A/N: Okay, so a quick shout out to the anonymous review I received for the last chapter from "jess". Here's to rocking the boat!


"Ugh, I so hate math. What did you get for number nine?" Taylor looks over at Ryan's answer sheet and sees that she guessed wrong. She erases her answer and copies the one that Ryan has on his paper.

"What are you doing? You know Mr. McKenzie requires that we show our work, along with the answer to the problem. He's never going to let you turn your assignment in looking like that."

"Since when do you care that I copy your math? I always copy your math answers, you always copy my English answers. That's how we've always done it. Is something else bothering you?" Taylor sets aside her homework and scoots across the floor to her boyfriend, who leans back against the couch.

"I don't know. Lindsey is making an attempt at not being a terrible person, Thanksgiving is this week, we haven't seen Grandpa in awhile; I guess it just seems like everything is going too well. I feel like we're tempting fate by copying each others' answers."

Taylor laughs. "Ryan Cohen, victim of karma. You've never been one for superstitions, why now? You think that if we copy each others' answers, it's going to cause the universe to attempt to right itself by having Thanksgiving be ruined? Please. The idea of karma was invented by people who didn't want to take responsibility for their own actions, instead placing them in the hands of 'fate' or an unnamed god. One thing you and I both have always agreed on was the fact that we are all responsible for our choices and we have to accept the consequences."

"I know, I guess I was just worried about things getting crazy for the holidays." Ryan leans his head on Taylor's shoulder.

"Well, having Hailey back should make things interesting. Does she still hold a grudge against Lindsey?"

"I really haven't had much time to talk to her. She's always in and out of the house, doing something or other. Seth finally met her for the first time the other day, and that was only because he needed something of his from the pool house and caught her on the way out."

"How did Seth react to that?"

"About how you think Seth would have reacted: with sarcasm and inappropriate comments. Aunt Hailey asked him what the hell he was doing in her room and Seth asked her what the hell she was doing living with her sister at the tender age of 'too old'. His words, not mine. That pissed Hailey off a little, but what really got to her is when Seth asked why she looked like Lindsey and not Kirsten. Luckily, Dad was around to save Seth from her wrath when he questioned her parentage."

"Seth really knows how to get under people's skin. So, do you think Hailey has some sort of secret, manipulative plan in the works?"

"I'm not sure if she's up to something, but she's definitely got some ulterior reason for being here, besides seeing Mom."

"How's she taking seeing her sister again? How long has it been since Hailey has been home?"

"It's been almost four years since you've been home, Hailey. You never called or wrote or anything. Now, out of the blue, you come back and you want me to let you stay here," Kirsten asks as she walks into the kitchen, followed by her younger sister. "What is going on with you?"

"Nothing. Is it too much to ask to want to come home and see my sister?" Hailey smiles and waves at Taylor, who smiles and waves back. "Hey Taylor. You got…" Haley motions with her hands to her chest.

"Boobs," Taylor asks. "Yep. Puberty finally happened. I lost the glasses and retainer and grew boobs. A pretty good deal if you ask me."

"Still hanging around with Ryan and doing his English homework for him?"

"Oh, I'm still doing his English, but it's a little bit more than hanging out these days. We're dating."

Hailey nods her head approvingly. "Good call, little nephew. I always liked this girl. Try not to screw it up." Taylor giggles to herself.

"Thanks, Aunt Hailey. Don't you have to go see Grandpa or something about some money?" Ryan stares at his aunt with an innocent look on his face.

Hailey ignores her nephew, instead directing the next question at his girlfriend. "So, Taylor, have you and my cocky nephew done the nasty yet?" Taylor and Ryan both sport a severe blush and begin to stammer.

"Hailey!" Kirsten makes the save as she yells at her younger sister. "Ryan, Taylor, upstairs, now." She points up to Ryan's room and the two teens grab their homework and make their way up the stairs at a quick pace. "Now you're embarrassing my son and his girlfriend?"

