Chapter Nine.

"Yo, Dex, I found them!" Mitch yells out into the hall. "Come check this out man!" he adds.

"Dude, get out," Van snaps.

Oh shit...shit, shit, shit! If Dex comes in here, then the rest of the guys will eventually be led in here.

"We have clothes on, you dumbass," I cut in.

"Really, Abbs?" Dex questions, I guess he's now in here. "Because to me, it looks like your clothes are on the floor," he points out, as him and Mitch burst into a fit of laughter.

"What the hell are you guys doing back already?" Van asks, practically reading my mind.

"Dex did a face plant into the snow, I'm talking a straight-up Snooki-Face-Plant," Mitch answers, laughing. Every chance Mitch gets, he'll connect the real life to the show Jersey Shore.

"So, you guys are the only ones here?" I check, trying to hold back my laughter at his comparison to Snooki from Jersey Shore.

"Yep," Dex answers, popping the 'p'. "The others should be here soon though."

I start to ask more questions, but Mitch stops me. "Enough of avoiding the real question, why are you and Vance showering together and why didn't I get an invite?" He jokes

I want to laugh, but I'm still in a little bit of a shock. I don't know why, but I am. I shouldn't fell bad for anything, I mean, this doesn't mean anything. But I still can't shake this feeling, in the pit of my stomach. I don't like it, but at the same time, I do. Which only confuses me all the more. Blocking whatever I'm feeling towards Van, is a lot easier when Evan is around.

I reach my hand out and grab a towel off of the rack, which I use to wrap around myself before getting out, even though I still have my bra and panties on. I think that I gave them enough of a show last night which I shouldn't have done. I guess that's where Van and I are different again, when he's trashed he changes his clothes, whereas I take mine off.

"What, is the party over already?" Mitch teases.

I roll my eyes. "There's cake in the oven that's going to burn, why don't you go fix that?" I tell him.

Dex perks up, wide eyed and excited. "Cake? You guys actually made cake?"

I nod. "Why don't you go take them out of the oven, Dex, while you're forgetting you saw this," I suggest.

Dex smiles satisfied, and prances off. He's the easy one, Mitch is the one that I'm really woried about. I don't think that he would actually say something directly to Evan, but he would humiliate me by dropping little hints and watch me suffer in silence.

"You know, you're lucky I like you, Abby," Mitch pauses, "otherwise, I'd embarrass the hell out of you," he smiles.

I sigh, relieved. "So, you aren't going to say anything?" I check. "I mean, it's not like there's even anything to say, we were covered in cake mix and we couldn't take two separ-"

Mitch stops me by saying, "wait a minute. You guys had a cake mix fight?"

I nod slowly, realizing that I've said to much. I can't help it, once I get talking, I can't stop.

Mitch tries not to laugh. "Okay, kids, get dressed and we'll talk about this downstairs," he tells us sternly, pretending to play the parent, but ends up laughing as he leaves.

I turn to Van who's wrapping a towel around his waist. "This is bad," I sigh, finally walking about of the bathroom.

"Abby, wait," Van says, following close behind me. "Lets talk about this, I mean-" he stops himself from finishing.

I reach the room that Lia and I are staying in and face Van as he rests on the door frame. If he doesn't move, I'm totally okay with slamming the door in his face. "No, Van, lets not talk about this," I snap, shutting the door. I turn the lock on the door, because I know everything Van will do, before he knows he'll do it.

I quickly finish drying off and change into a pair of faded blue jeans and a simple, gray, V-neck t-shirt. I would change into lounge clothes, but the two pair that I brought are dirty already. I figured that since we were only going to be here for the weekend, that there wasn't a need for more clothes. I don't know what I'm going to do about pajamas to sleep in.

After getting dressed, I walk downstairs and see Mitch sitting on the couch, opposite to Van. I think that Dex is in the kitchen with the cakes, and nobody else is here yet. This is not going to be good. I guarantee it. If Mitch was the type that kept his mouth closed, I wouldn't have to worry, but he's not.

Like I told myself before; there isn't anything to worry about. I mean, Van obviously couldn't take a shower in one of the other bathrooms. But, on the other hand, he could've just waited until I was done. Gosh, what is wrong with the world these days anyways? Can't two friends take a shower together, without having to be harassed?

"What's up?" I ask, coolly.

Mitch is grinning like the idiot he is, and Van has his arms crossed over his chest and his wet, blonde hair in a mess.

"Have a seat, Abby," Mitch says.

I roll my eyes and grumpily walk over to the couch that Van's sitting on and sit all the way at the other end.

"Well," Mitch begins. "One of you needs to tell me what the hell that was in the bathroom," he states. "Are you guys like...do you guys have something...going on?" Mitch struggles to ask.

Van and I look at each other for a couple of seconds before we both look away.

"Oh, what is this, the silent treatment? Don't make me ground you two," Mitch chuckles. He takes us not responding the wrong way. "You know, either Evan really trusts the friendship that you and Van have, or he is the biggest dumbass in the world to think that there's nothing going on between the two of you," Mitch explains, motioning between Van and I.

