same as before, you know the drill...more of a PG-13 rating this time because of a few swear words.

To TinyStar, regarding what you said in the last chapter of Just For Us...I just call 'em like I see 'em. Please, for my sanity, keep writing!

since I can't resist, some author's notes at the end.


"Is there some reason Abby didn't want us coming inside her house?"

Susan shrugged. "I dunno. I called her a few minutes ago, said we were on our way, and she said to wait in the car, she'd be right out. I guess she has her reasons."

"Maybe they're still trying to unpack and the place is a mess, and she's embarrassed by it or something."

"Like I said, I don't know. It could be anything, it could be nothing. You could always ask her if you're that curious."

"Yeah, I can see that going well. 'Hey, Abby, why didn't you want us coming into your house? Are you embarrassed about something? Are you hiding something?' I could shine a light in her eyes while I'm at it, really make her feel like she's being interrogated."

Susan shook her head at John. "You're dumb, you know that? Just plain dumb."

"Obviously, judging by the company I've been keeping for the past ten years."

She bit her lip, holding back a retort. "Speaking of company, what do you think of Abby?"

A slightly puzzled look came over John's face. "Uhhh...what do you mean?"

"Just in general. As a person, I guess."

"I don't know. She seems nice. And she seems to get our unusual brand of humor. Maybe we've found the ever-elusive third member of our duet."

"Uh, wouldn't that be the third member of our trio?"

"Yeah. It sounded much better in my head than it did coming out of my mouth."

Susan chuckled, then paused. "Were we looking for a so-called 'third member'?"

"Wow. Everything seems to be coming out of my mouth completely wrong. I didn't mean that there's anything wrong with just the two of us hanging out. I just meant that it's nice to have someone else around, too. Someone who's not so intimidated by us and our relationship. I mean, I'm sure you've noticed how everyone at school always seems a little put-off by how close we are and don't think we're interested in having anymore friends. We're fine with just the two of us, but I think it's also fun to have more of us."

"Don't worry–I agree. I was just wondering about your thoughts on the subject."

At that moment, they saw Abby come trotting across the lawn, a frustrated look on her face. She tossed her bag into the back of the limo and followed right behind it, slamming the door shut and quickly settling down next to Susan.

"Took you long enough," Susan teased.

"Everything all right?" John asked, almost simultaneously.

Abby rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Yeah, everything's fine. My mom's just...grrr. I had to reassure her, yet again, that no, I wasn't actually going to a party, yes, there was going to be adult supervision, no I wasn't going to get drunk or high, blah blah blah. For whatever reason, she doesn't think she can trust me. It's not like I'm known for going out and getting wasted every night."

Susan put her arm around her friend's shoulders and leaned her head against Abby's. "Well, I can't entirely blame her for wondering. I mean, this is your first co-ed sleepover. Any parent would worry a little."

"Yeah, about that...I didn't exactly tell her that this was co-ed."

Susan leaned back a little and gave Abby a look, while John raised his eyebrows. "Then what, exactly, did you tell her?" he asked.

"The truth, more or less. I said that I was staying over at a friend's house. She just assumed I meant Susan's house. I gave her your cell phone number and said that was the best way to reach me if she needed to. I didn't lie–I just...glossed over a few details." The other two just looked at her. "What? I didn't lie. I just didn't tell the whole truth. If I had told her that I was going to sleep at a guy's house, in guy's bed no less, she would have shit a brick. She's just going to need some time to get adjusted to this whole...scenario."

"Well, I could have come in and talked to her," John offered. "Let her know that I don't have anything sinister planned."

"Maybe next time," Abby answered, noncommitally. "So how far away do you live, exactly?"

"Uh, not too far. We're almost there."

"And your parents don't care that there's going to be another girl at this slumber party."

John shrugged. "No. Susan and I have been doing this for years. There's no real danger in throwing someone else into the mix."

"Just be careful," Susan said. "John's mom is a little...frosty. I've known her for ten years and she still looks at me like I'm a stranger."

"That's just my mom. She's not a bad person, she's just a little...standoff-ish."

"His grandparents are great, though. Especially his grandmother. She's the type of woman you picture when you say the word 'grandmother,' except she's a social butterfly."

