Warning: Savor this update. There's no telling when the next one will be.


We Fall Between

Davy doesn't even have to ask for directions or make use of the GPS as he drives to the Meadows. His visits were always few and far between throughout Emily's childhood, but they've lived in that same deteriorating neighborhood and that same tiny, dank apartment her whole life. Driving there must be like driving straight back through his past.

Emily sits in the seat next to him with her long legs curled up in front of her, exaggerating the rips in the faded denim at her knees. She watches as they drive down the dirty streets. Bums gather on the sidewalk, fishing through overflowing trashcans and torn garbage bags that spilled out onto the ground. The longer she stays with Lauren the easier it is to forget how bad Laguna is and the more crushing it is when she inevitably has to go back.

Needing a distraction, Emily turns to face her dad. "How did you meet my mom?" Emily asks. "I don't think she's ever told me before."

It crosses Emily's mind that it might be too painful for Chloe. Emily focused so much of her time and energy into disliking Davy for so long that she never took the time to consider how Chloe really felt about him. She always assumed her mom hated him. After all, he left her. Now that she's gotten to know Davy and what a great guy he can be, Emily doesn't know.

"Your mother was a bartender at this total dive of a bar on the CU campus. They'd have an open mic night every Thirsty Thursday. I was young, stupid, thinking it was a steppingstone to fame and fortune. Your mom was a badass. She'd draw in the poor, collegiate suckers, get them drunk and overcharge them for horrible, watered down liquor." Davy laughs. "The first thing she ever said to me: Stop with the Bon Jovi covers and shave once in a while, will ya?"

Emily smiles. That definitely sounds like the Chloe she knows or at least the Chloe she wants to remember.

"Then I wrote her a song based off that moment."

Emily wraps her arms around her knees. "You, musicians, just use your vocal talent to get your way any chance you can, don't you?"

Davy laughs. "Believe me, we all can't get everything we want, especially musicians. Music is important to me. It's love. Music can bring people together, for sure, but it can't keep people together. I haven't quite figured that one out yet."

Emily's smile suddenly turns sad. "Henley told me that things aren't too great at home. She seems really upset about it and you know how she is normally, plus the added stress. Maybe it's good that she got away for a bit." Davy sighs. "Honeymoon over?"

"I don't really know what happened. We lived together long before the wedding. I don't know how a ceremony and a big, extravagant party can change how good things were. Work and stress has a lot to do with it, but it'd be a copout to say my work schedule is all that's wrong."

"And me visiting," Emily says. "And the whole Henley prescription drug thing…"

"Listen, having you around, seeing how well you got along with the kids, it was easily one of the best things about that summer," Davy reassures her. "As for Henley, you made the right choice. How is she really? How has she been sleeping? Do you know?"

"I check on her at night," Emily confesses. Her own insomnia may factor into why she crawls out of bed every other hour to see if Henley is watching infomercials. "She's actually sleeping now, unlike when she first got here."

"Lydia has brought up sending Henley to a special facility. I'll bet she'll push for it even more after this," Davy explains. "I keep telling her Henley needs a support system. She can't do it alone. No doubt Razor isn't going to react well. Lydia's just scared and lashing out. If I had a dime for every time she reminded me I'm not Henley's father."

Emily frowns and sinks lower. There was always an air of contempt and an outer layer of superficiality that made Lydia hard for Emily to like, but she never had a doubt about whether or not she loved Davy. Anyone with eyes could see Lydia was crazy about him and Davy was just as crazy about her. The love is there. It's just all the other things that get in the way.

"You shouldn't be here," Emily says. "She's scared so she lashes out at someone who she knows loves her. She needs you more than ever and you love her so you should be there. Lashing out is how she tells you she's scared and staying is how you show you care."

Emily sees the behavior all the time, mostly in Lauren and Kaylie.

Davy hums softly. "You know, the same can be said about your mother."

Angling her knees towards the door, Emily stares out the window. This was shaping up to be a great moment for them, groundbreaking even, and now she finds herself extremely annoyed.

"It's different…"

"How so?"

"Because you and Lydia are adults. At least, supposedly." Though she isn't looking at him, Davy makes a sound and Emily imagines him smiling. "I'm sixteen. I don't know anyone my age who has to worry about bills being paid on time so the power and water won't go out and sacrifices every paycheck to pay those bills…or has trouble falling asleep because of the psycho her mom lets in her bed."

"And your mom knows how uncomfortable he makes you?"

"She knows. She just doesn't care."

"Don't say that," Davy says. "I remember when your mom first told me she was pregnant with you. I'm pretty sure I had more of a breakdown than she did. Your mom knew right off the bat that she was keeping you and raising you with or without me. She loved you long before the start. That's the Chloe Kmetko I'll always respect. The person you're talking about…"

"She's not that person you knew," Emily says. "She thinks Bruce loves her just because it's what he tells her like words mean anything."

"You don't think he loves her?"

"I think if she stands up to him, he'll leave again, which is like, her biggest fear, so she won't." Emily doesn't mean it as a jab at Davy even if it kind of is since he did the same thing. "I don't think I believe in love."

"Don't say that," Davy scolds her. "You're too young to be thinking like that."

"Sometimes I don't think I've been young for a long time."

Davy doesn't say anything as he pulls up in front of the Meadows apartment complex. A group of thugs are hanging out in front of the building, gathered in a cloud of smoke, and Davy stays close as they walk to the entrance. At least Davy's rental car isn't anything special. If it were his BMW back in Newport, he'd be lucky if it was still there twenty minutes into the visit.

On the way up, Davy reminds her to stay calm. He's going to do his best to mediate. Emily doesn't want him to be neutral. She wants him to be on her side. She wants a parent who'll back her up, but doesn't express it. She just agrees before leading him down the stretch of hallway and knocking on the front door.

"Just a sec!" Chloe shouts from inside the apartment. The front door is just as paper-thin as the walls. They could probably have a clear conversation standing on opposite sides of it. The door swings open and Chloe's painted face drops. "Davy…"

He smiles. "Chloe, hi."

"I'm here too," Emily says. Davy knocks the back of his hand into her elbow, a gesture telling her to be nice. Emily combs her bangs away from her eyes. "Hi, mom."

"Hey, Em, it's good to see you. Here, why don't you two come in?" Chloe says. This whole thing is cringe worthy. They aren't supposed to be like this. They aren't supposed to be the type of family who has to waste time on generic greetings. Emily has always known they were financially worse off than everyone else, but she found comfort in the fact that their family was so close. Now, that isn't even true.

Walking into the apartment is strange. Things are tidier than usual, but for the most part, everything is still the same. Emily feels her stomach turn when she sees Bruce in his usual chair in the living room. She makes sure to sit as far from him as possible. Her eyes then move to Brian in his wheelchair to Bruce's left. It's way too easy to reference Animal Farm.

"Bruce, Brian, look who's here!" Chloe says, trying to use enthusiasm to cover how this is so awkward. "Guys, this is Emily's father. Davy, these are my guys, Brian, and his daddy, Bruce."

"It's nice to meet you," Davy says politely. He holds his hand out for a shake and Bruce, gnawing on a toothpick, just eyes the expensive Rolex on Davy's wrist. Davy waves to Brian, who stares fixedly at him, and goes to sit next to Emily.

"I don't feel comfortable talking with Bruce here," Emily says.

"Tough shit!" Brian shouts at her.

Chloe gasps. "Brian, you watch your language!"

"He's apart of this family too," Brian argues.

"Emily, Brian's right," Chloe says. "Whether you like it or not, Bruce is involved in this too."

