Tom hastened to catch up with Jenny. When he did they simply walked together in silence; each absorbed with similar disturbing thoughts. As they reached the car Tom punctuated the silence.

            "How about dessert?"

            Jenny fixed Tom with a glance, taking a moment to think before replying. She wasn't fooling herself, she knew full well what they were heading into. She was terrified, sure. But was she ready?

            "Sounds good."

            Okay, she thought. Taking action is good. Now what? She needed to calm down. So while Tom concentrated on the road and finding a suitable song on the radio Jenny focused on calming herself. She unclenched her hands from the fists they were in and she took a few deep breaths. She calmed down considerably when she realized she could just take the coward's way out and follow Tom's lead. Yes, that sounded like a viable candidate for Plan A as far as Jenny was concerned.

            They pulled up to the town's only bookstore, which happened to have the town's only café attached to it. Jenny wondered absently if Tom chose it because he knew of the calming influence that it tended to have on her. There were plush leather seats secluded near the back windows for the avid reader, with green banker's lights suspended from the wall sporadically throughout the store. Tom led Jenny to the café side and they sat in a booth next to a wall with one of Monet's prints facing them. A few more minutes were spent deciding what to order then came the moment of truth...they were alone at the table.

            "So what did you think of the movie?" Tom asked.

            Jenny glanced over to see if he was joking or not. Deciding he wasn't she thought for a moment of a diplomatic way of saying it was terrible. She decided to focus on the positive aspects, concluding that if they were going to fight, she wasn't using the movie as a starting point.

            "Well she had a good voice."

            "Yeah she did. I wonder if that was really her singing?"

            "Good question. I don't know."

            And so it went.

            Through dessert and until they arrived at Jenny's. Each of them dancing around important topics and keeping up the small talk. Part of Jenny was immensely relieved while the other part was frustrated--mostly with herself for being so timid.

            Tom walked Jenny to the door. He couldn't believe how the night had gone. It was like a first date...and not in a good way. He wondered if he was going to be having a lot of first dates in the near future. He blamed himself for putting distance between them during the Games. He thought he'd save the day and Jenny would be waiting in the wings…eternally grateful and eternally his. He had it all wrong. Her question temporarily blocked his thoughts.

            "So you think you'll want to go to the party tomorrow night?"

            "What party?"

            "At Sarah's. Audrey mentioned it, remember?"

            "Sure, it sounds good. What time is it?"

            "I think everyone's getting there around 9:00. But I'll double-check with Audrey to make sure."

            "Okay. I'll call you tomorrow and see what's happening."

            "All right."

            And then it was time to say good night. This time there was no repeat of the awkward hello. They both went for the hug.

            As Tom bounded down the stairs and towards his car Jenny felt like she had to say something. They were drifting apart. The thought choked her.

            "Tom?"

            "Yeah?"

            "I do love you, you know."

            "I know."

            But it wasn't enough.

[[[[[]]]]]

            Dee got off the phone with Audrey and called Summer.

            "Hello?"

            "Hi Summer, it's Dee."

            "Oh hi! What's up?"

            "Well we need to talk. All of us. About what happened. Especially Jenny. She's been, well I think it would really help her to get it all out. So I was thinking that we could all spend the night tonight at Aba's after the party. I already asked her and she said it was cool. I figured it would be best to talk in a place where we wouldn't get bugged. So do you think you could ask your folks if you could stay over? I mean, assuming you want to of course."

            Summer swallowed the knot of fear Dee's words had caused. But she knew Dee was right. And if it would help Jenny.

            "Sure. I'll go ask them."

            Summer's parents agreed, albeit a bit reluctantly. But they felt okay knowing it was Aba who would be watching over them.

            "Dee?"

            "Yeah?"

            "It's okay with them."

            "Great! I'll see you at Sarah's then?"

            "Okay. Bye."

            Audrey meanwhile dialed Jenny.

            "Hello?"

            "Jenny? It's me, Audrey."

            "Oh hey. What's up?"

            "Well we need to talk. Especially Summer. She's been, well I think it could really help her to get it all out. And with you being Zach's cousin well.anyway Dee and I were thinking that we could all spend the night tonight at Aba's after the party. I already asked her and she said it was cool with Aba. I figured it would be best to talk in a place where we wouldn't get bugged. So do you think you could ask your folks if you could stay over? I mean, assuming you want to of course."

