"Well it sounded like a good idea to me last night, but truth is, I can't do that. I have to like a guy. I want to only do that with guys I like. And hopefully, love."

"Ace and I went a little further," Annie almost whispers.

"A little further?"

"Well, yeah, just a little. Like I touched it." (Hahaha) We all scream and laugh.

"And?" I say.

"It seems very big. Like I didn't realize they get so big. I can not imagine that thing inside me."

Maggie laughs, "Oh, it will fit just fine. Are you thinking about doing it with him?"

"Well, I mean, I have thought about it. I'm not ready yet, but I've thought about it."

I tell her, "Trust me on this. Wait. Wait until you think you can't wait any longer, and then wait some more."

Katie says, "I'm surprised to hear you say that. I thought you would be encouraging her to. I thought whatever it was you did with Dawson was great."

"It was great with Dawson. Sex stuff feels good. It can be great, but I think it makes you think you are sort of in love with the person. It can confuse things. I think maybe Dawson thought he loved me because that was good and exciting. But then when it came down to it, he didn't really love me. Same with Brooklyn. He said he loved me, we did it, then he didn't even respect me enough not to basically screw someone else in front of me. I think if I ever do it again, it's going to be with a boy that I know loves me."

Annie says, "But that's the problem isn't it? The knowing."

"Yes, that's the problem."

"So I should wait?"

"You should definitely wait. And Maggie, back to Jake. He told me that he thinks you are really cute, called you Mags, and said he wants to hang out with you."

"REALLY!!! Ohmigawd!!!!! When did he say that?"

"Like yesterday, or maybe today. I forget. He says he's not looking for a relationship though, so you'd need to be careful. And he doesn't have a homecoming date anymore."

"I would die if he asked me to homecoming."

Annie tells us, "Ace asked me to homecoming. I've been dying to tell you all."

Maggie hugs her, "That's awesome. Maybe if Jake asks me, we can like all go together. That would be so fun!"

"Carson hasn't asked me yet. And we made out all weekend. I'm bummed."

"I know he doesn't have a date yet. But neither do most of the freshman boys. They've all been talking about going stag and dancing like with everyone."

"I want a date. Keatyn, set me up with someone. I want pictures with a cute boy!"

"I"ll see what I can do."

My phone buzzes at seven.

Hottie God: In library, you're not here.

Me: You're gonna have to go it alone tonight. I'm not up for it.

Hottie God: Just come talk to me then.

Me: I have no makeup on, my hair is in a messed up bun, and I'm wearing Riley's huge T-shirt and spandex shorts. I'm not going anywhere.

Hottie God: Then I'm coming to you.

Me: No.

Hottie God: You missed the monthly birthday celebration at dinner tonight. I have cake for you. Double layer chocolate.

Me: Fine. But I'm warning you. I look scary.

Hottie God: I can handle it. Meet me outside your dorm in two.

Me: :) "Aiden is bringing me cake. I have to go outside."

"You can't see the hottie god with no makeup. Quick, put some on."

"Naw, I don't care."

Annie says, "You must be really upset about Dawson, if you don't care."

"I am really upset about Dawson, wouldn't y'all be?"

"We were afraid to bring it up. How was your weekend with Dallas and Riley? Like we saw the video. You looked amazing, by the way. Super sexy. We were all kinda shocked," Maggie tells me.

"Yeah, and what has Dawson said?" Katie asks.

Annie, our resident facebook addict says, "Wow, have you been reading all his facebook status while you were gone? If I were Peyton, I'd feel like complete shit. Everyone knew she wanted to get back together with him, and then he posted all those statuses."

"I didn't read them. I don't think I want to."

"Go eat cake, when you get back, we'll read then together," Annie says sweetly.

It's a peace offering.

7:04.

"So cake, huh?"

"Come here," he leads me down to a bench, just off to the side of the entrance. Spreads out a napkin and sets the paper plate down on his lap, hand me a fork. "Dig in."

I take a big bite. I look like shit, I'm not gonna impress him with my manners either.

"Oh. Wow. Oh, yummmmm. This is goooood cake."

"Told ya."

I take another forkful, hold it up to his mouth. He opens his mouth, and I put the cake in. "It is really good, but I already had a piece. This is for you."

"Why did you get me cake?"

He looks puzzled. "I saw you weren't at dinner, thought it was nice. Is it not nice?"

I take another bite, almost groan in ecstasy and then say, "It's very nice. But a lot of girls missed dinner. Did you get them all cake?"

He frowns at me. "No, I didn't get them all cake. I'm sorry I made you mad in french today."

"It's okay. I've sorta had a rough couple of days. And I just didn't want to hear about your sister. She talked to me in dance. I was kinda mean to her, but she kinda deserves it."

"I'd agree with that. She likes you though, in spite of everything. I hope you two get to be friends."

"Why?"

"She's my sister. We're close. I want you to like her. I want you to like me."

"Aiden. I'm done with boys. Seriously. Let's be friends, if you want."

"That's why I brought cake, Boots. It's a peace offering. Get it? Piece of cake, Peace offering?"

"I get it, and I like both kinds of peace."

"Good. Remember that in a few minutes."

"Why......?" I start to say, but I can't finish because his lips are on mine. He gives me another one of his slow, electrifying kisses. Our lips touch, they barely move, they don't have to. Just touching Aiden is somehow enough.

The kiss ends somehow. He must have ended it. I know there's no way I pulled away from that. I'm still sitting frozen in the spot.

"You mad?"

"How could I be mad at that?"

He gets up, hands me the remaining cake, "For once, I'm gonna end on a good note. Night, Boots."

"Night, Aiden," I say wistfully. (I'm swooning. Although I tend to swoon in pretty much every scene Aiden is in.) Back in my dorm room. I eat a few more bites of cake, and then let the girls dig in. "Oh my gosh. We are NEVER missing cake night again!"

"So, that was sweet of Aiden. To bring you cake," Katie gushes. "I wish a boy would bring me cake."

"Yeah it was. He kissed me too. And we didn't fight about anything."

"Like made out or kissed?" Maggie asks, her mouth still full of chocolate.

"Just one of his super slow, lips barely touch, amazing kisses."

"But your done with boys still?"

"Definitely, but I mean, he brought us cake. He deserved a kiss don't you think?"

"I'd do more than kiss for cake this good," Maggie laughs.

"You're bad."

She grins. "I wish."

Annie is holding up her laptop with Dawson's profile page. His profile pic is one of him and me pre-kiss on the bench.

"Do you want to read them, or shall I read them to you?"

"Read them out loud, so we can figure out what they mean."

"Okay, we'll start on Friday night. After you left he said, So confused. Then later that night, I really screwed up