I roll my eyes again. "Mitch, you're a dumbass just for thinking that," I remark.

"Why else would Vance tell Kyle to get Evan to go skiing with-"

Van cuts Mitch off mid-sentence. "I think that Abby and I need to talk. Alone, Mitch," he says through clenched teeth.

"Hey there's no need to get moody, I'm only trying to play Oprah right now," Mitch says defensively.

"Well, it's a fail, because you sound like Dr. Phil," I smirk and Van laughs.

Out of nowhere, the sound of glass breaking in the kitchen is heard and Mitch shoots up from the couch.

"Uh, Mitch, is this plate replaceable?" Dex asks from the kitchen.

"Dex, I'm going to kick your ass! What did you break this time?" Mitch questions, leaving the room to attend to Dex.

Wow, now this is awkward. Note to self: after showering with your best friend and getting caught; expect awkwardness.

It's quiet for a few seconds before Van breaks the streak. "Look. Abby, I think that I-"

"Van, it's all good, okay? I know what you're going to say, and I feel the same way," I state, cutting him off.

He looks at me. "You do?"

I nod. "Yeah. It's not like we like each other, Mitch was just reading into it. I mean, Van, c'mon, we've talked about this before. Besides, Mitch is just giving us crap because I'm with Evan," I babble, mostly because I feel like I'm convincing myself more than I'm telling Van. "That's what you wanted to talk to me about a couple of minutes ago, right?"

Van hesitates, making it look like he's thinking hard about something. Then he finally says, "right."

"You don't think that Mitch is going to say anything, do you?" I ask.

Suddenly, something in Van's facial expression changes, like he went from thinking about something important to his I'm-A-Cocky-Jerk face. He looks at me with this grin on his face as he scoots closer to me. Too close. "What's to tell? You don't feel bad for giving me a strip-tease, do you Abby?" Van says vindictively.

My eyes widen. "That is so not what happened, you pervert!" I screech.

Vin chuckles while getting up from the couch. "Hey, babe, I understand, it's okay, I know that I'm irresistible to the female sex drive, so it's natural for you to want take off your clothes in my presence. Besides, it saves more time," he wrangles his eyebrows at me.

"This is why I don't like you sometimes, you're nothing but a horny freak," I joke.

"But, yet, you can't seem to get enough of me, Abbykins," Van smiles. "Don't worry about the whole Shower Situation, I'll take care of Mitch," he assures me.

"Thanks, Vannykins," I tease.

He rolls his eyes. "You're the only person that I allow to give me girly nicknames."

"Same goes for you too."

Once everybody's back we somehow end up sitting in the living room, watching reruns of Jersey Shore on the TV. Thanks to Mitch, it's his birthday so he chose, and though he's never admitted it; he has a secret obsession with Jersey Shore. Honestly, I think it's nothing but a bunch of orange drunks stumbling around.

When everybody got back and took showers, they were worn out. I have a feeling that tonight isn't going to be like last night. Tonight will be more...relaxing. We already sang happy birthday to Mitch and ate dinner.

"You know, these Jersey Shore freaks pretty much get paid to drink and have sex on camera," Van anounces.

"If you ask me, that's pretty much the life, man," Michael chuckles.

"Nobody asked you, Michael," I snap, getting a few laughs in the room, not taking my eyes off of the TV.

"Am I sensing some tension?" Van asks, bluntly. "Maybe you two should go take a shower together and chill," he suggests, looking at me. Mitch and Dex are the only ones that laugh, because they know what happened, while everybody else is wearing the look of confusion.

I feel my mouth dropping open. I can't believe that he just said that. What a jerk. Now he's purposely trying to piss me off and you know what? Job well done, Van.

"So, what time are we leaving in the morning?" I question, trying to change the subject.

"Shh, this is the part where Snooki puts her ass in the fridge!" Dex says, cutting me off.

I roll my eyes.

"Early," is all Mitch says because his focus is completely glued to the show.

"Wow, man, way to be specific," I remark sarcastically. I stand up from the couch and fake a yawn, just because I would like to get the hell away from Van. "Well, I am just beat, I think that I'll turn in for the night," I say, pretending to be really sleepy. "Are you coming with me, Evan?" I ask him. There is no way that I'm going to leave him down here with Van and Mitch to drop hints, I'm not worried about Dex, he's kind of scared of me. Although, Mitch hasn't said a word about anything, just Van has; leaving little hints all over the place.

Evan gets off the couch and we say goodnight to the gang before finally heading upstairs. Is it strange that I'm a little nervous to share a bed with Evan?

When we get in the room that Van and Evan are sharing, I fish around in Van's duffle bag. I would wear a pair of my pajama's, but the ones that I was planning on wearing got ruined in the cake mix fight earlier. Besides, I don't really have pajamas that match, the clothes that I wear to bed are normally just comfy clothes.

"Um, Abby, what are you doing?" Evan chuckles.

