Celeste looked over at AJ oddly.  It had been nearly twenty minutes since he had hung up the phone and returned to the living room, and he had yet to say a single word.

Returning her attention to Nick, she asked gently, "Are you gonna be okay for a few minutes? I think me and AJ need to talk."

Nick nodded, pulling the blanket around himself tighter.  "Yeah, I'll be fine."

Celeste stood up and waved her hand in front of AJ's face.  AJ snapped out of whatever trance he was in and looked up at her. "Yeah?"

Celeste replied, "We need to talk.  Either we can do it in front of Nick, or we can go to the kitchen."

AJ sighed, "Let's go to the kitchen."  Then he stood up and began walking towards the kitchen.

Celeste bit her bottom lip slightly.  Just an hour ago, they were laughing and cutting up in the restaurant and now AJ was acting very weird.

As they walked into the kitchen, AJ motioned to the kitchen table,  "You might want to sit down, as my mother told me."

Celeste nodded slightly and sat down, "Okay...tell me."

AJ took a deep breath and muttered, "It's all over..."

"Speak up AJ...what's all over?"

AJ shook his head, "Our game...it's pointless.  We can't stop our parents."

Celeste shook her head.  "What makes you think that AJ?"

AJ looked up at her, "Because they're engaged."

"They're WHAT?!?"

AJ rolled his eyes, "You heard me.  Your stupid father proposed to my mom."

Taking up the defensive, Celeste shot back, "Well, she didn't have to accept!"

AJ folded his arms across his chest and returned, "And you know what makes it worse? I'm getting a snotty stepsister in the process."

Celeste's mouth dropped open a little, a look of hurt marring her pretty features.

AJ began to apologize, but Celeste stopped him, "Don't bother.  I wish I'd never gone on this stupid dinner! I would have more fun at home reading a book than going out with you! You and your mom are gonna ruin everything!"

Celeste then turned and bolted out of the kitchen into the living room, tears welling up in her eyes.

Nick looked up as Celeste came running into the living room.  He wasn't sure what had just happened in there, but he could tell she was crying.

Celeste noticed Nick looking at her as she sat down in a chair.  She couldn't stand that caring look right now.  All she wanted to do was hate the world, because she sure felt as if it hated her.

Nick slowly stood up and walked over to her.

Celeste could see his shadow fall over and she muttered, "Don't..."

Nick stopped in his tracks, "What happened?"

Celeste didn't bother stopping herself from crying now, "Nothing, I'm fine! I don't need anybody anymore!"

Nick swallowed hard and sat back down on the couch.  His head was throbbing and he didn't want to make her scream any more.  "Sheesh, sorry I asked."

Celeste took a deep breath and pulled her feet up into the chair in front of her and rested her chin on her knees.

Nick sighed as AJ walked back into the living room. "Should I even ask or are you gonna gripe at me too?"

AJ didn't respond.  Instead, he walked to a chair on the other side of the room and sat down, crossing his arms and pouting.

Nick shook his head slowly, "Geez, and they call ME immature!"

...Index...

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