I waved my hands around and Pete moved aside. I tried to stand by myself, hoping I wasn't about to fall down again. And I could do it. I didn't fall, sway, anything! Pete was grinning smugly.

"What did you use?" I asked.

"It's this Pacific Island salve found only in the dense rainforests. I only have that one jar." He sat me back down and ran his hands up my leg and around my stomach. "They're still tense. You shouldn't walk that much."

Violet walked into the office at a very convenient moment. The moment I speak of is when Pete had his hands on my lower thigh. That happened to be under my skirt.

"Have you seen Cooper?" she asked, somewhat irritated.

"Uh, no." I replied. "Why, should I have?" I twitched uncomfortably, and Pete moved his hand off my leg.

"Aren't you two dating?" she asked, softening a little.

"No. No, no, no, no. I mean, Cooper's great, but uh, a little too perfect for me." I replied stiffly, grinning inwardly at Pete's expression.

"Well, what does that make me?" he asked sullenly.

"An annoying asshole."

He laughed. "And that's how you like 'em."

"If you say so."

Violet laughed with us. She seemed a lot more comfortable now that she knew I wasn't Cooper's secret lover. I think there's a bit more to the story, and I plan on figuring it out.

"Well, its about lunchtime. I'm hungry," Violet turned to leave. "You coming?" she asked us.

I nodded. Pete scooped me up and carried me to the door.

"Why is he carrying you?" Violet asked.

"Long story," I began. "One I don't care to remember. I think you can put me down now," I said to Pete.

"I don't want to risk anything," he answered.

"I'm not a gimp!" I squirmed

"I'm going to drop you, and I don't have anything for that in my quack medicine cabinet."

I stopped.

"Thank you." Violet opened the door and waited for us to walk through. Well, for Pete to walk through.

Pete set me down at the table and started bustling around, making lunch.

Violet leaned in my general direction. "Pete doesn't cook."

"I heard that!" he said. "And for your information, I am quite the cook."

I poked the sandwhich cautiously. "Ok, mighty sandwhich god, what is it?"

"Turkey, smarty pants."

I leaned back to Violet. "Then why is he cooking now?"

"I'm guessing it has something to do with you," she looked me up and down. "Such a guy magnet you are."

"Thanks, Yoda." I sipped my soda quietly. I was thinking quietly. Did he really feel guilty? I was inwardly amused.

Pete sat next to me and Violet. "Whatcha talking about?"

"Cooper's secret girlfriend," Violet said immediately. She raised her eyebrows at me, enough for me to notice, but not enough for Pete to catch on.

"Yeah, we just decided it has to be someone in the office," I nodded. "I mean, he doesn't really socialize with other people, right?"

Pete nodded. "Well, there's only Naomi and Charlotte, so—" he stopped.

"What?"

"I gotta go," he stood and went to leave.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To talk to Cooper."

"Who's gonna carry me to my office?" I called after him. He ran back in.

"You can walk. I just wanted to carry you." He smirked.

"I guess he knows who it is." I said, and Violet tilted her head to the side.

Then she stood up too. "I gotta go."

"What?"

"Its Charlotte."