----- Prologue -----

I've known Abs forever, virtually. My mother knows his and they only live down the road from us, so we kinda grew up together. All my girl friends were jealous - he's three years older than me and we've always been close friends. It was really cool to be like thirteen or fourteen and have a male friend who's sixteen/seventeen. Especially when this friend decides he wants to be in a boy band. And especially when this boy band hits the big time. But still, he's always just been Abs. I've seen him at five playing superheroes, I've seen him go through his Michael Jackson phase, I've seen him get with and split up with his first girlfriend. Abs has seen me grow up too, almost protecting me, never forgetting me when he got famous. Somehow, we always managed to keep at being friends. As I watch him with the rest of 5ive at his twentieth birthday party, something's different.

----- Chapter One -----

I sit and draw deeply on my cigarette, looking round the room with feigned interest. Abs detaches himself from a group of well wishers and sits down next to me, flinging an arm round my shoulders.

"Come and dance!" he shouts over the music. I shake my head, and flick my ash. He frowns at me, "I don’t like it when you smoke. It's not good for you."

I shrug and gulp down some drink. There's just something about me tonight, I can't quite put my finger on it. It's like I've suddenly remembered something but I can't remember what. And that sensation pisses me off. Not to mention the fact that most of the people here are older than me…and in couples. There's Scott and Kerry, Sean and some model he's been dating, Ritchie and Billie. J looks happy on his own and Abs…well I don’t know why he's so happy. He only just split from a pretty serious relationship. Mind you, it's not everyday you turn twenty.

"Please…" he starts; "Give up. For me?"

I'd do anything for you, I almost say, which shocks me, cos I wouldn’t. Well, maybe I would - he's my friend, one of my best friends. On impulse, I stub out my cigarette and throw the rest of my box and lighter in the bin. I stand up and smile; "There ya go…gone!"

As Abs stands up next to me, I realise that what I've just done was worth it. He's looking really pleased and gives me a big smile…and an even bigger hug, "Thanks!! I knew I could make you do this one day!"

I close my eyes and squeeze him back, whispering: "Happy Birthday Abs!"

He takes my hand and I have just enough time to grab my drink and down it, before he leads me over to the dance floor.

"I'm glad you came tonight," Abs says really quietly, but somehow loud enough for me to hear. I smile,

"I'm glad I came too."

Y'see, there's just always been some elusive quality about Abs where he can almost always make me smile. I don’t know how he does it, but he does.

I look around me. Billie and Ritchie have disappeared (no guesses as to what they're up to), Scott and Kerry appear to be arguing (no change there), Sean's model is sucking the life outta Sean's neck and J seems to have found someone to dance with. The next song is a slow one, and everyone moves closer. As Abs snuggles up to me, it hits me. I suddenly realise what's been bothering me. I think I'm in love with him. I think I'm in love with Abs. That's what felt different. I want him as my man, not my friend.

I have a moment of doubt - I have been drinking and I'm always having realisations like this. They never last. Abs draws me gently closer to him, his arms tightly round my waist. I've got my arms wrapped round his neck, my head leaning on his chest. I can hear his heartbeat…he gently strokes my back, sending shivers up my spine. This isn't one of my usual realisations.

"I thought you didn’t slow dance?" I tease. He shrugs,

"Only with my bestest friend…" he grins at me. I sigh and shut up. His 'bestest friend' - that sums me up. Well, at least I'm friends with him. I'd rather have Abs as a friend than no Abs at all.

The cosy moment's broken when Kerry slaps Scott and stamps out of the room. He stands there, frozen in shock for a moment and then storms out after her, a look of thunder in his eyes. Abs and I look at each other.