A/N Another slice of MTB pie! Enjoy, and thanks for your reviews! R&R!

Chapter 23

I lifted my bag from the carpeted floor and let Paul walk me to the door.

"Can you even call that watching a movie?" I asked, tucking hair behind my ear and smiling at him. "You spent most of it with your tongue in my mouth."

"I dont hear you complaining, Simon," replied Paul, wrapping both his arms around me.

Bring, brring!

"Could there be a crappier ringtone?" added Paul. I scowled and retrieved my cell from my bag.

"Hey Susie," came a familiar voice. It was Kelly. "So, biatch, coming to my end-of-semester blowout tonight?"

"You bet. Can I bring Paul?" I asked, slapping his hands away as his fingers danced up my arm.

"Sure thing. Are you still there? Come on, bad girl, go prepare to party!"

"Gotcha, Kel, over and out."

I snapped my phone shut and kissed Paul goodbye.

"Party, nine o'clock, Prescotts. Pick me up at quarter to?"

"Check. Later, babe."

I hopped out of the door and skipped down the path and hauled myself into the Land Rover.

Now I know you're probably wondering - "What the hell's going on?" If I wasnt living this, I'd be asking the same.

But the truth is, I've fitted into Carmel. And became popular. Since that night at Paul's, everything changed.

"Not so pure now, are we, Miss Simon?" said Paul, sitting up.

"Hate to break it to you Slater, but I wasnt so pure before."

"Really?" Paul seemed interested.

"Really," I nodded. "Juvenile crime, romantic entanglements... you're messing with a bad girl."

"Its how I like 'em," he replied, stroking my arm. "But these... entanglements. Still going on?"

I should have known that was coming up. But if I poured my heart out to Paul, he'd know I was cheating on Jake.

Suze, you're lying in bed with Paul. What part of that was not cheating on Jake?

But in the end, I told him. Told Paul about Brad, I mean. About how he guessed about us, and how he's stay zipped if I gave him what he wanted.

Paul wrapped an arm around me.

"Don't worry Susie," he said in my ear. "I'll look after you."

And, so far, he'd been true to his word. I'd followed him to parties, where I'd been introduced to Carmel's Barbie, Kelly Prescott, and her soul-sucking posse, including the all-famous Debbie Mancuso. I'd feigned interest in flavoured lip gloss and emery boards, and found myself even enjoying girl-talk and downing beer. I wouldnt call me and Kelly friends, but we were close enough.

The part about enrolling in school, though, that I didnt look foward to. Some girl in the Catholic school had shot herself so there was a space free.

"Yeah, Heather," Kelly informed me. "My ex-best friend."

"Ouch. You ok?" I asked. Kelly chewed her lettuce thoughtfully. "Whatever. She was depressed over some ex-boyfriend."

I decided Kelly Prescott wasnt exactly what you called a loyal friend. I mean, the way she gossiped about Debbie and Lizzie with me wasnt exactly encouraging.

It turned out in the end, I needed a legal guardian's signature to enroll in the Mission, and then someone to pay the terms. The guy who as the principal looked at me concernedly when I turned the place down after that, but I couldnt do it. My family was back in Brooklyn, and no way were they gonna find out where I was.

Still, I had Kelly and her minature Mattels to guard me from Brad/Jake. Whichever one I needed hiding from.

Some days I think Jake and I are on the verge of breaking up. Others, like the days he goes out of his way to kiss me on my cheek at dinner, suggest otherwise.

I dumped my bag on the camper bed and turned to face Jesse, who was reading on the window seat, as usual.

"So," said Jesse placing his book (Harry Potter 2) beside him. "Are you and Paul an item?"

"Why would that interest you?" I asked rudely. "All you have in mind is shoving your tongue down Lizzie's throat."

"Just so as you know," said Jesse, as if he hadnt heard me. "Jake wouldnt be best pleased if he found out."

Well, duh.

Then he disappeared. What kind of a cryptic warning was that?

Well, whatever. I had a party to prepare for.