A/N- If the text is in)))) backward parentheses (((((, then it's song lyrics.  I will reveal all the songs at the end of the chapter.  Please remember, R&R. It's greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own any of these songs, nor have I written them. Neither do I own the original CI characters. Therefore, if ya sue, yer not gettin' any money; 'kuz sweeties, ah am very very po'.

Act V- if you think so….

~Janessa~

)))) I'm gonna drink my whiskey gonna have my men I know you got nothing to say ((((

"Ew!" The petite, tawny girl said as she tuned her guitar.  "Y'all nasty!"

"Why Dylan?  Because I decided to have a little fun with my friend and her step-brother."  Anya replied standing next to her. 
This Wednesday's jam session didn't exactly go, as we wanted it to.  Anya and I had formed an all-female punk band with our circle of friends at Manchester.  It consisted of our friends, Thalia on drums, Dylan on lead guitar, Anya on bass guitar, Marly on piano/keyboard, and myself on lead vocals.  I know we seem like the do-it-all-girls, but Lolita (our name) was actually our only true passion.  Music is my third love, after sex and screwing with other people's heads.
Anyway, what was supposed to be a brainstorming day, turned into a prep-school scandal version of The View. Anya just hinted at the ménage, and all of sudden my gal pals were stricken with a case of Jr. High Gossip giggles.

)))) Ain't gonna hang my hat ain't gonna take off my boots, ain't nothing gonna stop me in my pursuit ((((
"We're not brother and sister.  GOD!"  I declared, staring at myself and the other girls through the huge mirror inside the studio.  "Our parents did not get married.  Therefore I can do whatever the fuck I want with him."

"Typical Janessa."  The Latina propped against the mirror, sighed as she stood next to me.  "Always trying to find loopholes just so she can screw around with someone."

I grinned, playfully punching her shoulder.  "Thalia, I did not screw around with him."  I turned around and walked toward the other girls.  "…Anya took care of that area."

Anya scoffed, as Marly giggled, "Yeah, that sounds about right".

"Ok, I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
)))) Pack my bags and mount my horse I'm gonna ride on into the next town, to the next town ((((

It had been three days since my sleepover with Sebastian and Anya.  I know it seemed bizarre at the time but I get bored rather easily.  Besides that, my plans to persuade Austin in setting Kathryn up, pretty much shot right out the window.  However, I was somewhat satisfied, I got Sebastian away from Kathryn.  He and Anya had been getting closer, well actually if you consider having sex every seven hours becoming close.  I mean Anya's my girl, if I can't have him; Anya is the only other person who should.  Things between Sebastian and I were awkward though.  How that is fucking possible, I have no clue.  Nevertheless, there was reticence between us for the first two days.  I had to break the silence; Sebastian wouldn't say anything to me.  However, he'd try to cop a feel of my ass or look at me and smile.  When silence was broken, I'd received undesired answers to questions about Kathryn.
)))) Ain't got no shame nobody knows my name I'm gonna ride on into the next town ((((
I had sat at the piano and started playing a few keys. Then my mind shot over to the events that occurred that previous night. I stopped playing, and was in a mind-meld like trance, striking one key over and over again. Anya had gotten a call and slipped out the door, and downstairs to meet someone. The other girls noticed me and stared at me curiously. They all gathered around. Thalia stood in front of me, calling me staring blankly. "…Ness. Ness?" She waved her hands over my face. Marly looked at her pushing her out of the way. "JANESSA!!!!" She shouted, breaking the trance.

"Ahh!" I cried. They stood back laughing. When I regained my senses, I replied. "I'm sorry. What are we supposed to be doing?"

"Rehearsing. What the hell is wrong with you?" Thalia spat.

"It's nothing. I've just had a lot on my mind."

Marly sat on the bench, next to me. "Ness, you haven't fazed out like that since Court…." She paused, looked excitedly at Dylan.

Dylan flopped down on the other side, and demanded anxiously. "Tell us what happened!"

"I don't think I should."

"Girl, please. You never tell us these kinds of chronicles." We looked at her blankly, then she retorted. "What? I'm going through a dry spell. Just get to the story."

"Alright, I'll tell you. But you have to swear not to tell anyone. If you break it, I break your ribs, then sell your internal organs on the black market." So they broke me down, and I told.

))))  Pecos Bill couldn't hang for long a female living with a song.  ((((

###Approximately 15 hours earlier###

It was nightfall at the Valmont mansion.  I'd been sitting at the piano, in a blue silk robe and a white version of that lacy little number I wore the two nights before.  Just sitting there, arranging a melody with lyrics I'd written before that evening.
IN MY DREAM / I BREAK THE CHAINS THAT HOLD THIS PLACE TOGETHER / BUT IN MY DREAM THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER / THAN THEY ARE/ AND BEYOND THE WALLS/ THAT WOULD HOLD US HERE / THE SKIES THAT STRETCH ACROSS THE ATMOSPHERE / AND REVOLUTION IS NEAR
While I strummed at the piano keys, Sebastian walked in the family room.  Drink in hand; He seemed annoyed, like his date for that night denied him a shot underneath her skirt.  His pouting said it all.  I stopped playing, placing my hands on top of the piano.  "Bad night?"  I smirked.

