Crush

Written by Denitta

Chapter 16

"Salene, you look amazing." Ebony admired the gown that the taller girl was wearing. It was a cream colored, body skimming, floor length beaded dress. It had a spaghetti straps and a scooped neckline, revealing a bit of cleavage, that Jay had admired when he first saw it when he picked up Salene, but now he was holding her quite close and giving disgruntled looks to any guys who came too close. He kept trying to get her to put her matching chiffon wrap around her shoulders, instead of draping it over her arms.

"You're looking fab, yourself." Salene replied, as she took in Ebony's attire. She had put on the full on vamp. The petite girl wore a blood-red satin gown, with a corseted bodice. There were black vertical lines, providing the boning, and the impressive cleavage that Ebony displayed. The dress hugged Ebony's hips, extending to the floor, emphasizing Ebony's hourglass figure. She accompanied this with a simple wide gold choker, with matching bracelet and earrings. She was on Pride's arm, who was wearing a black tux with a red tie and cummerbund to match Ebony's gown.

"Jay, stop that!" Salene swatted his hands away as he again tried to cover her up. "This wrap is not meant to be worn that way. And anyway, I'm not showing much, certainly not as much as Ebony, so stop acting like a Neanderthal. You don't see Pride devolving."

Jay dropped his hands away from Salene, slipping then into his trouser pockets. He too was wearing a tux, with cream tie and cummerbund to match his girl. He rocked back on his heels, before asking, "Pride, how do you do it? If Ebony was my girl and getting the looks she's getting, I would have been in like ten fights already."

"That's easy." Pride stepped behind Ebony, wrapping his arms around her waist and dropping his chin on her shoulder. "Trust. I trust Ebony not run off with any of those guys."

"Aw bless. You hear that Jay; Pride trusts Ebony. Maybe you should look into that." Salene poked Jay in the chest with one French-manicured finger.

"Come on Sal, I trust you I do." The blonde boy slipped his arms about his girlfriend's waist, pulling her close and leaning down for a quick kiss. They eyes locked, blue meeting brown. "I love you Sal."

"I love you too." Another kiss, this time longer.

"Cut it out you guys, we have work to do." Ebony moved out of Pride's embrace to grab Salene's arm, missing his wistful expression as he eyed the other couple.

"If Operation Happily Ever After has any hope of succeeding, we have to get a move on." The smaller girl dragged her taller friend out of the ballroom to the entrance, where her sister was greeting students as they entered.

"Java, I have to tell you again how beautiful you look." The braided girl also wore a beaded gown. It was a strapless amethyst dress with a gathered chiffon neckline. Her purple, white and black braids were gathered in a topknot then allowed to drape down her back and over her shoulder, complementing her gown perfectly.

"Thank you so much Salene." Java smiled at the taller girl and her younger sister. "Hey sis, what's up?"

"It's nothing really. Siva was feeling a little nauseous and Jack took her to a room upstairs. She's lying down for a bit. It's not urgent or serious, but she is feeling a little off." Ebony looked at her older sister, with one hand behind her back, fingers crossed. It's only a little white lie, and it's for her own good.

"Oh poor dear, I'll go see her right now. What room is it?" A concerned look immediately covered her face as she thought of her sister being ill.

"Uh, I'm not exactly sure." Ebony looked around the room.

"There's Jack, he knows." Salene pointed to the other side of the ballroom, where Jack's bright red hair could be seen.

Java rushed off to talk to Jack, the mother hen always protecting her chicks, or in this case, her younger sister.

"Thanks Sal, you've been a great help with this." Ebony reached up and hugged the older girl.

"No prob, Ebs, but we've got more work to do. Where's Ruby and Ram?"

*******

"Thanks again for bringing me tonight Ram." Ruby walked with Ram from the elevator towards the entrance of the ballroom. "It's just my luck that Slade had finals this week and couldn't take me to the dance."

Ram turned to the girl by his side, "No need to thank me again Ruby. It's no problemo. I would probably just be at home brooding, otherwise. Besides, it's good to be out with a girl who's IQ is higher than her shoe size." He laughed shortly, but the laughter did not reach his eyes.

His jaw clenched as they rounded the corner towards the entrance. Ram took Ruby's arm in his. He was momentarily taken aback when a different braided girl at the door, as well as Salene met him.

"Oh Ram! I'm glad it's you; we need your help!" Ebony ran over to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him down a hallway to a different set of elevators, Ram stutter-stepped behind Ebony. "Where's the fire? Where are you dragging me off to?" He smirked.

"It's Java!"

"What! What's happened to her?" Ram immediately sobered up, halting and dragging Ebony 'round to look him in the eye.

Green eyes met green eyes, and then Ebony looked down, swallowing thickly. "There was this guy, Java's date. He goes to FIU. He wanted to go upstairs and he made her go with him." Ebony wiped away a tear. "I tried to get Java to stay here, but she said not to worry, she could handle it." She gripped Ram's arm, pulling him again towards the elevators. "That was ten minutes ago! Oh Ram, I'm so worried."

Green fire flared in Ram's eyes as he entered the lift. Ebony thought he looked particularly handsome with his strong clenched like that. It really brought out his excellent bone structure. And those lips! They were so lush, so kissable. Speaking of kissing, she had to get back to Pride soon. He and Jay were surely going to want an explanation of what she, Salene and Ruby had done. All in good time, but first things first.

The elevator dinged as they arrived at their floor. Ram ran out ahead of Ebony. "What room number is it?" He asked as he looked at the numbers and directions posted across from the lifts.

"Fif-fifteen twenty three."

Ram took off down the left corridor, halting at a door halfway down the hall. It stood ajar and he rushed inside. The room was then plunged into darkness and a scream rang out from further in the room.

"Java!"

"Ra-Ram?" Java turned back towards the living room of the suite, following the light from the hallway outside the suite's entrance, sure that she had misheard. She had not. He stood framed by the hallway light.

"Ram what are you doing here?"

"I came for you."

The suite door was grabbed by a familiar arm and pulled shut.

"Listen up you two! You love each other and belong together. You will not be let out of this room until you both realize that."

"Ebony!" Ram and Java yelled in unison. But there was no reply. The younger girl had gone.

Chapter 17

"Ra-Ram, could you walk towards me please?" Java's voice shook.

"I'm right here." Ram walked over to Java with an outstretched arm.

Java felt Ram's arm and grabbed a hold of it, rushing at him and hugging him tight.

"Javie, love, are you afraid of the dark? You're shaking like a leaf." Ram slipped his arms around her, trying to comfort her, but at the same time just glad to be holding her again.

"I kn-know it's stupid, but ever since I was little and got locked in our basement during a thunderstorm and the power went out, the dark has terrified me." She spoke into Ram's chest.

"Shh, it's alright." He ran a hand soothingly up and down Java's back, trying to ignore the tingle he received whenever he touched her bare shoulders. "We'll be okay. That conniving little sister of yours and that flame-haired Amazonesque best friend of mine surely don't intend for us to stay in..." The lights came back on. "...the dark"

The pair stood together for a moment more, then Java pulled away, walking over to sit on the sofa. Ram followed her over and sat in the adjacent armchair.

"Java I've..."

"Ram I'm..."

"You go first."

"No, you go first. I went first the last time."

"Oh right." Ram reached out and held both of her hands with his.

"Java, I've missed you so much. I don't know what to do with myself. I'm not eating much, I can't sleep. My parents want to send me to a shrink. SG meetings have been torture, seeing you but not being to talk to you or touch you. I can't listen to half my Dave songs because they make me think of you, and every time I hear "Crush" I feel like bawling like a baby."

Java pulled her hands out of Ram's grasp. She rose from the sofa and walked over to the fireplace, staring into the empty hearth. She stood there for several long moments before turning to face Ram.

"You missed me? Is that so? Because it didn't look like you were pining for me when you were out with that girl, Moz, at the diner. Or Jasmine at the movies, or Kandi from the cheerleading squad, and Lord knows who else! If you missed me so much, then why the hell were you out with those females! That's not the behavior of a man who cares. That's how a thoughtless prick behaves when he's trying to hurt the woman he supposedly cares about."

"Maybe you should go to that shrink so that he can straighten you out! I didn't ask for much, just some time. How hard is that? At first, I felt so bad, because I didn't mean to hurt you, and I knew that my hesitation was hurting both of us. So when you went on that first date, I blamed myself. But as you went out again and again, each time with a different girl, I became pissed. I've been through this shit. with Mega. Believe me, I have the T-shirt. I do not need to go through this shit again. I am so over the man-whore thing."

By this time, tears were streaming down Java's face. She wiped then away with her hands angrily. She didn't want to cry. She was supposed to be composed and assertive when she had this talk with Ram. Unconsciously she took the handkerchief that he offered her, dabbing her eyes. Thank goodness for waterproof makeup and mascara.

Ram stood silent head hanging low, letting Java's words sink in. There was no way he could defend himself. She was right on all counts. He was a prick. The only thing he could do now was lay it all on the line and hope she could find it in her to forgive him. He again took her hands in his, needing the physical contact, as he began to speak.

"Java... There's nothing I can say right now that can change what I've done. I-I don't expect you to forgive me anytime soon. It is true I went out with those girls. But the only reason I did it was to try and get over you. After you turned me down, I figured you were done with me. And there was this big gaping hole in my life, a great big sucking void. So I tried to fill it up with those girls. I took out a different one each time because none of them were worth more than a second look.

"Because they weren't you. Each date was rubbing my wound raw, instead of healing me, as I had expected. So I just stopped. And I've kind of been in limbo since then. I wasn't planning on coming to the dance. I was actually going to stay home. But Ruby needed a date, or so she said, and I secretly wanted a chance to see you, even if you didn't want to see me. Now I'm begging you, please, please forgive Java. Give me-give us another chance."

