Paulo had expected to slog his way through an inch of snow on the side-path much like he had several hundred meters or so before. But he found when he stepped foot into the richer part of Roseville, the pavement had been cleared. He wondered if whether the town municipals had been paid to make frequent runs through this part of the town. He didn't need to think for long. He found himself proven right. In no shortage of time, he heard motorised machinery and glanced towards the origin over the other side of the road. Sure enough, there it was; a motorised snow plougher. It was quite an expensive piece of equipment he guessed. Obviously, the town's too — he couldn't help but notice the city emblem on the side. He watched it drive past and disappear off in the distance behind him where he came. After a moment, he thought he'd better get a move on. He knew what the feeling inside of him and but made no effort to express his frustration on the outside. He wouldn't let it get to him, like always…but shit, he couldn't help but think how nice the feeling would've been if his family was well off financially.

He started to notice his throat was dry. He'd been feeling somewhat parched from the walk from his house, it'd been a long one. There was some regret sinking-in having not taken up on Sue's offer to pick him up from his place, or at least meet him part way on Friday evening. His pride got in the way again. He didn't want to look like the poorest person heading to his party, a victim of his own upbringing. But walking probably made it much worse. He wondered how long the shoes he wore would hold out. They probably weren't designed for walking such distances. He would die of embarrassment if they fell to pieces if Sue wanted to dance. Oh well. He'd decided; he dug his pit. On the plus side, he wouldn't need a new pair any time soon; after all, his last prom was last year, unless Sue decided she had enough and some from the class under him tried to pick him up.

He laughed to himself; as if. Most of the other girls had started to hate him as badly as they hated Mike years ago. He supposed he was responsible for that, having convinced them he was cheating. But Mike saw a benefit in that. Now he knew what it felt like.

And he felt a little bit okay with that. He wondered when or if that was ever going to come back and bite him one day.

Maybe he should've just taken the damn car ride.

He reached the part of Roseville which was nothing but mansions, the sizes of which made Tess' luxurious house something more modest and quite small in comparison. But Katie's house was more extravagant. He knew this since the street her family lived on was also Katie's last name. He went there. He found the house by the set of balloons were tied down to the mailbox. He knew this house was Katie's and it wasn't just another mansion throwing another party; it was the only house on the lot.

Paulo considered that to be the place.

And he couldn't have been any more envious, the house was huge.

There was a lot of envy in him that Katie had been born into a rich family, not having to have worked a single second for her fortune and being relentlessly spoiled rotten by her parents in the meanwhile. She already had a car – a good one. Paulo would need to work well beyond his life expediency at Burgertron to buy something just as good. She also wore some of the best clothes to school, and it changed each and every season. She was just that filthy rich. It was no wonder that she had taken up the offer to run the Christmas party. Although, one had to wonder if it would have been appropriate, given the grades she'd been running with over the last few years. He'd have expected that she'd be hiring enough tutors to well make up, maybe that was true, he didn't see her in the catch-up classes when school resumed. She must have started to take an interest. He supposed he was the same deep down.

He laughed to himself at the thought, was there finally something he had in common with Katie? He shook his head, surely not.

Paulo couldn't stand her character at the best of times and Katie was a snob and a bully at the worst of times. He hadn't forgotten how she treated Daisy, and he made no effort to ever show a hint of affection in her direction. He hoped he didn't need to interact with her, or at least, have to deal with her for too long that night.

His throat was killing him. He hoped at the very least Katie was a bit of a party girl, and there was bond to be enough drinks at this party to last a lifetime.

He made his way through the front yard to the entrance; a large burley man folded his arms as he approached. Paulo couldn't help but be surprised, they'd hired a bouncer? He wondered if that was even necessary for the Christmas party, or was she just trying to show off how rich they were? Paulo approached him.

'Do you have an invite?' The man asked as he approached.

Paulo nodded and reached for the invitation in his coat pocket and handed it over without saying a word. The man grunted at it and motioned inside. Paulo only managed to only get along side him before the bouncer's arm got in his way.

'You haven't got any better shoes?' He asked, pointing downwards.

Paulo looked down to his shoes, he didn't see the problem. He'd spent last night shining them up and doing what he could to make them look new again. 'What about them?' Paulo replied.

'They're out of fashion.'

'So what?! That shouldn't be a problem.' Paulo said back. He shook off the hand and tried to move forwards to the door, but the hand stopped him again. 'What's your deal?' Paulo said turning around. 'Look, I'm just a highschool student, I can't afford another pair of two hundred-dollar shoes!'

To his own relief he spotted Stacy emerging from behind the door at that moment. The bouncer had noticed as well.

'It's okay, you can let him in.' She called out.