"That's what aunts are for, sis. You do know that they're probably just going to go up to his room and go at it like a bunch of horny teenagers, right?" Hailey opens the refrigerator and removes two bottles of water, one of which she hands to her sister.

Kirsten accepts the water, and glares at her sister in response to her earlier comment. "Unfortunately, I do. I caught them out in the pool house once already, a few months ago."

"Come on, Kiki! I sleep there!"

"That's what Seth said. And don't call me Kiki. Only Dad gets to call me Kiki. Actually, everyone calls me Kiki."

"So how is that new member to your family working out? Did Dad lose it when he found out that you brought him into the family?"

"Predictably enough, yes, he did lose it. Well, not so much lose it, because you know Dad, and he rarely 'loses' it, but he definitely wasn't happy. He basically thought we were asking for trouble, bringing a druggie and an arsonist into our home. I could actually care less, though. Dad and I aren't really on speaking terms at the moment."

" 'A druggie and an arsonist'? I thought he was just some kid that Sandy brought home from the streets?" Haley gives her sister a confused look.

"If you can make your way through the sarcasm, Seth will probably tell you the story. Or you can just go ask Ryan. Or Summer, Seth's girlfriend."

"Ryan's friend Summer? The little pint-sized pipsqueak that used to be so annoying? That Summer?"

"You keep forgetting that these kids that grew up hanging around here have all, well, grown up. They're not kids anymore. You'll get to see them all again tomorrow at Thanksgiving dinner, as long as you're not planning on taking off again before that," Kirsten says giving her sister a questioning look.

"I couldn't even if I wanted to. You still won't tell me what's up with Dad, and he's spending Thanksgiving in Australia, so I have to wait for him to get back. How many people are you planning on having here?"

Kirsten holds out her fingers and begins to count. "Let's see, Julie and Neil, Jimmy and Veronica. That's four, and with Summer, Marissa, and Taylor that makes seven…"

"Wait, Julie and who? Jimmy and who? I thought Julie was married to Jimmy Cooper? What has happened since I've been gone?"

"I keep forgetting that you haven't been around in forever. For now, you get the short version. Jimmy made a few questionable business decisions and was being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Julie divorced him so that she could keep the house for Marissa to stay in, and Jimmy is gradually paying back what he owes. Julie has been seeing Summer's father, Neil Roberts, for the past month or so, and Jimmy has been dating Taylor's mom, Veronica, for about the same amount of time."

"So Jimmy Cooper is single again? That's…interesting."

"Oh, he's not single. I thought I said he was dating Veronica Townsend? I have to say it's a little weird having my two best friends dating Sandy's friends, but it makes it easy when I'm trying to decide who to have over for dinner company." Kirsten starts to ramble about the plans for the Thanksgiving dinner that is to be catered, completely missing the conniving look that her sister has on her face.

The Doctor's Office

Marissa walks into the reception area that is shared by the four resident therapists. She signs her name on the clipboard marked 'Wallerstein' and grabs a seat on a comfortable looking couch. She begins to flip through a random fashion magazine and notices the kid across the couch staring at her. She tries to ignore it, and continues to look at the magazine, but it eventually gets to be too much for her and she puts down the magazine in a huff.

"I'm sorry, do you have a problem," she asks the boy, who appears to be around her own age.

"You seem a little nervous about being here."

"Not really. My parents think it's a good idea, and I'm kind of going through a lot right now."

"I came here three times before I actually walked through that door."

Marissa isn't quite sure what to say. "Well, that's, uh, nice?"

Not to be deterred, the dark haired boy goes on. "Don't I know you? You go to Harbor, right?"

"Guilty as charged. Marissa," she says, shaking the offered hand.

"Yeah you're the girl at school who organises things, parties and stuff right?"

"Social chair is what that's called. So, you go to Harbor?"

"No, no I go to Pacific," the boy says, laughing. "Oliver Trask."

Marissa doesn't say anything. She just nods her head and goes back to her magazine.

"For a social chair, well I don't find you to be very social at all. We're gonna have to talk to somebody about a recall." Oliver continues to stare at her.

