"Bitch!"

Cherish felt a pair of hands jabbing into her back before she found herself landing uncomfortably on the floor. Thankful she had worn her flat shoes instead of ankle breaking heels, she looked up into an anger twisted face. Joana.

Biting back the string of curses she really wanted to let out, she pulled herself up off the floor, "Hello, Jo."  The words were pushed out through clenched teeth and she couldn't have been bothered less to veil the venom in her voice.

"Bitch! I can't believe you told my brother!"

As Cherish brushed her pants off, she sneered, "If you didn't want him to know, you shouldn't have been doing it out in the open where everyone can see!"

Joana pushed Cherish to the ground again, this time kicking her with her scruffy sneakers. "You are such a prude- just like Seven said."

What was this girl's problem? You'd think her whole life depended on what Seven said and did. What was so special about him anyways?

"What is it, one day I'm a whore and the next I'm a prude? Tell me, how does that work, Jo?"

Joana ignored the question, pressing her foot into Cherish's stomach, "I know you're doing all this to impress him."

"And who would that be?

"Seven."

"Right! Ha! And how would you know this?"

It was at that moment that a pair of long, lean, black denim clad legs appeared around the corner. Cherish followed them upwards till her eyes settled on Seven's face. The surprise on his face was half hidden by the bored way in which he folded his arms and leaned against the wall to watch the proceedings.

Joana, still unaware that he stood behind her, continued, "But, too bad little princess, Seven doesn't like you! No point in making your pathetic little attempts to get his attention, bitch!"

Cherish couldn't help but feel appalled, "For Seven? Are you fucking kidding me? Why would I want his attention? Now, let me up, Jo, I have a class to get to."

When Joana didn't move her foot or ease the amount of pressure she was pushing down, Cherish hooked her foot around Joana's and pulled. There was an awkward struggle on the floor, legs grappling for a hold and arms slapping around. For her part, Cherish was merely trying to get up and get to her class. Joana, on the other hand was doing her earnest best to hold Cherish down.

By the time they both finally stood, face to face, their bodies rising and falling heavily with the hard breaths they were taking, Cherish had a giant bluish spot on her face where Joana's sneaker caught her. Joana didn't seem quite satisfied, not yet, and she narrowed her eyes, "Seven thinks you're a pathetic and sad little prude, and you cover up your lameness by being such a bitch, don't you Sev?"

It was quiet, awkwardly so and Joana turned to look at him, trying to urge an answer out of him. If he was at all astonished by the situation, he hid it well. He chuckled as he crossed the hallway, leisurely unfolding his arms, "Sure." Grabbing Cherish's face in his long calloused fingers, he poked the rapidly growing bruise, "Really sad."

Cherish's eyes flashed with anger and she slapped his hand away, unable to hold herself back. "Good! Now that I have your seal of approval to join your sad and pathetic little gang, I'd like to get on my way."

As she walked away as calmly as she could manage, Seven called after her, "Going to class, Prudence?

When she reached to door at the bottom of the stairs she smiled before opening it. Reflected in the little glass window, was a tiny image of Seven pushing Joana away as she threw herself at him. Immediately her smile was replaced by a frown; God, her face would hurt for days!

-.-

Scratch, scratch, wince, scratch, scribble, wince...

Cherish groaned, setting down her sketchbook and dropping her head into her lap careful not to nudge her face. A large portion of her face was purple, painfully immobile, and refusing to let her forget about it. The state of her face had even forced her to forego her normal routine for the day, eating outside instead of in the cafeteria with Delia and Harper.

Too many people had asked about it already and even more gave her incredulous looks- Ari's quiet and mostly agreeable sister blackened with bruises? The palms of her hands brushed against her face in a stress relieving sweep, having forgotten about the awful swelling that resided there. She froze at the shock of pain and let out an exasperated shriek.

"You okay, Cherish?"

Startled by Ian's voice she looked up at him, "Fin-"

"Woah! What the hell happened to your face?" The question, accompanied by a laughing tone, burst from the mouths of both Ian and Juss.

She smiled wryly, as much as her face would allow her to, "Your sister."

"Shit! Cherry, I'm sorry! I can't believe... what happened?"

Looking past Ian and the worry scrunched on his face, she saw Seven and his constant casual manner. "Really, Ian, I'm not quite sure, I was just getting stuff out of my locker. But, you should ask him if you want to know."

With a deep frown, Ian turned to Seven, "You were there?"

Cherish wondered how Seven was able to stay so continually nonchalant, as if nothing he said or did would ever cause anyone to be truly mad at him. Either that, or he really didn't care.

