It turned out that Ricki's dad knew cars and hockey; "My wife is the native, I came from Detroit." And it all made sense.

The man spent more time on Jared than the others, even Gabe, but it was interesting conversation. On a scholarship from UCLA, the man joined his father in law's venture capital firm and made some really good picks; the guy had an eye for tech products, services and companies to invest in and acquire. He took modest family-owned holdings and turned it all into a powerhouse in California, particularly Silicon Valley. He moved around, looking at prospective investments and acquisitions firsthand and decided what it would need and how to turn it all profitable for a sale elsewhere, or the bank provided startup investment and raked if things went well.

Gabe filled him in; the Trentons had a nice house, but it sounded like way more money than that. "He's got more assets than Mitt Romney and way better judgement," Gabe assured him; his pops was one of the man's lawyers.

"That's scary," said Jared and he meant it. He came from a hard luck childhood with a single mom, after all.

"You're a lot like him dude; Livingston came at you and you clicked him. You take a hit and you spit out the blood and get on with the job. I bet he'll like that. He almost pulled that gun of his on Livingston."

That was the chatter in practice and he'd gotten a sense of Andy at the party; a big, tough dude that didn't have to compete in sports to go to college, but there he was, a guy that talked about fighting in MMA because the Olympics stopped doing Greco-Roman wrestling and he wanted to compete.

"So I hear that Bears hockey is worth watching because you're lacing up for them," Mr. Trenton commented.

"I dunno, they have lots of good players like Gabe and Carl. Coach is from Minnesota and knows the business. Lots of training. He went to the same school as Sidney Crosby and some others."

"I remember that, the other coach really wasn't up to the job. But let's face it, you're good."

"I'm good," Jared agreed, "but I wouldn't be good enough if I were complacent about it." Like Jacob Jacobs, getting the wake up call when Jared played him and stayed on him the whole time. Jacobs was used to easy wins.

"Sounds about right, I wish I'd been there for you little duel with Santa Clara's star player, but I saw my daughter's pregnancy pictures, and it sounds like you have a gift and a competitor's spirit. Any plans? Maybe the Sharks?"

So the guy was an NHL fan. "Well, my mother would like me to go to college. But I suppose if someone made an offer I'd have to think about it real hard. Unless," he added, "it's the Bruins."

That produced a laugh, "So if not hockey, what?"

"I'm not sure yet, but, I get a master's, take the praxis and teach. And probably have to tend bar in the summer to make ends meet." That was said humorously.

"Well, hockey or teaching? If you had to pick, I mean."

"Then," Colt Trenton told him, "it sounds like you have two options-- play it safe and please your elders or make the move you really want to make."

Colt Trenton, always measuring.

---

Heather Voss had the red out and it looked good, but it wasn't like the others weren't done up either. Jared's sport coat and dress pants were breezily informal as jacket and tie went, but he looked a lot more comfortable and the dance wasn't black tie, tux or even requiring a suit. As it turned out, the hockey guys in the group cleaned up well anyway; Gabe kept his hair somewhat messed as was his way, but Carl had gotten trimmed down to something downright Marine, though his carefully trimmed soul patch was nonregulation. Jared looked a little more straight laced, but the outfit helped loosen the look up, as did the tie, which was good quality but not a power tie, though it matched him up with Heather, though they mostly matched in hair color and skin tone already, but his outfit didn't draw the eye the way her's did; she was there to be seen. Still, she seemed to enjoy staying nearby, hand on his arm as small talk was made with Rickis mother; polite conversation, a couple questions about the car; the one about back seat space, Mrs Trenton letting the mask slip just a moment with mischief, nearly made him choke on his drink. He still wasn't quite used to how much less reserved even Cali moms were; you'd never hear a Boston society type crack that question while sober.

Gabe made a motion like a handgun with his fingers, but it was with a grin; he'd heard. Jared just shook his head wonderingly.

Ricki wasn't able to greet Carl or Tyler when they arrived, simply because Darren was taking forever with the pictures. She looked up to Gabe in their, hopefully last photo and whispered. "Remind me to never have Darren do this again." She said, and soon Darren smiled, a bit satisfied with himself, but just as Ricki was getting ready to take over, her mother slid the camera from Darren's hands.

"Now, Now, I want a picture of you three together." She said as Andy stood beside Ricki. There was an apparent height difference in the siblings, even with three extra inches.from her heels, Ricki was still visibly shorter. Her brothers both towered over six feet and she stood a mere 5'5".

After her.mom snapped a couple of photos of her kids, Ricki managed to wrangle.her camera away from her and smiled to Tyler and Krista. "Come on, you two first." She said, and Andy came and stood beside her, chatting as she snapped the photos and gave a few directions to them for poses.

"So... dad has been chatting up Landry." Andy began, and Ricki shrugged. "And he apparently likes the kid."

"Well, you and Darren talked him up enough." She said, snapping another photo. "All he got from me is he is awesome on ice, he's nice, and he is photogenic. I mean, come on, have you seen the.pictures I've gotten from the games."

A couple more photos and soon Maureen and Carl Were getting ready for pictures. "I'm just saying, Rick."

"You never just say." Ricki said, starting up more photos. "Besides, he's with Heather, and I've got Gabe."

Krista soon walked over, almost as soon as Ricki finished up photos for Maureen and Carl. "Heather is chatting up mom." She said.

