A House Divided Against Itself

Shawn spent all Saturday at Em's house. He finally came back Sunday morning yawning loudly, but nevertheless there was a smile on his face. I was happy to see that Shawn was back to his normal self. Spewing out random stuff that magically popped into his mind. It made me realize just how much of a filter he needs for his mouth.

He keeps looking for evidence of me being part ape. Going through my closet, checking my recent searches under my google history, and any downloads of monkey pictures. I gave up after a while and started shouting at him in what I assume is Gorilla. Pointing his finger at me, he shouted, "I knew it! Ooh-ahh! Ahh-ah."

That all happened around lunch time when mom was teaching Suzie how to make white chicken chili. It took forever to make, but Shawn was good entertainment. At least to the rest of the family. I was being made fun of every two seconds. "No mom you gotta make Tori a banana chili. With extra fruit and lettuce." He'd say.

"Ha ha that's so funny." I would cross my arms and roll my eyes, "I'm just dying of pure laughter."

Other than the constant jokes with the follow up of laughs, it was a decent lunch. Dad asked me about the dance and mom kept blabbering on about how nice I looked. When I had gotten home, I had given her the clips back. She only smiled and placed them back in her little jewelry box.

I was ready to tell Mark. When Cole and Shawn said they'd ask Blake I was beyond happy. It felt amazing to know I'd be able to tell Mark now, I couldn't keep hiding this from him. It was a lie piled onto another. It just kept escalating to a point where it would topple over. I was just glad it wouldn't have to chance to fall. I'd be able to tell him before the large tower of lies came crashing down.

"So we were thinking," Mom said while she was taking the plates up getting some pie from the fridge.

"Who's we?" asked Cole.

"Mario and Luigi Cole." Shawn remarked sarcastically, giving everyone a chance to chuckle while Cole gave Shawn a look.

"Lilly and I," Dad said, "we're thinking about going to the lake house for Christmas. What'd you guys think?"

Christmas in a cabin with a nice fireplace sounds like a scene in a Christmas movie. But it did give me a nice feeling of being at home. Just sitting down on the couch drinking hot cocoa with a blanket over my legs, watching the fire crackle in the fireplace. It made me drowsy just thinking about how peaceful it'd be. How serene I'd feel. I could almost feel my hands getting warmer as if I was holding a cup of hot chocolate now.

"Why?" Blake asked. My daydreaming came to stop. I felt like a record just scratched in my head bringing me back to reality. "Why can't we just have it here like we do every year?"

"We just thought it'd be nice," Lilly smiled softly, "To try something new."

Cole looked at his brother, "Yeah man. It'd be fun. Plus it's up north, we could possibly get snow. Or build a fort outside. Or maybe we play Russian Roulette with Nerf guns and loser jumps in the lake!"

"I'd so beat you!" Shawn bursted pointing his finger at Cole.

"Heck no!" Cole threw a bean at Shawn. "Hope you have a diving suit or you're going to freeze!"

Cole and Shawn started to argue about who was going to win and who was going to jump into the lake at night. Lilly finally intervened when Shawn shouted that Cole would be so frozen his manhood would snap right off like an icicle.

Blake didn't say anything. He just watched, leaning back in chair. It looked like he was studying his brothers. Watching their every movement and waiting to see what happened. Almost like a scientist observing animals from afar. The only difference was that Blake didn't just watch his brothers. He watched mom and dad as well.

He looked over at me and noticed me watching. Giving me his famous glare, I turned my attention back to my food. Guess he's not the only one observing, I thought to myself.

"Boys that's enough." Lilly hissed through her teeth.

"I think it's funny." Suzie giggled.

"Your mother's right." Dad agreed with Lilly looking at the boys sternly before turning into a grin. "Besides I'd win anyways."

Lilly's mouth dropped open while Cole' s and Shawn's eyes turned wide. "No!" Shawn shouted first, "You and Cole will both have to jump in the lake."

Dad's laugh echoed slightly with the continuous shouting of Cole and Shawn. Suzie started to giggle, which turned to a full laugh. I just stared at the scene in front of me as it unfolded and looked like the tea table the Mad-Hatter would sit at. Lilly finally recoiled her shocked face and smiled. I rubbed my temple realizing how crazy this family was.

"No." Blake said flatly, but loud and strong enough to be heard around the table.

