Hey guys!

Back with the break chapter. One chapter, going to cover all the couples' conversations! Wish me luck.

I'm gonna start off with Cassidy and Tristan to keep the flow going from the previous chapter.

If you read this A/N, please add #ExcitedForMDBC7 to your review.

It's just so I know whether you're reading this. I'd like to keep you all updated on recent happenings and story ideas, so it'll help if you guys could read my notes at the beginning of the chapters.

Enjoy!

-Estelle

With Cassidy and Tristan (Cassidy's P.O.V.)

"So." Tristan finally says.

"So." I repeat cautiously.

He doesn't reply for a moment. I take this time to hike myself onto the tall counter-top. This makes me about a head taller than Tristan. It's technically a mark of how tall he is, because I'm sitting on a tall counter-top, and he's standing on the ground, and I'm still only a few inches taller than him. (Wow, how many times did I say 'tall' in that sentence?)

Tristan leans against the counter, "So this Zach character was your first kiss."

"Maybe."

"Maybe?" his eyebrows rise.

"Well, I was his first kiss, because he kissed me. But I didn't kiss him back, remember?"

Tristan processes this, then cracks a smile, "I like your way of thinking."

I laugh, "Come on. Haven't you ever dated anyone else? And Annabelle doesn't count."

"I didn't date Annabelle. She's my cousin. That's revolting."

I whistle innocently.

"There were a few girls I hung out with now and then, but not like..." he trails off, then looks at me again, "Look, Cass. You know how hard it is for me to open up and actually trust people."

I nod.

"It's hard for you, too, but you're openly rude and snappy and fierce, and I'm more cold and distant. I would say that you're one of the only people who are not in my family whom I really feel comfortable with." he continues, "You know how that works."

I nod again. Tristan and I never usually talk about this stuff. There's never a need. But I find it amazing the way he's able to open himself up completely to anyone whom he trusts. To anyone who trusts him.

I'm that way, too. I'm on my guard with the rest of the world, but with some people, like Tristan and my book club friends, I know it's no good.

"You mean a lot to me, Cassidy." Tristan says softly, and his dark blue eyes meet my gray ones, "A lot. You're different than other people I know."

I run my fingers through his hair, "You hated me so much when we first met."

"Not really." he shrugs, "I didn't know you. And it's not like you were super kind either."

I laugh, "I guess not."

For some time, I rest my cheek on top of his head, and he twirls my hair on his fingers. He does that a lot, but I'm not complaining.

"It's hard when someone means so much to you and you're kind of reliving some queer flashback where another guy kisses her." Tristan says, his voice soft.

I try to imagine how it would be if I was reading about some random girl kissing Tristan. I don't like the thought much.

"You're not...interested in him anymore, though, are you?" Tristan asks.

I shake my head, "Not in the slightest."

Tristan considers this, then turns to face me again. His arms slide loosely around my waist.

"So, do you think I could practice on you now, then?" he asks, "Make sure my kissing doesn't become as bad as Norton's?"

I turn bright red, "I don't think there's any chance of that."

"So you don't want me to practice on you?" he asks coyly.

I turn, if possible, even redder, "I didn't say that."

"Good, because I'm planning on doing it whether you want me to or not."

"I want you to." I murmur, my fingers still running through his hair.

"Then it's a win-win situation." Tristan whispers.

His arms tighten around my waist. Before I can reply, his lips press against mine, and my arms wrap around his neck.

Way better than Zach Norton. Don't even mention their kissing skills in the same breath.

I want to tell Tristan that he's a way better kisser, that there's no need to prove it, that I'm not interested in Zach anymore, but I can't. Because his tongue is in my mouth and I am not going to make him stop any time soon.

We stay that way for some time, only stopping when we need to breathe, and then I hear the twist of the door knob. Tristan must, too, because we both pull away from each other quickly. I unwrap my arms from around his neck, but he doesn't make any move to remove his arms from my waist. Not that I want him to. But if it was Becca opening the door... or Courtney...or- oh my gosh- my mom. I would never hear the end of it.

About a second later, Stewart Chadwick bursts in. He grins at Tristan and me. I sigh in relief.

Tristan rolls his eyes, "He has great timing."

