When I first started this story, I was sure of the direction I was going in. However, I found myself really liking the pairing of John and Vanessa, so now I'm torn. Guess we'll just have to see what happens

Vanessa stood in the kitchen cutting up cheese before the girls arrived. They decided instead of going out; they were all just going to lounge around and gossip. Vanessa's phone rang just as she put the plate in the refrigerator.

"Hello."

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's not a good idea to answer the phone with your mouth full?" Vanessa rolled her eyes as she swallowed her food.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you are a grade A ass?"

"Sara tells me that every morning, darling'. What are you doing?" Vanessa moved in the living room and started folding up her blanket.

"Not much, deadman. Just waiting for the girls to get here. What's up with you?"

"Getting ready to take to girl's to gymnastics."

"The parents must love it when you roll up with the girls. That's got to be a sight to see."

Mark and Vanessa talked a little while longer and made plans to go out to dinner once they got back on the road. Just as she was hanging up, there was a knock on the door.

"Damn, Steph, how much do you plan on drinking?" She opened the door a little wider as Stephanie struggled to get in while holding a box full of liquor and her massive handbag.

"It's rare for me to have one day sans hubby and child, so I plan on enjoying myself." Vanessa went to close the door, but was stopped by the appearance of Trish and Lisa.

The girls all went in the kitchen to make their drinks and grab some food. Once everything was set up, the girl's sat around the counter and started talking.

"I heard that Barbie got caught fooling around with Kevin the other night."

"Oh, I'm sure Andrew is going to love that one."

"What did you expect from a naïve twenty year old? Why did you dad hire her in the first place?"

"Cause she is a naïve twenty year old."

Lisa reached over to grab a piece of celery. "Dawn called me the other day."

Dawn Marie was a diva before she decided that she wanted to be a mother. Stephanie still held some resentment towards her father for the way he let her go. Vanessa never got the chance to know Dawn, but from the stories she heard; she knew that they would have been fast friends.

"How's she doing?"

"She's good. The baby's good. She actually called because she got a babysitter and she was going to stop by when we go to Jersey next week. But she wasn't sure if it was going to be a problem cause of the lawsuit and everything."

Stephanie waved her hand. "Don't worry about Dad; I'll take care of him. Just tell her that we can't wait to see her. Nessa, you'll love her; she is a lot like you."

"Can't wait to meet her."

Stephanie looked up and offered Vanessa a smile. "Guess what I heard?"

"What?"

"I heard after that little lunch between you and Dave, him and Rebecca had a massive fight."

"How do you know that?"

"Cause Dave came over that night and stayed. I overheard Dave and Paul talking about it. He said that he had too much shit on his mind to even think about dealing with her. So what exactly happened at the lunch that had him completely confused?"

Vanessa loved her girls, she really did. She just didn't think that she was ready to tell them how she threw her heart at Dave that day.

"Nothing much. Just got some things off my chest."

Trish was quiet as everyone around her talked. She had to tell Ness something but she wasn't really sure how to approach the topic.

"Hey Ness."

"Yeah?"

"Just a quick question. How serious are things becoming between you and John?"

Vanessa thought for a minute before answering. "I'm not really sure if it is all that serious. I mean, we are having a lot of fun together but we don't have labels or anything."

"So if there was to be someone else that liked him, it wouldn't bother you?"

"What are you saying, Stratus? Are you trying to leave Randy for John or something? Vanessa laughed.

"Of course not. Yesterday, I had a photo shoot and Maria happened to be there. She let it slip that she had a slight crush on John and that she was going to ask him out. That's why I was wondering."

Vanessa sat down her drink and thought for a moment. She and John didn't have a specific definition for what they were doing. She wasn't sure if she wanted to be in a relationship. She also wasn't sure if she wanted John to be in one with someone who wasn't her. She knew things were just too good to be true. She really couldn't blame Maria. Other than the people in the room and Randy; no one else knew about her and John's arrangement. She looked over to the three sets of eyes staring at her and shrugged her shoulders.

"I guess if that's what John wants, then I would just have to deal with it." The girls looked back and forth between one another. They weren't really sure if they believed Vanessa or not. However, past experience told them that they probably wouldn't get more out of her anytime soon.

"So, anyone watch American Idol last night?" Vanessa quickly asked, hoping to change the subject. The girls continued on with their conversation and left the subject of John and Maria alone.

Dave sat in his living room while the radio played in the background. Truth be told, he had been mentally fucked up since having lunch with Vanessa. He couldn't believe that she just walked away like that. It also didn't go unnoticed by Dave that she had been doing everything in her power to avoid running in to him. He thought about going to the house to see her, but he wasn't exactly sure what he was going to say. Why couldn't she have said something earlier? This would have made things so much easier.

He looked up to see Rebecca with her hands on her hips.

"Yes?"

"What the hell's your problem? You have been walking around in a funk for a week now and I am starting to get sick of it."

Dave pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't realize until now exactly how annoying the young woman was. "Rebecca, if you don't like my attitude, you have a home. A nice one, at that. You always have the option of going there."

Rebecca felt offended. "Are you telling me that you don't want me here?"

"I'm telling you to do whatever it takes to make you happy. If you are not happy around me and my attitude, you are more than welcome to leave."

Rebecca stared at Dave for a couple of minutes before tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Fine, I'm leaving and I'm not coming back until I get the apology I deserve."

Dave heard her grab her keys and storm out the door. He got up to pour himself a drink.

"Don't hold your breath for that apology sweetheart." Dave said to himself as he sat back down.