Lights Up At The Moroccan by SS (preq to TNOY)

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 20

Georgie slung her heavy bookbag on her shoulder as she walked out of French class, breathing a sigh of relief for the end of the day.
“Hey!” A well intended, albeit quasi-annoying 5’5” weight with hair that had been styled by electro-shock therapy jumped out at her.
“Pain in my ass,” she accused, rolling her eyes exaggeratedly as Dillon slung an arm around her shoulder.
"Yeah, you know you adore me," Dillon said, giving her a sideways glance and a nudge that nearly knocked her down. Before she could object, he plundered on. “Hey, Em emailed me and said she wanted to meet at Kelly’s after school.”
Georgie switched her backpack to the other shoulder. “Uh, dumbass, you know you’re not supposed to be checking email at school...”
“Uh, sycophant, like I care...” Dillon mimicked, his grin quickly replaced by a groan as she belted him in the gut. “Ohhhh...”
“Ah, serves you right,” she tossed over her shoulder, walking away. A smile played on her lips. “Three...two...one...”
Dillon grabbed her shoulders. “Right on time,” Georgie whispered to herself. She looked over her shoulder, sticking her tongue out at him.
He returned the gesture. “So Kelly’s?” He asked.
Georgie nodded. “Sounds good.”
Passing the bulletin board, a hot pink flyer caught Dillon’s eye. Tearing it down, he waved the sheet in Georgie’s face. "Oohh, look at this!"
'Valentine's Dance,” she read aloud, “Bring your Sweetheart!” She groaned, rolling her eyes. “Ugh, retch.” She tore the flyer apart vengefully, crumpling the two halves up and throwing them emphatically in the wastebin. “Valentine’s bites me.”
Dillon laughed, rolling his eyes at her. "Are we bitter, Miss Hearts and Flowers of Port Charles, New York?”
"Oh shut up," she said, hitting his shoulder as they made their way out of the crowded building and into the cool winter air. She tossed her hair out of her eyes. “Change of topic, please.”
Dillon nodded. “Okay,” he conceded. “I think Melissa McNeary wasn’t wearing any underwear today, because when I passed by her locker after third, she was bending over and you could see-”
“-Another topic!” Georgie yelled, punching him in the arm.
Dillon shook his arm and grabbed it exaggeratedly. “Ahhh...” he complained, giving her an injured look. “Abusive...”

Emily, Zander, Elizabeth and Lucky were all sitting at a table in Kelly's when Dillon and Georgie walked in.
Georgie dropped her backpack to the floor, sitting down next to Lucky. "Hi everyone," she said, smiling.
Dillon sat down next to Emily, putting his backpack on the back of his chair. "What's up?" He asked, looking around the table.
"Hey Dillon," Emily said, taking a sip of her coke.
"Hey babydoll," Lucky said, leaning close to Georgie, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Hi Lucky," she said, looking at him.
"How was your day?" He asked, smoothing her hair.
"It was okay," she told him, nodding her head slightly.
He nodded, winking at her. Lately, he was the only one, besides Dillon, of course, who was able to make her laugh, or feel better after she had a bad day.
"Hey Liz," Em asked, looking across the table at her best friend. "do you have to work tonight?"
Elizabeth shook her head, swallowing the food she had in her mouth, and quickly taking a sip of her water. "No, but I have class at 6, and then I need to go shopping for a dress for Friday."
Georgie sighed, loudly, causing everyone to look at her.
"What's wrong?" Emily asked, concerned.
Dillon spoke up, answering his cousin's question before Georgie. "Oh, Princess Georgie here is being wonderfully optimistic about the PC High Valentine's Dance."
"Dillon, man, you should ask Georgie to go with you." Zander told him.
“Mmmhmmm, you two should be Valentines!” Emily exclaimed, ignoring the incredulous looks from the two teenagers.
"Yeah, I'm sure you two would have a great time together," Elizabeth added, earning an annoyed look from both teenagers. "Or not." She said quietly, taking another sip of her water.
"Yeah, I'll go to the dance with him as soon as I get my lobotomy." Georgie said, staring at Dillon and then looking around the table.
Lucky couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh come on," Emily said, looking at Georgie. "it can't be that bad."
Georgie rolled her eyes. “Clearly you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be at a Valentine’s Dance surrounded by a bunch of cheesy, face-sucking couples.” She crossed her arms defiantly over her chest. “Aren’t we supposed to stay at home with a pint of ice cream and watch Carrie or something?”
Elizabeth laughed. “That’s for prom night,” she spoke up. “Even I know that.”
Dillon flicked Georgie on the side of the head. “Come on Pessimistic Polly,” he quipped.
Georgie scowled at him. “Don’t call me Polly,” she snapped.
He stuck out his tongue. “Polly wanna cracker?”
“Dillon want Georgie’s fist up his nose?” She shot back, glaring at him.
“Uh, Georgie,” Emily ventured, “you okay?”
She looked down. “Yeah,” she conceded. “I’m sorry. I just...I don’t know, Valentine’s annoys me. It’s all...you’re inferior if you’re not With someone.” She sucked noisily at the root beer Lucky had ordered for her. “I don’t know.”
The adults exchanged glances, not sure of how to respond. Dillon grabbed the glass out of Georgie’s hand, sucking down the sugary liquid, amidst her protests. He gulped the root beer down.
“Hey,” he said, turning to her. “Do you still have that black hole-y dress that you think is so cool?”
“Holy dress?” Zander asked. “What, like a nun’s habit?”
Emily rolled her eyes affectionately at him. “Crochet,” she explained. “Like, with holes.”
Georgie nodded at Dillon. “Yeah,” she replied, “why?”
He passed the glass back to her. “You’re wearing it to the dance Friday night,” he informed her.
Georgie raised an eyebrow. “I am?”
“Really?” Elizabeth asked, wrinkling her nose. “Black? Georgie, I could take you shopping tonight.”
Dillon shook his head. “No no,” he insisted. “She’ll be perfect.” He turned to Georgie. "So how about it, huh?” he asked. “You wanna be my Valentine?"
She leaned back in her chair. "Ah, I guess, if I don't get a better offer."
Dillon nodded, grinning. “See, this,” he said, looking around at the others, “this is what it’s going to be like when I propose to my first wife. This is a preview.”
Lucky laughed. “First wife?”
Dillon shrugged. “Well, sure,” he replied. “I’m a Quartermaine. Who among us ever heard of happily ever after.”
Emily reached over the table to poke Dillon in the chest. “That’s really cute, really,” she intoned.
Dillon shrugged, smiling disarmingly. “I know!” He poked Georgie in the ribs. “So you in?”
She sighed. “Ah, what the hell?”
“Flattery, I tell you,” Dillon quipped. He tilted his head at Georgie. “All right, so come over at five, okay?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Five?” she asked. “Why? The dance doesn’t start until eight.”
Dillon rolled his eyes. “Would you just freakin’ trust me?” He demanded. He stuffed a handful of french fries in his mouth. “Women!”

Preview:
“You hate me, don’t you?"

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 21

“Dillon, what on earth did you order from the pizzeria?”
Dillon opened his door to reveal Emily, swathed tightly in a silk dressing gown, her hair up in curlers, holding a pungent box in her hands.
“Pizza,” he replied, grinning. “And you look stylin’.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Hush child. What kind of pizza?”
Dillon opened the box, releasing the strong aroma even more. “Pepperoni, onions, hot peppers and extra garlic.”
Emily pressed a hand to her mouth. “Good god. Are you trying to kill Georgie?” she demanded.
As if on cue, they heard a voice calling from downstairs.
“Hello?” she called shyly. “Dillon? The door was open...”
“Classic anti- Valentine’s pizza,” he tossed over his shoulder, leaving the room.
Emily laughed. “Nice timing,” she quipped, following Dillon as he made his way down the hall.
He leaned over the banister. “Hey!” He called down to Georgie, who stood in the foyer, looking around with the wide-eyed look she always had when she stepped into the cavernous Quartermaine mansion. “Come on up.”
Georgie smiled and ran up the stairs toward him.
“Hey,” she said, grinning at him.
“Hey,” he replied, stepping aside to let her pass, and tugging on one of the braids she wore in her hair.
“Wench,” she muttered good-naturedly. “Hi Emily.” She unbuttoned her royal blue coat, shrugging it off her shoulder.
“Hey Georgie,” Emily answered, with a smile. “Oh you look so pretty!”
Georgie smiled self-consciously, tugging at the black short-sleeved crochet dress that reached her calves. “Thanks,” she said. Turning to Dillon, she gestured to the dress. “This what you had in mind?” She asked, “Am I okay?”
He glanced her over. “Ah, you’ll do,” he tossed off, non-comittally.
Emily shook her head at him. “You’ll do?” she repeated, reproachfully. “Dillon Quartermaine, didn’t your mother teach you any...” she trailed off, nodding at the bemused look in his eye. “Okay, forget that,” she conceded. “But good lord, at least tell her how pretty she looks.”
“Emily!” Georgie blushed.
Dillon rolled his eyes slightly. “You look pretty,” he deadpanned to Georgie in a robotic voice.
She snorted. “Thanks,” she replied, sounding bored. “And you’re all kinds of...” she gestured to his black sweater and black pants, “what have you too.”
“Eh, thanks,” he tossed off as Emily rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Pizza’s here.” He moved toward his bedroom.
“Oh cool!” Georgie followed him, turning back to wave and smile at Emily, who waved back and shook her head in incredulity as Georgie and Dillon disappeared into his room.
“Oh my goodness...”