"Tell me about it." I reply.

Emma comes in a second later, "Stewart!" she scolds, sounding a bit out of breath.

She grins at me and Tristan, "Sorry, guys."

Tristan is laughing, though, and so am I, and then so are Emma and Stewart.

"Coming to the kitchen?" Stewart asks.

We nod.

Tristan's arms wrap tighter around my waist as I jump of the counter-top, then he lets go of me.

He walks ahead with Stewart, and I fall in place next to Emma.

"I wish Mrs. Delaney made some lasagna." I say longingly, "Who knows what crazy thing Mrs. Wong's cooked up."

"Gigi made dim sum." Emma tells me eagerly.

I grin, "Score."

We laugh again, and follow Stewart and Tristan into the kitchen.

With Stewart and Emma (Emma's P.O.V.)

Stewart and I wonder into a section of the Guest Service Areas. The Wongs have two of those. One for guests, and one used to be for Gigi, until she moved out with Monsieur de Roches. He and Sophie have gone to New York to 'sight-see', but Gigi stayed, on account of the books.

"Here." I say to Stewart.

Stewart nods, and we both sit down on the sofa.

"Sorry." he says.

I look at him in surprise, "Sorry for what?"

"Not kissing you at the Cemetery." Stewart answers sheepishly.

"It's nothing. Our first kiss was perfect." I tell him truthfully. It was. It was the best first kiss ever. A kiss in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery couldn't have compared.

He smiles, "Well, that was a bad day for romance all around. With the whole Zach-Cassidy kiss and my goof up."

"Your goof up was actually kind of cute."

"Only you would be nice enough to think that, Em. Simon and Theo and Tristan and Darcy all skipped my forehead step. I wonder where they had their first kisses."

"I already know." I said smugly.

"You do?"

"Uh-huh. Becca and Theo in Minnesota, then Simon and Megs had theirs in Paris. And Cass and Tristan had theirs in England, and Darce and Jess's was here in Concord."

"Are you supposed to be telling me all this?" Stewart cocks his eyebrow.

I grin, "Probably not."

He grins, too, "You know, I'd like to make up for the forehead kiss."

My heart beats faster, "Yeah?"

"Yup. Are you up for it?"

"Definitely." I reply.

He leans over and kisses me. It's wonderful how he seems to be able to improve each kiss. Every time, I find it impossible that he can possibly do better. Except he does.

It's always like we're the only two people in the world. Just me and him, and there's sparks and electricity and fireworks. So many fireworks. They're absolutely everywhere.

It ends way too soon, but it's been more time than I expected.

"We'd better get going." I say reluctantly, and he nods.

"Y'know." he casts me a sidelong glance, "I think I saw Cassidy and Tristan go through into the other Guest Area. Let's go bother them and remind them it's time."

Before I can comprehend what he said, he jumps up and makes his way to the door to the other Guest Area

Holding a finger to his lips, he twists the handle.

Then, he pushes the door open and bursts in.

I hear Cassidy heave a sigh. It sounds kind of relieved. Maybe she was expecting her mom.

"He has great timing." Tristan mutters.

"Tell me about it." Cassidy answers.

"Stewart!" I scold, appearing behind him and taking in the scene.

Cassidy is sitting on the counter-top, and Tristan's arms are wrapped around her waist.

He looks half amused and half annoyed.

"Sorry guys." I say, grinning at them.

But Tristan's laughing, and so am I and so are Cassidy and Stewart

"Coming to the kitchen?" Stewart asks.

I roll my eyes at my boyfriend. The boyfriend who means so, so much to me.

Cassidy and Tristan nod. He tightens his arms around her waist and she jumps down from the counter-top. Their movements are always in sync. It's probably all the ice-dancing. They've gotten used to each others rhythm.

As we make our way to the kitchen, Cassidy glumly remarks about how we'll have to eat some weird creation of Mrs. Wong's.

"Nope. Gigi made dim sum." I tell her eagerly. Gigi's food is legendary.

Cassidy brightens, "Score!"

We follow Stewart and Tristan into the kitchen. Everyone else is already there.

We join Megan, Becca, Jess, Simon, Theo and Darcy at the dining table and join the lively discussion that's already flourishing.

