A/N: Not sure if the disclaimer is necessary. If you don't know which characters I don't own, please slap yourself repeatedly. Xx Ella

P.S. I'd like to specially thank all of my reviewers for leaving amazing comments. Thank you to wintertwist87, SinisterShadows, Arinna Black, not-so-average-07, TragicCure, Leave your hat on, Kermitfries, SleepWalks, Neith4Weiss, Hayley Jean, lovelylinds, Kris Death, casadora22, Obsessedfan13, Bookworm 305, QuietOne364, ILuvOdie, Ravvy B, babyicequeen666, blackwolfgirl87, and imaGi.NatiOn.X.x!

Chapter 9

"I'm starving." Reid's answered my father, walking into the dining room behind him.

I watched as he gracefully slid back the chair opposite me, taking it as his seat. He reached over grabbing the bowl of mashed potatoes and started to serve himself. If anyone had been peering into a window, it would have looked like Reid ate here almost religiously. It was all natural to him.

I tried to read his face, but I couldn't. Was he here to tell me he wanted to be friends or was he here to tell me he hated me?

He rested his eyes on mine, while he conversed with my dad, his eyes never blinking once. That stare was unnerving. But my heart leaped nearly leaped out of my chest because of it.

"Eliza got into Brown." My dad took a bite out of his bread roll. "Which school did you get into?"

"Brown." He responded while sipping on his water my mother had served him.

"You didn't?" It came out more as a question rather than a statement, like I had intended it to do.

"I did." He answered me. It was the first time in the past couple of days that he actually spoke to me. I felt like a nerd for feeling all giddy inside, especially over two words. I felt like a Claymate on the opening night of Spamalot.

"What will you be majoring in?" My dad's voice cut into our eye contact. Reid turned to answer him. My mother, who had been terrifyingly quiet since Reid had made his entrance, spoke up.

"Chris, sweetheart, why don't you help me in the kitchen." It was an order, not a question. What she needed help with in the kitchen was beyond me. I think she was just saying that to get dad out of the room and to give Reid and I our privacy.

My stomach jumped as my dad followed my mother into the kitchen. Reid and I were alone. Seriously alone. I became oddly aware of the sweatpants and hoodie I was wearing. And no makeup too! I must be looking really hot right now. We sat in our seats, quietly at first. Just eating and pretending to focus on the food. I suddenly found my glass of water extremely fascinating.

"You still have that?"

I looked at Reid who was pointing towards my chest. I looked down at the twisty tie ring he had given me during our fake wedding years ago. Ever since then, I wore it on a chain around my neck, only taking it off when I had to shower. The necklace was resting just above my breasts against the cotton of my hoodie.

"Yeah." I half-smiled, feeling oddly ridiculous and out of place.

He must have sensed that because he reached under the table and pulled something out from his pocket. He pulled his hand up and let the objects he was holding fall onto the glass table.

"I still have mine." I looked down at the twisty tie ring I had given him. It was attached to the friendship bracelet, that I had once beaten Aaron up over. I made it for him especially, giving it to him on his birthday as a gift.

The table shook and I looked up at Reid, who was now standing. The items that were once on the table were now back in his pocket. "Want to go for a walk?"

I nodded, afraid that if I tried to answer, my voice wouldn't come out.

I stood up, straightening my hoodie, and told him I'd meet him outside. I ran towards the kitchen and told my mom I'd be right back, and then met Reid outside. He was standing near the front door, waiting for me.

I looked off into the driveway and saw his '67 Mustang parked behind mine. I smiled, my mind recalling vague memories of that car.

"Why are you smiling?" He looked down at me as we started walking towards the garden. His voice was scratchy. He sounded like he had just woken up.

"Just remembering the time you taught me how to drive a stick shift." Thank God my voice didn't fail me. I thought I was going to pass out from the overwhelming nervous feeling Reid was giving me. It wasn't just a nervous feeling though, because it was laced with anxiety and fear. It was a terrifying feeling. I mentally noted that I never wanted to feel it ever again.

