A/N: The reviews have truly kicked my butt, thanks for them. It's always and I mean ALWAYS good to know some other people than my imaginary fans are really reading what I write, so. The last chapter was short for which I'm sorry, but as said, I was moving out (and now I have! Wohoo) so I didn't really have time to write. The little time I had, I practically stole, heh.

Sigh. I don't know if I should have, you know, higher rated chapter here at some point, something like MA (it's nc-17-alike isn't it?). You guys tell me, heh.

Chapter 4

Delia marched into the changing room slamming the door behind her shut rather angrily. There was no one else in the room which meant there was no one witnessing her burst of anger, either, which she noted appreciatively. Walking to her spot, she grabbed her bag throwing it on the floor, kicked it twice, and then sat on the chair where the bag had been a minute ago. She breathed in, only once, before her arms collapsed onto the make-up table and her forehead on them. Finally, she exhaled.

She didn't move for a couple of minutes, but only laid there cursing Bright without really saying anything. Insults towards the man, however, filled her head almost too loudly for her to even think of anything.

"God, life sucks", she whined against her arms with closed eyes, wishing that when she opened them again, she'd notice that it had all been a bad dream. Everything, her whole life including. She felt like a teenager again. Like a teenager who's boyfriend had just witnessed her doing something embarrassing, like peeing, for example. Of course, now that she was older she understood how that was one of the most natural things human body did or could ever do, but when she had been younger, it'd been a disaster if a guy had accidentally overheard you while you were in the bathroom. All the sudden, she was that teenager again. In that bathroom.

"That doesn't look to me like you'd be changing." Delia's head shot up immediately. Turning around on her seat, she saw Bright stepping over the threshold and closing the door. With a dropped jaw, she could only watch him step closer before he stopped with crossed arms. When the hell had he opened the door and just how long had he been standing there, watching her welter in her thoughts?

Had she already mentioned what a goddamn bastard he was?

"What are you doing here?" She hissed, eyes narrowing. It was one for the guy to show up in her club, but a completely another for him to bust into her changing room! He had no manners, whatsoever. Boy, Bright really hadn't changed during the years, now had he?

As if he had been waiting for her to finish her thought, he answered only after a pause. "Making sure you don't run through the backdoor, that's all." She snorted in disgust. "Now, will you get dressed that we can get out of this craphole?"

She had every right in the world to bad-mouth her shitty workplace, but he didn't! She stood up, hands on her hips not bothering to cover her half-naked front anymore. Partly because of fury, partly because of pure defiance. Bright had been ladies' man from kindergarten as far as she knew, so seeing little Delia Brown in her underwear hardly made his knees weak. Only, it did.

Not instantly of course. First there was the familiar jolt of electricity shooting through his body and only then the weird feeling was born in the pit of his stomach, moving down onto his knees. Come on, she's the one and only little sister of your best friend! He swallowed. Yeah, so what? Wasn't like his body parts ever asked his permission to feel something…

"I am not leaving with you, Abbott", she stated with perfectly calm, but cold voice while there was nothing cold in her eyes. They were bolting. Since when had she been using his last name, eh? He frowned slightly. Bright was somewhat sure she had never ever used it before and so it felt both highly amusing and… well, provocative for one.

"You know what your brother would do to me if he found out I left you in a place like this?" He questioned, telling himself it was the real reason behind his reaction. Was it? He couldn't help but add; "Looking like that?"

If Delia hadn't wanted to smack him before, now she most definitely did. The way he looked at her in disgust… she hated it. Hated it. But her counter-remark didn't take more than a second to form. "What's wrong with the way I look?" She shot back, "Obviously, if you didn't like it, you wouldn't be in a place like this now would you?"

The arrow had nailed its target. You could tell it by the way his eyes got darker and his jaw tensed. He wasn't amused anymore. So, was it her problem the guy had some serious issues with temper? "Delia", he let out huskily, but she hurried to interrupt him before he could say anything else.

"Look, maybe you feel it's like a duty of yours or something", she spoke. She wasn't really that angry at him anymore, maybe she thought she understood why he had reacted the way he had. Bright doubted it. "Fine, I had a one tiny little crush on you years ago and I'm sure it's why you're acting like this."

Bright laughed, only inside. Exactly what he had been telling himself… with a failure, naturally. No, it wasn't that.

Delia however didn't notice how the amused spark had returned his gaze, but only kept babbling her defense. "Big deal, I grew out of it and you don't have to feel like you should take care of me just because of that. I mean, so what if you happen to be Ephram's manager and his best friend? This is my life. Mine, ok? I can do whatever I want, I'm not a child anymore." She ended her ramble with a casual, almost apologizing shrug.

