Disclaimer: Nothing, nadda, zippo.

Author's Notes: Once again, I am very sorry for the length of time it took for this update. It's been a very shitty few weeks. Please forgive me. ANYWAY. I hope you all like this chapter. It's more like an insight type of chapter. I'm really thinking that the party chapter will be the last chapter, and maybe a little sequel. I don't know. But I do hope you enjoy. There's no real romance in it, but it gets the job done. Thank you all, so very much for the alerts and reviews and everything. You are all amazing! OH, and real fast, I have almost all the costumes picked out for our dearly loved characters, but, I was wondering if you guys want me to keep the royal theme, which would mean Kat would have to be in a dress of some sort or something royal-esque. OR if you want her in something simplistic and make the party un-themed.

Happy Readings!! R&R!

Ps: Sorry if there is any awkwardness. I'm been trying to write this over the course of two weeks.

According to Bianca, Kat's little "production" on Tuesday was that of a crazy person's actions. Apparently, randomly breaking up with people was not only a sign of mental illness but a first class ticket to social suicide.

Not that Kat cared about that.

Socially, it meant nothing to Kat, she wasn't like Bianca, which she had pointed out. Bianca had simply stated that Kat, obviously, had an inability to be normal. And when asked what normal was, Bianca had simply stared at her, motioning to herself as exhibit A. Anything that involved Bianca and her opinion of Patrick and whatever had happened between Kat and him Tuesday, did nothing for Kat's morale.

On the other side of the fence, the side she was sure to get the most support, Mandella had simply stared at her. At some point, as Kat spilled the beans of her harsh words and Patrick's stunned silence, Mandella had taken her hand and slapped the brunette hard across the arm. The Gothic girl, even though she had her qualms with the cannibal rebel and thought that the infatuation was a little much, declared that she had not sent Kat to break up with Patrick. She stated, in a very long monologue, that even though Patrick was a possible douche, she truly believed his intentions with Kat were real.

And even though Mandella didn't believe in the whole happily ever after, true love, soul mate schpeel, she insisted with chemistry like that, it needed to be dealt with.

And, honestly, it didn't really matter. Patrick was avoiding her. And not just sneaking around, trying to hide avoiding her, oh no, he was boldly avoiding her. Eye contact was a definite no-no, as was being with-in ten feet of each other. Every class they had, he made sure to come in late and sit in the first seat in the corner of the room, next to the door. He had taken to eating or hanging out or whatever he did during lunch in the auto-shop. And forget about parking any where near her in the parking lot. She never saw him arrive or leave, she didn't even see his bike anymore.

But, then again, all of this was too be expected. You didn't break up with a guy and have him chasing you for the rest of the week. Even if a part of you wanted them to chase after you.

Not that she did, of course.

At this point, on a Saturday morning, after the week had slowly but surely ended, Kat laid across the couch, a book open but face down across her chest.

"And how is my favorite little photographer?" Mr. Stratford walked into the living room with a smile and his newspaper. "You've been a little down."

"You didn't even let me answer." Kat looked at her father, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes, I know." He sat down, the folded paper on his lap. "But I've noticed you've been down."

"I'm fine, daddy." Kat said, her voice going against her words. Before her father could say anything Bianca walked into the living room, her face bright and cheery.

"Daddy, Joey asked me to go out tonight and I need to tell him if I'm going to go or not. Oh and there's a Halloween party next Saturday."

Mr. Stratford stared at his youngest, his eyes in a hard stare. "Is Kat going?"

Both girls turned to look at each other, one with a pleading look and the other with a hard glare.

"No."/"Yes."

Mr. Stratford simply looked at the two and sighed. "Look, you can go out tonight, with this Joey boy by yourself, as long as it's just a bit of dinner." He switched his glaze from his youngest to his oldest. "Kat's going to have to agree to go to the party though."

"I'm not going." Kat stated, moving to stand up with her book and a scowl. "No more parties, every damn weekend there's a party."

"Kat, language." Mr. Stratford gave her a look and then sighed. "It's up to you, you know how I feel about those parties."

Bianca looked at her father and then at Kat, her eyes wide and deer like. Kat looked at her and shrugged.

"Sorry." And without waiting for a response she made her way to the stairs and to her bedroom.

---

Bianca sighed as she stood in front of her sister's door. She knew that it hadn't been the best of weeks for the brunette, but there was no way she was missing Chastity's party. Break-up or non break-up.