Emily turns to Davy and her brows pull back as if to say, see, I told you this would happen! Davy nods, but gives her a look in return, asking her to at least try.

"Okay," Davy says, like he's hosting a talk show on trashy, dysfunctional families where DNA tests are involved. "I've gotten Emily's side of the story. Let's hear yours, Chloe."

"Who do you think you are?" Bruce spits. "You, Mr. Big Shot, walkin' in here with your expensive clothes, telling Chloe to explain herself when she don't have shit to explain. Your kid's the one who mouths off all the time. She deserved more than a smack in the face. A good thrashing would shut her up, put her in her place."

Davy looks to Emily with shock. "She hit you? Why didn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't a big," Emily says quietly. Defending Chloe is automatic. She got angry and she slapped Emily. It's understandable, but it sure as hell isn't okay.

"Davy," Chloe calls out to him. "It was late and in the heat of the moment—"

"Emily, pack a bag, grab whatever you need," Davy says. They briefly mentioned this action plan as a last resort in the worst-case scenario. "Go. Now."

Chloe is alarmed by the sudden change in Davy's demeanor. "What happened to talking things through?" she asks.

"Forget talking, Chloe! You hit our daughter!"

"Don't you fucking raise your voice at her in my house!" Bruce yells. He stands up from his recliner. With the way he keeps eyeing Davy, Bruce is clearly territorial.

"This isn't your house!" Emily shouts.

"Why don't you get gone, already, huh?" Bruce shouts. "Things were a lot better without you, little shit starter, starting shit all the time."

Davy stands up, edging himself in the path between Bruce and his daughter. "Emily, go. The sooner you grab your things the sooner we can get out of here. This obviously isn't a safe environment for you to be in. You're better off at Lauren's."

"Why?" Brian asks. "Because we don't dress up in expensive clothes like you and the Tanners? And we don't have flatscreens or maids? That makes it an unsafe environment?"

"No, because your mother hit your sister," Davy says. He starts to lose his cool, especially when Brian, someone so young, doesn't even flinch. "Because your father just called your sister a shit starter. From what Emily's told me, you're a bright kid, Brian. Don't tell yourself any of this is normal because you know it isn't."

"Don't talk to my boy," Bruce growls. He walks up to Davy and Emily darts down the hallway, throwing whatever she can into a bag. Now more than ever she's convinced this place is toxic. Before she walks out the door, Emily pauses a moment and grabs a framed picture of her, Brian and Chloe on the bedside table.

"Why you even care, man?" Bruce demands.

"Because she's my daughter!"

"Stop it!" Chloe screams, wedging herself between Davy and Bruce. "Emily is my daughter! Where were you when she had the chicken pox? Were you the one who stayed up, reading to her when she couldn't sleep? What about driving her to gymnastics practice and every meet, sacrificing whatever it took to pay for lessons? Did you stay up with her and watch sad movies when a rockstar broke her heart? No, Davy, that was all me! You were never here for her!"

"I'm here for her now and that's more than I can say for you," Davy says. He doesn't seem angry, just sad. "What happen to you, Chloe? How did you let it all get this bad?"

Chloe turns away, offended, maybe a little ashamed. "We can't all marry some billionaire's bimbo daughter and live off of someone else's success now, can we?"

Davy backs away and sees Emily. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, dad. Let's go."

"Davy, she's my daughter! You can't just take her!"

"No one's saying she isn't your daughter, but you know just as well as I do that this isn't the place for her right now. I know it can be hard to remember with how mature she is, but Emily's sixteen. She's a kid! And you're her parent! Get it together, Chloe, or the next time we talk it'll be about emancipation."

Chloe literally gasps and Emily doesn't blame her, she's just as shocked. In unison, mother and daughter ask, "Emancipation?"

Davy nods. "I don't know what the Colorado Emancipation Law dictates, but we can Google it. If anyone can support herself financially and finish school, it's Emily, but only as a last resort. Things need to change, Chloe. I know you've never been a fan of change, but you're killing your family the way things are."

"I'm tired of sitting here, listening to your bullshit," Bruce says. "Get gone! Both of you!"

Davy starts towards the door with his hand on Emily's shoulder. She casts a look at Brian, but he won't return it. He just stares at his hands in his lap. Fixing the strap of her bag over her shoulder, Emily goes with Davy, but stops when she hears the familiar, comforting sound of Chloe's stilettos following them.

"Emily…" She turns back to face her mother and her expression softens. "I don't want things to be like this. You gotta know that, Em."

"We can't always get what we want, mom."

And then they're gone.

I wish I could twist my gangly body just right and crawl through the screen of my phone to kiss you right now. – Razor

"Long distance relationships are bullshit. Are you serious, Lo?"

Usually Lauren would be amused, but her head is too busy agreeing with him. She saw how things turned out with Emily and Damon, but when she mentions this, Razor just smiles and says he'll never get a record deal so they're good. Lauren has always been a trailblazer when it comes to guys and relationships so this step-by-step thing is new and scary.

"You know who Scott Disick is, right?" Lauren asks.

"You're changing the subject."

"Scott. Kourtney Kardashian's Scott of The Kardashians. That's who you remind me off."

"He dresses like the Mad Hatter."

AJ disagrees and makes a sound to make sure she knows it. He's overdressed as usual, looking like he's waiting for his GQ shoot, sporting a tailored topcoat and sulfur-dyed cargos.

"You can't do that," AJ complains. "You spring it on me that you might be in a long distance relationship with Emily's stepbrother and now you want to talk about the Kardashians?"

"I bet Shauna watches the Kardashians, doesn't she?"

He hesitates, finally making sense of the breadcrumb hints she dropped for him. AJ makes another sound, deep in his throat, reluctant understanding. "Only when there's nothing good on Food Network or TLC then yeah. Amelia and I are heading back next Sunday night."

Lauren suppresses a wince. That's sooner than she thought.

"I'm so jel. You'll be closer to Ray than me." Lauren goes on like she doesn't realize how deeply this bothers him, but she does. Confronting why he's so bothered head-on is a different conversation entirely, one they're hardly ready for. "Like you have any right to lecture me about long distance relationships. Aren't you and Shauna pretty much doing that?"

"We aren't together-together."

"But neither of you are together-together with other people."

"It's different. We've got a kid and responsibilities and bills." By the way he can barely get the words out, it's obvious how overwhelmed AJ is. "You, on the other hand, you're still a kid. You should be enjoying what's in front of you, what you can touch." AJ lays his hand over hers. "You can't do that through a keyboard."

She doesn't pull away like she knows she should. Lauren lets the moment linger, but only for another second before she moves her hand away and pushes her fingers through her hair. She stares across the park to where Henley has Amelia in one of the baby park swings. Amelia giggles while Henley smiles and coos, showing more genuine emotion now than in the time she's been in Boulder. (Aside from the time she got drunk, of course.)

Henley carries on a conversation with Amelia in a high-pitch voice, but as if the near one-year-old is a miniature adult. During the car ride, the California native explained to them that it's scientifically shown that babies prefer high-pitched voices. The way Henley clicks with Amelia comes as a surprise. The only reason Lauren dragged Henley along was to cockblock awkward moments with AJ and despite being the top in her class, Henley can't even do that right.

"So," Lauren says, "our little rendezvous wouldn't be complete without you asking me for a favor. What is it this time? I'm already officially registered for the Boulder Junior League."