Although they weren't actually flowing, Java could see tears gathered in Ram's eyes. This, more than his words pierced her through her core and Java broke down, her body heaving with wracking sobs as she wrapped her arms around his waist and cried against his chest. He immediately gathered her up into his arms, lowering his head beside hers as he allowed the tears to stream down his face.

Chapter 18

"Do you think we did the right thing? I mean, what if they weren't ready to be together?" Salene absently shredded her napkin, as she worriedly looked at the other occupants of the table.

Jay put his arm around her shoulders, stroking her arm in a soothing matter. "It had to be done, sweetie. They were both being so stubborn, and if we hadn't have done something, then they would have gone on being miserable."

"Jay's right Salene, it had to be done now, before things got any worse." Ruby reached across the table, holding her friend's hand.

"Enough with the regrets already. We did what we had to do. This is a dance not a wake, we came here to have fun. I, for one, intend to dance until I can't feel my feet." Ebony stood up and pulled Pride upright as well. "Come on, twig-boy, let's show them how it's done."

For half a beat, the occupants of the table eyed the couple as they walked off to the dance floor.

"You know what, I feel like dancing. What do you say Jack? Ready to give my sister a run for her money?" Siva stood, looking down at the chestnut-haired boy.

"If-If your feet are up to it, then I'm game." Jack also stood, slipping an arm around Siva's waist.

"Wait for us." Ruby rose from her seat, her boyfriend Slade also standing to pull out her chair.

Us too, don't forget us." Jay got up, taking Salene's hands in his and pulling her to her feet as well.

"Come on Sal, a little bumpin', a little grindin' will do us all a world of good."

The three couples all moved over to the dance floor, once again caught up in the magical atmosphere of the elegant ballroom.

*******

"Oh no, I've soaked your jacket through." Java leaned back from Ram's chest, her hand stroking the damp spot on his black suit jacket. "Take it off, I'll hang it up and hopefully it'll dry soon."

Ram unbuttoned his jacket, shrugging it off and handing it to Java. She took it and walked over to the hall closet, hanging up the jacket.

He watched Java walking away, admiring the creamy flesh exposed by her strapless gown, the beads sparkling, accentuating the unconsciously sensual sway of her stride. As she walked back towards him, his eyes lifted, the pupils dilating as he truly noticed the swell of cleavage rising from her gown. He sucked in a breath, his hands involuntarily extending, reaching out to Java.

"There, that should dry in no time..." Java slowed, seeing Ram reaching out to her. She looked into his eyes, seeing the unspoken question there.

Java slipped into his arms, agreeing to his request. She closed eyes whose lids were suddenly too heavy to keep open as he covered her mouth with his. Ram's tongue slipped past her lips, demanding entry. He grabbed her hips, lifting onto his thigh. Her skirt bunched up between them, Java arched her neck, bending backwards she rode his rigid limb. The blood rushed through them and their temperatures raced, and then they were both wearing too much clothing. Java tore at Ram's tie, wrenching it off, before going to work on his buttons. She impatiently undid the first two, before ripping the shirt open completely, sending the little orbs flying.

She buried her face in the space where his neck met his shoulder, giving him quick little bites before licking his skin to soothe the hurt. He groaned, reaching blindly behind her, sliding the zipper down. He slipped his fingers into the opening, gliding over the satiny flesh as he leaned down to nuzzle the milk-chocolatey globes exposed by her gaping neckline. Her head fell back, pushing her chest forward as she unconsciously ground her hips into his. He grunted, gripping her hips, lifting her away from him and skimming her dress over her full hips to fall in a pool around her feet.

She stepped out of the circle of material and out off her sandals, reaching for him. She skimmed her hands over his chest, pushing his shirt off his shoulders onto the floor. Then her hands moved to his waist, unbuckling, unbuttoning and unzipping, slipping inside to caress him. His breath hissed out as he unknowingly thrust into her hand. When she reached inside his boxers and gripped him, he gasped stilling her movements. He pulled her hand away from him and lifted her into his arms, walking over to the bed and depositing her in the center. After toeing off his shoes, pulling off his socks and shoving down his pants and underwear together, he crawled on top of her, taking care to brace his arms and keep his full weight off her.

He sought out her mouth, massaging her tongue with his as he slid his hand beneath the band of her silky panty, past the damp curls to her warm opening. Slipping a finger inside, he caressed her until her hips were undulating, thrusting up to meet his. He removed his hand, bringing it up to circle her hard nipples, moistening them with her own juices. He lowered his head, drawing first one bud then the other into his mouth, tonguing then sucking each one in turn. He moved down, trailing his tongue down her torso, laving her navel, before reaching up and pulling her panties down her legs.

Her head was thrashing side to side on the pillow as she gripped the sheets and dug her heels into the mattress. After one last swipe of his tongue into her navel and a glancing caress to her moist heat, he slipped up her body and thrust into her. She gasped, at the heat and the fullness, before she began to move her hips in time with his. He again turned his attention to her neck, sucking and biting her flesh, adding the marks that were already beginning to appear there. She brought her hands up, holding either side of his head, guiding him to her needy breasts; she skimmed her hands down to his back, digging in with her nails when he began sucking firmly on her areola. He gripped her hips, pressing in and out faster and faster, until climax was upon them both. She gripped his ass, lifting herself up to meet his thrusts. He stiffened, grimacing as he drove into her one last time, savoring the sensation of being milked by her pulsing walls as she arched her back until her shoulders and her feet were the only parts of her body touching the bed.

Slowly they returned to themselves. He realized that he had collapsed onto her, pressing his full weight on her much smaller frame. As he rolled onto his back, she wrapped her legs around his back, gripping him tightly, unwilling to break their connection. They lay together, allowing the powerful A/C to cool their overheated forms as they drifted into satiated slumber.

Chapter 19

"Shh. Do you want us to get caught?" Ebony hissed to the group behind her. She was tiptoeing to room 1523, followed by the not-so-silent gathering of Pride, Jay, Salene, Siva, Jack, Ruby, Slade, Lex and Tai-San.

"Sorry." More giggles and titters.

"Shut. Up." Ebony looked down both ends of the hallway before crouching in front of Ram and Java's suite. Quickly she inserted and removed the key card, opening the door when the light turned green. She turned to her friends. "I just need to see how they're doing, if they have made any progress. If you hear anything that sounds like my ass being kicked, for goodness sakes, come get me."

Turning she slipped into the sitting room of the suite.Nothing here so far, no bloodshed or anything. That's a good sign. Tiptoeing through the room, she stuck her head into the bedroom. Immediately she pulled back, grinning widely. Swiftly she raced back through the sitting room and out the door, closing it gently behind her.

"Are they ok?"

"We didn't hear anything..."

"Are they still in there?"

The voices fired questions and comments at Ebony all at once. She smiled a bit like a Cheshire cat, thinking of what she'd just witnessed.

Pride, noticing the smug expression and bright eyes of the petite girl, walked over to her, slipping an arm around her waist. "Guys, I think it's safe to say that Ram and Java are no longer arguing. See, Ebony came out in one piece."

Everyone stopped talking, turning their gazes to Ebony.

"Ebony, what did you see?" Salene queried.

"Yeah, Ebs, did you catch Ram and Java doing the horizontal mambo?" Lex laughingly asked.

Ebony smirked. "Wouldn't you all just love to know? I ain't telling nothin'.

"Oh my God, you did see them!" Ruby exclaimed, her eyes going wide.

Lex busted out into laughter, slapping a high five with Jay. "Alright, my man Ram is getting it done. I knew he had it in him. Ow!" His rubbed head where Tai-San had smacked him, looking down at her.

"Must you be so crude?" She glared at him.

"I wasn't being crude. Being crude would have been saying that Ram was 'laying pipe'. I didn't say it though!" Lex jumped back to avoid another swat from his girlfriend.

Jay chuckled, seeing the muscular Lex backed up by the delicately framed Asian girl.

"What are you laughing at? You're just as bad as he is, slapping five with him." Salene jabbed the tall blonde in the chest with her index finger.

"Cool it Sal; it was all in fun. We didn't mean anything by it." Jay made a puppy dog face. "Don't be mad at me."

"Okay, fine! I'm not mad at you. I could never be mad at that face." Salene slipped her arms around Jay's waist, pulling him close for a hug.

"Wow, he's good." Slade admired Jay's tactics.

"Quite," agreed Jack. "I wonder if I could learn that face."

"Don't even think about it. I'm immune to such juvenile tricks." Siva chastised Jack.

"Ssh!" Pride hissed. "Do you want someone to call security? Come back to our room, we can all talk there." Hugging Ebony close, he turned and walked down the hallway.

*******

"I can't believe it took us this long." Java lay with the comforter pulled up under her arms, her back against Ram's chest. He had several pillows at his back as he sat up against the headboard, sliding his hand up and down Java's right arm.

"I don't care how long it took, I'm just glad that we're finally together." Ram placed a kiss on the top of Java's head.

"Too true. I guess we're going to have to thank Ebony... Oh my God! How long have we been away from the dance?!? I completely forgot about everything else." Java sprung up in the bed, not noticing that the covers had slipped, as she made to leave the bed.

"Honey, sweetie, calm down." Ram held Java's arm, preventing her from leaving the bed. "Think about it. It's been a few hours now. I'm sure that between Ebony and Salene, they have explained away your absence from the dance. That little schemer could give lessons to the CIA." As she relaxed, he pulled her back into middle of the bed.

