By the time Sera and Tim arrived, the party was already in full swing.

Kayla wasted no time in greeting them.

"There's my girl. Oh hey Tim."

"Hey Kayla." Tim gave her his customary leer, which she ignored.

"Hey sweetie. How are you?" Serena asked giving Kayla a hug

"What's with you two? Devon asked as he joined his girlfriend at Sera's side. "You get

all giddy when you see each other.like spending two hours apart is an eternity."

"Didn't we tell you? We're carrying on a passionate affair behind your back." Kayla

said grinning at him.

Devon nodded and handed Kayla a drink. "Sweet. Promise to invite me next time you

hook up."

Sera rolled her eyes. "Charming. I'm going to run away now."

Tim tried to grab her arm to bring her back but she shooed him away. "I'm going to get

something to drink.you want anything?"

"Yeah, I'll come with you."

They made their way to the kitchen past several already intoxicated classmates. Reaching

their destination, Sera looked around a soda. Max had warned her what happened when

he had tried alcohol, and Serena wasn't about to tempt fate.

She located a Coke in the cooler and popped the top as Tim brought her a beer.

"No thanks."

"You're not drinking?"

"I just don't like beer."

"Oh, well...here: Rum, Jack Daniels, vanilla vodka, those all go well in Coke. Of

course now we just have to find the key to the liquor cabinet."

Sera shook her head. "I'm fine, Tim really."

"Well I wish I could convince you. I'm a lot more charming after you've had a few

drinks."

She laughed and pushed at his chest, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her close

to him, just as the back door opened and Kyle, Isabel, Max and Liz walked in.
Serena straighten immediately as she watched Kyle's eyes move from her face to Tim's
arm locked around her frame.

"Hi." She spoke to the group as a whole.

"Hey Sera. We were hoping to run into you." Liz said, moving past Kyle.

Sera smiled at her friend. "I'm glad you guys came. All of you, Hello Isabel."

Iz looked at her for a moment before offering a flat. "Hi." in return. "Kyle, let's go say

hello Rachel. It is her party after all."

"Hmm? Oh yeah sure." As he followed her out of the room he shoulder checked Tim

just enough to send a message.

Tim got it loud and clear. "Seems like Mr. Valenti is regretting his decision" he told

Sera as he rubbed his shoulder.
"What?"

"That 'touch her and you're dead' shoulder check screams that he wants you back

but can't articulate it."

"When did you become Sigmund Freud?"

"I've pissed off enough boyfriends in my time to recognize the non-verbal signs."

Serena shook her head and laughed.

***********

As the party progressed Sera noticed Max and Liz were running interference when she'd

let her gaze linger on Kyle. After the fourth time, Sera reddened and grinned at her

friends. "OK. I get it. Moping isn't allowed. So we dance?"

Liz smiled back and looked at Max.

"We dance." Max concurred taking his girlfriend's hand.

Devon popped a CD in Rachel's player and grabbed Kayla. The six of them made an

impromptu dance floor in the Forrester's living room. It didn't take long for most in

attendance to join in on the fun.

Liz waved as Maria made an entrance with Sean. (Michael categorically refused to come,

he even went so far as to ask Mr. Parker to give him an extra shift so he'd be able to

avoid the party without Maria freaking out too much.)

Sean made a beeline for Sera and scooped her in his arms.

"Sean! It's so good to see you." she said when he finally put her down.

"Hey gorgeous. Good to see you too."

"What are you doing here?"

"M didn't want to come alone and she really didn't want to go with the starry-eyed

duo over there, so she enlisted my help."

"And you came charging to the rescue! You're so gallant."

"Well how else am I supposed to pick up high school girls?"

"That is wrong on so many levels."

Sean laughed. "Oh I think I took you from your date here. He turned to Tim and

extended his hand. "Sean DeLuca."

Tim shook his hand. "Tim Malamud. Nice to meet you."

"Malamud, Malamud. Your name sounds familiar."

"Well I did make All Conference last year."

"No that's not it. Oh I know-I've heard Kyle cursing your name around the house.

Something about you ogling our girl here and that he was going to kick your ass for

it."

Serena pinched Sean's side. "Would you please behave yourself."

"What? It's the truth."

Sera shot him an extremely stern look and he shrugged.

"Well who the hell could blame ya? All of M's friends are sexy. Davidson, Evans:

Isabel not Max; and of course Parker over there."

"What have I told you about checking out Liz?" The three of them turned to see Maria

glaring at Sean.

"I was just making conversation."

"No you were leering at Liz.OFF LIMITS! How many times must you be told?"

"Hey I agreed to the no touching thing, albeit reluctantly, I never promised not to

look."