With a shrug, one that epitomized how bored he was, he dropped to the floor, "Yeah, but I didn't show up until they were rolling around on the floor scratching the hell out of each other."

Not that she expected Ian to second guess his best friend, but she was appalled that he would accept that answer so easily.

"That ain't no scratch!" Juss proclaimed, examining her bruised face closely.

Thank you, Juss!

"Yeah, who knew Jo had it in her," Seven grinned. "You know, I woulda bet Cherish could have taken Jo easy 'cuz she's got that whole tough bitch thing going. Turns out she's just a pussy."

There was no answer she could have given that wouldn't make her seem a child- so she deemed it unworthy of a response. Picking up her sketchbook once again, she resumed drawing- the anger was doing good things for her work.

When Ian began to protest the crude statement in her honour, Seven changed the subject, "Speaking of pussy, Juss, how're things with Allison?"

That boy was always trying his hardest to get on her nerves, and sadly she could admit, she let him. Every time.

"Great! She's fucking awesome and awesome fucking!"

The comment made her look up sharply, glaring at Juss who'd dared to say something so unbelievably vulgar about her friend. As weird and awkward as it seemed sometimes, Cherish spent a lot of time with Allison since her breakdown. She was a neutral friend, content not to prod when Cherish was closed up and content to listen when she was spilling. Not that she spilled often, but that was the appeal with Allie.

It had become normal for her to spend time out with Allie, and by default, Juss, and further by default, Ian. She had even spent Wednesday and Thursday nights for the past two weeks at Ian's place. Though she didn't talk much when around them, she was beginning to feel at home with them all- well all except for Seven. Thankfully Ian had realised that things always went sour when the two of them were in the same place, and miraculously Seven was never over at the house when she was.

As if just noticing her glare, Juss smiled innocently at her, "What? She knows I say that!"

Rolling her eyes she returned to her sketch, ironically enough, an image of Allison and Juss. They weren't a couple, no. More like individuals who were enjoying the benefits of a relationship without the commitment. There was a name for that, she knew. They were an odd pair; Allie incessantly happy and somewhat clingy, and Juss too focused on escaping his unfortunate life with frivolities. But in that moment watching them together had calmed her, and it had stuck in her head. She smiled as she etched into her paper, effortlessly putting them down in her book.

The annoying pain that shot through her face when she tried to smile quickly brought down her pleasant mood again. Growling, she looked up and scowled at Seven, merely because there was no Joana around and he deserved her anger just as much for standing around and watching.

-.-

"Thewish! The-wish! Thwish!"

She looked down at the tiny ball of blue and drool at her feet, startled by his sheer volume.

"Hi Chester!" she smiled as she easily looped the toddling baby into her arms. He grinned sheepishly at her once he had her attention, pushing his face into the crook of her neck. The utter absurdity of his shy behaviour made her laugh as she bounced him while he sat on her arm, "What are you doing here by yourself, Cheese?"

With a timid smile, his chin tucked firmly against his body, he shook his head. The front door to Ian's house had been wide open and Chester was the only one in sight. She wondered where everyone could have gone so fast that they forgot to lock the door or ensure someone was watching the 18 month old she was holding. As she made faces at the boy, she made her way to the kitchen.

"Looks like it's just you and me, lil' man," she ruffled his hair fondly. Over the past few weeks, she had grown increasingly attached to the tubby, big-brown-eyed little boy she carried through the empty house. It didn't even bother her anymore when he drooled on her, or chewed on her hair or licked her arms and sometimes face.

With all the kids Pam had running around the house- all of them hers, no less- Cherish was more than glad to occasionally take this one off her hands. As she crossed under the arched doorway that led into the kitchen, she noticed the back door was open, too. There were a pair of legs lying in the grass that she was entirely sure were attached to Allie.

Smiling she strode outside, "Look who I found trying to escape!"

"Oh Shit!" Ian jumped up from where he lay.

Juss followed suit, but only because the small burning roll of paper Ian had dropped landed on his chest, "Fucking hell, Man!"

She laughed and rolled her eyes as she kicked off her shoes; the shiny black pumps landed softly in the grass beside the deck.  "Honestly, guys, he's an impressionable young mind!"

But, placing a hand over Chester's eyes she beckoned for Juss to hold the joint out to her. After exhaling softly she grinned, "If you're going to do something stupid around him, please make sure he, one, can't see you and, two, can't get away while you're too gone to notice."

Allie laughed, as she rose from the ground only to plunk herself down in a lawn chair, "When did you get so good with kids, Rish?"

