A/N: hey, that didn't take me too much time... and the chapters pretty long too (for me, anyway). yay for me.

thank you to all my wonderful reviewers who make me want to keep writing... anyway, enjoy

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When you feel that something terrible is about to happen you notice things differently. Everything seems ten times louder as we leave the party—the pseudo-indie rock blaring from the speakers. The mini-skirted easy girls flirting with whatever guys are at hand, we pass them by the door. The couple making out on the front lawn with a soundtrack of disgusting moaning sounds. Elton unlocks the car with the button on his key rings. He opens the door for me, and when he shuts it, I jump.

Taylor says I've got a strange sense of humor. Like sometimes I start laughing and nobody else understands why. I've tried to explain it to Christian a time or two when something strikes me as humorous, but he never gets it. Sometimes he pretends to, but he never does.

This is funny:

Elton turns down the radio that I just turned up to say, "So Becka, it's been really great hanging out with you lately." Here he pauses to give me opportunity to agree with him, and to make a quick glance in my direction.

"U-huh," I mutter noncommittally.

"You know, I really missed you this summer," Elton continues.

Ha ha ha. Like hell you did. I suppose I'm supposed to say "I missed you too," but instead I repeat "Uh-huh," and keep on staring out the window. Until the scenery comes to a standstill, and I notice we just pulled into fast food parking lot. I don't think we're here for late night Big Macs either, as McDonald's appears to be very closed.

Elton turns of the car and turns towards me. "Do you ever wish you change one thing you did in your life?" he asks, with the deepest sincerity he can simulate.

Well, twenty minutes ago Christian said he was leaving the party, and I almost wish I'd gone with him. But then I would've missed out on the hilarious irony of this moment of my life.

"No," I answer.

"I never should have broken up with you," Elton says, and then leans in to kiss me.

I burst out laughing.

Elton back up, and with a look of bewilderment asks, "What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. I mean, it's just really funny."

"What's funny?" he says, his bewilderment turning to frustration. "I don't see anything funny."

"Oh, the stopping in the vacant parking lot, saying that you missed me, yada yada yada. I find it very humorous."

"I did miss you," Elton grumbles.

"Elton," I say, trying my best not to sound too patronizing, "You were going with Elena Norman all summer. Not missing me. You can't have a summer time girlfriend and a school year girlfriend, hun. It's against normal dating rules."

"So you've been flirting with me all week just to make me look like an idiot now, huh?"

Excuse me?! "Have I been flirting with you all week? I have not been flirting with you all week!" I exclaim.

"Maybe not," he admits with a scowl, "but you've been, like, having me around all the time."

Impossible man. "That was for Jen," I explain. "I thought you and Jenhad a thing going on. Not you and me."

Now it's Elton's turn to find something funny. "Jen!?" he laughs. "Me and Jen!? Oh my God, Becka, that is too comical. She's like fricking Pollyanna. Me and Jen have nothing in common." Looking at me he adds, with more seriousness, "Me and you, we have a lot in common," (like... what?) and leans forward to kiss me again.

"Don't even," I warn.

He does. I think this is a very good opportunity to do something I've always secretly wanted to do. I slap him. A little harder than I meant to, I think. Very quickly he has is mouth off of me and he's rubbing his wounded right cheek.

"You hit me!" he accuses.

"You kissed me," I counter.

I looks at me as if he'd like to hit me back, and for the first time I realize I'm very alone with in this car with him. I unbuckle my seat belt and climb out of the car, slamming the door behind me.

"What are you doing?" he shouts after me, but already I'm climbing inside again, this time in the back seat.

"Let's go, Tiger," I say.

"Bitch," he mumbles, and turns the radio up, and gets me home.

- - - - - - -

Three days go by and I manage to evade both Christian and Jen, but mostly Christian. Yes, I know I'll have to face them both eventually, but later better than sooner, right? (Or does that go the other way around?)

Then comes Wednesday. I'm sitting at my computer desk when I hear someone knocking on the front door of our apartment. The door opens and closes, as Jeremy lets whoever in, and then Christian is standing in the doorway of my room.

"Howdy stranger," he says, with a big goofy grin on his face.

I frown at him briefly, then turn back to my desk and yell, "Jeremy!" Soon my cousin is in the doorway, as Christian ambles his way over to my bed and sits himself down.

"What is this?" I ask Jeremy, gesturing towards Christian.

From behind me Christian shakes his head and says with a good deal of melodrama, "I always knew the day would come when I would be reduced to a 'this.'"

"Make him leave," I command Jeremy.

"You kidding?" he says with a laugh. "He's larger than me."

"I am larger than him," Christian adds, very seriously.

"You're my hero, Jeremy," I say sarcastically.

"Hey, as far as I'm concerned," Jeremy answers, "I'd say you brought this upon yourself, cousin. Reeking havoc on the world, attempting to create all sorts of new couples to interrupt ones social patterns. It's like, poetic justice." He continues muttering to himself as he makes his way back to the living room, and I'm left alone with Christian.

"So. I heard Elton drove you home Saturday night. Only you," Christian says, after a moment of silence. I give him a how-do-you-know-that look. "I grilled Jen for information," he supplies.

I sigh, and turn around in my chair to face him. "Why do you always have to be so damn right?" I ask, thus admitting that he was, indeed, right.

"I don't know. It is peculiar."

"And so annoying," I scowl.

"Yet endearing."

"Which makes you twice as annoying."

"But somehow still forgivable?" He leaves that one off like a question, a little unsurely, like he doesn't know if I'll actually forgive him or not.

"Are you apologizing?" I question.

"Not for being right," he begins.

"Oh, no, of course not," I roll my eyes.

"But for being a jackass about being right, yeah. I'm sorry, I know I was a jerk at the party. But at least I was a well-meaning jerk. I mean, usually I'm just a jerk."

"Well, next time try to shoot for just well-meaning," I smile. Okay, so I'm a push-over when it comes to Christian. But that was a good apology. And anyway, it's hard work staying mad at him.

He smiles and nods, and we're alright again. Then he asks, "Was it very bad with Elton?" But not like he hopes it was very bad because he wants to say he told me so, more like he hopes it wasn't bad.

"I hit him pretty hard," I offer.

"Nice," Christian laughs. "Something I've always wanted to do myself."

"I think it's gonna be worse with Jen, actually."

"Yep," he breaths in, a little smugly. "I'd hate to be you when you're telling her Elton was after you."

"Hey," I scowl, "what happened to the sympathetic, understanding Christian I had here a minute ag?."

"Oh come on, I've got to gloat a little. I was right."

I pick my stuffed Elmo off of the floor and chuck it at him. "Go away," I laugh.

"Go away? Oh, Becka, you're never gonna get rid of me," he grins.

But you know? That doesn't sound too bad. Good friends are good things.