PART NINE
Chapter One: "Dreams"
Chapter Two: "Gym Therapy"
Chapter Three: "Confessions"
Chapter Four: "An Uncertain Future"
Chapter Five: "Mother or Lover?"

Previously on 'The Caliente Affairs':
Mortimer Goth invited Cassandra, Darren & Dirk over for Thanksgiving Dinner. Don found out about Nina's pregnancy after he heard her talking to Brandi Broke. Dina backed out of telling Mortimer about her pregnancy and instead contemplated a termination. Alex was left to entertain Dirk but took things too far when he leaned in for a kiss, expecting to receive one. Instead, Dirk insulted Alex for trying to kiss him and left feeling confused about how he could have let Alex think he was interested in him romantically.

Chapter One: "Dreams"

It had been many days ago, but Dirk still could not forget how close his lips came to touching those of Alex Goth. Once again Dirk was thinking about it and he felt dirty doing so.

As he went into the bathroom to take a shower he was surprised to find someone already inside.
"Hey, who's in there?" Dirk asked.
"It's me, Alex! Care to join me?" Alex suggested as he giggled.

"Just try and stop me!" Dirk replied, stripping off and pulling back the shower curtain.

"Argh!" Dirk screamed as he woke up to the sound of his alarm. Thankfully the events that Dirk had just witnessed were only in a dream. But still, the fact that they came from his own mind sent a chill through his body. Could he really be lusting after that boy? Another chill was felt as Dirk heard the shower turn off in the bathroom. He hadn't even realised it was on! Unable to fight his curiousity, he opened the bathroom door to see who it was.

"Dirk?" Darren asked. Dirk sighed as he heard his dad's voice.
"Sorry dad, just checking if the bathroom was free."
"It's okay, I actually need you." Dirk began to grow confused.
"What on earth do you need me for?" He asked, worried he had not woken up from his dream yet and something even more chilling was about to take place.
"There's no dry towels. Can you go get one from my bedroom?" Darren asked. Dirk sighed as he agreed and went up the stairs to get a towel for his dad.

Feeling less paranoid but still hormonal, Dirk was unsettled to see Cassandra as he went inside his Dad's bedroom.
"Sorry." He apologised upon seeing Cassandra, in only her underwear, waking up.
"It's okay Dirk. What did you want?"
"My dad wanted a towel." Dirk said as he waited at the door.
"It's okay, come in. The towels are in the bottom drawer."
"I know!" Dirk shot back at his dad's fiance. He scowled at how she could think that he had forgotten where his dad kept the towels. Collecting what he needed he began to leave but stopped at the door and turned back to look at Cassandra.
"Was there something else?" She asked.
"I just," Dirk started, thinking about her brother, "I'm sorry I snapped at you. I guess it was because of my bed dream." He confessed.
"Thank you, I'm sorry to hear about your nightmare." Cassandra said, making Dirk feel better.
"Thanks!" He replied as he left to go have breakfast.

Things between the Dreamer's and Goth's had been better than ever. Dirk just wished he could forget about Alex and not hold a grudge against Cassandra. Even though it was probably her fault he had ended up that way. With Alex being left motherless as a child, Dirk assumed it was something Cassandra must have done during his upbringing that had made him gay. And now here she was, hoping to raise yet another child. Well she can think again, Dirk thought. He had been on the phone and the net a lot lately, searching for some scholarships that would allow him an early start to the term. 'The quicker I get out of that house now she's there, the better' he thought. Cassandra hadn't moved in, but she might have well as. Dirk and Darren turned to see Cassandra join them at the breakfast table, still only dressed in her underwear. Upon seeing her, Dirk began to think.

