**Author's Note: Wow, this is my tenth chapter. I'm very proud of myself for keeping this up. I plan to continue too. But please keep reading. Also, if anyone has any ideas just email them to me... stagestar_01@yahoo.com and I will consider them.

Chapter Ten: More Similarities

"You're parents seem really nice Shawn." Tabi looked back to see Mr. and Mrs. Brady watching them.

"They are. I just can't stand it when they spy on me like they are now."

"How can you tell? You aren't even looking at them."

"Cause I know my parents. I'm right aren't I?"

"Yes." She laughed and felt him squeeze her hand. That made her smile. She couldn't believe how dramatically her life had changed over the last month and a half. First, her parents, well foster parents, had died and Tabi truly thought it was the end of her happiness forever. Then she finds out about her real mother and twin sister and goes to live with them. She had been nervous about what it would be like, moving again, this time for good. But it had helped her a lot already. She couldn't believe that she seemed to have friends, and now a boyfriend. It was all happening so fast. She was still hurt by the events of her parents but maybe Chloe and Belle were right, maybe it wasn't her fault. Shawn noticed the look on Tabi's face and squeezed her hand.

"It's Okay baby, I promise. Whatever it is can't be that bad." He couldn't believe the attraction he felt to this girl. He had never believed in the whole love at first sight idea until he saw her. He wasn't sure if this was love but he knew it could end up being so. True, he didn't know much about her and she didn't know much about him but he felt they were connected in a way that most people never were. When he looked in her eyes he could see her soul. It was different from his relationship with Belle. He had grown to love her slowly, over many years. He had been devastated when she dumped him for Philip but seeing Tabi helped him move on. Now, he no longer wished to rekindle his relationship with her. He still loved Belle, he always would, he was just no longer in love with her. Shawn laughed at the thought because it was so trite. He never thought he'd use it himself. The only thing he was afraid of was kissing Tabi. He didn't know how to act physically towards her. They'd known each other two days, and he knew he rushed asking her out. But she'd said yes and surprised him. However, he didn't want to kiss her if he might scare her away. He wanted to get to know her better first. Shawn was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize it when Tabi stopped until he ran smack into Jason.

"Hey man, watch where you're going will ya?"

"Oh, sorry Jase, I wasn't paying attention."

"No, really?" Jason said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But then again, if I had such a beautiful girl at my side I'd be distracted too." He smiled at Tabi and Shawn felt a flare of jealousy course through him. Jason's words from earlier echoed in his head, 'and then the added fact that I like someone else' Could it be that he liked Tabi? He placed an arm protectively around her waist. "Hey, is that one of your dad's famous cheeseburgers? Hey Meems, let's go grab something to eat." Mimi looked a little confused at his invitation but followed him anyway. As they left Belle walked up.

"Hey, you guys ready to start the fun?"

Tabi looked at her warily. "What fun?" Just then, Chloe stepped onto the stage that was set up in the yard. She tapped the mike and cleared her throat.

"Can I have everyone's attention please?" Slowly everyone gathered at got quiet. "Thank you. As a way to welcome everyone back and have some fun, I'd like to invite you to participate in our Karaoke contest. Behind me is Katie, the Karaoke Queen. She has in her left hand a box, containing slips of paper with everyone's name on one of them. She will pull out a name and that person will come up, pick a song and sing it. Sounds easy enough? Alright. Katie, what's the first name?"

"Miss Jan Spears. Jan, will you come up please." There was silence and then, from the

back of the crowd came that piercing voice.

"No." People laughed at Jan's blatant denial.

"Oh, Jan's scared because she can't sing." Now the crowd laughed at her. She began to fume.

"I am NOT scared Jason Welles! I can sing better than anyone here." She stalked forward and climbed onto the stage. "In honor of my last name, put on Britney Spears' "Crazy"." The music started and Jan began to sing, well, actually you really couldn't call it singing. It was more like squawking. Tabi tried to stifle her giggles but it wasn't working. She turned and buried her head in Shawn's shoulder. He automatically wrapped his arms around her. Slowly, she was unable to hear Jan, all she could think of was how great it was to be in Shawn's arm. She breathed in and could smell him. He didn't have cologne on so his smell was natural, it was a mixture of the laundry detergent his mother used and a different, more manly smell. She felt him lean his head down and kiss her on the head. In response to that she squeezed him tighter. She hadn't told him but he was her first boyfriend. She was always "one of the guys" and not girlfriend material. Not that she minded being one of the guys, she loved it actually, but now she felt so...inexperienced. She had kissed boys before, she was used as "practice" for all of her guy friends, but she'd never been kissed before. She was actually glad Shawn hadn't kissed her yet. She wanted to get to know him better first. Finally, Jan finished to a round of meager applause.

