Michelle-Note: Here is another boring chapter...there are more exciting ones to come, I promise. I'm trying to develope...something, I hope. crosses fingers I also promise some sex. I know you two faithful readers want some sex, and watch me get banned for it. Wouldn't that be funny? We could all laugh about it later.

Chapter 13: The Day Before

Ren: Stevens' House, Living Room: 4:13pm: 14 June

Lizzie had been following Tawny around quite helplessly all day, and she milled around my house. The girl had become increasingly like Beans and was seldom at her own home. I guess Lizzie was tired of me or something, which I'll admit is possible because after all, I am horrendously boring. Her little brother was spending entirely too much time with Beans than could possibly be healthy, the two of them were currently in our kitchen doing something that I didn't want to know, so I stayed sitting on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV with Ruby, Gordo, and the other girls.

There seemed to be some kind of heavy anticipation in the air for my party tomorrow, and I'm not sure why. It wasn't that big of a deal really. I just wanted to spend time with everyone before we went our separate ways. As I flipped monotonously through our huge number of cable channels, I listened to Tawny and Lizzie, who were sitting over in a chair to my right. Tawny was sitting on the arm, and leaning over Lizzie. They were getting a little bit too friendly for my taste. I don't know why it bothered me. It always bothered me when Tawny got friendly with anyone.

"I'll make a deal with you…" Tawny said. She was scheming something again, and I was afraid for Lizzie, "If you act on your feelings for your person then I'll do the same for mine."

The blonde nodded, and I wondered what hey were talking about. I missed the first part of their conversation because I just wasn't paying attention.

I didn't realize Tawny liked anyone in a serious way, if that's even what they were talking about. Her insane bet with Louis had come to an end, and they agreed that neither was giving the other any money. Tawny had already made a good chunk because Louis kept forcing her to kiss everyone, and he was too impulsive to not bet on that in addition to their bigger bet, and Tawny would never turn it down.

Tawny got up and stalked off out of the front door without saying a word to anyone after they exchanged a few more words too low for me to hear without leaning closer and blowing my cover.

Gordo looked at me, "Is she seeing anyone?"

He obviously had not been listening to her and Lizzie. I shook my head, "Not that I know of."

"Do you…do you think she would maybe dance with me at your party?" He asked me shyly.

Lizzie started laughing, and we all turned and looked at her, then she became silent quickly.

"Uh…anyway…" Gordo began, but never finished.

"Oh my God, you have a crush on Tawny! That is so cute!" Ruby squealed.

Louis walked in with Twitty, and asked quickly, "Who has a crush on my girl now?"

"She's not your girl, Louis." I said.

He mumbled something and proceeded up the stairs, followed by Twitty, who moved quickly, still frightened of Miranda, who seemed to get pissed off at something random, and she got up and stomped into the kitchen.

"What was that about?" I asked quietly, and no one seemed to know, or wasn't willing to answer immediately.

Ruby looked at her watch for a long time, then said, "I know what it is, and I'll tell you later, but right now I have to go…and…um…get some stuff for your party…decorations and such…shiny things…and uh…yeah. Later."

We all watched as she scurried hurriedly out the door as if she were late for something, and left me sitting there alone with Lizzie and Gordo. It was time for some lovely awkward silence, or so I thought.

"Do you wanna know why Miranda got mad?" Lizzie asked me, smiling because she knew something I didn't know.

"Sure…"

"She likes your brother."

"She doesn't know my brother. If she did she would be revolted." I laughed.

"No, seriously. She does."

"How do you know? You and Miranda have seemed a little rocky since we got here." Gordo commented, and took the channel changer from my hand.

"Tawny told me."

I groaned, "That girl has to be wrong this time."

"I don't think she is."

"I really don't think so either." Gordo agreed.

"But…ewww…" I winced at the thought, and all of the horrendous images it caused in my head.

"Does Louis still like Tawny?" Gordo asked me, seeming a little sad.

"No, not really…it's just something that's kinda…I dunno…expected, so he acts like he does. I dunno."

"Oh…I know I really have no chance, and I don't live here, and she's still got a year of high school left, and I'm going to college across the country, but-"

"Same thing with Louis and Miranda. He'd probably hook up with her, but there would be no way for them to have a relationship." I said, "It's silly to try, I think, and if she really likes him, then…yeah…it's pointless."

"I think it's more silly not to try…" Said Lizzie, "I mean, if they were to hit it off and really like each other, then it's worth a try because it might work, don't you think?"

I shrugged.

"That was nice Lizzie. What's making you so thoughtful?"

"I don't know. I've just been thinking about things lately."

"Huh. Ok." He went back to focusing on the TV, not questioning her further.

"You've never really liked anyone enough to try have you, Ren?"

"Not that I know of."

"Do you not want to, or-"

"You, hun, have been talking to Tawny too much." I laughed, "You were so sweet and shy when you got here."

She looked a little embarrassed, "I'm sorry."

"What's going on with you and Tawny anyway?"

"She's interesting is all."

Tawny must have found Lizzie interesting too for her to keep her attention for as long as she had. Tawny was probably developing a crush on this girl who was leaving in a few days. There was 'Horrible, Bad Shit' written all over this.

"You're interesting too." Lizzie added.

"You sound like Tawny…again."

She laughed, "I'll stop."

I sighed. I was sort of tired, but I didn't want to be a bad hostess and leave these two down here alone. I had been trying very hard to keep them entertained and I had run out of things to do, and I was totally exhausted. Ruby was right. I am boring. Ren Stevens is boring, and someone needs to fix me. I desperately need some fixing. Gordo even seemed bored with me by this time, and was wanting Tawny, who was infinitely more interesting than me, though she and Lizzie didn't think so. Gordo and I had thoroughly discussed every book we'd ever read, and our grades, and college, and everything else that we smart people talk about or whatever. He was slouching on the couch next to me, staring at the Weather Channel.

"Um…Ren…can I asked you something while Miranda isn't here?" Lizzie said quietly.

"I guess." I was a little confused. Confusion happened a lot since these people got here.

"It's about Kate…"

"Kate?"

"Yes, Kate."

"The Kate that was in the mall?"

"Yes."

"She definitely was the Kate that you know then?"

"Yes."

This really was a huge coincidence.

"Do you-"

She was cut off by a loud crash from the kitchen that sounded like a needlessly large amount of pans clattering to the linoleum.

"Beans!" I yelled, and jumped up.

"Matt!" Lizzie yelled as well, and followed me into the kitchen, where we found neither of the two boys, "Wasn't Miranda in here?"

I looked and saw the door that led out into the garage open, "It looks like they bailed. I dunno where Miranda is." I sighed again, "You pick up all of that, and I'll go find the boys. They couldn't have gotten far. I can yell at Beans because he practically lives here, and you can do what you want with your brother." That sounded kinky. I was having horrible dirty thoughts today. "At least nothing's broken…"