Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except the drama and tension I'm going to cause. Enjoy.

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Chapter Ten

"I'm currently stealing Chuck and Cindy's wedding beer"

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"Oh I'm so excited." Cassie said from next to Mattie, as she bumped her hip gently "Its an old school movie night. I feel as though we haven't had one of these in forever." She sighed wistfully, as I rolled my eyes at her.

"We had them every week at University Cassie." Mattie replied, smirking as she stuck her tongue out at Cassie.

"They were different Matilda." Cassie replied mockingly. "They weren't the old school kind, where we fought black and blue to watch our kind of movie, as opposed to theirs!" She said, as she fell back onto the couch.

"That sounds like fun." Sara said, sitting down next to Cassie. "Luke's told me all about your movie nights. I have to say, I'm flattered you'd even consider letting me join in." She finished sweetly, smiling widely at us all.

"Well, it wouldn't be like us to shun someone." Cassie said finally, smiling at Sara, who smiled back at her, shifting a little closer to her as to make room for me. I sat down and wrapped my arms around her as she leant in to me, resting her head on my shoulder.

I watched Cassie shoot Mattie an awkward look as Ric sat down next to her, as if to say, 'Well, I know we generally sit next to one another while watching movies, to mock and to aww, but there's not a lot I can do about the new girl'. Giving her a reassuring smile, Mattie sank down into one of the lone lounges, and sighed, as the movie flicked on.

They groaned inwardly as the sound of Marieh Carey singing filled the room, and the credits to Glitter scrolled down the screen.

"Okay," Mattie said to the four sitting on the couch "Who's pathetic excuse of a joke is this? I mean, seriously, this movie?"

"That was, uh, me." Sara said timidly from beside me "But if you think its that bad, I guess we could… change it…." She mumbled, trailing off.

"Oh." Mattie said quietly. "Well if you wouldn't mind…" She began, as I turned to look at her, shocked.

"Jokes." She continued, shaking her head. "You know me Luke, always up for any kind of Glitter experience." She smiled, looking away from us quickly and giving her full attention to the movie.

Something that was very un-Matilda like. Although I really couldn't tell any more.

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"We ask ourselves, is she black? Is she white? We don't care. She's exotic. I want to see more of her breasts."

I watched as Mattie's face formed into a look of utter disgust, and she squeezed her eyes shut, rubbing her temples as the movie dragged on. She and Cassie had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the entire movie, and I suspected it had more than a little to do with her outburst at the beginning, and her wanting to make it up to Sara. Which was nice… it was just… not Mattie.

The more time we spent together this summer, the more I was beginning to realise that I didn't know Mattie any more. She'd changed, or I'd changed. In any event, we were different, and we didn't match, not like we used to. Which baffled me, because I'd honestly believed we'd be the best of friends for life. How could we not be? We knew every inch of one another, or, we'd at least known every inch of one another.

But ever since I'd come home, everything had been different. Was it Sara? I couldn't tell, seeing as Mattie hadn't been around enough to bother getting to know her. Was it me? More than probably, especially after how I'd acted every time I'd even had a chance to be alone with her.

Was it those words that had remained unspoken since her Christmas morning confession? The words that had been on the tip of my tongue. But even if they'd have been said, would they have made a difference? Maybe there had been just too much time and space between us, and the rift that had somehow grown between us.

I continued watching her intently, as she reacted in her own way to the movie. If she found something distasteful, her face would scrunch up; something mockable, she'd bite her lip, as if holding back the sarcastic comments that were on her lips.

"Lucas." Sara whispered next to me, and looked at me strangely as I jumped a little, half shocked, half scared of the interruption. "Why aren't you paying attention Lucas?" She asked, her hushed tone continuing.

"I'm just staring into space." I whispered back, pulling her closer to me, giving her a squeeze. "I'm sorry, I'll try and pay more attention." I said, but her eyes had snapped themselves back to the screen, her lips set in a tight line.

Mind off the ex Luke, I thought to myself, mind on the current.

But as I sat there, the final moments of Glitter flashing across the screen, I couldn't help but become lost in the world of thought once more.

And only when Sara sighed contentedly from next to me did I realised the movie had finally finished.

"So?" She asked excitedly, "What did you guys think?"

"In the interest of not harming feelings, I think I better keep my thoughts to myself." Mattie replied, standing up and stretching. She walked into the kitchen vaguely, shaking her head and muttering under her breath.

"Oh." Sara said sadly from next to me, when Cassie offered no thoughts either.

"Its okay honey." I said, pulling her to me. "I liked the movie. She had spunk." I said encouragingly, as Mattie snorted in the kitchen. "Sorry" Came the distant apology, "I just read something funny in the paper."

"Oh," Sara repeated, unable to hide the hurt.

"Honey…" I said, as Mattie waltzed in, bowl of popcorn in hand. "Okay, who's up for another movie?" She said, grinning, as Sara looked stricken. "Another?" She asked, rubbing her temples.

"You didn't think one classified as a movie night?" Matilda asked jokingly, as Sara looked up at her seriously "Did you?" She asked, as Sara hastily shook her head, probably not wanting to appear too naïve.

"Well that's good, because I know you're going to love this next movie." She said, smiling at Sara, who returned the smile gratefully.

"So wise one," Cassie said from next to Sara "Why don't you share this movie choice with the rest of the group."

"Nope." Mattie said bluntly, turning around and flipping on the TV.

"Never a good sign." I heard Ric mutter to Cassie as she giggled a little, and got comfier in his arms.

"I heard that." Mattie said in a sing song voice, as she bounced happily back to her loner lounge. Her smiled broadened as the first bars for "Kids in America" filled the room, and Cassie squealed excitedly in Ric's arms.

"Never ever doubt that woman again." She said to Ric, slapping him lightly, playfully.

"Why?" Sara asked from beside me. "What movie is it?"

Her question was met with a stunned silence.

Quickly, Mattie paused the DVD and turned to look at Sara, her jaw half open in surprise.

"Only the most classic of classic teen movies ever. Clueless?" Mattie asks, as Sara looks at her dumbly. "You've never heard the classic bars of 'Kids in America' followed by those lines that everyone knows?" She continued probing, as Sara sank back against me.

"Thank god you came into Luke's life." Mattie said finally "Thank god we're able to introduce you to such a cult movie." She said, taking Sara's hand and patting it gently. "We will make this right." She added, as Sara laughed a little awkwardly, and sort of, moved herself away from Mattie until she went back to her seat.

I shook my head, as the thoughts swirled once more, confusing the hell out of me. Who was this girl?

She wasn't the Mattie I knew. She was hot, then cold, up, then down, then back up again. Jumpy. Confused.

Alone.

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AN: Thanks to Jade for proofing. But read on… there's more.