Homecoming

I woke up with him breathing down my neck. In the middle of the night I must have twisted in my sleep, Mark's arm remained around my waist as he spooned my body in his. He was still asleep, his breathing was gentle and soft, warm against my cold skin. Every time he took a breath in it was like he absorbed the heat off my neck, until he let the breath go and I felt warm again.

The sun was still making it's way up, signifying to me that I woke up way earlier than intended. It was all Mark's fault. He had hogged the blanket over his shoulders to warm his uncovered torso and it had slipped off my feet. They were so cold right now I thought they were ice. Of course the chill had awoken me but all I wanted was more sleep. Even with my feet covered back up, I couldn't find myself to fall back in my peaceful slumber.

Even without the sleep I didn't want to get out of bed. It was cold outside of the covers and I was still trying to get warm. But of course this is when my body told me it had to use the bathroom. I tried to stay warm as long as possible, and try to go back to sleep, but when you gotta go you gotta go.

I carefully made my way out of the bed, making sure not to disturb Mark. When I moved away from him I stepped onto the floor and nearly yelped. The floor was freezing! How could it have gotten so cold in one night. There's just some wonders in the world that I'll never understand.

I walked quickly on my tip toes to Mark's closet. The creaking of the ground making him stir slightly before he started to snore. In his closet I found the small little box in the corner, beside the Nerf guns, where it was labeled, Tori.

It was just a regular brown cardboard box with no top on it and inside were just some things I leave here in case I don't have my backpack. There was a toothbrush, a sweatshirt (that probably didn't fit me anymore), some Nike Fit shorts, the little stuffed bear Mark gave me for Valentine's Day a few years ago, and at the very bottom my special hot pink fuzzy socks. I slipped the socks on and then grabbed Mark's Scooby-Doo slippers putting those on as well.

When I finished using the bathroom I went over to my backpack and pulled out Mr. Cuddles. I take the little stuffed toy around with me everywhere. Well not everywhere, ever since fifth grade when I had class with these boys. They found Mr. Cuddles in my backpack and started making fun of me, so from there on I just left it at home or took it with me to sleep overs. Whether is was Mark's house or not. Last night I was so tired I had forgotten he was in my backpack for me to cuddle with as I slept.

Mark groaned a bit in his sleep and I turned to look at him. "It's cold," He muttered in his morning voice. It was scratchy and an octave lower than usual, making my toes curl for more. Wait what?

He brought the pillow he rested his head on, into his chest curling around it like a ball. I nearly laughed, half expecting he'd start sucking his thumb.

This was the man that wanted to join the armed forces? I thought, nearly smirking out loud. He looks like a giant cuddly teddy bear. How is he suppose to turn into someone lethal? He's such a little baby.

The slippers allowed me to slide on the floor, so I slid my way to Mark and climbed into the bed. I stayed just behind his back pulling my hair behind my shoulders so it wouldn't get in the way, and I started running my finger up his neck. "There's a spider on you..." I taunted, whispering softly against his ear. "What happens when it strikes?"

Mark groaned again and tried swatting my hand off his neck. Instead I flicked his neck and he hissed. "Now you're turning to Spiderman," I started to blow lightly in his ear, using my nails as spider legs and brushing them against his neck down his arm and up his back. Wherever I brushed my fingers chills would follow on Mark's skin. "What does Spiderman do?" I asked against Mark's ear.

"Fly," He muttered in his sleep. I laughed before biting my lip containing my laughter for now. I heard a small giggle from the other side of the door. When I looked over I saw the small crack in the door and an eye on the other side.

"Conlan?" I whispered so Mark wouldn't wake up.

Conlan opened the door with a weird smile. "What are you doing?" He asked in a normal voice making Mark stir. I put my index finger to my lips, using wide eyes to show Conlan how serious I was. I wanted to play around with this sleeping baby. See what I can make him say while he's unaware of his thoughts and actions, but if Conlan was going to mess up my fun I was just going to have to chase him around with a bat.

"I'm just playing around." I answered as he advanced on his tip toes. "How'd you wake up anyways?"

"I heard the toilet flush," Conlan whispered, "You know I'm a light sleeper." It was true, Conlan would wake up to the smallest of noises. He always seems to be in a deep sleep, till you drop a pin on the floor and suddenly he's wide awake.

I just nodded looking back at Mark. His mouth was wide open and his snores weren't loud but they surely weren't quiet either. He had a bit of drool running down the side of his mouth onto his pillow, and his hair was pointing in all sorts of directions. "You want to help me mess with him?" I asked Conlan.

He of course smiled and nodded his head, crawling over me and Mark's sleeping form. When he was on the other side he looked up at me as if to say 'What now?'

I had to think of a good scenario so it would be funny. Conlan waited for his signal while I was thinking on what I would do. When I came up with the idea I leaned over and whispered in Mark's ear. "You're swimming in the ocean with-"

"Selena Gomez." Conlan chimed in with a devilish smile. "She's uh...wearing a red bikini."

I just wanted to drop on the ground and laugh at what Conlan was saying. But I played along biting my lip so I wouldn't laugh and wake up Mark. "Oh my god Spiderman look out it's Voldemort."

"Careful he's gonna steal your nose."

"I got your nose," I said with a scratchy voice. Conlan decided to grab Mark's nose between his knuckles and I continued the Voldemort act. "Bwahaha now I take your girlfriends nose."

Mark groaned again waving his hand at his nose and Conlan brought his voice a pitch higher, "Mark! Spiderman how could you! I'm so not gonna write a song about you!"

"When you're ready come and get it." I said in my Voldemort voice.

Mark groaned out again, finally swapping Conlan's hand away. "Tori..." Mark grumbled flipping on his stomach.

"I think we've been compromised," I whispered to Conlan.

Conlan only grinned and leaned closer to Mark's ear, "What about Tori?"

Mark muttered something under his breath. I couldn't hear him but now the curiosity was killing me as well. I put my head right beside Conlan's and we held our breaths while Mark muttered something else. "Gotcha." Mark sprung up before we could react.

He locked my head in his arm and Conlan ran away from the room as fast as he could. "You're just going to leave me!" I shouted after Conlan.

"Yeah pretty much!" He shouted back before we heard his bedroom door shut. Then lock.

"Son of a gun..." I muttered looking up at Mark. "How long have you been awake?"

He raised an eyebrow and thought for a second his lock on my head not even loosing. "Well I had this weird dream of being Spiderman. Then Selena Gomez came from no where in this really hot red bikini. The Voldemort came and took my nose and then I woke up."

I laughed, "Wow I seriously didn't think that'd work."

"You know it's not nice to wake people up." He pinned me on his bed, my stomach flat on the mattress with him sitting on the middle of my back. "See you get punished for these sort of things."

I squirmed around, which was no use. It was like putting a rock on an ant and telling it to walk. But not a pebble, more like an ant has to carry a large boulder across the Sahara desert. Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit but Mark was that heavy. "Dude you gotta lay off the Lucky Charms," I managed to say still squirming around.

It got harder to breathe and it was definitely bothering me. His weight compressed on my back where my lungs were and every time I breathed out I wouldn't be able to catch my breath again. Now I knew what it felt like to be trapped in a python. Like when we had Monty the snake in my science class last year. I fed him a mouse and watched the poor sucker stop breathing and feet turn blue from lack of blood circulation.

Karma is a bitch.

"Please get off." I looked over my shoulder at Mark who was playing with his nails. I gave him a toothy smile and started batting my eyelashes.

He smirked, "No this is your punishment. I like to sleep."

I groaned and started kicking my legs trying to hit Mark. He dodged them pretty easily considering I was moving slow with the lack of oxygen. "You're hurting me though."

"Well this is better than what people would have done back then."

"Meaning?"

"They probably would have tied you somewhere-"

"You're sitting on me Mark. So you pretty much tied me to this bed with your butt."

He laughed, "To bad. Don't wake me up next time."

"What about Conlan? The little kid ran away you're not chasing him!"

"Because that would mean I let go of you. And I just caught you."

"Am I fish now?" I asked attempting once more to squirm away, "Please I can't breathe."

"Fine I'll let you go." Mark said making me shout a thank you to the air. "On one condition."

"Oh lord what?"

"You gotta be my servant for the rest of the day."

I laughed, "Not happening. I remember that last time. I'm not being your butler ever again."

He shrugged, "Your call."

Mark just sat on me doing nothing. He seemed to be enjoying the fact that I kept trying to buck him off, and squirming to move him around. But nothing worked, he stayed seated on my back like a paper holder on paper. He didn't budge or flinch any time I'd kick him. I had reached over and grabbed the pillow hitting him square in the face which didn't do anything either.

Frustrated didn't begin to describe how mad I was. I literally felt my heart beating in my chest and I wanted to scream. But I knew that wouldn't get him off. So after a while of frustration I began to think. What comes after frustration? Tears...

I smiled to myself happy my hair covered it up. I began my act, keeping my eyes open for a long time and concentrating hard enough until I felt tears welling up. Some people can cry when they want, like actors in movies. But some people are just not good at it. I was luckily one that developed the skill to cry whenever I felt like it.

It can come in handy when you really want something. When I was younger I wanted the Spiderman web shooter toy you'd put on your wrist. Dad had been at work which left me with the babysitter. She didn't want to get me the shooter, even though my dad had specifically asked her to get Suzie and I a toy to entertain ourselves while he was gone. The babysitter said it was un-lady-like to buy a little boys toy. So I started to fake cry, which she obviously wasn't expecting. I don't cry. I haven't cried a lot since my mother died, but when you do see me cry it's obviously something that really hit me. In the end I got the Spiderman web shooter and Suzie got a doll.

When I started to sniffle I could feel Mark shift over like he was trying to look at my face. I acted on choking back a sob and Mark got off me. "Aw shit." He muttered grabbing my shoulder's trying to turn me around. I was just grateful I could finally breathe again. "I'm sorry Tori."

Although Mark was trying to make me face him I kept myself stiff and laughed softly. He knows I can fake cry, he just never knows when I'm faking, or when I'm crying for real. I would think he knows the difference if he was looking directly at me, but at the moment I didn't feel like turning around and ruining my fun.

He misinterpreted my shaking shoulders as crying and even without looking at him I knew guilt was written across his face. "Tori come on I'm sorry," He tugged at my shoulders again, "Could you please turn around?"

Mark managed to turn me around and at first his face did show guilt. When he saw I was smiling and laughing softly it turned to confusion. "Gotcha." I laughed louder and he frowned. "You thought I was crying?"

"Yeah now I'm hurt that you acted you were hurt. There's to much hurt." Mark muttered confusing himself.