Cole, still smiling, asked, "What do you mean no?"

"As in no I don't want to go." Blake stated causally, grabbing a piece of bread from the center of the table. He ripped a piece off and started to dip it into his chili.

"Well..." Lilly tried to find her words, shocked that her son was so blunt and flat. Everyone was staring at Blake as he calmy ate his chili like he owned the place. "Why not...?"

Blake shrugged, "Because I don't want to."

"More like you don't want to have fun." Cole muttered under his breath. Blake snapped his head and glared straight at Cole, who flinched and looked down, playing with his spoon.

"Yeah man," Shawn pushed a smile, "It'll be fun. Come on, don't you want to see Bill jump in the lake."

At this dad chuckled and murmured "Yeah right," under his breath.

At the sound of my fathers name, Blake directed his attention to dad. "I don't want to go, Bill," He dipped another chunk of bread in the chili, "So you gonna make me?"

Dad's face paled slightly. He was trapped, everyone quickly caught onto what Blake was doing. Even Suzie seemed to understand as we all stared at my dad. The expression clear in his face: fear. He was trapped in a corner like a mouse. Dad sat there, silently concentrating on what to say. "Well...I can't force you to do anything."

Blake chuckled, but there was no humor behind his laugh. He dipped his last piece of bread into the chili. "You are, after all, the head man of this...family." Poison coated his words as he chewed loudly.

Cole and Shawn turned to look at their brother. Both of them gave Blake a cold glare, but Blake remained stiff, keeping his attention on dad.

"Well, if you look at it like that," Dad muttered before continuing, "It looks like you're the only one that doesn't want to go. So we'll have to take you with us."

"I can stay home alone."

"Not for Christmas."

"Then don't go." Blake shrugged. Frustration started boiling inside me. What was his problem? Why couldn't he just come? It's Christmas in a cabin beside a lake there was no chance it wouldn't be fun. Blake might not be the kind that likes fun, but he's the kind that will do anything to get on your nerves.

"Everyone wants to go Blake." Lilly intervened.

"So Bill is going to make me?" Blake lifted his eyebrows.

Dad glanced over at Lilly whispering loud enough for everyone to hear but soft enough so it didn't seem like the tone he was using with Blake. "It's ok, Lilly. I can handle myself."

"Why don't you want to go?" Suzie asked, softly picking at the table.

Blake shrugged. "Maybe because it's bad enough having to live in this house. But at least I can get out and go with friends. What am I suppose to do in a cabin with the nearest town being twenty minutes away by car?"

"Gee I don't know," Shawn said sarcastically, "Maybe hang out with us?" He motioned to himself and Cole.

"Yeah seriously," Cole added, "Play football outside. Practice soccer, you're trying for that scholarship. Maybe sing Christmas songs and spend time with us." At the mention of a scholarship, Blake snapped his eyes at Cole, narrowing them as if telling him to keep his mouth shut.

I didn't know Blake was trying out for a scholarship. Let me rephrase that, I didn't expect Blake going to college period. But it made sense for him to get a scholarship for something sporty. It was all he was good at. Sports. Tackle, run, pass, shoot, score. If anyone was going to get a scholarship for that, it was Blake. It was his first nature, his second would maybe be the nature of hating and insulting others. He's pretty good at that too.

"So it's settled," Dad tried a smiled, "We're going."

Everyone shouted their agreements except Blake. He kept his eyes on Cole, who simply returned his gaze. It looked like a telepathic communication between brothers. After all, they were triplets. "I still don't see why I have to go," Blake dropped his gaze and looked back towards dad.

"Because it's Christmas. Why don't you want to go Blake?" Dad had his elbows on the table, folding his fingers together and resting his chin on them. "Everyone else does."

"Then I guess I'm unique."

I snorted, "You got that right."

"I didn't ask for your opinion." Blake spat out.

"You're asking for a kick in the groin, that's what you're asking for." I snapped back.

"Ok that's enough," Dad sternly, "You're going to go, Blake. I don't care if you whine the whole way there. Give me the cold shoulder. Or lock yourself in your room when we get there. Hell, for all I care you can watch porn while in your room alone. But you're going. That's final."

Blake clenched his jaw, his fist balled up beside him on the table. Everyone stayed quiet, watching while Dad and Blake stared each other down. Finally Blake stood up and grabbed his plate walking to the sink and throwing it in angrily, it shattered, causing everyone to flinch. He stormed off towards the stairs, "You're not my dad Bill. You're a sick excuse for a dad."