"Can I come in Kat?" A groan seemed to be her answer. She rolled her eyes and gently opened the door, peaking into the shady lighted room. "Hey."

"I'm not going to some stupid costume party so you can impress Chastity or make out with Joey." Kat looked over her book, her eyes slanted in a glare. "And nothing you say is going to change my mind."

"Ok." Bianca gave a curt nod and walked over to the window. "It's unlocked." Kat's eyes got wide as she looked over to her sister. "Why is it unlocked?"

"I opened it last night to get some fresh air." The brunette turned and looked back at her book. "I must have forgotten to lock it back."

"Oh my god!" Bianca turned, whipping her hair across her shoulders. "He was here, wasn't he? Oh my god!"

Brown eyes rolled as an exasperated breath of air was released into the energetic atmosphere. She closed her book, slammed it onto the bed, and turned to her younger sister.

"No one was here, Bianca. I have left the window unlocked since Tuesday. Just in case," she began shaking her head spastically, "I don't know, he came over."

Silenced filled the room and Bianca's hyper-ness seemed to dim. She nodded her head slowly and walked over to the bed, sitting next to Kat.

"You do realize you're the one that broke up with him, right?"

"Yes." There was a tone to her voice, warning the blonde of a mood swing.

"He's not going to appear at the window." She placed her hand over Kat's, leaning her head on the older girl's shoulders.

"Yeah, well." Kat cleared her throat. "It doesn't matter. I just won't deal with it."

Bianca didn't say anything, knowing that it would be wasted breath.

---

Linda Verona worked fifty hours a week. For the most part it was the night shift, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesdays, with double shifts Wednesday and Thursdays. She cooked all day Friday and Saturday, preparing easy meals for Patrick to defrost for himself or for the ranch. She had been cooking even more with Dia around. Not that the neuro-nurse minded, because she loved to cook.

When she wasn't working or cooking, she was cleaning. A clean house was a happy house. So, she whipped out the mop, the broom, and her favorite dusting cloth, and would go on a cleaning frenzy. Which usually resulted in Patrick and Dia being kicked out of the house.

No one needed to be screaming at their children while trying to clean a two-story, four bedroom, three and a half bath house.

Lately, however, what with her brother-in-law sick, her niece living back in the house, and her son's recently acquired anger mood, she had been doing less cleaning and cooking, and more damage control between the practically siblings who were way too old to be acting so immature.

"Mention her name one more time Dia and I swear to god I will kill you!"

"Kat! Kat! Kat!" Linda bowed her head over the sea of papers sprawled across her dining room table. Her niece's sing-song voice was closer then her son's, but she could hear the anger radiating with each approaching step.

"Why do you have to be such a nosey bitch?"

"Patrick!" She couldn't help but yell out to him. Cursing was disallowed in her house, especially if it was pointed towards each other. She was sure, positive even, that they cursed liked sailors. But to do it so close to where she was? Her son was obviously upset.

She looked towards the kitchen, staring at her son as he leaned against the door frame. His hair was completely disheveled and his eyes were set in a harsh glare. Everything from the twisted line of his lips to the annoyed stance of his posture assured her that he was in no mood.

Not that this mattered to her.

"Sit down. Now."

Patrick, with his set glare, did as he was told. He walked into the room, passing his mother who was at the head table, and sitting to her left. Their eyes met and his glare was no match for her look. His eyes were quickly casted to the table.

"I understand that you are very upset over this whole misunderstanding between you and Kat, that does not give you the right to act like a jerk." She folded her hands and leaned back. "Have you tried and talk with her?"

"Mom, you are not picking my brain." His voice was harsh and low, his eyes still on the table.

"As long as you're living in my house, I can pick your brain from here to kingdom come." He looked up, his eyes, the perfect match to hers, rolled in a full circle. "I am not one of your classmates, Patrick Michael Verona. Your looks don't scare or faze me."

A rumble of noise sounded from upstairs and a blur flew past the dining room.

"And where are you going?" Linda sighed, staring at her niece who looked just as annoyed as Patrick.

"Away from him. I promised daddy I'd pick up some books for him, I'm just heading up main street." The brunette looked at her aunt and then glared at Patrick, turning on her heels and walking out the door.

Patrick rolled his eyes again as the sound of his bike roared to life.

