Hey everyone. Here's another chapter for you. I will be leaving for vacation again on Tuesday, so i might or might not have another chapter up before that. Well i hope you enjoy this chapter. Please R&R

Chapter 22

Dani's POV

By ten of seven, the house was decorated, and Angel and I were dressed in our party clothes—Angel in a jean miniskirt and green t-shirt, and me in a slim, red halter dress. For the next ten minutes, we relaxed on the couch and listened to music.

At seven, people started to arrive, in one or two at first, and then in groups. Angel turned up the music, and we danced with a few of our friends. The house was filling quickly, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. There was still no sign of Tim, the gang, or Hunter, though. They really should've been here by now.

By eight o'clock, I was on my fourth beer and was dancing around the room. I felt someone place their hands on my hips. I turned around and looked at the person, expecting it to be Tim. "Hunter," I said.

"Hey Elle. Havin' fun?" he said.

"Tons. When did you get here?"

"About five minutes ago. Do you wanna dance?"

"Well, that was kinda what I was doin'," I said and grinned.

"I meant with me," he said, smiling.

"Umm….sure." He took me in his arms, and we started moving to the music. We danced until we got tired, and then went to get drinks. "What do you want to drink?"

"Beer," he answered.

"Okay." I took two beers out of the refrigerator and handed him one. We walked over to the couch and sat down.

Dally's POV

Serena and I walked into Shepard's house around eight thirty. The house was filled with people. It looked just like a Greaser party usually looks—beer, dancing, making out. We walked further into the house, and I saw Tim standing in the kitchen. "I'll be right back," I said to Serena, giving her a quick kiss and walked towards him.

"Hey Shepard," I said when I reached him.

"Hey Winston. Havin' fun?" he said.

"Just got here, but it seems good so far. Where's Dani?"

"She's around here somewhere, most likely dancing, but I haven't seen her yet."

"Oh, well can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah, what about?"

"Dani." He nodded. "I know she cares about you a lot, in a way she's never cared about anyone. I don't wanna see her get hurt, especially by you. I know you'd never hurt her, but if you do, I will hurt you."

"Don't worry, man. I care for her a lot too. I would never do anything to hurt her."

"Tuff man. Well, I'm gonna go find Serena. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye Winston."

I walked away and found Serena talking to Angela. "Hey babe," I said, wrapping my arm around her and kissed her neck.

She giggled and said, "C'mon Dally, dance with me." She took my hand and led me to the middle of the room, where everyone was dancing. I wrapped my arms around her waist, and we moved with the music.

Dani's POV

"So how's your vacation goin'?" I asked him.

"Pretty good. Lot of parties and get-togethers with friends. Yours?"

"Good. Spendin' lots of time with my boyfriend and my friends. It's fun."

"So how are things with the boyfriend?"

"Everything's great. We go out, kiss, have fun, talk. It's perfect. I love him, except his jealousy thing gets annoying sometimes."

"Well, he has a right to be jealous, wouldn't you think? You're smart, funny, sweet, and absolutely gorgeous. Any guy would love to have you."

I smiled and said, "Thanks Hunter. I really appreciate you sayin' all those things, but you don't have to say them to defend Tim."

"I wasn't sayin' them just to defend him. They're all true. All things that attract me to you," he said, and next thing I knew, our lips were touching. I was too shocked to do anything at first, so I just sat there while he kissed me. When I finally came to my senses, I pushed him away and slapped him across the face. "What the hell was that for?" he said.

"Why did you kiss me? You know I have a boyfriend," I said, standing up.

"I know you have a boyfriend, but that doesn't mean I can't have feelings for you."

"Yeah, but it does mean you shouldn't act on those feelings. I thought we were friends, and then you go and kiss me. That's not how friends should act towards one another when one of them is taken."

"Elle, I can't help how I feel for you."

"Well, you're gonna have to stop 'feelin' for me' because we can't be friends if every time we're together you're gonna be makin' moves on me," I said and walked outside.

Hunter followed me and said, "Oh my god Elle! Why are you with him in the first place? You can do so much better than that trash!"

"Tim is not trash! He's my boyfriend! And who can I do better with, huh? You?"

"Yes! We can be together! All you gotta do is get rid of Shepard!"

"I'm not getting' rid of Tim! I love him, not you! I don't want to be with you! All I wanted from you was your fucking friendship, but I guess I don't even have that!"

"Damn it, Dani! Why do you have to be like that?"

