Brian Haner Jr. looked at the beautiful girl sitting at the piano bench on stage. Her red hair was curled and pushed to one side. Her brown eyes were lined with wings, and she wore her false lashes for special occasions. Brian Haner Jr. was in love with Kelly Baker. The problem was Kelly's brother and Brian's best friend, Zachary Baker.

"Doesn't she play amazingly?" Ashley nudged Brian in the arm as she stared at her friend and roommate play the familiar song. It was almost over, but each note had its own significance.

Brian opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Zack. "Yes, yes she does." Zack smiled at the man and girl sitting next to me. He returned his attention back to his little sister as she stood from the bench, taking a bow. The audience stood up, applauding the pianist as she smiled at the crowd. Her brother cheered her as she walked off stage.

Kelly Baker's heart was racing as she entered the dressing room. She walked to her mirror, placing her hands on either side of the table and looking into her reflection. A smile perched itself on her pale lips as she blushed at the flirtatious girl looking back at her. "You pulled it off, Kells," She whispered as she straightened herself. She reached behind her, unzipping the black sequin dress on her slender body. The beautiful garment fell to her feet in red four-inch heels. She slipped her feet from the shoes. She covered her bare breasts with her hands in case someone entered the dressing room. She went to her blue duffle bag and pulled out a pink push-up bra. She put the garment on and pulled on a pair of grey neon blue sweatpants paired with a grey PINK hoodie. She took the pins out of her hair as the red curls fell past her shoulders. She grabbed her bag and walked to the audience where her brother, roommate, and Brian sat. She sat next to Ashley as she pulled a pair of socks out of the duffle bag.

"Hi, there, gorgeous!" Ashley greeted her as she wrapped her arms around the girl she loved dearly. Kelly returned the hug as she blushed. She looked up at Brian whom was staring at her with a smile.

"You did great," he said before Zacky looked over Brian's shoulder at his little sister.

"Can we talk?"

Kelly frowned. She had just sat down. There was no way in hell she would get up just to talk with her protective brother. But the seriousness in his eyes was alarming. She nodded, standing up and walking past Ashley and Brian to follow Zacky outside into the frosty air.

Zacky Baker was a tall man to his little sister who only stood around five-foot-two. She looked up at the heavily tattooed teddy bear as he looked down at her. His blue eyes looked down into Kelly's brown ones; he smirked. "The baby is finally growing up."

Kelly smacked his toned torso, smiling. "I am not a baby. I am the little one. The baby is the titty baby. Which is you." Zacky hated being reminded that their mother breast fed him the longest. Kelly was the lucky one, not having to be tortured with that until the age of two and three quarters.

"Okay, okay, hush. You coming to Matt's party tonight?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Kelly said the sarcasm-soaked words with a smirk as Brian stepped into the cold air, joining the two siblings.

"I'll let you two talk," Zacky said, punching Kelly's shoulder as he entered the auditorium to watch the rest of the showcase. Brian and Kelly stood in silence for a few moments before Brian looked at the beautiful girl to the left of him.

"You did great," Brian said, his hands motioning toward her.

"Thanks." Kelly blushed, looking out over the lighted streets before her. She took it in. She loved the cold, but not the frostbite that came along with it.

"No, I mean it. I do. I knew Zacky was talented, but you...you're breathtaking."

"You mean my music?"

"No, I mean you."

Kelly looked up at her friend of basically forever. His chocolate eyes looked back into hers. "Will you..." Brian sighed, ending what was never going to start.

"Will I what?" Kelly persisted. She was curious, of course. Any girl would be curious of Brian Haner Junior had asked a question that began with "Will you..."

"It's stupid," Brian said as he glanced over at the girl he had a crush on since the day she accidentally walked into his band's rehearsal.

"Tell me."

"I can't."

"Please."

Brian sighed, looking down at his black sneakers. He had been defeated in a battle he would never seem to win. "Will you go to Matt's party with me? Everyone has a date, and I figured you'd go because Zack, and I didn't know if you had a date or-"

"Yes," Kelly said, interrupting Brian's ramble and replacing his frown with a childish smile of hope. Kelly returned the smile, and hugged him. She shivered and took Brian by the hand. She led him into the auditorium where Zacky and Ashley were sitting. Zacky glared at his friend. [i]This can't be good,[/i] he thought to himself, pursing his lips.