No, he thought, letting his eyes brush over her well-trained body, definitely not a child anymore, Delia.

Both the silent moment and his intense stare got Delia on second thoughts about the way she looked at that very moment. She turned around to grab her blouse from the back of the chair and put it on. She hated using her on-duty-underwear as Katie called them, but there was no chance in hell she'd take them off with him standing there. She was defiant, alright, but not that defiant. Yet. So instead, she let it go this once and pulled her jeans and jacket on while at it.

Turning back to him, she realized Bright was still observing her every move with the weirdest look in his eyes. She couldn't quite read it, but honestly, did she even want to?

Tossing her long hair over her shoulder to gain an extra second to think, she cleared her throat. "Are you going to stand there for the rest of the evening? Hope not, because you're on my way." Having said that, she grabbed her bag and moved closer to walk pass him. Only, she didn't get far when a firm grip took a hold of her arm, preventing her from moving.

"As I said", he reminded, sending creeps all the way down to her spine, "I'm driving you home."

Looking at him, she freed herself with one single, somewhat violent tug. This time, he let go but didn't take his eyes of her. If she wasn't going to take his message in by words, he would be forced to make it happen by using other ways, then.

"I have a car." It was the first thing her foggy mind had come up with. Plus, it was a total lie and they both knew it.

He didn't even have to say it. The look she received made it very clear to her anyway.

"Fine, I don't have a car", she gave in whining, "But I'm not going with you. I'm taking the bus."

Bright let out a laugh. He had the nerve to see something amusing about the situation, didn't he? Of course he did. He was Bright Abbott, after all. "God, Delia, you're making this really, really hard on yourself, you know?" He sounded amused too. But also frustrated.

Why the hell couldn't he just give up and leave? Why did he have to add her embarrassment by staying there? She didn't need anyone to save her, not from anything – why couldn't he see it? Why was he trying to run to her rescue when it wasn't needed? Besides, if Ephram had found out that Bright had known about Delia's untold job, and tried to kick his friend's butt, Bright would've won the skinny man, anyway. So why did he bother?

"How hard can it be to let me drive you home?" He asked with a deep, disbelieving frown. For sure, this was the first time he had to lure the girl into his car… "You'll be home sooner than by a bus and it'll be much for comfortable."

"Speak for yourself, Abbott."

…No, for sure, it was the first time even the luring didn't seem to work. If it went down the chosen path, he would end up carrying a kicking Delia Brown into his car. It would've been easier for him to let it go, yes. But Delia had, without knowing it, slapped him across the face with a shiny, white glove, challenging him into a battle that he intended to win. Why? He wasn't sure.

"You want me to make another scene in the middle of the club, get some local paper writing about it and make your dear dad find out about your job like that?"

If luring doesn't work, Bright thought bitterly, try blackmailing. Yes, he had actually stoop that low… but funnily enough, the protesting sparkle in her eyes seemed to be fading.

"Fine", she sighed as her shoulders collapsed in defeat. Strangely, he felt very, very pleased with himself having won the mental battle. "Drive me home you son of a bitch."

He opened the door and as a gentlemen, he let her step into the hallway first. "Just what would your father say if he heard you use that kind of language?" He asked maliciously, following Delia towards the back-door.

"Trust me, he's heard worse", she shot over her shoulder and added as a clarification, "You weren't exactly here when I had my teenage-phase."

A rather unneeded clarification had that one been. True, he hadn't been there in person, but he had heard all the ridiculous stories through Ephram and Madison. Still, till the day on hand, he had never been quite able to believe them all because they just didn't sound like Delia. He had been in Everwood every once in a while, but honestly, he had never ran into Andy's youngest kid for the embarrassed girl had obviously avoided him with every way possible. Amused, he realized it was probably what she was going to keep on doing from now on for the rest of her life.

"Funny", he started, coming over his thoughts, "I could swear you're still going through it."

As noticed, she was a fast-thinker and it only took a split second for her to reply. "Funny, I could say the same about you."

He could've laughed at her words as they exited the club through the backdoor. He could've chuckled and let it go by as a joke. But he didn't. Taking the lead and guiding her around the corner, towards the busy street where his car had been left, he only commented: "And if you did say that, I'd be forced to admit that you're right, Delia."

Now that, she hadn't expected to hear. Laughing, yes, rejecting words, yes, grumpy silence even if it didn't fit Bright's profile, yes. A witty remark, most definitely so. But a sentence said with that kind of honesty… no. Just, no.