The burley man released his hand from Paulo's shoulder, and Paulo took no time getting away from the bouncer and the cold and into the warmer interior of Katie's home.

Katie motioned towards the coat rack, and Paulo left his before following her to where the rest of their friends were. 'You'll have to forgive him, he's more used to events in town than small parties like these.' She said.

'I've been to a few. I'm pretty sure bouncers in town don't even bother guessing what year the shoes were made in, Stace.' Paulo muttered.

Stacy gave it some thought. 'Okay, that might have been something Katie made him check, then.' She admitted.

'Ah, of course.'

She turned and clapped her hands together abruptly. 'It's really nice you were able to come! Another recognisable face in the crowd is something we need!'

He played dumb initially. 'What do you mean? Aren't most of the school here?'

Stacy said it almost as if the answer should have been obvious, 'No. Of course not; Katie doesn't have a lot of friends in the school, most of her friends don't go to our school. And the ones who had received the invites didn't bother to RSVP either.'

He didn't have the heart to tell her he'd only asked the question out from a necessity. Katie really had outdone herself on her snobbery and in a way he wondered if Stacy felt resentful over it. Then again, the way Stacy had said it made him think she'd expected it from the start. 'Then there's only a small number of us?' He asked.

'Six, maybe seven of us. Only a few who weren't already working were able to make it. I'm expecting the last one to appear soon so I'll take you over to where the familiar faces are.'

'Nobody's mingling with the strangers?'

'I haven't seen David for a while…' She wondered. 'Some party, huh?'

He shook his head. 'Hey, come on, I just got here. We can all have fun together.'

He expected Stacy to brighten up at that moment but instead she took a step back. He moved his head to the side in confusion, and a pair of arms came over his shoulders, grabbed hold with an unparallelled tightness causing him to lose his breath, and lifted him into the air. This whole thing felt familiar. He turned his head and recognised the one lifting him in the air. There could only one he knew who would do so with such enthusiasm.

'David!' He shouted.

'Buddy!'

'Put me down!'

David complied immediately, dropping Paulo at height.

Paulo only cared about his shoes at that moment, they really were being taken through their paces. 'Seriously, dude.' He said.

'Sorry! It's just everyone here is so boring! We need to liven this up!'

'No!' Stacy said pointing her hands out, but Paulo was already on it himself.

Paulo shook his head. 'Sorry man, can't do that. Sue already spoke to us about this; best behaviour, remember?'

He watched David's expression fade from happiness to a sulk.

'Dude, weak.' David said.

'Do you remember what happened at Rachel's party?'

'It'll be fine! I didn't bring any games with me this time! But imagine all the pranks we could get up to!'

Paulo had only thought about observing Katie's house in that same second, only having cared to follow Stacy through to his friends. He didn't need to know what everything was made out of, the couches, the vases, the paintings on the wall. He was really sure it was all expensive. 'I'm not sure that's a good idea either. I don't want to risk breaking anything in here. Everything here would probably cost more than what I make in a year.' He said.

David had looked like he'd been wounded. 'Ah man, Sue's got you good, doesn't she?'

'Hey. We can have fun in our own little group.'

David stared down disapprovingly. 'Well I can't with Mr. and Ms. McGrouchy.'

Paulo assumed he meant Abbey and Sue. 'Oh, Why not?'

'Abbey's about as fun as he always is, and Sue's done nothing but sleep.'

Paulo turned to Stacy, 'Wow, really?'

She rolled her eyes, 'You'll find out when we get there.'

He turned back to David, 'What about Amaya? She's here, right?'

'She had to work.' Stacy noted.

'I suppose that means no dance partner for you then, Dave?'

David was stern, 'No, not that I want to dance with anyone else here either; none of them are as fun.'

'I'm sorry man, but you can have a different sort of fun.'

'Yeah, I'll let you know when I find them.' David said, before turning to the crowd and walking towards it. Paulo said nothing, he watched him disappear into the crowd.

'He looked pretty upset, will he be okay?' Stacy asked, worryingly.

'He probably expected things would go back to the way they used to be.' He shrugged, 'It's fine, I had a feeling this was going to happen. I'd been a couple of months since the last party and I think he's just a little upset that'd he'd end up being leashed this time since I'm with Sue. He'll come around soon once he gets sick of mingling.' He said, beneath a smile.

'So it's true, you are both dating?' Stacy asked.

'Nobody told you? Half the class found out in the first week. Though, I suppose everyone had guessed as much anyway.' He said.

'Oh, I heard about it too. I mean it's good you are. Come on, everyone's over here away from the main crowd.' She said leading on.

Paulo looked out to his side as he followed to a few of the people Katie had invited. He certainly couldn't recognise any of them. They certainly appeared a bit older. He wondered if most of them had been from any of he colleges or universities in the town over. They all looked like this was a regular thing for them.

