"Hey Dom, whatcha gettin' today?" Old Cropper was busy polishing a banana split bowl, his eyes set solidly on his young friend of many years. He was alone today, probably thinking about his upcoming leap into teenhood...the boy's 13th birthday was only days away. "Awww just give me the regular Mr. Cropper." 'The regular' was a simple hot fudge sunday with whipped cream and a cherry. The cherry was just there to make things look nice usually, as Dominic often forgot that it was even there to begin with once he got a bite of the whipped cream. Occasionally he'd eat it, but for the most part it was quickly cast to the side in favor of the rest of the dessert. As Cropper prepared the dish, Dominic found himself casting sideways glances at a picture hanging in a frame on the wall. It was a picture taken 9 years ago of his parents and Mr. Cropper on their anniversary, his younger self held in his mothers arms. He smiled lightly, remembering his father telling him how he used to love being picked up at three years old, but loved showing how fast he could run even more. "So what's on your mind champ? Thinking about the big 13?" "I dunno Mr. Cropper...things have just been weird lately. Every time Crystal's around I start feeling funny inside, you know? It's never been like this before..." Mr. Cropper smiled, shaking his head and holding back a chuckle as he added the whipped topping to Dominic's ice cream, remembering back to his old days of childhood romance and week-long relationships. Of course, he was young and naive back then to the workings of love, so many of his relationships were simply based off a happiness he'd felt with the girl he was with. Obviously, Dominic was catching tinges of the feeling he'd felt so long ago. "Ever think that maybe you like her kid?" Dominic laughed a little as Cropper brought him his ice cream, setting it in front of him and handing him a large spoon. Dominic took a scoop of the ice cream, pointing the spoon at Cropper and smiling broadly. "But I do like her, she's one of my best friends!" Dominic took his bite of ice cream, enjoying the taste of it and quickly going for another scoop. Yet it was a mere three scoops into the ice cream when Cropper elaborated on his definition of 'like' and, as a result, caused Dominic to promptly drop his spoon and stare at him with eyes widened by shock. "I mean, maybe you like, like her." "WHAT?!" "Well, maybe you do!" "That's crazy, I'd never!" "Really? Never, Dominic? Then what do you suppose the funny feeling is?" "Gas?" Dominic has a unique way with words, and his choice this time around had Cropper in a laughing fit. Pouting, Dominic picked his spoon off of the counter and took a large scoop of the ice cream, shoving it in his mouth. "You crack me up kid...I swear. But hey, do you really think you'd never like her that way? I mean honestly, how do you feel around her now?" Dominic sighed a little, looking upwards in thought as he swallowed his ice cream and tapped his spoon against the countertop. Stabbing his spoon into the ice cream soon after, Dominic sat up straight and looked at Cropper with a raised eyebrow, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, I know I'm really happy around her and I'm sad when I have to go...I like it when she hugs me and when we play games like Monopoly together." Dominic leaned forward, bringing the back of his hand to his mouth and lowering his voice to Cropper, a slight smile growing on his features. "Don't tell her, but I always let her win." Cropper smiled and chuckled lightly as Dominic pulled away, taking his spoon out of his ice cream with another scoop and biting into it, still thinking on the question he was given. Another scoop followed, and then two more, followed by another and then...an answer. "She makes me feel really special, not like any of my other friends do anyway...and she's always there to laugh with me and hold me when I'm sad. She's never let me feel alone and...and..." Dominic went quiet, slowly sticking the spoon into his ice cream as a frown of confusion took over the smile from before. His young mind was plunging deep into thought over the situation at hand, thousands of thoughts and questions streaming through his brain. It didn't take long however, for a mere 30 seconds later Dominic had came to a realization that made Mr. Cropper remember even more of his childhood life. "And I really...really...like her." Dominic whispered, looking up at Cropper. There was a brief silence as Mr. Cropper smiled, nodding his head. Dominic's eyes widened as he lowered his head again and then quickly jumped off his stool, waving his hand behind him as he took off for the door. "I've got to go Mr. Cropper! I'll see you tomorrow!!" In a blink of an eye Dominic was at the door, Cropper's eyes widening in surprise as he quickly shouted to his young friend, hoping to catch his attention before he left the place completely. "Hey! What about the ice cream?" "I'll pay you tomorrow! I promise!!" And he was gone. Cropper shook his head and smiled, taking the ice cream and making his way over to the sink with it. Young love was certainly something he didn't want to interfere with...it was a learning process that was well needed and, well...let's face it, it was cute as hell to watch unfold. Dominic's legs worked like pistons as he ran as fast as he could, weaving around people on the sidewalks as many "Sorry!'s" and "'Scuse me!'s" were said. He was a good couple of blocks away from his road, but he wasn't slowing down at all. He needed to get to her house, he needed to tell her how he felt in hopes that maybe, just maybe, she'd feel the same way. Mr. Cropper was right...he liked her alot more then he'd ever though he could. When he finally got on his street and raced for her doorstep, however...a feeling of dread overcame him and the "What if's" started kicking in. What if she didn't like him back, and hated him for telling her? What if she'd be afraid of him because of it? What if they couldn't be friends anymore? Just a short distance away from her doorstep...and he was having a bout of fear. This was not good timing for him, not good timing at all.