"Alright, thank you Jan. Next up, Belle Black." Belle sang a song by Jessica Simpson. She was pretty good. Tabi smiled at how nervous her new friend seemed onstage. Slowly, people took their turns and no one backed down. Finally, the last name was pulled. "Tabitha Cole." Tabi walked up to the stage apprehensively. Chloe had just sung and was amazing. She had chosen one of Tabi's favorites, "Memory" from Cats. "What song would you like dear?"

"Do you have "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera?" Katie nodded and stuck it in as Tabi walked up to the mic. The music started and Tabi closed her eyes, not needing to look at the words, and began to sing. Too late she forgot that there was a male part in the song but as she stopped she heard a voice ringing out.

Can it be? Can it be Christine? Bravo! What a change, you're really not a bit the gawkish girl that once you were. She may not remember me but I remember her.

It was Brady, he had saved her. She picked it back up and finished the part, hitting the high B flat perfectly. There was a huge round of applause as she descended from the stairs. "Well, it looks as if the Wesley's have two talented singing daughters. That was amazing Tabi." Brady hugged her.

"Thanks, and thanks for saving me back there."

"Hey, no problem. If you'll excuse me though I have to talk to Katie. Besides, I think someone else wants your attention right now." Shawn had come up and as Brady left her grabbed her in a huge hug.

"You just get more wonderful by the minute. That was...Wow!" She laughed. "Are you laughing at me, Ms. Cole?"

"Yes." She hugged him again and then she heard her name again.

"Tabitha? Will you come back up here please? Chloe? You too." She met gazes with Chloe across the lawn and saw her shrug. They walked up to the stage and Katie and Brady addressed them privately. "Brady asked me to call you up to see if you were interested in singing "Angel of Music" together?" The two girls exchanged glances and nodded. "Now, who will sing what?"

"I can sing alto if you want. I don't care. You can be Christine." Tabi really didn't care which part she sang, she just loved to sing.

"No, you were just Christine, the people need consistency. I'll sing Meg, I don't care."

"Well, neither do I."

"Hey, girls. Stop not fighting. Just decide. No, you never will. Um, Tabi sing Christine, Chloe, sing Meg. OK?"

"Sure, that's fine." Chloe shrugged.

"Whatever" Tabi shrugged.

"OK, well, go ahead." He walked up to the mic. "Salem's new resident twins would like to sing again for you...if you don't mind." The huge roar of applause showed they didn't. "OK then, Tabitha Cole and Chloe Lane, singing "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera" The girls sang together with perfect harmony. When they finished they just stood there, smiling. Brady ran up and grabbed Chloe. "You did it again! You sang from the heart. Gosh, I love you." Chloe was shocked by his admission.

"Do you really?"

"Yes, I have for awhile. I love you Chloe Lane."

"I...I love you too, Brady Black." He kissed her which led to a chorus of catcalls from the audience. Chloe pulled him close and whispered to him. "Let's find somewhere to be alone." Brady didn't need to be asked again. He took her hand and led her off stage. Belle, Philip and Shawn came running up to Tabi.

"Wow, that was great...I thought you were both good on your own but together. Wow! To think, two of my friends are opera start material." Tabi began to blush. Shawn stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. In doing so his hands brushed the soft skin of her flat stomach...the results of this caused him to move backwards.

"You were wonderful, baby."

"Thanks."

"Well," Philip said "Do you all want to hang out at my place later...like everyone, us four, Chloe and Brady, and maybe Mimi and Jason? And then, Belle, you can tell Chloe something."

"I will" Belle really meant it too. She didn't want to lie to her best friend anymore, and she wanted to be open about her relationship with Philip. She just wasn't sure how to tell her. Tabi looked at Belle and could see what she was thinking written all over her face.

"Don't worry, you'll think of something. But, I'm up to hanging out, if Shawn is, heck, even if Shawn isn't."

"Hey! That's not nice." He tried to look hurt but ended up laughing. "But I'm in too, are we gonna watch a movie?"

"Yeah, that's what I was planning. Hey Belle, how much longer are we gonna stick around here?"

"Ummm, people are starting to leave. If we all help clean up it shouldn't be too long. You come with me to find Jason and Mimi and my parents. Tabi, you and Shawn go find Brady and Chloe, it won't be awkward for you." Tabi laughed and looked up at Shawn.

"Did you see which way they went?"

"I think they went that way. But I don't want to go over there because then I have to let go of you."

"You're pathetic."

"I know." Tabi laughed and managed to pull away from him. "But you forgive me right?" He gave her his best puppy dog look.

"Of course. You're lucky you're cute or that wouldn't work. Come on, let's go." She pulled out of Shawn's arms and began to walk, in search of her sister.