'How can she walk around my house looking like that? Dressed in her black underwear with her smooth, tanned skin glistening in the morning light. No wonder my dad's fallen for her, she might as well have a halo floating above her head. God she's beautiful.' Dirk didn't realise that he was staring right at Cassandra's half naked body, but Darren had.
"Dirk, chew with your mouth closed!" Darren said.
"Huh, What?" Dirk said, as he caught his dad's disapproving glance. Cassandra simply muffled a laugh as she ate her breakfast. Dirk began to turn a bright shade of red and looked down at his bowl. Feeling like a fool, he quickly got off to school and avoided coming home by making plans with Orlando.

Chapter Two: "Gym Therapy"

He and Orlando decided to visit the gym, with Dirk hoping some exercising would put him back in touch with his inner-man. Dirk still could not shake the feeling that Alex had stirred up some feelings inside of him, feelings he did not want stirring up until he was at least in college. As he stressed even more getting changed into his gym clothes, Dirk corrected his thoughts. He never wanted those feelings to be stirred up ever again.

Finding some apparatus, Dirk moaned as he saw Angela Pleasant enter the gym. He tried to hide behind the weights but Angela saw him and began to gloat.
"Hi Dirk! How's your girlfriend? Oh that's right, you don't have a girlfriend." She said in a mocking tone which made Dirk grit his teeth together. If he had been stronger, Dirk swore he would have thrown some weights at her big head.

Dirk began to pump some iron as he turned to Orlando. "Just ignore her." He told his friend.
"But I thought you had a girlfriend." Orlando began before being interupted by Angela.

"He did, but the stupid tramp got it into her empty little head that a certain ex-girlfriend of Dirk's was gonna hunt her down and beat her up. And I suppose when your life is put in danger, a little piece of Dirk Dreamer just doesn't seem worth it." Dirk shot Angela a filthy look of hatrid. "And let's be honest Dirk, a little piece is all any girl's ever gonna get from you!"

Dirk lost all his concentration, dropping the weights with a loud crash, as he felt his face turn an even brighter shade of red than this morning. Today just wasn't turning out to be his day.

Angela slipped on her MP3 Player and began expertly lifting weights as Orlando looked on in confusion.
"Wait, you didn't cheat on her did you?" Orlando said, admiring Angela's physique.
"No, it was her twin. I'd never touch 'that'." Dirk said in a disgusted tone.
"Twins! So are they both single now?" Orlando said as he kept his eyes on Angela.
"Ugh!" Dirk said giving up and retreating to the lounge area. Orlando quickly joined him.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just a bad day." Dirk said.
"Care to tell me about it?" He said sitting down next to Dirk. Orlando wanted to study psychology when he left school and jumped at the opportunity to consult anyone in need of advice. But Dirk couldn't tell Orlando about his problem's, could he?
"Look, your body is still developing and there's no need to feel embarrased about the size of your.."
"DUDE!" Dirk cried out in disbelief. "It's not that. Everything's fine in that area." Dirk said, flinching at the topic of their discussion.
"So what's the problem?"

"She's the problem." Dirk said pointing at Angela, who was humming away to the music playing on her MP3 Player. "I'm just gonna take a shower and go home, coming here was a mistake."
"Alright, I'll get my things and come along." Orlando said.
"No! You are not coming." Dirk said, wanting to take a shower alone.

"What? Come on Dirk, it's nothing to be embarrased about." Orlando began to consult his friend again.
"Would you just shut up?" Dirk said as he turned to leave.

Orlando knew something else was bothering Dirk. Despite what he said his anger was not because of Angela, something else was on his mind. And Orlando thought he just might have the perfect plan to find out what it was.

Strolling into the bathroom a few minutes later, Orlando put his plan into action.
"Can you turn on the shower next you?" He asked.
"No! I thought I already told you I wanted to shower alone." Dirk said, annoyed his friend had disobeyed him.
"Well that's what you said, but it's not what you meant." Orlando said as he began to take off his gym clothes. "I want the truth about what's bothering you."
"I already told you it was 'Grungela' Pleasant and her stupid big mouth."
"That's only the half of it. I can tell something's on your mind and the best way to share these problem's is not having any barriers to protect yourself with." Orlando said as he joined his friend.

