Hello again all! I will keep this very brief and upfront. This chapter is going to be a VERY shorter as kind of a bridge chapter. But, regardless, thanks again so much for the continued support on this fic all! It truly means a lot to me. :) So, this chapter takes place right after the events of the previous chapter. Hope you all enjoy it!

(Emma's POV)

As much as I hated it, Noah left this morning to go back to Winnipeg and I just got back from the airport.

Even though I really wish he could've stayed, I knew he was going to go back the day after Christmas anyway and I knew he was also trying to sort out his situation with interviewing for jobs and moving closer to me in Toronto.

But as much as I want to let myself slip into a 'Noah Daze' over it, I know I need time to focus here!

I have most of my books I need for next semester already so I'm going to read ahead. Luckily everyone was out right now, so I was just enjoying silence to study while laying down on the couch. I could feel myself smirking as I kept paging through and taking notes until I heard the front door and immediately slam shut to the point that I jolted in shock.

Well… that was nice while it lasted.

Then before I could form another thought, Kitty walked in and her eyes were wide and her expression looked almost 'blank' (which is NOT her at all ever for the entire lifetime that I've known my sister).

I quirked up an eyebrow as she just walked over, her facial expression not changing still, and sat next to me. But before I could get any word in or even 'out' edgewise to ask what was happening, I got even more confused when she just 'hugged me'.

Look, usually I'm not a huge hugger to begin with… at least not compared to Kitty anyway. The only people I hug voluntarily are Noah and anyone in my immediate family.

People I hardly know at all though… yeah, no.

And normally I'd just let Kitty 'hug til her heart's content' like normal, but… this wasn't normal.

Well, at least not Kitty's 'normal'.

She was just hugging me from the side around my waist and just stayed silent. I had no idea what was going on and I had zero idea what to even say anyway (which for me is not 'normal') as I slowly just hugged her back since I didn't know what else to do right now?

Then after the most silent awkward hug ever she immediately backed off and and almost sprang back up and ran her hands through her hair before saying, "Oh… my… GOD! WHAT'S GOING ON?!"

I winced as she shouted that last bit as I asked, thoroughly confused, "Kit, first off… slow down. Second… I don't know?! You tell me here!"

Right then she grabbed me by the shoulders and said, "Emma! Look… I don't know either?! All I was doing was walking around and taking some shots for my portfolio when Izzy just came out of nowhere and practically KIDNAPPED ME!"

I kept looking at her confused and tried to pry off her hands from my shoulders as I responded, still trying to figure out what she was even freaking out about, "Um… Izzy?"

She immediately gave me a look as she started, "Seriously, do you remember anything about Total Drama when you watched it recently that 'doesn't' have to do with Noah?"

My eyes went wide for a split second before I narrowed my eyes back at her before I glossed over it and crossed my arms as I rebutted, "Well, to support case here, I technically was pretty much just watching it for Noah just to see what the rest of his time on TV is like. But, that's besides the point. Now what is going on?!"

Finally Kitty exasperated in frustration as she said, "Look, she was on the same team as Noah twice. You know, Izzy? Owen's ex-girlfriend?"

After looking at her like she was growing a second head for another moment, my eyes went wide as my mind recalled some 'portions' from the show, and Izzy.

And mainly how mentally unstable I always kinda perceived her to be from VARIOUS examples I remembered seeing. The firestarter, dressing up like a bear to scare her own team, feigning identities to have an excuse to keep coming back on the show (which I still weirdly conceded was kinda clever), and then HIJACKING A PLANE to have it 'do a somersault'?

Look, after all I saw and even though I could see Izzy was actually very smart like Noah, there's a very fine line between genius and crazy… and Izzy DEFINITELY crossed that line and then boarded a jet to fly even further away from it at top speed.

Ugh, Noah's right. What is wrong with that show and picking the most insane people possible?

My whole 'experience' with Sierra stalking me showed me that better than anything else.

Then it was almost like a 'sympathetic realization' dawned on me as I suddenly put my hands on her shoulders and questioned in a near panic, my 'big sister instincts' finally kicking in, "Wait, THAT mentally unstable person tried to KIDNAP YOU?! Are you okay?! Have you called the police?! Or filed a report?! Or…"

Well, until Kitty cut in immediately, "Em, look, I'm fine. Besides, I'm already like pretty sure she's being tracked down already for 'some other reason'... but look that's besides the point too! Anyway, so Izzy just like dragged me to the edge of the woods outside town to talk to me and kept talking to me like she thought there was something going on between me and Owen or something? I mean, I know we're close and hang out a lot, but I have no idea where she got the idea that we're 'dating'? Isn't that really weird?... Um, Emma?"

My eyes went wide for a second as I pursed my lips on reflex, remembering 'what Noah confirmed' for me earlier at what 'I'd suspected' for the past couple days between Kitty and Owen ever since I got home.

Well, at least as far as 'Owen's concerned' anyway with how he feels.

Yeah… this isn't awkward at all.

I could feel Kitty just staring me down from the side as she kept persisting, "Uh… Em, what's going on? I mean, you agree right? Owen and I are just friends! He doesn't have any interest in me at all! Always has been that way since the race."

I finally gave her a slight look, not even believing we were having this conversation as I crossed my arms and quirked up an eyebrow before hinting matter of factly and straight to the point, "Sure about that, Kit? Or is that so called 'love detector' of yours on the fritz?"

Her expression contorted even more in confusion as she started, seeming almost defensive now, "Um, what? Emma, are you serious? There is no way Owen is into me. Because my 'love detector' works just fine, thanks. I think after 2 boyfriends and a couple other guys I've dated, I'd know when a guy is into me."

Wow… I've never been on this side of the situation before when it comes to crushes and boys… and I don't know if I like it or not yet?

All I did was hold my ground as I continued to cross my arms and further backed up my statement, still not entirely believing this conversation was still even happening, before pulling out almost entirely as bluntly as it sounded in my head, "Again, are you sure? Or are you Devin and he's Carrie?"

Her eyes immediately went wide before she stood up and looked like she was ready to go off, probably because I just compared her to the most blissfully and cluelessly unaware person we ever met 'i.e. Devin' and I still vividly remember us verbally ripping into him and Kitty slapping him (multiple times) when we realized how clueless he actually was about everything when we were on the train in India.

"Emma! SERIOUSLY?! What the hell?! There is no way that I am as clueless as…" Right then I saw her freeze and her eyes go wide as she went 'dead' silent.

I just kept staring at her, almost looking like she was going through an internal existential crisis.

At first I thought I 'told it like it is' a bit too much and was about to say something until Kitty just ran out of the living room.

All I heard were her feet rapidly go up stairs until I heard what was properly her slamming her door shut behind her to her room.

So… what now?

So… looks like the ball is at least now starting to roll for Owen now that it seems Kitty has at least maybe possibly realized that Owen has a crush on her. But… to what extent? And what does Kitty 'actually' think of the situation? All these questions answered and more next chapter friends! ;) Anyway, thank you all so much for taking the time to read and as always constructive feedback is always VERY much appreciated.

Stay classy and take care all!

Dexter1995