'Nobody else is mingling with Katie's friends?'

'We're all not too sure about some of them.' Stacy replied.

Paulo didn't have to think too hard about whether they were birds from a feather, 'Fair enough.' And after a pause, 'What did you mean earlier when you asked whether Sue and I were dating.'

Stacy stopped and turned towards him, they stopped just short of the next room. She almost begged him, 'Please don't…' She couldn't finish it.

'Don't what?' Paulo asked, confused.

Stacy looked out to her side, 'Look, I don't want anything bad to happen to Sue. She's a lot happier now, and I—'

Paulo shook his head again. He didn't need to know where this was coming from, he had a faint idea already. 'I'm different now.'

'Are you?' She asked.

He nodded. 'Yeah.' Then after a second. 'At least I'm trying to be.'

Stacy carefully considered his answer. 'Come on, they're over here.' She said turning back to where they were going.

His heart quickened its pace. 'No, wait. Stace, hold up.' He called out. He waited until she looked back. 'I know I haven't had the best reputation in the past, but I am trying.'

'I believe you.'

'You'd be the second.'

As Paulo came beside her, she bought her hand up to his shoulder and kept it there. He looked down at her. 'I really do believe you.' Stacy said.

Paulo nodded. He didn't feel the need to say anything more about it.

The room they walked into was notably smaller than the other rooms and only half as extravagant, as if the room had been missed during its last renovation. It was like many of the other living rooms, with two sofas turned in towards each other with a small table between them, but this room had very little else; no other nick-nacks, vases or things that could go up against the wall. It certainly lacked in lavishness like the other rooms, but that ended up not bothering Paulo a single bit. He almost felt at home with how plain the room was. More importantly, the other party goers weren't coming into this room and bothering them.

He realised why; even within his own circle, there wasn't a party going on.

'They're in here.' Stacy said pointing in the room.

He couldn't help but grin as he approached them. He recognised the distinctiveness of the back of Abbey's head. But his attention went to Sue. There was a bit of wonder in him; she'd arrived in a nice gown. She'd made her make up more obvious and her hair had been done up.

And the way she was sleeping there was nothing different than sleeping beauty.

'Is she asleep?' He asked Stacy. 'I'm supposed to wake sleeping beauty like in the plays, right?'

'God, please don't.' He heard Abbey say behind him.

It came out very drunkenly, 'I'm not sleeping.' Sue said.

He turned to Stacy, still grinning, 'How long as she been like this?'

'She was fine until she hit the drinks just a few hours ago.'

'O—Oh!' He said with some surprise. He folded his arms and tried to look cross in the best way he could. But he couldn't. This situation was just too funny. 'You know you weren't supposed to start without me.'

'Sh…Shut up.' Sue said, 'It's just a headache.'

'You had something to eat, right?'

'Yes, mom.' She muttered, turning inward to the couch.'

Stacy moved over to her and shook her lightly on the shoulder. 'You really should sit up. You'll feel better soon.' She pulled Paulo over beside her and beckoned him to sit down. He complied, and Stacy helped Sue up and leant her off his shoulder.

'I wouldn't have believed it with my eyes until I saw it for myself.' Abbey said from his side of the room. His head resting off his hand.

'Funny to see you here by yourself.' Paulo said, 'Wouldn't have thought this would've been your jam'.

'It's not.' Abbey took a mouthful of his drink and finished it off before setting it aside. 'I got dragged along.'

'It might be better if that's your last one for a while.' Stacy said as she took the empty bottles around his feat.

'Yeah.' Abbey muttered.

It came off quite dick-ish, even to Stacy. Paulo was going to say something, but Stacy shook her head at him. 'It's okay. Now, what would you like?'

'I'll just take water for the moment. Two glasses, one for Sue.'

'You can drink, you know.' Sue said.

'I have permission?' Paulo asked with some cheek.

She bought her fist up and lightly tapped it against his side. Her speech slurred. 'Dun get snippy wit me.'

He chuckled before turning to Stacy again, 'I'll get something else when I feel about right, I just wanna make sure Sue's alright.' He turned back towards Abbey who sat bemused. 'What?' Paulo asked.

'Absolutely nothing.' Abbey said, arms folded. 'Didn't think I'd see the day, that's all.'

'What's that supposed to mean?!' Paulo said, almost standing. But Sue pulled him back down.

'Can you both try to get along?' Sue asked them.

'Fat chance, pretty sure it'd be a cold place in hell before that happens.' Paulo said.

'From a lack of trying!' She shouted.

Paulo made a noise resembling a tch and turned towards Abbey again. 'I heard you're been dating Jasmine since a while ago. Where's she?'