He hesitated for a moment, then replied troubled "You have no idea".  He sat his drink down on top of the piano, hovered directly behind me.  "The things I put up with for my reputation."

"Let me guess?  Your latest interest lured you in, played with you for a moment, and just when you get all hot and bothered, she throws you out on your ass."

"Ugh.  Yes.  And my genitals are as blue as your bedroom walls."  He reached down into my robe, brushing his fingers over my chest.  "You think you can help me mend that?"  Sebastian leaned down and began softly kissing my neck.  I wanted him so much at that moment, but I kept smelling a sweet feminine scent on him, one that I had caught wind of before.  I cordially stopped him.  "You reek of evil brunette."

"I reek of evil brunette?"  He sat down next to me.  "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Sebastian, You smell like Kathryn.  You were just with her weren't you?"

"No."

I shot him a cold look.  "Valmont, don't you fucking dare lie to me.  I know you all too well to know when you're lying about a girl."

"Ok, I was with her.  What does it matter now anyway?  I thought we were friends..." He said calmly, he tried dallying with me.  Brushing his fingertips over my neck and cheek, sending chills down my spine.  "...With special benefits."

I swatted his hand, "I'm not one of those little twits that you 'oh so enjoy' to play around with."

He rolled his eyes, and then countered sarcastically.  "Oh I'm sorry.  I was out of line. What's up your ass?"

"Nothing. But I've noticed you're being secretive since that wedding. Are you seeing her?" I got up and stood in front of him. My arms folded, looking down at him, and he looked up at me.

He placed his hands on my hips. "Why are you so concerned with her? She has nothing to do with what we have, right?"

I pushed him away and shook my head, "You're not answering my question. Are…You…Seeing…Her?!"

He stood up and huffed, "And you're not answering mine. Why…Are…You…Concerned?!"

"I asked you first."

"Fine. I'm not. You?"

"Fine. I'll admit it. I'm not about to be your back up plan to Kathryn."

"My back plan to Kathryn? Janessa, please. Don't be so…ugh… spousal."

"Why not?"

"Because your jealousy of her is getting fucking annoying."

I caught a little attitude, "Excuse me?! But I am not jealous of Darla Do-Right, as so she claims to be."

"Oh really. Then explain why we're going through all this."

"It's the same reason you're jealous of Dante."

"Dante?!" He laughed. "You think I'm jealous of Dante?"

"Very much so."

"Oh that's very amusing."
"Oh if it's so fucking amusing. Why don't you want to associate with him?"

"Why would I? He's fucking aggravating. He's always in my way. Always, trying to be a smart-ass. Thinks he's…."

"….God's gift to women. And wah wah wah wah. He's an athletic, thrill-seeking version of you. Face it, you two are just alike. The Valmont men have always been that way."

"How the hell would you? You weren't born into my family."

"But my mother and I have known you and your family long enough to decipher it."

He huffed, "Whatever. Now, back to you, if you say you're jealous of Kathryn because she's constantly in your way and she's irritating."

"Yes, she is all of those things. But I am not jealous of her." I moved over to the chaise, and he followed.

"Denial is the first sign." He was really pissing me off, and by his expressions, the feeling was mutual.

"Whatever." I don't what it was about him at that moment. But, Angry Sebastian was very desirable. Again by his expressions changing, I could tell the feeling was mutual. "You're really…"

He cut me off, as we moved in closer to each other. "…hot when you're angry."

"Yeah." I pulled him into me, as our lips came together. The kissing was fierce and passionate. He laid me back against the chaise. Showering me with velvety, wet kisses, I helped him take off his blazer. He literally freed me of my robe, exposing my sexy underwear. I fondled with him until I couldn't take it anymore. Sebastian had Kathryn's stench still on him. It was sickening. As much as I enjoyed the petting, I hated the thought that he was with her.

Sebastian continued kissing me, muffling my cries of ceasing. The only way I could get him to stop was forcefully pushing him off my body and onto the floor with a hard thud.

"Janessa. What the hell is with you?" He demanded. "You know you wanted it."

I growled at him, walking away. "I can't do this with her scent on you. It's like I'm making out with her. If we going to do anything like this anymore, you have to separate yourself from her."

He followed me, stopping me before I reached the door. "WHAT?! You ordering me not to associate with her?!"