"Aw I'm sorry." I instantly stopped laughing and put on a straight face. "It's seriously your fault I mean if you didn't sit on me we wouldn't be in this situation."

"We're in a situation?" Mark asked lifting his eyebrow.

"We're always in a situation." I said with a eye roll.

He chuckled, "Like what kind of situations?"

The mood was instantly lifted like we had completely forgotten as to what happened ten seconds ago. I let the whole You-sat-on-me-now-you-have-to-pay thing go. So instead I just laid back, my arms behind my head and one leg propped on my knee. "I don't know...like the time we chased that bunny around because it was April and we thought it was the Easter bunny."

Mark laughed, "Oh god yes! We chased it to the neighbors backyard and all across your neighborhood. Then it disappeared and I started to cry."

I laughed along with him recalling that memory. "Then my dad took us out to ice cream and we passed by that Blockbuster."

Mark nodded, "And we stole the movie The Goonies."

I grinned, "How did we pull that off again?"

Mark shrugged walking away from his bed to his closet. "I think it was in the buying section. Not renting, but buying the movie. You were with your dad distracting him, while I was in the back unwrapping the plastic covering around the movie box." He went over to his shelf opening an old looking CD holder. The one's where you'd slide the CD or disc inside, a way of keeping everything together without losing them. So glad they invented MP3 players and iPods.

"Oh yeah," I suddenly remember how it all went down. How Mark and I were incredibly mischievous in our youth. Getting in trouble about everything and anything. "You took the DVD out of the box, put the box on a shelf and stuck the DVD down your pants!" I laughed.

Mark grinned a small laugh coming out of his lips, "Yeah. It was not comfortable I can tell you that."

I bit the inside of my lip to keep from laughing. "Why? Did you have to put your peanut through the center hole?"

Mark knitted his eyebrows with a weird face like he had just smelled some rotting cheese. "You have no idea how wrong that just sounded."

I couldn't contain it and burst out laughing. Mark tried to ignore me but as he watched me roll around on his bed he started to laugh a bit as well. He'd glance up from me while flipping through CD's and DVD's trying not to laugh. I asked, "So you did?"

"Did what?"

"Put your peanut through the circle thingy on DVD's."

"Oh heck no." Mark glancing down between his legs where his manhood stood. "It wouldn't have fit you kidding."

"It could have when we were kids."

"No. It still couldn't." Mark didn't make eye contact and just as I was about to say something he pulled a disc out from the collection. "I found it!" He walked over placing the disc right in front of me. Written across was the title of the movie: The Goonies.

"No way! You kept it!" For a second I reached out for it then remembered where it'd had been. It made me wonder what else Mark had kept all these years. The situations we'd get into were hilarious yet punishable. In a way, we did it for attention. Dad was always at work and Mark...well his dad was on the other side of the world. We thought maybe if we acted bad we'd get attention from our parents. Turns out we got to much attention. They didn't trust us anymore, so we were constantly watched making sure we didn't do anything stupid.

In a way I'm kind of glad they watched us. As weird as that may sound. Once Mark and I had been saving money to go get matching piercings on our ears. Two eleven year olds walking in a piercings shop with some scary guy covered in tattoos from head to toe, about twenty piercings on his face, not to mention his insanely long red beard. That could not have ended well. But of course my dad, being the dad he is, had been following us and 'saved us' from the shop. After allhe was a cop.

Mark chuckled handing me Mr. Cuddles who had fallen at the side of the bed when he had sat on me. "You treasure this little guy," It wasn't a question. It was a statement. "You take him everywhere with you."

I smiled a bit taking Mr. Cuddles into my arms. "It was the last thing mom gave to me before the wreck."

Mark nodded sadly. Countless times I've told him how my mom died. Never did he take it lightly. He understood how I felt about her. How much I loved her and regretted not telling her every chance I got. It's one of those things I still have nightmares about, or just wake up thinking about it. It'll never go away. Not the feeling, the guilt....not the love. It's there forever in the locked chamber most people call a heart. You'll need the key to get in, and not everyone has the key.

"Tori?" Mark said shaking my knee a little bit, bringing me back to reality. "You dozed off again...."

I forced a small laugh, "Sorry..."

"Don't be." He smiled softly. That was Mark's key, his smiles. Just the way he smiled made my heart open up and melt. When he was done staring into my eyes, like he knew he had just unlocked my heart he looked away towards his closet. "I'm going to get dressed. You can use the bathroom."

I nodded picking up my bag and walking towards his bathroom. Inside I quickly got changed into a dark pair of jeans and loose top with a leather jacket. I took my fuzzy socks off and exchanged them for a regular pair, keeping the Scooby-Doo slippers.

I walked out while Mark finished buckling his belt, later zipping up his hoodie although he wore nothing underneath. "Seriously don't you ever get cold?" I asked going over to make his bed.

I threw everything off of his bed as he laughed gently. "No not really."

"And you're never like iceberg cold either, which is what shocks me."

He grinned, "So you like the fact I'm warm?"

I nodded pulling the covers and sheets off his bed. He was always warm and cuddly, no matter what. It made me feel safe. I'd never get tired of his larger figure enveloping me in his warmth. "I at least feel safe around you." I admitted. Mark smiled turning his back on me as he threw dirty clothes into his laundry basket.

I saw the remote control for the TV on the ground and remembered last night. How I had been watching Drake and Josh and had an incredibly strange dream about them being my stepbrothers. Then Suzie was suppose to be a meaner version of Megan and they all tormented me. But then Katniss Everdeen flew in with the Fairly Oddparents and they defeated my brothers and crazy little sister.

I thought Shawn was the crazy one...

Then something else came to mind. Mark had tried to tell me something last night but I had fallen asleep. So I glanced over him as I jammed the edges of the sheets under his mattress. He was just looking around his closet gathering all the dirty clothes and tossing them into the basket.

"Hey Mark?" I asked.

"Yes?" He said without turning to face me.

"Last night...you asked if I was awake and said something. But I fell asleep in midsentence. What was it you wanted to tell me?"

I could see Mark's muscles tense and I snapped him out of it when I thrusted the covers up in the air making a big whoop sound. He continued picking up his dirty clothes. "No you were asleep."

I shook my head even though he couldn't see me. "No you asked if I was-"

"And you groaned. You do that all the time when I try to wake you up. The point is you're always asleep when I'm asking if you're awake."

"Well this time I was awake. So mind sharing?" I was starting to get aggravated. Why wouldn't he just tell me? Would it kill him? No. I don't remember much of what he was saying, it didn't help that I blacked out when he was about to say something.

"Sure," He turned around and tossed me a deodorant stick. "You can give that back to me when you're done. Sharing is caring."

I glared at him, "You know that's not what I mean."

"It's not?"

"No."

"Oh."

He went quiet picking up the basket and walking out the door. I quickly rushed on putting the pillows and Mr. Cuddles on top of his bed before chasing after him.

"What was it Mark?" I trailed behind him as he walked down the hallway to the laundry room.

"What was what?" He set the basket down beside the machine and I watched from the doorway.

"The thing you were going to tell me last night." I moved myself between him and the washing machine my arms crossed on my chest. Mark just looked at me for a second before grabbing my waist and hoisting me up on top of the washer like I weighed nothing.

"You mean you want to know now?" He said like I have been so stupid to want such a thing.

"Yes. I want to know." I brought my legs up sitting Indian style while he opened the small round door where you'd place your clothes in.

"What are we talking about again?" Mark grabbed the bottle of detergent and softener opening the small slot where he poured it gently.

I bit my tongue to keep from the frustration that was seeping in me like a cold gust of wind that goes through my clothes. "I just want you to tell me what you said last night when I fell asleep." I probably said it too calmly. He knew I was agitated now. I just didn't understand why he wouldn't tell me. Excuse after excuse. He must have thought I was asleep, and said something important or he wouldn't be trying so hard to cover it up.

Would I be mad if I knew? Maybe it was something that would make me unhappy. Or something entirely shocking that I would not expect from Mark. Oh I pray to God he doesn't tell me he went the same path as Cali. My poor best girl friend is confused and now she's turned into a slut. But Mark? I'd die if he told me he went that path.

Now I was panicking. Why wouldn't he just tell me?

Mark threw the rest of his clothes into the washer and turned the button for the machine to commence its wash. "Could you please tell me?" I said so quietly I wasn't sure if he heard me. He was currently squatting on the ground so when he would throw the clothes in he would just toss them like a basketball.

He stood up so quickly it was just a flash for me. Mark stood up in front of me, his hands on either side of me. "Why do you need to know so badly?" He asked, hot breath fuming in my face.

I looked down unable to look up at him. His eyes looked frustrated just like I had been, but sad as well. Considering he was angry yet sad, confused me. "Well it's obviously something important if you want to hide it..." I muttered fidgeting with my fingers.

Mark sighed, "Tori..." I looked up at him and he looked directly at me. He was leaning in so much my knees where planted in his stomach and his shoulders were nearly touching mine. He was inches from me and my breath caught up in my throat. Mark pulled back a little looking at the ground like he was ashamed of something, "Tori I lost your iPod."

I breathed again. That was not what I expected thank god. Yet he hid it well trying not to tell me. So I wasn't sure wheather to believe him or not. Then the thought of my poor iPod that had all my favorite songs caught up to me. "You lost my iPod?"

Mark didn't say anything. He seemed to be conflicting with himself. He would open his mouth then close it. "Ye-yes. I lost it."

"Aw man...it had my favorite songs." I whined. Even though I was expecting something worse. No wonder he told me last night, that way he didn't have to worry about me being mad since I was half asleep. Although he did think I was asleep, so he didn't mean to tell me I guess. He was just confusing me right now. This situation was just head throbbing.

"I know. I'm sorry." Mark said again just as I sighed.

"It's fine. Just tell me when you find it ok?"

He nodded and just as he was about to say something we heard a creak at the door and turned to look at it. Conlan stood there sucking on a lollipop, he stared at us with one eyebrow raised. He took his lollipop out of his mouth making a slurping sound as he did so. "You know," He said looking towards Mark pointing his red sucker at him, "This is the part where you push her against a wall and kiss the living daylights out of her."

Mark knitted his eyebrows giving Conlan a disgusted face, "You have a habit of speaking without thinking Conlan."

"No I'm pretty sure I thought before I said it." Conlan said with a grin.

"Why do you think there's something between me and Mark?" I asked Conlan. Mark fidgeted causing Conlan to grin. Just as he opened his mouth I stopped him. "Just because you and Suzie are so madly in love and you can't get the guts to tell her, doesn't mean there's anything with me and your brother."

Conlan turned red, "Don't drag Suzie into this."