"You act like you aren't excited to have a reason to play fairytale princess, buy an expensive ass dress and shit. I'm gonna be gone for a while, spend some time with Shauna and Amelia in Palm Springs and I'm leaving a hell of a lot of AGF responsibility on Faith."

"Faith Giancana?"

"I figured you knew her. Faith is apart of the AGF team. The deb ball is practically her project. I'm handling all the big things like networking, funding, the sponsors and budget, but I have Faith taking care of catering and decorations and putting together the itinerary. It's a lot for one person. I was wondering if you'd want to do a little community service?"

Lauren laughs. "Community service?"

"Yeah, over spring break or whatever."

"Even worse!" Lauren squeals. "And with Faith Giancana?"

"C'mon. It'll look great on college apps or so I'm told. I'll be happy to write you an awesome recommendation letter if you ever need it," AJ hints, more like dangles reward in front of her face. "I already asked Kaylie, but she said spring break is the last push before her cheer competition thing and then she told me you quit the squad."

"That doesn't mean I stopped having a life."

"It'll be fun," he says cheerily. "Faith makes things interesting. You can even ask Emily to help. I bet she's involved in so many clubs and extra currics there won't be enough lines on the college apps, but another won't hurt. It could be a fun thing to do with Em over break…plus Faith."

"I'll check my schedule and get back to you," Lauren says sweetly. AJ nods, doesn't push any more than that. "You're really invested in this Amelia Grace Foundation thing, aren't you?"

"It's my life now."

When he gets that look on his face, like he might try to touch her again, Lauren frantically stirs, gathering her things. "Anyways, we should probably go."

"Ah, you gotta get Henley back in your homework sweatshop I keep hearing about?"

Lauren eyes him suspiciously. "You and Kaylie really do the girl talk thing a lot, don't you?"

"I might have been eavesdropping on her and Maeve."

Lauren still bristles at any mention of Maeve Benson. That bitch.

"I did, when Henley first started staying at my house, but then I realized that when I get into university I want it to be because I wanted it and worked for it and earned it. Emily and Henley have been helping me out and having them over has forced me to improve my study habits." She gives AJ a specific smile. "Apparently, it's a real thing where slacker rich kids decide to stop wasting their lives and make something of themselves."

AJ smiles at her. "All rumors."

Once she has all of her things shoved into her purse, Lauren shouts, "Henley, let's go!"

The brunette hoists Amelia safely into her arms. The child is absolutely smitten, giggling at Henley. You'd imagine Henley, being the robot she is, to find miniature humans foreign and want nothing to do with Amelia, but Henley has been obsessed since Lauren introduced them.

"I think I'm going to change your name in my phonebook to Robot Poppins," Lauren teases.

"I love babies! They're fascinating!" Henley gushes. "Did you know infants, even just a few hours old, literally dance to the sound of their parents' voices? Their parents, who they heard while in the womb, moreso than the voices of strangers they've never heard before. They feel language. And if a baby doesn't dance it's one of the earliest signs of autism."

"No, I didn't know that." AJ smiles politely. "But thank you?"

"Oh, and crying, other than a form of communication, has actual, evolutionary survival value," Henley continues. "Especially African tribes who live in the jungle. Difficult babies who cry and seek attention more have a greater chance of survival than easy babies who might quietly wander into the jungle while caretakers tend to the difficult babies and be eaten by a predator."

"Thank God we don't live in the jungle," AJ replies.

"Okay, great!" Lauren says with disinterest. "Now give the baby back so we can go. I promised your stepdad I'd have you back before five."

Lauren wouldn't do something crazy like try to take Amelia from Henley because that would mean Lauren would actually have to hold a baby and all that keeps coming to her is that episode of Friends where Ross imagines a whole future from him and Rachel while Rachel can't even hold Charlie the way people instinctively hold children. Lauren can sympathize. She has no clue how to handle a child either.

AJ tells Henley it was nice to meet her and waves Amelia's tiny wrist in a goodbye. Lauren wishes them a safe flight and AJ pulls her into a loose one-arm hug before they go their separate ways.

"Long distance relationships aren't worth it, Lo!"

"Don't be a hypocrite, AJ!" she calls from over her shoulder. He's smirking at her like he's always smirking at her and Lauren doesn't even realize the way she's grinning even when they're out of sight.

"Sooo," Henley says, "Jake the wrestler. Max the pretty boy. AJ the successful single father. And my brother. Wow, you are a bigger slut than I realized."

There are a couple others, Noah Puckerman for example, but after Henley already rattled off that length list, no way is Lauren going to mention the former pool boy.

"I haven't even kissed Max and I don't plan to. AJ and I are way, way on the backburner. Jake and I haven't done more than talk in over a year. And your brother isn't here."

"Talk to me about this 'way, way on the backburner' classification with AJ." Henley stares at her as if Lauren is a subject best observed with the naturalistic approach.

Lauren mulls over the request as she unlocks her car. "He has a daughter and a complicated relationship with Amelia's mother. I'm still in high school, considering dating your brother long distance and dealing with stupid drama that almost always involves Kaylie, AJ's sister. We've talked about it and agreed that we aren't in the right place to be anything, but, I don't know, with AJ there's always something there."

"Nu-uh. I cannot approve of you dating my brother when you're already thinking about jumping to AJ at some point."

"One, I don't need your approval." Lauren starts the car and with it, Henley's classical music that's been playing ever since that first car ride out of Laguna. Lauren immediately turns it all the way down just for Henley to turn it back up, but not at an eardrum-splitting volume. "Two, what am I supposed to do? Wait for AJ?"

"Do you love Ray?"

The question takes her by surprise, but if she's being honest, it's something Lauren thinks about a lot. "I could. I don't know how to figure that out without literally being together, which we can't do through a computer screen. I don't know if I can do long distance without screwing it up and hurting him, which is the last thing I'd want."

"Especially with Jake the wrestler around and Max the pretty boy, who also happens to be single and wants you in his dark room," Henley reminds her. "Jesus, I know way too much about your love life."

"I don't know." Lauren nervously taps her fingers on the steering wheel. "I've gotten really good at being single. Maybe I should just keep doing what I'm doing for a while."

"But Razor's waiting for an answer. He's a serial monogamous. It's shocking that he's been able to hold out this long without being in a relationship."

"Because he's waiting for me," Lauren concludes.

"But you're waiting for AJ," Henley says. "I'm glad I don't have your messed up life."

She's so blunt that Lauren has to laugh. "Thanks, Hen. You may not have my messed up life, but I'd say hanging out with me has turned you into quite the social butterfly."

"Don't call me that." Henley deadpans. "On a serious note, I'm glad I came here. Social butterfly might be an overstatement and a dated one, but I did enjoy myself. A lot, actually."

It isn't just simply about having fun. Lauren kept an eye on Henley, cared for another human being even without getting anything out of it. In turn, Henley strayed from her comfort zone and got a little taste of the other side of the teenage experience spectrum.

"One more thing," Henley says. "I know I'm the last person who should be giving you advice on your love life, but I'm inclined to suggest you forget all of them and hook up with Max."

"Henley!" Lauren scolds her. "Great! Just ignore how that would break Razor's heart."

"And? AJ was right. Razor isn't here. And Max is so good-looking and so into you!"

"Shallow, Sheppard." Lauren clicks her tongue. She's going to miss moments like this. "I have no idea how you're going to survive without me," Lauren says, even though she's fairly sure Henley can hold her own just fine. Their little showdown with Maeve proved it.

"I'll survive, especially with all the fashionable souvenirs I'm bringing home."