"Well, I don't really know who you are and, honestly, you kind of creep me out."

"I introduced myself. Let's move on from there. Why don't we start with why you're here. So, Marissa," he sits forward and places his elbows on his knees, "what IS wrong with you?"

"Why don't YOU tell ME, Oliver?"

"Let's see...you're not an alcoholic...yet. You've OD'd at least once. Pills I'd say, muscle relaxants definitely." His face has a smug expression on it.

Marissa lets out a soft giggle, but lets him continue.

"You didn't really wanna hurt yourself." He looks up, seeming to consider his next words. "Kurt Cobain? Yeah he wanted to hurt himself."

"Great job, Freud. Maybe you should just stick to analyzing yourself next time." She turns to look as a door opens and someone walks out.

"That's you, I'm waiting on the next door. See you next week." He gives her a small wave.

What a creep, Marissa thinks to herself as she walks into her therapist's office.

The Nichol Mansion

Kirsten knocks on the door to her father's mansion, knowing full well that he is out of the country. Only, she's not wanting her father to answer. She's actually hoping to see her youngest sister open the door. Her wish is fulfilled when the youngest Nichol greets her on the stoop.

"Hey sis," Lindsey says in greeting. "Happy Thanksgiving. You want to come in?"

"Sure. As long as you don't mind, of course."

"Of course not." Lindsey moves back and allows her sister to walk in. Shutting the door, she leads her sister into the kitchen. She opens the refridgerator and takes out a bottle water. She offers her sister one, which Kirsten accepts.

"So, what are your plans for tomorrow Lindsey?" Kirsten takes a drink of her water.

"I don't know. I sent the staff home for the weekend, so I was just going to sit around the house, maybe cook something up. I didn't really have anything specific planned."

"Well, why don't you come over to our house? We'll have plenty of food and I'm sure it will be better than sitting around here by yourself all day?"

"What about everyone else? I don't really want to intrude…"

"You won't be intruding, Lindsey. It's my house and I'm inviting you. You're my sister, and if anyone has a problem with you being there, they can celebrate Thanksgiving somewhere else."

"Thanks, sis. I appreciate it."

"So we'll be seeing you tomorrow then?" Kirsten looks hopeful.

"Yeah, sure. What time do I need to be there?"

"Dinner is going to start at six o' clock, sharp. We're doing it semi-formal, so maybe a pair of dress slacks or a cocktail dress." She hugs her younger sister. "I can't wait to see you tomorrow. I'll let myself out."

Lindsey waves at her sister as she walks out of the house.

Later, Back at the Doctor's office

Luke pulls up to the front of the building that houses Marissa's therapist's office and sees his girlfriend waiting in the front, near the doors, talking to the receptionist. He touches his horn to get her attention. Marissa hears it and looks out the building to see her boyfriend waiting for her. She says good bye and runs out to Luke's truck, and hops in.

"Hey babe," Luke says, kissing her. "How did the appointment go?"

"Pretty good for the first appointment, I guess. We didn't really talk about much. Dr. Wallerstein just wanted to know why I thought I was there, what my family background was, stuff like that. She seems really nice."

"Good. I'm glad to hear that you think this lady might help you and give you someone to talk to when you can't talk to me or your folks."

"The only thing is that there's this really creepy kid that has an appointment at the same time that I do with another therapist in the building. He was acting kind of weird while I was in the reception area, waiting for my appointment."

Luke looks over, a worried look on his face. "He didn't try anything, did he?"

"No, of course not. He was just, I don't know, asking some personal questions and stuff. He seemed to know a lot about me, which was strange, because I've never seen him before in my life. He knew that I went to Harbor, and that I was co-Social Chair. He even thought I was an alcoholic and that I had OD'd. That those were the reasons I was there. It was a little creepy how he kept talking about me."

"You don't know the guy? Maybe he goes to Harbor?"

"No, he said he goes to Pacific. His name is Oliver Trask."