Abbey appeared a bit morose at the question. He pointed over towards the crowd, 'Over there somewhere. Wanted to find out what it's like in college.'

'Would've figured she'd be close by.' Paulo said.

'Yeah…' Abbey said, same as before to Stacy. To Paulo's amazement, he watched as Abbey drew a hand to the floor in front of him and retrieved another bottle, opened it and took a swig. Paulo didn't need to think too hard to put two and two together. Abbey was far too goodie-two-shoes to drink before he was of age, he was still seventeen. There was only one explanation.

'You fought with each other.' Paulo snickered, cracking the largest grin he could. Life was good.

Abbey shot back a glare. 'Yeah? What about it?'

'How bad did you blow it?' He couldn't wait to hear about it, but Abbey wasn't willing to share. They weren't close friends. Paulo didn't deserve the response. Instead, Abbey rose up from his seat and turned from them.

Sue rose her head off Paulo's leg, 'A…Abbey! Where are you going?' She called out.

'Bathroom.' He called back, showing little emotion.

'Are you feeling okay, Abbey?' She asked. 'Yer not sick either?'

'No.' Then he stopped. 'Actually…might be a few minutes in there. Enough time so you can have some alone time to make-out or whatever before I actually am sick.'

Paulo decided to chime in. 'You're going with the beer bottle?'

'I'm going to dispose of it, you idiot.'

'You're sure you're not taking it with you to the bathroom for a refill?' Paulo smiled.

Abbey shot a glare over shoulder before turning forward and shaking his head as he continued towards the bathroom. Sue sighed next to him.

'Well, now that the bad news has gone, did you want to take him up on his suggestion?' Paulo asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. He didn't expect Sue's fist into his side again. It wasn't a tap this time either. She hit him, hard.

'Why tha' fuck do you have to be such an asshole!' She yelled at him.

He felt partially winded. It took him a moment to recover. 'Because he fucking assaulted me last year.' He shouted. 'He's a prick!'

She turned on the sofa towards him, 'You're a prick! You've always been a prick to him!'

'I have not!'

'Have too! Dun act like I haven't noticed!'

Paulo grumbled. 'So what if I was? He did a whole heap of shit to me last year and years before, and none of you guys did anything. He's a total fucking asshole.'

'Dun act like you didn't half deserve it back then either. You were just as much an asshole to him as he was back! Ya couldn't once learn when to leave him alone.' She put her head in her hands. 'Why does it always need to be like this? Well hardly agree most of the time but at least we try to get along? Surely you could too?'

'So, what? I should just forget everything that's already happened?'

'You did for me, diddin' you?' Sue asked.

'Abbey didn't come to my door during a snowstorm and confess to me!'

'An I only worked up the courage to try because I forgave everything first.' She shouted.

He was somewhere between outrage and fear. God, the idea was fucking awful. He wasn't going to forgive Abbey for shit. He bought his arm up to the arm rest and propped his head on it, he looked out towards the window and the snow falling outside.

'Couldn' you at least try?'

He looked down towards Sue and the pained expression on her face. His ears fell flat.

Sue laid her head against his arm 'Please? Can you at least try? Come on, I want a good night with friends. Please?'

'Why is it I'm always the one who has to be the one to change?' Paulo sheepishly asked.

'Because you were the one who wanted to do things differently.' Sue replied sounding a little sleepish. 'An you come aroun' doin it in ways I love.'

Paulo looked down towards Sue again, and sighed. They didn't say anything to each other after that. Eventually Abbey returned a few short minutes after, not looking any better than he did when he disappeared. As he sat down opposite them again, Paulo noticed a different bottle in his hand, opened, already some of the contents missing. He breathed a sigh and looked back down towards Sue. She had her eyes closed, likely resting, or asleep.

Paulo swallowed, getting along with Abbey; a momentous task indeed.

'How many have you had so far?' He asked, pointing towards Abbey's bottle.

'Buzz off.'

Ahh, maybe shouldn't have started there. Paulo realised.

'It's his forth.' Sue said, not quite asleep as he figured.

'Stop counting.' Abbey muttered.

'You need to stop.' Sue said sluggishly. 'Dun do a pity drink'

'I'll do what I want.' He muttered again, he took another long sip.

It had felt a bit jarring to see Abbey in such a state, and not to mention him drinking too. He was always so proper on the moral ladder. 'Fine, nevermind the drink. What happened between you and Jasmine.'

'Ask your girlfriend. She'll tell you. She's good at getting into other people's business.'

'Hey!' Sue shouted.

