Special Thanks To…

Altered910: Thank you for adding Secondhand Smoke to your favorites list. =)

xxxroxyxxx: Thank you so much for subscribing to the story and for adding it to your favorites! I very much appreciate it. Also, thank you for the review. Yes, the dramarama will be coming up very soon. ;)

Rosalie: Thanks for the reviews, I always love them. Uh, let's just say that there are definitely more "familiarities" in this chapter and the one to come. xD

Wolfess: Thank you for that beautiful compliment! Also, I laughed aloud when I read that Zach reminds you of Gaston. I had never thought of that, but it's true for several reasons. I'm actually pleased to hear that because I like Gaston as well, he's hilarious. As for their ages…hmm…I forget, lmbo. They're both supposed to be seventeen in this chapter. *goes to look at previous chapters* Okay, Kayley was supposed to be about ten, because her father died seven years ago, and she's currently seventeen. Jim's father also disappeared seven years ago, and Jim's also currently seventeen, which would have made him ten. As for their movie ages, I have heard that Jim was around seven or eight, and as for Kayley, I just guess, haha (not many birth records of workhands from the early Middle Ages have survived to the present day xD). I think she was around six, but that's just my guess. So yes, I messed around with their ages a little when their fathers left their lives. Anyway, I did that for a reason… ;) You also mentioned the plot; it is going to become more complicated shortly. Happy Reading! :D

Emilie: I wish I could have responded sooner! Eh, yeah, I designed Zach's character before I befriended this one girl from my school, but he's the spitting image of her boyfriend. He psychologically abuses her and it's horrible, and the sad thing is she can't get away from it. :( I'm sorry you know a lot of guys like that as well. As for your other story idea, I'm completely enthralled. I never knew all that about the Mother Nature character from Fantasia 2000. Also, my heart goes out to her and Jim already! It's an excellent story idea and you should pursue it, as well as the other idea you told me about in the previous review. I'd definitely read them! As for the e-mail, I didn't see the address. The site doesn't allow any active links to appear in chapters nor in reviews; for some reason it makes e-mail addresses active links. Mine is stefied7gmail (.com). I'm also going to enable it on my profile page (the site allows that) so that if it hasn't shown up in this response, at least it will be posted there. My dad's the same way, too. Thank you for the reviews, and Happy Reading! :D

VERY IMPORTANT! This is a direct continuation from the last chapter. (: Also, I will be deleting the old Author's Note, which is currently in the Chapter Sixteen slot. I know there was confusion the last time I did this (it did not appear that I had updated—due to the number of chapters—but in reality I had updated). For those of you who do not have accounts and therefore cannot subscribe to this story, please, please, please check the title of the latest chapter. Also, if you are not sure by the chapter title that you have read that chapter, please click on the newest addition to be sure. In fact, I saw that another writer, elemental13, put a note similar to this on one of her chapters. The confusion in common, so please check the titles and/or chapters themselves to be sure!

Thank you for your dedication!

Chapter Seventeen: Exposed

Kayley sat on the loveseat, massaging her temples, thinking over what had just taken place. Nothing had happened, fortunately. They had talked a good deal, completely forgetting about Kayley's masterpiece tea and instead focusing on topics such as school. Finally the conversation had curved to work, as to which Jim responded with a startled "Oh no!"

"What is it?" Kayley worriedly asked.

Jim jumped up from the sofa, exclaiming, "I forgot about my shift! Mom's gonna kill me."

Kayley scrunched up her face. "I don't think she'll kill you, Jim."

"Well, business has picked up a lot lately since your mother became chef."

"Really?"

"Yes, we can hardly empty out a table before a new crowd enters anymore."

Kayley considered it for a moment. "Wow…that's…amazing."

"Yeah," he replied, opening up the front door of her apartment. "I really have to get going, though."

"All right. Thanks for staying as long as you did."