"Stealing a t-shirt to sleep in," I answer, settling on a black shirt. This boy brought more clothes than I did. "I got cake mix all over my pajamas earlier because Van thought it would be funny to dump the leftover mix all over me," I laugh. There, that's not a lie, I'm just keeping the Shower Situation out of it.

I quickly change into Van's shirt, making sure to note that Evan's not staring at me while I do it. If he is staring, he isn't making it obvious, like Van does. Van's a complete and utter pervert, whereas, if Evan is; he doesn't show it.

"Why didn't you just ask me for a shirt?" he questions.

I shrug. "I don't know, I just thought that if I took one from Van, then I'd get a shirt and I'd piss him off in the process, it's a win-win," I smile.

Evan slips his hand into mine and then leads me to the bed. "We need to talk," he tells me, as we sit down on his bed.

"Okay..." I say, unsure. "About what?"

"About the way you and Vance act around each other," Evan starts, making my nerves go crazy. "It's just that Kendall told-"

I cover hiss mouth with my hand in order to stop him from finishing. "Whoa, no!" I say. "Kendall is not a reliable source for anything, unless you want an STD," I inform him. Evan's lips curl into a smile beneath my fingers. "Rule number four, we don't like Kendall," I smile, dropping my hand.

"What are the other rules?" He asks.

I shrug my shoulders. "I guess we'll find out when they pop up."

Evan chuckles. "I'm serious though, have you and Van ever...?" he trails off. "You can tell me, I'm not going to be mad or anything, I just..." Evan keeps talking while I'm stranded in my thoughts.

Do I tell Evan that Van and I have...made out a couple times? I mean, how do you tell your boyfriend that you've made out with your best friend? If I tell him, will he act differently around Van? Evan will probably feel uncomfortable around him. I honestly don't know what to do in this situation. If I lie, I'll hurt him, but if I tell the truth, I'll still hurt him. Either way, he's getting hurt. I don't want to hurt Evan, he's a sweet guy, and if I hurt him, Kim said that she'd cut off my toes and I imagine that it's hard to wear flip-flops without toes...

I take a deep breath. "Look, Evan, Van and I have this weird friendship. A couple months ago, before you and I started dating, him and I were in this really weird stage. Both of us were extremely vulnerable and we just...kissed...a few times," I try to explain.

Evan swallows. "More than once?"

I nod, slowly. "But it was nothing, I couldn't even compare you to him," I assure him, leaving out the fact that if I did compare them, Evan would lose. Significantly.

"That's it though, right? You guys just kissed?"

I nod again, avoiding his eyes. It would've been more, if it weren't for The Slut and her slutty powers over Van. Oh my gosh, I can't believe I just used the term 'slutty powers', but it's true.

"You don't have...like, feelings for him, do you?" Evan checks.

I fight the hesitation that I'm feeling and shake my head. "Are you sure you aren't mad?"

"No."

"No you aren't sure, or no you aren't mad?" I question.

"I'm not sure. I mean, I didn't think that I would be mad if you guys did have something, but that was before I knew," he tells me.

"Evan," I start. "You don't have to worry about anything, okay? I wouldn't be with you, if I had feelings for Van, which I don't, he's a whore. I even Sharpied 'whore' on his forehead, which is legit shit," I joke.

Evan shows a hint of a smile. "Abby, I like you, a lot, so if there's something that you aren't sure about, don't lead me on, alright?"

I nod, forcing a smile. In a couple of weeks, I'll be fine, the mixed feelings will go away. When we're back home, where Van's around other girls, things will be fine, I won't even have time to think about it. He'll lose our little wager and then I'll sleep with Evan, and we can all live Satisfied Ever After. The end.

What I should do is break up with Evan, granted, we haven't been together that long, and then figure out this mess, but that's harder than just ignoring feelings.

I lean in closer to Evan, pressing my lips to his. We're better together when we're kissing because we don't really have that much to talk about. Not to mention that when I'm kissing Evan, I'm too focused to think about Van. That sounds bad, but I hate thinking about Van. Mostly because I guarantee that he's not wasting time thinking about me.

Gosh, just thinking about Van not thinking about me makes me mad because either way, I'm stuck thinking about him not thinking about me.

Somehow within the next ten minutes, I'm straddling Evan, with my legs on either side o him. The only reason why I know it's been almost ten minutes is because I've been taking peeks at the digital clock on the dresser.

I try to focus on Evan's hand slowly slipping up my shirt, but then I remember that it's Van's shirt and all concentration is lost. Then when I connect thoughts of Van; I think of Evan trying to get farther; base wise, which makes me think about the bet. No matter what I think about, it leads to Van. I could be thinking about cheese and my thoughts would eventually make their way to Van. Cheese makes me think of milk, and milk makes me think of chocolate milk, and that makes me think of strawberry milk, finally making me think of Van.

Abby, you just need to chill, I tell myself.

The more I tell myself to not think about Van, the more I think about him.

Everything is fine and dandy, until the beroom door opens, causing Evan and I to quickly pull apart.

Even though, Evan's my boyfriend and we have every right to o whatever we want, I still feel weird kissing him in front of Van. I don't think that feeling will ever go away.

*****

<3JustKaylay.