"Mmm," Georgie sighed, finishing her slice of pizza and falling back against the pillows on Dillon's bed.
"I'm stuffed," Dillon said, laying down next to her.
"Uh huh," she nodded her head, as her eyes began closing.
He looked over at her and rolled his eyes. "Hey!" He yelled, gently smacking her arm, causing her to open her eyes. "No sleeping!"
She laughed, slowly sitting up and leaning her head against the headboard. "Fine."
"So, what's your sister doing tonight?" He asked, trying to make conversation.
"Ugh," Georgie rolled her eyes. "she's going to the Valentine's Dance with some senior jock."
”Nice...” Dillon whistled. “He’s got to be a keeper.”
Georgie rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah,” she drawled. “And you should have seen the dress she bought. Actually, come to think of it, you will.”
Dillon nodded. “Sure,” he replied. “Assuming that Maxie actuallygoes to the dance and doesn’t just go off with Mr. All-State in his car to...” he gesticulated, “do...stuff...”
Georgie’s face twisted into a look of horror and disgust. “Oh ew!” she cried. “Ew, ew, ew!” She smacked Dillon hard on the top of his arm.
“Ahhh! Quit beating on me!” He dove away from her, rolling off the bed.
She kicked in his direction. “Don’t say things like that!” She flipped over on her stomach. “All right, Quartermaine, what did I have to come over here early for, besides lethal pizza? I could be at home right now, reading The Glass Menagerie and enjoying two and a half extra hours in my pajamas.”
Dillon laughed, going over to his desk and holding up a DVD. “This is what for,” he announced grandly.
Georgie peered at the case. “Love Story?”
Dillon nodded. “You said you’d never seen it,” he reminded her.
She nodded slowly. “Right...”
Dillon slid the disc into his DVD player, flopping on his stomach next to Georgie. He flicked one of her braids as the opening music began.

“You hate me, don’t you?” Georgie accused him as the end credits rolled.
Dillon propped himself up on his elbow, looking innocently at her. “What do you mean,” he asked angelically. “You weren’t moved by the love of Jenny and Oliver?”
Georgie raised an eyebrow. “Oh something moved,” she grumbled. “Like those four slices of pizza back into my esophagus.”
Dillon laughed, sitting up. “I know,” he said, “wasn’t that horrible?”
Georgie swooned, falling into Dillon.
“Oomph,” he grunted, catching her.
She pressed a dramatic hand to her forehead. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry!” she proclaimed in a high-pitched voice, throwing her arms around Dillon’s neck, knocking him backwards on to the pillows. He laughed, pulling her down with him.
“Boom,” she announced, as she fell on top of him.
Dillon laughed, reaching up from underneath her to tickle her ribs. She squealed, trying to get away but he held fast to her. She nearly got away, but Dillon flipped her over quickly so that he was lying on top of her. They stared at each other, eyes narrowed, challenging.
“Come on,” he said, finally relenting. He rolled off of her and on to the floor. “Let’s go. Dance time.”
“Can I bring pig’s blood?” Georgie asked, as Dillon pulled her to her feet.
He laughed. “Sure, just find a telekinetic in a tiara to pour it on...”

"Ugh," Georgie said, rolling her eyes as they entered the decorated gym. "I cannot believe you convinced me into coming here with you. I mean, look at this place."
Dillon laughed as he looked around the room. There was a bunch of red, white and pink balloons, some tied to chairs, while others floated about. Couples, who's clothing matched, were dancing on the dance floor, others making out in dark corners where the chaperones couldn't see them.
"Hey Georgie?" He asked, elbowing her in the side.
She looked over at him, not saying anything.
He cocked his head in the direction of a couple who were making out in a corner. "Wanna go make out?" He asked, a serious look plastered across his face, until Georgie gave him a dirty look and then he started cracking up. "Come on," he said, grabbing her head and dragging her over to a table that held the punch bowl.
"You have got to be kidding me," Georgie said, looking at the sign in front of the bowl. "Love Potion #9?"
"Dare me to try it?" He asked her, picking up a plastic cup and scooping some of the punch into it.
"You would not." She said, trying to grab the cup from him, but he quickly pulled it out of her reach.
"What's the worst that can happen?" He asked, putting the cup to his lips and taking a big gulp. "Oh God!" He exclaimed as he set the cup down on the table and ran out of the gym, leaving Georgie behind.
"Dillon!" She called after him, but it was too late.
She walked out of the double doors into the cool hallway. "Dillon?" She called out, her voice echoing down the hall.
She saw him standing over the water fountain. "That was horrible!" He said, backing away from the fountain and leaning up against the wall.
"I told you not to drink it." Georgie told him, standing next to him.
He looked over at her and rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Romeo," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him off the wall.
"But I don't want to go back in there!" He whined as she pulled him back into the gym.
"Too bad," Georgie told him as they stood back watching all of the couples dance. "this was your brilliant idea, remember?" She said, turning her head to look at him.
"Oh shut up!" He said, leaning back against the wall. A balloon floated over and hit him in the head. He looked up annoyed, and swatted it away. "Stupid dance!" He yelled, just as a teacher walked by.
"Don't worry about him," Georgie told the teacher as she continued walking. "Hey you! People are going to start thinking something's wrong with you, knock it off!"
Dillon looked over at her, smiling slightly. He turned his attention back to the dance floor, where he noticed Maxie for the first time that night. "Hey!" He said, quickly smacking Georgie in the arm.
"Ouch," she said, rubbing her arm.
"Sorry," he said, glancing at her. "Look, it's your sister."
Georgie rolled her eyes. "So she actually did show up."
"Yuck," he said, making a face. "and look at that dress!"
"I told you," Georgie said, leaning back against the wall.
"Looks like she stole that dress from Barbie’s wardrobe." Dillon said, laughing.
Georgie just looked at him. "How would you know what Barbie’s wardrobe looks like?"
"I -- I don't! I was just saying.." Dillon shuttered, his face turning a slight shade of red.
"Sure.." Georgie said, leaning her head against his shoulder.

Georgie rolled her eyes at a girl with chemically straightened hair, wearing a black lycra catsuit with a silver heart chain belt.
“There’s an advertisement for birth control,” she muttered. Hearing her, Dillon choked.
“Ahhhh...I just got Love Potion #Could We Be Any Cheesier Punch up my nose!” He moaned.
Georgie laughed, in spite of herself, leaning slightly against Dillon.
“Aren’t you two going to dance?”
They turned around. “Hi Miss Crain,” Georgie replied, smiling politely at the school’s art teacher and drama club advisor. A voluptous woman in her late fifties, Miss Crane was notoriously eccentric. Dillon looked down, hiding a smirk as she tossed her red feather boa around her throat.
“Uh, we’re just taking a break, right Georgie?”
She flashed a winning smile. “That’s right!”
Miss Crain seemed to accept this. “Beautiful night, darlings, beautiful night,” she called, moving into the throng.
They smiled and waved. Dillon leaned down, whispering in Georgie’s ear. “Beautiful night, darlings!”
Georgie mimed tossing something around her neck. “Do you adore my feather boa? Isn’t it smashing?”
“Quite,” Dillon replied, blushing red as his voice cracked. Georgie laughed, pressing a hand to her mouth to stifle the sound. He rolled his eyes. “Quiet.” She grinned cheekily at him.
Standing side by side, they watched their schoolmates gyrate to Barenaked Ladies. Dillon elbowed Georgie lightly.
“What do you think,” he asked. “As long as we’re here, I guess we should at least dance to one.” He raised an eyebrow in question.
Georgie nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I guess we don’t have to be completely beliggerent about it,” she conceded.
Dillon rolled his eyes. “Georgie, the SATs are three years away,” he objected, poking her in the ribs. “Stop prepping!”
She poked him back. “Shut up.”
Dillon held up his hands in surrender. “OK,” he said, “so how about, next slow song? One dance, we hit the quota, all she wrote?”
Georgie nodded. “Deal.”
They high fived their agreement.
“Okay, kids,” the DJ called. “It’s time to get in the mood and slow it down...”
Dillon reached for Georgie’s hand. “No time like the present,” he commented, pulling her close. He brought her hand up around his neck, placing his hands on her waist in anticipation. The music began.
Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you...
“No,” Georgie said emphatically, stepping away from Dillon.
He moved back just as quickly. “Uh uh.”
Georgie shot an annoyed look at the DJ. “Veto.”
“Ugh,” Dillon shuddered. “Insipid.” He looked at Georgie. “Kelly’s?” He asked. “Fries and shakes?”
Georgie nodded vehemently. “Oh yes,” she agreed.
Dillon nodded to the exit. “Make like a baby?” He asked.
Georgie tilted her head. “Eh?”
They headed toward the exit. “Head out,” Dillon explained, stepping out of the way of an amorous couple.
Georgie laughed. “Colorful.” She giggled. “Let’s make like a bread truck,” she quipped as they reached the gym door.
Dillon peered at her. “A bread truck?” He jumped as Georgie smacked his ass.
“Haul buns,” she replied, pushing the door open.
“Did you just-” He shook his head, gaping at her.
Georgie laughed, racing down the hall. “Last one out’s buying,” she called back.
Dillon tore down the hall after her.

Preview:
"Oh my god, Maxie!"

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 22


Georgie walked into the girls bathroom, which was empty. She quickly looked in the mirror, pulling her hair up into a messy ponytail before walking into one of the stalls.
She heard the door swing open and a bunch of talkative girls walk in.
"Can you believe John," one of the girls said, her voice loud. "I can't believe he won't go to Charlie's party with me!"
"He's a loser!" Another girl replied.
"Holly, he is not!"
"Michelle, you should see if Dillon Quartermaine will go with you." Holly replied, her voice a bit lower now.
Georgie quietly stood against the door, listening to what they had to say next.
"He is so hot!" Another girl finally spoke up.
"Amber," Michelle rolled her eyes before talking again. "I think he and Georgie Jones are together."
"Why would you think that?" Holly asked, sounding a bit shocked.
"Because they are always hanging out!" Michelle told her.
"That doesn't mean anything," Holly said, as she began walking toward the door, Michelle right behind her.
"Whatever." Amber replied, as they all left and the bathroom was quite once again.
Georgie unlocked the stall door and stepped out. "Me and Dillon?" She said to herself, looking in the mirror. "No," she replied, shaking her head.