Shaking her head, she deposited herself in front of Allie; Chester still hadn't moved, one grubby little arm wrapped securely around her arm. His thumb was in his mouth and he absently balled and un-balled his little fist repeatedly, scratching her neck softly. She could already feel the first glob of his spit seeping through her sweater. Smiling, she pressed a distracted kiss on his brown matted hair.

"Rish, honestly, no one can do that to him but you," Ian mused with a thoughtful laugh. "He screams if any of us try to pick him up."

"Yeah," Juss added lazily from where he lay. "He'll let Seven pick him up sometimes, though. But Ian's right, he's only ever quiet with you."

"That's because, boys, I have the touch of a woman."

Allie playfully smacked her shoulder, "What? I'm not a woman now, Rish? I thought you said I was all woman last night."

Laughing at the way Juss now examined the two of them, Cherish grinned. "Oh, but Allie, you are an entirely different kind of woman," she wiggled her eyebrows. "I'm sure Juss will agree." As she rested her head back in Allie's lap, she felt her new friend's fingers running expertly through her hair. "Oh, Allie, I love you!" she groaned as she let her eyes close.

There was a peaceful silence that fell over them as they lounged around in the cool but still much too warm October weather. Allie and little Chester had taken over the role that used to belong to both Quentin and Cash; they had become the ones who relaxed her. Allie did so because she was always playing with Cherish's hair, twisting and braiding so that it calmed her to sleep most of the time. Whenever she lazed around Ian's house, Allie was there, right beside her, absently playing with her hair while she watched a movie or joked around with the guys. Chester calmed her merely by being the one who needed her to be calm.

It was in no way the absolute comfort that Quentin's deep voice and brotherly presence offered. Nor was it the beautiful solace she felt when in Cash's company, but it was something. Something she was beginning to accept as her life now, a way to face her pain that she was still surely but slowly dealing with. She had even grown used to Ian's company and looked forward to visiting his house twice a week.

She couldn't imagine being able to fully accept him, not yet, but she found the way he reminded her of Len very... essential. She knew it would take some time more for her to open up to him, to really be friends with him. Even now as she sat in the grass beside him, his head inches away from her knee, she found it hard to talk to him. She supposed they were okay with it, her silence, as none of them had really said anything about it. Joking occasionally, talking occasionally, just being in their company- it was enough for now.

"Man, I'm starving!" Juss broke the quiet with his sudden outburst regarding the state of his stomach.

"You're always starving," she retorted before anyone else could say anything.

Ian laughed, "Very true, Justin, very true!"

Juss rolled his eyes as he lifted himself up, heading towards the house, "You got any food in there, E?"

Ian shook his head, "No. Pam's grocery shopping before she picks the munchkins up from that after school thing."

Juss made a face, his I-can't-wait-for-food-I'm-going-to-die face, one that even Cherish could identify. Ian shook his head, running a hand over his face and head to wake himself up, "We can go get some pizza or something."

"Kickass!"

Heading inside while they discussed the topping options, Cherish grinned down at Chester, "Guys you go on, I'll wait here with the little bug.  Right, Cheese, we're gonna hang out, aren't we?"

"You sure?"

She nodded contentedly and as she poked her fingers into Chester's side and grinned stupidly when he squirmed; she completely missed the pleased look Ian was giving her. While they clambered out the front door, she wandered back out to the deck, folding herself onto the swinging love seat.

-.-

The thumping footsteps brought her out of her light nap with a start. Smiling, she dropped her feet to the floor, readying herself to get up so she could set Chester down and get some food. She jumped in fright when a jacket came flying through the doorway, quickly followed by a shirt. A jacket and shirt that didn't belong to any of the people who had left earlier.

She turned, curiously to see who it was, "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Unfortunately her Seven free streak was over. She scowled, pulling her legs back up under her and shot him back the same question.

"Uh... I live here." he retorted with condescension.

No he didn't, she knew that. She had been to his party- at his house- albeit, she had been drunk, but she knew full well it hadn't been this house. She ignored him as he went back inside and silently prayed for Ian, Juss and Allie to return soon. Seven came back out a moment later with a beer in hand and dropped himself down onto the swing heavily. Chester woke with a start, his tiny face contorting into a scrunched red scowl, his mouth emitting an unbearably loud wail into her ears.

Seven chuckled, seemingly satisfied with the pain he had inflicted upon her, "You should not be around kids, Cherish. Pass him over."

"He was doing just fine until you showed up, Asshole."

Seven laughed again, tipping his bottle back and letting the liquid sear its way down his throat. "What are you doing here anyways?"

