Notes: never let a 8 year old girl pick out music to listen to in the car!! damn NSYNC music!

Baby you're not the only one..
I see the things he does to you
All the pain that he put you through
And I see what's really going on
Staying out at night while you're by the phone
Take it from me, it's a lesson to be learned
even the good guys get burned
Take it from me, see I would give you love,
The kind of love that you only dream of

Matt stood in the kitchen, looking at the front porch. The sun was setting and the night sky was beautiful. Suddenly, a sound caught his attention. Slowly walking toward the front door, he stopped and peeked out the window there. Shannon sat on the porch swing, crying softly. Matt walked out the door and Shannon sat up, wiping his face. "What's goin' on, Shan?" Matt asked. Shannon shrugged. "Nothin' much," he said. Matt nodded. "Waiting on Jeff?" Matt said. There was a hitch in Shannon's voice when he answered. "He's supposed to call." Matt nodded as he pushed the swing back and forth. The gentle movement had always comforted him. Finally, Matt spoke. "Shan, you know he's not gonna call, don't ya?" The tears began to flow down Shannon's cheeks again. "I know," he said, turning to Matt. "Why does he do this to me? Why do I let him?" Matt looked over at Shannon, wanting more than anything to take him into his arms and comfort him. "It's cuz you love him," Matt said, rising from the swing. Shannon just nodded as Matt went back into the house.

Baby you're not the only one
You don't have to be afraid to fall in love
And I know that you've hurt in the past
But if you want it here's my heart
No Strings Attached

Matt walked up the stairs and entered his room. Closing the door, he sat on the edge of the bed and put his head in his hands. It killed him to see Shannon hurting like that. It was a pain Matt knew all too well. He remembered what it was like, wondering where Jeff was, who he was with, what he was doing. Matt tried to warn Shannon before he got involved with Jeff, but everyone said it was just jealousy. In a way, maybe it was. Matt had been fighting his feelings for Shannon for quite a while, but he couldn't do anything about it. All because of Jeff. Leaning back on the bed, Matt fell asleep, visions of Shannon dancing in his head. He awoke a few hours later. Checking the clock, he saw that it was 2 in the morning. He walked downstairs and saw the front door still open. Shannon was still in the swing, his face covered with tears. Matt felt his eyes water as he walked over and gently shook Shannon's shoulder. Shannon sat up and looked around, confused. "He never called, Matt," was all he said as he stood. Matt reached over and pulled Shannon to him, cradling Shannon's shaking body with his large arms. "Come in, Shan," he said. "Let's get you warmed up." Shannon sobbed as he allowed Matt to lead him inside. "It hurts, Matty," he said. "It hurts so bad."

He doesn't give you the kind of attention
That a boy like you needs, that a boy like you needs
'Cause he always looks around, his eyes wander around
He doesn't see you like I see, yeah
Take it from me, it's a lesson to be learned
even the good guys get burned
Take it from me, baby I would give you love
The kind of love that you've only dreamed of

Matt nodded. "I remember," he said. Shannon looked up at him. "Why don't nobody love me?" Shannon asked. If it was possible for someone to feel their heart breaking into tiny pieces, Matt would have at that moment. "People love you, Shannon," Matt said. Shannon shook his head. "Name one," he whispered. Matt looked down into Shannon's glowing green eyes and whispered, "I love you." Shannon started to protest, then saw the look on Matt's face and realized what Matt was saying. He said he LOVED Shannon, not as a friend, not as a little brother - but truly loved him! When Matt realized what he said, he started to turn away. Shannon grabbed his arm and looked into Matt's eyes. Before he knew what was happening, Shannon had leaned up and kissed him. Softly, slowly, Shannon's lips pressed themselves to Matt's. Matt groaned as he pulled away and looked down. "Shan, you ain't gotta do this," he said. "You ain't gotta prove nothin' to me, or yourself." Shannon smiled. "I know that," he said, pressing his body against Matt's. "But I want to, Matt. I want you. I need you to show me that someone loves me - that you love me." Matt's mind was racing. Here it was, what he had been waiting for, the words he had longed to hear forever. Maybe they could help each other forget the pain. He kissed Shannon deeply, then pulled back. "Okay, baby," he said, leading him up the stairs. As he lay Shannon on his bed, Matt knew that tomorrow Jeff would come home and he would apologize to Shannon, and Shannon would probably forgive him. But, for tonight, there were no consequences, no remorse - just the man he had fallen in love with so long ago. He would give Shannon everything he had, and hope for the best. Maybe someday they could heal each other, but until then, Matt would make Shannon feel his love.

Baby you're not the only one
You don't have to be afraid to fall in love
And I know that you've hurt in the past
But if you want it here's my heart
No Strings Attached