“Amber Knudsen thinks you’re hot,” Georgie announced, sliding into a seat next to Dillon.
He wrinkled his nose, talking around a huge mouthful of chicken salad sandwich. “Amber Knudsen is a statistic waiting to happen,” he muttered. “Anyone else?”
Georgie scoffed. “Thinks you’re hot? Uh...Michelle Van Atten, who also thinks that I date you...” She rolled her eyes.
Dillon noticed. “You’d be lucky,” he informed her.
“Haha,” she shot back. “You’d be lucky.” He raised an eyebrow, jamming more of his sandwich into his mouth. “And Holly Stratford told Michelle to ask you to a party.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Dillon interrupted, his mouth still full. “I thought they thought I was with you?”
Georgie shook her head, piercing a juice box delicately with her straw. “No, no,” she clarified, “Michelle thought we were, but Holly told him we’re not.”
Dillon swallowed. “Holly’s pretty cute,” he mused. He reached for his Mountain Dew.
Georgie smiled. “You have celery on your face.” She chuckled as he moved his hand up to wipe it away. “So, then why don’t you ask her out,” she demanded. “She’s in my French class, she’s really nice - and she’s not crawling with VD.”
Dillon laughed, spraying chartreuse soda out his nose. “Owww...” he moaned. “I have Mountain Dew in my sinuses.”
“Slob,” Georgie accused, handing him a handful of napkins.
Dillon regarded her as she helped him soak up the mess on the table. “You’re all the estrogen I can handle,” he informed her. “I’ve got my whole life to put up with chicks. I’m young, I like my freedom.”
Georgie rolled her eyes, biting into a hard boiled egg. “I’m sure the National Organization for Women appreciates your support,” she said sarcastically, wrinkling her nose at the bland taste of the egg. Dillon raised an eyebrow, handing her the salt without being asked.
“So, why don’t you date?” He asked, peering at her.
Georgie rolled her eyes, sprinkling the salt on to her egg yolk. “Hello,” she replied. “Guys don’t look at me that way!”
“Yeah, they do,” he countered, in nauseated tones. She just rolled her eyes again. “Okay,” he asked, leaning forward, “who would you want to have interested in you?”
Georgie bit her lip. “Charlie Hunter,” she confessed, blushing.
Dillon groaned. “Are you kidding me?” he cried. “You have horrible taste in guys.”
“Thank you, Dillon!”
“Charlie Hunter is a brainless Doppelganger who doesn’t know the difference between Kirk Cameron and Cameron Crowe. I expected better from you, Georgie.” He crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head at her.
“Shut up,” she shot back. “Like it matters. I told you, guys don’t look at me like that. Trust me.” She sucked noisily on her straw.
“Trust me, they do,” Dillon argued. He sighed.
Georgie pursed her lips. “Prove it.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Mike Banner said you have a good ass.”
“Mike Banner,” Georgie deadpanned, “is gross, and is probably going to grow up to be a child molester.”
Dillon snorted. “You want a cookie?” He held out an oatmeal raisin.
She took it, biting into it viciously.
“Ouch,” he joked.

"Alright," Maxie said, grabbing a few text books out of her locker. "I'll see you tonight, at seven?" She asked, looking up at a tall, dark haired senior.
"Yeah," Josh said, nodding his head as he threw his backpack over his shoulder. "I'll see you later tonight."
"Uhh, Maxie," Georgie said, standing behind her sister. "Mac wants us home tonight for dinner, or did you forget?"
Maxie quickly turned around and gave her younger sister an annoyed look before quickly turning back to Josh. "I'll see you tonight, okay?" She asked, smiling brightly.
"Okay, I'll pick you up at your house at 7:00." He told her, leaning forward and kissing her quickly. "Later," he said, walking away.
"Maxie!" Georgie sounded annoyed. "You cannot go out tonight!"
"Hey Georgie!" Dillon shouted, running up behind her and grabbing her shoulders.
"Yes, I can, and I am." Maxie informed her as she slammed her locker shut, threw her purse over her shoulder and starting walking away.
“Maxie!” Georgie started to run after her sister, but Dillon held her back.
“Just let her go,” he encouraged. “She’s being a brat.”
“I know,” Georgie replied, rolling her eyes as she wrenched out of his grasp, “but we’re supposed to call our mom for her birthday tonight.”
She hurried down the hall, pushing through the double doors. “Maxie!” she yelled, Dillon on her heels. She raced up to her sister. “Did you forget about Mom’s birthday?”
Maxie’s blond ponytail flounced. “No,” she sneered. “I’ll call her.”
“We’re supposed to call her together,” Georgie countered.
Maxie rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a baby, Georgie,” she scoffed. “Mom will understand if we don’t sing Happy Birthday to her in unison like when we were little kids.” She threw Georgie a glance before racing across the front lawn.
“Pain in my butt,” Georgie muttered, looking at Maxie’s back as she ran into the street, cutting diagonally across the road toward a group of kids heading away from the school.
“Watch out,” Dillon yelled, spotting a motorcycle as it careened around the corner. There was a sickening thud.
Georgie screamed. “Oh my god, Maxie!”



Preview:

“Closest I could get to the real thing.”

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 23

“Dad!” Georgie stood up, rushing over to Mac. “What’s going on? Is Maxie okay? What happened? Tell me!” She panted, slightly hysterical.
Mac drew Georgie toward him, hugging her gently. “It’s okay,” he soothed quietly. “It’s all right.”
“What’s wrong?” she almost screamed.
He held her shoulders, stooping down to look her in the eye. “Maxie’s going to be fine,” he assured her. “The doctors say that she got lucky.”
“Lucky?” Georgie sputtered. “How is getting hit by a motorcycle lucky?”
Mac stroked Georgie’s hair, trying to calm his daughter. “There’s no internal bleeding,” he told her, “no spine injuries, no damage to any of her organs. It’s a concussion, and broken ribs, lots of bumps and bruises, but nothing that won’t heal.”
Georgie gulped. “Does she need surgery?”
Mac shook his head. “No baby.”
Her lower lip trembled and tears came to her eyes. “She’s not going to die?”
Mac shook his head again. “No. Absolutely not. She’s going to be fine.”
Georgie’s face crumpled. Her body shook, as Mac quickly gathered her close, holding her up.
“I was so scared,” she sobbed, the words getting muddled in her throat. “When I saw the- it hit her, and she - lying, and-and-and-” her knees started to give way and Mac lifted her up quickly, straining slightly under her weight, carrying her to the nearby couches.
Setting her down on the couch, he held her close to him, feeling her tears soaking through his shirt.
“You were so brave,” he murmured, “I’m so proud of you.”
Slowly her tears subsided. She pulled her head off Mac’s shoulder, noticing the damage she’d done.
“Ohhh...” she whimpered, “your shirt.”
He laughed ruefully. “Oh, it’s kind of ugly anyway, isn’t it?”
Georgie giggled slightly, looking at the tannish color. “Kinda,” she admitted. She rubbed at teary eyes.
“Um, excuse me.”
They looked up. Dillon stood by the couch, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Um, here, Mr. Scorpio,” he said, holding out a cup of coffee. “It’s probably not very good, but um-”
“Thank you, Dillon,” Mac replied, accepting the cup. “Very nice of you.”
Dillon nodded. “Of course.” He extended a blue package to Georgie. “Closest I could get to the real thing,” he explained, apologetically.
Georgie took the package. Her chin quivered once again. “That’s so sweet,” she sobbed, putting the package of S’mores Pop Tarts aside, and rising from the couch to throw her arms around Dillon’s neck.
“Whoa,” he whispered, catching her as she flung herself into his arms. She clung to him, crying again. He rubbed her back and made soothing sounds, not knowing quite what to do.
“Excuse me,” a nurse said, coming over, “your daughter is all set up in her room.”
“Thank you,” Mac replied.
“Georgie, did you hear,” Dillon whispered. “You can go see Maxie-” he tried to release her from his grasp, but she held on tighter.
“No!” she insisted, squeezing him so tight, he could hardly breathe.
“Okay, okay,” he said quickly, wrapping his arms around her again. He looked helplessly over Georgie’s shoulder at Mac.
“Just let her calm down,” Mac mouthed.
Dillon nodded, trying not to cringe as Georgie dug her nails into his skin. Mac mouthed thanks, and moved toward the corridor.
Dillon eased Georgie toward the couches. “Okay,” he said quietly. “Let’s sit.”
After a few minutes, Georgie lifted her head from Dillon's shoulder and looked up at him. "Thank you," she said, wiping her face.
"For what?" Dillon asked, turning a bit so that he was facing her.
"For being here," she said, picking up the package of pop tarts.
"Hey," he put his hand on her shoulder. "you don't need to thank me." He told her, removing his hand from her shoulder and looking toward the elevators, not knowing what else to say.
"You know," Georgie spoke up again. "it seems so childish, the way Maxie and I fight all of the time, over the most ridiculous things, too." She looked down at the package as she talked. "And today, I thought I was going to lose her.." Her words drifted off as she looked back up at Dillon, tears filling her eyes again.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up over what happened. It wasn't your fault." He assured her, rubbing her back soothingly.
She smiled slightly. "You always know the right things to say," she told him.
He just smiled at her as she tore open the package of pop tarts, pulling one out and biting into it.
"Hey, don't bogart the pop tarts, man!" He teased, holding out his hand.
Georgie laughed and broke it in half, giving him the half she hadn't taken a bite out of yet.
"Thank you," he smiled, biting into it. "Hmm, these are pretty good."
Georgie nodded her head as she finished swallowing what was in her mouth. "Yeah, but nothing beats the original."
"Of course not! We'll have to make them again some night," he said, looking up at her.
"Sounds like a plan." She told him, finishing the rest of her pop tart.

"You okay?" Dillon asked, his hand rested on the small of Georgie's back as they stood outside of Maxie's hospital room.
Georgie shook her head. "I'm okay."
"Alright," he said, slowly opening the door and standing back as she walked into the room.
"Hey brat," Maxie said smiling. "Come here."
"Go ahead," Dillon coaxed her. "I'll be right back, okay?"
Georgie turned to face him. "Okay."
He shut the door as Georgie walked over to the hospital bed her sister was laying in. "Are you okay?" She asked, her voice shaky.
"I'm fine," Maxie assured her. "just a little sore."
"I'm sorry," Georgie said, shaking her head as tears filled her eyes.
"Hey," Maxie took her sisters hand in her own and rubbed it. "you have nothing to be sorry about, this isn't your fault. I promise, I'm okay."
Georgie shook her head as she wiped the tears away.
"Come here," Maxie said, holding out her arms. Georgie gave her sister a quick hug. "I love you." Maxie told her once they pulled apart.
Georgie smiled slightly, she hadn't heard her sister tell her that in a long time. "I love you, too."
The door opened and Georgie turned around.
"Hi girls," Mac said, walking over to them. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," Maxie said, looking up at Georgie and smiling.
Mac moved toward the bed, brushing Maxie’s hair out of her eyes and kissing the top of her head. “How are you feeling?” He asked. “Much pain?”
She shook her head, wincing. “Yeah, a little,” she admitted, “but the medicine is helping.” She looked up at Mac. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a brat lately.” She smiled self-loathingly. “This is all my fault.”
“No,” Georgie insisted. “It’s not.”
“Absolutely not,” Mac added. “This is the fault of the punk who was riding his damn bike too fast in a school zone.
“Yeah, but if I hadn’t been trying to run away from you,” Maxie said to Georgie. She looked up at Mac. “Don’t tell Mom, okay? I don’t want to ruin her birthday.”

