Pride slipped his headphones off, frowning as he looked around his room. He could have sworn he heard something. There it was again, a scrabbling noise coming from his…window? He went over to it, raising it up, sticking his head out and then snapping it back in just in time to avoid a face full of pebbles. He heard a faint snickering and he leaned out again, staring in disbelief.

"Ebony! What are you doing here? It's—" He glanced at his watch. "Eleven-thirty on a school night. What—I thought you were grounded."

"Not so loud, Twig-Boy, are you trying to get me busted? People are sleeping you know, it is after all eleven-thirty on a week day." She raised her eyes, creating the perfect image of innocence, then ruined it by grinning broadly. "I'm going 'round back. Let me in?" She didn't wait for a response, sashaying off around the house.

Shaking his head and muttering the entire time, Pride straightened up into his room, then made his way to the kitchen door. Disarming the alarm, he opened the door to an arms-crossed, foot-tapping Ebony.

"What took you so long?" She asked, pushing her way past him and heading up the stairs to his bedroom.

He raced up the stairs after her, rushing into his room and after checking to make sure no one was stirring elsewhere in the house, closed and locked his door, pressing his back against it. Glaring, he stared at the bed.

"My parents are home, do you know that? They're just down the hallway and if they were to find you here…"

"Well, if you kept your voice down, then we won't have anything to worry about, right?" She licked her lips slowly, her lids lowering to half-mast. Not breaking eye contact, she drew down the zipper on her black hoodie, revealing the cleavage spilling from her black and red lace bra.

Pride gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "What-what are you doing?"

Ebony laughed throatily. "Why don't you come over here and find out?"

"Thanks for bringing me out here." Java turned to Mega, trying to read his inscrutable expression; her aim made even more difficult by the moonlight reflecting off his dark-rimmed lenses, concealing his eyes from her view.

"Thank you for agreeing to come." He responded, his monotone voice making it difficult for her to read as well.

She returned her gaze to the stars up above. It was a clear night; the moon was out, but partially shadowed, not so bright that it outshone the stars, making it an excellent night to stargaze, or person-watch as she was doing as much as she dared. Although, she thought she had caught Mega looking her way a time or two, so maybe the attraction wasn't all one-sided. It was just so hard to tell with him, he was so reserved all the time, keeping to himself mostly and not prone to effusiveness and certainly not pubic displays of affection. It was just so frustrating sometimes, the not knowing…she shivered, slightly, but it had nothing to do with the cool night air.

"Cold? What am I saying; of course you are. Come here."

He shrugged out of his denim jacket, draping it over her shoulders and pulling her into his side, his arm circling her shoulder. She snuggled into the jacket, still warm from his body and bearing the scent she had come to associate with him: his aftershave, the outdoors and simply him. She inhaled deeply, letting out her breath slowly.

"Thanks." She turned to face him, meeting the eyes that had been focused on her the entire time. "Oh," she exclaimed, ducking her head, embarrassed that she had been caught sniffing his jacket of all things.

"Don't. Don't hide."

He raised up her chin, turning her to him so that their gazes met.

"You did nothing to be embarrassed about…and I liked it." He leaned in close, his breath curling across her lips as he spoke. "It makes me want to…" His voice trailed away as he leaned in closer still, pressing his lips to hers. Her eyes drifted closed and her mouth opened, welcoming his heat. She gave everything she had in that kiss, all that she hoped for, all that she wanted. She didn't know if this was a one-off or the beginning of something, but she made it clear what she wanted.

Mega pulled away first, his chest heaving, his glasses askew and his hair sticking up from where her fingers had run through it. He pulled his glasses off, polishing them on the hem of his T-shirt, before slipping them back on with shaking hands.

"Wow."

She couldn't help herself, she giggled; surprising him.

"You giggled. You never giggle; you're not the giggling type."

"Well, who knew you could kiss like that? I guess it's true what they say."

He frowned slightly. "What who says?"

She grinned in reply. "I don't know, they. The ones that say still waters run deep…and pretty hot, I must say."

"You have no idea just how hot these waters can get," he got in close, his lips hovering just above hers.

"So show me." Java narrowed the gap between them to nothing, taking the kiss deep and hot immediately, fogging up Mega's lenses. She removed them, laying them on the blanket away from them, then pushed him down onto his back.

"Hmmph," He grunted out as he landed on his back.

"Shh. Don't worry, I'll be gentle."

Ebony crept up the stairs slowly, her shoes in her hand, taking care to avoid the third step, which tended to squeak.

"Don't forget the eighth one as well."

The young girl jumped and slapped her hand over her mouth to keep from yelping out loud. She spun around to glare at her eldest sister.

"Java! You startled me." Her eyes narrowed. "What are you doing coming home at this hour?" She glanced at the front window, through which the rising sun's rays were beginning to stream.

"And why is your blouse buttoned wrong? You had sex!"

"Why don't you say it a little louder? What are you, the town crier? I can tell by that cream-filled cat look that you've done the same." Java raised a brow at her youngest sibling.

"You're not wrong. So where do we go from here; it appears we have a Mexican standoff?"

Java rolled her eyes. "Why is everything a battle with you? We don't have a stand-off. I'm just late; you're late and grounded. However, as far as I'm concerned, we never saw each other, this conversation never happened, we can just forget the whole thing. And you can get moving or let me pass before we're both busted."

Ebony opened her mouth, then closed it. Then nodding to her sister, she turned and continued up the stairs, skipping over the eighth step.

At the top of the landing, she stopped.

"Java?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"No worries."