"Just go, Hunter! I don't wanna talk to you anymore!" He stood on the grass looking at me for a minute before climbing in his car, slamming the door, and speeding off. I walked back inside and found Serena and Dallas. "Hey guys."

"Hey Dani. What was that all about?" Serena said

"I'll explain later. Have you seen Tim?"

"He was here a little while ago, but he disappeared. He's gotta be 'round here somewhere," Dally said.

"Okay, well I'm gonna go find him. I'll find you guys again later," I said and walked away. I looked in all the rooms on the first floor and didn't find him anywhere. I walked upstairs and found him in his bedroom sitting on his bed. "Hey baby. What're ya doin' in here?"

"What the hell were you thinkin'? I thought you loved me!" Tim said, standing up.

"I do love you. What're you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about!"

"Tim, baby, calm down and tell me what's wrong. I have no idea what's going on."

"I saw you kiss Mr. SuperSoc!"

"For one, I didn't kiss him. He kissed me. And two, as soon as I recovered from the shock of it, I pushed him away and slapped him. Obviously you didn't see that part."

"You shouldn't have let him kiss you in the first place!"

"Well, it's not like I gave him an open invitation to! I didn't even see it coming! We were talking one minute, and his lips were against mine the next!" I said with anger in my voice.

"You told me you two were just friends, but I guess that was a lie! How many other times have you lied to me? Were you lying to me when you told me you loved me?"

"Is that what you really think, that I don't love you?" I asked, my anger leaving, and hurt filling its place. When he didn't answer, tears started forming in my eyes. "Okay then. I guess that explains how badly you think of me. I'll just get my stuff and go back to the Curtis's then." I grabbed a bag, emptied my drawer, and walked out of the room, without Tim saying another word. The tears started falling as soon as I closed the door. I walked down the stairs, wiping at my tears.

"Dani, what's wrong?" Serena said as I passed by her and Dallas on my way to the door. I kept walking, and they followed me outside. Then I broke down sobbing, and Dal wrapped his arms around me. Then I started explaining what happened, from the part where Hunter kissed me to how Tim's words hurt me so much. I cried the whole time. I couldn't stop myself. Dally and Rini tried to comfort me, but it wasn't working.

Dally's POV

"Take her to the Curtis's. I'll meet you there," I said when Dani finished telling us what happened.

"Where're you going?" Serena asked.

"I'll meet you back at the house," I said, avoiding her question. I wasn't going to say that I was going to kick Tim's ass in front of Dani. She wouldn't have let me. I walked back in the house and found Tim standing in the kitchen. I walked over to him and punched him in the jaw.

"Damn it, Winston! What the fuck!" he said.

I punched him again. "You said you'd never hurt her!" I took another swing, but he blocked it. "How the hell could you think that low of her? She fucking loves you, and you doubt her feelings!" I swung again and got him in the stomach.

"She cheated on me, man! She fucking kissed a Soc!"

"She didn't cheat on you! He kissed her, and then she slapped him!" He just shook his head. "You know what, Shepard, you're a fucking idiot. Stay away from my sister." I left the house before he could reply.

I walked to the Curtis's house and entered. No one was downstairs. I headed for the stairs and found Serena coming down them. She stopped and looked at me. "What did you do?"

"Nothin. I just had a little talk with Shepard."

"You didn't hurt him, did you?"

"Not much. Just threw a few punches. He's fine."

"You did not. You better not have hurt him. Dani would be pissed at you. She still loves him, even if he is being an ignorant asshole."

"He's fine. Might have a few bruises, but nothin serious. Where's Dani?"

"Upstairs, laying down, crying, sleeping."

"Well, I'm gonna go check on her." I walked upstairs and into Serena's room. Dani was lying on the bed, facing the wall. "Dani? You okay?"

"No," she answered. I went over to the bed and sat down next to her. She sat up and curled up against me. I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her head. She started crying. "How could he think so low of me? I thought we loved each other."

"I know, baby, I know. He's an idiot. He'll realize he was wrong. Then he'll want you back, but you can't take him. What happens if it happens again?"

"Its not gonna happen again because he doesn't love me," she said between sobs.

"Calm down baby girl. He shouldn't even have thought that. Don't worry about him. Now try to go to sleep." She laid down on the bed, and I got up to leave.

"Dal?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you stay here with me?"

"Sure," I said and lay down next to her. I wrapped my arm around her, and she snuggled up against me. We lay there for awhile before falling asleep for the night.