Dillon stepped outside and inhaled the cool winter air, he ran his hand through his hair and looked up at the sky. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a quarter and put it into the pay phone, quickly dialing a number.
"Hi Emily," He said, once she picked up.
"Hi, where are you? Lucky and I were wondering if you and Georgie wanted to watch a movie with us tonight." She asked, waiting for his response.
"We'll have to take a raincheck," He sighed before going on. "We're at General Hospital, Maxie got into an accident."
"Oh my.. Dillon, is she okay? What happened?" Emily asked, panic rising in her voice.
"She's going to be fine. She has a concussion, a few broken ribs and of course, bumps and bruises. I just wanted to call and let you know where I was." He told her, kicking his foot at the sidewalk.
Emily breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, I'll be sure to let Ned know, and I'll be over to the hospital in about 10 minutes."
"Thank you, Em. I'll see you soon." He told her, just before hanging up and walking back into the hospital.

“This is disgusting,” Maxie complained, poking at the pale JellO on her tray. “You want some.”
“Ew,” Georgie replied. “No thank you.”
The door cracked open.
“Um, sorry,” Dillon ventured. “Do um, is there anything that you guys need?”
“I think we’re good,” Georgie started, but Maxie cut her off.
“Actually,” she said, gesturing Dillon into the room, “Georgie will you go get me some chocolate pudding?” She bit her lip. “I want to talk to Dillon.”
He did a double take. “To me?”
“Yeah,” she replied. “If that’s okay.” He nodded, tapping Georgie’s hand as she passed him on her way to the door.
Georgie slipped into the hall, leaving Maxie and Dillon alone.
“So, um,” he stuttered, pulling up a chair. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
She shifted in bed, wincing at little. “I haven’t been very nice to you,” she began.
“No, no,” Dillon tried to deny her words. “You’ve been - I mean it’s-”
“I’ve been a bitch,” Maxie interrupted.
Dillon’s eyes popped open, surprised by her strong words. “No, um -” he levelled with her. “Well, yeah, yeah, kind of,” he agreed.
She smiled slightly. “I’m sorry,” she said, “I really am.”
Dillon looked at her, wincing at the sight of the angry bruises on her cheeks. “It’s - don’t worry about it,” he assured her.
“I know you must not like me very much,” Maxie began, “but um, Georgie said that you were really helpful, that you told someone to get an ambulance and you called Mac and helped her and stuff, so um, thank you.”
Dillon nodded. “You don’t have to thank me,” he said. “You were hurt, Georgie was upset. It...it wasn’t anything big, you know?”
Maxie didn’t say anything. Dillon stared at the pattern of speckles on the tile.
“Dillon?” Maxie ventured. “Can I ask you something?”
He looked up. “Umm, okay.”
She shifted slightly, sitting up a little. “Are you in love with my sister?”

Preview:

“So what did you and Maxie talk about?”

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 24

Dillon stared at Maxie, aghast. “What?” He sputtered. “In love - no!”
“Come on,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“Not at all,” he insisted, vehemently.
Maxie shook her head. “You’re not allowed to lie to someone who’s in the hospital,” she replied, looking expectantly at him.
“Ugh!” Dillon exhaled loudly. “Fine,” he said, levelling with her. “I have...a tiny crush on her. Sometimes.”
“Yes,” Maxie cheered. “I knew it.”
Dillon rolled his eyes. “Shut up,” he admonished. “It’s a tiny little thing. And not even all the time. It’s not like I lie awake thinking about her.”
“Well,” Maxie teased, “have you ever?”
Dillon stared her down. “Once,” he replied, his eyes narrowed. “And it wasn’t like you’re thinking. You guys were in Paris, I was bored stiff, and I missed my friend, that’s it,” he said sternly.
Maxie bit her lip, amused. “Well, why don’t you ask her out then?” she queried.
He shook his head. “No, no, it’s not like that.”
“Really?”
“No,” he said. “It’s not one of those desire-romance-love-date-Some-Kind-of-Wonderful-whatever crushes. Just one of those little things that you get on close friends sometimes. You don’t do anything about it.”
Maxie suppressed a laugh. “So you’ve had these sorts of things before?”
“Well, no” Dillon admitted, “Georgie’s my first real friend, but it’s just, it’s not like that.”
She looked at him. “You sure?”
“Yes,” he replied firmly. “I’m sure.”
She nodded. “Okay,” she said, “but does it - does it bother you when I tease you guys?”
Dillon rolled his eyes. “Well, kinda,” he said, “but not because I have...designs...on Georgie or anything. Just ‘cause-” Maxie winced. Dillon shot forward. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, cringing. “It just...ow, it hurts to breathe. My ribs.”
“Do you want me to get someone?” He asked, concerned, “your dad or a nurse or someone?”
Maxie shook her head, stretching her hands out as if to try to let the pain shoot out the ends of her fingernails. Dillon grabbed her hands.
“Squeeze hard,” he instructed. “Shallow breaths.”
Maxie accepted his hands, squeezing them tight. She breathed slowly. “Okay,” she said after a minute. “Okay.”
“You sure?” Dillon queried.
She nodded. “Yeah. It just...felt sharp for a minute there.”
“You sure you don’t want me to get anyone for you?”
She nodded again. “Positive.”
“Okay.” Dillon patted her hands, placing them back on the blanket. They both glanced around, a little uncomfortable.
“Sorry,” Maxie said. “I guess I kind of broke up what you were saying.”
Dillon shook his head. “No no no! Don’t - don’t apologize,” he exclaimed. “You’re hurt.” He sighed. “But - well, you really want to know?”
She nodded. “Please.”
Dillon exhaled, pulling his chair closer to the bed. He leaned close to Maxie. “Look,” he said emphatically. “I don’t know why you think Georgie is such a geek. I mean, I know it’s some sister thing or whatever that I just don’t get, but she’s actually totally cool.”
Maxie closed her eyes, nodding. “I know,” she whispered.
Dillon shook his head. “Wait, you do?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
He was perplexed. “Then...then why do you bag on her all the time about being a nerd?”
Maxie sighed, opening her eyes. “I don’t know,” she confessed. “I really don’t.” She offered him a half-smile. “Look, Dillon, I know when I’m being a jerk, okay, I do. I just don’t really have a good excuse for why.” She avoided his eyes. “Georgie...she’s not afraid to be herself, you know?”
Dillon suppressed a laugh. “Sure she is,” he confided. “Everyone’s afraid to be themselves, but look - whatever you’re afraid of - don’t take it out on Georgie, okay??” He fixed his gaze on Maxie. “Look, your sister? Is probably the coolest person I know. And,” he added, “now that you’re being honest and civil, you’re actually pretty cool yourself.”

"Georgie," Emily said, walking toward the younger girl. "How are you sweetie?" She asked, hugging her immediately.
Georgie smiled, returning the hug. "I'm fine, thanks for asking." She said, once they pulled away.
"Hi Mac," Emily said, looking toward him. "Dillon called me and told me what happened. I'm glad Maxie is okay."
"Thank you," He said, smiling slightly.
"Hey," Emily began to say, turning her attention back to Georgie. "Would you like to come back to the mansion with Dillon and I and watch a movie with us? Lucky is supposed to be coming over soon."
"I would like that," Georgie said nodding her head. She turned to look at Mac. "but I don't think I should leave."
Mac shook his head and stepped closer to Georgie, bending down so that he was eye level with her. "The doctors say that Maxie is doing just fine, she just needs to rest." He looked up at Emily and then back at Georgie. "It's been a long, rough day, so why don't you go to the Quartermaines and watch a movie."
Georgie looked up at Emily. "Are you sure it's okay?"
"Are you kidding?" Emily bent down next to her. "Lucky loves you, I'm sure he won't mind at all."
Georgie smiled and looked back at Mac. "Okay," she said as both Emily and Mac stood back up. "I just want to go say goodnight to Maxie."
"Okay," Mac said, as he and Georgie hugged.
They all headed toward the elevator. Mac looked over at Emily and mouthed, "Thank you.”

"Is it safe to enter?" Georgie asked, cracking the door. "Any blood spilled?"
Emily laughed as she stood behind her.
"You can come in," Maxie said, trying not to laugh to hard. "We actually didn't kill each other, can you believe it?"
Georgie entered the room, followed by Emily.
"Very surprising," Georgie said, standing beside the bed. She looked over at Dillon, who was still sitting in the chair that he had pulled up to the bed, and smiled.
He returned the smile and then quickly looked at his cousin. "Hi Emily. Thanks for getting here so quick."
"No problem," She told him and then looked at Maxie. "How are you feeling?"
"A little better, just sore." Maxie told her, moving slightly to get comfortable.
Dillon looked at her and noticed the pain that had crossed her face. "You okay?" He asked, concerned.
Maxie looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah." She said, nodding her head.
Georgie bit back a smile at Dillon’s concern.
“Maxie,” Emily asked. “Is there anything we can get for you?”
Maxie shook her head. “No, I’m all right, thanks.”
Em nodded. “Okay, well then I think I’m going to get you two -” she nodded at Georgie and Dillon - “home, and let Maxie get some rest, okay?”
They nodded. “All right.”
Emily and Georgie moved to lean over the bed, kissing Maxie’s cheeks so as not to hurt her ribs. Maxie grabbed Georgie’s hand, looking her directly in the eye.
Georgie nodded, understanding silently. She squeezed Maxie’s hand as she backed away from the bed.
“Thank you,” Maxie said, looking at Dillon. She reached out, a little hesitantly. He nodded, reaching to take her hand.
“You’re welcome,” he replied solemnly, as she gave his fingers a squeeze. “Feel better.”
She smiled thanks and watched as Georgie, Dillon and Emily headed for the door, calling out their goodbyes. Maxie pressed her lips together, resisting the urge to laugh as Dillon reached out to rub Georgie’s head affectionately. She reciprocated the gesture with enthusiasm, laughing triumphantly when his hand flew up, as if by instinct, to assuage any injury to his coiffure.