"I guess you're right." Java lay back down on the bed.

"You know I'm right. And whatever Ebony has possibly missed, Salene will catch. So we don't have to worry about a thing other than what's happening in this room right now." Ram leaned over Java, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth.

Java reached up an arm, slipping her fingers into Ram's hair, further disheveling it.

Ram moved from Java's lips to her jaw, lavishing it with quick biting kisses. He moved on to the delicate shell of her ear, swirling his tongue inside, causing her to shiver.

He lifted his head, seeing her kiss-swollen lips and passion-glazed expression. "Cold? Let's see if we can do something to warm you up." He nibbled at her neck, drawing her tongue across her silky skin, raising goose bumps. She turned her head, giving him more access as she raked her nails down his chest, tracing the dark path trailing down from his belly button. He sucked in a breath as her hands drifted closer and closer to where he wanted it. She chuckled softly, enjoying her power. "No, I'm not cold at all. Right now, I'm positively burning up." She gripped him gently but firmly, causing him to gasp audibly. "And it looks like I'm not the only one."

Chapter 20

"Okay, who ordered Belgian waffles?" Salene stood next to the cart the waiter had wheeled over, holding the lid to a silver tray in one hand and the tray itself in another.

"I did." Ebony replied, reaching across the table to take the plate. "Thanks Sal"

Salene continued lifting the lids off various trays, passing out the food that her friends had ordered. She, Ebony, Jay, Pride, Jack, Lex, Ruby, Slade, Tai-San and Siva were all gathered on the patio of the Mandarin Oriental, enjoying a post-dance brunch. After having all met up in Pride and Ebony's room the night before, they had agreed to have brunch together before heading home.

After distributing all the food, Salene sat back down, preparing to eat her own meal. For a moment, she paused, looking around the table at everyone, thinking about the previous evening.

They had all followed Pride and Ebony back to the suite they had reserved for the night. Everyone had sprawled out in the sitting room. Lex sat on the sofa with Tai-San on his lap. His arms encircled her waist and her hands covered his, keeping them from wandering. Siva was next to them, with Jack sitting on the floor in front of her, his head leaned back on her knees, totally mellowed out as she absently played with his hair. Ruby had commandeered the oversized armchair, before sliding over to allow Slade to join her. He had immediately lifted her up and dropped her on his lap, causing Ruby to grumble about 'people who were given and inch and took a mile.' Jay took the last spot on the sofa, holding a perched Salene, who was tapping one foot to a beat only she could hear.

Pride lit the fireplace before turning back to face the room, placing his arms around the waist of a festive Ebony.

"Ebony, I still can't believe you caught Ram and Java, you know." Ruby stated, awe evident in her tone.

The diminutive girl smirked, "Why can't you believe it? A boy and a girl with the usual urges and a readily available bed, it was bound to happen."

"Hey Ebs, don't throw your shoulder out patting yourself on the back." Lex commented wryly.

"What can I say, the girl is good. And the girl can acknowledge great collaborators. Great job, Sal, Rubes, I couldn't have done it without you gals."

"That's right." Salene stood up. "Operation Happily Ever After was a great success, and I think we should celebrate."

She walked over to Ebony, enveloping the smaller girl in a hug before turning and doing the same to Ruby, who had also risen.

More embraces had followed; hugs and cheek kisses amongst the girls and hearty backslaps between the guys.

Pride had then called room service, ordering chocolate-dipped strawberries, mini éclairs and truffles while Ebony turned on the suite's stereo system. She found a dance station and her Ruby, Siva, Tai-San, and Salene immediately began to move to the club hits.

The girls made a tantalizing picture as they undulated sensually, twirling as the music moved them. They threw their heads back and thrust their hips forward. Ebony and Siva were side by side, dancing in unison as they'd done countless times before. Salene, Ruby and Tai-San danced close together, yet moved individually; Ruby arms waving overhead and hips swinging back and forth, Salene bouncing up and down, bobbing her head, and Tai-San moved fluidly, showing evidence of her ballet background.

The guys had watched the girls' dancing, enjoying the show until there was a knock on the door from room service. When Pride came back with the tray, everyone had gathered round drinking the champagne that Pride had stashed in the room earlier, and nibbling the rich desserts. Then Pride had changed the station, finding one that played sultry R'n'B. He had pulled Ebony into his arms and they began to sway to the music. The other couples joined them, all swaying as they had earlier that night.

Ruby and Slade were the first to leave, he having reached his limit when Ruby had spun in his arms, grinding her hips into the juncture of his thighs. He had allowed this for about two seconds, savoring the sweet friction, before he had stilled her gyrations, leaning down to whisper to her. Moments later, they made their goodbyes and left to their room.

Jack and Siva had followed soon after, their kisses on the 'dance floor' having grown deeper and longer until the braided girl pulled her flustered boyfriend along behind her out the door. Lex and Tai-San had danced closely, Lex matching Tai's grace as she initiated more and more complex moves, culminating in Lex dipping her almost to the floor. After holding this pose for several breathless moments, he had straightened up pulling her with him before bending double and lifting Tai-San over his shoulder. She had half-heartedly protested this treatment, playfully beating him on his back while laughing as he made their goodbyes and carried her off to their room.

Salene and Jay had stopped dancing themselves, admiring the show Lex and Tai were putting on They had left soon after them, wanting to vacate the room of Pride and Ebs, who were now standing still and making out on the dance floor. They had left, going unnoticed by preoccupied couple. They made their way leisurely to the elevator, walking with arms around each other's waists, Their pace and their pulses sped up as they exited the elevator, when Jay has whispered to her that he had brought along his copy of Joy of Sex, and there were some new positions that he wanted to try...

The previous night had been chock-full of fun, friendship and passion. Now here they all were, eating and having a good time. Salene shook off her reverie, digging into her Portobello and Swiss omelet.

"I hope you ordered enough for Me and Javie to get some too."

The whole table looked up to see Ram standing a few feet away, holding Java's hand.

"Why Ram? Did you two do something to work up an appetite?" Ebony drawled, smirked at the newly arrived couple.

Chapter 21

"Guys, relax. I wasn't being serious. Haven't you people ever heard of a joke?" The couple walked up to the table, Ram pulling out a chair and seating Java before sitting himself. He signaled a hovering waiter, and after consulting Java, ordered for the both of them.

He turned back to the table, to stares from the whole table with the exception for Java. The guys had expressions of stunned disbelief and the girls all had that soft slightly vague look usually reserved for puppies or babies.

"What?" Ram threw them a bewildered look as he unconsciously placed his hand over Java's on the table, brushing her knuckles with his thumb.

"Aww, he doesn't even realize he's doing it." Ruby said to the other girls.

"That's what makes it so sweet." Siva concurred, smiling brightly at her sister and Ram.

"No, that's what makes it so wrong. He's ruining it for the rest of us and he isn't even trying." Lex responded, a disgruntled looked on his face.

"Hush, you." Tai-San lightly smacked him in the back of his head.

Still oblivious to what his friends were talking about, Ram continued stroking Java's hand as they waited for the waiter to return with their order.

Java, not quite as dense as Ram was being in this instance, had picked up almost immediately on what their friends were referring to. She smiled a secret smile, before looking over at her girlfriends and winking at them.

This was followed by groans from the guys at the table. Ram looked at them.

"What?!?"

"Don't worry sweetie," Java patted Ram's hand gently. "I'll explain it you later."

Ram looked at Java, preparing to ask her to explain now, when the waiter arrived with their food. Crepes with fresh fruit and an Arnold Palmer for Java, and scrambled eggs with sausage, bacon, hash with Canadian bacon, Texas toast and a Coke for Ram.

The pair tucked into their food and were quickly followed by their companions. After several minutes of eating, Ram put down his utensils and leaned back in his chair saying, "Fellas, it's just about that time of year again. Winter break is in a couple of weeks and my father is having the cabin readied."

"Wicked, snow, skis and ice fishing, here I come." Jay celebrated.

"Skiing, ha! Snowboarding is the way of the future." Lex added.

"I kinda like the idea of snowboarding, bound to be easier than skiing..." Jack looked off into the distance.

"Yeah, now when you fall down, you won't have to go chasing after a pair of skis, only one snowboard." Lex laughed.

Tai-San smacked Lex again. "Leave him alone." She turned to Java, responding to the girl's puzzled expression. "Every year Ram and his dad take all the guys on a ski trip to their cabin in Vail. It's an opportunity for male-bonding and they get to be free and do all the things they can't do with us girls around." She then turned to Ram. "When is the trip this year?"

"We leave the Saturday after classes let out for break. We should be back the next Sunday night, so we'll miss Christmas, but we'll be back in time for New Year's."

"Cool, we'll be back in time to go to Amber's New Year's party. It's going to be really fun too. It's a costume party, with a Mad Max post apocalyptic theme." Jay enthused.

Salene stiffened, unnoticed by her boyfriend. She stopped eating and put down her fork. "You know Jay, sometimes I think you're truly a natural blonde, or maybe that bleach has seeped into your brain and destroyed some cells." Ram threw him a dark look.

Java rubbed Ram's arm, drawing his attention. She gave him an inquiring look and he whispered that he would tell her later.

The mood at the table now changed, everyone made to leave, promising to see each other later. Ram motioned over a waiter, telling him to charge the meal to his room, before both he and Java went back to their room to collect their eveningwear. A bag with daytime clothing for both of them had appeared mysteriously sometime during the night. They then checked out and left the hotel, heading home.

*******

"Sal, can you believe Ram before? I mean, where does he get off?" Jay glanced over at Salene. The couple was cruising along Biscayne towards home, as Jay didn't feel like taking the expressway.