"Yep." He quickly kissed her forehead. "See you tomorrow. Bye." And with that he was dashing down the hallway, Kayley staring after him before he finally disappeared around the corner. She slowly shut the door and locked it before wandering back over to the sofa, on which she collapsed and began to massage her temples.

So many things had happened that day. First, there was Monique's weird behavior. As she thought about it, she recalled that on the drive out of the school parking lot, she had seen Monique step in front of a moving vehicle before climbing inside of it. Monique didn't look happy at all. Come to think of it, the vehicle Monique had boarded was an…orange pickup. "Why does that seem so familiar…?"

Her thoughts were jarred by the blaring of "I Saw Her Standing There". Kayley jumped, unaware of what was happening, until her brain finally processed the fact that her mobile was ringing. She got up and walked over to the front door, where she had left her backpack. She unvelcroed a front pocket, unveiled the cellular phone, and checked the caller ID, which identified the caller as Monique. Unfortunately, by the time Kayley had found her phone, she had missed the call. She entered her contact list and was about to punch in the call when suddenly her mobile went on a buzzing rampage. Kayley flipped open the phone. "Hullo, Monique. How are you?"

"Good!" Monique chirped, sounding rather hyper. "How about you?"

"I'm doing well, thank you," Kayley answered as she chucked her pack into her room. "So what's on your mind?" She plopped back down onto the sofa.

"Um, well I was gonna ask you a favor…if you don't mind…" Monique paused in uncertainty.

Kayley perked up. "Oh splendid! I'd love to be of assistance. What is this favour?"

"I just can't understand my Geometry," she lied. "We're going over the basics of trigonometry. No matter how hard I try, I just can't get the concept. Could you please help me?"

Kayley glanced at her watch. "Yeah, sure, where should we meet?"

"Where are you now? I don't want to inconvenience you too much."

"Well, I'm at my apartment—"

"Oh, that's great! I could totally just meet you there…I mean, if that's okay with you."

Kayley thought for a moment. She didn't see why it could be a problem. "Certainly. I'll give you directions when you're ready."

Monique transferred her phone to her left hand and flipped open a notebook. She removed a pencil from the backpack at her feet. She knew she wouldn't need directions, but she knew she would need Kayley's apartment number. Her hand hovering over a blank page of her notebook, she announced, "Ready."

O~o~O

About twenty minutes later, Monique climbed up the stairs of Kayley's building. She was nervous as ever; she hadn't meant to get roped into the situation, and she wondered how it had all come to this.

Zach had seen Kayley and Jim driving out of the school parking lot, and being a man possessed, followed them to the apartment. In his haste to get past them without being recognized, he had almost run over Kayley as she had tried to step out of Hawkins' little car. Upon Zach forcing Monique to call Kayley, Mo had devised the homework plan. She had even waited in the truck for a while, making sure her arrival would be none too soon. Monique had become a master of deceit. She despised herself for letting her brother have so much influence over her life. Yet, she knew the consequences of disobedience, and so she trudged onward toward Kayley's apartment.

She stole a quick glance at the hastily scrawled apartment number, the only thing occupying the page in her hand. Looking up, she stopped her ascent on the fifth floor and walked down the hallway. After she had passed about four doors, two on each side, she found the apartment. She halted before it, took a deep breath, and knocked three times. Promptly the door was opened by none other than Kayley.

She seemed to radiate with sunshine and warmth, and her welcome reflected it. "Hullo, Monique!"

"Hey, Kayley!"

"Come on in."

Monique stepped inside and began to observe the apartment. For being so small, it certainly did not lack cheer. There was brightness to it, and despite being simple, it was homey.

"Trigonometry; I love it! A bit challenging, but that's what makes it fun," Kayley enthused, rubbing her hands together energetically.

Monique couldn't help but smile. "You like math, huh?"

Kayley shrugged her shoulders. "No, I don't like it that much, actually. I do well with it and I like a challenge, however. I find solving a difficult problem exhilarating."

Monique blankly stared through Kayley. If only she could solve her own problems; she would love to throw off the yoke and take up her own reins.

