Thanks for reviewing, Ali6132, Michelle Rita (that's what I was going for), and Shelly Marsh (Courtney is irrational at the best of times and sees Brooklyn as a pawn, so she gets unreasonably angry when things don't work out the way she wanted).

When I was finally allowed out, everyone was in the main room. Gwen had, again, taken the responsibility of letting me out. Courtney was typing something out on an electronic device, shooting glares at Duncan frequently, who was stretched out on one of the couches, eyes closed, listening to music through headphones that was so loud I could hear it. Alejandro appeared to be on his way out, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't want to have to face him, not after what happened.

Scott was on the other sofa. His expression was of frustration, but the minute he saw me, his eyes lit up. Before he spoke, I wordlessly joined him on the sofa. He immediately put his arm around my shoulders. It was like since the kiss, we didn't really have to say anything. We knew we were more than...whatever we were before. We weren't friends, exactly, but I guess we'd describe our relationship as more than friends.

Duncan opened his eyes, and pulled off his headphones for a moment when he saw me. "Gwen, you'll watch her, right?"

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Since we've nearly got what we want, I don't think she's going to make another run, but yes, I'm watching her."

Courtney looked up and snapped "Why don't you ever ask me to watch her? I'm the one who found her! Don't you think I'd be able to keep her?"

Duncan raised half of his unibrow. "I was just under the impression you didn't want to watch her."

"I don't!" said Courtney furiously. "But you always ask Gwen! What makes her better than me?"

A smirk appeared on Duncan's face. "Nothing. I always stick my friends with the chores, not the chicks who I think are really hot."

Courtney huffed and turned back to her device. Duncan pulled his headphones back on.

"That means she didn't get the answer she wanted, but she'll settle for the one she did get." Scott whispered to me. "Courtney is getting really annoying now...but I still think she's kind of pretty when she's mad." He shrugged, and then turned his full attention to me. "You know, I missed you, sweetheart. I had a question I wanted to ask you."

I smiled a little. "What was that?"

Scott grinned back. "First, it's nice that you can smile again. And second..." he paused, muttering to himself. "I screwed it up when I asked Courtney, I have to do it right..." He looked back up at me, and finally asked "Will you...um...date me?"

I looked at the boy. He was far from the kind of guy I'd dreamt about. Sneaky, a bit sadistic (he enjoys arguments - seriously), manipulative with using people's secret feelings against them...but he'd never done that to me. He knew my secrets from my file, and didn't once use them against me. He'd talked to me normally, told me stuff I actually wanted to know. I actually felt safe when he put his arm around me, and he'd made my first kiss an experience that left me wishing for another.

I looked up at him shyly. "Yes. Yes, I will."

That was it. Scott suddenly jumped up and spun me around before kissing me again ."You said yes!" he crowed. "I can't believe it! I never thought a rich kid like you would ever say it, even if you did like me, but you did!"

I couldn't help a little scowl. "Rich kid doesn't mean snob. I don't care what status you are in life, as long as you treat me with the respect I deserve."

"Of course!" Scott said, his dark blue eyes sincere. "I know what I'm doing this time."

Courtney looked up and said "Well, maybe this time at least, you'll be able to say 'girlfriend' and 'boyfriend' at the appropriate times."

"Like how I can say that Brooklyn is now my GIRLfriend?" Scott shot back. He looked at me. "Would you prefer me to call you by name?"

I shrugged. "I don't mind. To be honest, I've gotten used to you calling me 'sweetheart'."

"Well, that's how it's going to stay, then. I have to say, I've gotten used to calling you that."

At that moment, some familiar music started playing. I recognized it immediately – it was just a pop song, but it meant something.

"Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, so here's my number..." That was my ringtone. I know, "Call Me Maybe" was the most cliché song I could've picked, but I didn't care.

And sure enough, Courtney pulled my phone out of her pocket, checked the caller ID, and answered, holding a voice box to change her voice. "Hello...yes...yes...all right, in cash...yes, of course...okay." She held out the phone to me. "Answer it, and say you're okay."

"Hello?" I said into the phone.

"Brooklyn?" It was my dad's voice. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine." I said. "Uh-huh...yeah, they promised to take me back to school once they have the cash...I want to go straight back, really. I want to get back to normal...really? Well, can I at least stay until the end of the semester? It's in two months...okay, I promise I won't leave school premises on day trips. Bye."

According to the phone call, I was going to have to start at a new private girls' school closer to home. This kidnapping thing was so scary that my parents didn't want me to stay at Rosseau Lakes. But they were going to let me finish out tenth grade as long as I didn't leave the school itself, and then I'd start eleventh grade at a day school.

Courtney was actually smiling. She seemed genuinely pleased. "Tomorrow." she said happily. "We get the money tomorrow, and the day after that..." she couldn't take the smile off her face.

Gwen smiled slightly. She looked over at me. "Well, I guess I better give you the cover story now."

"Cover story?" I remembered Duncan saying something about that. "Can't I just say I was taken away by two guys, around thirty, who wore balaclavas every time I saw them, and I was kept in a dark cramped room every day, only given the bare minimum to survive by. Then when they let me go, they basically blindfolded me, drove me there, and dropped me outside, and I barely even got a good look at them before they drove off again, and I didn't even know what the vehicle looked like."

Gwen smirked. "Funny, that was pretty much the same as the cover story I made up for you. You missed the bit about having to use a bucket to go to the bathroom, and having no shower, but I think you'll have an easy time when you're questioned."

I didn't say anything, but silently, I worried about said questioning. I could make that up, sure, but I didn't know if I could lie convincingly. I hated lying and usually didn't do it. As a result, when I did, everyone could usually tell. There was only one thing I could do instead of lying, and that was – avoid. That was what I'd have to do. If I told the truth, I'd be really vague. Names, hair colour, possible age and that was it. I didn't know where we were, or anyone's last name, so at least I didn't know enough to help them.

What would happen when I finally got to go home?

What indeed? Stay tuned – it's far from over!