"Courtesy of my great taste…and daddy's credit card." Lauren gives her a sideways glance and sees Henley with her eyes closed, feeling the music. Though she won't ever tell Henley, Lauren thinks she'll keep it on this classical music station for at least a little while longer.

What idiot agrees to hang out with her boyfriend and his other girlfriends without backup? Apparently idiot is interchangeable with Kaylie Cruz. At least, that's what Kaylie thinks, feeling like a nervous wreck as she searches for her make up bag. Kaylie turns over couch cushions and looks under the celebrity gossip magazines on the coffee table. Through the large windows, Kaylie notices Maeve's car in the driveway.

Kaylie doesn't remember making plans with Maeve. On the contrary, she said couldn't hang out because she'll be with Nicky (and Faith and Kelly) tonight. Even stranger, she doesn't hear Maeve, whose voice usually carries quite well through the castle. Instead, Kaylie hears AJ doing his high-pitch baby talk thing and Amelia giggling from the kitchen.

"AJ, you wouldn't happen to know why Maeve is here, would you?"

"Nope. Isn't that your job? She's your friend."

"Good answer," Kaylie says. Honestly, she doesn't know if she could take another one of her friends trying to hook up with her brother. "Do you know where she is?"

"Try downstairs."

"I was afraid of that." She isn't happy about the conclusion her head jumps to, but when Amelia giggles and holds her arms out to her Aunt Kaylie, it's a good enough distraction. Kaylie swoops in, stealing her from AJ, kissing the top of her head. "Cute earrings."

"Early birthday present from Ronnie. $300 earrings." AJ strategically places his hands over Amelia's ears. "And Ronnie got her a $4,000 lock bracelet thing from Tiffany's. 18k gold. Diamonds. Tiffany logo engraved. Ronnie says Melia will 'grow into it.'"

"Shauna's gonna want to return it."

"Shauna's gonna want to wear it." AJ laughs. "Hey, you'll be okay, right? Here, alone with Ronnie, while we're in Palm Springs?"

"Totally. Amelia should spend her first birthday with her mommy."

"Yeah, I think so too," he agrees. "Thank God Ronnie's all wrapped up in her record company drama. She'd probably bring the circus to town or some shit. We'll do an early birthday dinner tomorrow night before we leave for the airport and then a low-key party the neighbors and Shauna's coworkers."

"I've seen pictures of Shauna with her coworkers," Kaylie says, smiling at the mental image. "I'm warning you now, AJ. That's way too much cleavage for a first birthday party."

AJ laughs. "You know me and Shawnee. That's how we do."

As much as Kaylie is going to miss having AJ and Amelia around, it's oddly comforting, knowing Shauna will be there to keep AJ in line and AJ and Amelia will be there so Shauna won't be alone. It's still a bit surreal that a major fuck up like AJ somehow created this beautiful little family out of a moment that most would consider a mistake.

Kaylie plays with Amelia a bit longer so AJ can finish his sandwich before going to look for Maeve. There is only one reason Maeve would even think to go down to the basement that doubles as a recording studio. She had to have run into a certain emo musician and followed him down there like Alice following the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole.

With so much going on at the label, Damon's album dropped in priority. Many producers are reluctant to bet on him. If Ronnie didn't hold such a high position in the company and didn't personally believe in Damon, they probably would have dropped him from the label entirely. Now Damon is working in their personal basement studio, where he can concentrate on his project without the label environment to distract him. Damon has been over almost every day for the past week. Thank God Alex demanded it be soundproof when they built the house.

Kaylie walks downstairs and sees the door wide open. She peeks in and sees Damon at the soundboard, Maeve in a seat next to him. He's fiddling with his laptop while she's angled towards him, evidentially talking his ear off.

"Maeve!" Kaylie shouts. "What are you doing here?"

Maeve turns to the door and playfully glares. "Sorry, Lee, you and your perfect, dysfunctional relationship aren't allowed in here. Our Broken Hearts Anonymous meeting is in session."

"Then I should definitely pull up a chair," Kaylie murmurs.

"Damon, can you please convince Kaylie to drop her three-timing boyfriend and join our club?"

"Sure." Kaylie scowls. "When you and Max get back together, where does that leave me?"

"Still happier than you are now," Maeve says. "Seriously, if things are good with Nicky then you should be happy, not this." Maeve motions from Kaylie's unstyled hair to her bare feet. "It should be all about you and Nicky. Not Max and me and definitely not Nicky's harem."

Damon can't stop himself from laughing aloud. "Harem? Nicky? The guy I met at the party?"

"Don't listen to Maeve," Kaylie says. With a big, shameless smile, Maeve scoots to one side of her swivel chair and Kaylie squeezes in next to her. "Nicky's best friends just so happen to be two really hot girls."

"Speculation," Maeve says. "I'm half-convinced one has a bigger dick than Nicky."

"Maeve!" Kaylie smacks her, but the senior hugs her tight. Much like everything else she says, Maeve will never take it back because she really does believe it. "Why are you even here?"

"Damon and I are having girl time."

He laughs. "I actually went upstairs to grab a drink and she followed me down here."

"But he appreciates all my dark, negative energy," Maeve adds.

"It does make for good writing material and Maeve is my target demographic, basically," Damon explains. "We've been throwing some things around."

"Inspired by his latest breakup and mine," Maeve says.

"A song inspired by Max?" Kaylie laughs. "What do you have so far?"

"We haven't written anything down," Maeve says, "but I'd imagine it to go a little something like, gay, gay, gay, I can't believe I dated a gay…named Max."

Kaylie laughs. She's glad Maeve is no longer crying in bathrooms and can actually joke about it now. There's still the sadness in her eyes, but when it comes to broken hearts, that never really goes away. It fades, but only if you're lucky.

"Wow. I think we have a chart topper on our hands," Damon says sarcastically, but smiles. He has the kind of smile that effortlessly draws the girls in and gets them clicking the purchase button on iTunes within seconds of seeing him on the album artwork. Maeve responds instantly, playfully pushing Damon's shoulder. Kaylie doesn't like the touching at all.

"Damon," Maeve drawls, clearly controlled by the gears turning in her head. When Maeve sets up her pieces, ready to play a game, it's never a good thing. "What would you say about a relationship where, oh, the guy puts his harem above his girlfriend, especially the harlot, who he finally, publically admitted to screwing on a trampoline pretty regularly?"

Because he isn't stupid, Damon knows what Maeve is talking about. Because he's a boy, he isn't very subtle and looks right at Kaylie with his ice blue eyes. Kaylie squirms uncomfortably in her seat, upset that Maeve would even think to pull this right now and in front of Damon.

"I think…I shouldn't have an opinion on things that aren't any of my business." Damon turns his attention back to his laptop, avoiding a bullet. Kaylie smiles a little and appreciates that he doesn't ask or look at her differently like everyone else does.

"No fun." Maeve pouts, moving their seat from side to side, her bony shoulder knocking into Kaylie. "Fine, but you personally, you have friends who are girls, right?"

"Sure."

"And not now, obviously, but when you were with Emily or whoever, is it really so hard to differentiate between girl friend and girlfriend?"

"I can't speak for anyone else, but how can you not?" Damon gets a sort of far away look on his face. "Jody, my friend who also happens to be a girl, and even Ade, they're the ones I write and play music with and ask for fashion advice before a date. Emily, she's the one I want to write about and play for. She's the one I want to go out with, walking on the beach, holding hands. Isn't the difference obvious?"

"Not to some." Maeve turns to Kaylie. "Kaylie, whose hand does Nicky want to hold?"