Paulo felt his blood boil from that but thought to use it to his own advantage; 'Can't disagree there, sorry Sue.' He snickered. He ignored the jab Sue made to his side. He stopped laughing and pointed towards Abbey, 'But, I asked you.'

'What makes you think I want to tell you?'

'Because you're dying to have someone help you and your problems, you wouldn't be here otherwise.'

'I didn't want to come. She dragged me here.'

'O—Oh, is that so?'

'He needed to talk to someone.' Sue said rubbing at her eyes. 'Otherwise he'd just stay at home and feel sorry for himself.' She reached over to the table and drank from the glass of water left for her. 'If you don't, I'll just tell him.'

'Don't! It's not his business.'

'You even just said I could!'

'That was sarcasm, clearly! Besides, what does he care? He's never cared about anything he couldn't stick his dick in!'

He wanted to get up. He was going to sock it to Abbey so fucking hard his head was going to spin. But even before his legs could respond, he felt Sue's hand press down on his leg. Don't react to him, he thought she was telling him.

Except that it wasn't, Paulo had only noticed then when he looked down towards her, her face was red. She gripped down on his leg and her claws fed into his skin.

'What the FUCK was that, Abbey?' She shouted at him.

Paulo grabbed at her arm and tried to pry her off, 'Jesus! Ow, Sue!' He thought she was going to get up in that same moment, smash a glass, do something, she looked furious. He looked over at Abbey, he looked frightened enough to consider bolting for the door. He'd never pissed off Sue before and this was something new to him too, Paulo suspected. He reached over and tapped her on the shoulder. 'Sue. It's probably better he's left alone for a bit.'

The anger appeared to drain from her, 'Nooooo…' Sue droned, 'I tried that once! He's needs to talk to someone.'

'I'm thinking maybe this was a bad idea Sue, he's really not going to talk.'

Abbey laughed. 'Never thought I'd see the day you'd be the not getting involved in someone else's drama.'

Paulo went to speak, but didn't. He knew he was referring to that time. HIs hand went up to the nape of his neck, he gave it a scratch. 'Yeah well. . . maybe I shouldn't've.'

'You should've known better.'

After a moment. 'You should've too.' Paulo said.

They both stood in that same second. Paulo expected Abbey was going to lunge. He'd throw down if he had to. But he found he couldn't, not with Sue climbed onto him at that same time.

'Dun fight!' Sue yelled, pulling him back down.

'Alright! Stop!' Paulo said.

Abbey sat down as well. 'You're lucky.'

Paulo shook his head, 'Whatever. You're drunk; just go home. Knowing Jasmine it probably isn't anything big anyway.'

'You have no idea, as usual.'

'Remember, I asked.'

By now, Sue had just about enough, she threw her arms up in the air. 'Augh! You both suck! Fine! Don't talk! At least give this stupid fighting a rest!'

There was finally silence. The party and the music was still going on in the other rooms.

The sigh came from Paulo. 'I'm so sick of this bullshit.' Paulo finally said. He saw Sue just about ready to do whatever she needed to stop them from fighting. But she wouldn't need to. Paulo breathed in, 'I'm sorry? Alright? Is that what you wanted?'

'I don't want your sorry.' Abbey said.

'Horseshit. You've always wanted it. For something, whatever.'

Abbey huffed an bought his leg up and over the other.

Paulo shook his head, he knew that wouldn't be enough to get him to spill his guts, but it was worth the shot for all that mattered. For once, he felt better about it. He tried; that's what mattered. It didn't go unnoticed as Sue nuzzle into his shoulder, at least someone was moderately happy with the effort. He turned his head and went back to watching the other random young adults bounce between rooms.

'She told me she needed a bit of space.' Abbey finally said, sulking. Paulo looked back to at him while he explained. 'I thought we were doing quite well, but then she started to change.'

Paulo had known they'd been going out since…well, he wasn't sure. They'd seemed reasonably close ever since he started hanging out at her lunch table, right after Abbey and Daisy pulled the plug for good. He had himself as being the catalyst for that, but it needed to happen. Paulo wasn't sure whether or not it was for the best reasons, but Abbey seemed a lot happier with Jasmine.

Until…well, recently it seemed. So, there was some surprise in Paulo when he said it. 'How long ago did this start happening, and changed in what way?' He asked.

'Maybe a couple of weeks ago?' Abbey sulked. 'As for changed.' He twisted his fist so his thumb poked out to the side back into the crowd, and Paulo's head turned to follow it. But Jasmine wasn't there, or at least, the Jasmine he recognised.

'Bullshit.' Was all that came out of Paulo's mouth.

But there she was. He couldn't mistake the distinct black and white furred figure across the room. Although, something was different. Then he realised, she no longer had her white hair. It was black. And her dress, Paulo gulped, was a little more provocative than the conservative norm she normally wore.