"Hmm, what?" Salene looked at Jay, her expression vague. She was still processing his last statement at the table. She had been a million miles away ever since they got in the car.

"Are you okay? You've been distracted ever since we left the hotel. Are you trying to come up with ways to torture Ram after the way he talked to me?" he grinned, displaying shiny white teeth.

"Yeah, that's it. Maybe I'll whip out some of his baby pictures and post them on the school's website." Salene forced a laugh.

"You've got baby pictures?!?" Jay threw Salene another quick glance, his eyebrows at his hairline. "Why didn't you tell me this before? Any chance of some with him naked on a fur rug? That would be classic." He looked forward again, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to the song playing on the radio as he laughed softly to himself.

"Um, maybe. Our families used to spend the winter holidays at Ram's parent's cabin." She replied, keeping her tone artificially light, while looking at Jay out of the corner of her eyes. Dumbass. Can't you see that she's trying to get you? That blonde burn-bitch is trying to steal you from me like always. But she's not going to get you, not if I have anything to say about it.

Chapter 22

It was almost midnight on Christmas Eve, the girls had all gathered at the Collins home. Java, Siva, Ebony, Salene, Tai-San, Ruby and Dee were sprawled on the furniture and on the floor in the living room. A seven-foot tree stood in the corner, it's roots completely obscured by the mountain of presents piled beneath it. There was a fire burning in the fireplace, though it wasn't really necessary. The temperature outside hovered in the forties, causing the sunshine-acclimated natives dig into the backs of their closets for chunky sweaters and leather jackets. And fire up impractical fireplaces.

The girls were drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows as they shared anecdotal stories about their respective guys. They were waiting until the stroke of midnight to exchange gifts, both the ones they purchased for each other and the ones that the guys had given to other girls to give to their girlfriends.

"Everyone, it's midnight." Java stated, standing up. "It's time to start distributing the presents." She got up and went to the tree, pulling out presents and passing them to Salene, who had come up beside her, who passed the gift on to the recipient. The others also went over to the armchair where they had piled up their gifts. For the next few minutes there were jokes and laughter as everyone passed presents, trying to get the right one to the right person.

Once everyone had their gifts, the sat in front of the fireplace.

"Who wants to go first?" Salene asked, looking around at everyone.

"I will." Ebony declared, picking up a gaily-wrapped present and beginning to tear into it. "This one's from Ram." She opened the package revealing a pair of diamond stud earrings. There was a chorus of aws as the room admired the present.

Ruby went next, revealing a wooden, felt-lined box filled with several exotic teas and a big book of crossword puzzles.

Dee received an iPod from Patch, which set off a chorus of laughs, for being such a Patch present, but the laughter turned to more aws when she looked at the songs that were already loaded into the player. Their song plus several others of her favorites.

Salene unwrapped a book of poetry from Jay and a Tinkerbell ornament from Ram, to another chorus of laughter.

"How many is that now, Salene?" Ebony asked.

"Um, eleven? Yeah, one for each Christmas since we were six. I don't know how he keeps finding them."

Tai-San carefully opened her elegantly wrapped gift, separating the tape rather that just tearing off the paper. After removing all the paper, she was left with six-inch square wooden box. It was made of cherry and had a hinged lid, which she opened to reveal a racquetball-sized crystal sitting on black velvet. It was craggy with a clear amethyst bottom transitioning to cloudier lavender and lilac to an opaque white top.

Overcome with emotion, Tai-San put a hand up to her mouth, covering it as she began to tear up. "He-he actually listened to me. I told Lex in passing that my mom had accidentally broken my favorite meditation crystal. He usually rolls his his eyes whenever I start to talk about that stuff. I wasn't expecting this at all."

Siva came over and hugged Tai-San, handing her a tissue. "Here you go dear. But you shouldn't be so surprised. We all know what a blockhead Lex can be, but we also know how much he cares about you. He would do anything for you."

Tai-San sniffled, wiping her nose before looking up at her friends. As she went from face to face, she saw confirmations of Siva's words. She laughed, still wiping her eyes. "I feel so foolish, getting so worked up over such a little thing."

"No worries. We're all pretty much in the same boat, we understand." Siva rubbed a comforting hand up and down the Asian girl's arm.

"Well, that's enough tears, this is a happy occasion. Who's next? How 'bout you Siva?" Tai-San composed herself and smiled brightly.

"Sure, why not." The braided girl picked up a small rectangular box and made quick work of unwrapping it, lifting the lid of the black cardboard box. Nestled inside was a gold whistle on a gold chain. "Dammit, now I've got the waterworks. Somebody pass me a tissue." Siva held the box in one hand, while she blinked furiously to hold back the tears and waved her other hand about.

Once she had dried her eyes, Siva explained, having seen everyone's puzzled expressions. "I told Jack that I wanted to join the FBI. This is his way supporting my dream. He started calling me his police woman and now he's given me a police whistle."

Another chorus of aws. "Who knew that our guys could be so sweet? We're going to run out of tissues if this trend keeps up. Okay, who's left? Java, Ebony? Which one of you wants to go first?" Salene looked at the sisters.

"I will." Ebony volunteered again. She held in her hand a small box. The girls oohed; it was just the right size for a ring or earrings. After hurriedly tearing off the paper, she opened the box. Contained therein was a ring, Pride's class ring to be exact. It was huge, meant to fit his large hands. It was white gold, with a topaz gemstone. Circling the stone was the school's name, North Beach High. On one side was "Debate Team," while the other side featured an etching of a panda and the letters "WWF." Ebony turned the ring over and over in her hand, noticing the engraved message on the inside: I promise you forever. Ebony felt a well-spring of emotion bubbling up. Damn him, she thought. I didn't ask you for forever. So why does it appeal so much?

Unwilling to admit how much the gift had meant to her, Ebony forced a laugh. Looking at the other girls she said, "Trust Twig-boy to be a tree-hugger to the end. Even his presents are recycled."

As expected, everyone laughed, and now the focus was off Ebony.

All eyes now centered on Java. She picked up her gift from Ram. It was small and lightweight; a rectangular box with a big red bow. Slowly she took off the bow, then unwrapped the box, rather than tearing off the wrapping. Soon a familiar baby-blue box was revealed.

"Ooh, Tiffany's." Ruby cooed. "

"Open it, open it." Dee added.

Java lifted the lid of the box. Inside, lying on a bed of ivory velvet was a platinum Italian charm bracelet. There were several charm links on the bracelet: a ballet dancer, a diamond (her birthstone), a caduceus, a picture of three braided girls, and a sapphire (his birthstone). For several moments, she did not move or speak. She just sat there holding the box with the bracelet inside. Until she broke down, the tears flowing freely from her eyes.

All the girls in the room save Ebony rushed over to the prostrate girl, giving her comfort in her overflow of emotion. After about five minutes, Java pulled back from the group embrace, wiping her eyes and smiling slightly. "Thank you so much guys. Sorry to bring down the mood of the room, but this thing with Ram is still so new and...I guess fragile, yet he just...gets me so much. Now I feel so stupid for all the time together we missed because I couldn't get my sh.it together."

"Don't beat yourself up. We've all been there." Salene batted away Java's apology. "Jay and I spent an entire semester fighting our feelings for each other. If Ram hadn't intervened, we might not be together now."

"Yeah, and Slade and I broke up for a while cuz he was going off to college and I was still in high school. I figured he would want to date college women, so I broke it off before he could dump me. Slade allowed this for about a month before he kidnapped me for a weekend in the Keys. His caveman antics were actually pretty fun. He actually threw me over his shoulder and put me in his car." Ruby giggled at the memory.

Everyone else laughed at the image Ruby described. The somber mood was broken up. Once again the magic and wonder of the season overtook the girls. For a few minutes more they remained gathered in the living room, before they went upstairs to sleep, as they were spending the night at the Collins house.

Chapter 23

Salene hesitantly walked into the Fetish Box. She wasn't quite sure what she was expecting, but she expected her eyes to bug out at any moment. Yesterday morning, after the girls had all eaten breakfast, she had pulled Ebony aside to ask for the name of a good place to buy leather clothing. The younger girl had recommended this place, saying that they had loads of leather stuff, including pants, skirts and tops, as well as fun stuff like the nipple clamps and handcuffs she had purchased for Pride. That last bit had definitely been TMI for Salene, but she had blushingly thanked Ebony and made her way here after all.

To her immediate left was a section entitled sex toys. Salene swiftly averted her eyes, but not before she had seen the displays of whips, paddles, strap-ons, and other paraphernalia. Pinkening, she headed of to her right were she could see racks of leather clothing, lingerie and corsets. She bypassed the latter two and headed straight for the leather. She was determined to find an amazingly sexy, Jay's-mind-mushing, killer outfit for the bitch's party. She rifled through the clothing, making several selections. Then she smiled to herself as she turned around and looked at the lingerie section again before walking over to it. Yes, after melting Jay's brain, I think I'll just explode it all together!

*******

"Flight 236, Denver to Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale Int'l now disembarking, flight 236, Denver to Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale Int'l now disembarking."

Java vaguely heard the mechanical voice. She stood on her toes and craned her neck to see the passengers coming through the gate. She was standing in the terminal with Salene, Dee, Siva, Tai-San, Ebony and Ruby. The bevy of beauties were attracting much attention from male passersby, but none of the girls took note as they keenly looked for signs of their guys.