            Jenny swallowed the knot of fear Audrey's words had caused. But she knew Audrey was right. And if it would help Summer.

            "Sure. I'll go ask them."

            Jenny's parents agreed and Jenny picked up the handset to let Audrey know.

            "Audrey?"

            "Yes?"

            "It's okay with them."

            "Great! I'll see you at Sarah's, okay?"

            "Okay. Bye."

[[[[[]]]]]

            Audrey had no sooner hung up when the phone began to ring.

            "Hello?"

            "Audrey? It's Dee."

            "Jenny's in. What about Summer?"

            "Yep."

            "Okay. Well, I hope this works."

            "Me too. See you tonight?"

            "Yeah. Hey, do you need a ride over?"

            "Sure, that would be great. Thanks."

            "No problem. See you around 8:45?"

            "I'll be ready. Bye."

            "Bye."

[[[[[]]]]]

            Summer arrived at the party with a sense of heightened anticipation. She hadn't talked to Zach since their kiss and felt that tonight she would have to confront him about it.

            She took a moment to appreciate Sarah's house. It was a big two-story white brick structure that was flanked by beautiful landscaping--well-chosen shrubs, bushes, and flowers--on both sides. There were dark red and bright yellow snapdragons, bold orange tiger lilies and breathtaking orchid colored gladioli among others. The overall effect was complimented by concrete stepping stones with stained-glass inlays. These led to the back of the house which featured an enormous deck and a sprawling yard of at least two acres of cool, plush grass. The deck had been decorated with red and yellow Chinese lanterns that swayed gently in the slight breeze. Summer had always loved the look of the cherry-stained wood the deck was made out of. The stepping stones led the way through a number of arched trellises with lovely vines cascading through every nook and cranny and buds that, when opened, sported delicate purple blossoms.

            The focal point of the backyard was the gazebo. Its wood matched the deck and trellises and inside there were benches against every wall. It was currently serving as a makeshift refreshment stand and as she made her way through to it she looked for Zach. She grabbed a drink so she could have something else to do with her hands besides wringing them in nervousness. Summer settled onto one of the benches and pulled her legs up, twisting so she could look out of the opening at the lush rose bushes beneath her and smell the night blooming jasmine.

[[[[[]]]]]

            It was like this that Zach found her. He noticed himself staring but couldn't seem to stop. Even over the din of music she seemed to sense his presence and she suddenly turned, catching Zach off guard. He slowly made his way over to her, feeling his shyness weigh down his every step.

            He gestured to the seat empty space beside her and she smiled and indicated he should sit, moving her legs out of the way to make room. The general noise level was loud enough that Zach had to lean over to say his hello. When he did Summer caught the scent of his aftershave and liked it immediately. As Zach said hello Summer tilted her head to hear him better, causing her hair to brush Zach's cheek. He inhaled the scent of strawberries and decided it was his new favorite food.

            Realizing they couldn't carry on a conversation very well Zach asked if Summer wanted to go someplace quieter. She nodded her consent and they left in search of a place they could talk. But as they passed the dance floor-- an area of the yard whose boundary was created by tiki torches--the current song changed to one of Summer's favorite slow songs. She noticed and stopped walking abruptly to listen for a moment.

            Fortunately Zach hadn't gone on too far ahead before he noticed Summer's absence. Making his way back to her he asked if anything was wrong.

            "No," she answered, smiling. "I just love this song and wanted to hear it for a minute. Sorry, we can go."

            And she moved to go but his voice stopped her.

            "Would you like to dance?"

            Her eyes widened for a moment but she quickly nodded in case he realized what he'd said and wanted to change his mind.

            She took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. Once they got there she was loathe to let go of his hand and instead held it in hers, cradled to her chest.

[[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]][[[[[]]]]]

Disclaimer: In case this is the first chapter you've stumbled upon I will reiterate for you that I own no rights to the characters below except Sarah. Please do not sue me if that is indeed the superpower you've been blessed with.

Author's note: Hello again everyone! Those of you who continue to stick with me are absolutely the reason I write. I'm going to go back and re- write some earlier stuff.particularly the first dream sequence. No, I'm not taking any Julian out (heaven forbid!). I am just plagued with thoughts of a better way to introduce the concept of their shared dreams. I don't like the way Jenny cries, she's a whiner there and it irritates me. But I digress..