'Since when?' Paulo said turning back, 'Really? Just a few weeks ago?' He pressed.

'Something happened between her and her parents.' Sue said from his side. 'Now she's—'

'A rebellious phase?' Paulo finished, almost smirking in her direction. 'She certainly looks ni—' He jutted in the opposite direction when Sue's elbow drove itself into his side.

'Who. Is. Your. Girlfriend?' She seethed.

'Jesus, you are, okay? I'm just saying she looks…' he looked back over in her direction, 'Nice. I suppose.' He turned back towards Abbey. 'I'm assuming that's not the only change?'

Abbey shook his head, 'And the rest. Stopped going to church, not that I minded.' He drew his hand across his nose and sniffled into it. 'But then she told me she was just going to wing school…and then we…'

Paulo breathed a sigh, it didn't take a lot of effort to try and assume what had happened after that point; they fought. Abbey was arrogant in one way but Jasmine was also aggressive in hers. He'd known all too well.

'Alright. So, when did she tell you she wanted to see other people?'

'Just a few days ago. Didn't think she meant she was going to do it here.'

'Wait, you didn't know she was going to be here?'

'Stacy ran into Jasmine when she was handing out the invitations and thought they'd come together.' Sue said.

Abbey choked, 'She didn't even tell me about it.'

'You were ditched? Hang on, how on earth did you get in then? The bouncer stopped me even when I had mine.'

There was a silence between them. Paulo turned his head back between them. Then he realised. It prompted him to burst out in laughter.

'Holy shit, you mean you both came together as a couple?!'

They both blushed. Paulo turned to Sue and prodded her with a finger. 'Hun, just checking, but who's your boyfriend?'

'Geddof' Sue said pushing him.

'Is the shoe on the other foot?'

'I did it as a favour!' Sue shouted, 'Abbey needed to come to the party. Don't act like it was the same —You were leering.'

Paulo appeared hurt, 'Was not.'

'I saw how you were looking at her. The jaw dropping kind of gave it away.'

'She doesn't even resemble what she used to look like! That's all it was, how couldn't I otherwise.' He said, rising a little from the couch and glancing over to Jasmine again. 'Don't tell me you're jealous.'

'I am not!'

Stacy finally arrived with the drinks and set them down on the table between them. 'Sorry about taking so long, it's certainly crowded out there.' Stacy said. 'Are you all getting along?' She eyed Paulo and Abbey.

'About as well as we normally are.' Paulo said amidst a smile. 'And yes, we already spoke about it.' He rose from the seat, 'Here, take Sue for a little bit.' Stacy moved over and sat in his place, letting Sue rest on her. He took one of the glasses of water Stacy arrived with and downed it before walked away towards the crowd.

'Where are you going?' Sue asked.

He scratched his chin, 'Figure I might as well talk to the ex and try to find out what's going on.'

'What? No!' Abbey called out.

'What'd'ya mean no? It'll be fine, trust me.' He turned towards where Jasmine had once was and disappeared into the next room.

Abbey rose to his feet. His heart was beginning to race. He wouldn't dare leave it to Paulo. Not a chance in hell. It was when Sue called to Abbey, he stopped and tuned his head towards her. He shook his head, 'I can't let him.'

'Let him try.' Sue said. She opened her eyes and noticed the two headache pills Stacy had retrieved for her, she downed them both with the water.

Abbey turned his head back towards where Paulo disappeared. Then back to Sue, and turned back towards his seat. Stacy sat next to him and patted his shoulder. He bought his hands to his head and for the first time in his life, hoping that Paulo could get to the bottom of it.

Paulo headed towards the direction of the real party. By now Jasmine had moved on deeper into the gathering. He found her again talking to other guests. He planned to wait and catch her when she wasn't so busy, but he suspected she saw him out the corner of her eye and ran to the nearest person. He wasn't positive whether that was the case, but it certainly felt like it.

A set of hands appeared and wrapped themselves around him from behind. It wasn't pulling him away desperately, so it wasn't Abbey. It was far more gentle, so he made an assumption on who it was.

'Dude! None of these guys are fun!' David sobbed over his shoulder.

'Yeah, this is turning out to be a pretty shitty party already.' Paulo admitted looking back over his shoulder. 'Maybe you ought to go back with Sue and the others.'

'Yeah. They're more fun than these losers!' David yelled. Nobody noticed.

'What's the problem anyway?'

'They're all so boring! And I thought there couldn't have been anyone as boring as Abbey!'

Paulo wasn't too sure that was exactly what the problem was, but it appeared that even the largest party-goer between all of his friends had felt there was just too much of a problem. Paulo felt David's tremendous grip let go of him. As David turned in the direction from where Paulo came, he had an idea. He grabbed onto David's arm, 'Before you go back, wanna do me a favour?' Paulo asked.