Kayley, unable to read minds, thought Monique found her word choice idiotic, and hence, the stare. Slightly embarrassed, Kayley cleared her throat before announcing, "Let's get to work, shall we?" She led Monique to the sofa and was a few steps away—when the two teacups sitting on the end table caught her eye. Her afternoon with Jim flashed before her eyes and, entranced by the memories, her step faltered, causing her feet to tangle. Monique gasped as Kayley stumbled and fell forward, nearly crashing into the table. She was barely able to save herself by catching the sofa arm at the last, possible second.

Just as quickly as she fell, she popped back up. The girl swiftly picked up the teacups and, with care, briskly made her way to the kitchenette. She disposed of the tea and proceeded to load the teacups into the dishwasher. All the while Monique looked on in amusement.

"All right," said Kayley as she closed the door of the dishwasher. "Sorry about that! I just wanted to do it before I forgot. I don't mean to be rude."

Monique laughed. "No problem, you're not being rude. And I must say, you provided the best form of entertainment I've had in ages."

Kayley smiled, masking her humility. "Now, for the homework?" she said, more or less stating than asking.

Monique rummaged through her backpack for her Geometry homework. "Thanks again for helping me, I really appreciate it," she said, flipping through her sheets of paper until she found the ones of interest.

Monique handed the sheets to Kayley, who waved her hand as she studied them. "I love helping, and don't worry about it. I'm just glad you felt comfortable asking." She looked up from under her lashes and grinned, then refocused her attention on the material. "It doesn't seem too difficult," she announced after a quick glance over the papers. "I've had a harder time collecting eggs."

Monique shot a flabbergasted expression Kayley's way.

"I didn't mean any offense by that," Kayley corrected herself, mistaking Monique's confusion with annoyance. "It can be quite a tedious task."

The already furrowed, blonde eyebrows sunk farther and migrated inward. "Huh? You collected eggs?"

Realization lit Kayley's hazel eyes. "Oh…I lived in Salisbury," she explained. "'Tis a rural landscape in England. We didn't really have a farm, but we did have some livestock and whatnot. I had a horse, too." Kayley glanced out the window forlornly. She seemed to be lost in some distant, sorrowful daydream. "I miss Salisbury," she announced after a moment, "it is truly beautiful."

When Monique thought of England, one thing came to mind: McFly. A sly smile crept across her face, and her blue eyes flashed with a mysterious gleam. "Well, if you ever go back to England, don't forget me. It'd get me that much closer to McFly and Tom Fletcher," she giggled.

Kayley's head snapped around, causing her pony tail to flick Monique's nose. She gawked, incredulous, at the blonde. "You like McFly? I thought they were only known over in Britain." Kayley tried to speak calmly, but despite her efforts, she could not hide her excitement.

"Not any more, they're gaining some popularity over here. In fact, you're talking to a McFly expert. I love McFly, I'm even a Pioneer."

Kayley had no clue whatsoever as to what a "Pioneer" was, but she guessed it was something of importance by the way Monique held her head up high, grinning haughtily. "That's terrific!" Kayley exclaimed enthusiastically.

Monique answered with a single nod. "Yeah, it's really cool. McFly has this site called Super City and it's amazing. There are these web chat videos that are really funny to watch, mostly because the guys are complete dorks and Tom's just a big cornball. And then each guy from the band has his own 'room' on the site, in which you can play special games that the boys chose. Tom's room even has a secret room attached to it. It's like a basement, but he put a toilet in there. When I meet him, I'm definitely going to open up our conversation with that." Monique stared off into the distance, already fantasizing about her first meeting with Tom Fletcher. "'Tom, why did you choose to put a toilet of all things in your secret room? I just don't understand.'" Monique turned her excited eyes to Kayley. "Then I'll bat my eyelashes—'cause I've been told I have magic eyes—and that should do the trick. He won't be able to help but answer me."

Kayley stared, wearing a half smile, not sure if her friend was completely delusional or just a Lucille Ball. She was leaning toward the latter. "Okay then…"

"I can see you're a very exuberant fan."

