Chris slammed the door shut behind him and walked slowly into the bedroom.
Tripetta was sitting on the floor. Her back was against the bed and she was looking at a book and crying. As Chris got closer he could see that it was a photo album of he and Tripetta.
Tripetta looked up and saw him standing there, watching her. She put the photo album down and opened her arms.
Chris gathered her against his chest and held her. Her stroked her hair and looked deep into her eyes.
"I want you to know that nothing happened. I kissed her but that was all. . ." he said. Tripetta's eyes filled with tears.
"But. . ." she began.
Chris cut her off with a kiss.
"I love you. By kissing her I did cheat on you." Tripetta nodded her head and rested her cheek against his.
"I was so worried that you'd leave me," she whispered.
"Why would I leave you? I love you."
"You had the only task that you could benefit from. You got to be with another chick and you got some."
Chris pushed her away from him and shook her.
"I don't ever want to hear you say something like that ever again!" he scolded. "I love you and only you and in no way would I benefit from being with another woman!"
He kissed her passionately. It was a ruthless, desperate kiss. They needed to assure each other that the other was real. Yet in all of it's intensity, it was, in a way, gentle.
Chris swept Tripetta into his arms and carried her to the bed.
"I love you too. Bye Gina," said Corey as he hung up the phone.
He shuddered. Brett looked up from his mystery novel and laughed when he saw the expression on his twin's face.
"If you don't like her then why don't you just break up with her?" he asked. Corey's eyes grew big.
"No! I couldn't do that!" he said almost fearfully.
Brett looked at his brother oddly then shrugged his shoulders. It wasn't any of his business. He returned to his mystery novel.
Jamie walked into the room and smiled at her brothers. Despite their age differences they were incredibly close and told each other everything.
"What's up with my two favorite brothers?" she asked, sitting next to Corey on his bed.
"We're your only brothers," he reminded her.
"Yeah well. . .even if I had a million brothers you two would always be my favorites."
Corey laughed and Brett rolled his eyes. Jamie had always been more affectionate towards Corey. Everyone was more affectionate towards Corey. And it pissed him off. He was jealous of his twin even though he knew that it was wrong.
"I just wanted to say hi and tell you that even though I may act like a bitch sometimes I love you guys." She glanced at Corey and her eyes watered. "Remember that you have a doctor's appointment tomorrow." She brushed the back of her hand over eyes and left the room.
Sasha made herself a cup of tea. She felt guilty.
She hadn't meant to switch Lance's and that other guys lab results and have everyone think that Lance had diabetes. She just hadn't been able to help it.
Sasha had always been prone to mischief and that was why she had been so attracted to Joey. He seemed to be as fun loving as she was. Plus he was a party animal and dynamite in bed.
But he had a girlfriend.
That little fact didn't bother Sasha though. Someone would simply have to be eliminated.
Since the next day was Saturday, September and Jamie had shopping plans.
September didn't want to go. She wanted to spend the day in Lance's arms.
After skinny dipping and making love again they mutually decided that they better get home. September and Lance reluctantly returned to their respective homes where they discovered sand in several places that sand should definitely not be in.
Jamie pulled into September's driveway and honked the horn. The shrill blasts echoed in the early morning stillness.
September walked to Jamie's car. She was wearing a turtleneck and jeans.
"Jamie," she began hesitantly. "I don't feel too well. I don't think that we should go shopping."
"OMIGOD!" squealed Jamie, clasping her hands over her mouth to stifle her hysterical, high pitched giggles.
"What?" asked September blankly.
"You and Lance did the deed!" proclaimed Jamie gaily. September's eyes widened in shock and she shushed her friend.
"Not so loud! My parents are home!" she whispered. "How can you tell?" she asked, irritated that Jamie knew her secret.
"Well, you're a horrible actress, you aren't the least bit sick. Second, you're wearing a turtleneck in the one hundred and twelve degree heat, and that can only mean one thing. . .hickey. Plus you just have a different air about you. You're different." Jamie shrugged and September thought that she looked a bit despondent. Jamie looked longingly at Justin's house.