David's eyes shone like the sun.

Since she arrived, Jasmine had spent the majority of her time there mingling with the randoms that Katie had invited. There was some surprise in that most of them had working lives outside of the school, many were enrolled in colleges or universities, almost making Katie nearly the baby of the group. Where Katie had made such friends was a huge wonder given that she only had Stacy herself at the school. She'd spoken to at least forty of them in the past hour and that was only from the room adjacent, each one of them a bro or a friend to another, until one got too drunk and threw down on one of the others. It happened much earlier over a girl but was mostly constrained outside. Nobody else paid much attention as if it was just something that happened. She didn't want to admit it was likely because they both wanted to talk to her, but something inside of her wasn't thrilled with the idea it started because of her. She could have put a stop to it, but she didn't. The good Christian she used to be was no more. There was no need, let the boys sort them out. She often needed to remind herself who she was now.

For now, she'd grown bored talking to the two boys in front of her. Work-life talk was great but once the chat lead into vehicles she felt she needed to tune out, and she did, listening passively and nodded her head at the end of each sentence. When one of them tried to put an arm around her, she ducked it and excused herself. Before she could leave a hand reached over and grabbed hers, well now she really wasn't going to leave. She could scream, but would that start a fight? Fine, she'll just struggle and yell at them.

But she needn't to. Someone rose up from behind them to his full height. She couldn't believe it; he must have crawled on the floor for her not to have noticed earlier. He lumbered over them and wrapped his arms around the shoulders of each of them. She recognised David almost immediately.

'Hey, guys, I've got something pretty awesome to show you, come over here.' He told them. They two young-adults tried to break away from him, but David was much too strong, and pulled them backwards, until they disappeared into the crowd.

And to god knows where.

'Enjoying the party?' She heard behind her. She recognised the voice too, and felt conflicted by it. She couldn't decide whether she was happy for the break from the jocks, or from the jocks she used to date. She entertained the notion.

'Paulo. Fancy seeing you here.' She said behind a smile.

'Would you believe I got dragged to this party?' He lied, but Jasmine seemed to have taken it in. He took the chance to look her over, he found it impossible not to, her choice of attire was certainly interesting given the season; never-mind it was a cool evening in the middle of winter; Jasmine wore what someone who was crazy or at least was desperate to get picked up. The look resembled the same sort of things the goth kids at the school would wear, but this went a distance further. The black leather top she wore was tight, it hugged against her and expressed her cleavage the best it could. The matching skirt too was black, with blue frilly highlights. It hugged into her in much the same way, or at least looked like it; Paulo suspected it was a size too small. It only just met half-way down her leg, nowhere near the knee, any wrong move in any direction and you'd see a lot more of her.

And it was wrong; certainly not the Jasmine he knew before. Her clothing was nothing less than provocative. Rachel had been called a slut before, Jasmine was trying to look the part. To his own chagrin, the old part of him was going wild, the other, relented and became overcome with worry. He hid it the best he could. 'Nice look; trying something new?' He asked.

'Sure am, do you like it?' She said, she gave a little twirl. Paulo managed to blink at the right time, he saw nothing to some relief, although guessing from some of the reactions from the people around them; they hadn't. A part of him cursed his bad luck, he tried to ignore that part.

Paulo pretended to look her over, 'Can't say I don't. Only a shame you weren't like that when we were dating.'

Jasmine smiled, 'Well, we could start again.' She teased.

'For real?' Paulo asked, appearing eager at the suggestion. 'Oh, but hang on.' He cupped a hand to his chin, 'Don't you have a boyfriend? Aren't you seeing Abbey?'

'Don't you have a girlfriend?' She asked. 'I heard you were dating Sue now.'

'I do, and am.' He folded his arms. 'Are you or aren't you dating Abbey?'

She shrugged. He figured that was a sign there was still hope yet.

'Then what's with all of this?' He asked, he lightly gestured towards her clothes.

'Maybe I wanted to come like this?'

'It's freezing outside. The heating's sure nice but aren't you feeling the least bit chilly?'

Jasmine smirked and stepped forward, bringing her hands onto Paulo's chest before trying to bring herself up towards his ears. 'We can always find a place to warm up?' She cooed.

His hands rose up to her shoulders much like hers had to his, but instead of holding on there was a small push, and Jasmine was forced away. She appeared confused. Paulo on the other hand was wide eyed, a little bit of shock and a little bit of disbelief.

He finally asked, 'What are you doing?'

'What do you mean 'what am I even doing?' I'm having fun.'