"Being naked helps break down the barriers and let your true feelings shine through.. Or something like that." Orlando said, obviously reciting something he'd read out of a book.

"Your right it does help. Wanna know my true felings, I feel like you're talking a load of crap." Dirk said shutting off the shower and leaving his friend to get dressed. He really did want to tell someone about what had happened, but he could hardly do it whilst he was naked. Walking out of the pool complex, Dirk crashed onto the park bench to wait for Orlando.

Chapter Three: "Confessions"

And as he predicted, Orlando showed up. "I come in peace! No jokes, no 'Freud' crap, it's just me. Do you wanna tell me what's up?" Orlando said, offering only the advice that a friend would offer, and that's all Dirk really wanted.

"Something happened a few weeks ago," Dirk took a deep breath in, the cold December air soothing his lungs, "Something that's made me freak out about my feelings." Dirk could feel the words coming but they were so hard to share, he didn't know how Orlando would react so instead of guessing he decided to find out. "A boy.. He tried to kiss me." Dirk said, feeling relieved that the world hadn't imploded like he thought it would.

Feeling embarrased, Orlando's puzzled look on his face made Dirk feel uncomfortable. He confessed to Dirk his thoughts, "No wonder you didn't want to talk to me in the shower. Me and my stupid psychology crap." Orlando said blushing. Dirk laughed a little and expected the next question that came. "Who was it?"

Dirk wanted to scream out Alex's name but he knew that wouldn't be right. "I can't tell you. All I can say is that I thought we were having a great time as friends and then he leaned in to kiss me and I was shocked. Orlando, he has a girlfriend." Dirk added, sharing with Orlando all his worries that had been stored up inside for the past few weeks.

"So the dude's not gay?" Orlando asked.
"No, he's gay. He didn't try to deny what he wanted to do to me. It just makes me mad that he's still pretending he's straight. I've seen him getting close with his girlfriend, almost as if he assumes I'll get jealous and come over to him, begging or something." Dirk told Orlando more about Alex's attempts to strike up a conversation, only to be left standing alone as Dirk walked off without saying a word.
"Do you think he assumes you're like him, pretending to be straight?" Orlando asked.

"I don't wanna know what he's thinking." Dirk said feeling awkward about the question. "The girl he's seeing was one of my friends too. She's really sweet and I don't want to see him hurt her." Dirk said, asking for Orlando's advice.

"I think you might be feeling some sort of guilt over betraying your friend, even though it's not your fault." Orlando offered, feeling his advice coming so easily.
"Then why does it feel like I'm the one who's done something wrong?"
"I think maybe not kissing him has meant that part of you wonders what would have happened if you had have kissed him." Dirk looked at his shoes and sighed.
"Yeah, I kind of feel like that." Orlando saw his friends honesty and tried to make him feel better.
"Well it's not your fault. You're not the one with with a girlfriend, pretending to be something you're not. You can go around kissing boys if you want to, it's him who should be feeling guilty."

"I don't want to go around kissing boys!" Dirk assured his friend as he cringed at the thought of it.

Trying not to laugh, Orlando offered his friend his final word of advice. "I think what you have to do is tell this dude's girl. Maybe that way some of your confidence can be restored by showing yourself that you can do good. And it will be good, she deserves to know and that bastard deserves to be punished for not being straight... I mean, not punished for not being 'straight'! I meant honest, punished for not being honest." Orlando said, assuring Dirk he wasn't an abusive homophobe or anything like that.

"I get it! I just don't think it's my place to go telling people that they're boyfriend isn't straight." Dirk admitted.
"You say she's your friend. I think she'd be pretty pissed if she found out you didn't tell her. I know I'd want to know if my girlfriend was trying to make out with another chick, but of course I'd be mad because I'd want to be there to get in on the action!" Orlando said laughing. Ignoring his friends joke, Dirk thought long and hard about what he was going to do. He knew Orlando was right, he had to tell Meadow that Alex didn't feel the same way she did about him. But could he really tell her that her boyfriend was gay?