"Well, mom does enjoy talking. I have to steal them away, their turn." She said, and she approached, them with a smile. "Mom, mind if I steal your conversation? After I finish up their pictures and group ones we're done."

Her mother just smiled. "Go ahead, baby."

Ricki then looked to Jared and Heather. "Alrighty, let's get this started."

Once she.took her place again and they were posing she could hear Andy over her shoulder. "Don't mind Ricki, she's a perfectionist!"

Ricki took the extra second and slapped his arm before snapping some photos before Heather's hand slipped to Jared's chest. She snapped one like that. "Alright, ya'll are done. Boys get in together."

It wasn't.much longer before the pictures were done and everyone was heading to their.vehicles when Darren stopped Ricki.

"What's up?" She asked, seeing he stopped her behind everyone else.

"Call me if you need me." He told her. She gave him a look.

"You don't trust Gabe?" She asked.

"Its not that. Krista has filled me in. As much as I don't want to say it, I'm worried about Livingston, and possibly, maybe Heather. You girls are underhanded, guys just throw.punches." he said and she nodded.

"Is that why you sent Andy away for a while?" She asked and he nodded. "I'll call you."

He soon hugged her and she got into Gabe's car with him. "Damn boy, you're a little too neat."

Gabe gave a.look. "What's that mean?" He asked.

"Its not bad, but you make me feel like a slob." She chuckled. "My car doesn't look like it just came off the lot."

He gave a chuckle too, and soon she reached over and grabbed hold of his hand. It wasn't a particularly long drive, but it wasn't as short as the one to school. Once they were there, and parked, Gabe ran around and.opened it for her and she took his arm.

He pulled their tickets out of his pocket and looked to the small line to get in. Just so happened they were right behind. Krista and Tyler, and to say the height difference wasn't noticeable was.a lie. She was an inch shorter than Ricki, and Tyler stood 6'6". The tallest in the senior class. Gabe stifled a chuckle.

"You want to talk about the odd couple?" He joked and Ricki shook her head. Her heels made her taller, but Krista's weren't nearly as dramatic.

Soon Ricki turned and saw David's BMW pull up. Well, his dad's anyway, and Ricki brought herself closer to Gabe, but like a prayer someone came in behind them. Jared and Heather.

Of course, Jared's car had been.blocked in since he had been the first there, and Ricki never felt so relieved. The line began.moving and she managed to get Krista's shoulder and whisper. "Looks like Emily Godwin got her wish."

David was walking with their junior friends.under his arm. Ricki was glad when they were finally.in the ballroom after handing in their tickets.

A fast song was already playing and a few people out on the dance floor. Ricki felt Krista grab her.hand. "You get her all night, Gabe, so I'm stealing her now." She said, and Once Maureen appeared, Ricki latched.onto her.

"Will return in same condition!" She called to Carl as the three got in their own little dance circle and began dancing.

Livingston was right there behind him and people went tense; the girl he was with, Gabe and Ricki ahead of Heather and he.

They pulled up looking classy, but Jared was starting to wonder about the whole thing, though, with a squeeze of his thigh at a stoplight, he banished doubts as he could and focused on the night.

"Charity night Heather? I didn't think Landry could afford the date; aren't your tastes expensive, baby? Did he take a loan to rent the car?" Emily looked mortified, and seemed to want to sink into the ground as the scene kicked off.

Jared turned and gave Livingston the sort or raised-eyebrow glance over that Colt Trenton would have given, same easy assurance-- David still carried a fading shiner from where Jared clocked him and Jared's glance was perhaps not entirely intentional but it still conveyed a message.

But Heather had the cut down, "Well, you have to admit David, he is a bit like Romeo; you know, high-performance talent that is destined for more than merely high school. I realize you think highly of yourself David, but high school will be over soon and you'll just be another ex-captain who was carried on the back of a much more talented teammate. It's something of a tradition." She seemed to be enjoying it; it being the chance to obviously piss off Livingston but also to set up other drama.

Woman scorned mode; "Of course, hockey does seem to have more potential this year -- well, so long as Jared and Carl stay healthy -- than football. I know, I watched the games. Maybe you regret missed opportunities, David, but I had to say that I don't miss mine anymore, though others certainly are inclined to settle..." Even Carl could tell that she was making references to others in that declaration.

Claws out. And Heather was vague in a sense but it looked like she's just drawn more blood than just Livingston's.

Livingston looked possessed by the Red Skull going by his expression, but Jared held his ground-- no cocked fist, but they were of a height and suddenly Jared was sick of this shit with Livingston.

He watched, coiled and silent, but not budging, while Carl moved in to play peacemaker for once.

"Look, here ain't the place and now ain't the time. Teachers are paying attention."

"Fuck you," Livingston said, but he stepped back even as Carl and Maureen switched positions. Krista
dragged a reluctant Tyler into that position as well.

There were glances from the ladies at Heather, and Jared noticed, but no words and they composed their expressions carefully.

Now Jared knew what Tasha meant in the lunchroom, but he had to ride out the dance. Meanwhile, Heather gave him a satisfied smile and a squeeze of the thigh: she was enjoying it all.

Ricki looked back and saw the mortified look on Emily's face. Ricki had hoped, at least something in her, that this drama would rear it's ugly head tonight. Then, Heather fueled the fire with her words. Gabe tensed beneath her hands and Ricki turned her gaze up to him. She gently tugged him down to where his ear was closer to her face.

