A/N: Thanks as always for the reviews. I appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing


Chapter 7: Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Eva stood looking around at gala, drinking a soda.

"Eva Anne Riley, you are a vision," she turned and smiled seeing Mikey. She didn't mean to, and she knew she shouldn't be, but she couldn't help it, she was happy to see him.

"Hey," she said as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "I've been meaning to call, but,"

"Evie," he sighed, "don't lie." She smiled. "You feel weird."

"I don't know how to" she closed her eyes. "That night was"

"We were drunk," he said, "you were hurt and upset. I took advantage of that, and I'm sorry." She looked at him.

"How sorry?" She asked.

"Not sorry enough to wish it hadn't happened," he smiled. "But sorry enough to make sure it doesn't happen again." She smiled. "Eva, I miss you, and while having sex with you was amazing, I just miss my best friend."

"I miss you too." She said. They sat down.

"Have you talked to David?" He asked.

"A few times," she said softly. "You?"

"Yeah," he said. "You didn't tell him?" She shook her head. "Me neither. Are we cool?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Oh, except I didn't tell my parents, about David." He looked at her. "Just you know, FYI."

"Awesome," he said, taking a sip of his drink. "Lying to Cassie and Rick about the extent of our relationship. What is this? Two years ago?" She stuck her hand in her drink and flicked it at him.

"Tell me about California," she said. "I've been painting seascapes from memory."

"You're such a little freak, Evie," he shook his head.


Stephanie and Aaron sat on the couch watching a movie with Bella, Eddie, Elisa, Anne and Cal. Katrina Vanderbilt was curled in a ball on an arm chair, sleeping. Aaron started nuzzling her neck.

"Aaron," she pulled away. He looked at her. "Look where we are."

"We've made out while we were babysitting before," he said. "The first time we ever made out actually, we were watching Leslie. What's with you?"

"Leslie and Ellie can keep their mouths shut," she ground her teeth.

"Stephie," Anne looked at her. "What are you and Aaron whispering?"

"They're not whispering Anne," Bella said, "They're kissing. God, are you stupid?"

"Bella," Stephanie cautioned. Bella rolled her eyes and Steph sent Aaron an "I told you so" look. Then the movie ended. "OK, everyone up to bed." Cal raised his hand. "Cal, I told you, it's not school, you don't have to raise your hand."

"I don't want to sleep in Mommy's old room, the pictures five me nightmares." He said matter of factly.

"Good, right," Steph sighed. "Why don't you and Eddie go in Tommy's room? No scary pictures in there."

"OK," Cal nodded.

"Alright," she said and clapped, "upstairs, in pajamas, off to bed." They all filed out. She sighed and looked at Katrina. "She's too big for me to carry anymore."

"I've got her," Aaron said lifting her. She stirred and woke up. "Come on, Trina," he said, "bedtime."

"Thanks," Stephanie mouthed to him. He nodded and carried her upstairs. Once they knew they were all settled in, they moved to the couch and kissed a while.

"Steph," he whispered, "I was thinking that this weekend, we could," he slid his hands under her tee shirt.

"Aaron," she sighed and pulled away. "I don't know," she said.

"Baby, we always said we were just waiting for high school." He whispered. "So, we're in high school, let's just sneak away."

"We haven't seen or talked to each other in two months!" She said. "And now you want to have sex?" He looked at her. "Aaron, I'm not ready. I'm just starting to get my footing here and I love you but I'm not ready to change our relationship that way!"

"But you were ready to change it by moving across the country," he nodded. She closed her eyes. "Look, things haven't been great lately, my dad's been taking these six month cruises, and my mom's dating this guy," he said. "I can't even his from it all with you anymore." She looked at him.

"Aaron," she sighed, "what am I supposed to do? I'll be here for you if you let me." He looked at her. "I can't imagine anyone Taylor's dating being that bad." He frowned.

"I guess he's not bad, and she's happy, he sighed. "I'm just not ever going to get used to them not being together." She nodded.

"I hate playing this card," she whispered, "But you still have them both." He looked at her and kissed her softly.

"I know," he said, "It gets harder to count my blessings without you around."

"Because I have so few?" She asked.

"Because you're my number one," he whispered and kissed her again. "You're the best thing in my life Stephie, you always have been." She kissed him.

"Maybe when I come home for Thanksgiving," she said. He smiled. "Just not tonight, I'm not ready."

"OK," he nodded. "We'll wait." She kissed him.

"Besides, doing it on Jimmy's parent's basement couch," she scrunched her face. "Not sexy." He laughed. "Let's go upstairs and see if the party started."

"Oh joy," he said, as she pulled him to his feet, "tiny food and stolen booze with people who don't like me."

"First of all," she said. "They do like, or Julie and Jimmy do, the others don't know you." She kissed him.

"Julie likes me," he said. "Jimmy tolerates me, but he doesn't think I'm good enough for you, Bug." She nodded. "And TJ and Liz can't stand me, they never could."

"TJ and Liz don't like anyone," she said. "But Connie said you seemed really nice, and how did you and Reese get along?"

"She didn't do a whole lot of talking," he said. She laughed.


"I don't understand why you're not going," Lizzie said lounging on Tony's bed while he sat in a desk chair.

"Really?" He said. "You don't understand why I'm not going to the home of my father's first wife, who he left for my mother? You don't see how that will be awkward?"

"Its high society," she shrugged. "My uncle is going, and his ex girlfriend and her husband will be there, plus he slept with TJ's Aunt Kelly. Ana's really sweet, I doubt she'd call attention to you. And maybe you could talk to your brother and sister."

"Half brother and half sister," he said. "And I don't want to talk to them." She sat up and looked at him. "Why are you so on this?"

"Are you going to make a move on me?" She asked. He raised his eyebrows and looked at her.

"Um, I've thought about it," he stammered, "but I wasn't planning on it." She frowned.

"Why not?" She crossed her arms. "Is it Connie? You like her right?"

"No," he shook his head. "I don't think TJ would like it much." She crossed her arms. "Look, I know he's going out with Reese, but you two have something going on, I can tell."

"Believe me," she said, her voice getting sharp and her eyes narrow. "There is nothing between me and TJ!" He looked at her. "Nothing!"

"OK then," he said. "So you want me to go to this party as what, your date?"

"Or at least get drunk and try to grope me inappropriately," she nodded.

"There's booze there?" He said. She nodded. "So how are we getting over?"


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