Luke thinks for a minute. "I know some guys from Pacific. I can ask them what they know about this creep. Maybe you should think about changing your appointment days or something. You know, just to get away from the guy."

"Yeah…maybe," Marissa mumbles, and casts a worried look at the side mirror as the doctor's office fades away into the distance.

Cohen residence

Seth is out in the pool house, laying on the bed doodling, when Summer comes in and flops down on the bed. She leans over and kisses him on the cheek.

"So when did you get moved back into the pool house? I went up to the guestroom, where you were supposed to be staying, and found Hailey changing."

"Yeah, I did the same thing the first night that she was here. Remember the night we went to The Bait Shop to see The Shins? Hailey got home that day, only I didn't know that. I came in here and laid down in the bed, only to realize that it was already occupied. By my foster aunt." Seth continues to sketch.

"Smooth, Seth." She finally notices him doodling on his notebook. "Whatcha drawing?" She looks over his shoulder and sees sketches of her in what appears to be a skin-tight, vinyl outfit, complete with domino mask and knee high boots. "Is that supposed to be me as a super hero?"

"Technically, my dear Summer, that is you as a super heroine. But, yes, you are the inspiration for these drawings."

"Seth, these are so good! I mean, well, the boobs are a little big, but…well…I mean, aren't they?" Summer looks down at her chest.

Seth looks up and briefly considers her boobs. Putting down his pencil, he grabs them, thinks for a moment, and says, "No, I think they're just about right." Summer punches him on the shoulder. "Just kidding! I'll redo the boobs."

"As long as I have full boob approval. So who am I supposed to be?"

Seth stops sketching and turns back to a page showing Summer's character skipping over rooftops. "This little hellion is Roberta Summers, aka Little Miss Vixen."

"Roberta Summers? What kind of name is that?"

"Would you rather be Chummer Boberts?" Summer shakes her head no. "Didn't think so."

"So what are my super powers, besides the ability to tolerate your sarcastic comments?"

"Little Miss Vixen's passion for fashion is unequaled, as is the velocity at which she throws her razor sharp credit cards. Her rage blackouts also make her a force to be reckoned with in any fight."

Summer grabs the book from his hands and starts to flip through it. "So what is this? Are you planning on doing some kind of comic book or something?" She fends off Seth's attempts to regain the book until he gives up.

"I don't know. It was just kind of something to do while I was bored. If I do decide to go the whole comic book route, I've got a little back story planned out." Seth begins to explain the story of Jeff Kiefman, a lonely Jewish boy raised on the run by his mother. Eventually captured by the authorities, he is taken in by Randy and Kristen Lowen. He quickly makes friends with their son, Bryan Lowen and, through him, is introduced to the love of his life, Roberta Summers.

"That's so creative, Seth!" She flips to a page containing a drawing of a blonde, flexing teen. "Oh my God, is this supposed to be Luke?"

"You mean Brian Lowen's friend, Nuke Lord, the thick-headed, human battering ram?"

Summer honks out a laugh. "This is the funniest stuff I've ever heard. What about the other girls?"

"Are you talking about Roberta Summers' friends, Taryn Townwood and Clarissa Hooper, who together form the all-female supergroup, The Tres Bellas?"

By now, Summer is laughing so hard that she has rolled off the bed. She takes a moment to compose herself and rejoins her boyfriend on the mattress. "Seriously, where do you come up with this stuff?"

"I have no idea."

The Next Day

Victoria and Jimmy stand on the stoop to the Cohen's house and ring the bell. The door is opened by Kirsten, who greets her old friends warmly. "Veronica, Jimmy, welcome. Happy Thanksgiving!" She gives each and hug and they walk into the house. "Sandy is out back, Jimmy if you want to go see him."

"Thanks, Kirsten." Jimmy heads towards to back patio area.

"Is that Taylor's outfit," Kirsten asks Veronica, pointing to the garment bag slung over her friend's shoulder.

"I hope so. It was the only garment bag sitting out in her room. As much of a planner as Taylor is, I'm surprised that she didn't bring it over last night."