"Don't react, then she'll be getting exactly what she wants. You can't give her that satisfaction." She whispered, and he gave her an odd look as Heather continued. He saw a brief flicker of anger run over Ricki's face, but it was there and.gone instantaneously. "Trust me on this."

She saw what went down after that once Gabe straightened up, and once Krista and Maureen took their places, she noticed the looks Heather was getting, even from Emily. They were gone quickly, but Ricki couldn't help but to shake her head as the line moved. She hung back after she and Gabe handed their tickets to the door person.

"Ricki?" Gabe asked, noting her hanging back.

"I'm waiting a second." She said, and Once Heather and Jared came in, She watched them walk ahead of her before she rejoined Gabe. They were now far enough ahead that Heather.couldn't hear her. "I just think it's stupid. How she's trying so hard to use her mouth the cause drama here."

Gabe nodded. "That just pisses me off."

Ricki looked up to him. "Well, you know, neither one of us could have really warned Jared. If I would have, it would have become the Livingston affair all over again, and if you would have it would have seemed too self interested." She said. "But now this makes me want to ask, why her anyway?"

Gabe was quiet and he pointed a look down to her. She put up her hand. "You don't have to answer, Gabe, but I have to admit my curiosity is piqued."

"I could ask why Livingston." He pointed out and she shook her head.

"Alright, touche, I'll drop it." She said, and once they entered the ballroom, Krista came over with Tyler.

"Do we still have to?" Krista asked, and Ricki shot her eyes to Heather and Jared, the cogs turning in her.head.

"Actually, yeah. But I have a hell of an idea." Ricki said, and Krista nodded.

"Come on, Ty, let's dance." Krista smiled and Gabe looked to Ricki.

"What are you plotting?" He asked.

Ricki looked up to him. "I can't do too much, with Heather telling me.she's got dirt on me.and all, but I can do something to shake things up a bit." She answered, and she gave him a peck on the cheek, "I'll be back. David just walked in dateless, and I need to find Emily."

Ricki headed off towards the women's bathroom where she found Emily. "Hey, you okay?"

"What's Voss's deal? Is she trying to ruin the night for everyone but herself?" Emily's face was streaked with tears. Ricki brought Emily into her arms.

"Don't mind her. She can't live without drama." Ricki told her and Emily stepped back.

"How do you handle all of this?" She asked and Ricki looked to her.

"With the patience.of a saint." Maureen's voice came. "Krista is keeping an eye on Voss. I'm sorry, Emily."

"You can't let Heather see you cry." Ricki said. "I need.to talk to David, so would you mind dancing with Gabe the first dance?"

"Ricki..." Maureen said.

"I don't mind, but why?" Emily asked.

"The best way to shut her down is to not give her what she wants. A rise. Granted, she played David like a fiddle, but if he calms now, She can't get that sick pleasure out of it."

"But that makes you her target." Maureen pointed out.

"Just for tonight, I'll take the heat." Ricki said, and the three.exited the bathroom and found their way back into the ballroom. Maureen broke off and Ricki walked with Emily back over to David.

"David?" Emily asked and he looked to the two. "Do you mind dancing with Ricki the first go around?"

David looked surprised. "No, what about you?" He asked.

He was obviously still angry, but Ricki took over. "She can dance with Gabe. I wanted to talk to you, and I can assure you that you can watch them." She said, and David spoke.through a clenched jaw.

"Fine."

Emily and Ricki soon walked over to Gabe, Tyler, and Krista. "Gabe, you mind dancing with Emily the first one? I've got to talk to... um..."

Gabe just nodded and soon the first slow.song began and.Gabe took Ricki's hand. "You owe me." He joked and she smiled before.walking over to David.

"What?" He asked as they began dancing.

"Try not to take what Heather said to heart and enjoy the night. If you don't give her the satisfaction, she'll get pissed." She said, and he gave her a look.

"Why would I do that? How?" He began, his eyes looking over to Gabe and Emily.

"First, avoid Heather, second, for the love of god show Emily a good time. She was really into you, and you're light on your feet. Just let it go for one night." She said, and he looked down to her. "If it does any justice, I'll answer your questions."

David wasn't fully calm, but he bit. "Alright. What happened between us?" He.asked, and she frowned a bit.

"Honestly, I don't think either of us ever got over that first big fight, and we just sort.of dragged through football season." She admitted.

"But I tried." He said.

"There was no making up for what was said, David." She said, and they fell silent before the song was over, but he stopped her.

"I can't make promises about not letting it get to me, but I'll try when she's looking." He told her and she gave a smile.

"Good." She said, and she made her way back over to Gabe as Emily made her way over to David.

"So?" Gabe asked. Ricki just smiled.

"If he plays along, for a while anyway, Heather shouldn't be getting the jollies anymore." She said. "Lets just hope he does."

Jared was still digesting the confrontation; he got a kick out of a girl sticking it to Livingston the way he got stuck. It was a lot to swallow when in line for a dance but regretted everything else she was saying; Emily was on Heather's own squad, after all. Even by Heather's standards, it was a pretty alpha bitch performance. Carl had the right idea though; he cut in right before Livingston was going to slap Heather-- or try, because Jared was primed to take him out, just waiting for a swing.