Chapter Four: "An Uncertain Future"

The next day, Dirk was about to find out. He called Meadow and invited her down. When she arrived she seemed happy, which made his job so much harder.
"So, what was 'so important' that you just couldn't wait until Monday to tell me?" She asked. Dirk decided he'd kept the truth to himself for far too long and decided to get everything out in the open.
"It's about Alex."
"Oh yeah, how was Thanksgiving with your new Uncle?" Meadow joked. Dirk cringed as he heard the word uncle. He never before realised that if his dad and Cassandra get married, Alex would become his Step-Uncle.
"It was.. Really bad."

"Oh come on and just face it! Cassandra's going to be your new mom and then you're going to be related to Alex which will eventually mean that I'll become your Great Step-Aunt or something like that." Meadow thought, becoming confused at the amount of connections everyone in Pleasantview had.
"I wouldn't count on you and Dirk getting married Meadow, there's something I have to tell you." Dirk tried to soften the blow of his heart-breaking news.
"Let me guess, you've finally come to your senses and realised that it was me you wanted all those years ago and not Lilith? Well I'm sorry, you made your choice and I guess you 'choiced' wrong. I'm with Alex and you're with nobody and that's the way it's gonna be forever." Dirk felt confused, he never remembered choosing Lilith over Meadow. Had he been with so many girls that he was beginning to forget which ones he had dated and which he hadn't?

"When didn't I choose you?" Dirk asked.
"What? Back when you first started to date Lilith you and I were great friends and you said 'wouldn't it be fun if we kissed' and I said.." Dirk tried to tune out Meadow's annoying voice, her ego was obviously feeling so bruised that she felt the only way to heal it was to recite from one of her many diaries, most of which contained Dirk's name he assumed confidently.

"I went to school the next day and you acted like nothing had happened and it killed me so much inside that all I could do was try and forget it ever happened so that's what I did and it eventually became another small memory trapped in the back of my head.. But then that's you all over Dirk, isn't it? Small!" Dirk opened his mouth wide as a grin came over Meadow's face. He wasn't expecting that at all! Lilith must have been spreading rumours about him in school. Consumed with anger he forget all about sensitivity and hit Meadow straight between the eyes with his confession.
"Meadow, Alex is Gay. Yeah, he tried to kiss me." His smug grin lasted only one-tenth of a second as he realised what he had done. Meadow looked kind of like a lost puppy, Dirk thought. He expected her to deny it, but instead she just walked out of the door. Not wanting to let her go before he explained things he ran after her.

"Wait! Aren't you going to say anything?" Dirk asked.
"Are you lying?" She asked. Dirk shook his head.
"You don't sound surprised."
"Alex is my best friend. How could I not.." Meadow began before she choked on the tears that began to form in her eyes. Dirk didn't feel any better, maybe Orlando wasn't as much of an expert as he thought.
"I shouldn't have told you." He said.
"You think?" Meadow shot back, but she didn't have the energy to feel angry, she just felt.. Alone. Unsure if he would be forced away, Dirk went to hug his friend.

Wrapping her arms around him, Meadow tried not to burst into tears. She sort of felt like she should be mad at Dirk, but she realised she shouldn't push a friend like him away. Underneath his sexist attitude and tough-guy exterior was a kind person that Meadow had once hoped to get to know better. But now she didn't know what kind of guy would want to get to know her better, especially if it got out she was the girlfriend of a sexually confused boy.
"You haven't told anyone else have you?" Meadow asked Dirk.
"No, I would never do that to you. I wanted to tell you because I didn't want to see you get hurt."
"I understand why you told me, I just wish I knew why he didn't."
"You have to understand that I don't think Alex felt guilty about what he did. Infact I think he felt surprised I turned him down. He told me he wasn't sure how he felt about you, did you ever get that impression?"
"No! God why can't he be honest?" Meadow said feeling angry.

