The following Monday the girls were all sitting in English class, gossiping about the party and, of course, Geoff and Bridgette.
"I think he really likes you, Bridge," Gwen said. "He couldn't stay away from you!"
"You're forgetting that he danced with you, too," Bridgette reminded her.
"Yeah, for one song! He was with you the rest of the night," Gwen pointed out. "Except when he was talking to Duncan. I can't believe the only nice thing he had to say about Courtney was that she's hot!"
"Ugh, he's the worst!" Heather said. "Even if he had asked you to dance, please tell me you would have said no."
"Definitely!" Courtney said without hesitation. "He's the most repulsive boy I've ever met. And he stole a mug! Isn't he supposed to be rich? Why couldn't he just buy one?" The girls all agreed.
"Have you talked to Geoff since Saturday night?" Gwen asked Bridgette.
"Not really," she replied, disappointment in her voice. "We had a brief conversation at lunch yesterday and again this morning but it's so hard when everyone else is always around."
"Well in that case we'll have to get you some alone time," Heather decided. The other three looked at her in confusion.
"How?" Courtney asked.
"Girls, time for gossip is over!" Miss O'Halloran said to them. "I know you're still excited from the party on Saturday night but now is the time for work!"
"You aren't telling Noah off!" Heather complained.
"Yes but at least Noah is reading," Miss O'Halloran said.
"Miss O'Halloran!" Sierra called from the front of the room.
"I told you, call me Blaineley!" Miss O'Halloran reminded her before walking over to help. Heather looked at Sierra, coming up with a plan.
"I think I have an idea," she said, and with that she returned to her work, leaving the other girls wondering what the plan was.
That afternoon when school had finished, Heather, Bridgette and Courtney had arranged to have afternoon tea at the Meryton Cafe, a popular spot in town that required a reservation at least a month in advance. Courtney and Bridgette were in their dorm getting ready when Heather showed up holding a cup of tea.
"Heather!" Courtney greeted her, then noticed the mug she was holding. "What's that?" Heather grinned.
"Oh, you know, just some tea I thought I'd give to Bridgette. I invited Geoff to afternoon tea so I thought you might like to settle the nerves a bit." Bridgette took the mug hesitantly.
"Gee, thanks Heather..." she said, taking a sip. She grimaced at the taste but swallowed it anyway, not wanting to seem impolite.
"Well make sure you drink it all up now! Don't want those nerves making you say the wrong thing," Heather encouraged her. Bridgette finished the tea and, after taking the last gulp, clutched her stomach.
"I don't feel well," she groaned.
"Oh no! Oh and I was so looking forward to afternoon tea!" Heather said fakely, clearly pleased with how this was working out. They were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Right on time!" Heather opened the door to see Geoff.
"Hey are we ready to go?" he said.
"Unfortunately Bridgette has fallen ill, so we may have to stay here and take care of her!" Heather said sadly. "Such a shame. I was really looking forward to having afternoon tea with Courtney!" Geoff looked at Bridgette sympathetically.
"Well maybe I could look after her while you guys go out?" Geoff suggested. Heather immediately lightened up.
"Brilliant! See you Bridge! Come on Courtney." Courtney and Heather left the dorm and headed off to the cafe.
"Where did you get that tea?" Courtney asked Heather. Heather smiled.
"When Sierra was trying to get Cody to like her I remembered hearing her say something about 'Love Me' tea. Remember when Cody was sick for those two weeks last year?" Courtney nodded. "It was the tea Sierra was giving him. So I asked her if she had any left and if I could have some." Heather shrugged happily.
"You're so evil," Courtney told her, shaking her head.
When Heather and Courtney returned from their outing, Courtney found that Bridgette and Geoff weren't in her dorm. She went to his, knowing that's where they would have gone, and knocked on the door. She was greeted by a very sour-faced Dakota. She plastered a smile on her face.
"Oh, how nice to see you!" she said kindly, despite the fact that she had been nothing but rude to Courtney and her friends on Saturday night. "What would you like?" Courtney eyed her suspiciously.
"I'd like to see Bridgette. I have reason to believe she's here." Dakota kept the smile on her face as she opened the door. Bridgette was in one of the beds (presumably Geoff's since Duncan was sitting on the other, whittling a piece of wood) and Geoff was in a chair next to her, holding her hand. When he saw Courtney he stood up and Courtney sat in his place.
"What was in that tea Heather gave me?" Bridgette asked faintly. Courtney smiled at her sympathetically.
"Who knows? She got it from Sierra..." They both laughed. Courtney turned to Geoff. "Why is she here?"
"She had to use the bathroom and my dorm was closer on the way back," he explained. Courtney nodded. Dakota sat next to Duncan, seeming impatient for both Courtney and Bridgette to leave.
"Are you feeling better?" Courtney asked Bridgette. Bridgette nodded.
"Slightly," she said.
"You're welcome to stay here until she's completely better," Geoff told her. Courtney did this and her, Duncan, Geoff and Dakota talked about the school and the people they had met so far. Courtney found that her first impression of Duncan had been right, and he was completely arrogant and only spoke when spoken to, however he did seem to keep looking at Courtney when he thought she didn't notice. Dakota seemed a lot more pleasant, despite her rudeness on Saturday night. She didn't allow Courtney to tease Duncan for his arrogance, but aside from a strange admiration for Duncan Dakota was lovely. Geoff, as expected, was a delight, and when Bridgette was well enough to happily join in the conversation he offered to walk Courtney and Bridgette back to their dorm. Bridgette politely declined and the girls gossiped about him on their walk back.
When they arrived at their dorm, they opened the door to find Heather sitting on Bridgette's bed.
"How did you get in here?" Courtney asked, as Heather didn't have a key. Heather grinned up at them. She ignored Courtney's question.
"Cody and Sierra broke up," she announced. Courtney groaned.