Hey guys!! I'm sorry that I've been gone for so long. I know that I promised that I would have chapter thirteen right after I got back, but my head has been in the clouds for the past few days. But now I'm back! Everyone give a cheer! Oh and Molly is chasing me around the rings of Saturn. We'll be back soon. I also have this;

To bookworym's faithful reviewers,

I would like to apologize for the last chapter. I'm playing matchmaker, and I'm moving at a very slow pace. You see, Molly and Rick are both very stubborn and won't admit it to themselves that they are madly in love with each other. It's as plain as the nose on my face. But, again, they are very stubborn. So, just having them talk is a big advancement. Plus, they were actually sitting together! Normally, I'm in the middle. So please, bear with bookworym, myself and the 'lovebirds'. We're working on it. It's moving at a slow pace, but still moving. Thanks for your support!

Signed,

Mia

So here is chapter thirteen, plus reviewer answers.

But first, I would like to take a few lines to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the one hundred and one reviews. I have never ever had so much positive feed back for a story that I have written. You have no idea how much it means to me. Right now, I am planning some new stories that I sincerely hope you will read. One is a Harry Potter, and the other is a Fruits Basket. Now the first one I'm pretty sure most of you have heard of, but the other, I'm not so sure. But if you could find it in your hearts to read them and let me know what you think, good or ill, I would appreciate it immensely. Again, thank you for your kind reviews, and enjoy chapter thirteen.

To Juzblue: Thank you, I do try. Enjoy this chapter.

To TPfreak: When you say predictable, I think I get what you mean. What do you think would be unpredictable? I could work with that. Please let me know.

To Swapeneshwari: Okayokayokayokayokayokayokay. I will :)

To TheRhythmOfLife: I'm sorry it was dull. What would have made it more interesting? I would like to know. I am open to new ideas.

To Wingedrider: So do I.

To Celestial Secrets: bows to your greatness: Thank you, you are my savior. If I had written the fight scene, it would have either been so boring, it was frightening, or it would have been super short. So yes, I will take you up on your offer. Expect an e-mail from me soon.

To Batya: Thank you. I have actually been told that I have a bad since of humor, so it is very nice to know that some things that come out of my mouth/brain are amusing. I'm glad you thought it was cute. Usually, I have been told that my romance scenes are a bit over dramatic or sappy. So I'm very glad you liked it.

To Yazmari: Thank you very much, I'm very glad you like it. I would be happy to look into your stories. I love the series His Dark Materials! It's one of my favorites. I'll review it soon.

To Sayaka: I like that catch phrase. As to your question about Amie, I'm not sure just yet. I can't say more than that at the moment, but you'll find out in time, I promise.

So, ladies and gents, here is the infamous chapter thirteen!

After a few moments of watching Molly and Rick study together, Mia, with a malicious grin, coughed loudly. Molly and Rick jumped, and blushing, backed away from each other. Leaning her hand on her cheek, Mia sighed romantically and when they looked up, said with the voice of Roger Rabbit

"Please, don't mind me."

Then she grinned evilly at them.

"Mia," Rick said threateningly.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?" Mia asked innocently.

Molly and Rick glared at her and then turned back to their text books. Mia sighed and didn't say anything. She smiled to herself. Her plan was harebrained, but if it would make her friends happy, then she was willing to try, even if they killed her for it later.

Exams seem like they will go on forever, but all things must come to an end. Thus, the end of the week came faster than Mia and her friends expected it to. But no one was more relieved to be going back to Tortall than Rick.

Rick sighed and kicked a small pebble down the sidewalk as he headed home. His parents hadn't been speaking to each other at breakfast this morning. He hated when they did that. He felt like he was caught in the middle. He looked forward to their trip back to Tortall. It was just about the farthest away from his parents' constant arguments as he could get. Rick sighed again, and then aimed another kick at the pebble. The pebble skittered forward another few inches and then stopped. There was only one downside to going to Tortall; Molly. Of course, it wasn't really a downside. Rick liked Molly, but he got this funny feeling in his stomach whenever he saw her. He couldn't really describe it. He didn't know what it was either. But it made him really uncomfortable around Molly. He was good at hiding it though.

