Kiley inhaled he sweet smell of Brian’s cologne as he hugged her, making her feel safe in his strong arms. She rested her head against his chest, happy to see his friendly, familiar face.

“Are you still depressed?” Brian asked, grabbing her bags in one hand, her hand in the other, ready to head out to his car.

“No, not now” she said, looking at him and smiling. Brian smiled back, but noticed the sparkle from her eyes had disappeared. He decided to ask her about it again later, knowing it would be better for her to talk to someone about whatever was wrong.

Kiley took a swig from her can of Diet Coke and leaned back into the soft cushions of the couch. “I can’t believe this is all yours, and you don’t think it’s all that big” she said, still marvelling at the size of Brian’s house. Brian just looked at her and grinned.

“It isn’t THAT big.” he said again

“Oh, it is. Compared to my place, this is BIG” Kiley added, setting her Coke down. “So” she started, changing the conversation. “What have you been up to while I’ve been away?”

“Hmmm. Let’s see. Singing. Shows here and there. Photos. Parties.... missing you.”

She smiled nervously, not sure by his comments about her which he kept dropping into conversations.

“Why, what were you up to up at home?”

“ Shopping, watching T.V, listening to music, listening to my parents argue. Nothing much really.”

Brian noticed a look of pain flash across her face as she mentioned her parents. “Is that what was making you depressed?”

“What?”

“Your parents?”

Kiley sighed. “Yeah, how d’you guess?”

“I’m good at that sort of thing. The offer’s still open if you wanna talk” he said, moving across the couch so he was next to her.

“Na, it’s just hard, walking in on your parents, seeing how much they can hate each other, when they used to be so much in love. I mean I always thought our family was so solid y’know?”

Brian nodded. “Well, I’m not gonna say I know how you feel, ‘cause I don’t. I’m lucky enough to have a family who is still solid, but I’m here to cheer you up if that’s all right with you”

Smiling, she replied “Yeah, that sounds good. How you gonna do that?” she asked, patiently waiting a reply.

“Oh, I have plans... I dunno if this’ll cheer you up, but I know it will me, so...” he stopped. “I’m just gonna have to hope” he said, moving closer to her and placing his lips on hers, giving her a warm, sweet kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. Completely taken by surprise, Kiley didn’t move, she just let Brian kiss her softly, before breaking away letting a “Brian...” escape her lips.

She smiled a little and a “What was...” croaked out her mouth.

“That was me, killing two birds with one stone.” Kiley frowned, totally lost.

“Number one, me cheering you up, which I think I did, by the little smile you now have on your face” he stopped for effect before carrying on “and number two, me telling you that I like you.”

Kiley looked down and laughed lightly, sweeping her hair out of her eyes.

“Did my plan work?” he asked making her look at him, his eyes twinkling and a grin on his face.

“Yeah, it did” she whispered, still rather bewildered by the kiss, but leaning into him and resting her head in the crook of his neck, his warm embrace letting her forget about her problems back home. “Thank you” she added, closing her eyes and savouring the moment, realising this was something she really did want.