AN-Yes, I am back. I'm planning about 15 chaps for this fic, same as the first one. Hopefully my planning will you know, work out, lol.

Well, hopefully people are still reading...even after the last chapter. So if you are, please sit back and enjoy.

Katie walked down the loud hallway, her eyes trained on the floor. Shoulders sagging, and quiet steps was not a usual part of Katie's posture. But after the other day...nothing about Katie could be the usual.

Suddenly a pair of tennis shoes were next to her. She looked up and saw Maddie.

''Hey Kat, what is up.''

Katie said nothing, just shrugged. Maddie sighed.

''You can't be in this catatonic stage forever, Kat.''

Katie just shrugged again.

''Kat!'' Maddie exclaimed. ''You had a break up, everyone does.''

''It's funny.'' Katie said, suddenly.

Maddie was momentarily lost as her friend spoke.

''Last year, I was with Charlie and you were the depressed one without a boyfriend.''

''That's funny?'' Maddie asked.

Katie shrugged again. ''Mads, please I just...I need time.''

''If you're this miserable, why did you guys break up?'' Maddie asked.

''You know why Mads.'' Katie said, quietly. ''I just handle it anymore.''

Maddie sighed and pulled Katie into a one-armed hug. Katie tried to smile. ''Go find Dean. I'll be ok.''

Maddie bit her lip. "I'm starting to be a horrible friend.''

''No.'' Katie shook her head. ''You're in love. Just go, I insist.''

Maddie bit her lip once more, before nodding. ''Are you sure? Because I will stay here, as long as you want me to.''

''Mads. Go.'' Katie said, cracking something of a smile.

Maddie grinned and bowed. ''As You Wish.''

''Princess Bride.''

''Damn, you're good. Laters.''

Katie watched Maddie walk down the hall and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Suddenly, he left his classroom. He looked up, and she looked at him, and they were frozen. Katie blinked and turned around, going the other way quickly.

Maddie was walking down the hall, when a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her, pulling her towards it. She grinned at her kidnapper.

''Hey Dean. What's up.''

Dean shrugged, leaning against a locker. ''How's Kat?''

''Depressed, resembling a zombie. I'm worried about her.'' Maddie said. ''And Charlie?''

''Same.'' Dean said.

''I just don't understand. If they are so miserable, why stay broken up?''

''Maybe they just need time apart. I mean, what with their parents dating. Plus, the whole age difference thing. It finally got to them.''

''The age difference doesn't bother you, doesn't it?'' she asked, referring to them.

''Of course not.'' Dean said.

Then two things happened. The first was that a group of senior cheerleaders walked by them in the hall. The second was that the bell rang. Maddie reached up to kiss him goodbye, and he stepped away. She blinked, confused as to what happened. Then, turning her head slightly, she saw the cheerleaders walk by.

Her eyes closed and she nodded, as if confirming something.

''Mads?''

She eyes snapped open, and he stood there, a look of regret on his face. ''Mads, I-''

''Glad it doesn't bother you.'' Maddie snapped.

She shook her head and walked away.

Katie sat at her desk in her room. She'd been spending all her time at the dorms, but now with the break-up. Well, she'd rather be here, where Charlie couldn't barge in.

A knock on the door drove her thoughts away. ''Come in.''

Her father popped his head in and smiled. ''Doing anything important?''

Katie held up a notebook. ''Math. So, no.''

''Come downstairs. I want to talk to you.''

Katie stood up and followed her father into the living room. She was Adam sitting on the couch and sat down next to him. Then, she saw Casey.

She instinctively froze, looking at the woman with a slight guilt. Casey just smiled, nervously it seemed.

''You guys know what Casey and I have been dating.'' Phillip said.

''Oh yea.'' Adam remarked.

''Trust me, we know.'' Katie said, quietly.

Phillip swallowed nervously and reached for Casey's hand. She was already reaching for him, and while her hand moved, Katie swore she saw something sparkle.

''Well, we're really in love you guys.''

''You're engaged.'' Katie said, her eyes fixed on her joined hands.

Adam's eyes widened as he looked at Katie and over at his dad and Casey.

''Yes, we are.'' Phillip said.

Adam just sat back, stunned. Katie blinked a couple times before standing up. ''Congrats.''

She started to walk out of the room. She had grabbed her coat and was halfway out the door when Phillip followed her out.

''Where are you going?''

''Out.'' Katie said.

She left the house, slamming the door for good measure.

Adam walked numbly into his dorm room and saw Julie and Charlie waiting for him.

''So you know?'' he asked, sitting down next to his girlfriend.

''They told me earlier.'' Charlie said.

''He told me, thought you might need some company.'' Julie explained, kissing Adam's cheek.

''Didn't we once wish we could be brothers?''

''Once, back in the peewees.''

''What?'' Julie asked.

''We were about ten years old...and we had become such great friends. We made a blood brothers pack.''

''And years later, it comes true.''

Both boys chuckled.

''No effing way!'' Maddie exclaimed.

Katie had walked all the way to Maddie's house and was now fuming in her room.

''Yes! My dad is getting remarried! I'm going to have a step mother!'' Katie screamed.

''Well, at least Casey is nice.'' Maddie offered.

''I dumped her son, Mads. Let's see how long the nice lasts. Oh my God...Charlie.''