Lex was the first to appear, his dark waterfall of hair flowing over his shoulders as her turned his head to laugh at something one of the others had said, his dark eyes sparkling merrily. The rest of the group followed him soon after. Jay and Patch with their shining blonde locks, engaged in a discussion of video games. Ram, Pride and Jack with darker manes, were jostling each other and laughing as well. Ram's dad brought up the rear, looking very distinguished with his salt and pepper do. They were an impressive display of rambunctious male testosterone, and they too were receiving admiring looks from passing women.

Pride was the first to notice the girls, his green eyes scanning the terminal. His face broke into a broad grin as he noted the exotically beautiful gathering of girls. When a tiny braided girl broke away from the group, running towards him, he stepped past his cousin and Lex, then braced himself seconds before she pounced on him. Ebony launched herself at Pride, wrapping her arms and legs around him as she planted her mouth on his. So engrossed were they in each other that they didn't notice the slightly less conspicuous, yet equally exuberant greetings between the other couples.

Jay and Salene were locked in a kiss, her arms around his neck as she reached up on tiptoes, and his around her waist. Jack and Siva were closely embraced, with him whispering in her ear causing her eyes to open widely, before she smiled secretly. Dee and Patch had at first stood toe to toe, holding each other's hands with locked gazes, until an impatient Dee made the first move, pulling Patch close and meeting his lips with hers, surprising Patch whose arms flailed helplessly before settling on her hips. Next to them, Slade had lifted Ruby up by the waist, twirling her in a circle before they too started to kiss.

Not one to be outdone, Lex walked up to Tai-San, sweeping her up into his arms before bending her over his arm and capturing her lips with his, then turning his attention to her neck. The only ones not engaged in a not meant for public consumption clinch were Java and Ram. Instead, they stood about a foot apart holding hands, their gazes meeting. Like statues they stood, silently reacquainting themselves and reaffirming their commitment to each other.

Soon a crowd gathered, watching the spectacle of this group of young people so publicly displaying their affections for one another. An Asian tour group was snapping pictures and filming with camcorders, while an elderly argued about the display. Well actually the wife was fussing while the husband tuned her out and looked on with a smile and a twinkling eye. Next to the elderly couple, a coed squad of cheerleaders, junior varsity, most likely, by their youthful appearances, circled together and watched, the girls with eyes wide and mouths tittering behind their palms, while the boys jumped up and down, pointing and laughing. It was the preschooler, whose hand was being held by his very pregnant mother, who was trying to hold his hand, pull a carry-on, and keep her purse on her shoulder as she dug through it for her chirping cell phone, that was the last straw. Quite loudly he called out in that unmodulated tone that children all children seem to have, "Mommy, look they're kissing like you and daddy when you gots me a little brother in your tummy."

Suddenly an ear-piercing whistle sounded, startling the preoccupied teenagers, and enraptured onlookers, who all looked in the direction of Ram's dad. He looked back at the group, noting glazed expressions and swollen lips before he stated, "The floorshow is over. We don't have a permit for those kinds of performances. Pride, Lex put Ebony and Tai-San down. Gentlemen, step away from the ladies. We need to pick up our luggage and hit the road."

Low grumbles and cleared throats met his words as the couples disengaged, adjusting clothing and smoothing down rumpled hair. Pride allowed Ebony to slide down his body as they unclenched, giving her a quick hard kiss before going over to stand next to his uncle. Lex straightened up, pulling Tai-San upright as well, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her hair, before he too joined Ram's father. Before long, there were once again two groups, one male one female. Satisfied that his words had been heeded, Ram's dad headed to baggage claim, followed by the guys and girls.

Chapter 24

"What do you mean, you're not going to wear it? We agreed to wear similar outfits to the party. Me, you, Ram, Java, you know, the whole gang! You can't go in your robe!" Jay shot a puzzled look at Salene. He held in his hands the black Lycra zip top with the disjointed sleeves and black canvas pants that she was refusing to wear.

"Well, I changed my mind; it's a girl's prerogative you know. I decided I wanted something a little more colorful and a little more me. Do you like it?" Salene untied the belt of her robe before allowing it to fall to the floor. She then twirled before standing still in front of Jay with her hands on her hips. She wore a red long-sleeved mesh halter-top beneath a midriff baring tan leather bustier with buckled straps, which she paired with a black suede mini-skirt over rusty-red colored leather pants and rubber-soled platform boots.

For several moments, Jay was unable to speak. His eyes opened widely and he swallowed, apparently with some difficulty. He cleared his throat. "Huh, um what's not to like?" He finally said. "Do you have a coat to wear over that?" His eyes lingered at the strip of creamy skin visible below her top.

"A coat? It's eighty-five degrees outside." Salene stated, oh so innocently, her eyes wide and unblinking as mentally she did cartwheels around the room.

"Never mind; you can wear my jacket. It's in the car." He slipped an arm around her waist, his palm hot against her bare skin, as he guided her out the door.

*******

"I'll get it!" Ebony ran downstairs and opened the front door, admitting Ram, who was there to pick up Java and Siva. "Hey there, fearless leader, that's quite a look you're sporting." She smirked as she walked a circle around Ram, getting a thorough look at his outfit. "I mean, I was expecting the black zippered spandex top and the black cargo pants, and even the seat belt buckle cuz Java and Siva are wearing it too, but what's up with the stripper boots? And don't even let me get started on the hair."

"Stripper boots, what do you mean stripper boots?" Ram looked down at his shoes alarmed.

"We-e-ell." Ebony drew out the word, amused at Ram's discomfiture. "You've got on those calf length lace-up boots with that metal plate around the heel. I've only ever seen male strippers wear those."

"What?! You're kidding me right? You have to be. When have you seen strippers? And what's wrong with my hair?" Ram fired questions at Ebony.

"Nothing's wrong with you hair. Sweetie, I love your little horns. Salene?" Unnoticed by her sister and boyfriend, Java had come into the room, and she walked over and slipped an arm around Ram's waist. "Ebony, shouldn't you be getting dressed? Pride will be here soon."

The younger girl grinned evilly, "Oh, don't worry. I'll be ready for him."

*******

"Jack, you dork, what happened to your outfit?" Siva yelled to be heard over the pulsing beats of the music. Instead of wearing the black uniform-like outfit they'd all agreed to wear, he had on a beige work shirt over an olive-green tee and baggy jeans with two large panels of brown and gray tartan-like material.

He looked away from her, embarrassed. "Well, hum, um, Patch and I got to working on this computer program and lost track of time and um, we didn't have time to change, so we just came straight here." He smiled crookedly.

"What am I going to do with you?" Siva looked up as if seeking answers from above.

"Um, love me?" Jack threw her puppy dog eyes.

She laughed, her upset forgotten. "You've been spending too much time with Lex. C'mon, let's go find the others."

*******

"Ebony, I love that outfit. Very vampy, what there is of it." Salene enthused as they stood together by the drinks cooler in the kitchen.

"Oh this ole thang?" Ebony struck a pose, right hip thrust forward with her hands on her hips. "Outrageous, isn't it? I thought Pride was gonna swallow his tongue when he saw it. Which means, mission accomplished!" She laughed conspirationally with the taller girl. Her outfit was a sight to behold. Attired in her customary red and black, she wore a one-shouldered cropped red leather top that had quarter-sized grommets all over. She paired this with a pair of low-slung leather pants. They were really funky, and looked like they were actually two pieces of clothing. The top front featured black leather with red leather insets to create the look of short-shorts. Below the shorts, along her thighs, red bands held the black leather from the back together. From her knee down, the leather opened up, revealing its red satin lining. On her feet she wore mid-calf black leather boots and a belt of silver hoops and red vinyl circled her waist.

"I know what you mean. I had to remind Jay to breathe when he saw my outfit. Boys." She rolled her eyes, drawing a round of giggles from Ebony. "Well I better get back to mine before he sends out a search party. Coming?"

"Sure. This outfit is sexy as hell, but it's damned drafty. I think I need Twig-boy to warm me up." Ebony walked back to the living room following behind Salene and almost bumped into her when the taller girl stopped abruptly.

"I cant' believe it!. That cow's at it again." Salene covered her open mouth, her eyes wide. "She's draped all over him and he's loving it, he's grinning like an idiot."

She stormed over to the dancing pair and snatched Amber's hand from off Jay's shoulder. "You-you conniving bitch. You've been chasing after him for as long as we've been together. Well, he's with me, he chose ME, got that?"

"Oh really? I don't hear him saying that, do you?" The blonde girl crossed her arms, smiling smugly.

As if a switch flipped, the music stopped and everyone turned to look at the unfolding drama. Those not in the living room hurriedly came in, eagerly awaiting a possible fight.

Chapter 25

Salene gasped, tearing up, before spinning and running out the room.

Jay threw Amber a look filled with anger and frustration before following Salene.

Going immediately on the offensive to defend her friend, Ebony got in Amber's face. "You over-used hoe-bag, why are you always pushing up on Jay?"

Amber uncrossed her arms, planting them on her hips. "You little bitch. Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?"

"Why, is the truth too hard for you to deal with? You've been with most of the football team! They call you 'Guarantee' cuz it's certain that they're going get some on a date with you. The basketball team dedicated its winning season to you, and we both know it wasn't because of your tutoring skills. And now you're trying to sink you claws into Jay. Get it through that knotted up head of yours. He. Doesn't. Want. You. You've had more ass than a toilet seat, and he's all about quality, not quantity." As Ebony finished her tirade, she crossed her arms, waiting for the blond girl to respond.

Amber stood bristling. She clenched and unclenched her fists at her side. Then she swung her right arm, catching the braided girl full across the face and wrenching her head sideways.