"Supposedly, there was some big pre-Thanksgiving concert at that new place Seth is working at. I'm sure that was probably occupying their thoughts."

"I'm sure it was. I should probably take this up to Taylor so she can finish getting ready." Veronica begins to walk up the stairs, but she is stopped by a descending Ryan.

"Actually, Veronica, I can take that up there for you." Ryan holds out his hand for the garment bag.

"Oh, I don't think that's necessary, Ryan. I'm not sure that we have the time. We both know that you two would be doing more than getting dressed, although that might come later." Veronica smirks at the younger boy.

Ryan motions her close. "Who's to say that we didn't already go at it, before you got here," he whispers in her ear. As Veronica frowns, he grabs the bag containing Taylor's dress and runs it upstairs. Veronica slowly goes back down the stairs and walks over to her friend.

"Veronica! Why do you have to talk about our kids' sexual escapades like that? I'm still trying to persuade myself that it's not happening."

"Come on, Kiki. They're not kids anymore. Besides, I think Ryan may have just showed me up any way."

"Why, what did he say?"

"You don't want to know, Keeks. You really don't want to know."

The doorbell rings again and Kirsten opens it once more. Standing on the stoop is Julie Cooper and Dr. Neil Roberts. Kirsten greets them as well and welcomes them in. Each parent is carrying a garment bag, like Veronica, presumably for their two daughters.

"Hi, Kiki. Happy Thanksgiving." Julie gives her friend a one-armed hug. "Thank you for having Neil and I over. Your house looks beautiful, as always." Julie turns to Neil and gives him Marissa's garment bag. "Neil, would you mind taking these up to the girls?"

"Uhm, sure. Where are they at," he asks Kirsten.

"The girls are in the second guest bedroom, changing. Do you want me to show you where it is?"

"Nonsense," Julie interrupts. "Neil can find it. Can't you dear?"

"Of course. I don't think I can get too lost in this house. If I don't come back in fifteen minutes, send out a search party," he jokes, and heads toward the stairs.

Kirsten hands Julie and Veronica a glass of wine just as the doorbell rings again.

"Who is that," Veronica asks. "I thought everyone else was here already?"

"Not quite everyone," Kirsten says as she makes her way towards the door.

Upstairs

Neil Roberts is wandering around the hallway, wearing a confused look on his face. He approaches what he thinks might be the room the girls are in and, with hesitation, opens the door. He immediately realizes that he has picked the wrong room, noticing the posters of rock bands and sports figures adorning the walls, not to mention the two teens having sex on the small, twin bed. Taylor Townsend squeals in surprise and pulls the covers over herself and a blushing Ryan Cohen. Neil averts his eyes.

Ryan pokes his head back out from under the covers. "Hi, Dr. Roberts."

"Hello, Ryan. Er, Summer and Marissa aren't in here, are they?"

"Next door on the right," he says pointing in the general direction.

"Thanks," Neil says, and leaves the room without a second's worth of hesitation.

Hearing the door shut, Taylor pokes her head out from under the covers and looks back down at Ryan.

"Not my dad," Ryan offers.

Taylor starts to smile. "Not my mom," she counters. She attacks Ryan's lips with her own.

Pool house

"So, Corona, how's the comic book coming," Luke asks as he scores another touchdown on the computer opponent. The two boys are lounging in their evening attire, waiting for their girls to get finished dressing. Seth is laying on the bed sketching. He looks up at Luke's question.

"How'd you know about that?" Luke gives him a look that says, 'Come on'. "Right. Well, I've got most of the characters fleshed out. For instance," he shows Luke the final version of his character, which is a little more refined and wearing purple board shorts and a puka shell necklace.

Luke scowls at him. "Purple board shorts? Come on, man."

"Hey it worked for The Hulk, which is who you're modeled after, by the way. You're a normal teenager that transforms into the human wrecking ball, The Tide Thrasher when provoked, or when your girlfriend Clarissa Hooper, aka Material Girl, is placed in danger."