Sera laughed at the cousins. They weren't happy unless they were arguing.

After several songs played Sera took a breather. Sean followed her into the kitchen and

watched as she rummaged around attempting to find a soda in the cooler jammed with

beer.

"Ah Ha!"

"You really should switch to beer you know. Makes the party much better."

"Thanks for the tip Mr. DeLuca, but I think I'll stick to this."

"Wuss."

"Delinquent."

"So this date of yours, is this a serious thing?"

Sera sighed.

"I'm just, you know Sean, it's complicated."

"What is it with all of you?"

She furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"

"M, Parker, you. Everything in your love life is complicated."

"Sean."

"I know, I know you're all freakishly bonded by something and I'm not allowed to

know what, but I just don't understand why you put up with their shit. You three

are all hot for those guys one minute and the next, none of you can stand to be in the

same room with them."

"It's a really long story."

"Yeah, yeah I know. (after a beat) I'm always here, if you need a shoulder to cry

on...or nibble on if you're so inclined.

Sera smacked him on said shoulder.

"Please, don't play innocent with me Davidson. I know all about your trip to the

eraser room."

Serena rolled her eyes.

"Why do I talk to you?"

"Because you can't resist my charms."

"God, does this actually work on women?"

"I don't know ask me in the morning."

"Sean DeLuca, there isn't enough alcohol in the tri-county area to get me to go

home with you tonight!"

"We'll see."

***********

Pam noticed Sera leave and cursed her luck that this was the exact moment Kyle was

unoccupied by Isabel. Pam may have been fearless when it came to Sera, Maria and Liz;

but Isabel Evans was NOT someone she was comfortable approaching. That girl was

TOO perfect.

Despite her disappointment in being denied the look on Sera's face, she knew it was now

or never to make her move for Kyle, she sidled up to him as he reached for another drink.

"Hey."

"Oh, hey Pam."

"So I was wondering.."

Kyle stared at her expectantly

She grinned and leaned up to whisper in his ear and he followed her out of the living

room and up the stairs.

They reached the hallway and Kyle stopped short. "You said you had something

important to talk to me about."

"I wanted to find a less noisy place."

"This seems OK."

"I'd rather do it in private. Please?" She opened a door and pulled on his hand.

Kyle swore silently when he realized it was Mr. and Mrs. Forrester's bedroom.

Look Pam Sera and I just broke up..."

"I know. That's what I wanted to talk about."

"Pam..."

"Kyle, you and I have run in the same pack for a long time, but the past few years

you've been pulling away. I just want you to know I'm here for you when you want

to talk."

"I really appreciate that Pam, I do, its just that.my problems with Sera are very

complicated."

Pam sat on the bed and faced Kyle.

"I know...but since your breakup you look lost and I just want you to know that I'm

here to help. Any way I can."

"Thanks."

"Come sit with me."

***********

Sera stood in line for the bathroom talking with Brent Carter from her drama class.

"Hey Sera."

Serena turned at the sound of Rachel's voice.

"Hi! This is a great party."

"Thanks. Um Sera, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"The guy that Maria came with, are they...I mean I thought she and Michael Guerin

were pretty exclusive."

"They're WAY exclusive! That's Maria's cousin Sean. Why, did he do something?"

"No, nothings wrong...I was just curious."

"Oh my God. Are you interested in Sean?"

"Well he is really cute."

Sera laughed. "Please don't tell him that, you'll swell his head even further."

"What about you? You guys looked pretty chummy."

"Me and Sean? No! He's just a friend. I'll make the introductions if I ever get out of

this line."

"You could use the upstairs."

"Nah, I looked, the line is almost as long."

Actually I was talking about the one in my parent's room."

"There's a third bathroom?"

"Yeah. Only a few people know about it and I told them it was pretty much off

limits unless it was an emergency."

"And this is an emergency?"

"Do you know how long it's been since I've been on a date? It's definitely an

emergency!"

Sera laughed as Rachel led her upstairs.

************ The girls laughed at the bathroom line as Rachel opened the door to her parent's room

and stopped in her tracks, causing Sera to bump into her.

"Rach..." Any further comment caught in her throat as both girls took in the sight before

them.

A half-dressed Pam on top of Kyle on the Forrester's waterbed.

Serena's mouth dropped open as Rachel gasped audibly. Pam turned from her position on

Kyle to smile cruelly at Sera.

Kyle watched a myriad of emotions cross Serena's face before her feet obeyed her brain

and she fled the scene.

Sean was the first person Serena laid eyes on as she tore through the house in her escape

attempt.

"Hey Davidson, Where's the fire?"

"Would you take me home please?"