"No one asked her to come home."

Linda looked at her only son and then stood up abruptly. He watched, his eyes slanted, as she moved from the dining room to the kitchen.

"Is this really about Kat?" Her voice traveled from the kitchen, causing Patrick to stand up and walk over to the doorway. Linda was near the sink, scrubbing the plates that had been left from the morning.

"Just put them in the dishwasher." His tone was low. He knew it was never a good sign when his mother went into her neurotic cleaning mode.

"Is it really just about Kat, Patrick?" She looked up, her hand swirling over the plate.

"Do not go there mom." His arms crossed, his posture becoming instantly slouched.

"I know you like her sweetie. And I'm sure that this will just pass over. She's a smart girl, unlike those little tramps you bring home." Dark eyes narrowed. "Don't look at me like that, they're tramps, don't think I don't know what goes on in my house while I'm at work."

"Kat is different."

"I know she is." Linda placed the plate down and picked up a glass. "Which is why I like her, which is why I want you and her to make up. What I don't want, however, is for this to turn into another Ashley situation."

"Mom." Patrick covered his face, walking further into the kitchen. He flopped down to the table. "Please don't bring her into this."

"You were suspended from school. You lost a good friend. You spent nine months at your father's moping and creating some rebel, bad boy image. And then, you came home, began bullying people, and slept with anything that had two legs, who was semi-decently pretty." Linda harshly placed the glass down, next to the plate. Her fingers grabbed the final plate from the sink, the sponge hitting it in a soapy vengeance.

"What does that have to do with Kat?" He winced as the plate hit the silver basin.

"Because you like her, a lot, and I don't think this is entirely her fault. I think you might end up punishing her because of Ashley."

Other then the sound of the sponge swirling around the plate, silence filled the kitchen. Patrick leaned back into his chair, his head dropping back so he could stare at the fan slowly rotating.

Several minutes passed, Linda moved from the sink to the counter, her hands working almost on their own to clean the non-dirty surfaces. Patrick sat at the table, his eyes focusing on the ceiling.

"This has nothing to do with Ashley." His voice was low and his head was still dropped back. Linda stopped and turned to her son.

"Then why aren't you climbing her trellis?" Dark eyes clashed with dark eyes. "I heard that was how Romeo won over Juliet."

---

Kat walked through the bookstore, her eyes dancing across the titles that littered the shelves. She had spent the better part of the morning avoiding both her father and sister. Both of whom were now fighting because Bianca wanted to do more then just a little bite to eat with Joey. And, if she recalled correctly, the party was once again brought up, which led to, once again, Kat having to have to go.

It was enough for her to grab her keys and drive away from the bickering, the social climbing ambition of her sisters, and the unstableness of her father.

She loved being in the bookstore because it was roomy and airy. The scent of books filtered across her lungs, making her breath in deeply. There was also the strong aroma of coffee and cinnamon, to make the experience just a touch spicy.

It was like heaven.

She stopped as she came across Jane Austin, her eyes slowly sipping the titles in. Her fingers began to reach out, ready to grab one of the books from the shelves.

"Boo." Kat jumped, spinning around as the breathy voice slipped across the titles. Her eyes widen as she came in contact with Dia's Cheshire smile. "Hey, what's up?"

"Oh my god. You scared the crap out of me."

"Yeah, I figured, you were in a trance." Dia smiled, looking over Kat's shoulder. "Jane Austin. Nice. I figured you more of a Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson person."

"I like them too." Kat nodded slowly. "Is Patrick with you?"

Dia made a face and shook her head. "Nope, when I left he was getting lectured by Aunt Linda." The brunette stepped to the side, looking over the section Kat had been memorized by.

"For what?" She kept her voice steady. It wasn't like she really cared. That much.

"You, apparently." Dia's smile appeared across her face once again. "So, you broke up with my good for nothing cousin. I think I gained even more respect for you." She turned back to the book shelves.

"I did not," Kat stopped as Dia's playful eyes looked at her sideways. "How is he?"

"Eh, he's Patrick. Mostly moping around. Come on, I'll buy you some coffee." Kat gave her a look, but followed behind her, slightly eager to get information. "You going to Chastity Church's Halloween party?"

They made their way to the counter, Kat's eyes bulging slightly.

"How do you know about her party?"

"Her older brother, he invited a bunch of us so he wouldn't be surround by the teenage crowd."