Not saying much of a goodbye, she left Dirk's porch and passed Cassandra on the way out. Turning back, Meadow stared at Cassandra with a scorned glare but Cassandra didn't understand why. As Dirk went inside he passed Darren.
"Big celebration tonight, don't make any plans." He told his son.
"Don't worry." Dirk said out loud. 'I don't think anyone will want to go out with me again' he thought.

Dirk went to great his love but she stopped him to ask, "Why was your son hugging my brother's girlfriend? Don't tell me he's moved on again already."
"What? No, I just think those two are friends. I mean, I know they're only friends. Dirk wouldn't want to steal Alex's girlfriend. And besides, what makes you think Alex's girlfriend would cheat on him?" Darren asked, managing to turn all of Cassandra's accusations against herself.
"I never said that! I think those teenagers have enough going on in their lives without us causing more gossip. Now, what was it you wanted to show me?" Darren smiled as he lead Cassandra inside and up the stairs. "I hope you didn't ask me over just so you and I could.." Cassandra started, confused at why she was being taken upstairs.
"Cassandra! Did you ever stop to think that I enjoy your company and value your opinion? I wanted to share with you my great news." Darren said, stopping infront of his easel.

"I just sold three of my paintings for over one-thousand simoleons. Isn't that great?" Darren asked, showing Cassandra his works of art.
"Darren that's unbelievable!" Cassandra yelled excitedly, rushing to hug her fiance.
"I think this might be the start of something big Cassandra." Darren thought out loud.

"The guy even wanted my painting of Mortimer. I figure that must mean that he thinks I'm so good that people will buy anything I paint." Darren assumed. Cassandra wondered if Darren had understood the buyer correctly.
"Darren, he did buy your paintings exclusively didn't he?"
"What do you mean?" Darren wondered.
"Well, it sounds to me like he might just go and auction off your paintings for even more money than he gave you." Cassandra shared her thoughts, hoping that Darren wouldn't be offended.
"You think?" Darren asked concerned.
"I'm afraid it sounds that way." Cassandra sighed but Darren's smile got even wider.

"Then that means even more people will know about my work. You just wait and see Cassandra, this is going to be it. Pretty soon I'll be selling paintings for big simoleons every week. I could even get Dirk to build me a website so I can sell them direct. Do you know what this means?" Darren asked, picking Cassandra up and spinning her around. Cassandra laughed, catching the excitement off of Darren.

"We can finally get married." Cassandra said, assuming that's what Darren meant. Darren put his fiance down and paused.
"Oh, yeah. I didn't think of that, I guess we'll have enough money by next year to afford a decent wedding." Darren answered honestly. Cassandra looked at him confused.
"Next year? I meant now Darren, I thought you and I were going to get married as soon as possible. I mean, we have the money. What are we waiting for?" Cassandra asked him.
"Honey, I can't put myself before my son." Darren confessed.
"Excuse me?" Cassandra asked, feeling confused.
"This money's for Dirk. I can finally afford to put him through college now even without a scholarship." Cassandra's hopes of a beautiful Christmas wedding were shattered. She tried to hide her disappointment as she congratulated Darren one more time.
"That's great. He'll really appreciate that." Cassandra said out loud.

'He better' Cassandra thought in her head as she looked at her father and wondered if he'd ever get to see her married.

Chapter Five: "Mother or Lover?"

Later on, Cassandra sat down to eat with Dirk. She hoped she might be able to make him see that using his dad's money for a wedding would benefit her future family more. "So, has your dad shared with you his plans for the big fortune he's about to make?"

"He sure has. Man, I never thought I'd be able to get through college without keeping my part-time job or something like that. Heck, I might even be able to rent a place of my own." Dirk imagined. Cassandra's bitterness was scratching away inside, eager to be let out. But she calmly replied,
"That would be fantastic. And you seem to be handling the pressure really well." Dirk's happiness was cut short, just as Cassandra had hoped.
"Pressure?"

