AN: Sorry, it's been a little while. Holidays, you know.

Chapter 5

Somehow we'd moved off the counter and down the hall a little ways before she tripped over me and we both fell to the ground. A quick laugh escaped my lips but Ren was quick to interrupt with her tongue. She climbed on top of me, putting me in a position of very little control. She'd become so domineering all of a sudden and I can't say I didn't enjoy it. But in the back of my mind I wondered when exactly she'd pull away and say 'let's watch a movie'. I knew it was coming.

As it happened, she didn't get the chance to freak on me-- the damned door-bell rang.

"What?" She said, pulling away from me with lightning speed. "You… you said your parents were out of town…"

"They are." I sat up. "It's probably some salesman."

"You should check. But don't open the door until you know who it is."

"Yes, mother," I got up and headed toward the door. Peering through the peep-hole I saw two boys, one tall and skinny with blonde surfer hair, and the other slightly shorter with a curly mat of brown hair. "It's Louis and Twitty."

"What? Why?" Ren stammered, checking herself in the hallway mirror.

"Well, because we're pretty good friends, they probably want to go to a movie or something."

Louis pressed the doorbell again. "Tawny! You in there?"

"I'm going to answer," I said, turning to find that Ren had already hidden herself. I shook my head and pulled open the door. "Hey guys."

"What's up?" Twitty asked. "We were going to get a bite at that place Tom was talking about the other day-- want to come?"

"Yeah, he says they have the biggest meat balls on the west coast." Louis added, as though that would have me sold. How little he knew…

"I can't tonight," I answered.

"You're parents are out of town, aren't they?"

"Yeah, but I have a ton of work to do. For school, and chores…I wanted to get most of it done tonight."

"Ah, come one… it's Friday night, Sunday is for homework and chores."

"Not for me," I shook my head. "Sorry boys, let me know how it is and maybe I can come next time."

"Suit yourself," Twitty shrugged. "Let's go, man, Tom said there might be a wait."

"Ok, just a second, I needed to talk with Tawny about something first. In private."

"Oh, right," Twitty nodded. "Well, make it quick. I'll wait out here."

"Is everything ok, Louis?" I asked as I shut the door.

"Well, I wanted to ask you to go with me to the Winter Formal. I know we're not really 'together' right now, but we always said we'd go if we didn't have dates, remember? And I don't, and you haven't mentioned anyone, so… what do you say?"

"Oh, um…" What could I say?

"It's not binding or anything," He laughed. "If someone else comes up let me know and you're free to go with him. Just give me a few days notice."

"Ok, alright, then. Sure."

"Sure?"

"Sure. Yes, I'll go with you."

"Great!" He clapped his hands together. "Ok, well, you're sure you don't want to come to dinner?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty tired too actually. I think I'll just stay in tonight. Go to bed early."

"On a Friday?" He sounded so amazed.

"Yes, on a Friday." I nodded, a little annoyed.

"Later," he smiled, giving me a brief kiss on the cheek and letting himself out. Leaning against the door I heard him and Twitty talking.

"Dude, did you ask her?"

"Yeah., she said she'd go with me."

"Sweet! Get her flowers, you know, you guys ended badly last time so if you want her back you're going to have to be real smooth. What's her favorite?"

"Oh, uh, roses I think?"

"Color?"

"There are different colored roses?"

"Dude,"

"Probably red. Everyone likes red, right?"

Their voices faded as they walked further from my porch and moments later I head a car start up.

I sighed, crossing my arms and turning to find Ren. To my surprise she was siting in the living room, with the window slid open a little. She'd been listening to everything too. She sat leaning toward the window, her shoulders rigid.

"Ren?" I set a hand on her back, but she was up and ten feet from me before I knew it.

"Why'd you say yes?"

"We're just friends, Ren, it's an agreement we made."

"Just friends? He wants you back!"

"That's out of my control."

"You shouldn't have said yes."

"Why not? Were you planning on taking me?"

"You don't even like dances!"

"That's not the point! Why do you have to go with him? It could've been any guy, Tawny! Lots of guys like you! You have to go with my brother?"

"We're just friends, I'll make that clear to him."

"He's going to ask you out again!"

"So? I don't have to say yes, Ren."

"You didn't have to tonight either."

"Ren," I groaned.
"What? Am I supposed to be thrilled about this?"

"Ren, I know you're not taking me. If I don't go at all it might hurt his feelings, he'll know if I don't have a date."

"Go with someone else then!"

"Louis is the safest bet either way."

"I don't want you going with him. How about Tom? No, he won't do that if he knows Louis likes you. Someone else. I'll find someone else for you to go with. Maybe one of Amy's friends."

"You'd have me go with another girl?"

"No, of course not," she shook her head. "One of the gay guys."

"Ok, Ren, first of all, I'm not your property. I'll go to the dance with whoever I want. Second of all, I'm not going to go out with Louis again."

"You told me last time you went out with him you didn't really want to, you just felt bad saying no. How do I know you won't feel bad again? And he kissed you!"

"On the cheek, Ren!"

"I don't care where, I don't want him kissing you! I don't want him dancing with you or touching you or anything! Please, Tawny…" her voice became suddenly pleading. "I'm not trying to be controlling I just don't want you with him… there are a million other guys… please don't go with my brother."

"You have nothing to worry about, Ren." I moved closer to her, slipping my arms around her waist.

She was breathing hard, angrily. "Don't go with him, please."

"Are you truly worried I'm going to leave you for a guy who is my 4-time ex-boyfriend and still doesn't know my favorite flower?"

She smiled a little.

"Add that to the fact that I'm not to thrilled he interrupted us."