Ryan and Tori hadn't gone out together much since Stever's party two months previous. Ryan was usually practicing with the band or playing a concert somewhere, and Tori had been hanging with Melissa. The two decided it was about time they do something together. A new teen club had opened not far from where they lived, so they figured why not check it out? they mangaged to talk Dan and Melissa into going with them and making it a double date.

The music was pounding, the D.J. was playing the MetalDog Remix of Mistake, of all songs. Tori laughed, she loved to tease Ryan of his celeb status. "God Ry, you're just inescapable! If you're not on the radio or at a club, you're on some chicks notebook, bedroom wall, or tattooed ass!"

"Oh shut up you psycho American girl," he said.

"Hey! Don't bring my Americanism into this!" she said all defensively. "You. . .Canadian rock star!"

"Oh yeah, big insult there," he said.

"Oh shut up and get your little ass on that dance floor or I'm dragging you there myself!" Melissa laughed and found a table for her and Dan to sit at.

Are you okay?" he asked her. "I mean, you know, the baby and everything?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied. "But I could really go for a cup of coffee."

"Sure," said Dan. "Wait here, I'll grab you something. Cream?"

"Yeah, Irish cream flavored," she added. Dan set off to the "bar" to get drinks for everyone while Melissa sat back and observed for a while. She saw a few familear faces, but nobody said anything to her. Being pregnant kinda scared some people away, mostly because parents didn't want their kids around that kind of "trash". She saw a girl walk by that she was pretty sure she knew, but was unable to place a name. The girl seemed to know Melissa as well, she wouldn't stop glancing her way. The girl finally gave up and walked over to Melissa.

"Hi," she said,"Do I know you from somewhere?"

"I think so," Melissa nodded. "I'm Melissa Biddle."

"Melissa! RIght, I do know you," she said. "I'm Nicci Markwalder, I think we had French together last year."

"With Mr. Rougee?"

"Yeah. How have you been?" Nicci asked.

"I'm okay, although I'm almost positive you know the latest gossip on me," she replied. "Word travels fast around Newmarket High."

Nicci was confused for a moment, but then she managed to put two and two together. "Oh, you mean the whole pregnant thing. Yeah. How's Dan taking it?"

"Pretty well. I was surprised he still wanted to be with me when I told him," she said. "He's been great these past few months."

"Well it's the least he can do. I mean, thank God for you he wasn't the kind to run out," Nicci rambled. "I think it's great that Dan is taking his responsibility as the baby's father."

Melissa's face went pale. "Excuse me? What did you just say?"

"Dan is the father, correct?" she said again. "At least that's the word from Derek." Melissa was outraged. She hadn't wanted anyone to get the impression that Dan was the father, if anything leaked to the papers that he was even dating a pregnant girl the band would be finished. It seemed just like Derek to find the perfect advantage to put his blame and responsiblity on someone elses shoulders. It was too much for her to take.

"Excuse me, but I htink I have to go kill somebody," said Melissa s she stood up. Nicci couldn't help but smile as Melissa ran out in a huff. Her plan was working perfectly so far.

"I saw her leave about ten minutes ago," Nicci said when Dan enquired about his missing girlfriend. "She seemed really upset, I can't imagine why."

"Damn it. I hope she's okay. . ."

"Oh she's preobably okay," she said. "I think she said something about Derek though." Dan's eyes widened.

'Derek?'he thought. 'What the hell would she want with Derek?' He hoped that she wasn't suddenly trying to get Derek back. She knew he was an ass, and she wasn't in any condition to try to kick the shit out of anyone, especially a muscle monkey of a football player two times her size. "Holy shit," he said to himself. "She better not do anything dumb." Dan ra out the door and headed for Derek's house, the one place he was sure Melissa would go to.

Nicci walked inot her house later that evening with a big smile on her face. Her "Drive Stever Crazy" idea was so far working well. She had succeeded in upsetting Melissa and Dan, next up on her list was Jon.

Her thoughts of malicious torture were broken when there was a knock on the door. "Whs is is, and state your reason for wanting to enter this room."

"Casey, and I don't need a reason, you're my twin sister."

"Casey! Get your butt in here, we gottta talk." Casey entered the room and found his twin more happy than she'd been in months.

"What's up with you?" he asked. "Since when are you this happy?"

Nicci smiled devilishly. "My dearest twin, I am planning on getting Stever back. He still cares about me no matter how much he thinks he doesn't."

"And how do you plan on doing so? Not to mention, why? I thought you didn't like him?" Casey asked.

"Because I can," she simply said. "As for 'how', I'm going to make the entire band go nuts in someway or another, and Stever will need someone to talk to. . ."

"You evil little bitch!"

"I know! Aren't you proud?"

"Are you still weak for Ryan?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" she asked defensivley.

"Because Stever would go mad, and so would Tori. . ."

"You're weak for Tori?" Casey said nothing, only looked at his feel. "Oh my lord, Casey how? She's so. . .American."

"So? Why should that have anything to do with it?"

"Well she's just. . .so grungy and. . .American! Who wants to date someone who's nationality has a cheese named after it!"

"Cheese?" Casey repeated. "You're comparing a girl to cheese? Ugh! Nicci you are insane!" He paced around the room in rage for a second and went to the door. "We Canadians have bacon named after our country, and it's not even real bacon, it's ham!" He walked out of the room and slammed the door.

"Well bacon is a hell of a lot better than cheese!" Nicci yelled after. "It doesn't grow mold!!"