"TASHA! I HATE YOU!" Lindsay screamed, throwing a Babe Ruth autographed baseball at me from where she had picked it up off my bookshelf, looking for any kind of item to throw atme. I caught it, setting it down beside me.

"What did I do this time?" I sighed, leaning back against the wall and watching as she moved around the room, pacing as a mad animal would.

"You kissed him! You know I liked him and you KISSED HIM!"

"I kissed him on the cheek. That's nothing. Like a brotherly thing." I corrected.

"Either way, black or white, its STILL a kiss."

"Lindsay, you can't do anything about it if you wanted to." I kept my voice considerably low as they were still in the next room. "Because you haven't said anything to him about it. You haven't kissed him since that date and quite frankly, it may be a bit to late for you anyway."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She glared at me, cheeks flushed and eyes blazing.

"Did you NOT see the ring on his finger?"

"What ring? There's a ring?" She paled considerably.

"Symbolising someone he cares about. Not marriage but..." I smiled, knowing full well the complete story behind it and willing to taunt Lindsay with it.

She gasped and leaned back against the door, sinking down to the floor. "Damnit."

I got up, moving her out of the way to open the door. I plopped down next to Zac on a stool in the kitchen.

"What's up? Where's Lindsay?"

"Sulking in the room because I mentioned the ring."

"But its --"

"I know."

"You know?"

"It's not that hard to figure out. I'm not a COMPLETE fool."

"Complete." He smirked.

I poked him in the side. "I am a reporter. I know how to figure things out. Read between the lines."

"Obviously not."

"What's that supposed tomean? I figured out your little ring thing."

"Yeah, and you also have been completely ignoring Jen and Taylor's status as of recent."

"Status of what?"

"Exactly. Hello, they're dating. You can't tell meyou didn't notice those lovesick gazes they've been giving each other all week."

"Well.." I blushed, Looking down. Okay, so maybe I wasn't paying a whole heck of a lot of attention to that.

"Are you going to tell her?" I asked.

"Tell w-...Oh, no."

"Why?"

"We're leaving tomorrow. What would be the use?"

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah. So why should I tell?"

"BeCAUSE, you just should. i don't think I have to explain THAT much to you. Surely you aren't as stupid as you elude."

"Thanks, Tash. Really." Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

"Zaaaaac...just do it." I commanded.

"Fine. I'm going I'm going." I watched as he left the room and sat there for a minute before racing over and pressing my ear to the door, Ike following me.

Within seconds, Jen and Taylor were there pressing their ears agains the door too.

"Listen..Lindsay...about this ring.." The voice was slightly muffled as we were listening through WOOD here, but still.

"I don't want to hear about it, Zac. I'm happy for you and whoever."

"No, that's not it. You DO want to hear it. Lindsay...this ring is for you."

There was a pause and all of us held our breaths in anticipation of what would come next.

"I..how. what...huh?" Well gee. Lindsay sure was with intelligence today.

"This ring. I got it and put it on because I like you. And I don't want any other girls near me. I might as well be taken because my heart sure is. By you." He told her.

I smiled, almost wanting to cry at the sappiness of it. It was like those romance movies on Lifetime that Jen, Lindsay, and i would all sit together and watch with a huge box of kleenex.

"Oh gosh Zac..." Then there was silence and I was sure she was crying and hugging him.

Suddenly the door gave way and all four of us tumbled into the floor, Zac with his hand on the doorknob and Lindsay raising her eyebrows at us.

"Interested in something?" Zac asked and the rest of us blushed and stood up, brushing ourselves off.

"Not at all. G'day.." I started out the door and Jen, Taylor, and Ike followed as we snickered, walking out onto the back porch.

I sat down on the porch swing, stretching my legs out. Ike took up a seat on the lounge chair beside me and Taylor and Jen were sitting on the railing around the porch.

"So what is up with you two?" I asked bluntly, waiting for her answer.