"Yeah Tori," Mark smirked, "Let the boy dream of the day he might actually have a chance with Suzie."

I slapped Mark's arm causing him to rub it. "Don't talk you idiot, you're no better."

Conlan giggled like a little kid, as if I took his side. I took no side in this I'm just simply evening it out. "Don't laugh or I'll continue," I said giving Conlan a stern look that shut him right up.

There was a couple seconds of silence while I just stared the two off. Then there were moments when they'd try to say something until I cut them off. I didn't want to hear anymore of this fight it wasn't going anywhere right now. Truthfully I was still trying to get over the fact that Mark lost my iPod. It had all my favorite songs from over the years. Even if they're old, I still loved them.

"Alright." I said after a minute of complete silence, "To breakfast. I'm starving."

Conlan walked away sucking his lollipop while Mark turned to me. "Want a ride?" He asked.

I only smiled and stuck my arms out signifying for him to move in front of me. He smiled back and moved to me where I jumped onto his back wrapping my arms around his neck. "Hut two three four." He chanted as he marched downstairs, causing me to laugh.

"Pull in the load over here." Mr. Bennett said when Mark walked into the kitchen continuing his chant.

Mark stopped dead in his tracks and turned so his and my back were facing the counter. He started walking backwards mocking a truck. "Beep beep beep beep." I laughed more till my butt reached the counter where Mark lifted me and sat me there. "Just unloaded. I'm going to get a pain killer. My back hurts already." Mark joked around rubbing his back, pretending it hurt that he had to carry me.

"You volunteered I don't know what you're talking about." I rolled my eyes and hopped off the counter going over to the dining table pouring myself a glass of orange juice. "Why do you have a lollipop Conlan?"

He shrugged taking a seat beside his father. "No one said I couldn't. I mean why not? It was Halloween the other day. Since I already went to the dentist before Halloween it doesn't matter what I do."

"Yeah but don't get a cavity. That's like the fifteenth one you've eaten in this short amount of time." Mr. Bennett said yawning slightly.

"You seem tired." Mark said while I sat down grabbing the cereal that was in the middle of the table. "Where's mom?" He asked.

"She's was tired so I told her to sleep in." Mr. Bennett said. I wasn't paying much attention to the conversation. Instead I realized there was no milk so I started to eat my cereal dry not wanting to get up to get the milk.

"You should get some milk for that," Mark pointed at my bowl of cereal.

"I'm to lazy to get up." I started batting my eyelashes and gave him a big smile, "Please could you get it for me?"

Conlan laughed a bit looking just as amused as his dad. "You have legs you can get." Mark said hastily signaling towards the refrigerator.

"Yeah Tori it doesn't work that way in my house anymore." Mr. Bennett smirked, "As I recall I'm the handicapped." He took it all so lightly I wasn't sure if he found actual humor in it, or if it was his way to deal with the stress and depression. Mark already told me he's been getting nightmares waking up screaming at night. It was a stressful environment, but even with that Mike always seemed to plant a smile on his face and crack jokes here and there.

I looked back at Mark, "You've been bullying me all morning. It doesn't kill you to get me the jug of milk."

"Bullying you?" Mark lifted his eyebrows like I had just suggested the world had ended. "I have not been bullying you."

"That's a big load of dinosaur crap."

"Nuh uh!"

"You've sat on me today, you've told me you lost my iPod and you called me fat. I'm pretty sure that's bullying."

"Sounds like bullying to me." Mr. Bennett inquired hanging his spoon loosely between his fingers while he ate fruit salad.

Mark groaned getting up to get me the small jug of milk. On his way back to us, he folded a towel on his arm, keeping his elbow at a ninety degree angle. "Would you like me to pour some milk into your bowl of cereal madam?" He asked with a thick British accent.

"I've always wanted a British butler." Conlan laughed as Mark poured milk into my bowl of cereal.

"Why thank you." I said picking up my spoon.

"Can we get him a Mario mustache?" Conlan asked, resulting in Mark raising his eyebrows and running his fingers under his nose where he could grow a mustache.

"No that's for an Italian butler," said Mr. Bennett causing us to laugh.

**************************************

"Do you really have to go?" Mark complained again while I grabbed by bag from his room. I had just gotten a call from Suzie saying she was having trouble with the guys and she needed my help. Apparently Shawn exploded after lunch because Blake had texted the whole school that he and Em were over. I heard nothing about Cole accept that he was trying to stop his two brothers from hitting each other.

"Sadly," I sighed swinging the bag behind me, "Suzie almost set the kitchen on fire."

Lie.

Mark groaned. At least he believed it. "But why can't your dad and stepmom handle it?" Just as I walked out he grabbed my bag and forced me to sit by him on his bed. "Your dad is a law in forcer can't he just in force the kitchen not to catch fire."

"I doubt that's how physics works Mark."

"I have better chances of making something catch fire in chemistry."

I smirked and stood up heading downstairs. Mark trailed along asking if I could just stay a while longer. He sounded more like a five year old than a teenager. I would think he'd have grown up by the time we reached the bottom of the stair case but he decided to get down on his knees and start begging instead.

"Mark leave the girl alone she needs to get home." Mrs. Bennett said.

"Dude you look like a desperate puppy seeking attention from its master." Conlan stated while he tossed me the keys to my dad's car, which I had left on the table.

While Mark stood up I went to give his mom and dad a hug, thanking them for having me for the night and today till the afternoon. "Walk me to the car?" I asked Mark. He smiled taking my bag and swinging it behind his shoulder.

"You got everything?" He asked when we were outside walking in the cool air.

"I think so."

He started to list it all. "Keys?"

"Yup."

"Bag?"

"You have it."

"Toothbrush?"

"In bag."

"Phone?"

"Check."

"Charger?"

"Yes-no. No I forgot that next to your nightstand."

Mark grinned like he had just caught me with my hand in the cookie jar. "Better go get it."

I quickly rushed back into the house, jumping up the stairs two at a time. I walked past Conlan entering Mark's bedroom and walking by to the nightstand. Behind the stand was the outlet where I'd plug in the charger to charge my phone.

Sitting down I reached back to unplug the charger. The stand was set just beside Mark's bed and just as I stood up I saw the shiny metallic surface under the bed.

My iPod!

I picked it up feeling relieved I found it. Now I wouldn't have to kill Mark because all my songs were found. Maybe it would have been easier to take the device now, that way Mark could keep thinking he lost it when in reality I had just taken it back with me.

It seemed like a good prank. Get him all guilty and trying to work it off and then taking it out only to see his confused expression. It would be hilarious since we're always playing jokes on each other.

Even the charger was connected to it. I didn't know there was another outlet on the wall where Mark's bed layed against. I unplugged the charger from the outlet but when I looked at the front screen...something was off.

If Mark had lost it after plugging it in under his bed, which is what I was assuming at the moment. He must have misplaced it here instead of the night stand, or everywhere else was to far or inconvenient. But why was the battery only at 69% and still charging. It should be at a hundred percent if he had lost it while he was charging it. But it wasn't at a hundred percent, which led me to another questions of, why would someone loose their iPod in the middle of a charging session? Of course you'd remember right?

He must have plugged it in this morning if it was still charging. So...Mark never lost my iPod.

*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

"Roses are red, violets are blue. Guess what Blake? I'm going to kill you!" Shawn lunged towards Blake right when I walked into our house. While they both tumbled and rolled around on the ground I noticed Cole and Suzie at the dining table playing Uno.

"What's going on?" I asked walking towards Cole.

Cole pulled a card out of his stack and set it onto the others. "Well," he said while Suzie went for her turn, "Last night all we did was watch movie after movie after movie. Frankly if I hear the word movie again I'm going to punch a wall."

Suzie grinned, at the verge of laughing. "Then we all went to bed. This morning was alright until lunch when we found out Blake had texted his friends about the breakup."

Cole nodded, "Yeah so they've been at this since then. I don't know Shawn's deal with the poetry but he's been reciting death threats to Blake using that method."

"How was I suppose to help in this situation?" I took a seat watching their card game, but it sure wasn't like watching a sport.

Cole set a +4 card with a devious grin and Suzie gave him the evil eye. "I change the color to red." Cole said placing a red card down.

"Tartar sauce..." Suzie muttered.

There was a loud thump behind us, getting my attention. By the looks of it Blake had just thrown Shawn over the table and into the arm chair. Shawn's weight and force caused the chair to fall and then Shawn recited another poem of hatred and death to come to his brother.

"We were thinking," Cole said pulling out the large deck of cards that had formed from their playings. He handed them to me and I started shuffling them. "Well I don't know maybe bust out a Tori move. Flip one of them or make them shut up. We lost hope so we're just waiting for them to stop."

I split the deck of cards in half before quickly flipping them into each other. "I could get my dad's tazer-"

"Uno!" Cole shouted happily before realizing he interrupted. "Sorry say that again."

I rolled my eyes not intending it to look hostile. "I said I could get my dad's tazer and taze them."

"Thou art the worst brethren in history!" Shawn shouted making everyone knit their eyebrows. Even when he's mad he finds a way to make it silly. Where ever he suddenly thought of the idea of poetry is out of my expertise.

"What is your problem?" Blake shouted back.

"Roses are red, violets are blu-"

"For Christ's sake! Shut up about the roses!"

"Make me!" Shawn lunged at Blake head-butting him in the gut. I would think this started out as a real fight, but now it was just a sibling feud. Getting their steam off onto each other because they don't know what else to do.

"You can't get dad's tazer." Suzie said never taking her eyes off her cards. Behind us we kept hearing the two boys fighting. In my head I realized how simple it would be for me if I had to go against a guy. All I'd do is kick him where the sun never shines.

"Why can't I get dad's tazer?"

Suzie shrugged, "He said something about being on the job. And when he had to cuff someone his cuff's weren't there. He called for backup. So now he put his belt in a safe in his closet."

I groaned throwing my head back, "But I like his pepper spray."

Cole chuckled, "You can buy pepper spray wherever you want."

"Yeah but a police officers peppery spray is more powerful."

"Why did you have to tell everyone?! Why? Why! Why?!" Shawn shouted as he failed at strangling Blake's neck.

"Why are you overreacting? Why? Why! Why?!"

"Are you boys done yet?" I asked but was ignored. Blake picked up Shawn slamming him against the couch and placing a pillow on his face.

"Stop overreacting." Blake gritted his teeth as Shawn struggled and finally got a nice blow by kneeing Blake in the jaw.

"I've had enough of this." I stood up but Cole grabbed my arm.

"We'll be rooting for you from the sidelines. But it's a jungle in there, be careful."