Across town, at a bus stop, Molly was examining her watch and tapping her foot impatiently. She sighed and sat down on the bench.

"I'm going to be late!" She muttered angrily.

Molly was on her way to Mia's house from her karate lessons at the dojo near the school. She went there right after school three times a week. She was the best in her class of fifteen who ranged from age fourteen to age eighteen. Molly threw herself into karate to forget about the stress that filled her life. Her older sister, Andrea, was a straight-A student, and was currently in Harvard studying to be a brain surgeon. Molly's mother and father expected her to do the same. Molly's grades were decent, B's and a few A's, but they weren't good enough. Molly's parents wanted perfection, not just 'good'. So, to prove she wasn't a total failure, more to herself than to her parents, Molly was perfect at something her sister couldn't do.

Molly looked up from her musing to see a bus coming towards her. She craned her neck to see if it was a 'C' bus, which was the one she needed. When she saw a bright green 'C' flashing on the screen above the windshield, she sighed with relief and stood up. She checked her watch.

"Crap! It's six thirty! That freaking bus is twenty minutes late! Now I only have about a half hour to pack! This sucks." Molly said and huffed.

When the bus pulled up, she mounted the bus stairs and showed the driver her bus pass. Then she took a seat near the back of the bus. As the bus pulled away, she went over a mental list of the things she wanted to bring with her to Tortall.

'Let's see, the Mother left clothes, so those are fine, there's a brush and ribbons. I think I just need my make up and a book, maybe so more comfortable clothes for martial arts practice. Maybe someone will challenge me! I really want to pull a Kel and prove that not all females are weaklings and-"

The bus pulling to a stop caused her to stop mid thought and look up. Her stop was next. When they neared the stop, Molly reached up and pulled the cord above her head to tell the driver to stop. When the bus pulled up to the curb, Molly got up and sidled between the people hanging on to the loops from the over head bar. She got off the bus and walked home. When she entered the door, her mother was there to meet her, holding her report card. Molly groaned inwardly.

"Not another lecture, not now, please!"

"Molly, we need to talk." Her mother said sternly.

"What's wrong mom?" Molly asked flatly. She knew perfectly well what was wrong.

"It's your math and science grade. You got a B minus in math and a B in science! Molly, you know your father and I told you that we wanted A's."

Molly sighed.

"I'm sorry." Molly said

"'I'm sorry' won't turn those B's into A's now will it?" Her mother said sternly.

Now Molly was annoyed.

"No, mom, it won't. But you obviously want me to say something, don't you? What do you want me to say?"

"Why your grades are so poor. Your sister got all A's in science and math."

That was the last straw.

"Okay, then I do have reason."

"This had better be good." Molly's mother said, crossing her arms.

"It is."

"Why, then?"

"I'M NOT ANDREA. I'M NOT PERFECT LIKE HER. STOP ASKING ME TO BE LIKE HER, BECAUSE I CAN'T BE HER!" Molly yelled.

Then, she turned on her heel and ran out the door. She ignored her mother's yells for her to stop. She ran away without seeing. She only stopped to catch her breath for a minute when

"Molly?"

Molly turned to see a very welcome sight; Rick. His large brown eyes were filled with concern. She straightened up and looked around. She was in front of his house. She turned and looked at him, searching for an excuse when he said

"Your mom got your report card, didn't she?"

Molly stared

"How did you know about that?"

"Mia told me. She was worried about you, and asked for my advice." He said, walking over to her.

"I told her not to say anything, I'll kill her, I'll-"

"Don't be angry with her. I wheedled it out of her."

"Oh, okay."

"What happened, do you want to tell me?"

"My mom compared me to Andrea again, and I blew up in her face, and then I ran away, and now here I am, probably no longer welcome in my own house." Molly said sadly.

Rick looked at her for a moment, then walked over and hugged her. Molly's eyes widened for a moment, and then she closed her eyes happily. Rick was hugging her. When Rick pulled away, her eyes snapped open. Rick blushed, and she looked at her feet for a moment. Then, Rick said

"Let's go, Mia's probably worried sick."

"Okay."

Then, side by side, the two began the trek to Mia's house.

TA DAH! What do you think?