With Jess and Darcy (Jess's P.O.V.)

"Whew." Darcy mimes wiping a hand across his forehead as we wander into a storage room, full of cardboard boxes.

"Whew is right." I reply, seating myself next to him on an especially long box.

"This has got to be one of the weirdest, most unexpected book series ever." Darcy breathes out a laugh,"And this has got to be one of the weirdest reading sessions ever."

"Tell me about it. In our points of view. I don't understand who the author is and how she or he got it all down."

"But they were right, right?"

I nod, "One million percent right."

"Per cent means per hundred. Million percent can't exist." Darcy teases, "I thought you knew this, my dear genius girlfriend."

I shove him playfully.

"So." Darcy says after some time, "Norton?"

"Huh?"

"Before Em and Becca and Megs and Cassidy got with their boyfriends, they were all crushing on Zach Norton?"

"Pretty much. Well, Cassidy and Zach actually dated. They're just really confusing. But, overall, yeah. I guess I'm the only one who never like liked him."

Darcy fist-pumps and I giggle.

"Stewart's got some explaining to do to my sister. Man, a forehead kiss? Are you serious?" Darcy chuckles.

I swat him, "He's not here, you dork. He can't even hear you."

"Yeah, he's probably redeeming himself to Emma." Darcy makes a face, "Stewart's cool and all, but, sheesh, that's my sister."

"I know. And my best friend." I remind him.

"About redeeming himself...you wanna try?"

"What?" I ask, startled.

"I said Stewart's probably redeeming himself, right? You know what that means."

I nod, "Uh-huh."

"Well, wanna go for it? Fifteen minutes left."

"What?"

Darcy shakes his head, smiling softly. I love Darcy's smile. It's sweet and fun and nice and caring. It makes me melt, I swear.

He leans forward, and I stare into his eyes. I love his eyes, too. He has the nicest eyes.

He kisses me.

I love Darcy's kisses.

I kiss back, smiling into the kiss, closing my eyes.

Darcy always says he loves my smile, and that my eyes are the most gorgeous blue he's ever seen. Most gorgeous color he's ever seen, in fact.

We pull away from each other, and I lean my head against his chest fore a couple of minutes.

"We should probably get going to the kitchen." I finally say.

He nods and takes my hand and we chase each other to the kitchen, bursting in happily.

The parents look over at us and smile. Gigi points to a dish on the counter.

"Dim sum!" Simon says dreamily.

He and Megan and Theo and Becca are already seated at the table.

Darcy and I join them, "No sign of the other 4?" I ask.

Thoe shrugs, "Not yet."

"Whose point of view do you think it'll be next?" Becca questions nervously.

"The parents- or moms, at least- did say they weren't reading out humiliating or private stuff." Megan says cautiously.

We continue to discuss scenarios which are actually humiliating versus scenarios which are humiliating in our moms' minds when Cassidy and Tristan and Stewart and Emma show up.

"I hope it isn't me." Cassidy says in a low voice.

"Especially in tenth grade." I tease, and she flushes bright red.

"Alright, alright, enough chatting." Gigi calls, "Dim sum, anyone?"

"Everyone!" Tristan calls back, and the delicious meal is served. Not the normal lunch, but still amazing.

We sit together and laugh and chat and eat and try not to worry about what the rest of the snippets have in store for us.

With Megan and Simon (Megan's P.O.V.)

I fall back on my bed and let out my breath, "So."

Simon drops into the desk-chair, "So."

Neither of us speak for a moment.

Then I decide to break the silence. It was too absolute, it was basically screaming in my ears.

"Simon, look." I say, "Listen. There are some stuff you need to know. Other than the fact that I liked Zach Norton before I met you."

Simon smiled lightly, "I don't mind that. He's a good friend of mine, like I said. You don't like him any more, do you?"

I shake my head.

"Then all is well. It's probably going to be harder for my dear brother."

I laugh, remembering Tristan's face when we read about Zach kissing his girlfriend.

Then I stop laughing.

"Megs?"

"Back in sixth grade." I say, my throat constricting a bit, "At the beginning, for a good few months, I was..." I sighed, "God, Simon, I was horrible."