Cherish stood faster than she should have, resulting in a momentary hazy white head rush and loss of balance. She stumbled before she caught her footing and paced the length of the deck, rocking Chester in her arms to calm him. "There you go, Cheese. See? You're fine. Nothing's going to happen- no big bad monsters," she glanced at Seven angrily. "Except maybe that one."

"You gonna answer me?" he inquired with a raised brow.

"Watching Chester."

"Okay, yeah I can see that, but why are you here."

As if she had no right to be there, as if she had no right to have friends, "Hanging out."

"Hate to break it you, but you're here by yourself. Babysitting his little brother hardly means you're hanging out with him."

Cherish managed to keep her face impassive, and fought back the urge to justify herself to him. It was then that she noticed he was shirtless, and what a beautiful shirtless he was. Not overly muscular like Quentin was, he was lanky and long bodied, but with an understated strength that was evident in the relaxed muscles she saw. His hands were big on the bottle he held, his forearms were muscular but seemed altogether odd attached to his rather slender upper arms.

She told herself not to look like she appreciated his beauty, beauty was nothing without... Oh, who was she kidding? His body made her insides lurch approvingly, and she had to force herself to drag her eyes away from his hard torso.

Suddenly a thought hit her, Ian and Seven didn't usually hang out on Wednesdays, which meant he hadn't come looking for Ian. When he had come through the door, he hadn't expected to see her there, of course, but he hadn't expected to see Ian, Juss or Allie either. He was expecting to see Joana. 

"If you're here for Jo, she's not here."

He coughed and sputtered, "What?"

She couldn't help but follow the beer as it dribbled down his chin, neck and chest leaving a pleasing shine behind it. She covered it with a wry chuckle, tossing him his shirt so he could wipe off, "Jo. She's not here."

"I know that," he growled, downing the rest of his drink aggressively before she could say anything else designed to make him choke.

In the silence that followed, Cherish felt her arms getting tired, the baby she held weighing her down and she bent to set him down on the deck. Chester crawled over to Seven and pulled playfully on his pants, before he started chewing on them. With a light grin Seven picked the boy up, "S'not good for you, Cheese."

The boy twisted in his grasp suddenly, looking around to Cherish, "Thewiss!"

He held his arms out, grabbing at the air in a motion that beckoned for her to come and take him. Cherish could have sworn she saw anger in Seven's face as he set Chester back down; the tiny boy crawled immediately over to her. When he reached Cherish, he turned again and grinned at Seven, "Ba-Ba!"

Cherish laughed at the name he called everyone; he had been calling her that until, well, actually until today. It was silent again, as Chester occupied himself with pulling at her hair and chewing on the arm she had wrapped around him.

"Why the fuck would I be here for Jo?" Seven inquired suddenly, as if he had just registered her earlier words.

"What? Oh, right. I just figured since you two were being such friendly little love bunnies in the hallway the other day..."

"Right."

She didn't miss him shuddering, shaking his head, "That's just wrong."

"Well you didn't seem to think so then," she grinned. She was teasing him- she was teasing him! He would have laughed if he didn't hate her so much.

"Yeah, well she was there and at the time I didn't give a shit who she was."

"That's just wrong!" she echoed his words with a sneer.

"Whatever. You don't know me."

But that hadn't stopped him from making assumptions about her. She was thankful that at that moment the sounds of Juss and Allie barging in the front door broke the awkwardness.

"Finally!" she went inside to greet them, "I thought you guys took off to Mexico, or something!"

"We thought about it!" Juss joked, pushing her back into the yard again. His eyes widened when he saw Seven on the swinging love seat, "Hey Sev! What're you doing here?"

"What, you guys throw parties when I'm not around?" Seven asked with bored accusation.

Ian poked his head out the door somewhat guiltily, "Seven? Why aren't you at work?"

Seven scowled as if remembering his reason for coming home early and finding that his friend had replaced him, with Cherish, no less.

"Got fired," he shrugged, uncaring, and got up. "Well, since you guys are busy I guess I'll-"

"Really? You're gonna leave? We're just hanging out, Sev! Look, I know you two don't get along, so she hangs out when you're at work." Ian all but glared at Seven when he said the words, setting down the pizzas with a thump.

Seven shot an angry look at Cherish, and then settled himself back into the swinging chair, nodding in defeat at Ian. "Sorry, E."

* This is likely the only chapter that does not have a song title.  Because, honestly, I loved my original title so much, and couldn't find anything that suited the chapter well enough.

What do you think of the developments in this chapter?  Cherish hanging out with them?  Cheese?  Seven's jealousy?