"She has an older brother?" Kat turned to the barista, ordering a small hot chocolate.

"Half-brother." Dia nodded, walking over to the end of the large counter. "Patrick's going to be there. I'm dragging him."

"Patrick Verona is going to a costume party. Yeah, ok."

"He use to go to a lot more parties, mainly because of me." Dia gave the boy behind the counter a flirty smile, grabbing both her drink as well as Kat's. "I want to say he was a lot different then how you know him, he isn't. He's always been a sarcastic little prick that you want to beat down with a ping pong paddle." Dia sat down, sliding Kat's hot chocolate across to her. "Sorry, random memory of an incident from summer camp." She made a face. "Bastard."

"Um," Kat very slowly picked up her drink, trying very hard not to make any sudden movements. "Ok."

"What I'm trying to get at, is, that I think you two are cute together."

"That was very long and winded, and completely out there, just to get to that point." Kat stated, her eyes on the brunette.

"I know, one of my downfalls." Dia shrugged, leaning back into her chair and looking around the café. "So, why did you do it?"

Kat almost spit out her hot chocolate, her eyes were of that of a deer in the headlights. "Isn't that a little personal?"

"Probably. But," Dia shrugged, bringing her drink up to her lips. Her eyes rushed around the room, landing back on to Kat. "It's me."

"Are you spying for him?"

"Pf, yeah, because if he even, for a second, thought I was with you asking these things, he'd murder me." Dia took another sip of her coffee, nodding her head. "Which would do everything for his reputation."

"Are you stable? Because, you're a little, I don't know, crazy." Kat stared at the girl across from her.

Dia laughed and nodded her head. "You and Patrick are totally right for each other. I'm not unstable, thank you. And I'm not a spy, and I'm not stalking you. I just," she cocked her head to the side. "He really likes you, you know."

Kat stared at the brunette. Her brown eyes quickly fell to her hot chocolate, as her lungs began to fill with air.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want to know why you broke up with him." For someone who was, in Kat's opinion, a little unstable as well as best friends with Patrick, the girl was genuinely un-scary. There was a small smile playing on her round face and her eyes were sweeping up, down, and across the little café/bookstore. She wasn't here to punish Kat or yell at her or even cause a scene.

Which made Kat's willingness to talk that much easier.

"Because we're just going to hurt each other." Her hand tightened across the paper cup, the warmth of the drink heating her arm. "I don't trust him and he obviously doesn't trust me. We always fight and instead of talking about it, we avoid each other or make-out. Neither of us are relationship material."

Dia stared at Kat, her eyebrow raised and her lips in a pensive twist. She sighed, leaned back into her chair and brought her favorite caffeinated escape to her lips. She waited several seconds, taking in Kat's silence and the light buzz of café small talk, before clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth and allowed her nails to dance across the surface of the table.

"Did he tell you about Ashley?" Kat looked up at the sound of the unknown girl's name.

"No." Her voice was leveled as her body drew in closer to Patrick's number one confidant. "Who's Ashley?"

"Ashley Lockland was Patrick's number one girl. She was his best friend in the entire world. She only lived about fifteen minutes from our house, but every summer she would come and stay with her grandmother, who lived across the street."

"He did tell me about her!" Dia looked at Kat. "Sorry."

"Anyway," Dia rolled her eyes. "Ashley was Patrick's whole being. Now, remember, the Patrick you know is the Patrick you get. He's obnoxious, sarcastic, and has a rebel streak right down that nicely carved back I know you enjoy. But, with Ashley, he was sweet and doting and, well, still obnoxious, they use to fight like cats and dogs. She had an amazing right hook." Dia nodded a smile crossing her features. "She was a bit like you, a little more girlie. Patrick adored her. They officially started dating after freshman year, after everyone assumed they had been already dating. Two peas in a pod. At least until Patrick caught her with Robbie, Patrick's then best guy friend."

"He said they got into a fight and Linda sent him to live with his dad for the rest of the school year."

"What I'm sure he didn't tell you was, not only did they get into a fight, but Patrick put this kid through the ringer, verbally and physically. And then, he got into a huge fight with Ashley, basically stating she was the biggest whore he had ever met." Dia shook her head. "He went to live with Uncle Michael for the better part of nine months and then proceeded to come home acting like some escaped convict who had a taste for girls with no boundaries."