"Don't worry about Gabe and Ricki," she assured him as they got the first dance going-- but what the fuck was Trenton doing with Livingston!? "They're big kids and can handle themselves, and if they aren't," she added in her best Head Bitch Cheerleader tone, "they need to grow some."

"You need to watch it with Livingston, Heather, he's not all there." And that was Jared's take from the first.

"Well, I am watching myself," She smiled up a him, even as she played the finger wrapping game, "after all, you were right there. You would have stopped him, right?"

"Of course," he said, and that was the male reflex coming into play, "he looked ready to swing and I was getting ready to knock his fuckin block off."

"'His fackin' blahck ahf.' You sound so Boston when you say that, is that a real thing?"

"Yeah, my mom'sfamily is from Dorchester, I was born fighting Irish," he said with a small smile, "but hockey keeps me out of trouble with it."

Some kinds of trouble anyway, "Maybe that's what I like, you don't have a glass jaw and you don't hide and whine, like Gabe..."

The dance ended, but the promise lingered.

By staying on the dance floor, he avoided conversations he'd rather not have, and the stamina of a hockey player served him well; endurance. Still, there were comments during the dances, like with Tasha who said, "careful with that girl, she's a wench and she will play games. I know you boys all think between your legs, but watch yourself, boy. By the way, you always did dance well. It's like some sort of genetic luck of the draw or a black person in your family tree," she told him, which caused a genuine laugh for the first time that night.

The others weren't that talkative, but he switched partners around, as Heather seemed inclined to socialize as McGee as dance, and a number of dudes didn't like dancing but didn't mind Jared partnering with dates, mostly because he was claimed by Heather, case closed.

Except then he wound up partnering with Ricki Trenton and the whole tactic of avoiding awkward situations was blown away like a house of cards in a high wind.

Krista found Ricki and Gabe relatively quick after seeing her best friend dancing with her ex. "What was that?" Krista asked.

"Playing nice, Krista. Heather is trying to get something started, but I figure if it doesn't then she can't get off on it." She pointed out and Krista nodded
nodded.

"Playing nice. I see. I just can't believe she'd throw Emily like that." Krista said, and Ricki shrugged.

"She's got our back." Ricki said, and soon she looked up to Gabe. "Wanna dance?"

He shook his head. "Not right now, go have fun."

Krista took Ricki's hand and they headed out and began dancing. At least it was fun, and then tension seemed to drop, but soon Maureen joined and Krista was swept away by Tyler.

"So, he went for it?" Maureen asked, and Ricki nodded. "Good."

"Actually, right now, I don't give it long. David is a loose cannon, Gabe is pissed, and the only reason I'm remaining calm is because I'm not going to give her what she wants. Her mouth though, it's.going to get a lot of people in trouble." Ricki said.

Maureen nodded, "No kidding, Jared would have cleaned his clocks."

"And he shouldn't even be involved. Heather should have pulled him out.of this, but she's pushing him further in. She doesn't care, so long as the.puppets play their parts." Ricki said, and soon she was.dancing with Hector and then her next.partner was Jared.

It was awkward, and she knew if Heather saw something would definitely explode, but she wasn't going to worry about It, so she decided normal small talk would be okay.

"You're quite light on your feet," she complimented. "Its a good change after Hector. Poor guy has two left feet."

She smiled, looking away from him briefly, not seeing Heather around which was just about as concerning as a lion being let loose after not eating.for days. She quickly changed her line of view to the other side. Heather was on that side, dancing with someone Ricki couldn't quite make out until they turned. Livingston, and he looked angry again.

"Shit." She hissed, looking to Jared. "Sorry to cut this short, but you're about to be in a line of fire you don't deserve to be in, and I'm sorry this began in the.first place."

She stepped away and Gabe was taking her into a dance position, just as soon as L o Livingston walked over. "Come on, Montgomery, let's go outside. Have a chat."

Gabe looked down to Ricki. "Dude, come on, not here, not tonight, not now." He said, and David chuckled.

"What a bitch." David said, and Gabe Stopped dancing and released Ricki.

"I'll be back." He said, and Ricki watched a second before she followed the two out of the ballroom and into the lobby where said 'chat' was taking place.

"So, not only do you abandon me for Hockey, sleep with my girl, but now I find out that you have been undermining me the entire time we've known each other?" He asked, and It was apparent he was pissed off.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Gabe asked.

"Oh, Heather told me everything you've said about me, and how once you started telling Ricki, that was when she and I started having problems." David said, his fist clenched, and Ricki put herself between them.

"And you believed her? The girl who not even an hour ago was trying to get you to atart a fight for her own amusement? You're playing into her hand." Ricki said, and Gabe gently moved her aside.

"Ricki, just stop. He's not going to believe that it wasn't true. Besides, we both know.he isn't afraid to put hands.on a.girl."

"David, Gabe, please don't do this." She near begged. "Once upon a time you two would have been each other's wingman, and now look at you. This.is stupid. The drama is supposed shrink when you're a senior because.of college stuff, not increase. Or are you both that proud that you can't let it go for one night? Because.one girl, who isn't either of your dates, is talking shit."

The two looked at each other and then looked down. "Either you two stop it now or I'm calling Andy."

David just walked over to the nearby wall and punched it, and sauntered back into the ballroom. Gabe was about to follow when she took his hand. "What have you told Heather?" She asked, and Gabe fell silent and he looked down to her.

"Stuff about Livingston, some other things She asked..." He was suddenly shying away.

