You and Nikki are longtime friends and coworkers at Cassell's Music Store. You, Nikki, Ian, and Sarah form a close little group, and Nikki has been particularly important to you. She was there for you when you first came to town and after your grandmother died. Nikki is easygoing, kind, somewhat eccentric, and independent. She has a playful side and doesn't seem particularly interested in conforming to what other people expect of her. She has the nickname "Freaky Nikki", although it's not really a nickname she likes being called because bullies used to call her that during high-school. She's also restless with her current life. She doesn't want to spend forever working at the music store. She's interested in love and romance and talks about wanting to write a love story, suggesting that she's curious about what genuine love actually feels like. You've had feelings for her for a long time, but you're afraid that telling her could destroy the friendship. That's why you keep looking for signs that she might feel the same way. And there are some signs you could interpret that way. Nikki is comfortable around you. She trusts you. She spends time with you. She talks openly with you. She knows your personality and your insecurities. There's a genuine emotional intimacy between you. But there's also a major problem: You don't actually know what Nikki wants.