"Why are you even here, May?" Kaylie asks, feeling her Cruz temper starting to get the best of her. It so easily gets the best of her, but such is the Cruz way. "Oh, you know, other than to call me out on all the flaws of my relationship?"

Damon turns in his chair, focusing on his laptop again. Smart boy. Maeve, on the other hand, slowly shakes her head like she's disappointed. It only makes Kaylie angrier.

"Kaylie, I'm your friend," Maeve says. "Where are Lauren or Emily or the gymnast?" She looks around the room for dramatic effect. "Not here. I am here for you. I'm always here for you and I'm telling you right now that you don't have to put yourself through tonight." She tilts her head to Damon. "Kaylie has a date with Nicky and his harem."

"Would you stop calling them that?" Kaylie snaps. "Emily is busy with her dad in town and family drama and work, which I get. Payson is busy, handling press stuff after her American Cup win, which I understand too. Lauren…I don't know or care. Tonight, I'm hanging out with my boyfriend and his best friends. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

"Because it's creepy! And you know what's going to happen tonight. Nicky is going to push you to the side while he hangs out with his girls and at the end of the night you'll feel like crap and when—if—you call him out on it, he'll do his deer-in-headlights Nicky thing. All I'm saying is you don't need to put up with that. Tons of Royal guys would treat you like a goddess. Damon, doesn't Kaylie deserve to be treated like a goddess?"

"Every girl does, yes." Damon is terribly uncomfortable and trying hard not to show it.

Kaylie frowns, leaning over to him. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this."

"Truthfully, I don't mind." There he goes again. Damon shows off his fucking sexy smile without even realizing he's doing it. "Eavesdropping is a powerful weapon for a writer. You two are practically writing this album for me."

"We'll just go and let you work." Kaylie stands and starts to pull on Maeve's near skeletal arm.

"Why don't we go get lunch?" Maeve suggests. "That was my original reason for coming over. Other than trying to talk you out of literally walking into a lioness den. All three of us could go get pretentious mozzarella and tomato salads at some pretentious café. I think both of you could use the time away from the castle."

Kaylie turns to Damon, full of sympathy. "You really don't have to."

"Actually, that is a great idea," Damon says. "If I manage to scrape up any inspiration at all, I doubt I'll find it down here. Plus, disagreeing with Maeve doesn't feel like a smart idea."

"Smart, talented and handsome. I have no clue what Emily Kmetko did to snag you, but I have way more respect for her now." Maeve means it as a compliment, but the look exchanged between Damon and Kaylie says they're both unclear if it really was or not. Maeve takes Kaylie's wrist and leads her to the door. "Kaylie's going to get ready and we'll go!"

Once they reach Kaylie's room, Maeve flops back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. She stretches out and her cut-off shirt rises, her rib cage stretching her smooth skin. Kaylie doesn't notice (or doesn't want to) and continues her search for her make up bag. Maeve finds it within seconds—right on the bedside table, behind a stack of textbooks.

"So, Damon's cute, isn't he?"

"Don't even think about it, Maeve. He's hung up on Emily and you just broke up with Max."

"Max just broke up with me, actually. I had no choice in the breaking."

Kaylie stops what she's doing and sees how the sadness intensifies when Maeve is no longer putting on an act for Damon. Kaylie carefully crawls onto her bed and stares right at Maeve, who bravely returns her gaze. Maeve doesn't try to hide behind a smile and her grandiose, fast-talking nature, not in front of Kaylie.

"He keeps coming over to my house with all my favorite things, wanting to be friends again." Maeve rolls her eyes at the idea alone. "My dad is going to put out a hit on him pretty soon."

"Max is an idiot." Kaylie may not know his side of the break up, but she saw Maeve's side firsthand and Kaylie doesn't know how else to describe him. "I can't believe that after everything, the years you've been together, he'd just throw it all away like that."

"Maybe that's the problem, Lee. Maybe we waited too long. Maybe if we ended it sooner we could've had a chance at still being friends, but, no, because we were Max and Maeve, Taft's cutest couple, we stayed together for all the wrong reasons and now we aren't even talking."

"No." Kaylie simply refuses to believe that. "Everything you said, that you were in love and meant to be together. Till hell freezes over! What happened to all that?"

"I did love him, but even I'll admit, towards the end, things weren't how they were before. It became routine, like we were actors and every new day was the same scene. Maybe some people are meant to be in the moment or for a while, but not meant to be forever."

Kaylie wants to believe that even less. She turns onto her side and curls up next to Maeve. She takes a moment to reflect on her own relationship. Would things have been better if they ended it when the summer ended? Either way, it feels like they left their hearts in Barcelona.

"I might be projecting a little," Maeve confesses.

"A little?" Kaylie laughs, just so Maeve will know that she isn't angry. Maeve can do the most appalling things and yet Kaylie cannot stay mad at her. It isn't just Maeve either. Kaylie doesn't hold grudges, whether that's a positive trait or a negative one is up for debate. "Poor Damon looked scared out of his mind downstairs."

Maeve laughs loftily. "I like him. I think I'll keep him so he better get used to it. I'm sorry if I was projecting my regrets with Max onto your relationship with Nicky. And what I said about your friends. I'm sorry for that too. I should probably take Damon's lead and not have an opinion on things that don't involve me."

"I appreciate the apology," Kaylie says, "but even more, I love that you care."

"I do. That's why I want to make sure you want to go out with Nicky and his friends tonight and you aren't just doing it to make him happy. I used to do that with Max all the time. Tag along when he'd go to art gallery openings and things with his hipster artsy friends who thought I was stupid because I thought it was boring. I was miserable every time. Looking back on it, I didn't have to put myself through that. Neither do you."

Maeve cares. She has absolutely shitty ways of showing it, but her intentions are pure. Maeve does the things she does and says the things she says because she's looking out for Kaylie. That's why Kaylie is going to do the same and stick by Maeve no matter what.

"So we're good?" Maeve asks. "I hate when you're mat at me. I break out from all the stress."

"Oh, I've noticed," Kaylie jokes, receiving a playful smack as punishment. "Yes, we're good."

"Great!" Maeve smiles evilly and gives Kaylie another loving little smack, but this time on her ass. "Now, let's go show Celebrity Boy how incredibly dull Boulder is. But first you might want to finish your face. Eyeshadow on only one of your eyes, that's worse than fetch."

Kaylie returns to her vanity and finishes getting ready. She grabs a sweater and as they're walking down the stairs Maeve's phone ring. Her mom. She tosses her keys to Kaylie, says they're taking her convertible, and answers the call. Damon is already outside, talking to AJ, who's behind the wheel of his car, engine live and ready to leave.

"Hey," Kaylie says. Right as she walks up to Damon, AJ starts reversing. "Where's AJ headed?"

"He didn't say. He did give me the number combination to your garage so I don't have to bug anyone when I come and go. I hope that's okay?"

"Sure. I'll be sure to lock my door at night," Kaylie tries to joke. It would have been nice if Ronnie sat them down for a family meeting about letting Damon have full access to their home, but her mom isn't exactly known for thinking things through before executing. Again, such is the Cruz way.

"Where's Maeve?"

"On the phone with her mom. Trust me. It'll take a while." Kaylie starts Maeve's convertible and puts the top down. It's a nice, surprisingly warm day. Spring is finally approaching. "Um, I'm sorry about her, by the way. You know, the girl time."

"It's fine. She reminds me a lot of Jody. Opinionated. Forceful." Damon tries to play it cool and climbs into the backseat of the car. Mission accomplished. Damon Young doesn't have a single uncool bone in his body. "Is she always that…that?"