"Like what?" She asked, and what he muttered made glass shatter in her mind. "You told her what?"

He then spoke. "I was drunk and it came out. I didn't think anything of it Ricki."

"Because that isn't going to completely change the scale of things? I trusted you enough to not tell anyone that, and you gave by far my worst enemy the information? Gabe, I just... I can't. If that gets out, I'm not going to recover from that." She said, and he saw her move to go back into the ballroom and he caught her.

"Ricki, I'm sorry." He apologized.

"Sorry won't cut It. Not this time." She said.

It wasn't going to be long before it got out now. That she had a bit of a pill popping problem and nearly killed herself. That she got so high that she blacked out and did stuff she shouldn't have. It was her darkest secret, and only a few knew about it. She had since detoxed and got passed it, but now... now She would be reliving it again.

She found Krista and Maureen. "Tyler, Carl, you mind if I borrow these two? I promise I'll return them." She asked, and Once she got.an okay, she.near dragged them outside the building, saying they were hot and.needed some fresh air.

"What's going on?" Krista asked, and Ricki began pacing.

"You will not believe what Gabe told Heather."

It felt like having a dance abandoned the end of the dance a bit, though he got the immediate point when he saw Gabe and Livingston facing off, and he even started over when Heather grabbed him by the arm with a smile, "Let them figure it out, this is between those three and you've been getting dragged in a lot already. All you'll do is make it worse."

He wasn't sure what Heather's angle was anymore but that did sound right; Livingston and he were on a collision course more than once over a relationship he wasn't even a part of. In a sense, a part of him also knew that getting overly involved in something not his own business would only lead to more. And while Gabe was a teammate, it also seemed like he and Carl, at least as of tonight Carl, were always the ones kind of getting in the way of punches that Gabe should take because of shit they weren't settling. It was an unkind thought, but it had an element of truth to it.

It didn't change that Heather had an angle and so her advice was suspect, and he glanced over toward the brewing potential fracas once more. But just as quickly, Heather got him onto the dance floor and moving again, and he figured, why the hell not? It needs to stop being my problem anyway.

In any case, it was keeping in with his strategy for getting through the night without getting in trouble-- stay on the dance floor, don't leave it. He'd established early in the night that he was going to do that. Of course, when Heather went to the restroom, he was left with Emily Godwin as a partner, and that was strange, especially when she asked, "How can you put up with her?"

Jared thought about the response for a moment, "Well, I suppose it's like this. I'm a guy that's only recently gotten here, and much as certain people," David, "try to get on me, I really don't want to spend the last year getting involved in grudges that you guys have. To be honest, where I come from, the nuns and the fathers would already be rulers out, and I guess Catholic school just has me conditioned." It was a lame joke, but it beat the other reason he was dating Heather Voss; she was available and it was his senior year and he felt entitled to enjoy some of his time. He certainly hadn't seen her coming in terms of the whole can of worms she opened up on everyone around him.

Of course, there was a slight suspicion that dating him was a revenge thing now, but at the same time, he couldn't break things off on a suspicion and it seemed...well, it wasn't something he could do right now anyway.

He did feel for the girl, because she seemed dragged into this out of nowhere, and Livingston had spent so much time getting pissed off that he left his girl on the floor. At the same time, Livingston was psychotic, so Jared Landry dancing with a girl, even though he wasn't the one with the history of screwing them, regardless of the circumstances, was bound to provoke a reaction.

"Anyway, Emily, you might want to switch partners after the dance, I'm probably not a guy that you want to do too much dancing with in public, otherwise the talks will start," he advised. And on that count, Jared was right. This place was all about who you spoke to and the eyes were really watching. It was like being in a giant fishbowl and every little swish of the fin was scrutinized, as was every step on the ballroom floor, with the lights dimmed and the music thumping along. "Just watch out for Hector South," he lowered his voice as he said so, "Dude tries, but he's two left feet."

Perhaps it was the skating lessons from a young age, but Jared had the necessary coordination and balance to dance well; practice and more practice, like anything else, but it gave him the perfect excuse to avoid the little scenes brewing.

Of course, he also had to survive the afterparty. And if things kept going like this, he'd be able to let Heather go quietly and without much fanfare.

What he didn't realize, but should have, of course, is that it wasn't acceptable to dump Heather Voss.

Krista and Maureen both stood there, mouths agape at what Ricki just told them. And for the first time ever they saw it plainly on Ricki's face. How deeply hurt she was, and the tears that were in her eyes. "He told her about your dark period?" Maureen asked and Ricki nodded. "How much of it?"

"All of it." Ricki said. He eyes shut and a couple of tears escaped. "You know, the one guy outside Andy and Dare I thought I could trust. The one who was there for me when you guys couldn't be."

Krista brought an arm around her friend and frowned a bit. "It'll be okay, babe. Heather won't do anything to you unless you make a move on Jared." Krista assured her.

Ricki nodded and wiped her eyes, and the three walked back into the building and Ricki started heading to the bathroom. She sighed a bit as she looked herself over in the mirror and she headed out Just as Heather was going in. She didn't acknowledge her, she just walked past and when she got back into the ballroom, Gabe spotted her. She quickly found herself a way onto the dance floor and took the first person's hand She could and started dancing. A foot stepped on hers. She could have smiled to know it was Hector. She hadn't inadvertently caught Livingston or Landry, but she managed to get Hector and his two left feet.