Suzie looked up at me, "May the odds be ever in your favor."

"No one is going to volunteer to take my spot?"

"Make love not war." Cole held up two peace signs with his fingers and then Suzie did the same.

I rolled my eyes. They did look like a brother and sister and that's what I thought was heartwarming. Cole was a good guy, a nice brother too. He was definitely nicer than Blake, and at least more serious than Shawn. Each boy had their own personality. I at least know Cole and Shawn's but Blake was still cryptic. A jigsaw puzzle that I couldn't piece together.

I walked towards Blake and Shawn. Both were yelling at each other and Shawn continued to rant like he had just finished reading Romeo and Juliet.

Well they were both bigger than me. Blake could kill me if he punched me. Shawn would just hurt me if I accidentally got in the way. So how could I stop this because now it was just annoying.

I moved in beside Blake and put my leg behind his using my arms to push his shoulders back. He tripped against my leg and crashed down. Shawn laughed with a big smile. "Thanks Tor-"

"Don't even. Both of you just make up already."

"No. He told like everyone in the whole school!" Shawn's smile disappeared replaced by annoyance and rage.

"You didn't have to attack me." Blake spat back.

"You don't even care about me! How could you do that without feeling regret Blake!"

"Simple, it's called gossip. You're not suppose to feel bad when you gossip."

"Bull shit! You-"

"God shut up! Just shut up and solve this!" Annoying wasn't beginning to describe these two. They both sounded like to peppy girl's having a cat fight. It didn't even sound like they were trying to fix it, it seemed like they were waiting for someone to fix it for them.

"Sorry I kicked you in the face," said Shawn as he looked down fidgeting with his fingers talking just above a whisper.

We waited for Blake. I didn't expect him to give an apology. He would be that brick wall. That's what it felt like talking to Blake, you're constantly wondering if you're just speaking to a brick wall.

Blake sighed taking a deep breath, "Sorry I told like everyone." Maybe I was staring at Blake with wide eyes, when he looked my way his guilty and remorseful face changed back to being a brick wall. "What are you staring at?"

"You apologized? That's the first."

Blake gave me the glare I have gotten so used to seeing. "I only apologize to people I actually care about. And you just tripped me over so there wouldn't be any apology unless it's coming from you."

"So rude." Suzie scoffed from the table. "It's not like she bit you."

"Whatever." Blake stood up dusting his butt off before heading upstairs probably to his room.

I didn't know brick walls can move.

"You still upset?" I asked Shawn.

He sighed, "No it doesn't really matter now. Everyone was bound to find out sooner or later."

"Don't worry about it man." Cole said looking at his deck of cards before throwing them across the table. "I am so done. This is the sixth time she beats me."

"You just had an Uno."

Suzie grinned, "I put so many pick up cards it's insane."

I laughed, "Wow Cole. Little nine year old beats you."

Cole looked at Suzie, "If you at least let me claim one victory I'll take you to some ice cream right now."

"Done!"

Cole smiled, "Go get your jacket. It's cold." Suzie quickly ran upstairs as if a lion were chasing right after her. "You guys want to come?"

"Yeah it should be empty considering it's November." I took a seat by Cole. My jacket was at the entrance of the house so I didn't have to worry about getting it. Cole had a sweatshirt in his lap ready to pull on in case he got cold.

"Where's mom and Bill?" Shawn asked. His mood still seemed down, but clearly it had been lifted slightly. Maybe fighting and hitting Blake helped him with some of the emotional pain he was dealing with. All the ice cream in the freezer was gone, I wasn't sure if Cole did this for Suzie or for Shawn but whoever it was for Shawn was definitely going to tag along.

"Mom had to go to a court case and I think dad fell asleep in his room. Long night shift I heard." Cole stood up as Suzie came back downstairs. He helped her put on her England backpack and inside the bag was the sock monkey that Suzie loved. I didn't know the story line behind the monkey but as long as it kept her away from Mr. Cuddles I was fine.

Maybe it was selfish to not want my little sister near my little dog, but I just didn't share it with anyone. Not my dad, or Mark. It was strictly off limits to anyone. Especially little kids. Don't get me wrong I love kids, but they can be dirty and careless. If my little cousins ever visited, Mr. Cuddles would be put under lock and key. No way little kids and their chocolate covered hands were getting near my dog.

"Come on Shawn let's go get some ice cream." Suzie grabbed his hand and led him outside the house to the garage where I lost sight of them.

"Blake wanna get ice cream with us?" Cole shouted at the bottom of the stairwell.

"No." He shouted back.

Cole sighed and grabbed his keys before gently grabbing my arm. "Come on, he's probably going to invite some girl over."

"But you used to be like him. So was Shawn." We were whispering which was incredibly werid because I didn't know why we were whispering.

"Yeah that's true," Cole admitted, "Blake has always been more about it though. Shawn has always gone along with what we do, which is why I'm glad you changed him. And me? I don't know I only had sex whenever I was drunk."

"I cannot see you drunk." The thought of Cole swinging his arms around and talking very slurred didn't seem to fit his nice boy exterior.

He shrugged, "It was fun but I'm trying to change a bit. Kinda like Shawn. Settle down like him."

I couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips. When I first moved in with the boys they were all jerks. Everything I've learned about them over the years at school didn't help their image towards me. The three jocks, most famous kids in the region. Everyone knew them, loved them, or envied them. But they're much more than just super stars, they're kids. Actual human beings that were trying to do what was right. Well now at least I got two to move on from being players. Cole hasn't found someone but he's confident to try. Shawn just needs a boost. I'll try to help him get Emily back, I'll talk to her when I get back to school.

"So you got your eyes out for anyone in particular?"

He smiled as we reached his car. Shawn was in shotgun and Suzie was already seated in the backseat. I opened the door to sit beside Suzie and Cole opened his door for front seat. He gave me a grin which obviously meant he did have his idea for a girl but instead he gave me a different answer. "Maybe."

*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

"Em can we talk?" I asked her when she came into Home Ec. Cali was outside talking to some new friends of hers so I was slightly happy it gave me a chance to talk to Emily.

All day I noticed her getting looks and side glances. The same with Shawn. Everyone is just expecting something to happen. As she were about to slap him, or he's just suddenly going to kiss her against a wall. Em noticed too, I don't think she's looked up at anyone yet.

"Tori if it's about the-"

I interrupted her, "No. I just want to see if you're ok. Are you ok?"

Relief flooded into her face and without warning she just hugged me. At first I just stood there wondering what just happened. I still didn't understand what was going on. Some people were trying not to stare but they were. Some guy even smirked like he thought it was funny until I flicked him off.

After a minute Em pulled back running the palm of her hand under her eye. I sat her down making her chair face mine. I could tell she was at the verge of tears but I didn't want her to cry.

"Please don't cry." I said making her crack a smile. I couldn't handle someone crying. It was one thing if it was Suzie, but someone else I couldn't handle. "Just tell me."

"It's just..." She took in a shaky breath, "He was the first one that was nice to me when I moved here. So if I ever had a problem I'd go to him and he'd help me. Or talk me through it. But now with this problem I can't talk to him about it and I realized how alone I am."

"But you're not alone Em." I smiled a bit. I had never known that Shawn was the first person that was nice to her, more about it I never realized that she didn't have an actual friend. Shawn must have introduced her to his friends, but to her they were merely acquaintances.

I've always had friends there for me. Especially Mark, he's always been there for me. But to think that I don't have him to help me though a situation, or if I don't have anyone to help me through something, then it'd drive me crazy.

When I looked up at Em I saw that was the problem. She had so much she wanted to say but no one to say it to. "You need a friend," She nodded while I took her hand in mine. "Well can I be that friend?"

Cali rushed into the classroom, missing the bell my seconds. "Barely made it." She laughed but then saw Emily and muttered a sorry. I couldn't look at Cali. She may have changed but I still considered her a good friend. I couldn't follow the path she was taking, but I didn't want to see her hurt.

The teacher told us what our assignment was and as she did so I heard Em say something. But it was so quiet. "What?" I whispered loud enough for only her to hear.

"I said yes," She said a bit louder. "I'd love for you to be that friend..."

I smiled. It felt good to know she trusted me. Now I could be a link between two worlds that weren't touching. A bridge between Shawn and Em. "Wanna talk at lunch?" I whispered back.

"Yeah that'd be great." A smile formed on her lips. The rest of the class it seemed she was more at ease. Calmer because now she knew she wasn't alone.

***********************************

At lunch I went by our table to tell Mark I was going have to go somewhere else. At first he seemed hesitant until I explained I was going to the auditorium to talk with Em. We had agreed to meet there instead of the cafeteria that was packed with students and even some teachers.

I was walking down the hall to the auditorium when someone grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side. "Did you talk with Em? Is she going?"

I rubbed my arm where Shawn had grabbed me. "I'm going to go talk to her right now. Can't you wait till we get home?"

"Come on Tori. Me? Waiting?"

"Just go eat lunch."

Shawn pouted mumbling a 'fine' before heading back the way I came from.

The auditorium was dead silent and I as walked down the narrow aisle I already saw Em. She was seated on the second row which I found weird. I would have thought she'd sit in the front row but instead she was in the second. Strange.

My footsteps were pretty loud in such a large empty room. So when I came to stand beside Em she wasn't surprised to see me. Instead she greeted me with a small smile and put her phone away. "Hey."

I brought my hand up in sad attempt of a wave. "Hi."

Em chuckled softly, "You can sit down."

I slowly sat myself on the chair beside hers. I didn't exactly know how I was going to do this. I dealt with Shawn but I had Cole to back me up. So now I was completely stranded with a girl who's heart got broken yet I don't know what to do. Why did I do this again? "I just don't know what to say I'm sorry."

She shrugged, "Don't worry about it."

There was a minute of since before I decided to break the ice. "So just tell me what's on your mind." I shifted around so I was facing her. "Wanna start with questions or do you just want to give me a rant? I can do whichever."

"Start with questions."

"Ok," I thought for the main question that maybe everyone was wondering, "Why'd you do it?"

Em sighed deeply slumping down the seat with her head thrown back do she was looking up at the ceiling. It felt like I was a psychologist with those fancy chairs that allowed patients to lie down. "I-I don't know..." I didn't know what to say after that but I was grateful when she continued. "He made me feel so special. But when I saw those pictures I just felt like another girl...I didn't want to be another girl Tori."

"Ok this is good I know what to say." I should have filtered my mouth but now it didn't matter. "You're not just another girl to him Em. As cliche as that sounds you're really not. Yes I have to admit he was a player, he did hook up with girls, but this last year he has gone through major changes."