Ebony quickly recovered, facing her opponent again. "Be glad you landed that, because that's your last." With that, she lunged at the taller girl, pushing against her shoulders as they fell to the floor. They landed with Amber flat on her back, with Ebony straddling her. Ebony grabbed handfuls of the balls covering Amber's head and used then to repeatedly slam her head in the floor. Amber balled her hands, pounding on the smaller girl's back and anywhere else she could reach, but her blows weren't registering to the enraged girl.

Ebony released Amber's head, pulling back her right arm in preparation for another round, when her arm was gripped. Her head whipped round, her eyes spitting fire at the interloper. Pride ignored her furious look and looped his other arm around her waist, lifting her off the dazed Amber. Ebony kicked out and flailed her free arm, trying to get Pride to release her. She kept on as he carried her out of the house.

He walked out the back door onto the patio. He quickly scanned the area, noting the lounge chairs, and the gently waving infinity pool. He looked at a nearby lounge, then back at the pool, then again at the lounge before making a decision. Stepping forward, he held the flailing, cursing girl over the water before dropping her into the pool.

"Aieeeeee! Pride you..." Her words were swallowed up as she went down.

He stood arms crossed, looking down at Ebony splashing about then pushing off from the bottom to break the surface, treading water. She impatiently swiped the water off her face as she jerked her head around to look at him, her braids twirling behind her.

Her eyes flashed jade fire as she glared at him. "You son of a bi..."

"I'd advise you not to finish that statement. Say what you want about me, but leave my mother of it." Pride's voice was calm and very controlled, and brooked no arguments.

"Ooh, Twig-boy's mad. I kinda like it when you get angry. Your eyes get really green, your chest and arms tense up, getting all hard and oh...is something else getting hard right now?" The fire in her eyes was now smoldering, burning for a different reason as she absently ran a finger along the neckline of her top. As he watched, she slid her hand down the neckline, under her arm, where she released a hidden zipper. She pulled the strap off her shoulder and allowed the top to sink to the bottom of the pool.

She stroked her breasts, playing with her nipples as they bobbed up and down. She held his gaze as she slid her hands down her torso and toyed with the ring in her navel before sliding back up to cup her breasts. "Don't you want to touch them, not even just a little?" Her eyes got very large as she tilted her head and pouted.

"Dammit!" After pausing to pull off his boots, hopping first on one leg then the other, Pride dove in, surfacing in front of Ebony. He lifted her up, pulling her arms around his neck as she wrapped her legs around him. "These are mine, got that? I'm the only one allowed to touch them like that." He held her full breasts in his large hands, stroking the nipples as captured her lips for a long kiss. She arched like a cat, grazing him.

"Arrgh!" He jerked his lips away from hers, lowering his forehead to her shoulder, breathing hard. She did it again, and he saw stars. His eyes glazed over and he forgot to paddle his legs, sinking them under the water.

*******

Salene ran out the house blindly. Then she heard Jay calling after her.

"Go away, Jay," she cried, not turning.

"But, Sal, we really need to talk..." Jay pleaded.

"I said. Go. Away." She hardened her voice.

Ram came up beside Jay, patting him on the shoulder. He spoke earnestly to the blonde boy, his voice low. At first, Jay protested the horn-haired boy's request, but as he glanced at Salene and saw her extreme distress, he relented, heading off in the opposite direction.

Left alone, Ram approached Salene, coming up behind her and slipping an arm around her waist.

"Tinkerbell, breathe. Just. Breathe. That's it, in and out." He spun her around, gathering her close as he continued to gentle her. As her breathing slowed and her chest stopped heaving, she began to cry; at first just tears slipping from the corners of her eyes, but before long it was heaving sobs. "That's it. Just let it all out." He pat her gently on the back.

After several long minutes, the sobs subsided, reduced to periodic hiccups. Ram didn't say anything, just continued to hold Salene as she waded through an overflow of emotion.

"Ramjet?" Salene queried softly, also reverting to their childhood nicknames.

"Yeah, Tink?"

"Do you, um, think Jay will ever talk to me again?" She looked down at her feet.

"That depends; are you done with this Amber thing? Cuz he's not at all interested in her you know?" He arched an eyebrow at her.

"I guess, it's just that that cow makes me so mad. Always after him and..." she blathered.

"Stop. This isn't about her. It's about you and your trust issues with Jay, you know that, right? You're going to have to tell him. He deserves to know why." She was silent. Then she nodded slowly. "C'mon, Tinkerbell, let's go home." He straightened up, pulling Salene with him as he headed towards his car.

Chapter 26

Ram walked into the diner, peering at the back of the room. Spotting a familiar head of black, white and purple braids, he sighed with relief before making his way to the booth in the back. He slid in opposite Java, leaning across the table to give a quick kiss.

"You're a sight for sore eyes." He her a small smile, his expression worried.

Java clasped his hands in hers. "Rough night? Salene looked really torn up when she left the party. How is she?"

"She's calmed down a bit. Right now she's mostly trying to figure out where she stands with Jay and what to say to him about last night."

Java stroked the back of Ram's hand soothingly. "They'll work it out. They love each other too much not to."

He slipped a hand from Java's hold, running it through his hair, as it appeared he'd down many times before. "I hope you're right. She would fall apart if Jay dumped her over this."

"Oh Sweetie, I'm sure it won't come to that."

His expression was bleak. "Let's hope so."

*******

"Salene, can you make this quick? I have to help my dad take down our Christmas lights."

Jay's brusque tone hit Salene like a slap. He had not wanted to meet her at Haulover Beach. He was still quite upset over the events of the previous night. But she needed the isolation and the calming serenade of lapping waves to reveal her secrets. She almost told him to forget it, that she had changed her mind. But two things stopped her. The first was that she truly loved Jay and wanted to fight for their relationship. The second was the fact that despite Jay's tone and closed expression, he still cared too. His clenched jaw and constantly moving hands gave him away. He wanted to hold her, but was fighting himself not to.

She held unto that thought like a talisman as she gathered her composure. "Jay, my father cheated on my mom." She blurted out the words, not knowing how else to broach the topic.

"Oh my gosh, Sal. Are you and your mom okay?" His eyebrows shot to his hairline and his arms moved to embrace Salene. She held up a palm, stopping him.

"My mom's fine. She forgave him nine years ago when it happened."

His straight brows furrowed in confusion. "Then what does that have to do with us?"

Salene licked desperately dry lips before she continued. "Like I said, it happened when I was eight. My parents don't even know that I know. But I remember that time as if it was yesterday; my mom crying alone in their room and the nights when my dad didn't come home. I think they almost split up, but eventually decided to stay together. She forgave him and their marriage is stronger than ever. But I never forgot those days. I've tried to, and most of the time I can pretend that that time never happened."

Jay again made to embrace Salene, lightly grasping her hips and pulling her forward. She braced her palms against his chest, preventing him from taking her into his arms.

"Wait, Jay. I am not done. Last night, when I blew up at you and Amber, it was like I was back there again. Only I was in my mother's place. I was the one being cheated on, and I-I just snapped. I should not have and I am so sorry. This is something I have to work through and..."

Jay's finger against Salene's lips silenced her. "Shh, you don't have to do this alone. I'll be right there with you. We can work this out together, okay?" He drew his finger down her lips to her chin, using it to tilt her head up so that their gazes met. "Okay?"

She nodded, gazing through tear-soaked lashes up at him. As if drawn down by an invisible force, Jay's head lowered, nibbling at her lower lip. Her hands slid up his chest, into his hair, pulling his head closer, demanding a deeper kiss as she opened her mouth to play with his tongue. His hands moved from the sides of her hips to the firm flesh of her ass, lifting her up. She wrapped long legs around him, holding on tight. He nipped at her chin, trailing biting kisses along her jaw line down to the juncture where neck met shoulder. There he sucked gently but firmly guaranteeing that there would be evidence of this interlude the next day.

Salene arched her neck, allowing greater access. She released her legs from around Jay's waist, wriggling against him as she lowered herself to her feet. She ground her hips against his circling first one way and then the other as she subtly lifted a leg and grazed it against the back of his calf. Then suddenly, she hooked his knee, sending him falling backwards with her sprawled over him. He gasped as he felt her moist heat stroke him. He gripped her hips, controlling her movements as he shifted her against him again and again. They both gasped, inhaling each other's hot breaths.

"Let me-let me go. I wanna. Aaaah, Do it myself." Salene tried to speed up the motion of her hips. He placed biting kisses along the neckline of her low-cut top. "I don't-don't think so. You would end our fun. Before. Arrgh! You little hell-cat! Keep still!"

She laughed, exulting in her power over the much larger and stronger Jay. Her hand snaked in between their bodies, stroking him. His hips bucked, almost throwing her off of him. "Arrgh! Shit, Sal, I told you to stop!" She stroked him again, feeling him jerk and swell in her hand. "No you didn't, you told me to keep. Still." She grinded against him again. "That's it!" He fumbled with his belt, unbuckling it and unzipping himself. He gripped her hips, holding her still as his thumbs slipped beneath the leg bands of her silky panties. She gasped, then stopped breathing all together when she pulled the small scrap of material to one side and entered her with one fierce upward thrust. He gripped her hips, lifting her up and down, setting the rhythm as he began to move. She fought the measured pace he was dictating, hugging his sides with her thighs as she lifted herself up and down faster and faster. She reached down, toying with his hard male nipples through his shirt, pinching and circling then with her fingers. Over the edge he went, thrusting up one fiercely final time, almost unseating Salene. She followed him down into the void, collapsing to sprawl on him as she too gained her release.

