As soon as they got into her house Paul started asking the questions.

"You have a date, with whom," he asked.

"Um, shmoj," she muttered. He moved in closer to hear her better, "Joe."

"Th-that kid?! Jen, you could do so much better. Why him?! Out of all people when you have the perfect guy right in front of you!"

"YOU?!"

"NO! I mean, Jen, you're pretty and all but come on, you're practically my sister. I'm talking about Pete. PETE!"

"Oh, I know," she smiled. "It's cute."

"Did I miss something here," he asked, confusedly.

She grabbed his jacket and hung it, "I know he likes me. I want to see if he likes me enough to tell me himself."

"You're so WEIRD," Paul said.

"What? Cause I want to see if he likes me?"

"Alright, you're evil. Do you even like Joe?"

She laughed, "Nope. But don't open your big ass mouth, this is a small town and there's a thing called a reputation."

"Fine," he smiled. "But I'm just going to let you know that what you're doing is very, very, evil and cruel."

"Paul, shut it."

"Alright," he sighed. "But let me remind you that it's very cruel. Very cruel, very very cruel, very very VERY cruel-" He stopped when he saw the glare on her. "Where are you going on Saturday anyway?"

"Brianna's party," she said. Before he could say anything, she cut him off, "Goodnight Paul." She hugged him and went into her bedroom.

"What a strange girl."

- -

Pete walked into his dark kitchen to get a drink. He opened the carton of milk and mixed it with a spoonful of chocolate syrup before setting it down on the table and turning on the lights. He saw something he wasn't supposed to, "Whoa..!"

"Uh, hey Pete," Chris yelled, startled. Deni and him were kissing in the dark and didn't even notice Pete until the lights went on.

"I know you're sad about Jay being back and all but maybe you should-"

Deni smiled, "It wasn't anything like that. We just, we thought we were alone."

"I bet you guys did," Pete said, putting on a smile. He took his chocolate milk off the table and left the room. After turning off the lights again he faced them, "Continue."

Pete went into another room to watch TV, took out his cell phone, and dialed Brianna's number. "Hey Brianna, it's-it's Pete. Yeah, well since my plans changed for this Saturday, I'll be going to your party. My guest – oh no, it's not going to be Jenny. Actually I'm going to bring her friend, Paul. Yeah, yeah, well I'll see you around? Alright, bye." He sighed before turning off the phone.

ON THE OTHER LINE…

"Who was it," Joe asked as soon as she got off the phone.

"Pete," Brianna smiled. "He's coming. The plan is working, and by Saturday they'll be completely over each other."

"Hi Pete," Brianna smiled sweetly as she saw him enter the halls.

Pete turned away from Paul and Jenny and turned to her, "What's up?"

"I'll see you on Saturday right," she asked.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Oh, and Sunday is our gymnastics competition. You should go. I'll catch you later Pete." She put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him on the cheek. She nodded toward her friends and they all started to follow her to class.

"Wow," was all that Jenny could say while trying to hold in her laughter. "Just a hunch – I think she likes you. Do you like her?"

"Y-yes I mean no, you know what? I really don't know anymore. I used to and I don't want to go back to her. Besides, I like someone else."

"Really," she asked. Paul gave her a look telling her not to say anything more. She rolled her eyes and ignored him, "Well I think that you should tell that person. Like, right now."

"I will, but not now."

"Yeah alright," she joked as he started heading to class. "See you."

"Yo Jen," Paul said. "I wasn't supposed to tell you that he likes you so if you could keep it on the DOWN LOW…"

"PSH," she waved him off, "He's a guy, which means that he doesn't suspect a thing." They both jumped up as the bell rang. "I'll see you later. Paulina."

His eyes widened, "Jen!" Paulina was his nickname from Jenny since they were four, and it wasn't exactly his favorite name.

"I'm sorry," she smiled, "But you didn't think you were going to live that down, did you?"

- -

After school, Jenny hurried to get to practice. Since Sunday was their competition, she had to prove that she belonged. She stopped a second as her stomach growled. Everything around her started to move but she shook her head and started to head to the gym.

After changing, warming up, and wrapping her ankles, which were swollen from having practice everyday, she started to practice her routing on the uneven bars.

Starting on the first bar, she swung herself to circle it around completely and stopped. She switched her hand position and swung herself opposite the direction she swung before.

Letting go of that bar, she moved herself to the higher bar and repeated the routine, then, moved back to the smaller one. After a couple of minutes or perfecting every move, she let go and stuck her landing.

Alexis complimented her every now and then and she smiled at her own performance.

"That was great, Jen," Alexis beamed, "You've improved a great deal since you came here."

"Thanks," Jenny replied, holding her knees for support. It was tiring but was definitely worth it.

"Brianna," Alexis asked. Brianna turned around to look at her, "You and Jenny are going to be on the uneven bars on Sunday. Practice you're routine."

Brianna nodded and moved over to where Alexis and Jenny were standing. She got onto the bars and started to swing around. Things were going fine until she fell.

Alexis sighed and shook her head in disappointment. "Brianna, keep practicing."

"I was practicing," she said with an attitude.

"Well, by the looks of what you just did," Alexis started, "It sure doesn't seem like it. Girls, I'll be back in a couple of minutes. Brianna – practice! And Jen, you can leave." With that, Alexis left to go into her office.

Jenny started to leave but Brianna grabbed her hand. Jenny tried shaking free but couldn't. Instead, she turned to look at Brianna. "What?"

"You keep trying to make me look bad and just see what happens," Brianna threatened. "I will mess you up. Whether it be with Pete or whether it be with me making you look bad on Sunday. Got it?"

"Whatever," Jen replied. She pulled away from Brianna's grip and walked away.