My breath was hitched to my throat. What was I doing? How could this happen? Did I catch feelings for Ross? No, I couldn't have. Catching feelings are like catching a cold. Now was not the time to catch a cold!

His deep eyes burned a hole right through me, like a panther waiting to make it's move. His lips parted to speak, clenched, then closed tightly.

"Oh there you guys are," Riker smiled, breaking us from our trance, and opened the door back into the house. "I thought I lost you in this jungle." That's exactly what I had thought earlier. "Food's ready," he held the door open for us graciously. I had to reassure myself. Thats what I want, a gentleman.

"Good because I'm starving," Ross spoke for the first time in ages. As if I had not experienced what I had just witnessed; an illusion. We hurried down the stairs, they creaked softly at the rushed patter of our shoes.

"I hope he didn't give you a hard time out there," Riker defended. Trust me, it wasn't like that at all.

Ross spoke for me, "I was the epitome of perfection." He glanced at me slightly and gave a toothy grin.

"Finally," Rydel brushed off a stray hair from her forehead, "Help yourself." An array of food unloaded on the long, walnut dining table. Mashed potatoes, tossed salad, peas, beats, chicken; they did not take lunch lightly in the Lynch household. The chairs were mostly filled with everyone else. A new face captured my eye. His light brown hair was long enough to shade his eyes. His smile was cheeky and childlike. A dust of facial hair sprung from his upper lip and chin. Wow they had a big family. Riker and Ross took opposing seats while I sat in the middle. If this was sign, I didn't like it one bit.

"Oh, this is Amber, Riker's new 'friend'?" Rydel emphasized the friend part. Riker urged her to stop with his eyes that bashfully looked back at me.

Ross cleared his throat obviously,"Who's hungry? 'Cause I sure am." He wouldn't look at me. What had I done?

"I am!" The apparently unfed man at the end of the table dove in. Everyone followed his lead so I did the same, but I made sure to observe. Rydel slipped her arm to the man's back and rubbed in circular motions. Uhh... They look a little too comfortable. Peas dropped out of my mouth and onto my dish. Rocky turned his head towards me, followed my line of sight, then started laughing hysterically, swallowing another bite of food. Everyone lifted their heads to watch the sight of Rocky uncontrollably chuckling to himself.

"Are you okay?" Serenity giggled infectiously, "what's so funny?" She set a concerned hand on his forearm.

"It's just--" Each laugh sent him into hysteria.

"Yeah? What is it boy? Spit it out." Ross mocked. Ryland beamed.

Rocky flicked a finger towards me then at Rydel and the man next to her. That was all they got out of him.

Riker began to put it together like a complicated equation, "Ooooh!" He started to slowly giggle. Oh god. "You think that--that," his finger stretched towards Rydel and the stranger again, "that-- oh no Ellington isn't our brother!" How was I supposed to know that? They were in fits of howling.

"We get that a lot," Ellington responded with a laugh, "Or I go by Ratliff or Ell but that works too. It's funny, I thought every girl in America would know us by now." He joked. To the rest of the group, it must have been hilarious, but to Serenity and I we just sheepishly wore a smile.

After small talk and a bucket full of food in my stomach, we all thanked Rydel and Riker and took our empty plates to the kitchen to wash. We formed a line, ready to clean up.

I forgot my fork. I nonchalantly scooted my boots through kitchen floor back into the grand dining room. Where was that thing? I placed down my plate and scanned the room for anyone. Nobody. I tugged up my dress and crawled under the table cloth.

Trying to quickly investigate the floor I stumbled upon the silverware. "Aha, I got you!" I reveled in the simple glory.

"You okay down there?" A voice asked from above the table. It was Riker I was sure of it this time.

"Uh yeah," I couldn't think of a better excuse.

"Well while you can't see me, I wanted to talk once you're uh," he paused, I could feel a smile form on his lips, " finished under there."

"Mmhm." I nodded. HE COULDN'T SEE YOU NODD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU'RE BLOWING IT.
I waited to hear his footsteps reside before attempting to crawl out.

Before I could escape a head popped out from under the burgundy cloth. Ross. He was on his hands and knees, his locks spilled in his eyes. "Is there a party down here that I wasn't invited to?" He slid in closer to speak to me. A slight smirk tickled the corners of his lips.

"Party for one," Seceding my gaze to the floor.

His face advanced towards mine, only a breath would separate us from touching; our breaths intertwined quietly. His fingertips grazed mine, a pang of nerves surged through my hand. He bit is lip, transforming it to a soft shade of evening red.

His smile was a large as the Cheshire cat, "I found it" he held up the fork that was just in my hand. Did he just? He winked before exiting. A short sigh pushed through. What had I gotten myself into?