"You've been given all I have; When you come around, I seem to give in. In a fight, I'll never win, 'cause all the while, you're my favourite sin."- Favorite Sin, Within Reason

Episode : Episode 9 "Favorite Sin"
Written By: Rob Hill

Scene 1: Club 90 Paige’s Office

The falling sun gracefully welcomes the bright moon and stars to take it’s place in the sky. The below freezing temperature makes itself known as the ice chilling breeze whistles past the windows. Paige walks into her office, hoping to get some work done and get ahead. Today her dear friend Hannah been on her mind, she was randomly thought about times they shared in their photography class and how Hannah helped her get over her problems during school.

Paige turns on the lights then gasps being terrified from seeing Ryan sitting on her desk, she frowns not wanting to see him.

“Why are you here? I thought I told you to leave!” she asks closing the door quickly. She races over to him and shoves him off of her desk.

Ryan laughs catching his balance, he loves the fact that he still has the power to get under Paige’s skin. He adjusts his hooded sweatshirt and crosses his arms, eyeing Paige.

“I have to get my daily dose of Paige, plus we have unfinished business.”

Paige walks behind her desk to put something between her and Ryan, she reaches for the phone to call security. “I’m calling security if you don’t get out of here!”

Ryan smirks evilly as he walks over to the phone and grabs the phone from Paige and hangs it up, “You don’t want to do that.” He whispers, “Unless…”

“…Unless what Ryan?!” Paige glares at Ryan. “I have to work to do so just say what you have to say then get out please!”

“What if I don’t want to leave?” Ryan asks reaching over to Paige’s desk to pull her into his kiss.

Paige’s eyes widen in shock, she wonders what would Shane think if he walked in on this, she wonders what the hell is Ryan thinking. She pulls away from him and slaps him.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

Scene 2: West Lake Country Club

Jessica finds herself in heaven while she enjoys her 14 inch steak, garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus and to make things better she was sitting across from the man she loves dearly…Jacob. She wants to enjoy every minute with him, especially now when it feels like she’s losing him. She looks up and to her disappointment, Jacob is not enjoying his dinner. The look on his face tells her that something or someone else is on his mind.

“Is something wrong?” Jessica asks, she hides her growing frustrations with Jacob.

Jacob comes back to reality, he finds Jessica staring at him. Did she ask him a question? He wasn’t too sure he was busy worrying about Vanessa and how he wanted to get her away from Brian, the man who was no good for her.

“Did you say something?” he politely asks, hoping not to hurt Jessica’s feelings.

Jessica sighs growing embarrassed and angry. She thought she had Jacob all to herself but it was obvious that it wasn’t the case. She drums on the table then smiles releasing her anger. “I asked you was something wrong?”

“No everything is fine.” Jacob quietly answers, “What would make you think that?”

“Maybe because you barely touched your food?” Jessica replies bluntly.

Jacob looks down at his food then carefully cuts his steak then takes a bite out of it, he chews his food mocking Jessica’s statement, then smiles at her. “Better now?”

Jessica sits back in her chair as she wipes her mouth then throws the napkin on her dinner plate, becoming enraged. “She’s on your mind isn’t she?”

“I’m sorry for putting you through all of this.” Jacob whispers softly, this is a conversation he doesn’t want to have, but he does realizes as much as he tries to hide it he can’t take his mind off of Vanessa and the mistake she is making being with involved with Brian. “I can’t continue to do this to you. I’m so sorry, I have to go.”

“What?” Jessica manages to get out in shock, she tearfully watches as Jacob walks away to be with her…Vanessa once again. Jessica looks around embarrassed by being walked out on by the man she loves. Jessica pulls out her cell phone and dials a number that she knows all too well.

“I need your help.”

Scene 3: Mr. Tux, West Lake Mall

Kate promised Liz that she would make sure everything would be ready for her wedding, which included Kate waiting with Liz’s soon to be husband while he got his tuxedo fitted.

Kate sighs then looks at her watch to check the time, she peeps around the corner to see if Austin was going to come around the corner, so she could see him in his tux. She smiles brightly as Austin comes around corner in his tuxedo pants only. “Where’s the rest of it?” Kate asks confused why he was only in his pants.

“They have to make sure my pants fit before I try on everything else.” Austin responds through his laughter, “So do you think everything looks ok?”

Kate giggles a bit staring at Austin hiding the fact that he looks just the same when they were together, her eyes mapped his stone chiseled arms, to his curves in his chest to his art sculptured abs. “Everything is fine…” she responds noticing a snag by one of his belt loops.

“Hold on, I think let me get this.” She instructs pulling at the snag. Austin’s cologne consumes her the way it used to and before she realizes, they’re making way to Austin’s dressing room while they’re kissing each other.

Scene 4: 421 Firestone Cir., West Lake, NY

“What brings you here?” Vanessa asks Jacob letting in, she smiles happy to see Jacob but she figured he would be with Jessica. She closes the door then invites him to sit down with her on the couch.

Jacob feels at peace being with Vanessa and soaks up every moment of it, he looks at her and places a hand on her knee, “I needed to see you. We have to talk.” He whispers, hoping this time he can persuade her to leave Brian alone.

“If this is about Brian, Jacob…” Vanessa complains not wanting to have this conversation again, it was beginning to become a broken record. Vanessa was happy with Brian and she wanted Jacob and everyone else to accept it. It was true that Vanessa had feelings for Jacob but falling for him would just make things complicated for everyone again.

“I just want you to hear me out, Vanessa. Please just listen.” Jacob pleads knowing how this conversation is probably going to end but it’s worth the try. “What do I have to do to prove to you that Brian is not the right man for you? That man cannot be trusted, he’s using you! You truly can’t be happy.”