"I think it's sort of amplified by the break up," Kaylie explains. Damon nods. He gets it. He's there, just quiet about it. "Next, I should probably apologize because now you know way too much about my personal life, at least, more than you wanted to know."

"You shouldn't apologize," Damon assures her. After a long pause, he asks, "Kaylie, you want to be the one holding Nicky's hand, right?"

She takes a moment, thinking about Barcelona, remembering the sand between her toes as she walked that narrow makeshift beam and the way Nicky couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"More than anything," she replies.

"Then make sure he knows you want to be that person. And if he knows, but you still don't feel loved, then, you know, maybe it's time to decide whether it'd be better to walk away or try harder. Maeve may be, well, blunt, but she has a point. Our friends are great. Like stars. You can have dozens of them and that's cool, but there's only one moon."

Just because she's feeling clever, Kaylie can't resist and says, "Mars has two moons."

Damon chuckles. "Humans can't survive on Mars."

"Not that we know of yet." Kaylie has her legs stretched out across the front seat, her back against the left car door, so all she has to do is slightly turn her head to look at Damon, who's doing the same, just resting against the right side of the car. "Has anyone ever told you you're way too good with words?"

"Thank you? It's kind of in my job description."

"I liked the way you were talking about Emily," Kaylie confesses. "You really love her."

Kaylie uses the present tense and Damon nods, appreciating her attention to words in return.

"That's another thing, though." Damon sighs listlessly and looks directly into the sun. "You can grip someone's hand as tight as you want, but you can't make them grip yours back."

When MJ tells her that Healthy Bar wants to put a picture of her in a red, white and blue leotard on all their products, Payson almost doesn't believe her. Healthy Bar wants Payson Keeler and her marketed image as America's conservative, hardworking sweetheart. Though her parents make a fuss about sacrificing her NCAA Eligibility, Payson doesn't lose sleep over it. The Olympics has always been the dream and she's sure that's where she'll end up.

Payson hasn't heard from Austin lately. They text every day, but every exchange is short, brief and vague. Now he doesn't even show up to practice. The news of his parents visiting Boulder really shook him up. Payson just wishes she knew he was okay.

"Pay, he's okay," Conrad assures her. He still hangs out at the Rock despite clearing out his locker some time ago. He puts in hours as an assistant coach or spotter when needed and sometimes he even lends a hand in the office. Now, he has a new job: informant. "Busy and stressed, but okay. With that sister of his, I'm sure his hair'll be white or fall out by the time he gets back to the grind."

"I know a day off from gymnastics won't kill him, but still, he shouldn't be skipping out," Payson says. "And if he is ditching practices, he should at least tell Sasha. Sasha came up to me, asking if I knew where he is. Like I'm supposed to."

"Well, you are his girlfriend." Conrad grins, wiggling his ears. Payson shoves her elbow into his side and Conrad laughs. "Damn, Pay, of all the g-words to be afraid of."

"I'm not afraid of a word."

"Sure."

"What are they like?" Payson asks curiously. "The Tuckers."

"They're great! They remind me a lot of my family, but not. Mrs. Tuck is the sweetest. She'd get along great with my mama and yours. Mr. Tuck, well. Here's a tip. Keep the gymnastics talk to a bare minimum or better yet not at all around him. You'll be meeting them soon enough. Ava's been asking about you and she isn't very patient."

"Their son is one of the best gymnasts in the country. Why is gymnastics a sore topic?" Conrad curls both his top lip and bottom lip into his mouth, keeping secrets. Payson nods to say she understands his silence. "I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Thanks, Con."

"WHY ARE YOU TEXTING MY BOYFRIEND?"

"BETTER QUESTION: WHY IS YOUR BOYFRIEND TEXTING ME?"

Payson really doesn't want to believe those two voices belong to the two gymnasts that come to mind. Patting her on the shoulder, Conrad laughs. "You've got your work cut out for you, Cap'n. How does Violet still not know her boyfriend is cheating on her with Scarlett?"

Payson's shoulders sink and this is the one time she regrets being appointed captain of their hot mess elite division. "Conrad, want to do me a favor?"

"If it involves breaking up a good ol' fashion girl fight I don't know any guy who's gonna help you out with that one, Pay."

"I was actually going to say hide me."

"Can't do that either." Conrad lays his hands on Payson's shoulders and gives her a squeeze. "This is why you're Cap'n, Cap'n."

Payson squares her shoulders before marching over and demanding the two girls sort their shit out. She goes through this time and time again with Kaylie and Lauren, so much so that it's second nature. Violet and Scarlett might not like Payson, they might hate her, sick with jealousy, but at least they respect her. That's why when Payson tells them to shut up before Sasha hears, Violet and Scarlett promptly walk away in opposite directions.

Seeing her teammates fight reminds her too much of her friend. Payson has been busy with the press since leaving Florida, not as much as the media twister that followed her from Rio, but her career is starting to take off. She hasn't had much free time to spend with friends, not even Faith. Payson still refuses to acknowledge Lauren's existence and from what she hears from Emily, Kaylie is doing the same. Everything is fragmented and disjointed. Worst of all, Payson doesn't just know this, but she actually feels it.

At the end of the day, Conrad tells Payson that she has a visitor out front, one he describes as "the blonde one with the cute dimples." It has to be Lauren. Though she'd rather not, Payson walks outside and sees Lauren parked, standing outside of her car, as if debating whether or not she should go inside.

"Hey, Super Girl!" Lauren says brightly, dimples in full effect. "I listened to the radio interview you did! The guy asking the questions was so smitten. If the rest of the world wasn't already in love with you I'd be willing to bet they are now."

"Lauren, what are you doing here?" Payson asks. Mostly, she's frustrated. Payson thought Lauren changed, even told her she was proud, but this latest stunt revealed Lauren's pattern. She does something horrible and goes into a teary, heartbreaking apology and once she's forgiven, she goes on to plot her next scheme. Payson is sick of it.

"You want to go for a drive?" Lauren asks.

Payson crosses her arms. "So I'd have no way of escaping you? No thanks."

"You don't pre-plan an exit strategy when you're with your friend."

"You don't tell a friend personal details about her boyfriend after you promised your other friend you wouldn't!"

Lauren frowns, but Payson doesn't sympathize. What did she expect?

"If I'm not mistaken, Payson, we were right here when you wanted to tell Kaylie."

"I wanted us to sit her down and tell her gently, not throw it in her face during an argument! It was none of your business in the first place!"

"I know—"

"And you didn't tell Kaylie because you were being a good friend. That I could have understood, but, no, you said it to spite her," Payson says. Everything she says is stated like a fact because it is. Lauren actually looks hurt and it only fuels Payson's fury. "I'm not even the person you should be apologizing to."

A faint conversation can be heard closer to the gym and they both recognize Kim and Becca's voices so they fall silent.

"Hey, Lauren," Kim says. "What are you doing here?"

"Hi, Mrs. Keeler!" Lauren says cheerily. "I was just wondering if I could borrow Payson for like, an hour. It shouldn't take long. I promise to drive safe and we'll even wear our seatbelts."

"What are you two up to?" Kim asks suspiciously.

"Oh, you know, we just have things to catch up on," Lauren explains, purposefully vague.

What did she do this time, Pay?" Becca asks. "Whatever she did, Kelly would want me to tell you to make her Livestream her groveling again."

Kim's arm darts out and she grabs her youngest by the shoulder, ushering her to their van. Payson allows herself to smile just a little. Maybe they should limit how much time Becca spends around Kelly.

