DON'T READ THIS UNLESS YOU'VE READ THE PREQUELS. Well, you can, but certain parts will make more sense it you read the prequels first. I guess most of these can serve as stand alone stories if you really don't feel like reading the other ones...

Also, this story has some slash in it, move on to story 3 if you don't like that kind-of thing

"Oh my God, he just kissed you?" Ana asked with a laugh as Jack grinned and took another sip of his tea.

"Yep! He's lucky that I wanted him to."

Ana just kept giggling, privately proud that Aster had clearly been paying attention during all those movie nights they'd had over the years. After all, where else would he get the idea to just kiss Jack like that?

When the giggles stopped she said, "Well, I like Nick, and I'd still give him a piece of my mind if he did that. You don't just kiss a person!"

Jack looked surprised now. "You like Nick?"

Ana nodded. "Yeah! He's so sweet and he's great with kids. I hope he asks me out soon, though, so we can do the whole Valentine's Day thing."

"Huh, well, I guess that's yet another reason you and Aster are such good friends."

Now it was Ana's turn to look confused. "What do you mean?"

"You like Nick, he liked Nick. It means that you two even share some of the same taste in men."

Ana just stared at Jack, making the albino suddenly feel very self-conscious.

"Aster said you knew he liked Nick when you were younger. You did know, right?"

Ana nodded and asked, "He told you that story?"

"Not really. He just told me that he liked Nick briefly when you were kids."

Now Ana was grinning again. "Did he ever say HOW briefly?"

"….no?"

"Then have I got a story for you!"

Thirteen-year-old Ana Romoli tapped her foot impatiently and glanced at her watch for what felt like the thousandth time. Honestly, where was he? They were supposed to head home ages ago! Just when she was about to give up and go searching through the school for Aster, the Australian dragged himself from the building.

Ana's annoyance instantly changed to concern when she saw him. He looked awful! Without another thought, she rushed to her friend's side with a cry of "Aster! Are you alright?"

The caramel-haired youth just stared at her with spring-green eyes that looked like someone had sucked all the life out of them.

"Do I need to call your mom or something?" Ana asked as she placed a hand against her friend's forehead. No fever. That was good.

The Australian shook his head and let out a low whine.

"Emerson Aster Wilder, you tell me what's wrong this instant or I'm calling 911!"

That seemed to do the trick, bringing a spark of life back to the artist's eyes as he moaned, "My life is over."

"Huh? What happened?"

Aster just looked even more miserable.

The blonde narrowed her eyes and was about to unleash another threat when her friend let out a sound that could almost be called a sob and buried his face in her shoulder with a cry of, "Ana, I've got a crush on Nick!"

"What?"

Aster looked like he wanted to die. "You heard me. My life is over."

Ana didn't know much about crushes, but she was pretty sure that you were supposed to look happy when you had them. Aster looked anything but. "Okaaaaay, why do you think you have a crush?"

Aster let out another moan and said, "He looks cute."

"Huh?"

"That suit he's wearing today? I took one look at him and thought he looked cute! My first crush and it's on a Christmas loving buffoon!"

Ana actually had to stifle a laugh at this point. She didn't know a lot about crushes, but she knew what Aster was describing certainly wasn't one.

"Aster, I don't think you've got a crush."

Now the Australian pulled away from her with an offended look. "I don't think you're qualified to tell me whether or not I have a crush!"

Ana adopted an amused look and raised a single eyebrow as she asked, "Okay, who's read more romance novels, you or me?"

"You," Aster replied sullenly.

"And who's watched more romantic movies and TV shows?"

"You."

"So, of the two of us, who's more likely to know what a crush is like?"

"The person who actually has one!"

"You don't have a crush!"

"Yes I do!"

The two thirteen-year-olds were glaring at each other now.

"Okay then, here's the deal. We're going to go to my house and watch some of the greatest romance movies that I own. If, after you've educated yourself on love, you still think that you have a crush, then I shall concede the point and help you deal with it. If, however, I am proved to be in the right, you have to have a romantic movie marathon with me every Valentine's Day from now until you start dating!"

"And why would I agree to that?"

"Because that way you can actually recognize your own emotions for once!"

That did it. Aster knew what he felt! Ana was just jealous that he'd gotten his first crush before she did.

"Deal!"

Five hours and three movies later, Aster was glaring at the TV screen with a look so full of malice that, if looks could kill, the poor machine would've been a smoldering pile of rubble.

"So, still think you have a crush?"

"Yes…"

"Really?"

"…yes…"

Ana grinned, she knew a lie when she saw one.

"Suuuuure, Aster. I'll see you here on Saturday for our movie marathon."

The artist kept pouting, but didn't disagree with the statement.

"…he still insists that it was his first crush, though." Ana concluded as Jack tried to stifle his laughter.

When he'd finally regained control of his voice, Jack asked, "So who would you call his first crush, then?"

Ana smiled and said, "You, of course, though first love might be a better term than crush with how bad he's got it."

Jack's cheeks turned rosy and he ducked his head to hide the pleased smile that was spreading across his features.

Ana didn't try to hide the grin that inspired. She didn't feel bad calling Jack Aster's first love, but only because she knew that the feelings went both ways.

Gah! This is adorable! I can't stop smiling it's so cute! Anyway, what is this story? What am I doing here?

Allow me to explain.

For the memories will be a collection of one shots about the gang over the years (and yes, we can go back as far or forward as you'd like for these, I'm fine writing about stuff from the distant past or years in the future.) Feel free to ask for a story you want to see written. It can be anything that I've already mentioned, an idea you had, a general concept (ex: Sophie and Aster being adorable), or even an existing scene from one of my two stories as seen through another character's eyes. The possibilities are endless!

As such, I'm not sure what I should label this story as: complete or in progress. Every chapter is a full story, there's just going to be a bunch of them, so I'm leaning towards complete that way people don't wait until it's 'finished' to read it, because it probably will never be totally done. There's always another story to be written.

Thanks for reading and please review!

~Miki