In her anger over another mother, she completely forgot he'd be part of the equation too.

''Well...this is awkward. You and Charlie, step-sibs.'' Maddie said. Then she started laughing.

''What?'' Katie demanded.

''You...you...saw...your step brother...naked!''

Katie glared at Maddie as the latter continued to roll around the bed, clutching her side. Then, she fell off the bed. She was so surprised, that her giggles ceased instantly, her and mouth took the shape of an "O".

It was then, Katie finally started to laugh as well.

Katie walked inside her house and heard her father in the kitchen. She headed that way, hoping to apologize for earlier. Walking inside the brightly lit room, she froze.

Casey and Charlie were sitting at their table.

Casey smiled at her, while Charlie's eyes fell to the table. Katie stood there, stunned. Then, she felt to hands on her shoulders and was being pushed by her father into a chair. Right. Across. From. Charlie.

''Casey had a wonderful idea for all of us to eat together.'' Phillip was saying as he sat down at the head of the table. ''Since we're going to be a family, we can get used to it.''

Katie finally noticed her brother was sitting next to her. He smiled reassuringly at her, and she tried to smile back .

Dinner was server, and it would have tasted great. It would have been amusing to see Casey and her dad fight over having servants and such. It would have been a nice dinner.

But all Katie felt were his eyes on her...

Maddie was lounging on her bed. It was late, and she knew Katie was sleeping at home, so she opted not to go back to the dorms. Instead, she lay at home, wearing baggy sweat pants and a shirt, too sizes to big, with a faded band name on it.

Someone knocked on her door and she shouted for them to come in without a second thought.

She looked up when the door closed and saw Dean standing over her.

''What are you doing here?'' she asked, slowly.

''Your parents let me in. Great people. Your mom fussed over me, and your dad was pretty chummy.'' he sat down on the foot of her bed. ''Guess you didn't tell them about earlier.''

''Slipped my mind.'' Maddie said, shrugging.

''Mads, I know I kinda screwed up-''

''All I want to know is why? Was it because you want everyone to think you're single? Or is it because the age difference bothers you?''

''Maddie...it's not that it bothers me. It's just weird.''

''And everyone would think you're weird for being with me.'' Maddie finished for him. ''You can be such an ass.''

''Mads, come on.'' he reached for her.

She scooted backwards and pointed towards the door. ''If you can't see passed this whole age thing, then there's no reason for you to be here.''

Dean sighed and left.

It was after dinner and Casey had dismissed the servants to bed. So, Katie was doing the dishes.

''Can I help?''

Charlie walked over to the sink, staring down at her. Katie shrugged, and he took it as a yes.

''So, dinner was good.''

''I guess.''

''The weather's nice.''

Katie stopped and lowered the glass she was currently washing. With an eyebrow raised, she looked over at him. ''You're attempting small talk?''

Charlie too had stopped washing. ''Well, what else can we talk about?''

''I miss you.'' she whispered.

He closed his eyes and shook his head. ''How about those Knicks?''

She looked confused and he hastily explained. ''I watched Friends last night.''

''So, I can't say I miss you?'' she asked.

''You ended it. So, that's a no. It's against the rules.'' he said, but with a slight grin.

''Well, I'll tell you a secret. I met a guy, he kinda made me a rule breaker.'' she smirked.

''He sounds like a jackass.'' Charlie said.

''Oh he was.'' Katie said. She picked the glass back up and began to wash it again. ''But he had his moments.''

''Good moments?''

''Amazing moments.''

''That's good.'' Charlie said. He put the plate on the dish rack and picked up another one. ''I gotta secret like that. Only I met a girl, and she changed my world.''

''For the better? Or worse?'' Katie whispered.

''Better. Definitely for the better.'' he whispered.

Katie set down the glass and turned towards him. He opened his arms and she practically leaped into them.

''I miss you too.'' he whispered.

She pulled away, and tried to smile.

''But, I also understand why you did it.''

He picked the plate back up and placed it on the rack.

''So, are we...ok?''

''Kat, we'll never not be ok.'' he said.

She smiled, her first true smile for a long time.

''So, a jackass am I?''

''Yep.''

''Really? Cause I figure myself as the dashing and charming type.''

Katie rolled her eyes. ''Just wash the dishes, Charlie.''

''Yes ma'am.''

The Next Day

Maddie walked down the hallway in a better mood then yesterday. Katie had finally come out of her funk, saying that her and Charlie finally talked. She was happy things were ok between them, and that they could stay friends.

Especially now that they were going to be step-sibs.

She spotted Dean, leaning against his locker. She was going to just march past him, but he stopped her.

''Dean, look it's fine. I don't care if-''

He cut her off by kissing her passionately on the lips. Her arms wove around her neck as his hands traveled to her back, pushing her against him.

Oxygen was needed, and the couple finally broke apart. Maddie was stunned and breathless. She was also slightly embarrassed to notice a crowed around them.

''Yes, I am dating Maddie Thomas. She's a year younger then me, but she is the single most amazing woman I have ever met. Anyone with a problem, can go jump into the lake.''

Maddie giggled and hugged him as their audience slowly disappeared.

''Am I forgiven?'' he asked.

''Of course.'' she replied.

And they kissed again.

AN-ending this chap on a happy note. Don't know when I'll be able to update again, hopefully this weekend.

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