"Oh, well I know that if I were in your position, having all of my father's money put into my education, I'd crack knowing that I could easily end up flunking or something. I mean University is hard work. But I'm sure you don't have to worry about that, you're a bright kid." Cassandra said, trying to sound generously supportive of Darren's wishes. She saw Dirk suddenly realising that not everything about this was as great as he first thought.
"Well, I want to see what it's like in the dorms anyway. And I'm sure they've got lots of ways to help you get good grades. You know, like study groups and the library. College has changed a lot since you were there." Dirk said as Cassandra choked on her food in astonishment. "Er, I didn't mean that you were old or anything. Just that we've got stuff like the internet and mobile phones now."
"It wasn't that long ago!" Cassandra told Dirk, who was turing red again. "The establishment might have changed but the teaching standards are just as high as they were back then..."

"Maybe even more so." Cassandra told Dirk. "You just have to remember that there's no pressure for you to do well. Even though all your dad's money is going into your education you can't think about it. Just have fun." Cassandra finished off her plan, hoping to have at least moved her wedding back up to Winter. Admiring her work she imagined a beautiful Valentine's Day ceremony.
"Cassandra, you're going to put the boy off of College if you keep going on about it." Darren said as he came downstairs. Cassandra hadn't realised he had been in earshot of their conversation.
"I hadn't finished Darren. In fact I was waiting for you to come so we could share all those great stories about our time in College together." Cassandra said. Dirk looked on in amazement.

"You two were in college together?" He asked.
"Well, I was a Freshman whilst your dad was a Senior. But he would always come over to say hi to me. You were so shy back then." Cassandra laughed as Dirk smiled and listened to the two of them share their memories with him.
"I barely even said two words to you. I know because I once looked at you for too long and found myself face-to-fist Don. But you know if it hadn't been for that then I would have never met your mother." Darren told Dirk as he looked at his son with a loving smile.
"Wait a minute, you never told me you went to the student nurse because Don punched you." Dirk laughed as he found himself enjoying the conversation. He had always been reluctant to let Cassandra in, but now he had he wasn't sure if he ever wanted her to leave.

"Don did something good. I never thought I'd hear that in my lifetime." Cassandra laughed as Dirk offered to do the washing up. Dirk had always been suspicious of the Goth's, but he realised now that what seemed like suspicion was really envy. He envied their expensive lifestyle and to him it seemed like they were so perfect they weren't human. But now, with Cassandra sharing more about her life with Dirk and Alex practically coming out to him, he saw that they were just as normal as everyone else in town.

And he saw how happy Cassandra made his dad. He'd even managed to mention Darleen without getting sad. In fact, Dirk understood how he could fall in love with another woman yet still hold a place in his heart for his wife.

As he thought about his mother, he silently prayed for her to help him accept Cassandra like his father had. An Instant Message pop-up distracted him from his thoughts as Dirk went over to see who was contacting him.

It was Orlando, Dirk sat down for a chat with his friend.

*Did U talk 2 that dudes girl?*
*All sorted! She was upset but didnt blame me*
*U feeling better then?*
*Loads. thanks 4 checking up on me - Ur advice was gr8*
*I know!*
*Ure gonna do gr8 in college*
*Speaking of college im inviting U 2a party 2nite - A COLLEGE PARTY*

Dirk had never been to a college party and wondered how on earth Orlando had managed to get himself invited.

*How did U score that invite?*
*Dont ask just read. Meet me @ the woodland park @ 11*
*11!!*
*Dude were talking COLLEGE GIRLS - 2 single n attractive guys like us would be nuts 2 turn this down. Its just what U need after all that gay crap was forced on 2U*
*LOL! What would college girls want with teens?*
*Were not goin2 say were teens dumbass! RU meeting me or what?*

Dirk turned to look at his dad and realised he'd said that he wanted the three of them to spend some time together. He couldn't believe it, but he wanted to spend time with his Dad and Cassandra. Besides, he knew that Orlando would end up getting drunk and thrown out or do something even worse!

