Xtina manages to stop caring about what Gavin & his new girl are up to for the rest of the party. She's learned one important lesson from her break up with Gavin, and that is not to be careless with what you have. But she is not so absorbed in Coby that she doesn't notice what is going on between Justin & Eleanor. That will be subject for a lot more gossip around here than her pairing up with a surfer: Eleanor has always shown nothing but disdain for Justin's continued attentions. Xtina would love to know what he did to break her down & can't wait to ask Eleanor about it tomorrow....And though Coby of course doen't know the whole story of Justin & Eleanor, how long Justin's been at her heels like a puppy despite Eleanor's coldness, Xtina can't help but point it out to him & gossip about it herself. Coby just chuckles in her ear, "Ti, if this whole thing tonight ends up with everyone getting freaky like dogs in heat, that would be fine with me."

Xtina is ready to forget about Gavin, but Gavin seems to want to check in on her new man. While on the one hand, Ti thinks it would be nice to be able to be friends of a sort with Gavin, she's not exactly up for any double dates at the moment. While Justin carries Eleanor off to his room & Diego is bombing wih his date, or whoever that chick is, Xtina decides she'd like to go home & be alone with Coby. This party has gone on long enough.

She doesn't have to invite Coby into her room: he follows her in.

When he pulls her down onto the floor, she remembers what he said about surfing & wiping out, and she understands a bit better what he was saying, when he said he'd never been more scared before. It's not a fear of death or injury, it's the fear of loss of control, and Ti feels that now. Being at the mercy of a force far greater than yourself...

Neither of them has a bed big enough for two, and while the floor is fine for making love, it is too hard to sleep on. Missing Gavin's large soft bed, though not missing Gavin himself, Ti regretfully lets Coby go back to his own room to sleep & she must crawl into her own bed, to dream of him, until she meets him tomorrow for breakfast.

(Rug with special animations by M&M Needful Things)

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