"What happened with Ashley and Robbie?"

"Ashley's grandmother moved in with the family and last year they moved to Napa. Robbie still goes to the school. He's the one that started all the fun rumors about Patrick." The cup of coffee was once again lifted to the brunette's lips. "It was easy enough. He had all the marks to prove whatever he wanted."

"He didn't tell me all that."

"I didn't tell you all this so you could feel bad for him." Kat looked up, forcing Dia to begin shaking her head. "I didn't mean that to sound like you were callous. All I meant was, that there are reasons for his stupidness. As, I'm sure, there are reason's for your abruptness."

Kat took the girl in, trying to figure out how much Patrick really told his quid-essential sister.

"You and him are really close." She said it more as a blanket statement then a question.

"Yeah, we are. That doesn't mean I don't see where you're coming from. I wasn't joking when I told you I grew respect for you. Girls tend to fall for the Verona charm without a second thought."

"I'm not like other girls." Kat said, more with an annoyed voice then a prideful tone. She jumped slightly, as Dia reach across the table and patted her hand.

"Which is why I want you and Patrick to be together." Kat gave her a small smile. "Even if you two do kill each other. My money's on you, by the way."

Kat's smile faltered, her head beginning to nod slowly.

---

Patrick had no idea why he was standing in front of the Stratford's home. He had drizzled out of his house, his mother's car keys in his hand, and had begun driving. His first intention had been to track down Dia and steal his bike back. A trip to the shore would do wonders for him at this point.

However, as his brain began to think of witty things to say to Dia when he finally found her, he found himself speeding down familiar neighborhood roads. Roads which were no where near main street or the bookstore.

And, as he sat in the empty driveway, in his mother's car, staring at the familiar house, he couldn't help but feel annoyance. Damn his mother and damn his driving skills.

He rolled his shoulders and quickly knocked on the door, his heart beating at an elevated speed.

The door swung open, revealing a perfectly made-up Bianca Stratford. She stared at him, her head moving to the side.

"Uh, hi." He didn't have any issues with the younger Stratford. Sure she was popularity hungry and she was way, way too perky for him, but she was decent enough as a person.

"Hey, is Kat home?" He did his best to seem unfazed and nonchalant, but he had a feeling the perky blonde was seeing right through him.

"She went into town for a little while." Bianca gave him an encouraging smile. "You can come in and hang out for a bit though. She left almost an hour ago, so, she should be home soon."

"I think I'll just give her a call or som--"

"No, come in, I insist." The blonde grabbed his arm, hoisting him into the house.

"Won't your dad, I don't know, kill me for being here without your sister or, more importantly, him being here." Patrick, even though he wouldn't admit it, was just the slightest bit afraid of Kat and Bianca's father.

"He has a double delivery today, he's not getting home till tonight. Besides, you can keep me company while I bake a pie."

"You cook?" Patrick asked, gently shutting the front door as Bianca skipped to the kitchen.

"Well, no, not really, but how hard can it be?" She gave him a large smile as she disappeared behind the counter.

"You know, that's how the majority of kitchen fires start, with that one comment." He shoved his hands into his pockets, as his eyes swept across the kitchen that was filled with flour, measuring cups, milk, eggs, and other baking materials. "Why are you making a pie? Cheerleaders are doing some sort of bake sale?"

"No. I thought it be a nice treat for daddy and Kat tonight. You know, what with the giant Halloween party that is going on next Saturday and you and Kat ruining my chances to go." She looked up and gave him a smile that was no comfort to him at all.

"How did I ruin your chances?" He walked closer to the counter, peering over at the mess she had already made.

"By allowing my psychotic sister to break up with you which means I can no longer go out. Which, I think we all need to be grateful that Joey asked me out when he did."

Patrick simply stared at her, confused by everything she was saying. He shook his head and went around, starting to straighten up some of the mess on the counters themselves.

"How did you want me to stop her?"

Bianca, who's nose was pressed to the cooking book she had dug out from a box in garage, simply shrugged. She pulled away and began to fill the measuring cups with various things.

Patrick continued to clean as Bianca continued to pour the measuring cups into the large bowl that was already placed on the counter. They moved without crossing each other's space and without talking. It wasn't until Patrick stepped away from the counter so that Bianca could start rolling out the pie crust that a word was uttered.

"What did this Justin kid actually do to your sister?"