She shivered first, the cool ocean breeze chilling her sweat-slicked skin. He felt the vibration, externally and internally, and at first mistook it for aftershocks. Until her teeth began to chatter. "Aw poor baby, are you cold? Let's get out of here." He leaned forward, pushing her upright. She braced herself on his shoulders as she lifted herself off him, causing both of them to inhale sharply at the delicious friction. She leaned in for a kiss, but he pulled back. "Uh huh," he declared, his voice light. "I can only do one beach seduction per year. As it is, my ass feels like it's been through a meat grinder." As he'd hoped, she laughed, unhurt by his minor rejection. He stood up, dusting sand off his ass and fastening his pants, while Salene brushed of her knees and straightened her skirt. He circled her shoulders with his arm as he walked her back to his car. "C'mon, Sal. Let's go home."

Chapter 27

"Did you hear about Amber's New Year's party? She got her ass beat by Ebony. Then to make matters worse, Ebony had a threesome in Amber's pool, with Pride and Amber's brother Blake!" The young girl was fairly bursting with excitement as she imparted her salacious gossip.

"Nuh-uh!" A second young girl disagreed. "I heard that Salene kicked Amber's ass and she, Ebony and Pride had a threesome in Amber's pool," she asserted,.

"Oh really? Who told you that?"

"My best friend's brother's boyfriend's sister was there and she saw the fight and the she saw them in the pool too. She said that after knocking Amber down, Salene grabbed Ebony and started kissing her, tongue and everything. Then Pride came in and they both started to kiss him. The girls started to undress him, then he dragged the girls out to the pool. Blake found Ebony's top caught in the drain the next morning."

The first girl was unconvinced and more than a little annoyed that not only was her friend unsurprised, but she had a more scintillating story to boot. "Yeah, right. Like I believe that? No way would Ebony share a man with anybody."

"You know, you're not wrong. No way would I share a man with anybody; not even a friend as good as Sal." Ebony stalked around the lockers, a proud lioness eyeing dinner. The freshman girls froze, deer caught in a predator's sights. "What, cat got your tongue? But you both had so much to say just a minute ago." She mock-pouted, prowling back and forth. "A little bit of advice for you girls. If you are going to talk about people, you might want to A, get your facts straight, and B, modulate your tone. Talking dirty in a loud voice may make you money on a corner on Biscayne, but in here, especially when you're talking about me, it could land you with a fat lip and a black eye, got that?" She stopped in front of the pair, hands on her hips. "Got that?"

They silently nodded, eyes as big saucers. Bring!! Their heads remained facing Ebony, though their eyes darted in the direction of their class.

"Aaw, poor lil freshmen, late for class. What are you going to do now?" Ebony eyed the nails of her right hand, her voice a study in boredom. "Get out of here."

The girls turned their heads slightly, visually questioning each other out of the corners of their eyes.

"Did I stutter?" The lioness looked away from her nails at them. "Go!"

The girls ran down the hallway, hurriedly opening and entering a classroom door midway down.

Ebony smirked to herself. She still had it. She had wondered if her thing with Pride was making her soft, but obviously not, judging by those squirming freshmen. Their stories had been funny, though. And she had lost her top that night. She laughed throatily, heading off to her own class.

*******

"Simmer down people, simmer down." Ram addressed the jovial members of the debate team. This was the first meeting back from winter break and although he wasn't really expecting to accomplish much, there was some news he needed to share.

"Simmer down?" Ebony mocked, turning from her position atop Prides desk. "Next you'll be saying, 'Bueller, Bueller.' I mean, who says 'simmer down' anymore?"

The rest of the team tittered at Ebony's comment.

Bam, Bam, Bam! Ram knocked his gavel against his desk. "Is this more what you were looking for Ebs? Cuz as you can see, I'm more than willing to oblige." He arched an eyebrow at her, and the younger girl responded by sticking out her tongue at him.

"Listen up people! I have some news. We are currently short a team member. Amber has resigned effective immediately. You know what this means."

"Yeah, it means that the hoochie quotient of the team has dropped like one thousand percent! And the basketball team won't be showing up to our meets anymore, and the free clinic won't call this office anymore and..."

"Ebony, I think you've said and done enough." Ram admonished. He looked around the room making eye contact with all the team members. "We need another team member. Everyone else already has duties on the team. Doubling up is not an option. Any suggestions for possible replacements?"

"How about Jay? He's available now that the season is over. And he's had public speaking experience at the pep rallies and booster club events. We might have to work on his knowledge of current events, but that's fairly easy." Pride suggested.

"That's a possibility. Anyone else?" Ram wrote down Jay's name before looking up at the room again.

"Salene, or Ruby." Cody put forth.

"Err, no. Scheduling conflict. They've got FEA meetings. Java and Dee are out too. FBLA meetings.

"I've got it, Lex!" Ebony chortled from her seat.

"Hey!" Tai-San called out.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" She threw Tai-San an innocent look causing her to laugh.

"That's enough! Ebony, you certainly are in rare form today. But I don't have time for it. We have another meet in two weeks and we need another team member. So unless you have something constructive to say, shush!" Ram softened his abrupt words with a wink. "Okay, to sum up, I shall be asking Jay and possibly Lex if they would consider joining the team, though I shall have to look into Lex's qualifications. If you guys can think of anyone else who would be feasible, let me know and I will ask them. Any questions?" He looked around the room, and received no answer. "Then this meeting is adjourned. See you all next week."

*******

"Mmm. That feels good." Salene savored the sensations coursing through her body from Jay nuzzling her neck.

"What, this?" He gently bit her delicate skin, before kissing it, then sucking on it, drawing a mark. "Or this?" He nibbled along her jaw, up to her ear, where he slipped his tongue into the fragile shell.

She tipped her head sideways, giving him complete access. "Yes and yes. Yes to everything." She was totally open to him, emotionally and physically, and it was as if his touch reached all the way to her heart.

"Even this?" Jay cupped her right breast through the material of her sweater. Her nipple pebbled from the heat and friction. "And this?" He slid his other hand beneath the hem of miniskirt, his touch setting afire the nerve endings of her thigh where his palm met naked flesh.

Salene's breath hitched, her heart stopping, before it began racing like a racecar on its final lap. Liquid heat pooled within her as his hand trailed higher and higher on her thigh, so close to where she wanted it. She felt her panties dampen and she could smell the musk or her arousal. It was a heady perfume, filling her senses and making her light-headed.

"So this is what you two get up to why I'm not around." A lazy voice drawled.

"Eep!" Salene jumped away from Jay, straightening her clothes and nervously slicking down her hair as she looked at the intruder, cheeks ablaze.

"Ram! What are you doing here?" Jay asked, after adjusting his own clothing and pulling his jacket over his lap.

"Picking up a few pointers mostly; nice sucker bite you got there Sal." Ram smirked.

"Jay!" Salene picked up her purse, searching inside for her compact. Flicking it open, she turned it to her neck, seeing the bruise that was already forming. She began to dab at it with foundation. "Jay you promised that you wouldn't do that anymore. I'm running out of concealer."

"I know, Sweetie," he placated. "It's just that when I see that silky flesh of yours, I just want to taste you, and once I start I can't seem to stop."

"Whoa there, buddy. That's definitely TMI." Ram waved his hands in front of face, as if the clear Jay's word's from his mind. "Let me just ask what I came here to ask and I'll leave you two lovebirds to continue."

"So ask." Jay snapped out the demand.

"Chill, dude. I just wanted to ask you if you'd be willing to join the debate team. Amber quit and we need another team member fast. So you interested?" Ram scrunched up his forehead as he looked at his friend in inquiry.

"Can I get back to you on that?" Jay furrowed his brow as well.

"Um, yeah. But not too long, okay? Our next meet is in two weeks."

"No problem. I'll let you know by tomorrow night."

"Kewl."

"Uh, Ram?" Jay peered up at Ram.

"Yeah, Jay?"

"Was there something else, cuz I was kinda in the middle of something." Jay tilted his head slightly in Salene's direction.

"Oh yeah, right. See you lovebirds later." He turned and walked off to his car.

Chapter 28

"Ebony, you were beyond insensitive at the meeting earlier. Amber is already down, there's no reason for you to kick her." Pride was sitting on the hood of his car, with Ebony standing in between his legs. His hands loosely encircled her tiny waist as her arms rested on his shoulders. The faces were inches apart and his eyes and voice were very earnest as he spoke to her.

"Insensitive? I wasn't being insensitive, I was simply telling the truth." She straightened up, pulling her arms from around his neck to cross them over her chest.

Pride's tone became soothing, conciliatory. "Fine, you were just telling the truth. However, you could have used a little more tact."

"Oh, so now I'm not only insensitive, but I lack tact too? You know what, since I'm such a fuck-up, I'll just leave, so I can't mess up your perfect little world." Ebony spun around, her rend and blonde braids twirling behind her as she stormed off.

"Ebony stop! Wait a minute." Pride slid off his car, his long stride easily catching up to her angry march. At his hand on her shoulder, she stopped but did not turn around, instead, talking to him as she stared straight ahead. "you've got sixty seconds, fifty-nine, fifty-eight..."

He dropped his hands on the shoulders, resting them there. "Ebs, I'm sorry. I am by no means perfect, and I don't think you're a fuck-up. I just think you're better than this bug you've got up your ass about Amber. You need to be more self-aware and see the strong, vibrant, forgiving woman that you are."

Ebony spun around, full guns blazing.. "Be more self-aware? What kind of Tony Robbins psychobabble bullshit are you feeding me? I know who I am. I may not be as perky or as hypocritically "proper" as little Miss Princess Musical Beds, but I'm real. I don't put on one face for this group and then another face for that group. You always know where you stand with me. I never..."