“So what did you want to watch?” Emily asked, as she drove her green Honda CRV down the street. “If we catch Lucky in time, I bet we can talk him into bringing food from Kelly’s.”
“Ummm...” Georgie shrugged. “I don’t know.” She looked at Dillon in the rearview mirror. “Any ideas?”
“Uhhh...” He met Georgie’s eyes. They conversed silently for a moment. Dillon nodded. “Um, Em?” He asked hesitantly. “Do you think it would be okay if-”
Emily smiled, looking sidelong at Georgie and then in the rearview at Dillon. She nodded, agreeing. “I’ll drop you two off.”

“So what did you and Maxie talk about?” Georgie asked, as they walked out of the Moroccan. She poured a couple of M&Ms into her palm and handing the box off to Dillon.
He accepted it, reaching over her head to push the door open. "She asked if I was in love with you," he replied casually as the cold air hit them.
Georgie did a double-take. "What did you say?"
"No!" He smirked. "Just a crush."
She was taken aback a moment. "You...you have a crush on me?"
"Sure," Dillon replied flippantly. "Sometimes. Don't you have a crush on me?"
She stared at him. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" he challenged.
"Well...sometimes."
He raised an eyebrow. "Only sometimes."
"Yes," she informed him. "Only sometimes."
"Oh you want me," he teased.
She scoffed. "You want me."
"Hey, I said I had a sometimes quasi-crush on you," he challenged.
"Okay, well I have a sometimes quasi-crush on you too," she shot back, mockingly.
"Nope," he replied, popping a piece of candy into his mouth. "You want me."
Georgie grabbed the box from him. "Dream on egomaniac."


Preview:
“You didn’t do anything.”

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 25

Dillon started walking up the driveway to the Jones' house.
Just as he started to walk up the few steps to the front door, Maxie swung the door open.
"Whoa," Dillon shouted, jumping back a little and catching his balance before falling backwards. "trying to kill me, Jones?" He asked, laughing slightly.
"Oohh, I am so sorry, Dillon!" Maxie said, covering her mouth with her hand to stop herself from laughing.
"It's fine." He waved her apology off. "So where are you off to in such a rush?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.
She shrugged her shoulders. "No place special. Just for a walk."
Dillon nodded his head. "So, does that mean you're feeling better?" He asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
It had been almost a month since the accident, but he still felt awkward bringing it up.
"Yeah, I'm feeling much better." She told him, smiling. "So, I'll see you later."
"Okay," he said, as she walked passed him and made her way down the driveway.
He opened the front door and walked into the house, making his way to the living room.

“Why do you think people want to get married?”
“Well when you get older, you just have to.”

“Hey!” Dillon jumped on to the couch next to Georgie.
“Geez!” she screamed. “Get a bell!”
He stuck his tongue out. “Whatcha watchin’?”
She smirked, raising an eyebrow. “You mean you don’t know?”
Dillon returned the smirk. “Chick flick.”
“My Girl,” Georgie informed him. “Now shut up and watch.”

“Have you ever kissed anyone?”
“Like they do on TV?”
“Uh huh.”
“No.”
“Maybe we should, just to see what's the big deal.”

“Oh geez,” Dillon groaned. “Is the Home Alone kid getting pre-pubescent action?”
“Yes,” Georgie deadpanned. “They’re going to have passionate sex right there on the ground.” She elbowed him. “Shut up.” She curled her legs beneath her, watching the screen intently. Dillon rolled his eyes, but focused on the TV as well.

“Close your eyes.”
“But then I won't be able to see anything.”
“Just do it.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Okay on the count of three.”
“One.”
“Two.”
“Two and a half.”
“Three.”

Georgie sniffed, scrubbing at her eyes as the credits rolled.
“Sap,” Dillon teased.
“Bite me,” she grumbled. “I love that movie. It’s so sad and sweet.”
He rolled his eyes. “Chick flick.”
Dillon ducked as Georgie picked up a pillow, bashing him over the head with it. “Get out of your macho pig head for a second,” she demanded. “What did you think?”
Dillon sighed. “Very...touching,” he admitted. “But it still pisses me off that Macaulay Culkin got to kiss that girl. She was pretty cute, or I mean, if she were older, she’d be cute-”
“Stop before you choke on your shin,” Georgie suggested. “Besides, hasn’t he been married?”
Dillon rolled his eyes. “He will always be the annoying kid who grabbed his face and screamed. He’s not allowed to get action.”
Now it was Georgie’s turn to roll her eyes. “You’re just saying that because you haven’t gotten any action,” she scoffed. Then smirked. “Wait, have you?”
Dillon shook his head. “You know that.”
“Yeah, you said you never had sex, but have you ever...I don’t know, have you ever kissed anyone?”
He avoided looking at her when he shook his head. “Ummm, no,” he admitted. “Not ever.”
“Oh.”
He played with the corner of the throw pillow.
She chewed on her lip.
“We could try it,” Dillon hedged, scratching his neck. Georgie looked at him oddly.
“Try what?” she asked. Dillon gulped.
“Kissing,” he replied. “Like in the movie.”
Georgie was nervous, but intrigued. Lots of people had started to kiss and she...hadn’t.
“Do you...want to?” she asked hesitantly. She peeked at Dillon through her eyelashes.
He shrugged. “I guess. You?”
She shrugged. “I guess so.” She bit her lip.
“Okay,” Dillon instructed. “Close your eyes.” Georgie squeezed her eyes shut tight. “On the count of three.”
“One...two...” they counted together. “Three.”
After a second, Georgie opened one eye a tiny bit, squinting at Dillon.
“You didn’t do anything,” she told him, stating the obvious.
He peered back at her. “Neither did you.”
They stared nervously at each other.
“Uh, I have to go to the restroom,” Dillon muttered, standing up quickly.
Georgie jumped up as well. “I need pretzels!” She rushed off into the kitchen. Dillon headed toward the downstairs washroom.

“Okay, so that was a stupid idea,” he admitted, coming back into the living room.
“What?” Georgie asked, her mouth full of pretzel. “Going to the bathroom? Did you fall in?”
Dillon made a face. “Ha ha,” he replied. “You know what I meant.” He reclaimed his seat.
“Yeah,” she agreed, passing him the bowl of pretzels. “I do.” They chewed wordlessly for a moment. “So, then why did we even try?”
Dillon shrugged. “I don’t know. People in school making out and we’re-” he threw a pretzel at her- “tossing pretzels.”
So,” she narrowed her eyes, “what, were we trying to even the score?”
Dillon sat up straight, looking directly at her. “Have you ever been kissed, Georgie?” he asked, quietly.
She shook her head. “No,” she replied softly.
“Don’t you ever feel-”
“-Like a loser?” she finished. “Yeah, sometimes.”
Dillon fingered the bowl. “Me too,” he admitted. “I don’t know, I mean, just, sometimes I feel really...really lame.”
Georgie stretched her legs. “Are we lame, Dillon?”
He smirked. “In general?” He asked. “Ahh, probably.”
Georgie smiled at him. “You and I-”
“-Can’t kiss,” Dillon agreed. “It would just be...” he trailed off, searching for a word.
“Incestuous?” Georgie suggested.
Dillon gesticulated enthusiastically. “Yes,” he agreed. “Exactly. Which is why you can come and play penuchle with me in the monastery.”
Georgie laughed, shaking her head at him. “Dillon,” she queired, “what on earth is penuchle?”
He shrugged. “Not a clue.” Dillon smirked, wiggling his eyebrows. “Sounds kinda dirty though, don’t it?”
“Perv!” Georgie yelled, hitting him with the throw pillow once again.

Preview:
“Georgie, will you go to the prom with me?”

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 26

“Help!”
Dillon rolled on to his stomach, sitting up quickly. “Georgie?” He said, “where are you? Are you okay?”
“I’m hiding out in my room,” she whispered, sounding slightly hysterical. “Maxie has Julie and Nicolette over here getting ready for the prom. It’s like backstage at a fashion show in a mental institution.”
Dillon burst out laughing.
“It’s not funny!” Georgie hissed. “I’m trapped in here! If I go outside, I may be strangled by curling iron cords, or burned alive by blow dryers, or choke to death on copious amounts of makeup being hurtled into the air.
“I do not understand your kind,” Dillon mused, shaking his head. “Okay, sit tight. I’m on it.”
Georgie smirked. “What are you going to do?”
“You’ll see,” he replied mysteriously. She rolled her eyes.
“As always”
She hung up the phone.

Trying to read was just about a lost cause, Georgie decided. She concentrated on the book in front of her.
“Are you and I going to keep teasing each other forever, or will we give into ourselves and go to bed together soon?”
“Maxie,” one of the girls called, Georgie wasn’t sure which one, “do you have any shimmer gloss?”
“In my green makeup box!” Maxie screamed from the bathroom.
”Okay,” called one of her friends, Julie, Georgie was pretty sure, “do my boobs look weird?”
“Nic,” Maxie assured - okay, so she’d been wrong, it wasn’t Julie - “they look fine. Just...push up...a little more.” A girlish squeal reverberated throughout the house.
Georgie gave up, tossing the book aside. “Geez Louise,” she muttered. “Do my boobs look weird?” She mimicked out loud, rolling her eyes.
“Well, you don’t really have any, but I guess they’re okay.”
“Oh my god!” she screamed, bolting to the window. “Dillon! You scared the hell out of me.”
“Wuss,” he commented, climbing in, his backpack looped over his shoulders.
”My hair won’t stay!” At the scream of despair, Dillon jumped backwards, his eyes widenening in fright.
“Oh, who’s the wuss now?” Georgie teased.
He held up his hands in defense. “Hey, that...that was scary. Sneaking up on you is just funny.”
Georgie gestured to the backpack. “What are you carting?”
Dillon opened the pack, dumping out a can of chocolate frosting, three videos and a bag of marshmallows on the bed. “Food and entertainment,” he announced.
Georgie held up a tape with a cover of a blood drenched girl in a prom dress and tiara.
“Carrie?” she asked. “Didn’t we learn from the Psycho incident that I don’t do well with scary movies? Or don’t you remember?”
Dillon grinned. “Of course I remember,” he said. “You’ll whimper and hide your eyes, screech like a little girl, and go diving into my lap, and I’ll have ammunition against you for the rest of our lives.” He smirked. “Don’t think I don’t have motives.”
"Can someone help me zip up this damn dress!" Julie yelled, stomping her foot in the process.