"Hi again, Ricki." He said.

"Hey.Where's Emma?" She asked.

"Dancing with some other girls who didn't have dates." He answered, now looking down at his feet to make sure he didn't step on her toes again.

"Sounds fun. Been enjoying your night?" She asked.

"Yeah. My feet hurt just looking at your shoes, and I know I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight." Hector said, and Ricki just smiled.

When the song changed again, She left Hector and Gabe had finally managed to get hold of her and start dancing. She was silent, not meeting his gaze as long as she could avoid it.

"What can I do?" He asked her, and she finally made herself look at him. "What do I have to do?"

"Nothing, Gabriel. Nothing. You can't take it back, you can't make her unhear it, there is nothing and an apology isn't enough. No one found out about it, which is really shocking to me, and now there is the potential for everyone to know the crazy, stupid shit I did." She said.

Gabe nodded. "At least there aren't pictures, so it's essentially just word of mouth." He was trying, but Ricki gave him a look.

"Just like there weren't pictures of us." She pointed out, and he sighed.

"What more can I say, Rick? I didn't mean for it to come out. It just did." He said, and she jus nodded.

"I get it, Gabe. I just... I wish you wouldn't have thought it would help you out with her." She said, the song had ended, but they were still standing there. "I could have handled losing you to her, I could have. This though, this I don't think I can."

She moved away from him and she walked away. She headed towards the punch table and got herself something to drink, being sure to avoid Heather at all costs. Soon Krista and Tyler walked over. "Wanna dance?" Tyler asked and Ricki look to Krista.

"Go ahead, I need to powder my nose. Besides, after this were heading out to set up for the after party, wondering if you wanted to come.with us." Krista said, and Ricki nodded.

"I do, but that feels third wheel-ish." She said, But Krista shook her head and Tyler walked.out to the floor with Ricki and began dancing. She asked. "So, you and Krista a thing now?"

Tyler shrugged. "I mean, I like her, but man she's crazy."

Ricki shot him a look. "That's my girl. My sister. You hurt her, I will break your face." She said, and she laughed. "Just kidding, but for real, break her heart and I'll find a way to break you in half."

Tyler shook his head. "You're crazy too. Its good that, you, Maureen, and Krista have each other."

Ricki nodded. "Its good to have friends that have your back, even if they don't agree with you."

Tyler nodded. "So what's with you and Gabe?"

"I'm mad at him." She said, and he looked at her. "I might get over it, but it all just depends on how things pan out."

Tyler nodded and soon the song was over, "I'm going to get Krista and my car, meet us up front."

Ricki nodded, and she began heading over to tell Maureen what was going on, but she saw Heather and she finally approached. She didn't say much, but it left a horrible taste in her mouth. "You win. And I'll have your pictures for you Monday."

She walked off and just headed outside, deciding to text.Maureen and she sat on one of the benches, waiting on Tyler and Krista.

The men's room was nicely laid out; bolted down fixtures, including the paper towel dispenser on the countertop, but that was management trying to control the cost of things that might otherwise be stolen by vandals -- not teenagers, necessarily, so much as business travelers getting desperately drunk at a business-related convention.

"No condom machine," groaned Carl.

"Yeah, not quite that kind of place," Jared observed.

"Yeah, well this whole night's been a wash. Everyone we know is miserable or evil."

Jared shuffled a bit as he was washing his hands, and glanced over, "Yeah, I don't get it, and I'm trying to stay out of it. Neutral, like Switzerland."

"Except you're right in the middle, just like Switzerland. Besides, you're probably about to get some from Germany."

"She's Germany?"

"Oh yeah, definitely the aggressor. That's okay, I won't think less of you just because she's evil and can't keep her mouth shut. Penis makes bad decisions."

"Is that why you're with Maureen?"

"Well, okay, your penis makes bad decisions," Carl conceded.

"You didn't exactly warn anyone before this bad decision."

"My cousin did."

"Oh well, too late. Besides, she doesn't do that to me."

"Sure, but now you're thinking of another bad decision-- you're getting ready to dump her before you go anywhere."

"Are you saying I should hang on long enough to screw her?"

"That is my penis dispensing wisdom."

Jared groaned a bit as he shut off the water and dried his hands, "I think we need to end this conversation before it gets worse."

"Not like anything's gonna get solved here anyway, if we hide, they'll just come and get us."

"Great," Jared intoned, monotonously.

By the time they cleared out of the bathroom, the party was starting to break up at the hotel itself and people started to stream out towards the parked vehicles -- there was little alcohol smuggled in, so it wasn't like people were too wasted to drive. Somehow, Carl and Maureen wound up, due to space problems resulting from Gabe and Ricki not riding together, wedged into the backseat of the mustang and because Maureen and Heather were not precisely on speaking terms due to girl politics, it was an uncomfortable ride. Jared turned up the White Stripes' "Elephant" album and let the music keep the conversation from getting overly involved -- when people had to shout, they didn't necessarily do a lot of talking, and that's what he was counting on.

It was an uncomfortable ride to the afterparty. And as soon as they got the car parked and out, Carl and Jared were refugees at the bar, leading the charge. That was a new place for Jared, but he figured he'd take the afterparty a little better with a buzz. Someone already had the music thumping away, which was just as well. He didn't even care what was playing, so long as it was shaking the walls.

