And, voila! Another chapter for you!

-.-.-

"So let me get this straight," Cameron said to Squib. "You saw Cody…in nothing but her underwear?"

"Yup," Squib replied, tossing a ball against the wall.

"And?"

"Huh?"

"How was it?"

Squib stopped bouncing the ball and looked at him. "To be honest? Sort of…awkward."

"Hmm…you up for a game?" Cameron asked, picking up his racket.

"Sure, but I've gotta be at Cody's by eight-thirty."

"Meet you at the back courts," he said opening the door. Tanis and Adena were walking by, carrying stacks or flyers. "Afternoon, ladies," he said cheerfully.

"Hey, Cameron," Tanis crooned. "Want one?" she asked, handing him a flyer. "Bates gave them to us to hand out."

"What's this?" He took it from her and read the heading. "Cascadia's first ever talent show. Come show us what you've got…" He arched a doubtful eyebrow at them. "A talent show?"

"Of course!" Adena said, "You can't tell me you don't do anything besides tennis."

"What are we looking at?" Squib asked, coming out of the room behind Cameron.

"A talent show," Cameron said, handing him the flyer. "See you later, girls." He waved and started down the hallway.

"So, what do you think, Squib?" Adena said happily, "You in?"

"I…I dunno."

"Please," she begged, "Sign-up sheets are all over the school, and so far we have two entries!"

"I'll see," he said, before following Cameron to the back courts.

"This sucks," Tanis whined. "I dunno if I wanna do this anymore, Adena."

"Oh, come on, Tanis. I can't have a committee with one member."

"Look, no one wants to be in this thing!"

"You do."

"No, I don't. I can't sing in front of…in front of everybody!"

"Oh, kill me."

"What?"

"Here comes Cody." Adena ducked behind Tanis as Cody approached them. "I'm too young to die."

"I know what you're gonna say," Cody started. She took a step closer to Tanis as Adena pulled Tanis backwards. "And as angry as I am at you for not coming through with that assignment…I need your help again."

"It was a- wait…you what?"

"I said," she sighed, sounding reluctant, "That I need your help again." Adena flashed Tanis a look, then smiled at Cody. She placed her arm around her and started walking her down the hall.

"You have come," she said, putting her other arm around Tanis, "To the right people."

-.-.-

"Okay, come on out, Cody!" Adena called, waiting on the bed next to Tanis, full of sparked anticipation.

"I can't walk in these," Cody said from behind the door.

"They take some getting used to," Tanis assured her.

"This dress is too short."

"Just come out!"

"I don't want to-"

"Cody!"

"Fine!" she snapped, irritated. She opened the door and revealed herself to Adena and Tanis. Tanis let her mouth hang open, while Adena smiled brightly.

"I know I've said this before…but, I really do have a gift!" she squealed.

"Adena," Cody said impatiently, tugging at the bottom of the short pink and white dress she was wearing. "I look like a Barbie doll."

"A redheaded Barbie doll," Tanis corrected.

"You look great, Cody."

"These sandals are too hard to walk in."

"You'll be fine," the both said, trying to calm her down.

Adena patted the bed beside her, signalling Cody to sit. "Now," she started. "The key to a successful date, is knowing how to turn a guy on," she said with a wink.

"We're just going for a walk…"

"Whatever," Adena shook her off with an impatient wave of her hand. "Now, you're walking down the beach, right? And Squib says, 'I like your dress,' and you say…" Adena leaned over and whispered in Cody's ear.

"What! No! I'm not saying that!"

"Trust me, Cody-"

"Trust you!"

"Listen, you don't have to do anything. It's the words that count. Just say it! He'll go crazy for you, and it'll boost his male ego, if you know what I mean," she said, nudging Cody in the arm.

"Whatever."

-.-.-

Cody stood outside her front door, waiting for eight-thirty to arrive. It seemed like Squib would never show up.

"Hey, Cody," Remy said, stepping out the front door.

"Hey…"

"What's eating you?"