Dillon looked over at Georgie and raised his eyebrow, jumping up off the bed. "I can help with that!" He yelled back as he began to walk toward the door.
"Dillon Quartermaine," Georgie warned, jumping up from her bed and running toward him, grabbing his arm just before he got a chance to completely leave her room, "don't you dare!"
He laughed, rolling his eyes at her. "I was kidding. Do you really think I'd go out there?" He shook his head, and jumped back onto her bed. "It's like a zoo." He told her, laughing. He reached for the container of chocolate frosting and peeled the lid off. Georgie sat down next to him, and grabbed the bag of marshmallows, opening them and dipping one into the frosting. "Yum," she sighed, handing Dillon the bag.
"Oh guys," Maxie yelled, almost on the verge of tears. "I've got a pimple!"
"Oh no!" Julie cried, running into the bathroom, Nicolette right behind her.
"It's okay, don't panic," Nic told her.
Dillon looked over at Georgie and rolled his eyes. He covered his mouth with his hands, "Code red, we have a blackhead. Dr. Jones to ER stat!"
"Dillon!" Georgie said, smacking his shoulder before she started cracking up.
He laughed, popping a chocolate covered marshmallow into his mouth. He was about to say something when the doorbell rang.
"Oh my goodness!!" Nicolette screeched, running into Maxie's room. "What if that's them?"
"Oh my God!" Dillon yelled, rubbing his ears.
"Damn," Georgie rolled her eyes, rubbing her head. "Thanks for the headache, it's just what I wanted!" She yelled, jumping off her bed. "Be right back," she told Dillon, running out of her room and down the staircase.
The doorbell rang again just as Georgie jumped off the last step. "Coming!" She yelled, running through the living room and up the few steps to the front door.
She opened the door and was greeted by three guys in tuxedos. She couldn't help but laugh a little. "Hi Lucas," she looked at the other two guys that were standing behind him.
"Come in," she told them, stepping aside and letting them enter. "Make yourselves comfortable," she gestured toward the couch. "I'll go upstairs and let the girls know you're here."
"Thanks Georgie," Lucas told her, sitting down in one of the chairs.
Georgie ran back up the staircase, sticking her tongue out at Dillon as she passed her room.
"Maxie," she said, walking into her sister's bedroom.
All three girls looked at her.
"Your dates are here."

"How do I look?" Maxie asked, twirling around in a circle. She was wearing a one shoulder black dress, and her shoulder length hair was in tight curls.
"You look amazing," Shawn said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. He pulled back and slid the corsage on her right wrist.
"Thank you," she said, smiling up at him.
"Gag me," Georgie whispered to Dillon as they sat at the top of the staircase watching the teenagers.
Nicolette walked around the couch to where Lucas was standing. She was wearing a pink strapless gown.
"Wow, look at you." Lucas said, smiling.
"You like?" Nic asked, giggling.
He nodded his head, quickly kissing her lips.
"And you...look hot." Mark said as Julie walked toward him.
"Uhh, thanks." She said, laughing slightly. She was dressed in a blue corset top and a ballgown skirt.
"So, are we ready to go?" Maxie asked, pulling Shawn toward the front door.
"Yeah," Lucas said, looping his arm through Nicolette's as they all walked out of the front door.
"Oohh, come on!" Dillon said, grabbing Georgie's arm and pulling her up.
He ran into her room and quickly opened the window.
"Hey girls!" He yelled, causing them to turn and look up at him. "Watch out for any falling buckets!"
Nicolette and Julie sighed as their dates helped them into the limo.
"Georgie," Maxie yelled, seeing her sister standing behind Dillon, laughing, "tell your little boyfriend to shut up!" She said, rolling her eyes as Shawn helped her into the limo, and then shut the door.
“God forbid,” Georgie scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“Hey!” Dillon protested, feigning offense. “I resent that!” He crossed his arms over his chest.
Georgie smirked at him. “No, you don’t.”
”Ah, true.” He flopped on to the bed. “I feel as though I now understand Jane Goodall’s experience.” He propped up on an elbow. “Please swear to me that you will never go screeching around like that,” he pleaded Georgie.
She lay down next to him, closing first her left eye, then switching, peering at him.
“Can I confess something?” she asked.
Dillon raised an eyebrow. “Have you had impure thoughts?”
“Yes,” Georgie deadpanned. “I want to do ungodly things to you.” She smirked mischieveiously. “Right....now!”
“Umph!” Dillon grunted as Georgie pounced on him, pinning him to the bed.
“Oh yes,” she said in a breathy voice. “I yearn for you, Dillon. I pine, I perish. You’re so hot, I want you, I need you.” She licked her lips, wiggling her hips, lying on top of him.
Dillon bit back a laugh. “Hey, babe, you’re giving me wood.”
“Ew!” Georgie screamed, rolling off of him. “Oh my god, don’t tell me those kinds of things! I don’t want to know about your...parts!”
He laughed at her beet red face. “Chill doll, I was kidding.” He stuck his tongue out at her. “You really thought I was serious?”
Georgie gave him a dirty look. “What? I don’t know what sets those things off.” She gestured vaguely to his groin. “They’re like Jack in the Box or something.”
“You had a confession?” Dillon queried, pointedly.
Georgie sighed. “I want to go.”
“Out?” Dillon asked. He wasn’t getting it.
Georgie bit her lip. “No,” she admitted. “To prom.”
“We can’t,” Dillon reminded her. “Freshmen can’t go unless an upperclassmen asks you.”
Georgie dipped her finger in the frosting. “I know,” she replied, sucking on it. “I just mean in general.” She rolled on to her stomach, looking at him. “Promise you won’t laugh.”
Dillon held up his hand, two fingers crossed. “Scouts’ Honor,” he vowed impishly.
“Come on.”
“Okay,” he agreed. “I won’t laugh.”
“All right,” she said. “I want to do that stuff. I mean, not scream like a banshee, but I want to be able to wear a great dress and get my hair done, and go to the prom with a guy who actually says ‘Georgie, will you go to the prom with me,’ like, willingly, and not some loser I have to ask, or some guy Maxie has to set me up with, and get a corsage, and do all that stuff. I mean, I know it’s cheesy, but I...you know-” she stumbled for words - “okay, no offense or anything, but it’s just...sometimes I want to do the thing instead of watching the movie about it, you know?” She pulled her hair into her eyes, peering at Dillon nervously through the strands.
“Tell you what,” he said, “next year, we’ll go to prom.”
Georgie raised an eyebrow. “What, like, together?”
“Oh...” Dillon teased, “so I’m not good enough, is it that it?”
She pressed her fingers to her eyes. “No, no, no,” she fumbled. “It’s just that-”
“All right,” he said, “concession - if neither one of us has real dates, we go to prom together, how’s that?”
“Very....When Harry Met Sally,” Georgie noted.
Dillon looked at her in admiration. “Very good.”


Preview:
“I got licked.”

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 27

“Remind me again why we’re here,” Georgie demanded, raising an eyebrow at Dillon.
He shook his head. “Because for some reason, we decided that we should pretend that we’re in to the whole class spirit, end-of-year thing and come to Melissa’s party. And,” he added, rolling his eyes, “because you want to get on Charlie Hunter.”
“I do not want to ‘get on’ Charlie Hunter,” Georgie scoffed.
Dillon smirked. “Uh, yeah, you do,” he countered.
Georgie stuck out her tongue. “Yeah, well you want to ‘get on’ Holly Stratford.”
“Eh, I wouldn’t mind it,” Dillon shrugged. “She’s pretty hot.”
“All right,” Georgie asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “Truth, whole truth, nothing but the truth - if she offered to take you into the closet and do unmentionable sexual things to you, would you accept?”
Dillon pressed his lips together, shaking his head. “No,” he admitted. “It would be hard, but no.”
“Ahhh!” Georgie cried, making a face, “too much information, thank you!”
“What-” Dillon flustered, thinking back on what he had said. “Oh! No, difficult. It would be difficult to turn that offer down, but I would.”
“All right,” Georgie conceded. She sighed. “So, should we go in?”
“Guess so,” he replied. She turned, taking a step toward the slightly opened door. “Wait, wait,” Dillon said, grabbing her arm. Georgie turned back to him. “We should have a signal.”
“A signal?”
“Yeah,” he answered, “like an escape signal. If one of us wants to bail.”
Georgie laughed. “Good idea,” she said. “Ummm...if we want to bail, then we...” she scratched her nose three times, touched her left eyebrow and tucked a lock of hair behind her left ear.
“Okay,” Dillon agreed, mimicking the movements. “Nose, eyebrow, ear.” He sighed. “This should be charming.”
“Oh yes,” Georgie agreed, in a fake air of aristrocracy.

