"So I can never be Sam. I’m Nicole, that much is clear but Lily, Sam and Brooke are presumably `together’. We can assume that unless you wanna call and ask?" Lily shook her head `no’. She was pretty sure they were `together’ as well. That much she was prepared to assume.

"So you’re chances with Sam are practically nil and I’m not saying that to upset you, honest. It’s a fact, hon. An ugly but true fact. But why should you be left alone in the shadows when there’s someone who cares for you as well?"

"You?" Lily asked with a raised eyebrow and a bit of a snide tone. Nicole looked away from the incredulous expression on Lily’s face and sighed.

"You know what? Nevermind, you’re right, I don’t have a heart and I’ll just end up hurting you anyway. Later, Lily," Nicole said as she walked away. Lily shook her head and wondered when the conversation turned south.

"Hey wait, I didn’t mean it like that," she said as she caught up to Nicole. She was surprised to find her crying. "Whoa, Nic, don’t cry," she said flabbergasted.

"Yeah, I cry, I have feelings and I really really like you," Nicole confessed as she collapsed onto the lawn. Lily sat down next to her, her head swimming with shock and confusion at everything she was hearing.

"Look, Nic, this is a lot to take in and I didn’t mean what I said to sound the way it did. You’re Nicole Julian who never says two words to me unless it’s to insult my activistism, my heritage, or me and now you turn around and confess to harboring deep meaningful feelings for me. I’m a little stunned."

"Yeah, ah, sorry," Nic said through her tears. Lily shook her head.

"Don’t be. Boy is this whole thing getting convoluted," she joked earning a small smile from Nicole.

"Lily loves Sam; Sam loves Brooke; Brooke loves Sam; Nicole loves Lily. Yeah, that sounds convoluted to me," Nicole agreed wiping away her tears. Lily reached up and brushed away a few Nicole missed. Nicole sat shock still as Lily’s hand brushed her cheek. Lily looked at her strangely.