*Hey Ana*

*Mia, how are you?*

*I'm good. I want to apologize for what happened the other week with Christian.*

*Oh, I'm sorry that happened. I didn't mean for that to ruin everyone's night.*

*You need not apologize. I don't know what is wrong with my brother. I love him but he can be such a jerk. Listen, would you still want to hang out with me sometime? I'll understand if you don't.*

*Of course I would want to hang out with you! Just because your brother is a jerk doesn't mean you are :-) *

*Especially since we're adopted. Lol Perhaps we can grab coffee this week?*

*Sounds good. Text me or call me and we can make plans.*

*OK. C U*

"Hey, Ana. What are you doing?" Kate asks as she walks by Ana and into the kitchen carrying an empty glass.

"Oh, Mia texted me and apologized for what happened at John's restaurant."

"Aw, that was sweet of her but she isn't the one who acted like an asshole."

"That's pretty much what I told her," Ana agrees with Kate's commentary.

"Her brother is hot." Kate says, her voice is in a dreamy lilt.

Ana stops with her cup of tea halfway up to her mouth in shock and stares at Kate speechless.

Kate stops, realizing what she said. "No, her other brother, Elliot. He's older than Asshole."

"He was at the restaurant too?" Ana asks. She saw no one else with Mia and Christian but that doesn't mean much as she wasn't concentrating at anyone else at the party.

"No, she showed me pictures on her phone. He's built with green eyes and sandy blonde hair. He looks like he could be a model." Kate's lips turn up into a secretive smile she reserves for her X-rated thoughts about men.

"What about Zach?" Ana asks. Kate rarely dates someone for long unless they are very interesting. She gets bored and I imagine it's hard for most guys to keep up with her; and she can intimidate guys who aren't used to being with strong and confident women.

Kate shrugs letting Ana know her hunch was right. Zach is a nice guy, but he's too safe for Kate. She needs a guy who's smart but also has a bit of a bad-boy streak. "He's nice and all but he doesn't give me that butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling. You know what I mean?"

Ana knows just what Kate means because she has been thinking the same way about Blake. But, unlike Kate, Ana is willing to give her budding relationship a try. She's had too much of the bad-boy experience. She gives Kate a small smile but says nothing.

"Elliot, I think he could be the guy who gives me butterflies-in-the-stomach. But I heard he's now dating Heidi Williams." Kate makes a face like she smelled something rotting.

"I don't get it, who's Heidi Williams?" Ana doesn't know who that is, but it's obvious Kate does.

"She's a little socialite princess from Denny-Blaine. She went to Lakeside."

"I don't know what that is." Ana reminds Kate she isn't from Seattle so she doesn't know all the places Kate does.

"It's a private school. My school, Overlake, and her school, Lakeside, are rivals. I would run into her at parties and things in high school. She always acted like her shit doesn't stink. Even in high school she was a complete cunt."

"Kate!" Ana yells in utter shock. "I can't believe you said that."

"What? That she was a cunt?" Kate asks facetiously.

"Yes. Now stop saying that word, you know I hate it." Ana's cheeks feel hot as she blushes. She's never been one for such vulgar language. She believes there are always better ways to describe someone.

"What word?" Kate gives Ana an evil smile.

Ana waves her hand in dismissal towards Kate. "You know what word. The C word." she explains although she knows Kate is giving her a hard time.

"Say it." Kate laughs.

"No. I will not." Ana crosses her arms in front of her.

"Cunt! Cunt! Cuntcuntcunt! Wondercunt. Cuntcakes. Significunt." Kate taunts Ana.

"Stop!"

"Say it and I'll stop. C U N T… cunt!" Kate does a fake cheer.

"Cunt. There are you happy? Can you please stop saying that now?" Ana asks Kate defeated.

Kate walks over to Ana on the sofa and sits next to her. "Yeah, I guess that'll work." Kate gives her a big, toothy smile.

"You're lucky I love you." Ana rolls her eyes.

"Ana! Kate! I'm so glad you could come." Mia hugs them as they walk in the door to the Greys' home.

"Mia, it's your birthday. We couldn't miss this." Ana tells her as they walk into the door. Mia and Ana met for coffee the previous week where Mia asked Ana to come to her little get-together. It's not a big party - just a couple of friends. There's something about Ana that Mia likes. She feels like she's known her for her entire life.

"There is an abundance of food in the rec room. We're just hanging out until everyone gets here."

Ana and Kate walk into the rec room and as soon as Kate sees Elliot sitting there, she grabs Ana's arm in excitement. "Calm down, woman. You're going to give me a bruise." Ana complains.

They both grab a beer from the bar and stand off on their own for a bit since they know no one else here. It seems like all the other people there know each other. "Now, I thought I knew all of my little sister's friends. But apparently I was wrong." Elliot appears next to them.

Kate gives Elliot a toothy flirtatious smile and her green eyes sparkle. "I'm Kate and this is Ana." Kate doesn't take her eyes off him. Elliot recognizes Ana's name from the story Mia has told him about her. She was the first girl ever to catch their brother's eye. Briefly, he wonders if Mia has a plan up her sleeve.

Ana can tell when Kate likes someone, so she gives them some time to talk and get to know either other. She notices people out on a patio so Ana wanders out there. She steps outside and notices the beautiful view of the bay in front of her. She meanders away from the party towards the water to take a closer look.

"Anastasia?" She hears her name called and recognizes the voice. She freezes. It's Christian. Her heart starts to pound in her chest, and she tries to think of a way to escape but she knows it's already too late. Slowly she turns around nervous about what could happen. After all, their last encounter didn't go well and although a few weeks have passed, she's not sure how he will act.

"Christian. Hello. I'm sorry, I didn't realize you would be here too." Ana isn't sure what to say.

"I'd like to speak with you, actually." Christian tells her coolly as if nothing has ever happened between them.

"Oh?" Ana replies flummoxed by his request.

"I owe you an apology."

"Christian," Ana tries to tell him he doesn't need to do this. It makes her feel more uncomfortable.

"No, Ana. Let me finish." Christian runs his hands through his hair, "After the last time we saw each other, I received the information that I was wrong and you tried to contact me. You were blocked from me and I didn't realize it. So, I'm sorry. I know I've ruined whatever it was between us and you moved on but I thought I needed to let you know."

"Thank you, Christian. I appreciate that. Um, I better go inside and find Kate." Ana hastily walks back toward the house leaving Christian standing there.