Cheesy pop music was blaring through the speakers as Dillon and Georgie made their way into the living room where a few people were already dancing.
"Oh fun," Georgie said rolling her eyes.
Dillon just laughed at her as he looked over toward the chips bowl where some girls were talking, one of which included Holly.
“Go talk to her,” Georgie urged.
“Go talk to him,” Dillon countered, nodding toward Charlie, who was in the middle of a circle of guys, busily engaged in a belch the alphabet contest.
“Gross!” A girl standing by the table commented.
Georgie blushed. “Uh, maybe later,” she said quickly.
“Your taste in guys sucks,” Dillon informed her. “Charlie Hunter?”
"Okay," Georgie looked back over at Charlie and shook her head."Maybe he isn't the sharpest guy in the world, but he is really hot." She laughed slightly, looking back up at Dillon who just had his arms crossed across his chest.
"Right.." Dillon laughed.
"I'm serious," she said. "he's probably just shy or something."
"Okay, whatever you say, really."
“I’m sorry,” she hissed, “how much do you know about Holly?”
“Hey, you said she’s nice,” Dillon argued.
“She is,” Georgie agreed. “But you like her because you think she’s cute. You’re just as superficial as I am, thank you very much.”
Dillon raised an eyebrow, not arguing. “I’m gonna get a soda,” he replied. “Root beer?”
“Please.” Georgie nodded. Dillon went to the table on the back wall and Georgie meandered over toward where Holly was now standing alone.
“Hey,” she ventured, shyly.
Holly looked up at her and smiled. "Hey," she said, tucking a piece of stray hair behind her ear.
"Having fun?" Georgie said, trying to make small talk.
Holly looked around and raised an eyebrow. "Not really," she admitted. "How about you?"
"Not exactly," she laughed, shaking her head.
Dillon came walking up behind Georgie, grabbing her side, and making her jump slightly.
"Ugh," she sighed once she saw that it was Dillon. She grabbed her soda out of his hand. "Thanks," she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Hi Dillon," Holly said smiling.
He turned toward her and smiled. "Hey," he replied. "Uhh, wanna drink?" He asked, holding his can of root beer out in front of her.
"Sure," she said, grabbing it. Her fingers slightly brushed against his as she did so.
Georgie noticed this and rolled her eyes again, promising herself that she wouldn't gag as she took another gulp of her soda.
"So, having fun?" Holly asked him, taking a sip of the soda.
He watched as she brought the can to her lips and look a sip. "Uhh," he pushed all thoughts aside, laughing to himself. "Not exactly."
Georgie laughed, shifting her weight.
"Hey Holly!" Another girl yelled from across the room, waving her hands in the air.
Holly sighed. "I'm sorry, I have to go!" She began walking away, but turned around quickly. "See you later," she said, smiling at Dillon before walking toward her friend.
"Wipe the drool, Quartermaine." Georgie teased, taking another drink from her can of soda.
"Shut up, Jones." He replied, looking back at her. "Better yet, how about you go over there and see if Mr. Hottie can teach you how to blow milk bubbles from your nose." He teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, you're so funny," she smacked his chest. "just let me tell you..."
"Spin the bottle!!" Melissa yelled, standing on top of the table.
"You have got to be kidding me," Dillon said, looking down at Georgie.
"Now's your chance, hot shot," she laughed. "maybe you'll finally get to kiss Holly."
"Oh right, and maybe you'll finally get to kiss..." His words were cut off when some blonde haired girl grabbed both of their arms.
"Come on you, two!" She said, pulling them toward the middle of the room where everyone was beginning to sit in a circle.
“Okay,” said Melissa, taking charge. “These are the rules. Whoever you spin, you have to kiss them on the lips for five seconds. Then that person spins, and so on.”
Dillon leaned to whisper in Georgie’s ear. “It’s all very scientific.” She snorted, covering her mouth, as Melissa leaned into the center of the circle, placing a blue glass bottle on the carpet and spinning it around...
“Yeah, Matty!”
Matt Hallahan suppressed a grin, quasi-successfully, crawling across the circle to Melissa. They grinned awkwardly at each other, then tilted their heads and pressed their mouths together.
“One, two, three, four, five!”
The first two victims pulled apart and Melissa returned to her spot in the circle, amid cheers. Matt reached out, grabbing hold of the bottle...
Georgie glanced sidelong at Dillon when the bottle slowed and landed right on Holly Stratford.
She wasn’t his girlfriend, or someone he’d dated, and it was only a game, but a crush was a crush, and Dillon wasn’t suprised when he felt a twinge of annoyance watching Matt press his lips to Holly’s.
“Go Holly!” Amber Knudsen called as Matt reclaimed his place in the circle and Holly reached for the glass bottle. She twirled it, and every eye in the room watched it spin around and around and around, finally coming to a stop.
On Charlie Hunter.
“Would this be an example of irony?” Dillon mouthed to Georgie. She paid more attention to him than to the congratulatory grunts of Charlie’s friends.
“I’m not sure,” she mouthed back.
“Three, four, five!” Charlie and Holly pulled back from their kiss. Holly returned to the circle and Charlie spun the bottle.
“Dude, no way!” Mike yelled, when the bottle landed on him.
Charlie shook his head vehemently. “Yeah, no way man,” he protested, “no friggin way am I kissing Banner.”
Georgie couldn’t help but agree. She wouldn’t want to kiss Mike Banner either.
Melissa, hostess and unspoken ruler of the game, rolled her eyes, conceding to give Charlie another try. He reached out, giving the bottle a vicious spin.
“Be a chick, be a chick, be a chick,” he prayed out loud.
Georgie didn’t even realize that the bottle was pointing at her until she felt an elbow to her ribs.
“Woo yeah Georgie!” a girl called out.
Melissa raised an eyebrow at Charlie. “Acceptable, your highness?” She smirked. “Will you kiss Georgie?”
“Dude,” called out Mike, “only if her boyfriend allows it.”
Georgie rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”
“Dillon, dude,” Mike went on, ignoring her, “do you have sex dreams about Jones?”
Georgie considered wishing she was dead.
“Oh hell yeah,” Dillon deadpanned. “All the time, every night. Totally hot. Sweat right through the sheets - ow, my kidneys...”
Georgie raised an eyebrow, telling Dillon silently that he’d gotten what he deserved.
“Come on Hunter,” Alex Ayerson spoke up, “get a move on. Kiss the girl, let’s keep this thing going.”
Georgie’s heart beat faster as she scooted across the circle toward Charlie.
She wasn’t his girlfriend, or someone he’d dated, and it was only a game, and she was just Georgie, so Dillon was surprised when he felt more than just a twinge of annoyance as Georgie faced Charlie, leaning forward and tilting her head to the left.
She was sure he could hear her heart pounding as she tried to remember what she’d seen in the movies, so she could know how to form her lips. She closed her eyes.
Georgie had never been kissed before, and she wasn’t sure what it was supposed to feel like, but she was positive it wasn’t supposed to feel like a wet, loose tongue lapping over the bridge of her nose, to a muddled chorus of sympathetic groans and not so sympathetic laughter.
Georgie wished she was dead.
“Dick,” Dillon spat at Charlie, coming over and pulling Georgie to her feet. “Come on,” he said, “let’s go.”
“Guys, don’t go,” Melissa called. She shot Charlie a death look. “Hunter, you’re such a jackass.”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh come on, it was a joke.”
Dillon rested his hand on Georgie’s back, waiting for her to respond.
“Thanks Melissa,” she said quietly, “have a good summer.”
She walked away from the party, Dillon close by, leaving the room in uncomfortable silence.

“If you say I told you so,” Georgie informed him as they walked down Melissa’s driveway, “I will kick your ass so hard that you’ll throw up your prostate.”
Dillon held up his hands in defense. "Not saying a word," he assured her.
"Good." She replied in a low voice, looking down at her shoes as they continued walking.
"Hey," he said bumping into her causing her to look up at him.
"I'm such a fool for even liking him, I should have known better." She admitted, an annoyed yet embarrassed look on her face. "He's a jerk," she said, shaking her head as she looked forward.
"I tried to tell you that," he told her.
"Yeah, I know you did, but I didn't listen because I didn't want to believe you. Part of me really wanted to believe that there was this sweet, romantic side to him," she rolled her eyes and laughed. "Romantic? What the hell is so romantic about a guy who blows milk bubbles out of his nose?"
Dillon laughed. For one reason or another, he hated Charlie Hunter, and it felt good to know that Georgie finally realized what an immature jerk he was.
They walked past Kelly's, which was closed for the night as they made their way toward the docks.
She smacked his shoulder and continued on with her ranting. "And what the hell is wrong with you? Telling a whole group of gossipers that you have sex dreams about me?" She asked, a disgusted looking crossing over her face.
Dillon raised his eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Wait!" Georgie thought about it for a minute, stopping on the last step before she reached the docks. "You don't really..." Her words trailed off as Dillon walked by her, jumping down onto the docks.
"Dillon!" Georgie yelled, running after him and looked him in the eyes.
Dillon couldn't help but laugh at how nervous Georgie looked. "No," he rolled his eyes. "I was lying, I don't have sex dreams about you." He smirked. “Much.”
She punched him in the gut, doubling him over, and walked a few steps.
“Dollar for your thoughts,” he spoke up, once he got his breath back.
She glanced at him. “I thought it was a penny.”
He shrugged. “Inflation.” He sat down on the edge of the dock, waiting for her to join him.
“Just thinking about how I’ll probably have to change schools now,” she admitted, sitting down next to him.
“Come on,” he chided, “it wasn’t that bad.”
“Dillon, I got licked!” Georgie cried. “In front of the whole class, by a guy I had a thing for, did I mention in front of the whole class?”
“Come on,” he said, rubbing her arm. “Remember Charlie’s great trick where he snorts the spaghetti into his nose and lets it come out his mouth? Is that really the kind of person you want to have your first kiss with?”
She shrugged. “Doesn’t even matter,” she said, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Evidently I’m so repulsive that no one is ever actually going to want to kiss me.”
Dillon rolled his eyes. “You are not repulsive, Georgie. Not at all.”
She scoffed at him. “Yeah right,” she replied. “You’re just conditioned to say that. It’s, like, part the code.”
He took a moment to look at her. Georgie wore jeans with a purple tank top and an open floral shirt over it. Her hair was clipped half back, with some honey-colored strands brushing her cheeks. Her fingernails were sparkly pink.
“I may be conditioned,” he informed her. “But I’m not wrong.”
She let herself accept the compliment, blushing just a touch. “Still never gonna get kissed,” she grumbled.
Dillon sighed. “Just...give it time, you know?” he said. “You’ll get kissed.”
“Yeah right,” Georgie muttered.
Dillon turned to face her. “Trust me,” he said firmly, reaching out and holding the back of her head. He leaned forward.


Preview:
“You’re very special.”

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 28

“I may be conditioned,” he informed her. “But I’m not wrong.”
She let herself accept the compliment, blushing just a touch. “Still never gonna get kissed,” she grumbled.
Dillon sighed. “Just...give it time, you know?” he said. “You’ll get kissed.”
“Yeah right,” Georgie muttered.
Dillon turned to face her. “Trust me,” he said firmly, reaching out and holding the back of her head. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to her forehead. “Tons of guys are gonna want to kiss you, Georgie.” He put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
She relinqueshed her stubborness, leaning against him. “You’re the sweetest guy I've ever known,” she admitted.
Dillon blushed. “Don’t get used to it,” he advised. “My kindness comes within a limited time frame.”
Georgie snorted. “You’re very special,” she quipped.
Dillon preened. “I know.”
She swatted at him, resting her head on his shoulder. Propping her chin in his collarbone, she pouted adorably up at him. “I want ice cream.”
Dillon smirked. “Strawberry?” Georgie nodded, gazing at him. “Come on,” he said, rising and pulling her to her feet. “You and your pink ice cream...”