He nodded, remembering. "Why don't you drive your car to school?" He asked with what seemed like genuine curiosity. I glanced over towards my car sitting in the driveway collecting dust.

"I have yet to pass the behind the wheel driving test." I spoke bluntly. Thoughts of my last visit to the DMV resurfaced…

"I'm going to have you parallel park between those two cars." The instructor pointed towards two SUV's parked on the side of the curb. He was a balding, middle aged man, that barely spoke English. He looked angry. I wasn't so sure that was a good sign.

"Okay." I answered him, pulling up towards the parking space.

I glanced in my rearview mirror and began backing up. Just as I was about to lift my foot from the gas pedal to the brake, the heel of my Steve Madden pump broke off, pressing my foot forward so that the gas pedal was now touching the floorboard, sending my dad's car backwards into the car parked behind me.

I looked over at the instructor and watched him cross my name off the top of the paper.

"So, uhh, did I pass?" I laughed nervously. Making bad jokes was just a nervous habit.

He looked at me like I was a freak, trying to decide whether or not he should answer me. Finally, he did. "You just hit that car… so you tell me."

I snapped out of my reverie and became fully aware of Reid's gaze upon mine. We had stopped, and were a few houses past mine, almost to Reid's. The air was cold, and I could sworn I felt a few drops of rain pelt down from the night sky. I wasn't too sure if I was imagining that or not.

Reid had a cigarette in his mouth. Mmm. Cigarette.

Without thinking, I reached forward and pulled it out of his mouth. "Do you know how long I've gone without a cigarette?" I almost sang out, as the familiar taste of the nicotine filled my senses.

"How long?" He tilted his head. He looked so cute when he did that.

"Two days ago." I laughed drawing in another puff. I failed to mention the part that I had been with Bordy. Not that Bordy was significant in any way.

"Hmm. Two days. That's a new record." He teased, shoving his fingerless gloved hands into his jean pockets. "It's cold."

"You're stating the obvious." I threw the cigarette down and Reid put it out with his shoe. "Did you read it?" My voice was softer as I spoke. I'm not sure where this new found confidence had come from.

"I did." He answered. "That's sort of why I came here tonight." Reid's voice cracked. He looked scared. Never, in all my years of knowing him, did he look so vulnerable. "I umm, I broke up with Justine."

"I heard." I answered. I didn't know what else to say. Thankfully, 'I heard' had popped out of the mouth at the right time. I studied Reid's face, which was being illuminated by a street light. He didn't look angry and he didn't look sad. Even though my mouth was full of the nicotine aftertaste, I did the unthinkable. I stood on my tip toes and leaned forward, pressing my lips to his. They were soft, not chapped like Bordy's. I wondered if he used chap stick. I mentally laughed at the image I had of Reid looking at himself in the mirror smacking his lips together after applying Bonnie Bell thoroughly.

He didn't pull away. That's a good sign, right? But he didn't kiss me back.

I pulled away. "What's wrong?"

Oh my God, I can't believe I blew this! He just wanted to be friends! He didn't see me like that! What the hell did I just do? I jeopardized whatever friendship I had with him because I actually thought for a split second that he could like me like that. I wanted to run, as far as I could and hide for the rest of my life.

"I, just, umm." He answered.

I was confused.

"I just, well… you make me nervous." Wait, what? Did he just say that?

"Huh?" I blinked a few times, wondering if I had just imagined him saying that.

"It's just. I've sort of imagined us, doing this, a lot. And I just, well, you just. We just had a cigarette and I probably don't have the best breath…" He trailed off.

I shut up him, by once again, leaning in towards him and pressing my lips against his. This time, he kissed me back.

I had one arm wrapped around his neck, pulling him in closer to deepen the kiss, while the cupped his face. Both his arms were wrapped around my waist as we stood there, kissing, for what seemed like an eternity (In a good way, of course).

I could not believe my luck. This was finally happening.

After years of sexual tension, and a few days after realizing I was madly in love with him, I finally had him. And it was bittersweet. The overwhelming happiness I felt the day I bought my first pair of Manolo Blahniks was nothing compared the happiness I was feeling right now.