"But why didn't he ever tell me? Why did he just keep it hidden in? Better yet why didn't anyone tell me?"

"He didn't tell you because he was afraid. And no one told you because I assume they thought you already knew."

"Yeah...I guess that makes sense."

I felt bad for Emily. Sure it might have been harsh to dump Shawn, especially after I saw him in his depression state, but Em just didn't want to get hurt either. That seemed obvious, she was afraid of getting hurt. "So another question?"

"Go for it."

"Do you still like him?" I felt my heart race for Shawn. I was his little messager getting all the facts he needs and everything important but if she said no then I knew how crushed he'd be.

"I don't really think I like him."

"Oh well that's-"

Em started to cry out of nowhere. I'm so confused now I don't understand what's going on. So while she bent over to cry in her knees I tried my best to comfort her.

Where's Suzie and ice cream when you need it.

"I thought you just said you didn't like him anymore." Poor Shawn would be devastated. I'd probably tell Cole to tell him, I don't have the heart to. Or Blake, who has no heart at all, he'd break the news to Shawn.

She sniffled and wiped her nose. "No I'm head over heels for him and I've barely known him. He's just so lovable and funny. He's the nicest guy I've ever met. And I think I love him but I don't know what to do."

Shawn you're going to owe me big time for this.

"Well he loves you too. Like a lot a lot. I don't think he's ever had such a great relationship."

"So what do I do?"

This was my chance. "How about you come to Homecoming?"

"Why?" She asked her voice already becoming normal and her tears drying on her face.

"I don't know. I mean we can meet up for the game and then I can pick you up for the dance." It was the best I could come up with in a short amount of time. What else was I suppose to say? Oh yeah the boy you just told me you love asked me to make you go. I don't know why, I'm just doing what he told me to do.

Em sighed, "I don't know. I'll go to the game but I don't know about the dance."

"Come on it'll be fun. If you don't have a date then you always go with your friends." Am I encouraging Homecoming? Yes, I am. I never thought this day would come.

Em finally laughed. It was a small laugh though, nothing big. "You don't seem like the kind to want to go to Homecoming."

I smirked, "Are you kidding? I hate school dances but my friend told me to go since it is my last year of high school."

"Yeah but you're not going to abandon me at the dance right?"

That's a yes! She was going. I just hoped Shawn has this all planned out, if he didn't I'd be stuck with Em unaware on what to do. Not that I disliked her, she's really nice and I was glad I got to help her with her boy problems but I just wasn't cut out for this girly stuff. "Wait why would I abandon you?"

"Rumor mill says you're going with Hayden Cleves."

I hung my head down about ready to slap myself. News in the school can travel faster than a Ferrari on a empty interstate. I had only told Mark so unless he told Cali I wouldn't be sure how it started. It could have been Hayden, that was where I would place my money. He probably told some friends who told more people and now it's flowing through the whole school system like little blood cells in the body.

"So don't abandon me." Em took one look at my expression and knew it was true about Hayden and I.

The bell rang and we both stood up to go to our classes. Side by side we walked together towards the hallway until we had to part.

"Thank you Tori. For clearing everything up a bit." Now Emily looked a hundred percent relaxed. Talking to a friend really does help with getting everything out. Not only does it make the person talking feel better, but the listener feels happy enough you trust them. At least that's how I felt right now.

"I'm just glad you consider me a friend." I smiled which she returned before heading down her hallway.

*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

When I told Shawn that Em was going to meet me at the game and I'd pick her up to go to the dance, his face had paled and that's when I realized he didn't actually think she'd go. He was taking baby steps and didn't fully come up with a plan. He told me a thank you before kissing my head and grabbing a fistful of napkins a pen clenched between his teeth as he ran upstairs to his room.

The whole Homecoming week was interesting. Each hall was decorated as the theme of the year, James Bond. The Freshman hallway was the least decorated and of course our hallway, the senior hall, was the most glamorous. The best part was the red carpet that led to the cafeteria. Only seniors were allowed to walk on it, and everyone knew that.

Freshmen were to afraid to walk on the carpet. Sophomores would get the guts to do so but then we'd have the class clowns of my class who'd push them around and tell them to step off the carpet. Juniors decided against walking on the carpet because they had learned their lesson last year when they had been sophomores. But for me? I felt like royalty. Sure it wasn't much but it was enough to make the rest want the carpet. It's just a carpet but for some reason it showed just how important seniors were.

Mark and I would enjoy our walks to lunch. We'd be the center of attention while all the other kids would have to walk on the sides. It was more crowded than usual but only for them, for me it was the first time I could spread my arms without having them bump into someone else.

During the week Cole had told me we had a soccer meeting in the libraby after school so I got a ride from him and his brothers. It was the first actual ride we had from and to school, no one questioned though when I pulled my soccer duffle bag out of the trunk.

The meeting went by quickly. Coach simply explained we'd have developmental's after Thanksgiving and after New Years. Then in the middle of January we'd start our real practices. By February we'd have a game each week. This was the moment that got me wondering why I possibly signed up for this...oh yeah I didn't.

Tonight was the big day. It was the last football game of the season. After the game we all had about an hour before the dance started. Cole had already warned me not the drink the fruit punch. Apparently Blake got a text from one of his demon friends saying they were going to spike the drinks. If I got thristy I'd just go to the water fountain instead.

Every senior wore they're spirit wear today. Cheerleaders were all dressed up in bows and glitter. All the football players had they're jerseys. Everyone else wore the school's colors.

I still didn't understand the big deal. I just went along with the crowd. Football was an ok sport for me, but this is one game. What is the big deal? We're not even going against our rival. This team we're going against sucks, it was purposely set up this way so we could dominate and have a good homecoming. No one is in the mood to party if we just lost a game.

"Hey Tori can I ask you something?" Cole asked. He was getting his water bottle ready for the game, filling it up with more ice than water.

"I'm not going to massage your shoulders if you get hurt." Shawn had asked me that question twenty minutes earlier. As if I would massage his shoulders. That's beyond me, he should seek professional attention if that's what he wants.

Cole laughed, "No I was wondering how you were going to go to the dance? Is Hayden picking you up?"

I shook my head. "No because then he'd figure out we're siblings."

"I doubt that would be his first assumption but yeah." Cole grabbed his cleats that stood at the entry of the garage and put them in his duffle bag. "So do you want a ride to the dance?"

"Sure but we need to pick up Em."

"That might be a problem..." I had to agree. What would she think if she got in the car with the brother of her ex. It could only lead to awkwardness. "You think she'd be mad?"

I shook my head, "We can just say you're giving me a ride because we're good friends."

Cole smiled, "Cool. Because I have no one to go with."

"That's such a shocker I seriously am speechless." Not one date? He doesn't have a single girl to take? That's so werid I thought he'd at least have someone. But no he's just going by himself.

"Well I'll probably find some friend there and we'll talk. Or maybe I'll dance with a few girls but I'm not going to get deep into it."

"Those were not the right words to be chosen my friend."  Cole bursted out laughing and after a second so did I.

"What's so funny?" Shawn asked coming from upstairs. Cole and I couldn't speak we were laughing so much. "Ohhhh," Shawn nodded like he understood, "Tori can't go to the dance because her gorilla legs will be showing. I don't even think she has a dress."

"That is so mean." I gawked at Shawn. How rude! I do not have gorilla legs I just don't like wearing dresses.

"It's offensive to gorillas all around the world." Cole added.

I grabbed the closet thing I could find and threw it at Cole. The banana bounced off him while the two of the boys laughed. "It's not funny."

They didn't stop laughing for another minute. "So do you have a dress?" Cole asked.

"Leggings under a skirt doesn't count though." Shawn added smirking.

"Yeah I have a dress." I muttered grabbing a different banana peeling it quickly and stuffing my mouth with the fruit.

"Is it pretty?" Shawn asked me while I chewed. "Or sassy? Classy?"

"Do you honestly think I know the differences with those types of dresses?"

"Good point."

The car in the garage honked and we heard Lilly yell. "Boy's come on!"

"Wait can I have a ride I don't want to ride my bike." It was a quarter of an hour before the game actually started but the boys had to be there earlier.

"Yeah but you know we're going to be there early right?" Shawn already swung his bag behind him.

"Yeah I know." I rushed upstairs to go get some spare cash from under my lamp. Then went to Blake's door and banged on it, "Hurry up you're going to be late!"

Rustling inside his room before he came out. All he had to do was fill his water bottle up and he was ready. So while he did so I went to Suzie's bedroom where I heard her watching something on my phone. "I'm going to need that now."

She handed it to me and stood up, "Can I go?"

"Um..." I wanted her to come with me but I was probably going to be with the large crowd of kids from school. Then she'd continually ask me for money to buy candy or snacks from the concession stand.

"Please I'll bring my own money for food." It was as if she read my mind.

I sighed, "Yeah ok. Just don't leave anywhere without telling me ok?"

"Thank you Tori!"

She hugged me while I rolled my eyes playfully, "Yeah yeah I'm a saint. Now come on before the guys leave us."

"Tori let's go!" Cole shouted while someone honked the car. Suzie and I rushed faster running outside towards the car. Lilly was driving, Blake was shotgun, Cole and Shawn were in the backseats.

"How do we fit?" I asked when I opened the door. It was Lilly's car, only intended for work so it was small. There were no backseats so I wasn't sure how we were going to all fit unless someone rode on someone else's lap.

"You sit on me ok Sue?" She nodded and I scooted in beside Cole later placing Suzie on my lap.

"Everyone have their seatbelts?" Lilly asked pressing the clicker so the garage closed.

"Yeah mom now go before we're late." Blake his words hinted with annoyance.

What did I do this time?

Lilly looked at me through the rearview mirror after a minute of driving, "Dad has a night shift he couldn't make it."

"It's ok we'll just tell him we won." Cole grinned.

Lilly smiled, "Yeah but he told me to take a picture of Tori in her dress."

"Why?" Blake asked with a noncaring voice. It sounded more as if why would anyone care about what I did.

Lilly ignored his tone and kept smiling through the rearview. "Because Tori doesn't like dresses and she's actually going to be wearing one."

"Are we going to have this same conversation if she goes to prom?" Blake muttered.

Lilly glared at her son but Blake didn't see it because he was staring out the window. "Watch your tone young man or I'm going to tell your football coach you're grounded and can't play the last game."

Mom power. I couldn't help but grin. I was definitely rooting on for my step mom. Finally someone shows Blake his place. Part of me wished Blake kept going so he wouldn't have to play, but that was just cruel to our team.