Pride cut her off. "Oh really? And just where do I stand with you? What is this thing that we're doing? You've been very careful not to call me your boyfriend, You tell all our friends that we're just 'having fun.' Well you know what, Ebony? I'm NOT having fun. I mean, what are we, fuck buddies? Am I just a means to scratch your itch? Because if that's all I am, let me know now and I'll be on my way. That's not me. I'm looking for..."

"Forever. Isn't that what your ring said? I promise you forever." She spat the words at him. "Did I ever ask you for forever? No, I never asked you for any of this." She dashed away the tears that welled up in her eyes. Her voice grew thick as she looked up at him, this boy who wanted so much from her. "I can't promise you forever, I can't even promise you next week. I can't predict how I'm going to feel. Dammit!" The tears were falling freely now and she furiously scrubbed at her eyes before running back towards the school, throwing something over her shoulder. "Don't follow me. I'll get a ride home with Ram or my sister."

"Ebony, wait." He started to follow her, but then a sparkle caught his eye. The waning afternoon sunlight glinted off the object that Ebony had flung away. He bent down and picked up his class ring and the gold chain it had been hanging on. Both were still warm from their sojourn against her chest. She had to care right? No way she would have been wearing this if she didn't care. He held on to this thought even as he felt his eyes moisten. God, she knotted him up. She pushed all his buttons and kept him off-kilter. But her smiles lit up his heart, her intelligence kept him jumping his and her touch seared his skin and in turn his mind, obliterating all thoughts that didn't involve her. He needed her and he was not going to give her up without a fight, no matter what she said. Impatiently scrubbing at his eyes, Pride got into his car and drove home.

*******

"...going to be so cool, I can't wait." Dee gushed to Java as they walked down the hall. "I can get the name of the florist that supplies my dad's hotel should be able to sell the roses to us at wholesale prices. The same thing for our chocolatier. These Valentine's Day Grams are going to be our best fundraiser yet!"

"Sounds great. Just make sure you get those prices and contact information to me as soon as possible. You know how long it takes the school to process a purchase order. We don't want it to come through for St. Pat... Oh my goodness, Ebony what's wrong?"

The still-crying girl approached her older sister. Ignoring the question, she asked, "Java can you give me a lift home, please?"

"Sure honey." Her brow furrowed with concern and confusion. "Only, I thought Pride was taking..."

"Now, please." Ebony's voice hardened, becoming abrupt as she raised her stubborn little chin and tapped her foot impatiently.

Partial comprehension dawned and Java's brows cleared, her face settling into a blank mask "Okay, no problem, Ebony. We'll leave now." She nodded to Dee. "I'll talk to you tomorrow?" Dee nodded back.

"Ebony, let's go." She walked down the hall towards the student parking lot, her younger sister, following silently.

Chapter 29

"'K gang, are we going to do anything about the Pride and Ebony situation?" Ram addressed his assembled friends at their back booth in the diner, his arm draped casually over Java's shoulders.

"Do you think we should? So much can go wrong when you try and interfere with someone else's relationship." Java turned to face him, her brow worried.

"We interfered with you two, and look, you're so happy together." Lex joked.

"For once he's right, if we don't do something, who knows how long this will last." Tai-San looked around the table for agreement.

"Babe, you wound me." Lex turned huge puppy-dog eyes at her.

"Okay, that's enough levity, everybody. I agree with Tai, we need to do something. We need a game plan for what I like to call, Operation Destiny." Salene spoke from across the table, refocusing the attentions of the group.

"Operation Destiny? What kind of lame name for a covert operation is that? Sorry Tink, but that is such a girly name for what will possibly be a life-threatening endeavor. After all, this is Ebony we're talking about and she won't go down without a fight."

"Don't complain. It's a lot better than Operation Happily Ever After, " Jack commented from his position in the corner.

"Operation Happily Ever After? Did I miss something?" Ram's expression was confused.

Salene looked back and forth between Ram and Java, grinning. "We-ell," she drawled out.

"Us? We were Operation Happily Ever After? I don't know whether to cringe or laugh."

"How about you give your girl a kiss? It's the least you can do after our friends worked so hard to give us a happy ending." Java tilted her head up at Ram. He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. He lifted his head, not being one for public displays of affection, but as he licked his lips and tasted her, as well as a bit of the chocolate cake she'd had earlier. His head swooped down again, his mouth opening over hers. She opened hers as well, her tongue slipping into his mouth to toy with his. He groaned deep in his chest, gathering her closer to him with his arm around her shoulders.

"Anybody got popcorn? I really like to have some popcorn, when I catch a show like this." Lex's voice penetrated the sensual haze that enveloped Ram and Java, causing them to jump apart. She ducked her head into Ram's chest, covering her flaming cheeks with her hands. He hugged her close, shifting inconspicuously in his seat, and absently rubbing his flushed neck.

"Um, guys? I think that's enough of this meeting. Obviously, we've drifted off track, and perhaps it would be best if we, err, meet again in a couple of days to see what ideas we have come up with. Any problems with that?" He looked around the table, meeting laughing eyes and more than one bit lip as his friends tried to hold in their merriment.

"C'mon Javie, let's get out of here." He placed a kiss to the top of her head, before gently nudging her to slide out of the booth. He slid out after her, and with a final wave from the both of them, they headed out the diner, their pace quickening when they heard the raucous laughter coming from the back booth.

*******

Ebony lay on her back across her bed, turning over and over the object in her hand. It was a pair of miniature handcuffs that Pride had brought her back from Vail. He had given them to her on the ride home from the airport. A curious Lex had inquired why Pride was giving her tiny handcuffs, was he going to lock up her thumbs for crimes unknown? She and Pride had laughed softly, secretly to each other, causing Lex to scoff and turn away in exasperation.

She didn't even realize that she was crying until she felt the dampness of her pillow as turned her head to look at her ringing phone. She was not going to answer it. It might be Ram again, wanting to know what was going on, or Salene, offering to listen if she wanted to talk, or worst of all, it could be Pride, demanding that she talk to him and face the feelings she had for him.

Ha! She had no feelings for him. She didn't love him. It was just a sex type thing between them. They had just been having fun. And now it wasn't fun anymore. Of course it wasn't fun anymore, they weren't together anymore. How could they have fun apart? Beep! "Ebony? I know you're there. Pick up the phone!" Pride's voice issued orders from the machine.

"I won't, dammit! I'm not picking up that phone. I'm not talking to you ever again. You've ruined everything!" She yelled at the machine.

His voice changed to a conciliatory tone, reasoning with her. "C'mon Ebs, we need to talk and work this out. Something just occurred to me: we didn't use anything that night at Amber's party. What if you get pregnant? C'mon talk to me. Please." There was a long silence as he waited for her to pick up the phone. "Guess not." He sounded defeated.

Click.

"You bastard! You absolute bastard! I can't believe you, you..." Words failed Ebony as she cursed at the machine. Then she counted on her fingers and sighed with relief. She should be safe. She would know if a couple of days whether of not she was pregnant. How dare he? Trying to scare me like that. That does it. If he's going to play dirty, I'm going to play dirty too. [Footnote: sex-type thing from Dear Child... by CherryRainbow. "We didn't use anything convo, from After the Night by Linda Howard.]

Chapter 30

Ring! Ring! "Ebony, thank God. You finally called..."

"I'm not pregnant." Click.

Ebony flopped her arm down on her bed, allowing the cordless to slip from her fingers, falling to the floor. It was only a little white lie. Not even. Her period would come in a couple of days. She was just a little off...it was stress, that's all. She rolled onto her right side, pulling bent knees up to her chest. When her body calmed down over this thing with Pride then everything would get back to normal. Not. Pregnant.

*******

Click.

Pride lay on his bed, tossing the receiver from hand to hand. His thoughts circulated around Ebony's brief but powerful statement.

Ebony wasn't pregnant. He was relieved, wasn't he? They'd successfully dodged that bullet. So why did he feel such a sense of loss? Loss? Of course he didn't feel a sense of loss. That would be stupid, not to mention selfish. Because otherwise, he would have been hoping that Ebony was pregnant, and that couldn't be, could it?

Pride's mind wondered to the image of a very petite, very mischievous little girl, her green eyes sparkling and honey-colored pigtails flying after her as she ran after a fat, rolly little puppy. With her cappuccino complexion, she was the spitting image of her mother.

Whoa. Her mother? Pride shook his head to clear the lingering scenes of an adorable little sprite. Ebony was not pregnant. He didn't wish her to be. That would be disastrous for the both of them. He was graduating this year and expected begin studying to be a marine biologist. And Ebs, well she was only a sophomore. He forgot that sometimes because she was so assertive and strong and more than able to handle herself amongst his friends. But she still had two more years to go before college. How would she manage with a child?

Thank goodness it was a dead issue. She wasn't pregnant and that was that.

*******

"I've got it. Tomorrow, when we're out delivering our Valentine's Grams, we'll deliver one 'from' Ebony 'to' Pride and vice-versa." Dee suggested as she filled another mesh biggie with chocolate.

"That's something I guess. But this is my sister we are talking about. She runs away from her feelings like a vampire from sunlight. She always has. We need something that will her make her stop and take notice. Or better yet, corner her until she has now choice but to acknowledge her feelings." Java tied bows from strips of red ribbon onto each baggie.

*******

The tall boy walked down the hallway, taking in the familiar sights and smells. He hadn't even realized he had missed them until they filled his senses. Now they washed over him, letting him know more than anything else that he was home. He glanced absently at the flyers on the bulletin boards. He wasn't really interested in stupid club activities. But a pink flyer caught his eye.

Valentine's Grams, mmm? Now doesn't that sound interesting. He ripped the flyer off the board and smirking turned around and walked out of the school.

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