Monique nodded, about to say something else.

Kayley was too quick. "Tell you what. Let's get this done and then we'll talk all about Pioneering, Wonder City, McFly, and whatnot. Okay?"

Monique hesitated a moment, having forgotten her "reason" for being there. "Oh, right…" she said slowly as it came back to her. "Deal."

O~o~O

"There!" Monique announced triumphantly, speedily filling in the last answer. At the top of her papers, she signed her name, Monique Mason, with a flourish of her hand.

Kayley smiled as she brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "That was fairly easy."

"Yes, it was," Monique admitted, all the while attempting to hold back a snort at the irony in it all. It was easy not because of the help, but because she didn't really need the help at all—just an excuse to spend some time snooping on Kayley. Fortunately, Monique could pull off a rather fine idiot; she had practice aplenty with her brother's own prying nosiness.

There was a pang in her heart as that last thought crept into her mind. She detested her brother, and yet here she was, doing his evil spying for him. Again rebellion rose within her. She wanted to end this here and now, to tell Kayley the truth. She casually looked over at Kayley, who was smiling sweetly. "Like an angel." Monique couldn't tell Kayley; she couldn't bear to see the pain that would wash over her angelic face.

Loathing her dilemma, Monique unintentionally let an agitated sigh escape. She quickly followed it up with a yawn, putting on the air of being exhausted. "Thanks again for the help," she said, her lips tiredly curling up into a small smile.

"Not a problem, it was a pleasure." Despite the words she spoke, her eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. "Honestly, I don't mind a'tall, but I do have just one question, if you don't mind," she said carefully, curiosity having gotten the best of her.

Monique froze, and it took all she had to relax her clenched muscles. Had her behavior been suspicious? Had she been too obvious earlier when she had talked about Zach? Whatever the question was, Kayley's perplexity struck fear in her guilt-ridden heart. "Please don't let it be about Zach."

"I don't mind," she managed to say between her teeth, forcing a grin.

"Well, was your brother not able to help you? Talking with you earlier, I was given the impression that he is very helpful." Kayley shrugged. "I'm just curious."

Monique straightened her papers, thinking up an excuse, collecting herself. "He was busy with his skateboard. Today he was gonna hang out there—at the skate park—he'd been planning on it for a while now and I just couldn't ruin his plans." She unzipped her backpack and removed her folder, in which she placed her papers. That's when she noticed her papers were shaking in her hands. She needed to calm her nerves, and she knew that the best way to calm her nerves now was to distract Kayley from her trembling hands. She needed to keep talking. "I'm sure if I had asked, he would have helped. After all, that's the way he is."

Kayley nodded in understanding. Her tone carried a hint of sadness when she spoke. "You're very lucky. I've always wanted a sibling, a sister to be precise. Tell me, you and your brother get along well, yes?"

Monique forced a smile. "Well, not all the time. We have our bouts here and there."

"But you do get along pretty well?"

What was she supposed to say? If she said no, then Kayley would realize that she had been lying about her brother from the beginning. "Yes."

Kayley leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs. "That's wonderful. I just don't understand how a guy like that can't find a suitable girl. Is he dreadfully shy or quiet?" A fond smile sneaked onto her face, and she spoke more softly. "Jim was terribly quiet and so reclusive. I thought I'd never crack him."

Monique shook her head. "Naw, not Zach—" Monique cringed and mentally cursed herself. Why did she have to be such a blabbermouth? She hoped Kayley had not caught her slip.

Kayley perked up. "What?"

"My brother is not shy or quiet," Monique said quickly, flashing a smile, wishing Kayley would not pursue the topic of her brother's name any further.

Kayley waved her hand dismissively. "I got that. Did you say his name is Zach?"

The girl bit the inside of her cheek, mentally giving herself another round of scolding.

"Yes," she calmly replied. Her eyebrows creased. "Had I not told you that before?"