"Other then sleep with her, nothing." Bianca looked over her shoulder, giving him a look. "If I had to take a stab in the dark, other then the fact that Justin was overly popular and the school is scared of you, the two of you have similar personalities. That whole charismatic, narcissist thing."

"I am not a narcissist."

"Fine, that whole 'I can have anyone I want thing'. Whatever." She paused and placed down the rolling pin, turning to face Patrick. "I know that technically you didn't do anything and Kat broke up with you because she likes wallowing in her own self destructive patterns. And, you know, she takes in no consideration for her dear younger sister."

Patrick took great effort not to roll his eyes. He did, however, cross his arms and lean into the counter. "You can't just blame her for this. I could have tried harder."

"You both could have done a whole lot. But, oh well." Bianca shrugged and went back to her pie crust. "All I know is that I will be going to that party."

"I'm going." Patrick stated, smiling as Bianca twirled to face him.

"How are you going?"

"Well, I know you're new, so a little insight, Chastity Church's parties are always opened to the public, it's how she became the way she became. Her half brother is friends with my cousin, which is why I have to attend."

"Right, your cousin." Bianca nodded, gently placing down the rolling pin. "Well, if you're going to be there, there's no excuse for Kat."

"Other then she hates me right now."

"No, no, she doesn't hate you. She's contemplating you." Patrick gave the blonde a look. "Couples either make up or break up at parties my friend. Since you and Katherine are already broken up, you'd have to make up!"

"Bianca, you know that, right there, makes no logical sense." Blue eyes narrowed.

"What do you care, you want her back, right? Oh, this will be perfect!" Bianca smiled and did a little jump, causing Patrick's eyes to widen with, what seemed like, fear.

"Um, I don't think--"

"Shush!" Bianca placed a hand up. "I'll convince her to go, and you'll be there in something really flattering, and she'll become filled with lust and then you can sweep her off your feet."

"Or she'll continue to say no and then hit me." Patrick shook her head. "I am not getting involved with this whole thing."

"Oh, you sure will." Bianca pointed a finger in his face. "I know you like her and I know she likes you and I want to date Joey. So everyone is going to do exactly what I say and we'll all be fine."

"I think--"

"No one cares what you or Kat thinks. Leave the ingenious details to me!" Bianca laughed and spun around, only to spin back around to face him. "You stop ignoring her at school! Don't give in to talking to her all the time though, just enough to make her suspicious."

Patrick raised an eyebrow. "Bianca I really think this is a bad idea."

"Look, just, go home. Give me some time and I'll let you know what costume you should wear and stuff."

"I am not going along with any of--" Patrick stopped as Bianca's look burned him. He was suddenly reminded of both Kat and the girls' father. Obviously the apple did not fall far from the apple tree by any means. "Fine, Stratford. We'll do it your way. And if it blows up in my face, I'm holding you accountable."

He leaned off of the counter and made his way out of the kitchen, through the living room, into the front hall, Bianca hot on his heels.

"Don't worry, all will be a happily ending by Saturday night." She walked him out of the house and to the middle of the pathway. "Just stay on guard!"

Patrick simply gave a nod of his head and slid into the SUV. He had a feeling it was going to be a dangerous week for his health. He pulled out and sped past the little yellow car that was making it's way down the street.

Bianca smiled brightly as Kat pulled into the driveway and stepped out of her car, her eyes staring at the Toyota RAV.

"Was that Patrick?" There was a crack in her voice, causing Bianca to smile even wider.

"Um, nope, I don't know who that was."

"They were in our driveway."

"Uh huh. But, they never got out of their car. I think they were going the wrong way and just wanted to make a U-turn or something."

Kat stared at her sister, a hundred questions going through her mind. She shook her head and started going inside, she stopped as she reach Bianca.

"About that party on Saturday," the blonde held up her hands.

"I know, I know, don't even ask you again. But I made you some--"

"No, I'm going. I think it'll be fun." There was a tone in his sister's voice but the joy that filled Bianca trumped her suspicions. She jumped up, throwing herself around her sister's neck.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Yeah, uh huh. Let go." Bianca dropped her hands, her eyes were filled with happiness.

"What changed your mind?" Kat looked at the blonde and then back down the street to the SUV that had disappeared.

"Oh, you know, you only get to be young and stupid once, right?" Kat turned to look back at Bianca, only to be attacked, once more, into a hug.