Abby looked over at John. "Your grandparents are staying with you? Are they in town for a while or something?"

"No, actually, we all live together."

"Really?"

John just nodded and looked out the window. Susan looked out, too, then pointed. "There it is."

Abby peered out the window and her mouth dropped open. Looming ahead, at the end of a long driveway, was the biggest "house" Abby had ever seen in her life. "That's where you live? Good God...it looks like a hotel or something." She looked over at John and noticed that his cheeks were a little pink, then saw that Susan was shaking her head ever so slightly. Guess it's a sensitive subject.

That didn't stop her from staring. Her eyes never left the building as they made their way up to the front door. She opened the car door without looking and continued to stare at the house as she dragged herself and her bag out of the car, craning her head back to see all the way up to the top. "I'm sorry, it's just so...so...big."

"Why, thank you."

Abby's head whipped around and she saw John leering at her playfully, and a smile broke out across her face.

"You're sick."

"All part of my charm."

"Yeah, I've noticed how the girls all come a-runnin'."

Susan burst into laughter. "Very nicely delivered, my friend. I couldn't have done it better myself."

John just shrugged. "Say what you will, but I'm the one sleeping with two girls tonight."

"And just like every other man who's had that fantasy, you're going to find yourself left out," Susan answered, walking up to the front door.

"You know, maybe we should rethink this whole thing," he said, following Susan with Abby trailing behind. "I can handle insults coming in from one direction, but two..."

"John, you can't even handle what I throw at you. Now shut up and open the door."

He mumbled something under his breath and pushed his way past Susan, digging in his pocket for his keys. "There it is," he said, pulling his hand out of his pocket, throwing his middle finger in Susan's face. "I think I've got another one around here somewhere for you."

"Just...open the door," Susan said, shaking her head and rolling her eyes at Abby. "Witty, thy name is John Carter."

They all stepped through the entrance way, and Abby couldn't help but gawk again. She had known that John's family had money, but this kind of money...what they called pocket change was probably more money than she'd ever earn in her lifetime.

"My parents are actually out of town right now, so you won't be meeting them this time, and I think my grandparents are probably in bed. You'll probably meet them at breakfast."

"Uh-huh," Abby answered, not really paying attention, though she managed to gather herself enough to follow John and Susan up to his room.

"Hey, Abby."

"Huh?" she responded, picking her head up slightly off the bed, only to be greeted with a blinding flash from Susan's camera. "Arg! I'm gonna kill you!" she exclaimed, grabbing the nearest pillow and throwing it at her face.

"A little tip," John said from his reclining position at the foot of the bed. "She's dangerous with a camera. Nothing will stop her from taking candid pictures. The only way she learned not to do that to me was to break her camera...twice."

"Don't get any ideas, missy," Susan said, making sure the camera was well out of Abby's grasp. "These things don't come cheap. I can't afford to keep replacing them."

"I take it you're one of those picture-phobic type people," John said to Abby.

"Well, if by picture-phobic you mean I don't like having my picture taken, then yes. That's exactly what I am."

"Oh, come on! What is it with you people? Pictures are fun! This way you'll always have documented evidence of the fun you had as a kid. And when you're old and gray and alone, John, people just might believe that you had friends, once upon a time."

"I invite you into my house, I let you eat my food, sleep in my bed, and you treat me like this?"

"Get real, dude. You didn't invite me; I invited myself. 'I'm a very charming sponge.'"

"Wait!" Abby yelped. "I know that one! It's from...uh...don't tell me, I know...uh...Sound of Music. Am I right?"

"And that's another two points for Abigail Wyczenski. You've got to pick up the pace, John. Abby's kicking your ass at movie quotes."

"Yeah, yeah, I suck, I know. You've told me many times tonight."

Susan sighed and looked at her camera. "Okay, I only have one picture left."

"Count me out," Abby mumbled from beneath her arms, trying to cover her face.

"Me, too," John answered, pulling his shirt over his head.

"You guys are boring." She let out a slightly disgruntled snort and looked at her two friends, hiding. Without moving from her flat-on-her-back position, she managed to slide across the bed until she was laying next to Abby. "Aaaabbeee."

"No. I already fell for that once, I'm not doing it again."