"Marissa's super hero name is Material Girl?"

Seth shrugs his shoulders. "I couldn't really come up with anything else, and she just seems to be the quintessential 'Material Girl in a material world.' Seriously, did I just quote Madonna? That was a little minty."

Luke ignores the last part of what Seth said. "So what are her powers?"

"Well, according to The Kirsten, Marissa is a little transparent, so that is going to factor in a little." He looks over at Luke, ready to run if necessary, but Luke doesn't seem to get the jab at his girlfriend.

"That means you can see through her, right? What else," he asks, as he scores another touchdown.

Seth shakes his head. He really is thick-headed, he thinks to himself. "I'm thinking she's going to be more of a mystical presence, non-Material if you will. Along with being semi-transparent, she'll be intangible, which means that she will be able to phase through walls and floors."

Summer and Marissa walk into the pool house, followed by Ryan and Taylor. Taylor is smoothing her hair and checking her make-up in a pocket mirror. She looks over at Ryan and wipes a lipstick smudge from his jawline. He kisses her on the forehead. "What's going on in here," he asks.

"I see it's Bryan 'The White Knight' Lowen and Taryn 'Lady Light' Townwood." He shows Ryan and Taylor the sketches he has been working on for the past couple days: Ryan in his usual attire of wife beater and jeans, accentuated with large metal gauntlets on his hands, bright metal boots on his feet, and large sword strapped to his back. Taylor, or Taryn, is wearing a hooded, white robe, wielding a katana made of pure energy. "I was trying to come up with character ideas for you two and I realized that you're both pretty selfless people, so I made you both holy warriors, commonly known as paladins." Everyone looks confused. "Just focus on the 'holy warriors' part of it. Ryan's character is a brawler, like Luke's. He's not as strong," Luke does a fist pump, "but he's a little bit more of a smarter fighter." Ryan gives Luke the finger. "He carries a large sword to dispense justice with. He also shares a strong psychic bond with his girlfriend, Lady Light, who is a very powerful telepath. She is able to manifest a katana of pure energy and she can heal those she touches, which are testaments to her love of Asian cinema and her first aid abilities."

"Awww, thanks Seth," Taylor says. "What about you though? Have you drawn up your character yet?"

"No drawings yet, but I've got my character all planned out. Jeff Kiefman, otherwise known as The Ironist. He uses his quick wit, along with a heightened sense of sarcasm, to confuse his enemies. Once they've been thoroughly confounded, his super speed and enhanced agility allow him to move in for the kill." Seth emphasizes this point by pounding his fist into his thigh, an action he immediately regrets as he hisses in pain.

"So, by move in for the kill, you mean run for help, right," Ryan says, sarcastically.

"Hey, I can hold my own!"

"Uh huh."

"What about villains, Corona," Luke asks.

Seth leans back over his sketch book. "Well, we've got the usual suspects, like-"

"Lindsey," Ryan says in surprise.

"That's a good idea, I guess," Seth says without looking up, "but I thought she was reforming?"

"I don't see anything wrong with being a reformed super-villain," Lindsey says from the doorway. "I think my dad would make a pretty good villain for your comic. You could call him Dr. Asshole."

"Lindsey. Sorry, I didn't see you there. Or hear you come in, for that matter. I might take your idea about Caleb under advisement. Although, I might have to change the name. Dr. Asshole just seems a little too…direct."

"Kids," Kirsten's voice yells from the house. "Dinner!"

Seth sets down his sketchbook and the seven teenagers head into the house. Lindsey pulls Summer and Marissa aside before the three follow the others inside.

"Look, I know you two really don't like me a whole lot, and I probably deserve it. I just wanted to say I'm sorry, mostly to you Marissa for outing your dad, but also to you, Summer, for just generally being a bitch. And for using your ex-boyfriend to try and make you jealous."

