A/N: Hey guys. Okay, this chapter here is a little more AU than usual. I suddenly had the idea for this chapter and I wrote it, and then I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it or not. But I guess I am. Anyway, I think that Emma might have done something incredible stupid like this after the Box Hill debacle, were she living in modern time and college aged. So here's my chapter. I'm especially interested to here what you guys have to say about this one. Thanks again for all the reviews. Sorry I'm slowing down.

WhiteCamellia: 7 more chapters, I think (?) Around 7 more, anyway.

NotreDamegirlie: giving up Fanfic for Lent? Sounds rough. Don't think I could do it. I admire your follow through. :o)

P.S. Rob Thomas' new song "Lonely No More" is the best song ever! Spread the joy!

Chapter 26
All of Us Having One Good Time

Saturday night is our night on the town. Excuse me if I don't feel much like celebrating. In fact, the whole core group doesn't feel much like celebrating. Taylor and West intuitively sense that something has gone down between Christian and me, and they're taking turns throwing worried glances at me an then him. Christian himself is sullen and definitely not talking to me. Sophie and Natalie are keeping each other company. (Natalie is also avoiding me like the plague.) Elton and Amy are in their own little world.

Chase, on the other hand, is unbearably exuberant. He knows my spirits are low and he's overcompensating in an attempt to lift them. It's not working.

Jen is equally animated, but in her case, I don't think she got any of what happened today. At least, she better not have gotten it. Because if she did, I'd say she's not much of a loyal friend. The girl has latched herself onto Christian's right arm, and she's doing her best to cheer him up. And in Christian's case, I think it is working

Damn. If I have to be miserable, the least Christian could do is be miserable with me.

Okay, that doesn't make sense. I made my bed. I know it.

We're going to a concert of some pseudo-independent band that only Christian and I have heard of and only Christian and I, under normal circumstances, would enjoy. Which means it's very likely that nobody will be enjoying it.

Well, Jen looks like she's up for anything. And Christian is becoming more and more his usual self. That's two.

The concert is at this club called Banana Joe's. Once we get there, I purposely loose Chase in the crowed. I decide instead that this is a good moment to spend some quality time with my ex. He's easy to find. At the bar.

Elton and I work out this cool system where he orders the drinks and I, well, I drink them. It's running pretty smoothly until he has to ruin our flow by asking, "So what is up with you anyway?"

"I'm celebrating," I say, "my birthday."

Elton snorts. "Uh-huh. Right. I'm not buying it. You never drank like this when we were dating. Not even at parties and stuff."

Oh. I haven't even gotten started.

"One of us had to stay sober," I giggle. I'm feeling silly.

After a couple more, silly turns to reckless. This is when I spot Chase across the room. Mmm. He's looking good tonight. I mean, really good. What was I thinking anyway, with all of this I'm-in-love-with-Christian crap? Chase is sexy. Chase is my man. Chase is my soul mate. I stumble off my chair and head myself in his direction.

"Hey, where you going?" Elton calls after me.

"To my lover!" I announce. Sweet of him to be worried about me though. Maybe I should have dated Elton after all.

"Oh, this ought to be entertaining," Elton scoffs.

Okay, maybe not. I'm not that drunk.

I make it Chase and slide in front of him, pulling on his sleeve. "Let's get out of here," I slur. "Can you believe this band? They're totally giving me a headache. Gag. Anyway, the concert's almost over."

Chase looks at me funny. "You're kidding me," he says. "You and Superman are the only ones who've even heard of this band."

"Well, Wolverine, I decided I don't like them anymore. The band, I mean. Or good guys either. I'm looking for more of a Batman type," I inform him, slipping an arm around his neck.

"Okay, you're mixing your superhero metaphors now," Chase says as he detangles himself from my arms. "You are sowasted."

"Nu-huh!" I protest, placing my hands on my hips. I'm really not that drunk.

"Okay, let's go,' Chase announces authoritatively. He spins me around and pushes me towards to door with his hands on my shoulders. Not that I'm hard to push. I readily give in to the command.

"Hey, good idea (giggle). I wonder where you got it from."

"You're jokes are making less sense than usual," Chase says dully. We're outside now. "Please tell me there's a coffee shop around here somewhere," he says, peering around the street.

"I don't need coffee," I pout, standing beside the building. It's dark out now. And kind of cold. But I shrug off my jacket anyway, revealing my silky pink camisole beneath.

