"But what if the girls find out?" Pete's voice could be heard amidst the group of guys that were walking through the front door.

"Find out what?" asked Julia.

At the sound of Julia's feminine voice the group of guys looked over to the odd sight in front of them. Their eyes jumped from Julia to the ball of toilet paper that was making her solitary way up the stairs to where Maddie stood plastered in pink paint attempting to run for cover, though Mary was sabotaging her exit with her slow progress up the stairs.

"You're working that shower cap!" Wes said to Maddie.

"Don't you start with me," I said.

"Why are you covered in paint?" Wes tried again.

"Let's just say I've had a rough night."

"Is that so?" Wes said, hoping she would go on to explain the specifics.

"I don't think it will be quite as bad as yours though," I said, thinking about the message Stella painted on the wall and wincing yet again.

"And why is that?" Wes asked.

"Oh, stop changing the subject. 'What if the girls find out what?'" Julia cut in, getting impatient to get her answer. In any case, she didn't think it wise to give Maddie the chance to stammer out an explanation for the message that Wes was now sure to find painted on the wall above his bed. Maddie took that as her opportunity to squeeze passed Mary on the staircase to get out of the range of uncomfortable questions. 'PS ~ I don't wear underwear!' taunted my mind. I could feel my cheeks turning red just thinking about it and was relieved to make it to the safety of my bed. What was Stella thinking!?

"What's with the toilet paper?" Nathan asked avoiding answering Julia's question and settling on the couch.

"Mary's just a little tie-up at the moment. Shall I ask Matt?" Julia knew that if anyone would give her an answer Matt would be on the top of that list.

"It was Matt's idea. He wouldn't rat us out... this time. Right Matt?" Nathan sounded a little less than sure.

"Of course no-"

"Perhaps with a bit of persuasion?" Julia suggested.

"Um, persuasion?" Matt said with a loud swallow. "What kind of-"

"Now I couldn't just go and tell you. Where would the fun be in that?" Julia answered with a girlish giggle that was not like her at all.

"You know that by telling her what the secret is and I'm sure accepting whatever 'persuasion' she might be offering would be violating the terms of the bet," Nathan reminded.

"Well, it's a good thing we haven't signed it yet isn't it," Matt said not taking his eyes off of Julia.

"That's cheating!" Asher said.

"Hey, it was your idea to wait to sign in the first place. How could it be cheating?" Matt defended.

"A bet huh? Do go on." Julia attempted the redirect the conversation.

"Oh, no you don't," Wes said.

"That's okay, I think I got the gist of it. No persuasion needed." Julia replied.

"Oh, you don't know the half of it," Wes mumbled proceeding into the guy's room, hoping the others would follow.

"You know you could still try to persuade me if you wanted." Matt continued with a wink when the rest of the guys proceeded to follow Wes. They didn't get far though as they got distracted on the way to their room by the kitchen and the junk food it had to offer. Typical guys.

"You wish," Julia said quietly.

"Aw, that I do," Matt said.

"You know, I think that that message Maddie left for Wes will go for me too," Julia said with a smirk.

"What message?"

"Oh, you'll find it soon enough I expect," Julia said turning to go back to the girl's room.

"Wait, do you want to go out with me tonight?" Matt asked a little desperately.

"No, can't do that," Julia said without even hesitating. "I've got other plans."

"You're just saying that. You're probably just going to have a movie night and get sick eating too much chocolate."

"Now that's not a bad idea. I better go suggest that to the gals," Julia said with another smirk knowing full well that this statement verified that she didn't have plans until a couple of seconds ago.

"Hey!" Matt said after eventually coming to this conclusion. When Julia turned to leave he made his last desperate attempt...of the night anyway, and lunged forward. He was either attempting to kiss her or ram his head into her chest (both were very plausible), but was unsuccessful in both pursuits. Matt wasn't entirely sure what had happened but a quarter of a second later his face was pressed up to the stairway door, and there was a dull throb in his back. Julia was nowhere to be seen.

"Ouch!" Nathan said from the kitchen.

"Rejected!" Wes said.

It seemed the guys had been enjoying the show while munching on their second dessert (third for some of them).

"What number was that? 111?"

"I think it was 113 on the last count," Wes offered.

"I'll win her over soon enough," Matt said unfazed.

"Sure you will."

They headed towards their room making bets about how long it would take for Julia and Matt to get together (if at all).

The thought of their 'Vow' was temporarily out of the limelight; which suited Wes just fine. He was feeling quite content for the moment. If only he knew what awaited him just a few steps away, he could have avoided the sleepless night ahead of him.

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