Summer and Marissa both look at each other. Marissa speaks up. "Kirsten told us you're going through something right now and that we should be nice to you. I probably won't ever be okay with what you did at cotillion, but I think I can probably forgive you." She turns to Summer.

"I agree with Marissa. Since Cohen is vouching for you, I guess you can be placed on probation," Summer says, smiling. "You're lucky you've got such a cool nephew."

"It kind of helps to think of him as a cousin," Lindsey says as the three girls walk into the house. They just begin to sit down when the doorbell rings again.

"Who is it this time, Kirsten," Veronica asks. "I thought everyone was here?"

"Well, Hailey isn't back yet, but she wouldn't ring the bell." Kirsten walks over to the door and opens it. "Hailey? Why did you…Dad," she asks in astonishment. Everyone else files into the foyer when they hear who is at the door. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in Australia!"

"I was until I found out Hailey was back home." He steps around his oldest and enters the Cohens' home. "I cut short my trip and flew back home immediately. This one," he smiles at Hailey, who returns it with one of her own, "met me at the air field and told me that we were having Thanksgiving over here, this year. Sanford," Cal says as he passes the dark-haired man. "Happy Thanksgiving. Where's the food? I'm starving."

"Look," Seth says, whispering into Lindsey's ear, "Dr. Asshole is back. Hooray."

Later, eating

"So, Jimmy," Hailey says, taking a roll and passing it down the table, "that's too bad to hear about you and Julie. Last I heard, you guys were doing great. Then I come back and you're broke and divorced."

"Yeah, well, things happen I guess. We realized that we weren't in love anymore and it made financial sense that, with everything I was going through, we get divorced and I take on the responsibility of paying the restitution." Jimmy takes a roll and passes the bread basket.

"So are you single now," Hailey questions with an innocent look on her face. Kirsten scowls at her sister.

"No I'm actually seeing Veronica now," he says, smiling and covering Veronica's hand with his own. "She helped me find an apartment after I separated from Julie and we've been seeing each other since. Julie, actually, has been-"

"Yeah, that's great," Hailey interrupts. "Maybe we could hang out sometime. It's been so long since I've been home and I don't really have any friends here anymore. I've been so bored for the past couple weeks."

Veronica gives the middle Nichol daughter a scowl of her own, as she starts to realize what Hailey is doing. No way this little bitch is stealing my boyfriend, she thinks. "Well, it hasn't been that long has it? Surely you haven't forgotten the layout of the land, have you? If you have, I'm sure I could locate a compass and map. You could amuse yourself."

Oh God, Kirsten thinks, and drains her wineglass.

"What's wrong, Veronica? Afraid to leave me alone with Jimmy?"

Oh God, Jimmy thinks. "Girls, there's no need for this-"

"Shut up Jimmy," they both say in unison.

Jimmy picks up his plate and goes to the kitchen, followed by all of the men, besides Caleb.

"Great dinner, Kiki," her father says, taking another bite of turkey.

Later

"Well, that dinner turned out pretty…entertaining," Sandy says, piling plates on top of each other and carrying them to the sink. "Surprisingly enough, your father wasn't even the fight instigator today. That honor goes to your sister."

"I should have known Hailey was up to something. She'd been acting weird since she got here. And then I tried to get her to come with me to invite Lindsey to dinner and she looked like she wanted to hit me. I think she actively despises our younger sister." Kirsten begins to scrub the first plate.

"Well your father seemed pretty happy to have her back in town. He's even getting her an apartment, supposedly near Jimmy's place. Veronica didn't seem too keen on that happening."

"We're going to have to keep Jimmy and Veronica away from Hailey. I think my sister has a thing for Jimmy Cooper."


A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to get this out there, my typing time was severely limited for awhile. I snuck in a few hours today to sit down and get this out. Can't keep my fans waiting lol. Random fact of the chapter: In medieval literature, the paladins, or Twelve Peers, were known in the Matter of France as the retainers of Charlemagne. Based on this usage, the term can also refer to an honorable knight, which has been used in contemporary fantasy literature. Hope you all enjoy and please review!

AZ