“I feel like a chick,” Dillon mumbled around a mouthful of ice cream.
“PMS?” Georgie countered, digging her spoon into the pint. They sat on the sidewalk in front of a convenience store, eating a carton of strawberry ice cream with plastic spoons.
Dillon looked at her oddly. “Do you know about - wait, never mind, don’t want to know,” he stopped himself quickly, digging for another bite. The spoon snapped under the weight of his scooping.
“Screw it,” he announced, plucking Georgie’s spoon from her hand and throwing it, and the remants of his own into the gutter. He dug with two fingers into the carton, extracting a glob of ice cream and sucking it into his mouth.
“So,” Georgie asked, mimicking his motion, “why do you feel like a chick?”
He turned slightly, fixing his gaze on her. “I’m sitting here sharing a pint of Ben and Jerry’s out of the carton because my best friend got screwed over by a guy. All I need are a couple of disastrous pimples and I think they’re gonna give me an honorary uterus.”
Georgie wrinkled her nose. “Ew, don’t say uterus.”
Dillon shook his head at her, baffled. “What would you like me to call it?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged, “but...just...yecch!”
He laughed, taking another fingerful of ice cream. “Damn,” he quipped. “I can’t say -” he mouthed “uterus” dramatically, illiciting a scowl from Georgie - “I can’t say sc-” he smirked, knowing she knew damn well what he was going to say.
“Oh my god, shut up!” She shrieked, diving forward and clapping her hand over his mouth.
“Freak,” Dillon announced calmly, reaching into the pint and smearing a dollop of ice cream down Georgie’s cheek. He laughed as she squealed at the cold.
“Dillon!”
“What?” He asked innocently, leaning toward her and parting his lips. His tongue was millimeters from her cheek, ready to lap up the ice cream that was starting to drip on to her neck, when he stopped. She had, he realized, probably been licked enough that night.
“Uh, sorry,” he mumbled, pulling back. Using his fingers, he quickly wiped the pink ice cream from her cheek. His skin stuck to hers. “I’ll uh, I’ll go get you a napkin.” He jumped up, stumbling a moment, before moving back toward the door of the minimart.

A few minutes later, Dillon came walking out of the minimart and sat down next to Georgie.
"The ice cream melted," she laughed, holding the carton up to show him.
"Ahh, it's fine, I was done anyway." He told her, opening up the bottle of water he had bought and pouring some onto a napkin, bringing it to Georgie's cheek and wiping down to her neck.
"Uhh, thanks." Georgie told him once he was done.
He smiled at her, grabbing the carton of melted ice cream from the curb and standing up.
"So, do you want to see if there is a late movie playing?" Georgie asked as Dillon threw the napkin and carton into the garbage can. "I can call Mac and let him know I'll be home a little late."
Dillon plopped back down next to Georgie and shook his head. "Nah, I'd rather not."
She raised her eyebrow, placing her hand on his forehead.
"What are you doing?" He asked, pulling back just a bit.
"Checking to see if you have a fever," she informed him, and when he still looked confused, she continued. "Dillon Quartermaine doesn't want to see a movie, you must be sick or something." She joked, laughing slightly.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I'd rather just hang out with you, we've had enough excitement for one night, don't you think?" He asked, rasing an eyebrow.
"Dillon," she started, turning so that she was facing him. "What happened tonight wasn't your fault." She told him. "You tried warning me that Charlie was a jerk, but I wouldn't listen."
He shrugged. “Yeah, but...I should have come up with something better to do tonight, or talked you out of that party, or...I don’t know, done...something.”
Georgie shook her head ruefully. “It’s not your job to take care of me, Dillon,” she told him quietly.
He shrugged again, his cheeks turning just a bit red. “Sure it is.”


Preview:
"Get about five pounds for Miss Sweet Tooth, here."

[JRK Archiver]

Ch 29

“Ned,” Dillon asked, leaning over from the backseat, “when did you buy this place again?”
“Uh, when Lois was pregnant with Brook Lynn,” Ned replied, turning the Explorer around a curve.
“Cool,” Dillon replied, flicking his finger against Georgie’s earlobe.
“Son of a-” she turned around in her seat, leaning over the back to pound on him.
“Ahem.”
Georgie sat back down, grinning sheepishly. “Sorry, Ned.”
Ned laughed. Dillon stuck his tongue out at Georgie in the rearview mirror, his eyes twinkling with mischief. She smirked.
“I hope your hair falls out,” she informed her friend.
Ned turned into the grocery store parking lot, fighting back laughter. “Do you two think you can keep it civil while we’re in the market?” He asked, trying to sound stern.
Dillon and Georgie looked at their shoes. “Yes Ned,” they chorused.

Dillon and Georgie walked down the candy aisle, behind Ned who was pushing the cart filled with items they would need.
He stopped, leaning over to pick up a bag of marshmallows for the smores they would be making later that night.
"Make sure you get about five pounds, for Miss Sweet Tooth here." Dillon laughed, earning a smack on the shoulder from Georgie.
Ned laughed, putting the two bags of marshmallows into the cart. "Are you two going to act like this all weekend?" He asked, pushing the cart further down the isle.
"No, I'll just lock her in a closet." Dillon told his brother, laughing as he backed away before Georgie could smack him again.
"Oohh, Quartermaine, you are so going to get it." She warned him before she continued walking with Ned.
Dillon spotted the huge rack of bouncy balls in the middle of the isle and picked one up. He looked around to make sure that no one was looking, and then threw it toward Georgie, where it smacked her right in the back of the head.
"Oh, that is it!" She yelled picking the ball up and running toward him.
Ned turned toward them and shook his head. "Knock it off you two, before someone gets hurt." He warned them, watching as Georgie threw the ball at Dillon's head and walked away from him.
Ned turned back around, only to run into a woman, who looked to be in about her late 30s. "Oh, I am so sorry!"
"It's all right," she told him, smiling brightly.
Dillon and Georgie walked up behind Ned. "You two calm down," he told them. "I told you someone would get hurt."
"Oh, no, I'm not hurt." The woman assured him. "Well, you must be their big brother - you look too young to have teenage children," she said to Ned, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
Dillon looked over at Georgie who was trying her hardest not to laugh, as Dillon stuck his finger in his mouth, mimicking getting sick.
Ned had to keep from laughing himself. "Actually, I am. This is my younger brother, and his best friend."
Dillon elbowed Georgie in the side, and mouthed 'Watch this' "Come on, Dad, don't lie. If she's worthwhile, she'll like you for you, and not care about your age!"
Ned looked down at him with a look that said 'You are so going to get it.'
"Uhh...I'm gonna go get some chips, come on Georgie!" He said, grabbing hold of her arm and pulling her toward the snack aisle.

“You two think you’re pretty funny, don’t you?” Ned asked, turning into a shady street.
Georgie hid a smile behind her hand. Dillon just smirked.
“It’s okay,” Ned told Dillon, looking in the rearview mirror. “When I was your age, I acted like a buffoon in order to try to impress a girl too.” He nodded toward Georgie.
She wrinkled her nose, hoping she wasn’t blushing.
“Um, not girl,” Dillon replied emphatically. “Georgie.”
Ned chuckled to himself. He turned the car, going down a long driveway.
“Ooh,” Georgie breathed. The cabin was small, on about three acres of grounds, at the end of a circular drive.
“Yeah,” Dillon agreed. “Very cool.”
“All out!” Ned called, pulling the car to a stop. Dillon and Georgie unbuckled, jumping out of the car and pulling backpacks from the backseat.
“Okay,” Ned said, unlocking the door and pushing it open with his foot. “Georgie, why don’t you take the room just off the living room, Dillon take the one next to that, and I’ll take the back room?”
They nodded, heading in the direction Ned pointed.
“Put on your suits,” Ned called over his shoulder, going toward the kitchen with the grocery bags. “You haven’t seen the pond yet!”

Georgie smoothed down her simple navy tank suit, scowling briefly at her reflection.
”Scrawny,” she groused, reaching into her bag for a pair of gray cotton shorts. She slipped them, and a white v-neck tshirt over her bathing suit before emerging into the living room.
Dillon was standing in the kitchen grabbing a few items off the counter.
"Hey, need some help?" She asked him, leaning up against the counter.
"Uhh, yeah, can you grab those paper plates and napkins over there?" He asked, nodding his head in the direction of which the items were.
"Sure!" She said, walking over to the counter and grabbing everything. "Now, have you ever actually eaten anything Ned has cooked before?" She joked as they walked through the kitchen and out the back door.
"Nah, I never even knew he barbequed until now." He told her as they walked up to the picnic table and set everything down.
"Hey you two," Ned yelled from where he was standing by the grill. "The pond is over there!" He told them, pointing in the direction where the pond was.
"All right!" Dillon yelled back.
"Thanks Ned!" Georgie yelled, turning to face Dillon."Race ya?" She asked.
"Hell yeah!" He yelled as he started to run, Georgie not too far behind him, but she quickly made her way a little bit ahead of him, lifting her white shirt over her head and stopping just before she jumped into the pond to take her shorts off.
"Woo woo! Take it off!" Dillon teased just before jumping into the water.
Georgie jumped in after him, landing on his back just as he resurfaced.
“Ooomph!” Dillon grunted. Georgie wrapped her legs around his waist, splashing water in his face. “Ooooohhh...not smart!”
He rolled over, dunking her under the water.

Georgie was tossing and turning.
“Damn it,” she muttered. She slipped her jeans on under her night shirt and walked out into the living room.
Casablanca flickered on the TV. Georgie smiled. “Hey...” she said softly.
Dillon turned around. “Did I wake you?” He sounded concerned.
Georgie shook her head. “Uh uh. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Me neither,” he said.
“Can I join?” she asked.
“Sure” Dillon patted the space next to him. She sat down, grabbing the throw blanket from the back of the couch and curling up under it.
As the movie wore on, Georgie’s eyelids grew heavy. She started to nod.
“Uhhh...here.” Dillon reached out, a little awkwardly, putting an arm around Georgie.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, laying her head on his shoulder.
As the minutes went by, his eyes grew heavy too. He leaned his head against the back of the sofa, closing his eyes as the movie went on and Georgie slept soundly on his shoulder.
They were still like that the next morning.


Preview:
"Don't be such a wuss."