Ricki kind of stared off into the nothing as she sat on the bench outside, waiting for Tyler and Krista to pull up. She was half tempted to call Darren and just have him pick her up. Fuck the after party, she really didn't feel up to being social anyway. She rested her elbow on her thigh and then rested her cheek against her hand. She looked down at her phone, seeing Jared's car head off with Carl and Maureen in the back.

Girl... This sucks! The root of all evil is up front :((

Ricki's face cracked a small smile and she texted back. Sorry :(

She didn't hear from Maureen after that and soon she saw Tyler's car pull up and she hopped in the backseat. She saw Krista turn and look at her as she looked out the window. "You okay?" Krista asked, and Ricki just gave a nod. "You're going to stick around at the after party right?"

"For a while. Then I'll call Darren to come with me. I should have drove to the formal anyway..." she half mumbled the last bit to herself and Krista nodded and turned back forward. It wasn't a terribly long ride, and as soon as Tyler parked, Ricki got out of the vehicle and looked at everyone filing in. She didn't want to go in there. She had apparently waited long enough that Tyler and Krista had headed in. Well, that was good. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought and looked at her phone.

"Nah..." she said to herself as she started walking. She didn't bother dealing with the part and decided that maybe walking home would help her clear her head a little better. It wasn't going to be a terribly long walk, she only knew because when Andy was in high school, he insisted she run with him. After a little while though, her feet started hurting, and she pulled off her heels and continued on. It made walking a whole hell of a lot easier.

Her phone went off, and she looked down. Three messages appeared simultaneously, one from Krista, Maureen, and Gabe. She rolled her eyes a little and ignored the text from Gabe entirely before she looked at the one from Maureen first.

Where r u?

And then Krista's...

Hey! Where you at??

She texted them both back, saying she changed her mind and decided to head home. She didn't bother to tell them that Darren hadn't come to get her and that she was walking. She didn't need them worrying about her. She took in a deep breath, the cool night finally registering to her as a shiver ran over her. "Maybe I should call Dare..." she muttered. She took up her phone, seeing that Gabe had messaged her again. She rolled her eyes and didn't even bother to read it once again. She dialed Darren's number and when she told him where she was, she made a face. He was going to be a bit, as he and Andy were in the middle of a game with their dad.

Well, this would be a fun wait, she thought, and she looked over, seeing a bus bench at the end of the block. She sighed and headed over to it, taking a seat and staring out into the nothing. Maybe it was a bad idea all around to just up and walk off without anyone, but what could happen?

--

Krista looked at Maureen once the two reunited at the after party, and they both texted Ricki. "It's not like Rick to just ghost out like this." Krista said, and Maureen shrugged.

"It's a good thing she didn't show up." Maureen said, her head motioning over towards Gabe. "She really does not want to deal with him right now."

Krista nodded. "I know, but I just worry. Hopefully Darren came and got her at least."

Maureen nodded and when she spotted Carl, who had gone to get her something to drink, she patted Krista's shoulder. "Call her if you're worried babe, but you need to have fun too. She's a big girl, and you know if she's not feeling something, she's not going around it. So, have fun. Tell her you'll tell her fun stories later." she winked and she headed off.

Not long after Maureen walked over to Carl, Tyler came back to Krista with a drink in his hand and she smiled up to him. Maybe Maureen was right... Maybe she should just let it be.

--

Darren sighed a bit as he grabbed his coat and another, knowing that Ricki had likely forgotten hers. That game had taken longer than he had expected and Ricki had called nearly a half an hour ago. He looked to his phone again and he didn't see a text or anything from her, so he assumed everything was alright. As soon as he got in the car though, something made his heart sink in his stomach. He had this horrible feeling like something bad was about to happen... Or had happened already.

He peeled out of the driveway and headed to where Ricki had said she was, and her lack of a call was now making him paranoid. Hopefully she was okay. Nothing had better have happened to her. She was a good 10 blocks from the house, in a weirdly set-up neighborhood, so it would take some doing to get there.

"Whose place is this again?" Jared asked Carl, who mumbled a name that Jared didn't recognize.

It had a basement bar and a conveniently unlocked cabinet. Someone was mixing drinks, but being high schoolers they weren't exactly sophisticated mixologists. People were gulping down these awful drinks anyway.

Jared nursed his awful but highly alcoholic drink, and he wasn't the only one drinking with a grimace. The music was the usual stuff that got played at these things, and Carl was mostly plotting what Carl plotted, while Jared started to think through the night's events, particularly the way that he was being steered toward a fight with Livingston. Any way one looked at it, he was going to suffer some sort of consequence, so it was a 'do the right thing' moment.

"Carl, I think I need to back outta this one."

"Awww--look, fuck man, let's go outside, I don't want people overhearing that shit." No one was right there, but it was hard to say who would overhear what. He dipped his head in the indicated direction, weaving through the drinkers, the dancers and the tokers. They managed to slide out to a place outside to talk without being overheard.

"So what are you backing out of, Jared?"

"This Heather Voss thing. It's too much weirdness, I don't think it's gonna work in the long run anyway."

"Well, do yourself a favor son, and just detach after the winter formal. Don't do anything drastic and you should be okay. You got a problem though, it's that Voss is chasing you around, she might be trying to squeeze you in tonight."

"Yeah, I know. And I'm gonna need a favor."