"Home before curfew," Kim reminds the girls, but her eyes say I hope you work things out. Although Payson would love to escape this entirely, the sooner they talk things out, the less she'll have to worry about. As if Payson doesn't already have enough going on in her head.

"Since when did Becca turn into a Kelly Parker loyalist?"

"Kelly and Faith are over a lot. They've bonded with Becca and my parents."

There's always been an unacknowledged awkwardness when it comes to the Keelers and the Four. Kim and Mark love the girls, but a distance exists between them. The girls don't come over for games of Scrabble and swapping stories like Faith and Kelly do. A part of Payson likes to think it has something to do with the Former Four and how they aren't friends anymore, like Lauren, Kaylie and Emily are little reminders of the friendship Kim had and lost.

"Get in," Lauren says, once Kim and Becca drive away.

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know, but I don't want to stand out here." Lauren runs her hands down her arms before turning to her car and tugging on the handle. Payson does the same on the other side.

When the car starts, her ears aren't assaulted by an upbeat, chart topper like Payson expects. Instead, she hears the tail end of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, one of Payson's absolute favorites. She suspects Lauren planned it, thought out every second of her plan to win Payson's forgiveness, but then the song ends and the DJ announces that this is the classical station. Chopin and Bach coming up next.

"Since when do you listen to classical music?" Payson is too curious not to ask.

"A friend turned me on to it. It keeps me calm while I'm driving," Lauren explains. Silence again. "What do I need to do to make things better between you and me?" Lauren sounds like she genuinely wants notes. "Do I need to chase you around a forest? These boots aren't exactly made for running…"

"I want to know why," Payson says. "Why'd you choose to tell Kaylie like that?"

"It slipped out. It sounds stupid and I'm sure at least a dozen crappy best friends have used that excuse before, but it's true. I just get so upset sometimes…and maybe a little hurt. I just want someone to feel just as upset and hurt. I know that's messed up, but, Pay, Kaylie told me the only reason we're friends is because of our moms, like our friendship means nothing."

Payson tries not to look at Lauren and focuses on the music, how she can almost feel spring approaching just at the carefully crafted symphony of sounds. When Lauren says things like that and sounds so broken about it, Payson feels her anger slowly evaporate. She doesn't understand how Kaylie can stay upset at Lauren for such extended periods of time. Then again, it's doubtful Lauren has talked to Kaylie since the fallout, let alone apologized.

"It's like it's automatic or something," Lauren confesses, like she's working through her thoughts aloud, not like something she rehearsed. "I did it the other day with someone else. At least now we know it isn't Kaylie. It's me."

"Who was it? The person you snapped at?"

"Maeve Benson."

"Well, then she must have deserved it." Payson surprises herself by how lighthearted that comes out. Lauren laughs, keeping her eyes on the road.

"I might have implied that she's a bulimic bitch. I must say, Pay, your boyfriend gives the best ammunition. What else was I supposed to do? Stand there as Maeve verbally attacked my friend? Stand there as Kaylie accuses me of being a slut and brushed off our friendship like it's nothing? I can't. Why am I going to let someone get away with hurting me?"

"But does it feel better after?" Payson asks. "Someone hurts you so you hurt them. Does that make you feel better about yourself?"

"No."

"Then what's the point?"

The two blondes sit for a long moment. The car slows at a red light.

"It seems simple, but when I'm that angry and that hurt and that tired of people thinking they can just walk all over me…" Lauren takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. Payson almost reaches over to touch her arm, but doesn't. "A part of me wonders why I even bother fighting it. Why can't I just accept that it's apart of me? Bitch is as bitch does."

"Because you just told me that it doesn't feel good," Payson reminds her. "Why waste time doing what makes you feel crappy when you could be doing something that makes you feel awesome and proud of yourself? Like apologizing to Kaylie even if it meant social suicide."

"Payson Keeler!" Lauren gasps dramatically. "Did you just use a Mean Girls coined catchphrase? What is Faith Giancana doing to you?"

"Seriously." Payson laughs. "I'm still pissed at you. You should know I think that whole thing you said about blaming nature is total crap. You can't just shrug off impulsively screwing up."

"I know. We own up to it." Lauren sighs. "So what do I do instead?"

"You flip your hair and walk away."

"Such a Poopy Payson answer," Lauren whines. "But for you, fine. I can try."

Payson shakes her head no. "Don't do it for me, Lo. Do it for you."

This time, Payson does reach over and give Lauren's arm a comforting rub.

"Okay," Lauren agrees, "but I won't apologize to Kaylie. I refuse. I might have told her that her boyfriend f—slept with Kelly Parker, but only because she called me out."

"Impulse control. See, you are capable." Payson smiles. Baby steps. "I don't even know what to do about Kaylie."

"Have you talked to her since you've been back?"

"Nope. We just got over being in a fight. I don't think either of us wants to go back to that… You know that she's going out with Nicky, Faith and Kelly tonight, right? I was supposed to be there, but I have a photo shoot early tomorrow morning and an autograph signing after. My mom didn't want me out late. Then Emily cancelled because she works tonight."

"And I wasn't invited." Lauren seems upset about it for maybe a second, but laughs. "Oh, my God. Can you imagine how awkward that must be?"

"I don't have to imagine. Faith promised me live text commentary."

Lauren's face lights up like she just realized tonight is Christmas Fucking Eve. "So, since we're out, you want to go bug Emily at work? I'm starving."

"You are willing to eat at the Shack?"

"This year has been full of surprises," Lauren murmurs. She makes a sharp U-turn, headed for everyone's favorite pizza parlor.

The Pizza Shack is in the midst of a dinner rush so they don't bother Emily like they would if it were empty. A curl-haired boy with a bright, Colgate smile shows them to the back. Lauren seems to know him, probably through school or Emily. He introduces himself as Rigo and Payson is polite enough, but sidetracked when her phone buzzes with a new text from Faith:

Lovely start to the night! I walked downstairs & see Kaylie, Nicky & Kelly sitting together on the SAME couch! Nix in the middle obvi. Awkward-balls! SAVE ME!

Lauren giggles.

"Good to know you're amused by my friend's misery," Payson says.

"Well, that's funny too, but not why I'm so amused." Lauren smiles at her from the other side of their booth. "Payson, did you not notice how Rigo was looking at you?"

"What was there to notice…?"

"He was looking at you like he wants to bring you home to meet his mother and you just totally blew him off without realizing!" Lauren leans back against the seat and laughs fully. "That's one of my favorite things about you. Kaylie pretends not to notice when guys drool over her, but you genuinely don't see it, do you?"

"Apparently not."

Payson's phone buzzes again with a wave of texts from Faith.

The first:

Uh oh. It's happened. KP judging Kaylie on her taste in music. Not unusual. Haw. The way Nicky and Kelly look at each other is basically sex! And Kaylie can -

Second text:

totally tell! :( Then Nicky mentioned the iTUNES BABY! Tardface tard tard.

"iTunes Baby?" Lauren asks, once Payson shows her the screen of her phone.

"Nicky and Kelly share an iTunes account."

"That's such a coupley thing to do." Lauren makes a sour face, clearly turned off by all things coupley thanks to her current complicated relationship status. "Straight-up, Nicky and Kelly were practically married, weren't they?"

"We aren't allowed to judge."

"Fine, back to what I was saying…" Lauren lets her words trail off when she notices Emily heading for their table. She scoots in, leaving enough room for Emily to squeeze in next to her. "Hey, Em! How is our favorite working girl tonight?"

