Hey, all. I got back on Sunday from my little vacation. I actually had this chapter all written, but I've been lazy. Anyway, please, please, please review -) Thanks!

Chapter 7

On Saturday night, after work, my friends took me out for my birthday. Unfortunately, Mara couldn't come, but we did stop by the hospital until visting hours ended, then we went to a bar and restaurant a few blocks from Lisa's apartment.

It was a but subdued compared to other birthday celebrations before it had all started. Krystal was gone, Mara was in the hospital, and Angela had a bandage on her face. We were all feeling the nervous tension that had caused my breakdown the other night. However, Cee Cee was in Carmel for her winter break already. And came into the city. Everyone else sort of knew her, but, of course, she lived at college most of the time, so they weren't totally buddy-buddy with her. I had filled her in on what was going on, and she was as concerned and baffled as the rest of us.

Lisa was in the middle of a funny story about her boss when she suddenly trailed off and looked above my head.

"Suze, my goodness, twice in three days." I turned around, and there was Paul. Lisa regained her composure quickly.

"Hello. Suze, who is this?" she asked flirtatiously. I had to hold back a laugh.

"Everyone, this is Paul. Paul, this is everyone."

"Hey, Paul," Cee said. She had warmed up to him a bit in the past few years, but still wasn't exactly his best friend.

"Cee! You're back from the Windy City! You passed the Geiger test to get back here?" He asked brightly, and she rolled her eyes.

"Radiation free, thank you very much." (a/n: Whoever guesses where Cee Cee is going to college winds a walk on roll in the story. Hint: My sister goes here.)

"Paul is a friend from high school," I explained. "Are you here with… what's her name?" Paul shook his head, and pulled a chair over to the table.

"What's-her-name decided that dating a fellow lawyer could be detrimental to her career, and that, should we find ourselves in opposing cases, emotions could interfere with her job." He paused. "She's just afraid of losing a case to me, is all," he winked, but I did sense a bit of pain underneath his façade. "Jesse told me you'd be here, and gave me permission to hunt you down, since you shut off your cell phone."

"He did?" Beth asked. They all knew Jesse was big on giving us our privacy.

"Yes." He leaned in. "An arrest as been made in the murders of Krystal Matthews and Lily Burnham, and attempted murders of Mara Lowell and Angela Murphey." I choked on the sip of my Cosmo that I had just taken.

"What! Who!"

"Aaron Metzler."

"How do you know?" Angela asked, looking almost panicky. Well, she had had a crush on him once upon a time. Kind of a shock, finding out the guy you lusted after may have tried to kill you, not to mention some of your friends. Her voice rose with anger and jealousy. "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Paul raised his eyebrows. "Is your cell phone on?" She blushed, and reached into her bag and pulled it out. It was off. "His lawyer is one of my professors. Professor Rosenberg called me to help with interviewing and deposing witnesses, etc." I gaped at Paul. "But I asked him to leave me out of this one." I took on of my French fries. "Conflict of interests, you know? I'd feel like shit, defending the guy on trial for killing the best friend of my friend."

"Thanks, Paul," I said gratefully. The rest of them nodded.

"On another topic, my PDA says tomorrow is your birthday." I nodded.

"Twenty-two," I said with fake entusiasm. "You know, until you turn 2, there's always something to look forward to on your birthdays. Driving at 16, rated R movies at 17, being able to buy lottery tickets—and cigarettes, if you're into premature wrinkling and lung cancer—at 18, drinking at 21. Now there's nothing."

"Don't get yourself down. Only 28 years until you get your AARP card. Think of all that comes with—discounts galore at restaurants and car washes. Start the countdown today." I rolled my eyes and smiled.

"Well, ladies, I must be going. Happy 22nd, Suze. Nice to meet you all, and it was good to see you, Cee Cee." He got up, and left.

"Suze, elaborate. Who the hell is he?" Lisa asked immediately.

"Hey, down, girl," I laughed. "What about Drew?" Drew was her boyfriend of about 3 months.

"Just curious," she said innocently. I rolled my eyes.

"I met Paul when I was 16. He was staying at the hotel that I was working at."

"Ooh, like a reversed 'Dirty Dancing,'" Cate said. "Did you, like, teach him to dance? And sleep with him?"

"No!" I exclaimed, scandalized. Not that he didn't try. "I had already met Jesse."

"Damn. How long have you known Jesse?" I thought back.

"8 years, just about. We've been dating for a little more than seven, though."

"And you still haven't slept with him?" Beth asked incredulously. I blushed.

"Jesse, as you know, is old fashioned. He has old world manners," I said. But I didn't say where he got those manners. Saying that my boyfriend grew up in the 1800's wouldn't do much for my rep. I mean, ew, Anna Nicole much?

"That's sweet," Lisa said. "Having a guy who doesn't only want to get in your pants."

"Please, like Ethan doesn't totally adore you," Cate said, rolling her eyes. "He's awesome."

"And so is Ryan!" She refuted. Cee rolled her eyes.

"Okay. We ALL have awesome, loving boyfriends. Not stop fighting," she said. Angela glared at her.

"I don't," she said, nearly growling at her, fire in her eyes. Cee cee looked taken aback.

"Angela. Chill. It's not Cee Cee's fault you don't have a boyfriend," Beth said, in a way that only sisters can get away with. "If you really want to get one, stop moping and get out there." Silence. Angela looked ready to spit tacks. Thankfully, the waitress came up to clean our plates. After that distraction, the tension lessened.

"Present time!" Cate suddenly exclaimed, and produced a wrapped box. I grinned.

"Thanks, Cate." I unwrapped it, and pulled off the lid. Inside was something made of a creamy white silk. "Ooh," I cooed. I pulled it out further, and found it was a night gown. "It's beautiful. Thanks, Cate."

I unwrapped the rest of the presents. Lisa got me a totally cute pair of pumps (I've since forgiven Mr. Choo, and all cute-but-uncomfortable shoes in general), and from Cee Cee I got an old, big book filled with stuff about ghosts—how to deal with a pesky poltergeist, etc. I gave her a withering look, and she grinned. The rest of my friends just looked perplexed. Angela and Beth went together and got me a gift certificate to my favorite store.

At ten, I arrived back at Jesse's apartment. He was just closing up his text book when I came into the living room. "Hey, Querida. Did Paul find you?" he asked. I crawled next to him on the couch, and snuggled up against him. He put his arm around my shoulders.

"Yes. Thanks for sending him over," I said, and kissed him lightly. "That news was the best birthday present ever." He squeezed me gently.

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