"Shit man, you know you got favors in the bank."

"You're designated driver tonight. I'm getting too drunk to fuck."

Darren was filled with panic for a few minutes when he pulled up to where Ricki said she had been and she wasn't there. He got out of the running car and looked up and down the road, thinking maybe he had drove past her before he noticed his phone was ringing and he saw it was his dad. He answered it quickly. "Dad we may have a problem." he said, but the voice on the other end was one he didn't expect.

"No problem, Dare." Ricki's voice came and he let out a long sigh of relief. "I started walking again after about ten minutes. My phone had died and Gabe's mom saw me walking and dropped me off."

"Scared the shit out of me, little sis." he said, getting back in the car and taking another deep breath. He hung up the phone and drove home, and when he got there he saw that Ricki had already changed into a pair of sweats and pulled her hair up. She was sitting on the couch with a tub of chunky monkey ice cream, watching Andy and their dad play the racing game he had gotten dragged into. He sat down beside her and put an arm around her and she looked at him. "Do we have to set Andy after Gabe?"

Ricki just shook her head. "Nah. That'd cause even more drama, and I'm kind of at a limit. But I do need to head back there later on. I left my clutch in his car." she gave a gentle shrug. "But I just kind of want to chill for a while."

Darren nodded and stole the spoon from her and saw her smile a bit. "Alright." he said, popping the spoon back into his mouth.

--

Later on that night, Maureen was getting a little antsy to leave as things started to wind down some. She had stayed pretty sober with Krista, and now she saw Carl was halfway babysitting a drunk Jared. It was weird because usually the guy was all about moderation, but he was fucked up. Krista exchanged a look with Maureen. "You think Ricki is still up?"

Maureen nodded, "Yeah." she said. They had both gotten a text a while back saying that Ricki was fine and at home. Krista looked at her phone. It was nearing 1 am. "Make the call."

Krista nodded and headed out front, where it was a little less noisy, and she called Ricki. Maureen sighed a bit, walking over to Carl. "Hey, I'm going to head out with Krista. Ricki should be coming to get us." she said, and Krista came back in nodding.

"Yeah, Ricki will be here in about ten minutes, she just had to get her keys from Darren." Krista said. Maureen looked at Carl. "You gonna need help with him?"

Krista looked around a bit. Tyler had had to leave earlier on, but she didn't want to leave Maureen to deal with the uncomfortableness that the night had brought on. And now things just appeared as if they were going to get more uncomfortable. Luckily though, with the crowd starting to wind down, things weren't tense at all... Except maybe some underlying sexual tension coming off a few of them. Krista jumped at the sound of Maureen's voice.

"Hey, earth to Krista." Maureen said, "Rick text back yet? I just caught sight of Voss and it is not pretty."

Krista looked at her phone and it lit up. "She's here, let's go."

The second that Krista and Maureen went to leave though, Ricki came in. "Gabe isn't still here is he? I left something in his car and it's locked."

Maureen shrugged. "Not sure, get it tomorrow. Let's go."

Ricki gave a look. "Not likely, I don't want to have to deal with him tomorrow."

He knew he was chickening out by avoiding the issue rather than just being up front about it, but the plan made a certain sense before he started drinking. A couple drinks to get flushed, and then a few more and he looked suitably done in. Slumping, slurring and playing it up a bit was a bit of fun, almost like it was a game. He knew he was good when a couple people came by and said, "Hey, you okay there buddy?"

Word got around, which was sort of the point. It bought him a little bit of time.

Heather? Not so happy. Carl? Left holding the bag a bit, but that was the implied part of the conversation at the bar.

So Carl was having to put up with a bagfull of complaints and inquiries about why Jared was suddenly turning up tired and drunk and what a bad look it was.

"Well, he's been practicing real hard and was kind of nervous about the formal, so you know, he took some of that punch on an empty stomach and..."

Carl could spin the bullshit. That was why he was brought into the plot. The formal was neither the time nor the place to end the whole thing. That didn't make Heather a happy camper, but it did bring out the desired words, "I'm going home with some of my girlfriends. Can you let Jared know when he sobers?"

"Absolutely Heather, the man is a dog and I understand. Some things must not be borne." Carl was on the edge of insubordination with that, but she mostly squinted at him through the buzz of her own drinks, trying to figure out what Carl was trying to say.

"Don't you worry girl, I'll get him home in one piece." But Heather was already walking away from Carl, clearly done with the distasteful situation.

Meanwhile, Jared lingered on a couch somewhere, sprawled out with other people who were done. Carl shuffled over and started to get him up.

"Man, you gotta take the keys..." he slurred, "where's Heather?"

"There there, buddy, all taken care of. We're gonna stop somewhere and get some Checkers in your sweet, sweet ride. You, me and three ladies. Heather found a different ride." Music to Jared's ears.

Carl got Jared up on his feet but was keeping him steady as he reported into Maureen, "So, we're gonna drive real carefully in Jared's stang, but we've got room for one more because Heather already left with her cheerleaders." He seemed oddly cheerful at the prospect, satisfied with the outcome of the entire situation, like he and Jared managed to pass through the fire or something.

Come to think of it, Jared wasn't totally gone either, but he was careful not to say too much, deliberately keeping it in his head that loose lips sank ships. The last thing he wanted was talk to get back to the wrong ears and the whole caper to go up. It was hard in the haze, but the less said, the better.