He could tell her confusion by the way her steps got a new pace. Suddenly she walked slower, probably without even noticing it. He adjusted his own steps to match hers, so they were walking side by side down the street but still, he let her lead the way. Of course, they were walking into the wrong direction as the girl didn't have the foggiest idea where his car was, but he didn't say it out loud. Maybe this, a peaceful moment between the two, was what he needed at the moment.

"You're not telling Ephram, are you?" She questioned suddenly, tucking her hands into the jacket's pockets' and waiting for his reply. Even though the only reason she was talking with a tone that sweet, was because she wanted a 'no' as an answer, it felt good for a change. It had been so long since Bright had last talked with Delia… she had been 15 or so the last time, hadn't she? Yes, it was that summer that Ephram had accidentally found out just who it was that Delia had a crush on and being a male, blurted it out into the open in the middle of a get-together dinner. Bright, who had been there too with his girlfriend, had been able to do nothing else but stare as the young Brown girl had excused herself, got up, poked Ephram's shoulder with a fork before sending it against the wall and dashed upstairs slamming a door shut forcefully after her. In fact, that had been the last time he had seen her face to face.

"Are you?" Now she looked at him, eager to get the kind of answer she wanted to hear but fearing she wouldn't. There was a shadow on her face, darkening her soft features and making her look a lot older than… Bright had to count. What was she? 20?

"Are you?" The third time, she got her reply. "No", he said, turning to look the street in front of him.

Like most girls after hearing good news, she didn't jump up and down clapping her hands. Nor did she giggle like Bright usually witnessed them doing. She let out a breath she had been holding, relieved. "Thank you."

"The least I can do… " He started, "But there's this one little thing, D." The devil in his eyes was back in the game and ready to fight dirtier than ever. Delia, who had already thought she was out of the hook, raised an eyebrow questioningly, not daring to ask. She had her suspicions.

"Come on, D, don't you want to know?" From where came this need to tease her, he didn't know, but it was there alright. Loud and clear, making it impossible for him to shut up or change the tone of his voice. For that, Delia would probably take of her shoe and smack him in the nose with it.

"Don't call me that."

He gave her a smile, with a hinting quirk of eyebrow. "You didn't mind them calling you D."

"I'm off-duty, as you can see", Delia answered matter-of-factly, "See, I'm wearing clothes. Off-duty." She pressurized the last word to make her point more obvious.

"That's just it, D, I want you stay off-duty." He had said it without thinking it more, but it pretty much summoned up what was going inside his head. Be it for Ephram, or for whatever reason, he didn't want Delia going back that place. Why, that didn't matter.

Delia stopped walking and turned to face him. With a confused frown, she waved her hands in front of his face as if to block the meaning of the words out. "Wait a minute. Wait. A. Minute."

His face was serious, but the hint of amusement was there in his voice as she clearly heard. "All I'm saying is-"

Yes, I know what you're saying! Delia knew it, but couldn't believe it. "-That I should quit my job just because you have issues with me being Ephram's sister?" She finished his sentence fiercely.

"That", he admitted, "and the fact I don't want you working in a place like that. You know, if you have to strip, at least pick a classier place." Then just to annoy her beyond the limits, he raised his hand and pointed the direction from where they had just come from. "And by the way, my car's that way."

She made a sound that sounded very much like a growl, before she stated: "You're an idiot, Abbott." Without warnings, she turned to the right direction and started walking not caring if he followed or not.

He did, naturally. "Always been. Didn't stop you from liking me."

It made her stop again and spun around on her heels. Obviously, even though she didn't want to admit it, that was still a soft spot of hers. He noted it with great pleasure. "That's thin ice you're walking on if you go down with that one. Get over it", she demanded.

"I have", he said. Had he? Of course! "The point of this whole thing is, that if you don't quit that job, I'm telling."

Delia shook her head, letting out a sarcastic laugh before she spoke. "You don't get it, Bright, do you? I need this job."

Why? What could be so important that she had to make a fool out of herself for it? "Why, tell me why, Delia? Your dad is married to money." Maybe that was a bit evil of him to say it, but it was true. Andy Brown was the richest man in Everwood, even though he didn't really operate as a surgeon anymore, only occasionally. "How can you need money so badly that you do something like that to get it?"

People walking by them gave them weird looks, but neither one of them really registered those. "I have my reasons, ok?" She sounded so weird. Different. Desperate, pleading. "I did something stupid and… I need to make it up."

His interest woke up right away, of course. Delia Brown had done something that her father would not approve if he found out, hadn't she? And to cover it up, she had taken a job her father… would also not approve. Interesting method. "Your dad doesn't know about that stupid thing you did, does he?"