**************************************

The game was definitely interesting. We won which wasn't much of a shocker considering we went against a team no one had ever heard of. What was interesting was the friends I hung out with. Em had found me first and sat with me trying to find a loop hole for her not to go to homecoming. Thankfully Mark saved me minutes later saying since he had no one to dance with he'd gladly dance with her.

Em reluctantly agreed.

Hayden came later and sat with us giving me his million dollar smile. He even put his arm around my shoulders when I said it was cold. Em kept giving me 'The Look.' Where she'd wiggle her eyebrows and make a face like she was eating something sour. Mark didn't acknowledge it, he acted like himself.

Suzie had been disappointed when Conlan hadn't appeared with Mark. She had been hoping to walk around with him. Whenever they walked was just the most adorable thing that I loved to watch. Conlan usually kept his hands in his pockets, smiling while Suzie chatted his ear off. He was also highly protective since she was smaller than him. Sometimes elderly couples, grandparents of the players on the field, would smile when they walked by, knowing it was young un-surfaced love. It didn't matter that Suzie was nine and Conlan twelve, they were in love but don't know they are.

How is a child suppose to know what love is? I rarely understand it either and I'm older than them. But not as old as the grandparents. They're probably the ones that know the most about love. Kids and teenagers might have higher emotions towards love but we still don't understand it as equally as elders do.

This point in my life is filled with hormones and confusion. Bottom line is, there are many different forms of love. How do we know which we're facing? We don't. Sometimes love is staring you straight in the face and you don't even know it, only those around you know. That's the case with Suzie and Conlan. Anyone around them knows they're madly in love, whether they know it now or not. They are in love.

Shawn had scored the first touchdown. The crowd didn't exactly go wild. They were ecstatic. Everyone was yelling, shouting, hollering and jumping around. They reminded me of Alvin and the Chipmunks high on coffee. Shawn only smiled a bit when he did score. He had looked into the crowd searching for something...or someone. He had made eye contact with Em and her breathing had picked up before she looked away and started talking to Sue. Shawn didn't score again.

By the end of the game we were winning 27-6. We could have dominated if Shawn hadn't been so uptight after his touchdown. It was still an easy win, satisfying us to go party in the gym. I had told Em that Cole was going to pick me up since I didn't have a car, it took some convincing but Em agreed after I told her she couldn't ditch Mark.

At home I was getting ready while Suzie decided to go ahead and sleep. She was disappointed that Conlan wasn't there and tired for the long lasting game. We discovered that on Conlan's senior year she'll be a freshmen and if they're lucky they'll get lunch or done class together. When Mark and I explained that to them once, they both smiled and walked off talking about highschool and what classes they'd want to take to be together.

I just finished taking a shower and got out putting on a bathrobe to dry my hair. I wasn't the kind that liked doing my hair, or the kind that actually knew how. When it was all dry I just stared at my reflection in the mirror. My hair looked almost static, frizzy from the bathrooms humidity. I couldn't give myself a pony tail for homecoming.  I didn't know what to do, until it hit me.

I might've not had a mother for years but now I do have one. A step-mom who will probably gladly like to help me. Lilly and I haven't had a chance to really talk. We have talked before, about a month before the wedding she had pulled me aside to tell me things such as: 'I know I'll never be your mother but I hope you'll give me a chance' or, 'I do love your father, he's a very sweet and gentle man. I won't get in between your relationship with him.'

So I tried to gather up my valor and headed downstairs. I wasn't surprised to see her in the kitchen. She was scrubbing the stove, humming to a small melody.

I prayed that the boys wouldn't come downstairs while I was in my bathrobe. "Hey Lilly?" I asked a bit shyly. I've never asked for anyone's help on something like this. Not even Cali. There's just never been a girl to help me. I've gone to a few salons, on the wedding or special occasions when dad's boss would come, but it wasn't a regular thing for me.

She didn't stop scrubbing, "Yes Tori?"

"Um," I muttered, "Could you help me do my hair?"

She instantly stopped. For a second I thought she'd suddenly turn into some evil step mother and rain on my parade. But that wasn't like her. She was like an adult princess. Not a queen, just a princess. She was beautiful in every way, and just like all princesses she's gentle. Almost like the furry little animals and birds would greet her like she was Cinderella. So at least Lilly wasn't a evil step-mom, but there was always room for my mom. My real mom, who was the fairest of all.

Lilly looked up at me with a big smile. "I'd love to help Tori."

I returned her generous smile, rubbing my arm nervously. Instead of going to my bathroom Lilly took me to hers. She shares it with dad and I could see the separate sinks. Lilly's sink was larger than my dad's. The top was covered with perfumes, jewelry, make-up, and face creams to prevent wrinkles. Dad's had a shaving machine for his beard and a few colognes, not nearly as messy as Lilly's station.

She sat me on a chair she had folded against the wall and made me face the mirror. She kept humming the small melody while gliding her hands through my hair. "What colors your dress?"

"It's black." I recalled, "Strapless on one side and a long sleeve on the other."

Lilly's eyes brightened, "That sounds pretty...well I have these sparkly clips I think we could use. We could maybe make a braid going over your bare shoulder. And put the clips in the braid. I think it'll look pretty."

"What kind of braid?" I asked while she opened a drawer pulling a jewelry box out.

She quickly opened the box pulling her phone out afterwards. Inside I saw these beautiful hair clips. Each was unique, there wasn't a single one that repeated. There were flowers, each a different species, made of posturing crystals making it look like real diamonds. Then butterflies with two or three crystals that were blue or pink. A star made with black crystals that would sparkle when I put them in the light. There were many different kinds, and I wasn't a person of accessory but these were just inestimably beautiful.

"Whoa," I picked one up holding it between two fingers so I wouldn't drop it. It was heavier than I thought, but glittered when the light reflected off of it.

"Here," Lilly showed me her phone. On the screen was a complicated braid. It consisted of braids on either side of the head that link up in the back and form a large thick braid. I stared at it contemplating with myself how I'd never be able to do that in a thousand years.

"You know how to make these?" I asked bewildered.

Lilly smiled grabbing a brush, already tugging it through my hair, "Yeah. I used to volunteer at a salon when the boys were little. I always wanted a daughter to doll up. Do her hair, nails, maybe even shop together."

Guilt swelled into my chest. I was none of that. I didn't like doing any of that, so even though she has a daughter now, step-daughter, she doesn't ask to do that sort of stuff. I'm not the daughter she wanted, she wanted one like Suzie. The complete opposite of me. But Sue was still young, Lilly wanted someone to gossip with or act like a teen all over again, Suzie would just talk about her stuffed toys.

Lilly noticed my face expression change and set her hands on my shoulders. "Tori, you're a beautiful young lady and I'm proud to call you my daughter. You're unique and never let anyone walk over you. I've honestly never seen such a strong girl." Her smile was sincere, I smiled back my mood lifting.

I whispered quietly. "Thank you..."

"Now we better hurry." Lilly said as if she was getting ready to do buisness. "You can't be late."

It took a while, about twenty minutes to get all the hair in the the right place. Lilly wanted it to be perfect and it was. The two braids went around other side of my head and into a thicker braid in the back. It'd lap over the shoulder that was going to be bare, and as a final touch she added the clips in the back braid.

"There," Lilly smiled when she finished and we both looked at my reflection in the mirror.

I had to admit, Lilly did a spectacular job. It was the clips though, that made my hair look even better than it did without them. "Where did you get these clips?" I finally asked.

She kept a smile while she started putting everything away. "Jacob, he was my husband before your dad," She explained, "He'd go to Italy frequently. It was his favorite country. Well everytime he went, he'd bring a new one from the same store. That's why they're all different."

"Oh..." There was nothing I could say. I couldn't say anything bad, Dad and I had kept plenty of mom's things. It wasn't the fact she kept these clips, I couldn't blame her anyhow, it's just the fact that they're special to her and she trusted me with them. She didn't even hesitate, Lilly may never be my real mom, but she's my mom. She cares about me I see now. Family didn't have to be someone that was blood related, just someone that loves you in a way they will intrust you with some of their most precious memories. "I'll take good care of them. I promise."

"I know you will." She stood me up and gave me another warm smile. "Now go and get your dress on. You're going to be late."

I hugged her tightly before I realized what I was doing. She seemed shocked before she hugged me back. "Thanks Lil-thanks mom."

When I left to go to my room I could see Lilly wiping her eye. I was glad it meant so much to her that I called her my mother. Now I understood why Cole started calling Dad dad. We both realized that even though we're not blood, we're family. Connected one way or another, we're siblings.

I entered my room and Cole was lying on my bed texting with his phone over his face. He was dressed in a nice suit with some fancy leather shoes. He didn't wear a tie just a nice dress shirt. "What are you doing?" I asked moving to the bathroom.

He didn't take his eyes off his phone. "Waiting for you. Hurry up and get in your dress. Mom still has to take pictures."

I hurried into my closet and pulled my dress out. It was in the very back of my rack of clothes. I reached at the bottom of my closet to pick up the shoes when I came to a realization. Cole heard my sigh and raised an eyebrow, "What up?"

"I bought the dress but I never got the shoes." Cole started to laugh. It was embarrassing. How could I have forgotten to get shoes? Well it obviously slipped my mind, I didn't even consider the fact of having to get something for my feet.

"Well...what shoes do you have? Any heels?"

It was my turn to laugh, "That was a good one. Me? Heels? Please I wore flats to the wedding because every time I tired walking in heels I'd fall."

"Then get the flats." He sat up putting his phone in his pocket watching me intently expecting me to just magically pull out some black flats from my closet. I had to admit it was discomforting to have him staring at me while I stood there in a bathrobe.

"The flats are blue."

"Well what do you have?"

I pulled out a pair of black Converse. The kind that went over the ankle. "These."

Cole shrugged, "Wear those. I mean honestly who cares?"

"You make it sound like I'm a loner." I pretened to give a hurt look. When he took it seriously I smiled showing I was kidding around.

Closing the bathroom door behind me I started striping my clothes off and replaced it with the dress. Just like last time, it came mid thigh with the one sleeve around my arm. I moved my braid over my bare shoulder and tried to zip up the back. I got it halfway when I couldn't reach anymore. "I can't believe I'm doing this," I muttered to myself before shouting, "Hey Cole?"

"Yeah?" He said from the opposite side.

"I can't zip my dress up. Please help."

I heard him laugh softly before coming in. He zipped it up in a flash and put his arms around my waist laying his head on my shoulder. "You look really nice sissy."

I smiled. I've never been addressed as someones sister like that. "You look pretty snazzy yourself."

He chuckled, "Thanks. I like your hair."

"Mom did it." I smiled placing my hands over Cole's.