"I promise, I won't do it again."

"Don't listen to a word she says, Abby," John called from inside his t-shirt. "She's full of lies and propaganda."

"I swear on my life. I just want to take a picture of the two of us. You know, one of those goofy pictures with one of us holding the camera out? Everyone has one."

"So now you want me to become a lemming?"

"For three seconds out of your life, yes."

Abby sighed, then removed her arms from over her face. "Fine. I know you won't leave me alone until I cave in. Do what you must."

Susan grinned and smushed her face next to Abby's. "Ready? On the count of three, smile. One, two, three."

"And I'm now blind. Thank you for that," Abby said, blinking her eyes rapidly, trying to recover.

"And on that note, I'm getting ready for bed," Susan answered, managing to roll herself over backward off the bed, heading toward the bathroom.

"Thanks for asking if we're ready to go to bed, buttmunch," John called after her, emerging from his shirt.

"You two can do whatever you want. I, on the other hand, am tired, and I'm going to sleep." With that, she disappeared into the bathroom, leaving the other two to an awkward silence.

Why is it that I have no trouble making conversation with him when Susan's around, but the minute she's gone, he feels like a complete stranger? Just because I sort of like him and sort of think he's cute, doesn't mean I can't talk to the guy.

But before she could make an attempt, John spoke up. "Hey Abby...if you're really uncomfortable with the whole sharing a bed with me thing, I have an air mattress I can sleep on."

Abby looked over at him and smiled. "Don't be silly. If anyone was going to sleep somewhere else, it'd be me. But it's not even a concern, so don't worry about it."

"Are you sure? Because it's really no trouble–"

"I'm sure."

Just then, Susan came bounding out of the bathroom and bounced onto the bed. "Next!"

"Ladies first," John said, then looked over at Susan. "Don't say it. Don't even think it."

Susan just batted her eyes as Abby took her turn in the bathroom, emerging a few minutes later. Then the two of them sat on the edge of his bed, making small talk until he was done.

"So, how are we going to work the sleeping arrangements?" Susan asked.

"Well, what I was picturing was me in the middle with the two of you on either side of me," John answered quickly.

"Surprise, surprise," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, what guy in his right, or wrong, for that matter, mind would turn down the opportunity to have two girls sleeping next to him? I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pass it up. Besides, I know you have to sleep on that side of the bed, and you know I'll pretty much sleep anywhere. This way, if Abby needs to get out of bed for some reason in the middle of the night, she won't have to add 'crawling over people' to her list of weird experiences of the night."

"Such a gentleman," Abby teased, waiting for the other two to get into bed so she could find out which area she would officially be claiming as hers.

"If he snores, just kick him," Susan said as the three were settling down.

"Right," Abby answered.

"Really," John told her. "I don't snore much, but when I do, a little nudge will shut me right up."

"Good to know."

"And, seriously, if you have trouble sleeping, just kick me out of bed. I won't be offended."

"Thanks, but I'm sure I'll be fine," Abby answered, rolling over and pulling the blankets up to her chin, her eyes wide open. "Good night."

She received a couple of mumbled "good nights" from her friends, who already seemed to be drifting off. Abby, on the other hand, wasn't sure she would get any sleep. Despite what she said, the situation was a little weird.

Get over it. Just grow up and go to sleep.

Surprisingly enough, she felt herself starting to get a little sleepy. John's bed was too comfortable. Her thoughts started becoming jumbled, and she knew sleep wasn't too far behind. And she couldn't be sure, but just as she was drifting off, she thought she felt the body next to her roll over and wrap his arm around her.


Author's Notes: First, I'm sorry it took so long to update. I worked, literally, nonstop through the holidays–I clocked out at 63 hours the week of xmas...that's a lot table-waiting. I finally had a few days off this week and had writer's block. But, I'm finally delivering. It may not be any good, but...I've got it all planned out. It'll get there eventually. Sometimes you have to go through the stuff like this to get to the good junk, you know? Also, since there was a lot of confusion, BEC, is not an American thing, it's a "the author was lazy" thing. It stands for Bacon, Egg, and Cheese, and I didn't want to keep spelling it out, so I abbreviated it. Sorry about that! And I've made a little line change in chapter 2...check it out!