Authors note: So, yeah, it's been ages.

Sorry about that.

Problem was I started reading too much fanfiction, and ended up with a massive inferiority complex, and then just couldn't be happy enough with this chapter to put it out there. I am still not happy with it, but basically decided to suck it up and post it, just to get it done and move on.

I think I need to think less.

Chapter 11: Preparations

Caleb dropped me off at the dorms and I wandered into our room a couple of minutes later, still smiling from our time together.
I was barely a step into the room when I was pounced on by Kate
"FINALLY!" She exclaimed "I didn't think you'd get here in time to get ready!"

I rolled my eyes.

"Oh God Kate, we're not going to do this again are we?" I asked.
"Just give in Jade. Resistance is futile" Kate instructed.

I rolled my eyes again.

"Stop that and put these on" She handed me a pile of clothes including my boots and the skirt I'd tried on the night before.
I took the clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.

It took nearly an hour before Kate was satisfied with our appearance. I had made the foolish mistake of telling Kate what Caleb had said about the pants just when we had agreed (ok, she had chosen) an outfit for me, and she changed the whole look as a result, bringing out a pair of tight straight leg dark denim jeans and mumbling something that involved the words "hot" and "ass". Slightly worrying, but I was at the point of just smiling and nodding to any of her suggestions so I could just get out of there, and back to Caleb.

Sigh.

"So what's the plan?" I asked, painting on a final coat of clear lip gloss. "Caleb said something about 'Nicky's'" Kate smirked.
"It's the Saturday night hang out of choice" she explained, oh so helpfully.
"There's music, dancing, pool, fooseball. All that stuff'" she elaborated. I smiled. It sounded fun. Kate's phone beeped and she retrieved it from its spot on the dressing table.
"Tyler and Reid are going to drive us" she informed me. "They'll be here in 5".
I was sitting on the edge of my bed kicking my feet and waiting for Kate to finish her hair when there was a knock on the door, followed almost immediately by the door bursting open and Reid coming in.

"Oh, you're dressed" he said, his voice full of disappointment.

Kate rolled her eyes at him in the mirror
"I told you we were dressed and just putting on makeup when you rang 5 minutes ago" she stated dryly.
"I know, I can dream though…" he joked.

I whipped out the much abused eye roll one more time.

Reid saw my expression and ran across the room, snatching me up off the bed and chucking me over his shoulder.
"Enough from you smarty pants"
He slapped my butt.
"Or rather sexy pants!" he leered.

I wriggled around and pinched him on his side
"Put me down you big oaf!" I giggled, laughing as he chucked me on the bed. In a rare moment of coordination I managed to bounce off the bed and land on my feet.

"Let's get this show on the road Ladies!" Tyler called from where he was lounging in the open doorway. I grabbed my purse and jacket and ducked under Tyler's arm and out the door, while Reid wrestled Kate away from the mirror and her last minute primping.

"Good things take time Reid!" she complained dabbing on another touch of lip gloss, before being dragged out by her wrist.

"Stop pretending you're a good girl Kate!" Reid shot back.