Saturday, December 14, some random person's house

So this party completely blows. Ugh. Why did I let myself be coerced into this crap? It's basically just a bunch of trashed high school kids jumping around and rubbing up against each other. This is definitely NOT my idea of fun.

And I can't even go hide in the bathroom or anything. People are in there puking their guts out, so I figured it might be a wee bit distracting. Instead, I'm stuck sitting outside in the FREEZING cold. Seriously, my fingers are getting numb and hard to move. But it's the only place that I can be alone.

Wait. Scratch that. Tyler's coming out here and it looks like he's headed my way…

Sunday, December 15, Tyler's

It's late, or really early depending on how you look at it, I guess. Do you know how weird it is to shower or sleep in someone else's house, especially when you only met them like two days ago? Yeah, it's pretty… uncomfortable.

Aaaaanyway, earlier when Tyler found me outside at the party, we sat outside for a little while.

"You having that bad of a time?" Tyler asked and sat down next to me.

"I told you that I'm not much of a party person."

"Same here."

I didn't believe him. "If you don't like parties, then why are you here?"

Tyler grinned. "When in Rome…"

So he was just doing it to fit in? How ridiculous.

"If you don't like parties and you're just doing this to fit in, why did I have to get dragged along even after I said that I hate parties?"

"Even if I had stopped asking, Reid wouldn't have," Tyler replied. "And Reid likes parties. Maybe a little too much."

This was true…

"You want to get out of here?"

I looked back towards the house. Some guys were smashing beer cans against their heads. I wanted so desperately to say yes, but…

"What about that girl you were with earlier?" I had seen him some redhead steal him away after we had gotten to the party. I assumed it was the same girl who he had been with at Nicky's. And there was no way I wanted to get into something, like a catfight.

Tyler shrugged. "She's around here somewhere, I'm sure. Probably with Aaron. Things weren't really working out."

I didn't hesitate for another second. I stood up quickly and started walking. "Come on, let's go."

After driving around for awhile, Tyler stopped the car in the middle of freaking nowhere.

"You're not going to try to kill me or something, are you?" I had seen one too many horror movies.

"No," Tyler said with a slight laugh. "I just figured that this was about as far away from the party as we could get."

He was probably right. There probably wasn't anybody around for miles. We sat there for a while in silence. In uncomfortable silence.

"So how'd you find out?" Tyler asked finally. "That you were adopted, I mean."

"Thanksgiving dinner when somebody let it slip."

"Oh." He sounded like he hadn't been expecting that. "Well, your parents know that you're here, right? They're okay with it?"

"They're dead." I didn't know how to sugarcoat it, and I didn't really want to. But, talk about a conversation killer…

"I'm sorry," Tyler apologized quickly. "I didn't mean to…"

"It's okay." I explained about everything—my parents thinking I was overreacting, McAden, the car crash, and finding the papers. He looked a little surprised, to say the least.

When I was finished, we sat in silence again. I had effectively killed the conversation. I figured that since I had been the one to kill it, I should say something.

"What is the big secret that you guys can't tell me until tomorrow?" I asked.

"I can't tell you," Tyler said simply.

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't just involve me."

"But it involves ME, so don't I deserve to know?" What is the big deal anyway?

"You will know. Tomorrow."

"But it's almost tomorrow. Why can't you just tell me now?"

"I already told you why." Tyler sounded like he was starting to get frustrated.

"So basically, you have to ask for permission from Reid, Caleb, or Pogue before you can tell me. Or is this more of that 'When in Rome…' crap you were spewing earlier?" I goaded him. I wanted to know.

"Yeah," Tyler snapped, "that's it."

"Whatever," I grumbled and looked out the window.

After a moment of silence, Tyler started the car.

When we got back to the house, Reid was sitting in the entry hall waiting for us. He looked relieved to see us.

"I was worried," Reid said. "You just disappeared at the party." He looked over at Tyler suspiciously. "You didn't try to put the moves on her, did you?"

"I wouldn't worry about that," Tyler answered coldly and walked off upstairs.

Reid turned his gaze back to me. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing." I started up the stairs, too. "He's just a big baby."

So now Tyler's pissed at me. And you know what? I don't really care.

I think…

Sorry for the long wait for this chapter.� All I have to say is school sucks.� Thanks to all my reviewers, and I hope you'll keep reading.

Now review. The answers to your questions will be coming soon, I promise!