Simon's brows furrow, "Horrible?"

"Yes. Becca and I were those snobby rich kids. We made fun of everyone for everything. We made fun of Emma, and laughed at her for being poor- behind her back and to her face. We laughed at Jess for, I don't know, living in the coolest farm ever? And her mom kind of left them that year and went to New York to act on a soap opera. We used to tease her that her mom ran away from her. And Cassidy...she was kind of fierce, way more than Emma and Jess. She still is. But we laughed about her looking like an outsider in her family, we laughed about her dad..." Tears blurred my vision, "We made fun of her that her dad died. Simon, I was that bad."

Simon chews his lip, regarding me thoughtfully, "Megan..."

"No, wait. Emma and I were friends. We were. Until fourth grade, and I ditched her and started making her life miserable, and.." I blabber.

"Megan."

I turn to him, "Yeah?"

"You were like that."

"Yeah."

"Except you weren't, really." he says.

I stare at him.

"You can still see traces of snobby-Becca. You know you can, even though she's done a tremendous amount to overcome it." Simon tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, "You can't see traces of snobby Megan. That wasn't really you. It was just an act. You liked Becca, and she liked you, but did you fit? And that was all."

"That's even worse!" I wail, "I was willing to do all that for- for...popularity!" I wail.

"And you've come really far. See, you know where you went wrong."

"No, listen...I let Becca read Emma's journal to Zach and Ethan and Third and a bunch of other guys in the sixth. It was a poem about Zach. I didn't stop her. Becca and me ruined the Beauty and The Beast play on Jess's opening night by letting her goat onto the stage. In seventh grade, I actually believed..." I ramble, but Simon holds up a hand to silence me.

"I understand that you were cruel, Megan. I'll be prepared for the worst." he gestures to me, "Because this is Megan. That was not." You obviously feel bad about what happened." Simon slides an arm around me, "I like this Megan. Nothing from the past can change that."

I feel a tiny smile forming, "Okay."

He leans in towards me, "I think I can make you feel better."

My heart flutters happily.

His kisses are always perfect.

How can you describe a perfect kiss? You can't. I can't.

His lips are perfect and his eyes are beautiful and he is amazing and he makes me happier than almost anyone else in the world.

I lean against him, breathing in his perfect smell.

I glance at the clock on my wall, "Si?"

"Off to the kitchen?"

"Mmm-hmm."

So we close my room door and head downstairs.

None of my other friends are there except Becca and Theo. Their talk must have gone well, because they're both smiling as they chat.

"Hey y'all!" Becca says, trying to sound like-

"Savannah Sinclone?" Theo says, unsure, "She swore she was good at imitating, but I don't know who Savannah is."

"Sinclair." I correct, "She was pretty spot-on. Y'all? That's Savannah, alright."

"Okay, then."

We hang around for some time, until Jess and Darcy appear, and then the other four show up, too.

"Dim sum!" my boyfriend sighs dreamily.

We laugh and take out plates and tuck in to the delicious meal, trying not to think about the awaiting books.

With Becca and Theo (Becca's P.O.V.)

We end up in the Sewing Room. I love looking at the finished clothes and Megan's perfect designs.

But as I close the door, I know that that's not why I'm here right now.

"Becca?" Theo leans against the wall.

I turn towards him hesitantly, "Theo, you deserve the story. And I'm gonna give it to you."

"Okay." he looks expectant.

"So, I'm the villain of the story."

"The...?"

"Villain. Yeah."

I breathe, in and out and in and out...willing myself not to break down and give Theo every negative quality I have, telling him every sin I've ever committed.

Theo reaches out and massages my shoulder gently. I lean into his chest and breath him in. I feel myself calm down a bit.

"I was horrible." I mumble.

He draws away, "And why's that?"

"Look, let's start with the fact that I flirted with every guy I saw. I don't do that anymore, of course." I add quickly, "But I used to."

"And now you don't. See? That's good." Theo smiles at me.

Oh, gosh. I don't deserve Theodore Rochester. I don't deserve such an understanding person. I don't deserve someone who is every bit as nice as I am not.

"And I was mean. As mean as-" I don't say 'snake' because I know he won't take it well, "Well, as mean as you could possibly imagine."