"I never thought that it would be you first. I always figured it would be me. You never even had a boyfriend until recently and you're so shy and reserved. . .I just never thought that you'd be before me."
"How are things between you and Justin?" asked September.
"Fine. We go out. We talk on the phone. . .but. . .I've been trying to spend more time with Corey." She took a deep breath. "The prognosis isn't very good."
September didn't press for details.
"Why don't you go over and see him?"
Jamie rolled her eyes.
"He and his mother went shopping. He is such a mamas boy!"
September laughed.
"Come on get in," Jamie said. "I'll drive you over to Lance's. I'm sure it would be a lot more fun than spending the day with me." Jamie slanted her friend a sly look.
"That isn't. . ." September began, but Jamie cut her off.
"It's OK. I'll do something with Corey." September got into the car and they were off.
Mariette sat up and pushed JC off of her. He mumbled something and buried his face into his pillow.
She struggled out of the covers wrapped tangled around her body. She was burning up. She scrambled out of bed and into the bathroom.
After she got sick she washed her face and brushed her teeth. I better go to the doctors office, she thought.
"Josh?" she asked, crawling back into bed with him. He rolled over ontop of her and feigned sleep. "Josh! Get off of me!" she grunted. He opened his eyes and gazed down at her, an innocent look on his face.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" he said. He laughed at the look on her face and kissed her. "Oooooh!" he said excitedly, breaking the kiss. "No dragon breath! You were up already?"
"Yeah. I didn't feel well."
"If you aren't pregnant then you really should go to the doctor," he said, concerned.
"Yeah, yeah," Mariette muttered. "But I didn't wake you up to get a lecture!"
"You woke me up for sex?" he asked hopefully.
"No." She laughed at JC's crestfallen expression. "But if you're good. . . I might be willing to do a little somethin' somethin' when you get back." She looked at him coyly.
"When I get back? Where are we going?"
"We are not going anywhere. You are going to the grocery store."
"Why?" he wheedled.
"Because I have a craving for cream cheese so you are going to be a good boy and run to Dunkin Donuts and get me some strawberry cream cheese. And then you are going to go to the Grand Union and get me some Philadelphia whipped cream cheese."
"Why do you need two kinds of cream cheese?"
"The strawberry is for me. The whipped is for you." She smiled.
"What about your period?" he asked, kind of repulsed.
"Over."
"Yes!" JC yelled.
He jumped up and frantically ran to get his clothes on. He kissed her quickly and ran out of the house.
Sammy was practically dancing on air. She waltzed into the apartment that she shared with her identical twin sister, Sasha. She had just met the man of her dreams. She had been shopping and bumped into him. He helped her pick up her bags, then invited her to lunch.
He had been wonderful with his warm brown eyes and funky brown hair with red tips. Her mind played his name over and over again in her head.
Joey.
Joey.
Joey.
"Sasha!" she called. She dropped her bags and ran over to her identical twin sister. "You will never believe what happened!" Sammy was shy and had no trouble meeting guys but she was too shy to pursue any relationship. But she would now.
"I met the most wonderful man!" she gushed, twirling around. "His name is Joey and he's so wonderful and. . .and I think I love him!" Sasha laughed.
"I'm seeing a guy named Joey too."
"Oh but my Joey is so much better than yours! Everything about him is amazing!" A chord of dread sounded in Sasha's brain.
"What's his name?"
"Joey. Joey Fatone."
Sasha's mouth fell open in shock.
"Wha. . .what?" she sputtered. Not only was Joey dating three women now but he had the audacity to cheat on her with her twin sister!
"Joey Fatone. Do you know him?" asked Sammy suspiciously.
"Know him? I fucking sleep with him!" Sasha yelled. Sammy winced.
"I didn't know," she whispered.
Sammy was heartbroken. Tears began to run down her face. Sasha enfolded her identical twin sister in her arms. Joey had hurt both of them. Now it was time to get even.