"Nothing…I'm just kind of…nothing, it's stupid."

"Nervous?"

"How'd you know?"

"Cody, I can read your emotions like a book," Remy said, patting Cody's shoulder. "Good luck, okay? I'll see you later."

"Where are you going?"

"Well…I've got nothing better to do, so I thought I'd see if I can become the newest member of the 'official Cascadia talent show committee,'" she said, in a voice much like Adena's.

"Hey, girls!" Squib called. He made his way up to the front door.

"Bye, Squib," Remy said, before starting up towards the school.

"Bye, Remy!" he said, and turned to Cody. "Uh…you ready?"

"Sure," she said, lacking confidence. "Let's go."

-.-.-

"It really is a nice night," Cody pointed out, making conversation.

"It is," Squib said, as he dragged his feet in the sand. They had taken their shoes off and were now carrying them. "You look good tonight, by the way," he said. He stopped walking and stared at the sky. "I like that dress on you."

This was it. Breathing deep, Cody tried to remember everything Adena had said to her earlier. "Really?" she said, pressing herself against him. "Do you like it on? Or off?" she asked seductively. The moment the words escaped her mouth, she realized how sleazy she sounded and immediately regretted it.

"I…uh…"

"Don't be shy, Squib," she said, not thinking. She couldn't help it. The words just tumbled off the tip of her tongue and she knew she'd be killing Adena for her so-called 'advice.'

"Cody?"

"Hm?"

"What…what are you doing? Why are you acting like this?"

"But…but, isn't this what you want?"

"…No."

"Oh, my God," she said backing away from him.

"Cody-"

"No, Squib…it's okay." Cody walked away from him and sat down in the sand, facing the lake. She tucked her knees into her chest and hung her head low.

"Cody…"

"I can't believe I just said that to you," she said, sounding appalled with herself and still not meeting his eyes. "What the hell was I thinking?"

"Co-"

"I mean, I thought you actually liked me-"

"Cody!" he said impatiently, putting a hand on her shoulder. He sat down in the sand beside her. "I do like you. Well I did…I liked the old you."

"…What?"

"I said I liked the old you. What happened to the Cody I used to know?" he asked. He reached a hand out and touched her cheek. Then, he tilted her head to face him. "I miss the Cody with the plain jeans, and the t-shirts and the million shag bands on her wrists. The one who didn't care what people thought about her…especially me. I liked you before you turned into a clone of Adena."

"I thought changing…might make you notice me a little more," she said, a single tear running down her cheek.

"Cody," he said sincerely, wiping it away with his thumb. "I do notice you…" She turned away in shame, but faced him again when he took her hand in his.

"Squib, I-" she started, as he leaned in closer. She felt her heart pounding in her chest as his face drew nearer, and she could feel his heavy breathing mixed with her own, before their lips nearly touched. "Squib," she repeated. He stopped, his gaze fixed upon her face. "I really…I gotta go," she said, picking herself up off the sand. "I'll see you around."

-.-.-

"How was your night, honey?" Mr. Myers called from the sofa as Cody walked inside.

"Don't want to talk about it," she mumbled.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive, dad."

"Well, there's a letter for you on the table, there. I think you'll find it interesting." Cody walked over to the table and picked up the letter addressed to her. "It's from that school you applied to. Last year, remember?"

Without a word, Cody ripped open the envelope and read:

Ms. Cody Myers,

We at the Macmillan School of Modern Art in Boston take pleasure in notifying you that as of this week we have an opening in one of our photography classes. If you wish to confirm your application, we would be more than happy to consider granting you the opportunity to study with us.

Please verify your application by the end of the month, or we will select another suitable candidate.

We hope to hear from you,

Boston District School Board

Macmillan School Staff and Student Cabinet

-.-.-

Let me know if you liked that chapter :)
Oh, and if you didn't know what shag bands are, they're those rubber type bracelets Cody's always wearing. Some people call them sex bracelets I think…

Next chapter up soon!