"What about your date, won't he get a little pissed?"

"Sean will you take me home or not?"

"OK. Its OK I'll take you home. Let me get M."

"I'll be outside." *********** "M, we gotta go."

"What are you talking about we just got here."

"Fine then I have to go, you get a ride home with Parker."

"What, did you find some poor pathetic girl who agreed to go home with you? You

do know that my mother wields her newspaper without regard to a person's gender.

Don't expect your little hussy to escape Amy's wrath when she discovers you..."

"Would you shut up, Its Sera."

"What's Sera?"

"She asked me for a ride home."

"Oh no you don't. Did you learn nothing from the Liz fiasco of last year?"

"It's not like that."

"Really?"

"I think she's upset about something...look, she asked me to take her home and

that's what I'm going to do. If you want to come with us then lets go."

"You're really worried about her."

"She's my friend Maria, if you haven't noticed I do have some."

Maria nodded at her cousin. "Take her home, and tell her to call me if she needs

anything."

"You sure you don't want to come with us?"

"She came to you, you're the one she needs right now."

Sean nodded and turned to leave.

He passed Max on his way out. "Hey Max, I've got to jet, can you make sure Maria

gets home OK?"

"Of course. Is everything all right Sean?"

"I hope so."

Walking back to Liz, Max shook his head.

"That was weird."

"What was weird?"

"Sean just asked me to take Maria home, and he ran out of here in a rush."

"Huh, that is weird."

"Hey girlfriends. Can I get a ride? Sean ditched me for an act of chivalry. Who

knew he could be sweet?

What?" she asked, noticing the look Liz was giving her.

"An act of chivalry?" Max inquired, choos to ignoring Liz's defense of Sean (even if it

was non-verbal it still bugged the hell out of him)

"Sera was upset about something and asked him to take her home, so he did."

"Oh. I hope she's OK." Liz said
"Me too. I wonder what got her so upset, she wasn't gone that long."

Maria trailed off as she watched her almost-brother beat a hasty retreat down the steps,

tucking his shirt in as he walked.

Rachel and Pam followed close behind; the smirk on Pam's face spoke volumes.
"Oh no way!"

***********

"Are you crazy?" Maria asked after dragging Kyle into the kitchen.
"What?"

"Don't what me. You come downstairs in a rumple with that slut behind you

grinning like she just swallowed the Cheshire Cat, and you ask me WHAT?"

"Maria it's not what it looks like."

"Really then explain it to me."

"Do you realize that your voice carries?"

"He's right you know." Isabel noted as she entered the kitchen.

"I'm not trying to be quiet. I'm trying to wrap my brain around you screwing Pam

Troy KNOWING Sera is in the next room. You hate her that much?"

"You slept with Pam?" Isabel asked, making no attempt to hide her disgust.

"No!"

"Well Sera must have seen something cause she ran out of here super-fast with Sean

in tow." Maria fumed.

"She left with Sean?"

"Don't change the subject."

"What is the subject?"

"Kyle!"

"OK OK! Pam and I were on the bed. But we didn't have sex."

"What did you do?" Iz asked not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.

"We were talking one minute and the next she was all over me. I admit I was into it

for awhile, right up until I heard someone in the doorway and saw Sera's face. She

looked crushed."

"Can you blame her?" Maria asked, raising her voice a full octave.

"She came here with Tim Malamud."

"So that gives you the right to go at it with Pam Troy in Principal Forrester's bed?

Ewww! I'm going to be sick."

"Actually Maria, he and Sera aren't together anymore, so he's free to 'go at it' with

anyone he chooses. Even if he made a wrong decision here."

"A wrong decision Isabel? No this was THE wrong decision. And the worst mistake

he could make. I mean what was he thinking? WAS he thinking?"
"Have either of you noticed that I'm still in the room?"

Both girls looked at him disdainfully.

"Look, the bottom line is I didn't sleep with Pam, although I could have.

Maria and Iz snorted. (As if to say DUH! She's made that COMPLETELY obvious!)

"It just didn't feel right, and to answer your question Maria...No I don't hate her,

and I never wanted her to see that. You have to believe me."

M sighed and looked at her friend/brother.

"I know. I know this has been a strained bunch of weeks for you two. I'm sorry I

jumped on you. I just care about you and want to see you happy, so I meddle."

"Ditto." Iz said smiling at the almost-siblings.

"Thank you. Both of you." Kyle said taking a hand from each of the girls. "You were

right about one thing...OK you were right about MANY things, but especially when

you said its been a weird few weeks. I don't know where Sera and I are headed, if

we're on the same path. What I do know is that I, we have you guys looking out for

us. And in many cases telling us what to do."

