed he worked with Nate and Jack. I didn't really know or bothered to ask. This man I supposedly cared about and I knew next to nothing about him. Sure I knew what he liked to snack on during a movie. How his eyes twinkled when he was excited and even when he was nervous he tapped his leg. But where he worked or lived, or if he had ever been married. Hell I wasn't even sure how old he was. I was a horrible person and even worst a shitty ass friend.

Turning in my seat, facing Dmitri. "I didn't know you owned a bar. Why do you want to hang out with me? Shit, I know nothing about you and a good friend would. Hell a friend period would."

"Sam its o..." he began before I cut him off.

"No. No, it's not OK, Dmitri." I was so pissed at myself right now. I kept hurting the people I cared about and I didn't know how to fix that.

A smile grew on his face, he slyly said, "Fine then, it's not fine and I think you should make it up to me."

If I was really focused I would have known this was a trap. "What can I do?"

"Meet me Friday night at my bar for a couple drinks and dancing," he said, all too pleased with himself.

Opening my mouth then shut it, I realized he just swindled me with my own guilt. "Dmitri." "Hey you said you wanted to make it up to me for hurting my feelings. This is what I want from you. It will make me feel better if you came to see my bar," he said using the guilt card quite effectively.

Defeated, laughing at his tactics and me walking right into this mess. Hell I handed him the perfect situation on a silver platter. "Fine. I'll meet you there."

Looking extremely pleased with himself pulling into Nate's driveway, he said, "Great and you will save me one dance at the very least."

"Fine," I growled, knowing when I lost a battle.