We finished unpacking around three in the morning. It would have taken longer, but we didn't have much stuff. I was ready to collapse, as was Joanne, but Maureen and Collins didn't look anywhere near tired, so we sat in out new living room and watched movies. I tried to sleep, but with out Collins, it was no use.

I sat up, pulled on a shirt, and groggily walked into the living room. I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching Collins and the others laugh. I had no clue what they were watching, but I love watching Collins laugh at what ever it was. He had a smile that lit up his whole face, and made his eyes twinkle. After a minute, he looked up and saw me, still smiling, and held up his hand to me. I took it and slid into his lap, pulling a blanket over my arms and snuggled my head into the crook of his neck. When the next funny part in the movie came up, I could feel Collins chest tighten, like he was trying to stay quiet and not wake me up. I traced a heart on his chest with my finger. "Don't stop yourself from laughing, okay?"

He tightened his arms around me. "Okay."

I must have fallen asleep on Collins lap, and he carried me to bed, because that's where I woke up, or technically, where I was woken up. I may have been dreaming, I can't really remember, but I was awoken by Maureen trying to push me out of bed. "Get up, get dressed, and get out!"

I rubbed my eyes and looked at her. She was fully dressed and ready to go. I looked at my watch. It was close to noon. I couldn't remember the last time I had slept that late. Well, actually, I could. It was the first time me and Collins slept together, since neither of wanted to leave the warmth of the bed the next morning, and we just laid there, holding each other. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. "Why do I need to get up and out of my own bed?"

Maureen rolled her eyes like it should have been completely obvious. "Because I'm hungry and you have no food in this house. Collins and Joanne are doing something with paper and pens. I don't really know what because they talked so much and I didn't pay attention. Anyway, we need to go food shopping with the money Collins left. Ohh and he wanted me to give you something."

She bent over the bed and gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek. "No offence Mo, but that might have meant more coming from him."

She began to pout dramatically and I jumped up and hugged her again, holding her until she began to squirm away from me. "No offence Ang, but that might have meant more coming from Joanne." She laughed and threw a pillow at me. "Now get dressed so we can go!" She walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. I could vaguely hear salsa music come over the radio in the kitchen.

I rubbed my eyes one final time, sliding out of bed and to my dresser. For just a second, I was worried when I couldn't find my skirts, but then I remembered, and pulled out a pair of shiny blue jeans and a black shirt with blue sparkles on the sleeves. Honestly, I hated it, but it did take me a lot less time to get ready without having a wig and makeup to perfect. I slid on my black sneakers and took a deep breath, looking in the mirror. Sure, I looked hot, but it just wasn't the same. I never noticed how short my real hair was before, or how dull the natural color of my lips was. I probably shouldn't have, but I pulled out a tube of my lightest lip gloss and applied a thin layer to my lips. There. At least I hadn't abandoned my old self entirely.

I walked into the kitchen and Maureen stared at me for a minute. "You know, it's not fair. Most people can pull off dresses, tight pants, or are forced to wear flannels. You look hot in all three."

"It's a burden, as well as a blessing." I struck a pose, just to make Maureen laugh, since my body seemed to seriously piss her off. It worked and she laughed, grabbing my arm and pulling me out and to the car. "Do you even know how to drive Mo?"

"I used to. I guess we'll see if I still do."