'Chatting up every boy you see? What's gotten into you, your boyfriend is in the other room crying his heart out because he can't figure out what's gotten into you.'

Her jaw dropped. The audacity of Paulo pointing this out to her was just infuriating. 'When did you suddenly start to care? You used to flirt with women all the time while we were dating too! Is this all you came over to ask about?'

'I'd loved to have caught up, everyone's only in the other room. I just didn't expect to need to babysit some crybaby in the other room who's had his heart broken and his girlfriend is doing this.'

Jasmine laughed. 'All I'm doing is talking to people.'

'Is that only it? You were getting pretty close onto me before. Pretty sure your boyfriend deserves an explanation.'

Jasmine sighed and folded her arms 'Come on, I wasn't going to go through with it.' She read Paulo's face. He couldn't help but feel sceptical. 'Oh, fuck off, Paulo. What would you know?' She turned to leave but found herself being spun around to face Paulo again. He held onto her arm.

'Enough to know this shit isn't you and its hurting others!' He barked.

'Like back when you dumped me for that bimbo?!' She barked back.

'Are you really bringing that up? That was…complicated!'

'Having someone all over you is not complicated!'

'She wasn't even the one I broke up with you over.'

'And that makes it worse!'

'I didn't even want her all over me in the first place! I just let it happen; Lucy moved.' He complained. 'I'm sorry, alright?! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but for crying out loud just think about what Abbey's feeling.'

The confrontation between them was broken up for a moment when Paulo felt a sudden pain in the left side of his face. He didn't see Jasmine in front of him at that moment, instead he found himself acquainted with the mansion floor for a brief moment, he bounced off it and landed in a heap again.

It wasn't from Jasmine, he knew that much. She didn't move in the last few milliseconds between staring at her and finding himself crashing hard onto his side and bounced off the floor. She wasn't large enough to send him flying. His ear started to scream from the pain. He could barely make out the screams and gasps from the people around him. He was dazed, he couldn't find the strength to stand, but had enough to find enough to see who at least hit him. . .only not to recognise them; they were taller than any of the friends he knew, maybe the same size as David, but it wasn't him. Hell, he couldn't even tell what species they were. The best he could summise was they must have been one of Katie's friends.

'Was he hurting you?' The guest asked her. Jasmine's mouth opened but no sounds came out, too stunned to say anything.

'Jesus Christ, Zack! He wasn't doing 'nuffin'!' A girl from the crowd yelled at him.

'I know what I saw.'

Paulo's head pounded as he stood to his feet. He sized up his assailant. He grumbled 'Motherfucker', loud enough for them to hear. That set him off; another fist came at Paulo's direction. It missed when Paulo staggered to the side. The assailant too staggered before lining up another throw. It didn't give Paulo much time to think, time to do anything. The next fist just grazed him and he stepped back again. He cursed his rotten luck. There wasn't single time he wanted to find himself at the receiving end of a throw. It reminded him too much of that one time. He had no time to think of it, the fist that moved in his direction wouldn't give him the time. He'd been in a fight before. Been in several, but he'd never won any. He couldn't step fast enough. He caught it in the face. He staggered backwards and caught a glimpse of Jasmine in shock on the way down. He felt what he thought was the last of his consciousness slip away.

At least he thought it was. His foot reached back and found the floor, it kept him up. The pain across his face felt familiar. It drew back memories in the split-second that was allowed before the other guy came at him again. It hurt. He didn't want to hurt again.

And he snapped.

He bat the incoming fist away with his hand, and returned with his own into the eye socket of the other. The other guy yelled out in pain and recoiled, bringing a hand up to it. But didn't stop there, Paulo followed with another square into his face, he pulled it back and hit him again with such frightening speed. He never knew he had it in him. The other man crashed backwards onto the floor. But that wasn't going to stop Paulo. He went over, and drew his fist back again.

But this time something caught it; grabbed onto his arm. He was about to let that person have it too, he almost did when he twisted his body and his head, and recognised Abbey. 'Stop!' Abbey yelled 'That's enough! He's not getting back up!'

The irony provoked him. Paulo turned back towards the person who assaulted him for a moment he was on his side, moaning in agony. He'd thought he'd be elated from winning his first fight, but instead there was worry. The adrenalin was starting to wear down. The rage evaporated. And Paulo was back to who he used to be. A tear escaped his eye. 'I…' Paulo tried to breathe. 'He attacked me. I didn't even—'

Abbey grabbed onto his side. Just in time as Paulo felt the strength is his legs give. He felt someone come in from the other side, that turned out to be from Stacy.

'Abbey.' She called out.

Paulo turned to her, 'I….I didn't—'

'It's alright, come on.' Stacy told him.

They guided him through the crowd and took him into the kitchen.