When we finally regained our composure, we made our way back to my parent's house. I smiled as he reached for my hand, and took it in his.

The house was warm and dimly lit as we walked inside. I found my parents curled up in front of the television watching X-Files reruns. My mom was fast asleep, her head resting on my father's chest. My dad looked like he too, was about to doze off.

I walked into the kitchen and pulled open the freezer. "Mint and Chip or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough?" I asked Reid, who had followed.

"That's a hard question."

My eyes grew wide as realization drew upon me. "We could have a scoop of both." I squealed with delight.

Cigarettes, Reid, and ice cream. Tonight just can't get any more perfect.

xx

"So what's it like?" Cee, Naveed, and I were sitting in the bleachers watching Reid and the rest of the Spencer's team practice. Their last swim meet was a week away and Reid had told me he was determined to win it for the male team.

"So what's what like?" I bit off a piece of my Red Vine licorice. The smell of chlorine and candy was a bit unsettling.

"So what's it like being Reid's girlfriend?" Cee sounded like a school girl. Wait, she is one.

"It's amazing." I answered without shame.

Cee and Naveed both elbowed me. "Next time, I'm not sitting in the middle." I argued with them. We all laughed as I watched Reid swim from one side of the pool to the other.

"He looks hot in a Speedo." I said to no one in particular. The moment it came out of my mouth was the moment Reid looked over at me. I blushed furiously. Even after a month of dating, Reid could still make me blush like a shy kid.

"Prom is only three weeks away. Can you believe it?" Naveed spoke up. I looked over at her and laughed.

"Did little Davey ask you to go with him yet?" I teased her. Naveed and Davey had spent endless hours studying this past month. I was about to ask her if they had studied Human Anatomy yet, when a wet masculine figure came jogging over to me.

Wet Reid + Almost Naked equals multiple orgasms in my head.

"Hey, you want to head to Nicky's tonight?" He kissed the tip of my nose.

"Sure." He could ask me anything and I'd agree to it.

"Cool, wait for me after practice?"

I nodded in agreement. He kissed my nose once more and headed back to the pool.

"I still don't get what's so great about him." I heard Naveed mumble out. I shot a glare in her direction. She just didn't know him like I did.

"Hey look, there's Justine and Bordy." Cee changed the subject almost instantly. Naveed and I were known to bicker over Reid's lack of manners and other annoying habits from time to time.

I searched the crowd in the direction Cee had pointed too. There, amidst the rest of Spencer Fans, were Justine and Bordy hand in hand, cheering on the team from the side of the pool. "Talk about two people who deserve each other." I spoke surely.

"Does it feel weird to be back?" Cee was holding my suitcase as we waited for the elevator doors to open.

"Not really, it's only been a week." I reminded her. Sometimes Cee could be so blonde.

"I was thinking since my shoe collection has dwindled down that we should head into Boston this weekend and-" Cee was interrupted by the elevator doors ringing open and a hysterical Kira sobbing inside. We looked at each other before entering the tiny box of doom.

I hit the 3rd floor button and focused my eyes on the elevator doors. I heard Kira sniffling behind me and tried my best to ignore her. Cee on the other hand was just egging her on.

"Tough day?" I heard her ask Kira. I closed my eyes anticipating the worst. Cee could be such an instigator.

"Shut up." Came Kira's shrill reply. "You don't even want to know."

"Well, now that you said that, I sort of do." Sometimes, Cee was just an ass. I still loved her though.

"Tough. I'm not telling you anything." Kira replied and I could tell she was trying her hardest not to cry again. Her voice cracked and I heard her gasping for air. I turned around.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" I asked half-heartedly. "He's cheating okay. I'm sure you'll find some comfort in that." She spat out.

What was she talking about? And why haven't we arrived on the 3rd floor yet?

"Who's cheating?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Bordy." She looked up at me with tear stricken eyes. I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

"With who?" I asked, mainly because I was snooping.

"Justine Baker." She answered.

Cee and I exchanged glances before we turned around.

I couldn't suppress my smile, as the elevator doors opened, and I walked out of the elevator that was holding an emotionally disturbed Kira hostage.