He tensed a bit when I used the term 'mom' but then relaxed. I felt him smile, he seemed happy to know I accepted Lilly as my mother now. "I know," he finally spoke, "Mom used to wear those clips all the time. They were favorite things in the world. Some are even before her and my real dad got married."

It only made me feel more proud to know that Lilly intrusted me with such a valuable item. "They're really pretty. I like them."

Cole kissed my shoulder, "You look beautiful. Never could have asked for a better sister."

I stood there smiling for a full minute. "I used to think you were a prick." I blurted out.

He laughed, "I know. Come on we need to go pick up Em and be at the gym in twenty minutes."

Shawn was already downstairs. His eyes looked werid, as if he couldn't decide which emotion to display. Joy. Guilt. Anxiety. Hope.

"Shawn your face looks contorted." Cole said when he saw his brother.

Shawn looked up from the table he was sitting at. First he looked a bit sad then he glanced at me and a smile broke across his lips. "Holy smoke! You don't have gorilla legs!"

I drew my lips into a straight line, crossing my arms over my chest. "Is that all?"

"No I got more," he shifted around in his chair so he was facing us, "If you still ever need a gorilla translator just give me a call. Oh! I also speak parrot, cow, and whale. I'm fluent in whale."

I rolled my eyes. "Wonderful. If I ever end up in the middle of the ocean with a pod of whales I'll make sure to give you call so you can talk to them and tell them to take me to shore."

Shawn grinned, his famous little kid grin, "See? I'm not only made of spaghetti and meatballs."

Cole knitted his eyebrows, "Wait what?"

Shawn winked before standing up and grabbing his keys. No one could possibly understand this boy. I wasn't even sure if he understood himself half the time. He took Cole's keys as well and gracefully tossed them to Cole, who caught them instinctively. "Come on guys. I want to see the drunk freshman."

We rolled our eyes but went to the garage. Just as I was about to get in the car, Lilly came out and made us pose for pictures. She was disappointed that Blake had already left, I wasn't surprised though. I still didn't understand him. What was his problem? Cole is a sweetheart who's accepted me. Shawn seems to be getting there. He hasn't called me his sister, but he's getting there. Hopefully tonight he'll fix things with Em so he isn't as much of a downer. He may seem happy and peppy like always, but his smiles aren't real. His eyes don't curl with the smile he makes.

Shawn took his car while I got into Cole's. We said our goodbyes and Cole started driving towards Em's house. He put the address into his GPS. It was only ten minutes away so it wasn't that far. The first couple minutes passed in silence before I decided to break the ice. "Did you find out why Blake hates me?"

Cole shook his head, "No. If he were a girl I'd say he's pregnant. He hasn't let it go yet."

"No really?" I said sarcastically. It would make sense to say Blake was pregnant. With the raging hormones and constant mood swings.

Cole shrugged, "Blake has this thing on holding grudges. He takes everything to the extreme. For example, he needs to be the superior one on the field in any sport. Extreme. He needs to get the biggest allowance. Extreme. He needs to have mountains of spaghetti when we go eat out. Extreme."

"So...he's just extremely hating on me?"

"Yeah pretty much."

I sighed and started looking out the window. The GPS kept giving directions on turning right or left or what street he had to pull into. It was dark out with the clouds hiding the moonlight behind them. It was also cold, I'd put my hand to the glass and instantly I felt the cold seep into my skin while a small coat of condensation formed around the figure of my hand.

"So," Cole said a bit hesitantly while he had a awkward smile, "How are you and Mark?"

I rolled my eyes, "Fine. I lie to him all the time now and I hate it."

My back was facing Cole but I felt him watching me while I drew a star on the window using my finger and the condensation. He asked "Are you guys like...super best friends?"

"Since forever."

He opened his mouth but was interrupted by the GPS system. "Your destination is to the right." Cole pulled into a driveway, the lights in the house were turned on. Em's house was very unique. Made of white shingles instead of bricks like most of the houses around here. Then her front door was a bright red making the house not only unique and beautiful but eye-catching.

Cole parked the car and took my seatbelt off. "Stay here," I told him, "I'll go get her."

He just nodded and I got out of the car making my way to the front door. I rang the doorbell and waited while I heard scruffling inside. It was freezing and I was already rubbing my bare arm trying to keep it warm. The crickets were chirping and the wind was blowing gently,  rattling the tops of trees. On the lamp above the moths were fluttering around it trying to gather warmth from the light.

Some animals have already begun to disappear for the winter. Lately there haven't been as many bugs around, or squirrels playing in the yard. Everything was quieting down while the cold started to settle in like a veil.

The door opened and I looked to see Em. She was wearing a short dress like mine, but instead of it being tight around the legs hers was lose with wrinkles that are meant to be shown. Above her waist it became enveloped in sparkles and glitter. There weren't any straps and it was a light pink that made it pretty instead of bright and exotic.

She sighed, "God Tori don't tell me you're wearing Converse to the dance."

I only smiled. She was wearing a pair of heels about the same color as her dress. "Come on we're gonna be late."

She turned to close the door while I bounced down the steps and started heading back to the car. She shouted to her aunt telling her she was going to the dance. I didn't hear a response but I figured her aunt already knew.

She got in the backseat while I took the front beside Cole. He gave Em a warm smile when she sat in. "Hey I'm Cole. We haven't officially met."

He stuck his hand out and Em took it. "Emily. But you can call me Em."

"Well," Cole took the car off park and started pulling out of Em's house, "We have a dance to go to."

Em smiled a bit while looking out the window.

**************************************

Even from outside of the school I could hear the loud music blaring inside. As we got closer it just got louder and louder until finally we were directly on top of it. The gym was well decorated with bright streamers and Christmas lights taped to the walls. Maybe it wasn't the best decorations, but in all I'd never seen the gym like this, so it wasn't a complete loss.

Some kids were dancing to the music the DJ was playing while others stood to the side talking and drinking from their colored plastic cups. There was a small stage set up with two podiums each holding the homecoming king and queen crowns. Around them stood the crowns of the lower classmen.

"Hey Tori I'm gonna go talk to my friends," Cole shouted over the music as he left to go talk to his classmates.

Em stayed close to me while we went to the side. We were just talking, waiting for Mark or Hayden to appear. Em was telling me the story about her dog, Rocket, and how he ate her aunt's receipt to return a t.v. that wasn't functioning properly. Now they had a television that wouldn't work and the money was flushed down the toilet. During her story Shawn made eye contact with me after he'd been looking at Em. When he noticed I caught him staring he quickly looked away and disappeared in the ocean of people.

Over Em's shoulder I finally caught sight of Hayden. He had the suit every other guy seemed to be wearing. Em noticed I stopped paying attention to another of her stories, she turned around to see what I was looking at, then turned back to me giving me a wink. I rolled my eyes at her. "Well you gonna get him?" She asked.

"I don't know if I should go up there or act cool until he finds us."

Now Emily rolled her eyes. She faced the direction where Hayden was at. He had his hands stuffed in his pockets searching the crowd. Em started waving her arms and shouted out to him, "Hayden!"

He flicked his head towards us. Em gave me a smirk when he started walking towards us. "Now you don't have to act cool Miss Converse."

"Ha ha so very funny." I crossed my arms and Hayden came over smiling. He eyed me from my hair to my toes. The moment he reached my Converse his smile turned into a laugh.

"I don't even know what to say about that."

I shrugged, "Don't worry about stepping on my toes?"

Hayden considered it. "Actually yeah that's a great thing since I suck at dancing."

"I doubt that." I smiled. He looked really good in his fancy clothes with his hair combed to a side. He kept blushing every once in a while making him look adorable.

"I doubt that too," Em said and pushed me towards to Hayden, "Go dance. I'm waiting for Mark."

Hayden led me to the dance floor. We just jumped around with everyone else. Then you had the people that were grinding, but I kept thinking about how if someone tried to grind me I'd end up kicking them...hard. More people kept piling onto the dance floor, once it got really crowed we went back to Em who was now with Mark.

They were both laughing like they were life long friends. It bothered me to be honest. He always laughed like that with me whenever we'd talk about our childhood or all the things we'd do. He turned his head towards us and the smile he had on his face stayed as he looked at me. When he reached my shoes he laughed, "I'm not even surprised."

I shrugged, "What else was I going to wear?"

"Heels?" Mark said, "Like all the other girls."

"Well at least I'm unique." I gave an exaggerated smile and felt Hayden's hand slip into mine. I looked up at him and he gave me a smile. Blushing, I looked back down and noticed Mark watching Hayden and I intently.

"How long were we dancing?" Hayden asked Emily.

She pulled her phone out of her small purse and checked the time. Her face paled, "What time were they crowning?"

"Like an hour or two after the dance started." Hayden answered.

"Tori I need to talk to you," Em pulled at my arm and dragged me outside to the hallway, leaving Mark and Hayden behind.

"Ow," I said as Em tugged me along. Her hand was sharp and quick, nails filed and slightly digging into my arm. "Em what?" I pulled my arm away once we were away from the noise.

"I can't stay for coronation."

"Why?"

"Becaue Shawn's brothers told the whole school to vote for me and him."

"So?"

"Tori you've seen the way this school works! They're obsessed with the Parris brothers. Even teachers love them. Hell the principle adores them."

"I see your point..." This school has a drug going through it's veins. The way we were all addicted to Blake and his troop. It was ridiculous to believe they were so powerful at a school. They had a huge influnce on lower classman, they were the heart of the school. Next year I wasn't sure what everyone was going to do without them. Probably make Parris the motto.

If you're not a Parris, you will perish.

Yeah something cheesy like that.

"Who did you vote for Tori?" Em asked me snapping me away from my thoughts. She crossed her arms laying against the wall of lockers behind her.

I knew who I voted for. I voted for Em and Shawn. Not because Blake and Cole said, but because I thought they were a decent couple. I hope Shawn knew what he was going to do to fix this. If he didn't have it planned out I don't know how much more of this I would be able to take.

"I knew it was a mistake coming tonight." Em slid down the lockers at the verge of crying.

I moved in beside her and put one arm around her trying to get her to stop crying. "You're ruining your make-up Em." Was that the best I could come up with? I am not fit for this job.

She managed to laugh softly. "I'll fix it in the bathroom."

When she left to go to the bathroom I hurried into the gym and grabbed Hayden along with Mark. "When they call winners for homecoming king and queen, if it's Em and Shawn I need you guys to grab Em and make sure she doesn't escape." I rushed it out so I was sure if they got it all down.

Mark looked at Hayden, "I'll take the her right you can take her left."

"Alright," Hayden fist bumbed Mark. I stared at both of them for a second, completely and utterly confused.

"I'm sorry but are you two friends?" I asked.