Vanessa glares at Jacob, she quickly stands up and walks away, “I want you to understand something Jacob, what I do with my life is none of your business. I wish…”

Jacob quiets Vanessa by rushing to her and kissing her in mid-sentence. Vanessa wanted to fight it but she found herself wrapping her arms around him, as she slowly melts into Jacob. Vanessa quickly realizes what she’s doing is wrong and it would probably hurt Brian, she pushed Jacob away as tears began to fall from her eyes, “This isn’t right. Jake we can’t do this!”

Scene 5: Club 90 Paige’s Office

Ryan laughs at Paige’s rejection, their relationship was always a cat and mouse hunt but this time he had a trap that she couldn’t get out of. Paige wipes her mouth with her sleeve, she hates the feeling of his lips being pressed against hers, she storms over to the door and opens it, “I want you to get out now!”

Ryan walks to the door and looks at Paige then slams it shut then locks it, “We we’re a hell of team in New York weren’t we? Your best ASSets and my brain. We really got somewhere. ” Ryan cackles as he leans pressing up against Paige, and kisses her neck.

“Ryan I want you to stop!” Paige demands pushing him away, “And our life in New York has passed and you should forget about it!” she commands becoming uncomfortable.

“Paige sometimes our past can follow us.” Ryan whispered tugging at Paige’s blouse, “Do you remember how you and my father used to spend your time in between classes?” Paige gasps as the sounds of Ryan’s father and her moans played in her head, she shakes her head trying to get those sounds out of her head, “Ryan what do you want from me?”

Ryan pulls off his shirts and makes his chest muscles jumps as he approaches Paige, “You keep me happy and your dirty little secrets stay a secret. If not? I’d hate to see your little boyfriend’s reactions when he finds out about the real you!”

Ryan kisses Paige’s neck softly and basks in the scent of her perfume. “It’ll be just like old times.”

Paige reluctantly run her hands up Ryan’s chest then kisses him softly, she closes her eyes and lefts her spirit float away from her body as Ryan begins to have his way with her.

Scene 6: Mr. Tux, West Lake Mall

Kate waits for Austin to finish paying for everything and shivers from the guilt that has come over her, they just made love which complicates things for everyone. She can’t say she regrets doing it but she knows it was a bad move, at this point she doesn’t know what to do or say. An image of her and Austin sexually attacking each other plasters in her head, her thoughts are interrupted as Austin calls her name. “I can’t believe we did that.”

“What? Pay for my tux?” Austin asks playing dumb, he wanted to put him and Kate making love behind him, fearing that it might mess things up with him and Liz. Just like Kate, Austin also had what just happened on his mind. The feeling Kate’s soft lips which he sometimes yearned for at times lingered on his lips. “Come on we have to go.”

Kate shakes her head and reaches for Austin’s arm to stop him, “This happened Austin whether you want to accept it or not. I’m just as confused as you are.” She whispers looking around to make sure no one was listening.

“Then let’s leave it in the dressing room.” Austin suggests softly, as Liz pops into his mind. “Kate we have to move to one, no matter how much it hurts us. Too many people are going to get hurt, if we don’t.”

Kate nods agreeing with Austin, he was right too many people could get hurt, but she still couldn’t help but think about Austin.

Scene 7: Club 90 Paige’s Office

Paige adjusts her blouse as she cries thinking about the past that Ryan is not going let her forget and how he blackmailed her into sleeping with him. She was unsure of how to handle things at this and what makes matters worse she has no one to run to, if she tells Austin the truth we will reject her. She looks up hearing a knock at the door, she fixes her face as she walks to the door. She smiles opening it to see Shane standing at the door.

“Hi!” She says trying to hide the sadness and hurt she was feeling as she invited him in.

She disappointed though when Shane enters the room without greeting her with a kiss. Shane looks at Paige and immediately remembers seeing Paige kiss another man.

He takes a deep breath, “We have to talk.”

Paige slightly smiles, this was her chance to make things right between after the other night, “You’re right, Shane. I’m sorry about everything, I never meant for any of this happen.”

Shane frowns as the pain he felt from watching Paige kiss that mystery guy fills his heart. He looks at Paige in disbelief, she was apologizing for something that was minor instead of coming clean about the major lie she’s committed by not saying anything. “Looks to me like you’ve moved on?”

Paige grows confused as she crosses her arms, “Shane what are you talking about?” she asks wondering if Ryan already went to Shane and told him everything about their past.

“I saw you in the arms of someone else.” Shane informs Paige stepping back from her, as her eyes widen with shock, “No…Shane you don’t understand!”

“I understand perfectly! We’re through! Goodbye Paige, take care.” Shane whispers as he walks out of the office. Paige opens her mouth to scream but nothing comes out, everything around her was crashing down and it was nothing she could do about it, Ryan’s blackmail, now Shane leaving her. She holds herself but nothing can make it better.

Scene 8: West Lake Country Club

Jessica stands by the bar attempting to calm herself down, she was still upset about Jacob leaving her at the dinner table, she knew he raced over to Vanessa’s and expressed his feelings for her. She growls taking the glass of cranberry and vodka, she gasps as Ryan pops up beside her.

“Make yourself known, from now on!” Jessica rudely instructs Ryan as she walks to the back of the restaurant. She didn’t want anyone to see her interacting with Ryan. “Did you talk to Paige?”

Ryan smiles thinking about how he had his way with her and how their plan was coming together, “As long as I’m happy, Paige won’t have to worry about a thing. Which mean our little secret about Hannah won’t get out.”

Jessica laughs ecstatic with the news she was just informed, “That’s great! I bet that bitch is going out of her mind right now.”

“Ryan I want you to understand something as long as Paige is quiet we won’t have anything to worry about.”

---