In the words of Justin Timberlake, what comes around, goes around.

"Rumor has it that Kira and Bordy are back on, full swing." I watched as Justine squeeze Bordy's hand with her own. She seemed like the clingy type.

"I wouldn't doubt that one bit." I answered, as I watched Bordy watch Kira saunter past the two of them, a slutty grin spread wide across her face like her legs during half-time.

"Whatever happened between the two of you?" I looked the person sitting next to Cee.

"I found someone better, someone who wouldn't cheat on me, and someone who actually has feelings." Matt answered, but was looking at Cee while he spoke. She looked embarrassed. Cee was not the PDA type, if you know what I mean.

xx

"No, I don't like that song. Choose something else." Naveed whined. I flipped through the catalog once more.

"Here." I pointed to a song with my finger and closed the book. Before anyone else could complain I pressed the three digit song code into the computer and watched as the karaoke machine turned on.

"I dedicate this song to Davey on behalf of Naveed." I spoke into the microphone, winking at Dave who was sitting in towards the back of the crowd. I felt Naveed elbow me, which only made me smile even bigger. I looked off towards the pool tables, my eyes lingering on the familiar blonde, leaning against the table, arms crossed against his chest, fully amused at the three of us on the karaoke stage.

The music started playing and Cee and I started shouting, I mean, singing into the microphone. "We belong to the light, we belong to the thunderrrrrrrrrrrrr" I tried my hardest to sing well. Unfortunately for me, it just wasn't happening. If there were dogs in the audience, they'd probably howl along with me. I heard a few kids 'boo', but the rest of the crowd seemed to enjoy us. That part of the crowd also happened to be the ones downing alcohol, too.

"We belong to the sound of the words we've both fallen uuuuuuuuuuuunderrrrrrrr" Naveed led. She actually had a really good singing voice. Cee and I looked at each other before laughing wildly. Naveed pushed us off of the stage and finished the song by herself.

"You should really not sing in public." Reid grabbed me by the waist and pulled me towards the pool tables. I took a sip of the beer he had in his hand.

"Yeah, I know. My days contemplating a music career are over." I laughed handing his beer back to him.

"Wanna play?" He nodded towards the pool tables, bringing the beer bottles to his lips, and downed the rest of the brew in one gulp.

"Rack 'em up." My competitive streak spoke for me. I was a horrible pool player but everyone knew that. "So what do I get when I win?"

"If you win," Reid corrected me, as he reached across the table and racked all the balls together. "You get whatever you want." He looked up at me suggestively.

I stuck my tongue out at him. "And if you win?"

"When I win, and I say this as a fact, because we both know I can kick your cute little ass with my eyes closed," He walked over towards me, handing me a cue, "you go to prom with me." He whispered the last part into my ear.

I smiled up at him and let him beat me at the game of pool we played. It wasn't hard either… I really had no idea what I was doing anyways. Plus, I got a prom date.

"Mind if we cut in?" I heard an annoying voice come from behind me.

I turned around and faced Aaron Abbot. He looked at me with his eyebrows raised. "Is that a yes?" He sounded arrogant.

"We were just leaving." I said, grabbing Reid's arm, and pulling him outside.

"What was that all about?" He asked me, rubbing the spot on his arm that I had grabbed too tightly.

"I don't want you guys to get into it." I spoke bluntly.

"What makes you think we were going to fight?" He wrapped both his arms around my waist, pulling me closer, and nuzzling my cheek. I forgot what I was saying.

"Umm." I sighed as he bit down gently on my earlobe. "I dunno…" I trailed off. My thoughts were no longer comprehensible and purely x-rated.

"You're so cute when you get flustered." He chuckled, placing a few kisses on my jaw line.

I sighed loudly. Tonight was going to be a long night.

Another Author's Note: The song they sang karaoke to was called "We Belong" by Pat Benatar. I don't own it… thankfully. And no offense to any Clay Aiken fans. I might have made a reference about being a fan and a nerd at the same time, so don't take it to heart.
Cus you know it's true lol. jk, maybe.