"Kate, is something wrong?"

Kate's eyes cleared up again and snapped back to focus as she stared back at him. "What?"

John's sapphire eyes stared at her intently. "That the third time I've caught you staring at me in the last hour. "

"I've just been zoning out," she tried to cover quickly. "You just happen to be sitting across from me in the swivel chair."

He nodded and dropped the topic of conversation, but John was nowhere near convinced by her answer. At all.

"I wonder where Randy is with the food," John asked aloud, spinning himself around slowly. "I'm starving."

"You're making me dizzy," Kate laughed at him as he completed another revolution. "I don't know if I want to eat anymore."

A boyish smile spread across John's face. "More breadsticks for me!"

"I cannot believe we made him drive twenty minutes away so that you could have Olive Garden!"

"Umm… it's my birthday." The wrestler walked over to the bed on which she sat and tapped the side of her temple. "Helloooo."

Kate reached up and rapped on the side of his forehead repeatedly.

"Stop that!"

She arched an eyebrow at him and pushed him backwards a few inches. "Not so much fun, now is it?"

"You're not allowed to annoy the birthday boy!" John countered with a childish pout as he backed up a few steps.

Kate's eyes bulged as he neared the back of her door, nearly stepping on white plastic draped on the floor. "John, don't move!"

The muscular Massachusetts native halted dead in his tracks. "What did I do?"

She shook her head vehemently as she hopped to her feet and swept back the plastic against the door. "No, nothing. You just almost… nevermind."

John's head turned to follow her actions and his eyes landed on the white garment bag hanging on the back of her door. "Kate, what's that?"

"Oh, nothing…"

"Kate," he stated firmly. "What is that?"

She sighed and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "My prom dress."

"Your prom dress?"

"Yes…" she replied with a slow nod. "You know… prom. Fancy dresses, guys in suits, ridiculous-looking corsages, limos, girls trying to out-slut each other… prom."

"I know what a prom is," he retorted with a scowl. "You forgot a drunken weekend at the beach."

Kate flashed him a smirk. "And you forgot that I don't drink."

"Yet."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay. Yet."

"So…" he trailed off, staring at his shoes.

She repeated after him, "So…"

John finally came up with a question. "When is it?"

"May 30th," the blonde answered, sitting back down in her chair.

"Are you excited?" he asked, looking to gauge the truth by the look on her face.

A grin flashed across Kate's face. "Yes! It's like my debut… at least in my mind."

He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Debut?"

She gulped. Suddenly she wasn't as eager as she'd been to talk before. "Um, yeah… no one at school believes that I have a boyfriend. So, it's my way of flipping them off."

John was stunned. How could teenagers be so cruel? He knew that life hadn't been kind to her in the last year and just when things were starting to settle for her, those stupid brats had to give her a hard time.

His fists involuntarily clenched in response to his thoughts and his did his best to hide them behind his back. "That's fucking ridiculous."

"It's whatever," she said softly, fidgeting with her fingers. "Nothing I haven't gotten used to in the last fifteen years."

"Still… you don't deserve it, Kate," he assured. "No one deserves it."

"Yeah, well… the joke is going to be on all of them. As long as Justin and I don't break up before then."

John's head shot up at her words."What are you talking about… 'before then?'"

"Grub!" a gravelly voice bellowed from downstairs.

The blonde teen didn't even miss a beat as she rushed out of the slightly open door. "Coming!"

Clearly, the conversation was over.

And Kate Jackson couldn't be happier.

Dinner was pretty routine for the three friends, complete with food flung across the table and sarcasm flying between Randy and Kate.

Looking on, John couldn't help but laugh at the two of them. As much as they would never want to admit it, they acted as though they were brother and sister.

Thinking about it, he felt a slight pang of jealousy at the fact. But it was momentary, as he shook it off a few seconds later.

He had nothing to envy. Kate wasn't like a sister to him, they were closer than that.

And then that got his brain really going.

If Katherine Jackson wasn't like a sister to him… then what the hell was she?

Before he could process any more thoughts, an abrupt ringing cut through the air.

Kate's lips spread into a bright smile and she hopped to her feet. "Justin's on the phone… I'll be right back."

Randy rolled his eyes and stuffed a forkful of pasta into his mouth as she bounced from the room.

"Hello there, you…" she trailed off happily as her voice faded upon her ascent of the stairs.

The wrestler's blue eyes narrowed at his friend. "You look like someone just died."

"Hmm?" John looked over at Randy across the table.

"You're fucking ridiculous," he laughed and shook his head.

"ME?" he retorted in shock. "You're the one who bought his wife a 30,000 dollar watch that she wears while washing the dishes… and I'm the one who is ridiculous?"

Randy's tone took on that of a warning sign. "Don't start with me, Cena. You won't like where this conversation ends."

"YOU started with ME, Orton. And we're going to finish this conversation once and for all, God dammit."

The younger man clicked his tongue at John. "It's not smart to take the Lord's name in vain, John."

This time, it was John's turn to roll his eyes. "You're fucking with me, right?"

"Only because it's so easy."

"You're such a dick sometimes," John stated with a shake of his head. "Instead of ridiculing me, why don't you ask what's wrong with me?"

Randy finished chewing what was in his mouth and washed it down with a few sips of water." Because I know exactly what's wrong with you."

"Oh really, Sophocles?" the Massachusetts native asked, sitting back in his chair and folding his arms over his chest. "Enlighten me."

"Okay," the blue-eyed, third generation wrestler replied with a shrug. "You're in love with Kate."

Just then, the young woman in question glided back into the room with a smile. "Whatcha talking about?"

Shit.

A/N: Okay, I know I suck for not updating in forever, but I really had to focus on getting She's a Rebel III: Cupid's Chokehold to where it needed to be and in all honesty, I was fresh out of ideas for this story.

But now, I'm back in action. AND you can follow me on Twitter to see how my stories/updates are progressing! There might even be a quick preview every now and name on there is the same as my name on here: Jewelgirl04. There's a direct link in my profile. PLEASE NOTE: You must friend request me in order to follow my Twitter feed. It's more for privacy than anything.

I know this update was relatively short, but I feel like in trying to keep my updates long, I drag the chapter on sometimes. This is my way of remedying it. If it's long, it's because I was inspired to make it that way. If short, that's the way it's gotta be! Lol.

I appreciate: WinchesterAngel3389, rodi1021, miles89, CraftyTink529, theshakedown, mcena99, Fozzy-Floozy, ThatGirl54, dreamin'BIG, Meghan, AlexiaCalaway, Cena-Holic8, giftiebee, hardrhodescenafan1, Kayla Smiley, w8ing4rain, and Jordan.

On the other hand, I do NOT appreciate: Nasty messages about how I suck because I don't update within a week or so like I do for other stories. It's cyclical. It's the way I write. Contrary to popular belief apparently, I DO have a life. I'm a college student. And I'm trying to make Dean's list. If you don't like my update schedule, don't read my stories. I don't know what else to tell you.

On a side note… my birthday is in exactly 8 days, so there might be an update right around that time or a little thereafter. We shall see.

Love you guys! :-)

Danielle

PS: This chapter is in honor of the release of 12 Rounds. It opens in theaters in the US today, March 27th! Go see it ASAP!