I loved the reviews. And, sorry for the wait. I swear it is worth it. This chapter will make up for everything. I promise.

Disclaimer: I don't own. Does it really surprise you?

"What did you do to him?" Denise asked me, seeing as Shane came home in a perfectly good mood. He ate dinner without a rude remark. Then, he showered, watched a bit of TV, and fell asleep on the couch around nine. I shrugged my shoulders.

"She gave him a love potion," Gabe crooned from the table in the kitchen where he was sipping hot chocolate. Denise smiled at me like my mom had earlier this morning. I blushed, and turned away from her.

"All done Gabe?" Denise asked her son, as he smiled and handed his cup over. She went over to the sink.

"Come on, Gabe. I'll give you a piggy-back ride to your room," I offered, as Denise smiled at me. Gabe jumped on my back, as Denise started to clean out the cup. I ran up the stairs, and discarded Gabe on his bed. He insisted that I didn't need to tuck him in, but I did need to get the light on the way out. I did.

I walked into my room, as Caitlyn and Sierra were gossiping on the air bed. They both stopped talking when I walked in the room, and just stared at me. They stared at me with wicked smiles on their faces. It was creeping me out. I pretended not to notice as I padded across the floor to my bed. I glanced over my shoulder. Still keeping up the creepy act. I grabbed a towel, and left my room without a glance back in their direction.

---

"So, what was the staring about earlier?" I asked Sierra, seeing as Caitlyn fell asleep on the one airbed. I was brushing my wet hair out in the mirror, so it didn't tangle as much.

"Nothing," Sierra not-so-innocently said, with a coy smile on her face. I rolled my eyes.

"Really? Cause it seemed like a whole lot of something," I said, trying to get her to tell me. It was obviously something.

"Just wondering how you made Shane so goddamn happy when he got back," Sierra quickly whispered, but I still caught every word of it. I turned around, my mouth hanging in shock.

"What scenarios did you two come up with?" I asked, not really wanting to know. But, curiosity killed that cat. She didn't want to answer. I placed my brush on my dresser, and sat down next to her on the airbed.

"Well, some were very reasonable… and some were completely out there," Sierra alluded to an actual answer. I moaned, burying my head in my hands. It didn't sound promising.

"Can I know one of each?" I asked, peeking through my fingers. She bit her lip. Wasn't looking too good.

"You sure?" Sierra half-heartedly asked. I contemplated whether I really wanted to know for a minute before slowly nodding my head.

"A bit. I want to know how crazy my friends are," I said, laughing. Then, I added in a soft tone, "And, I want to prove you wrong."

"Well, you told him your heart was his," Sierra said, silently laughing. I laughed along. My heart is confused, and all over at the moment.

"Sorry, nope," I said, provoking her to keep going. She rolled her eyes up as if she was thinking.

"Hotsteamysex," Sierra breezed through. I thought my eyes were going to bug out of my head.

"Sierra," I squealed. I was in complete shock. I let out a small chuckle. She tilted her head downward, letting her curls cover her face.

"Well, there you go. One reasonable, and one not," Sierra mumbled. I still couldn't get over the things they came up with. I could only imagine what else could have crossed their minds. But, I'm sure whatever it was, it was nothing like what really happened at the lake.

"And, which one was the reasonable one?" I questioned, seeing as how neither of those scenarios would have happened. Sierra looked at me like I had three heads. I cleared my throat, "It's just I wouldn't do either of those. Sorry."

"I didn't say they were realistic, just more reasonable," Sierra softly offered. I shook my head at her.

"You two are gross," I come to the conclusion, as I grouped Caitlyn into the entire situation, "And, I need to sleep on it."

"Fine," Sierra sighed, as she fixed her little airbed. I turned off my light, and walked across to my room. Only ten thirty and I was in bed… during the summer. Well, it was a long day. Too many emotions. I needed a nice break.

---

I woke up around three thirty needing something to drink. I rubbed my eyes, and tried to not step on anyone on the airbeds. I quietly padded down the stairs, and into the living room. I looked over at the couches where he boys were sleeping; someone was snoring. I giggled as I made my way into the kitchen. I didn't bother flicking the switch as I filled a small glass with water.

I drank my water silently, while looking at the moon and stars out the window over the sink. I gulped down the last bit, and placed my cup in the sink. I started to walk out of the kitchen, and back to bed. I walked into someone. I nearly screamed; but, the person covered my mouth. My hand fumbled for the kitchen light. I got it.

Shane.