"Give me an example." Theo is analyzing this, the same way he analyzes his snakes or his schoolwork or his friends' problematic situations.

So he's paying attention.

I spill all the details, one after another.

Emma's journal at the ice rink.

"You did that?" he asks softly.

I nod, ashamed, "I did, I know..."

And then I tell him about the Beauty and the Beast Play.

"You let the goat onstage." Theo asks in disbelief.

I nod again.

I painfully re-encounter the entire 'Handcuff Wongs' hysteria. All the details. Humiliating Megan. Framing Emma and Cassidy. Everything.

He doesn't speak. For a long moment, he doesn't speak.

He's going to break up with me. I know it. And I deserve it. It makes sense. I understand why he'd want to.

Theo opens his mouth, but I start to talk before he can, "I'm sorry for everything, I really am. I never meant...I can't believe... I mean.." I ramble, "Theo, I know I was horrible, who knows, maybe I still am." I close my eyes in anguish, "I've tried to change, I'm still trying, I think I'm doing okay, but I was horrible." my voice lowers to a whisper, "Maybe I still am..."

"Becca." Theo says softly.

I look at him.

"Becca... okay, I'm not gonna lie. You were horrible. I can't believe it. You shouldn't have done that stuff. It's revolting."

I look at the floor, tears blurring my vision.

"But...I'm also really proud and impressed at what a good person you are, too."

"I-what?" I interrupt shakily.

"You saw your mistake. You tried to change. And you're doing awesome! I'd never have guessed you were, y'know...like that before." he looks me in the eye, "And all the stuff you're doing for your family? It's great. In fact, just being able to face up to me like this shows a lot of courage. See how bad you feel about it all? What kind of 'villain', in your words, feels bad? You are a good person. That's why you feel bad."

Theo hugs me. I mentally send a message to random supreme forces.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for letting me have friends who will forgive me and THANK YOU for letting me have this wonderful boy in my life, someone who will accept me and like me for who I am...

He kisses me.

I don't see it coming. I smile. I love his kisses. They're wonderful and it was so totally worth the wait for my Mr. Rochester.

It ends way too soon, but hey, we've gotta get back to the kitchen, right?

So we make our way back to the kitchen to find that we're the first one from our group to return.

As we take our seats, Theo asks, "Who is Savannah, by the way?"

"Oh, she's a friend of ours. She rooms- roomed- with Jess at Colonial. I'm pretty sure they're going to Julliard together, but she wanted to do law, too, so I'm not sure." I tell him.

"Oh. Savannah's a town in Georgia, y'know."

"Yeah, I know. She's all southern and stuff."

"Yeah?" he asks playfully.

"Yeah, and I can totally imitate her." I reply confidently.

"Let's see how you do, partner." Theo tries his hand at a Southern accent.

I laugh as Megan and Simon enter the kitchen and come towards us.

"Hey." they chorus.

"Hey, y'all." I answer.

Megan and Simon stare at me, confused.

"Savannah Sinclone." Theo interjects, sounding unsure, "She swore she was good at imitating, but I don't know who Savannah is."

I squelch back a laugh.

"Sinclair." Megan corrects, "She was pretty spot-on. Y'all? That's Savannah, alright."

"Okay, then." Theo shrugs nonchalantly.

We talk some more, waiting for our friends to join us.

And when they do, we enjoy some awesome dim sum.

"Gather back in the room!" Mrs. Hawthorne orders.

We all trudge back to the room and seat ourselves.

"Are we all here?" Mrs. Wong asks, "Or should I do a roll-call?"

"Um, I don't think we have to do that." Cassidy says dryly from her spot on the couch next to Tristan. He drapes an arm around her, rubbing her neck lightly. She lets her head fall onto his shoulder.

"Okey-dokey." My dad says, "Can I do the honors?"

"Of course." Mrs. Hawthorne grants, holding out the bowl.

Cassidy and I exchange fearful glances. Out of the five of us, only we haven't had our points of view read yet.

My father quickly pulls out a chit and unfolds it.

Please don't be the last two books, please don't be one of the last two books... I silently pray.

"And the book is..." my father intones.

I squeeze my eyes shut as he reads out the title.