Hello my lovely readers, guess who has returned from the black abyss of life? That would be me! I am all graduated from High School so there will be less distractions... well until the fall when I start University but we'll focus on the now which is awesome. I'll be updating more frequently now so you won't have to wait nearly as long to read my fabulous stories. :)

I managed to write out everything that is going to happen in Glass Slipper, it's just a matter of typing and posting so know that there is a plan for this - an awesome plan I might add - so please keep reading. I told you before that I would tie this into the series and I will, it'll be awesome. You just have to sta tuned.

So without further ado, the next chapter! Enjoy 3

A week later, Kate had still managed to keep Jessica thoroughly distracted from talking about her version of the party. That didn't keep her from bragging about it to the entire school. Jessica told anyone who would listen about her fantastic escapades as a man-eater at the infamous college party she and a 'friend' had attended. For some strange reason, Jessica had spared Kate the social humiliation of association and it allowed the brunette to observe and register ALL of the rumours that passed down the halls regarding her friend's little 'escapade'.

Some called her a hero; some called her a slut; some called her a femme fatale. Most just called her a liar.

Kate did her best to not spread the rumours but this was high school; rumours ran freer than the backed up water fountain in the second floor hallway. It was unstoppable.

Lunchtime rolled around and Kate caught up with Jessica in the classroom to which she had been socially banished.

"Hey." She knocked on the door and entered to sit down beside her friend. "What's up?"

"Nothing much; I'm just the social outcast of the year." She threw her sandwich down on the desk as she chewed and simmered. Kate, taking sympathy on her friend nudged her shoulder encouragingly.

"Hey you wanted to go out and have fun and you did. Who cares what the others think?"

"You only say that 'cause you can remember what happened that night." She couldn't disagree.

"Yeah well be glad I didn't take any pictures."

"Maybe if you had it would jog my memory." The girl promptly slumped in her chair and banged her head against the desk in frustration. Kate shook her head at her friend before a she rolled her eyes and smiled as an idea came to her.

"Here I'll tell you what; we'll get the gang together tonight, go out and party, forget about all of this school drama. I'll even bring my camera." That earned her half a smile. After a moment her friend's head crept up from the desk, a small bruise starting to form in the middle of her forehead.

"I wouldn't mind going out tonight."

"Perfect." It was settled. "I don't have Maddy's phone number so can you call her on your phone?" You couldn't not invite Madison Queller to a High School Party; that girl had connections.

"I would but my mom confiscated my phone. But I remember her number. I could just put her number in your contacts." Kate promptly fished through her small purse and produced her cellphone. Jessica grabbed and began flipping through Kate's contacts, making sure her friend hadn't just forgotten that she had Maddy's number. She stopped at the 'R's.

"Who's Rick?" Kate came out of her daze – she would swear under oath that she wasn't thinking about a certain college man who had stolen her heart – and looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an imminent teasing.

"What?"

"You have someone named Rick in your contacts. There's no Rick at this school and I know all of your friends outside of school. Who's Rick?" Kate suddenly felt like she was six years old being interrogated by her mother about who ate the last cookie and even though she knew it was her dad, she still felt uncomfortably judged.

"He's just some guy I met." She tried to brush it off as nothing but her friend knew better.

"Oh my god." She smirked at Kate who was blushing furiously. Her poker face was terrible. "You met him at the party."

"Maybe."

"So that's who you were doing while I was stripping on a table in front of a bunch of horny frat boys." The brunette blinked and gaped in awe at her friend.

"Excuse me I was doing him. We were just talking." The last sentence had been quiet as she knew instantly that no one would believe her.

"Really?" Yup; no one. "You and a college guy were just talking for six hours."

"Well we danced a bit too." Now was about the time she started to feel very defensive. 'No mom, I'm not the one who has chocolate all over my hands'.

"And he gave you his number so obviously he likes and judging by the nice rosy color of your face" which instantly deepened the moment Jessica spoke "I'd say you like him too."

"So? It was just a stupid party; I doubt he'd even remember me."

"Well there's only one way to find out." The girl smirked. "Call him." Kate's eyes widened at the thought and immediately reached for her phone which Jessica promptly pulled out of reach.

"Jess, give me my phone back."

"Oh no missy; I know you. You'll pretend that you're not interested and never call him. Or worse, you'll delete his number. We are going to call this Rick and that's finale." When Kate made a dive for the phone, she rose out of her chair, letting her friend drop her chin onto it as she made a dash for the hallway.

"Jess!" Kate cried once she had recovered and was chasing her friend down the hallway. They had made it all the way down the hallway when Kate finally trapped Jessica and reached for her phone but her friend – being taller than her – kept it out of reach while Kate pulled at her arms. She was so close to grabbing it when it was suddenly pulled out of Jessica's hand and both girls turned to see who had ended their little spat.

"Girls, what have I said about cell phones on school property?" Both girls closed their eyes and droned in response.

"Sorry Mr. Kurtz." The Vice Principal nodded his in satisfaction.

"Now I will be taking this for the rest of the week. You may pick it up on Friday Miss Beckett." Kate dropped her head.

"Yes Mr. Kurtz." She grumbled. With another nod, Kate's nightmare walked away, taking her cell phone with him.

"Great, just great."

"This just sucks." Rick plopped down on the couch in Kyra's house – the same couch where he met Alison he tried not to remind himself. His best friend sat gracefully down beside him.

"I'm sure you'll bring your marks up in English, Rick it's no big deal."

"No it's not that." He ran a hand over his face. "It's Alison."

"Oh her." She tried to hide her disappointment but it was hard to sound compassionate about your best friend's apparent one true love. "Still no luck finding her?"

"I talked to everyone at the party who was sober enough to remember anything" which had been only a handful of people "and they all told me that they had never seen her or her friend before. I even talked to the admissions office."

"And they just gave you a student list just like that?" She blinked, a little stunned. Sure Rick was incredibly charming but he wasn't that good was he?"

"Well I may or may not have promised to set up Mr. Whitaker with my mother if he gave me a peak but I tracked down every girl named Alison at the school and it wasn't her." Kyra had to admit she was kind of impressed at the trouble he had gone through to find this girl. He never put this much effort into anything. But it was obvious that the girl didn't care about Rick the same way or she would have found the time to tell him her real name. She could tell that this Alison had used a fake name but she didn't want to hurt Rick any further than he already had been. So she chose instead to place her arm around his shoulder as he rested his face in his hands and kiss his cheek comfortingly.

"Don't worry Rick, everything happens for a reason. It'll all turn out as it should in the end."

"You think?" That was the most upbeat she had heard him all week. Such hope.

"I know." She prayed she was right.