"Dammit Shane," I mumbled, when his hand left my mouth. I stepped back into the kitchen. My eyes adjusted to the light.

"Well, sorry for needing a drink Princess Mitchie," Shane sarcastically said. He hit my shoulder as he walked past me. I huffed. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed; err, couch.

"Excuse me," I said, placing my hands on my hips. I even popped one hip out for extra attitude, "Princess?"

"Yes," Shane said as he filled a glass of water from the tap, "You walk around acting like you should get everything on a silver platter."

"It's my house. I can think that," My voice rose a bit as I tried to give him lip back. It didn't work too much.

Shane didn't say anything in response. He swallowed the entire cup of water in one huge gulp. He angrily placed his glass in the sink. Now, my cup from earlier had some company. I wasn't sure what to do. So, I tried to casually lean against the wall. He turned towards me.

"You know, I don't know what is up with you and your attitude, but you need to drop it," I said, undoubtedly sounding like a mom. I didn't care. He looked me over, and turned off the kitchen light.

"I can't just drop the attitude," Shane said, taking a few steps towards me. He sounded troubled. I suddenly wanted to take him into my arms, and tell him everything would be okay. He coughed before continuing, "Is there somewhere we can go to talk, where we won't have a chance of waking people up?"

"Sure," I said, walking past him. I turned down the hallway that led to the garage. I walked into the computer room. I turned on the light; he followed and closed the door behind us. "Better?"

"Much," He said, collapsing into my green beanie bag. I curled up in the large desk chair. I glanced at the clock; three forty seven.

"So, why can't you just drop the attitude?" I asked, getting the conversation back on track.

"Because the last person I trusted with everything I had, threw it right out the window," Shane said, his voice sounding angry. I winced. Ouch.

"What happened?" I said, my voice ringing with the utmost concern. Shane looked as if he didn't know whether to tell me or not.

"I haven't told anyone this, not even Nate or Jason. They deserve to know, but I just couldn't break them like he broke me," Shane said, sounding as if he wanted to cry. He looked too meek and alone sitting over there.

"Do you need a hug?" I asked. He nodded, so I rolled over to the corner where the bean bag was. I dropped from the chair, onto the little spot next to him. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and squeezed tight.

"My dad is with some blonde bimbo," Shane dropped the bomb after much hesitation.

"It's gonna be okay," I whispered, remembering everything from third grade. I almost started crying right then and there. I let out a shaky breath.

"It's just I heard my mom and dad talking about…" Shane drifted off, as I rested my head on his shoulder.

"About what?" I said, biting my lip and rubbing his back. I was going to pull myself together for him. He obviously couldn't handle this on his own. I already knew what he was going to say, which was the hardest word for any kid to say.

"Getting a divorce," Shane said, continuing right where he left off. He buried his head into my shoulder. He let out a few shaky breaths before his shoulders started shaking.

"You'll make it out alive. It's not that bad," I lied. It was horrible. It was the worst feeling I'd ever been put through.

"No," Shane squeaked, and then hiccupped. He was crying. If only he knew it would be the first time of several times he would cry himself to sleep.

"Shhhh," I said, rubbing his bed head. I didn't know what else to do. My previous best friend, now frenemy / crush was crying in my arms.

"What happened to your dad?" Shane asked after a bit, and he sort of got his composure back. He said those words in the gentlest voice, but I still broke down.

I sat there, tears seeping from my eyes. Shane had just stopped crying. I could see his concerned, and panicked blurry face through the tears. He moved my hair from my face, and wiped a stray tear. Neither of us said a word; just let our actions do the talking. His thumb felt soothing on my cheek.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to –" Shane said, as I collapsed into his chest. I shook my head.

"You didn't know," I said into Shane's chest, before I lifted my head, being strong, "He left in third grade. I haven't seen him since. I try not to think about it much."

Shane didn't say a thing in response. He just sat there, looking sorry for me. He pulled me into him, rubbing my back. It was comforting. I hadn't talked about my dad since I told Sierra in third grade. I skipped Fathers Day things in school, and my mom never mentioned him. It was one of those things.

"It just hurts because he was let me down. He told me he didn't care," I said, pretty much opening the wounds in my heart. I had stopped crying, but I still had tears brimming in my eyes. Shane let me go, but kept me at arms length.

"If it means anything… I care," Shane whispered in the softest voice, before moving closer to me. His lips hit mine. Shane stole away my first kiss at nearly four in the morning.

EEK! Was that as amazing for you as it was for me to write? Yes? I think you should tell me by clicking that green button. I mean, they kissed. Awesome, right?