"Yes you do," Chase says, back with the authoritative tone. He steps in front of me and folds his arms across his chest. I think he's trying to look impressive. It's kind of cute. "And put your coat back on. It's freezing out here."

I lean back against the wall. "I'm not cold. Are you cold?" I purr.

"Becka—"

"You could share you jacket with me," I suggest in a low voice, pulling him toward me by the bottom of his coat.

"Stop it Becka," he says, dropping his arms and placing his hands on my shoulders to keep me at arms length.

"Stop what?" I lean forward. His hands slip past my shoulder, to my back.

"Becka," he whispers.

"Mmm," I murmur. "Shut up." He leans in.

And we kiss.

And kiss.

And—

"Oh God!" I break off and turn around, leaning my forehead against the cold concrete wall. I don't need coffee anymore. Suddenly I'm very sober. This isn't right.

"Oh shit," I hear Chase behind me, but it's kind of like he isn't there. This isn't right. This isn't right. This isn't right.

"Becka." Chase tries to touch my shoulder, but I violently shrug him off. "Oh, come on Becka," he says. He sounds a little annoyed. After all, I started it.

I don't come on. I stand there with my head against the wall swallowing really hard. Because if I move or talk or anything I'm going to start crying. I don't want to start crying.

"Look, Becka, I'm sorry." Chase sounds desperate. I don't think he's used to dealing with things like this—breakdowns and stuff. "That was… bad. I know."

Silence.

"Come on. Please—just—say something?" he pleads.

What the hell. I'm already crying anyway. I slowly turn around, using the wall to support myself. Chase jams his hands into his pockets and he taps his foot nervously. He's a good body's-length away from me. He so obviously doesn't know what to do.

"I just. Wanted. It. To work," I gasp out between sobs. Pause to collect myself. Better now. Continue. "I wanted us to work. Because if we did. Maybe that would mean—" I break off. The tears are coming back.

"That you and Christian don't," Chase finishes quietly.

I nod, biting my lip to keep from starting up with the crying again. I slide down onto the pavement. I pull my knees up to my chest. Elbows on my knees. Head in my hands.

"Everything is so messed up," I whisper.

Chase hesitates, then he sits down beside me. He's still keeping a good distance between us. This is why I need Christian—he would know what to do right now. He would sling his arm around my shoulder and pull me into his side. I need Christian. How did I not know this before?

I'm done crying now, so I pull my compact out of my purse and start pulling myself back together. I cried most of my eyeliner off, so more of that. A little cover-up to hide my blotchiness (again from the crying).

When I'm reapplying my lip gloss (this from the kissing), Christian and Jen tumble out of the building, both of them laughing. I look up at them dully as I throw the lip gloss back in my purse. Christian stops laughing and says, "Oh." Jen sticks her head back in the door and shouts, "Hey Taylor! We found them."

Great. They were looking for us.

In a minute the rest of the troop is outside. The concert is apparently over. Chase stands and pulls me up after him, but as we're walking back to the cars I lag behind. It takes me a good three minutes to realize that Sophie Walker is lagging with me.

"So," she says softly. "Which one broke your heart?"

I'm startled into looking at her. I'm really surprised by 1) her directness and 2) her perception. We're obviously talking about Christian and Chase here.

"Does it matter?" I ask bitterly.

Sophie studies me for a moment. The she turns her head forward again and says softly, "I guess not."

A few seconds of silence. But you know, I need to vent and Sophie seems for some reason to think she needs to here about this.

"Okay, Christian," I say. Is it just me or does Sophie look a little relieved by that? It must be just me. Why would she be relieved anyway?

"And do you know what the worst part of it is?" I ask. "Watching Jen hanging all over him all night."

"I know exactly what you mean," Sophie says, and ironic smile curving onto her lips.

"She has no idea," I continue about Jen.

"So you can't blame her, but you really want to anyway," Sophie adds.

Huh. She does know exactly what I'm talking about.

"Anyway," Sophie continues. "I wouldn't worry too much about Christian if I was you. Things will work out. I mean, you and Christian, it's like… destiny."

"Well, I'm sure about destiny," I laugh weakly. "But thanks." Then I sigh and add, "It's going to be one long drive home tomorrow, though."

"I'll let you ride with Chase," Sophie offers.

Wow. I should have been nice to Sophie Walker a long time ago.