"Exhausted." While Lauren wraps her arms around her neck, Emily smiles at Payson. "Hey, Champ. So I'm assuming everything is okay between you two?"

Payson dramatically sighs. "Yes. Kelly isn't having a meltdown. Nicky and Kaylie are still together apparently. And you know I can't stay mad at Lauren no matter how much I want to and how much she deserves it."

"That's what it means to be friends." Lauren winks. "Em, has Rigo asked you about Pay yet?"

Payson narrows her eyes, not liking the mischievous glint in Lauren's eyes. "Lo…"

"No, not yet?" Emily says carefully. "Rigo doesn't know anything about gymnastics. Why would he ask about Payson?"

"Love at first sight," Lauren sings.

"Lo, shut up!" Payson shouts. "I have Austin, remember?"

"Speaking of, he called in for pick-up not too long ago," Emily thinks to mention. Instead of staring at the blank screen of her phone, Payson's ears perk. "We talked for less than a minute, but he asked me how you're doing after putting an order in."

Lauren's enthusiasm fades into concern. "Trouble in paradise?"

"He's been skipping practice, trying to deal with family stuff." Payson sits up and looks around the crowded pizza parlor. When her phone buzzes, Lauren scoops it up before Payson can.

"We're riding a shuttle to the concert!" Lauren reads in her best, overly enthused imitation of Faith. "A scruffy hipster is flirting with Kel! She's sooo bad at normal human stuff! Pace, it's like watching an ant stuck to a piece of tape!"

"Faith?" Emily guesses.

"She's live-texting her group outing with Kelly Parker and Kaylicky," Lauren explains, sliding the phone back to Payson. When she sees Emily's guilty little frown, Lauren rolls her eyes. "Em, don't feel bad. You're working. Payson has a life and a mom who cares. I wasn't invited. I almost wish I were there to see it crash and burn. We should tell Faith to text us pics…"

When Lauren stands a little, reaching for Payson's phone, Emily holds her back and Payson moves her phone out of reach.

"We should be there," Emily insists.

"If she needed backup I'm sure she could have gone crying to BFF Benson," Lauren reasons. She flips open the menu. "I know it isn't on the menu, but can someone make us salads?"

"I'll see what I can do. And because I love you I'll make sure Carter doesn't go anywhere near your food," Emily promises. Lauren tightens her arm around Emily's neck as Payson's phone buzzes in her palm.

Another text:

Fuck! I think Kaylie & Nicky are fighting! Kel & I are too far to be sure. Side note: Kel gave her # to scruffy hipster. :/ She's hotter than him. All I'm sayin

"Trouble in paradise," Payson confirms, passing her phone across the table.

"What a surprise," Lauren says sarcastically. Once Emily manages to pry Lauren off her, she takes their order to the kitchen and gets back to work. "Pay, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Payson says distractedly, still watching for Austin.

"You know how Mr. Famous came to train here once camp ended, well, what if he didn't and stayed in Boston? Did you ever consider long distance?"

"No," Payson answers. "At the end of last summer, we acknowledged that we had something, but we never rushed into it. I'm glad we didn't, especially now, seeing what happened with Emily and Kaylie trying to bring her relationship to Colorado. I'm glad he moved here and we got to know each other better, here, before taking that next step."

"And what if he went back to Boston now? Would you do the long distance thing?"

"Maybe," Payson says. "Depending on the circumstances. I never thought about it. Why?"

Before Lauren can answer (not that she looks like she really wants to answer), Payson's phone buzzes again. Faith is lucky the Keelers' family phone plan includes unlimited texts.

It says:

OMG. OMG! Kel & Kaylie are "talking" ALONE! Nicky pissed Kaylie off & Kel VOLUNTEERED to go after her! Pace, my brain is exploding!

"Juicy," Lauren comments, but it's half-hearted.

Payson pushes her phone to the side and gives Lauren her full attention because it really feels like she needs it right now. Lauren fills her in on her developing relationship with Razor and how sweet he is and how good he is to her. Lauren leaves her fears out on the table.

When Rigo bring their drinks, he's so nervous. He sets down a diet coke (that's Lauren's) in front of Payson, he accidentally knocks it over and it splashes onto Payson's Rock hoodie. She quickly stands as the soda rushes all over the table. Rigo starts apologizing just as Lauren starts yelling at him and Payson tells them both to calm down. It's just a little spilt cola.

Payson runs to the bathroom to try and wash out the dark spots before they stain. She slides her hoodie off once she's in the women's bathroom and starts to run the faucet when her phone buzzes in her jeans pocket.

Another text from Faith:

Kelly is sad. Won't tell me what happened. :((( Kaylie is making out with Nicky just to rub it! Monster PDA! NOT COOL. I can't even right now!

With this latest text, Payson is almost glad she didn't join them on their little date night. She wouldn't know what to do, straddling the line drawn between her best friends. Kaylie and Kelly will forever be on opposite sides of the same scale. Whenever one rises, the other falls.

It startles Payson when the door violently swings open. She freezes, holding her phone in one hand, the faucet running and her stained sweater forgotten on the bathroom counter. No one walks in, just holds the door open enough for Payson to hear the busy restaurant noises.

"What do you think you're doing? Following me into the women's restroom? Jesus Christ, Austin! You're worse than mom and dad!"

When she walks in, Payson can't help, but stare. She's around Emily's height, a little curvy, at least compared to the gymnasts Payson is surrounded by on a daily basis. Her clothes aren't too form fitting, but aren't baggy either, a cardigan over a tee, dark jeans and boots. A dozen bracelets rattle on her one arm as she braces the edge of the counter. She takes a shaky breath, letting her dark brown hair hide her face.

"Don't stare at me." She's blunt, and apparently notices Payson watching her.

When she realizes what she's doing, Payson panics. "I—I—"

"Do you hear this crap?" The girl tilts her head up and in the silence they listen to the music playing overhead. Energetic, fast-pace pop music. Payson thinks she might have heard the song before, but isn't sure. Kaylie would probably know. "Synthesized, upbeat pre-game crap. To think I used to like Adrianna Tate-Duncan. I actually used to listen to her music, but now? Nothing sucks more than wasted talent."

She almost sounds like she might cry, but her eyes are dry. The girl twists the sink handle just a little and moves her hand beneath the faucet, letting the trickle of water trace the lines in her hand. She laughs and glances at Payson, looking almost apologetic, and yet not at all.

"I didn't meant to talk your ear off just then," she says. "I just needed to say something to someone who isn't my brother or my parents for the first time in days." She looks from Payson back down to her hand, deliberately avoiding the mirror as she does so. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to have a cigarette on you, would you?"

"No," Payson replies. "I don't smoke."

"Good. Me neither. I've heard they kill." She shuts off the water and goes to dry her hands. "You're Payson Keeler. I know. I've Googled you. You have quite the fanbase. By your staring I'm assuming you can guess who I am."

"Austin's sister," Payson says. "Ava?"

Ava smirks and the genetic link to her brother becomes so much more apparent. "I can already tell you're smarter than the last few dozen my brother let hang all over him. This should be interest…"

Indeed, Ava Tucker. Payson thinks so too.


Authors' Note: Sporadic update! We want you to know that we still love our Denim 'Verse and haven't forgotten about it! Wow, the fandom is dead! (Aside from that random person trying to continue LCTD's The Difference Between without permission! What is that? Besides uncool.) Is anyone still around regularly? (We clearly aren't.) Thoughts on the chapter?

Review.

#WeFaB #LLDFOREVER