Hello people! Sorry about the gaps between chapters lately, school has started for me and things are a bit cray cray. :D

Disclaimer: I still own NOTHING.

As I stepped into the elevator at the hotel, my phone rang. It was Mom.

"Hello."

"Hi, sweetie. Have a nice day?"

"Yea, it was fun. Why didn't call me earlier? Lauren said you'd update me on Lily."

"It's alright, Lily's perfectly fine. She'll be out of the hospital in about a week. They want to keep her until she's perfectly healthy."

I sighed a breath of relief. "That's great!"

"What have you been doing, lately?"

"Oh, just hanging out with friends."
"Your friend Lauren called me a while ago."

Oh great. "What'd she say?"

"Well, she asked how Lily was. Then she told me you'd probably have something to tell me later, so I should call you."

"Ah, yea that. It's nothing important. I'll tell you when I get home."

"Are you sure? You aren't in any trouble, right?"

"Of course not! When do I ever get into trouble? Tell everyone I love them, bye!" I hung up quickly.

"Does this mean we're dating now?" I asked Joe, popping a french fry in my mouth. We were at the little burger place, Skippy's.

Joe paused. "I think so. Unless you don't want to be." He added quickly. "You said you weren't ready to be a relationship."

"I did say that," I agreed honestly, "We'll take it slow, alright?" I laughed. "You know how I'm leaving the day after tomorrow?"

Joe nodded.

"Well, I'm staying there for a few weeks. I'll probably be there until the last week of July."

Joe nodded again. "So, you're coming back?"

I grinned. "Course I am, silly. I'm having a blast with you guys. And that will give me enough time to plan my revenge on Lauren. And, actually I was thinking I might rent an apartment here. Unless my mom convinces me to find one in New Mexico."

"Really? That's great! I'd ask you if you want to live at the Manor, but there's no room."

"That's okay. Joe? You have practice tomorrow, right?"

"Yea, why?"

"Maybe you should focus on practice tomorrow, Joe. Brian's already mad at you. Then, I'll be back in August, and we'll continue there. Okay?"

"Yea, of course! I probably want to go apologize to Brian now. Ready to go?" I nodded, and we both stood up.

Joe walked me back to the hotel. "Want me to go up with you?"

I shrugged.

Joe and I stepped into my room, and I sat down on the bed. He plopped down next to me. "So, I'll see you in August?"

"Yup."

"Paige? Are you going to tell your parents about us?"

"I'm trying to avoid that subject."

"Ah, okay."

"It's not like that; I'm just not really ready to tell them."

"That's okay. Bye, Paige." Joe leaned in and kissed me lightly on the lips, before standing up and leaving the room.

I smiled, and pulled out my phone. I wanted to plan out tomorrow, my last day in Chicago.