*Cant, U go n have fun though*
*WHAT! Ure not coming*
*Dad n Cass want to spend time with me - Dad sold some paintings n were having a party 2*
*OOO Cassies there, can I cum 2 urs instead!*
*Dude ure sick, go try ure luck with the college girls - adios*

Not wanting to feel more guilty, Dirk logged off. Besides, he thought, it would take Orlando at least an hour to get ready!

When he got off, Darren was stood right behind him. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"You're not going to a college party." Darren told his son. Dirk frowned that his dad had been reading his conversation over his shoulder. Then it hit him, what if he had seen the bit about the 'gay crap'. Panicking, Dirk tried to ease his dad's accusing mind.
"I already said no. Don't you trust me?"
"Well you do do things that make me wonder if I can trust you. But I'm glad you made the right decision and I'm sorry for accusing you." Dirk wanted to quickly rush off to bed but Darren stopped him.
"I was wondering if you'd mind me not putting all of the money I made towards your education?" Darren admitted.
"No, it's fine. I kind of feel better than way anyway. Why, what did you want to spend the rest of the money on?" Darren hesitated but Dirk understood what, or who it was he wanted to spend the money on.

"It's okay, I think you and Cassandra should save some for the wedding too." Darren smiled as he saw for the first time that his son was beginning to accept his relationship.
"You do not know how happy I am to hear you say that." Darren hugged his son as Dirk laughed.
"Cut the emotional stuff dad or else you'll have none left for her." Dirk joked, hinting at Cassandra waiting upstairs.
"Hey now, just because Cassandra stays over it doesn't mean.." Dirk stopped his dad,
"Dad it's okay, I'm not a kid. I know what goes on and I'm fine with it. Besides, I think Cassandra is great and you should be really proud of yourself." As Dirk walked into his bedroom Darren called to him,
"I am proud.. Of you." Darren smiled and went upstairs to sleep with his future wife.

If he were honest, Dirk was glad he didn't have to go that party. He was tired and as he lay on top of his bed he found himself falling to sleep. But before he could rest, nature was calling. Half asleep, it wasn't until he was in the bathroom that Dirk realised he'd gone all the way upstairs. That's weird, he thought to himself. Pausing in front of the toilet, Dirk suddenly realised he wasn't alone.

As they stepped out of the shower, their naked body shocked Dirk from his sleepiness. He was wide awake now and could see everything. Dirk knew he should feel ashamed but he couldn't look away from her fantastic body.

Her smooth, tanned skin was now wet from the shower and even more astounding than yesterday. As Cassandra stood infront of Dirk, he realised she wasn't paying attention to him. It was as if he wasn't even in the room. But suddenly she walked towards him and Dirk could feel himself growing closer to her. She opened her mouth and Dirk opened his, but to his surprise all she did was stand there making noise... A ringing noise.

Dirk sleepily awoke and realised it had only been another one of his dreams. As he reached over to turn off the alarm, he got the shock of his life and saw Cassandra standing at his door. Could she tell, he thought to himself.
"I was just about to switch it off, you must have set it last night without thinking." Dirk watched from the security of his bed as Cassandra entered his room, dressed in only her underwear again. She reached for his blanket and Dirk panicked she would be able to tell what he had been dreaming about, but she simply tucked him in. "You don't have to get up yet, go back to sleep if you want." She smiled as she turned around and left. Well, Dirk thought, he wouldn't say no to just a few more minutes!

But as he lay in bed, he wondered if it was sick to dream about his future step-mom. As he fell back to sleep he realised that dreams were only pretend, he didn't really desire Cassandra that way... Did he?

THE END