Kayley smirked. "Let me tell you, there's a Zach at school, and quite frankly, he's the most repulsive, narcissistic thing God—or to better put it, Mephistopheles—ever dropped on this earth."

Monique's head bowed dolefully, putting Kayley on alert.

"He's tall and has shaggy, sandy-blond hair, and a light five o'clock shadow. Chiseled face, piercing, green eyes," Kayley fished.

Monique was silent, trying to conjure up a plausible explanation for everything. "Why did it have to come to this?"

Kayley grew rigid at Monique's lack of response. That's when it came rushing to her. She remembered that after Zach's scuffle with Jim, the principal had addressed him as Mason. Monique had signed her Geometry papers with the same last name. "Monique, is Zach your brother?" she asked, alarmed.

The regretful girl buried her face in her hands. "Yes, I'm Zach's sister." Her shoulders began wracking, indicating she was crying.

"Oh, I'm so sorry for everything I just said, I—" Kayley cut short her apology and pursed her lips. Her eyes narrowed into two little slits. Something wasn't right with Monique's reaction. Monique had guilt written all over her. Kayley just couldn't figure it out. "Why are you so ashamed?"

Monique, as hard as it was for her to do, peered up from her hands. "I'm sorry," was all that she said.

That one little comment took a moment to register in Kayley's brain. Suddenly her anger was ignited and she leaped up from her seat as everything began to come together. "You knew Zach and I have bad history. He couldn't get anywhere pursuing me, and he couldn't understand or get over it. And then you came along, talking him up, trying to…" Kayley gasped, fitting the final piece of the puzzle into place. "Oh, how could you?"

"Kayley—"

"You're his puppet! You betrayed me!"

Monique's tone was one of desperation. "No, I'm not, I never meant to—"

"Don't try to refute it! You knew perfectly well what you were doing!"

Monique had never experienced such fury and hatred directed at her before in her life. Not even from Zach. She looked away as hot tears streamed down her face. "I regret every second of it. I never wanted to do this, especially to you. I'm sorry," she apologized.

Kayley strained to hear it, she confessed so quietly. But she spoke with clarity. And at that moment Kayley realized Monique was telling the truth.

"He blackmailed me," Monique went on. "He's abusive. He threatened to destroy my life if I didn't do as he said." She sneered. "I was weak enough to do it. I did try to stop. That was before he threw my phone at my head."

Kayley allowed herself a small grin. "Did he hit you?"

Monique raised her hand to the left side of her head and proceeded to gently pat it. "Still hurts when I touch it." She added, more seriously, "I was going to tell you. But I didn't want to see you get hurt."

Kayley stared at the family portrait displayed over the fireplace, finding in it a source of strength. "I can believe that," she finally said.

Monique was taken by surprise. "If I could go back and change my actions, I would. You've shown me nothing but kindness and I've given you nothing but lies and betrayals. And yet you're not mad at me?"

The brunette turned around and faced Monique. "I've met your brother, he's a real piece of work. He's the one facing the Devil's furnace, here, not you."

Monique smiled in relief. She stood up and gave Kayley a hug, which embrace was interrupted by the buzzing of the blonde's cellular phone. Monique pulled it out of her pocket. Upon reading the caller identification, her eyes burned with anger.

Kayley read the look, reached for the phone, and answered it. "Zach, I got three words for you."

"Kayley?" asked a static voice from the other end. The speaker sounded as if he was in as much disbelief as Monique, who was wide-eyed and gawking at Kayley.

"Get a life," she distinctly pronounced before disconnecting the call. She handed the device back to Monique, who was still recovering from her initial shock.

Monique slid it into her pocket and then eyed Kayley. She erupted into a snicker. "I can't believe you just did that!"

"He asked for it," she replied matter-of-factly.

Monique beamed in sheer delight. "I just love you!"

Meanwhile, Zachary held his mobile in his hand and, mouth agape, stared at it. Then he tossed it on the floor of the cab. Kayley Evans had once again foiled his plans. But he wouldn't give up so easily. He was determined to get her one way or another.