"Sort of..." Mark held his hand flat and tilted it from side to side. "More like really good acquaintances."

I thought it over for second. It just seemed werid these two could possibly be friends, well...good acquaintances. As Mark put it.

Em came out all dolled up and looking perfectly fine. Mark gave her his arm and I took Haydens. When we enetered a second time everyone was still dancing and jumping around having the time of their lives. The freshman stayed in the corner nervous and not knowing what to do.

I saw Trent with a couple of girls, he seemed pleased. What didn't please me was one of the girls that was with him. I mentally sighed not even second glancing at the girls. Then there was Blake, who had double the amount of girls hoping to dance with him. He flashed his smile out to all of them and they all looked like they would faint in pure ecstasy of being around him. It disgusted me. How can someone with just a stone heart be able to attract so many girls. It's revolting.

Cole and Shawn stood by their brother, but they seemed excluded. Cole would dance with a few girls, but it was a short dance. He'd go back to stand beside Shawn, who rejected every girl that offered a dance. He seemed hazed, nervous, a bit of everything in one. Cole kept consoling him, at least from my position it looked that way. How he'd move his hands and try his best to comfort Shawn. At least there were two brothers who cared for each other.

Shawn's expression changed when he saw Em with Mark. His hands balled into fists and I was now worried not only about Shawn and Em but Mark as well. Then scene of Shawn beating Trent up replayed in my head. Although Mark was bulkier, I knew he wouldn't hurt Shawn. Trent, sure everyone hates him, but Mark wouldn't hurt Shawn because they started to become friends. Sort of.

Shawn shifted his gaze to me and I pushed my hand, which hung at my side, down. Telling him to calm down, he didn't have to worry. He calmed down slightly, Cole helping a bit more. I was glad that Em hadn't seen that, but at the same time a bit more disappointed. Maybe if she had seen how protective he had gotten, she'd know he cares.

Songs shifted between fast and slow, we danced for what seemed hours but just minutes. Maybe an hour passed by of talking and dancing, take or give a few minutes. The principal of the school came up to the small stage with a microphone in his hand. The DJ stopped the music and we all turned our attention to who was being crowned this year.

"Settle down everyone." He said while everyone started to hush and gather around the stage. Em stayed in the back but Hayden and Mark blocked her when she tried turning around. They both made great bodyguards. "So we'll start with freshmens."

Names were called and a pairs came up to recieve thier crowns. Freshmens got some applause. Sophomores got more. Juniors topped both. But when it came to seniors everyone was hollering for the names to be called out. "Our king for the seniors," said the principle into the microphone as he made it more dramatic then it had to be, "His last year at the school. I give you, Shawn Parris!"

Everyone cheered except Em. She just watched in silence and partially horror as Shawn went upstage. He shook the principles hand and was crowned. The moment the rim of the crown touched his head everyone went balistic.

I wonder what it's going to be like at Prom.

The principal who's name I just couldn't remember kept talking. He pulled another envelope out and took the card out. Shawn's face went the color of grey and Em stood stiffly. "The wonderful queen that will guide her king is...Emily Firton."

Shawn looked down at his feet but he had a clear smile. Emily however pushed her way through Mark and Hayden, only to be stopped by Blake and Cole.

What is this? A movie?

A screech went through the microphone reciever and before anyone could say anything Shawn's voice went through the gym, "Em wait."

All eyes were now on Emily. Shawn could easily see her from where he stood and the crowd just followed his gaze. Emily turned around slowly and even with all the stares of a good portion of the school she kept her chin up and kept eye contact with Shawn.

Shawn cleared his throat, "Ok so honestly I didn't think I'd get this far so I'm seriously shaking." I cracked a smile and a couple people laughed a bit. Shawn continued. He pulled a napkin out of his pocket and unfolded it. "I um...I kinda wrote this...anyways..." He cleared his throat again and brought the mic to his lips reciting the poem on his napkin:

"So I'm known as the class clown and player

I used to enjoy one night stands and getting with girls on a dare

But loving someone so much changes you

There's something about this thing we call love, it doesn't only get your mind boggling and heart pumping

It causes tears, and sets you straight

Being in love with someone isn't only remembering her green eyes are obsorbed in books, or how she involuntarily moves her cascading hair from her face when she reads

Loving someone isn't always gonna be happy happy sunshine, sometimes in paradise you'd have to watch as the storm passes your eyes

There are more than a million ways to show and say how much I love you

But there's a reason I chose to write an recite a poem...

The reason is because I don't want my love to end with you Em..."

The whole gym was silent. Not even Trent said anything, Shawn's former girlfriends stared at Shawn and back at Emily with hatred seething out of them. Then there was the hopeless romantics who held to their chests. Blake looked stone cold, but Cole smiled and nodded to his brother like he was proud.

"Emily," Shawn continued, "I'm sorry for everything I've done. For the way I acted years, months ago. But I've changed. I've changed for you."

All the girls in the gym went 'Awwwww' including myself. Em was so red, blushing so intensely her dress looked white. I realized I was so close to Emily, just at her side that people were also looking at me. Along with Mark, Hayden, Cole, and Blake. It was as if we were all under a spot light.

Shawn took the queens crown and jumped off the stage. Everyone moved out of his way as he made his way towards Em. When he reached her she looked directly at him, even a few tears were welled up in the corner of her eye. Shawn gave her a genuine smile and placed the crown on her head. He whispered to her, from where stood I could hear what he said. "Please be mine again. And I'll treat you like the queen you're meant to be."

"Did you write that on a napkin?" Em squeaked out. Shawn handed her the napkin and she broke out in a smile, "That is the cutest thing ever."

Shawn's smile widened and he pressed his lips to Emily's. She didn't pull herself away, instead she wrapped her arms around Shawn's neck pulling him in closer. Everyone applauded, whistled, and hollered out.

"Let's keep this romance in the air shall we," the DJ said, "Grab your gal and hold her close cause we gonna slow it down."

The music shifted to slow. Everyone statted to rock back and forth at a slow pace while the some were still looking at Shawn and Emily.

"Mind if I have a dance with you?" Mark asked me. I nodded and he quickly glanced at Hayden who nodded his approval a bit hesitantly.

Mark took my hand and took me to the middle of the dance floor where he placed his hands on my waist and I put my arms around his neck. "You look beautiful Tori." He whispered softly.

I smiled, "Even with the Converse?"

Mark grinned, "Especially with the Converse."

We didn't say anything the rest of the song. We just rocked gently while I layed my head on his shoulder. His arms had the same warm, safe feeling they always have. By the time the song was done I felt someone tap on Mark's shoulder.

Hayden smiled, "May I dance with Tori?"

Mark handed me over, instantly the warmth evaporated and was replaced my cold, but before Hayden had me in his arms Cole intercepted me. "Sorry Hayden I need to dance with my friend. I'll make it up to you."

"What are you doing?" I asked Cole. He held one of my hands up while the other hand was placed on my waist. We left a very confused Mark and Hayden behind.

"I wanted to talk to you sissy." Cole smiled, "I've been thinking..."

"Is that good thing or bad thing?" I was confused as to why Cole interrupted my almost dance with Hayden, but it seemee urgent by the looks of it.

"Why would it be bad?"

"You're a Parris. Good in your eyes, bad in my eyes."

"Hurtful."

"Truthful."

Cole chuckled and kept leading us and small circle. "Well I think you'll like this one."

"Do tell."

"I'm going to talk to Blake." When Cole saw I wasn't catching on he kept going, "Talk to him about telling Mark. And just Mark about this secret of ours."

I stared at Cole in complete shock. Did he mean it? He seemed serious about it and I knew he wouldn't be lying about such a thing. "Ar-are you serious?"

Cole nodded and pulled away from our embrace, grabbing my hand and leading me through the crowd of couples. At the end was Shawn and Em who looked at each other as if they were the only two people in the world. "Shawn." Cole said but of course Shawn didn't turn to look. "Shaw-"

I lightly hit Cole's ribcage. "Leave them alone. They're together again."

"No but I need his attention." Cole finally just walked up to Shawn and grabbed his shoulder. "Dude we need to talk. Five minutes that's all. Then you can go to Em's house and I'll tell mom you went to a friend's."

He considered it and made his decision when Em nodded. "Yeah ok." Shawn said kissing Em before walking with Cole and I. We went to a clear section of a wall where a bunch of freshmens had been. When we were away from the crowd Shawn hugged me tightly, "Thank you thank you thank you! You're the best sister ever!"

He called me his sister. I smiled and hugged him back.

"What can I do to repay you?" He asked. "You've helped me with so much Tori...thank you."

"We were actually talking about that." Cole mentioned. "Help me convince Blake to tell Mark about Tori being our sister."

Shawn grinned, "Done!"

"Oh my god really!" I couldn't help it. I was beyond happy to hear they trusted Mark, and me. The lies would finally stop. I wouldn't have to feel the weight of guilt on my shoulders. Everything would be back to normal. Maybe Mark could come over and hang out with me and the guys. Play videogames like we used to. Stay over the nights and have fun. I'd be able to break this waterway that has separated up. Build a bridge to connect us again.

"We'd love too." Shawn looked back in the crowd and saw Em talking to Mark and Hayden. "Though I wanted to rip his head off when I saw him with my girl."

"We know." Cole and I said at the same time.

"You guys are awesome." I hugged them both, putting each arm around one of them. "Seriously...I couldn't have better brothers."

All that was left now. Was to talk to Blake. With both of his brothers against him, he'd surely cave....right?

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Yes I relaize it took me a really long time to finish this chapter. I hope the length and...action? Yeah I guess you can say action. Well I hope you guys liked it. Might be a filler but shows a lot of bonding between Tori and different chracters.

Wattpad is being weird and next chapter was classified as private. So if you want to continue reading 3 Stepbrothers, it'd be best to follow me so you can read the next chapters. I don't know why Wattpad made it private. It's not even that bad. So I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I hope you guys like it though :)

I wanna give special thanks to my bestie Jodee, who is in fact the one that wrote the poem that Shawn recited. Give her a round of applause please!

Well....I hope I get long comments about your favorite parts in the chapter, or what you liked most or disliked. There was a lot of information and scenes. And I don't know if you guys like it, but I'm starting to like the whole scene shifting thing. Maybe some of you don't...but I like it :) means I don't have to put a bunch of filler and stuff and just get to the point.

Blaks POV will be coming soon. If you're wondering who Cole likes, it's not Tori but it's a secret of who he likes ;)

Think that's all I got to say...so hope you liked the chapter. Please forgive my lateness. And thanks to all those fans out there that are patiently waiting for an update. Love you guys :)

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