At first she thought of denying it just for the heck of it. But before she went and said anything idiotic, she realized she couldn't lie. Truth was the only way out of this situation, a half of it, anyway. "No", she admitted and looked away to collect some strength before facing his piercing eyes again, "and he doesn't have to know. I've been a disappointment big enough without it. I need this money, just few months and I'm done."

Why was she explaining? She didn't need to explain anything to him! Bright Abbott was just a nosy guy that thought it was funny to torment her. Don't tell him, Delia, you'll regret it.

"What did you do?" Bright wanted to know, just like she had expected, but following the only rational thought in her mind right now, she snorted refraining.

"Oh, as if I'd give you another weapon to use against me. Dream on." She turned around again and started moving but didn't get that far when she again felt his fingers wrap around her arm, putting an end to her escape. "That way, my car's there", he said, gesturing towards the other side of the street. Delia said nothing, only walked to the pointed direction with Bright on her heels.

"Come on."

"No", she said, crossing the street. Stopping to let a car cut her path for a moment, she added without looking over her shoulder; "But trust me, I need this money."

He thought about it for a minute. After crossing the road, he took the lead again and this time they actually did en up to his car. Or rather, his father's car. The gang had of course been against the idea of Bright driving, but he hadn't taken a 'no' so. The guys would just have to find another way to get home. If he said he had hooked up with a gorgeous stripper they'd probably forgive him… but then, they had seen him pulling Delia down from the stage and making a scene in public, hadn't they? So, he couldn't exactly say that he had hooked up… He couldn't help but smile to himself. They were probably still sitting there, confused and wondering what the hell had just happened. And frankly, he didn't give rat's ass about them.

"This would go faster if you'd just let me in the car", Delia snapped returning Bright from his thoughts. Pulling his keys out of his pocket and unlocking the locks by pressing the button on the remote, he finally said: "Fine. I give you a month."

Delia opened the door, got in the car and waited for Bright to sit behind the wheel. "You give me a month?" She questioned after he started the car. Bright wasn't saying what she thought he was, no was he?

"Yeah, that's right", he said, feeding the boiling sensation of rage that had yet again started to bubble somewhere in the pit of her stomach.

"I'm gonna be around for a month. A whole month, Delia, me and you in the same little town", he pointed out. Delia made a face. Torture. "And by the end of this month, you resign."

Say that again? Delia stared at him. He really had the nerves to tell her what to do? Even after what he had done, he thought he could actually get what he wanted? What did he want, anyway? Just to drive her insane? "You can't do this. You can't control me."

"No", he agreed smiling, "but I can blackmail you. I'm doing it for you, so you know, for your best interest." Yes, that's right. For her own good. Somehow, even he didn't buy it. Alright, so maybe he did have some other reasons for doing it, but… he cast a glance to his side. Yeah, as she had so kindly pointed out, Delia Brown wasn't a child anymore. Nope. There was a beautiful, young woman sitting on the seat next to his. A young woman that he felt he should protect. He had always liked the girl, he had liked her even more when Ephram had told all those horror stories. It was natural he didn't want her making an ass out of her, wasn't it? Simply, because he cared about her.

"Yeah, sure, if that's how you justify it to yourself", she muttered and for a moment, Bright wasn't sure if he had spoken his thoughts out loud. He hadn't. Good.

"Look. You have a month to get the money you need. I'm sure you can find some other-"

It was when Delia cut in again. "I already have three jobs, Abbott. This one fitted with my working hours."

A fading hint of sympathy washed over him, but it dried out soon enough. "Doesn't matter. If you don't get out of that place in a month, I'll be telling your dad a nice little story. And your brother", he said, pausing to take a deep breath. "And he'll kill me for letting you do it, you know, but I'm prepared to face it. If it's my time to go, then I'll go."

Delia wasn't staring at him anymore. She let her back sank against the seat and glanced out of the window. "Humor ain't helping."

"Wrong, it's helping me", Bright declared, "Do we have a deal, Delia?"

The way she saw it, she didn't really have much options left. She could go and try her luck, but somehow she was sure Bright wasn't playing with her. For some ridiculous reason it seemed to be important for him to 'do the right thing' for her. Really, it was just about Bright beating her. That's the way it always was with guys. She had learnt that already. Always needed to be in control.

"Asshole. Do I have a chance?"

"No."

Muttering few carefully selected curses underneath her breath, she shrugged. "There you go. Fine. You have your deal. But you know, if I have to go out and become a prostitute to get money, you can only blame yourself."

As she glanced to see his face, the only thing she could see was a promise. "Don't worry. I'd buy you all to myself."

And funny thing was, she didn't doubt it. At all.