"Yes. I mean it's not like she wants to be seen consorting with you anyway." I began retying my robe.

"No way. You of all people are not telling who I can and can't be seen with."

"Why are you so defensive about her? He only likes toying with you. She'll never have more you than that."

"Err! Janessa. I can't deal with this now."

"Why can't you? Really why is it, Seb...." I had I thought about why he's being defensive. I came back calmly. "You really care about her, don't you?"

"What kind of question is that?" He spat. "But if you must know....yes."

My heart sank. "And it's as much as you care about me?"

He became silent.

"I thought so." I wanted to ring his neck at this point. "Or Sebastian, do you or have you ever really cared about me?" He began to speak but I cut him off. "Not in that sisterly way."

He remained silent.

"You've never thought of me in a sexual way until recently...when I made a pass at you."

"I said I didn't want to deal with this now." He began walking away from me, down the hall, into his bedroom.

I followed him down that hall and into his room. "No, you'll deal with this right now."

"Really? How is that?" He turned to me as I shut his door.

"With this one statement: You can find my sister attractive, make passes and fuck her for two years behind my back. But when it comes to me, I'm nothing."

"So that's what this is all about. You're still hung up on that."
"Yes. You have never given me a straight answer on that. Neither you nor Brandie will ever tell me why.  So what is it? Has she always been doable and I hadn't?"
"It's not that simple."

"What's not simple about it? To everyone in the Upper East Side and that god forsaken school knows that Brandisha Cattivo is 9.8 in the Sebastian Valmont scoreboard. And as for Janessa? Oh where is she? Oh that's right, she's my little sister. She can't possibly add up to all the others."

"Fine, You know what. You wanna know why I never wanted you to know why I never made a pass at you?"

"It would be nice."

"I loved what we had. I can't even believe I'm saying this. I have never had as much respect for any other woman as I have for you."

I was stunned. I was speechless. I couldn't bring myself to do or say anything. So I revolved on my feet and walked away. I ran back into my room, and fell back onto my bed. He was actually being sincere; he wasn't done that since…that small period of time that I wasn't showing him how to get want he wants. Then it came to me, I was not about to let that bitch demolish all the work I'd planted in him. So I got up and rushed back into his room. He was lying on his bed in his underoos, writing in his journal. He tensed up when I barged in.

"Relax. I didn't come back in here to pester you any further." I said peacefully.

"Oh goody." He spat sarcastically, looking down at the journal. "Then, what do you want?"

I walked and sat on the opposite edge of the bed. "I have something to offer that you may find very interesting." He continued writing, attempting to ignore me, so I got his attention:  I took off the robe, cat crawled over to him, then began squeezing and rubbing his thigh. He immediately dropped the journal as he sighed. He turned to me, as I grinned. "Glad to see I caught your attention."

I reached for the journal and he snatched it away. "Did you come here to talk or be meddle in my affairs?" He sneered.

I ran my finger up his crotch. "Fine, Bluesy. I have a proposal for you."

"But Janessa, it's so sudden?!" He teased.

"Ha Ha." I replied. "Anyway, You don't like Dante. And I obviously dislike Kathryn. So I came up with this little wager."

"Being?"

"You get Wendy the witch to fall madly in love with you; and mean to the point of where she's willing but her squeaky, clean image on the line."

"What are the terms?"

"If I win, then I get free access of that journal and that hot little car."

"You're joking right?"

"Nope."

"Ok, then if I win?"

"If you win...." I said crawling onto his lap, and straddling him. "...you get free access of me and all my assets; physical and financial."

"What makes you think I would go for this? That's a nineteen-fifty-eight Jaguar roadster." He stated patently.

"Not much actually. It was just a hunch at first. But, 'little sebby' is just begging for a trip in the candy store." Referring to his erection, which was clearly present. "However, I do know that you bore rather hastily, much like myself; and you love a good challenge."

He looked away from me. "If you think so."

I guided his face, so our eyes would lock. My face was very close to his, so I could whisper airily and sensuously, "Lei me può avere quando e comunque lei vuole…" (You can have me whenever and however you want...)

He breathed back, "Ok. But on one condition."

I moved back, and arched an eyebrow.

"Let's make this a competition. So you have to do the same."

"With Kathryn?"

"Dante."

I stared at him blankly. "What?"

"If you can get Dante to fall head over heels for you, and give up that womanizing image, then you can get what you wanted."

"So whoever gets it done first or at all, wins?"

"That's the idea."

"Sounds simple enough. So it sounds like we've got ourselves a deal then, Mr. Valmont?"

"Precisely."

We shook on it. "Good Luck, Sebastian. Lord knows you're going to need you."

"As will you, Janessa." We smiled at each other.

I guess this was the part where we thought things would go back to normal. But you know, as well as I do, that things from that point on would never be the same.