Kyle ducked as both Maria and Isabel launched blows at his head.

***********

"You going to sit in silence the whole way home?"

Nothing.

"OK."

Sean cranked up the radio and filled the Jetta with the driving beat of a Good Charlotte

song.

"You know, he shouted over the music, if you won't talk to me I'll have to sing to pass

the time."

"Can we go somewhere?"

Stunned that she actually responded to his mock threat, Sean twisted the volume down

and looked at his passenger.

"What?"

"Can we go somewhere? I don't really want to go home yet,"

"OK, Where did you have in mind."

"I don't care. Anywhere."

Sean nodded and made a left hand turn at the light. They drove a short distance before

reaching a small parking lot. Sean pulled into a spot and got out, motioning for Sera to

follow him.

"Calhoun Park?

"You said anywhere."

She nodded.

"I would have taken you to the bowling alley, but you don't look like you're in a

bowling mood."

"The bowling alley? Aren't they closed?"

Sean shrugged. "I have connections."

Sera offered a slight chuckle at the goofy grin on Sean's face.

"Come on. I know the perfect place to talk." He extended his hand.

She allowed him to lead her through the park. They found a bench overlooking Emden

Pond and sat down.

"I always thought it was really pretty right here."

"I fear you!"

"Thanks."

"I'm sorry Sean, I'm just having a really crappy night."

"So I gathered by the way we rabbited out of there. You want to tell me about it?"

Sera said nothing, just looked out across the water.

"Its OK, we can just sit here."

"I saw Kyle with Pam Troy."

"What do you mean you saw them?"

"I mean Rachel and I walked in on he and Pam in bed together!"

"Are you serious?"

"Completely."

"Man. I'm sorry."

"I guess I shouldn't be so upset. I mean, its not like we're together anymore. If I

didn't know that before tonight I sure as hell do now."

"Sera, I..."

Sean's words were cut off as Sera pulled him into a kiss.

He responded for a moment before disengaging himself.

"Sera. I can't believe I'm saying this to you, but we can't do this."

"Sure we can." She whispered, moving for him again.

"No, we can't." He took hold of her hands. "Look I tell you the same thing I told

Parker...I don't feed of another man's taco platter. This thing between you and Kyle

its unresolved. I'm not getting in the middle of that, not again."

"You got in the middle of us before?"

"Liz and Max. They were going through a rough patch and I made a move. It didn't

work out too well for me...as you know Liz went back to Max and I was left in the

dust."

"Sean, its not like that, I just, God I'm so confused. I'm sorry Sean."

"Its OK."

"No its not, You offer me a shoulder to cry on and I try to molest you. How can you

ever look at me again?"

"Believe me Davidson, looking at you isn't a hard thing to do. Look, you've had a

tough night, you're hurt and upset and I'll be here for you, just not like that. Not

until you and Valenti are really through. After that look out girl!"

Sera smiled and grabbed Sean in a hug.

"You're a great guy Sean DeLuca."

"Hey don't go spreading that around, you'll ruin my reputation."

"Actually I know someone who expressed an intrest in you."

"You mean besides you? Kidding!"

"Very funny! I'm talking about Rachel Forrester."

"The girl who had the party?"

Sera nodded.

"Hmmm."

"Is that a good hmmm?"

"Could be."

"Well at the next party we attend I promise to make the proper introductions. If I'm

not running for the door."

"Hey, speaking of ditching things early, didn't you have a date tonight?"

"Oh My God, Tim!!! What am I going to do?"

"My suggestion would be to call him, but I'm sure by now someone's told him you

skipped out with another guy."

"Poor Tim, I can't believe I forgot about him." Sera said shaking her head.

"Yeah, well from what I could tell, you're not missing much."
"Sean!"

"Hey, I'm your friend, naturally I have to pick on any guy you date."

"We're not dating. We're just friends."

"Friends with privileges?" Sean asked with a leer.

"Just when I think you're being sweet, you go and say something like that."

"Come on. You didn't think I could be Mr. Nobility all night did you?"

"All good things must come to an end I guess. "

"Well I gave it my best shot. You'll have to love me lumps and all."

Sera smiled and touched his arm.

"I do. You're a great friend Sean. I really glad you came tonight. Thank you."

"All right Davidson, stop it you're making me blush." He stood and reached out, pulling Sera

to her feet. "Come on, let's get you home. I don't want to get in trouble with your mother for

keeping you out late. From what I hear she is not a woman to cross when it comes to her

little girl."
"You heard about that huh?"

"I'm telling you Davidson, I know all your secrets."

Sera chuckled softly as they made their way to the car.

"Care to wager on that?"

END CHAPTER