By the time everyone came to their senses, Blake was already in his room. "H-he didn't mean that." Lilly stuttered in shock. I wanted to rip his throat out. Grow long vampire nails and just watch him die slowly while trying to rip his non-existing heart out of him. How dare he say that to my father! That was low, even for Blake. He should be more caring. What if I insulted his mom? Or his dad? How would he feel? Probably nothing, considering he doesn't have feelings.

"Don't listen to him, Dad," I said to my father, who was looking like he had just been punched in the gut, "He's an as-jerk. He's a stupid jerk with a huge ego." I quickly looked over at Lilly, "No offense to you, since you did give birth to him."

Suzie went over to Dad and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you Daddy. That's all that matters."

"You're a great dad." Cole added trying his best to show a Dad a smile.

"Yeah. Blake is just...mad. He's PMSing." Shawn added waving his hand around like it was nothing, "Trust me. He's just trying to be all macho."

"He's trying to be a nacho?" Suzie asked confused.

The mood lightened slightly as we all laughed quietly. "No," Shawn explained, "Macho. With an M."

"It means you try to act all super cool and bigger than anyone else." Dad pulled Suzie into his lap as he explained.

"Oh ok..." Suzie looked down at the table picking at the side. It grew quiet, a very awkward quiet where no one knew what to say. Not even Shawn spoke. Suzie broke the ice first, "So...I know this isn't a good time to ask but...what's porn?"

At first no one said anything. Then we busted out into a fit of laughs, except Suzie. She stayed wondering what porn was.

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

It's been a week after Blake's outburst. Cole had explained to me that he'd talk to Blake when he's in a better mood. Dad has been talking to Cole and Shawn more. They've been bonding well, but whenever Blake would enter the room, everyone would stare at him. He'd act like he didn't notice, grabbing water from the fridge, and making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, later taking it upstairs to his room where he'd lock himself. Then we all went back to talking.

The whole week had gone by slowly. Everyone was waiting for Thanksgiving Break. It's what everyone was thinking about. A whole week away from school to stuff ourselves with delicious foods. I could just imagine the hot gravy running down my throat with cranberry sauce on the side of my mashed potatoes. Then in the middle of the table, in full display, the giant turkey which is perfectly roasted and hot from the oven. It made my stomach churn and mouth water in anticipation.

I was lying on my bed playing videogames when there was a knock on my door. "Come in," I said never taking my eyes off the TV I stole a glance of the person that came in before going back to the game. "What up?"

Cole looked around my room with a raised eyebrow. Everything was everywhere. My backpack was spilling notebooks and papers, I had materials like color pencils and poster paper spread on the ground. Study notes were scattered on my unmade bed along with some old college brochures. "Your room-"

"Looks like a tornado went through it I know." I shrugged it off. I felt the bed dip down and looked beside me. Cole held the other controller in his hand.

"Nah don't worry. Mine isn't any better." He turned his controller on, "Now add me." After getting Cole set up into the game we started playing together. "So..." Cole said awkwardly.

"So..." I asked back with a smirk. "Have you talked to Blake?"

He sighed, "No I was going to do it today but--Tori to your left," I made my character turn to the left and quickly shot the zombie. Cole continued, "But he's been in a bad mood all week. I can't ask him when he's in a bad mood."

"Then ask him after he has sex." I shrugged, "Wouldn't he be happy then?"

Cole laughed, "I guess. Depends on how good he got it." He gave me a wink and I gagged only making him laugh more. When his laughing subsided his lips formed a straight line, "I was going to ask him today."

I turned my head to look at Cole. "Really?"

He nodded, "Me and Shawn have it all planned out."

I smiled. I couldn't describe how it felt knowing they were helping me. It just didn't make sense to me why Blake hates me. I've never done anything to him, "What are you going to do?" I asked Cole as I clicked the buttons on the remote.

"Ask him."

"That's your big plan?" I nearly shouted.

"Well I'm not going to threaten him Tori."

I paused the game and groaned while burying my face into the mattress. "Don't ask nicely though. Be a jack-ass to him because he deserves it."

Cole laughed softly, "Fine." We played a bit more before he decided to break the ice. "What college are you going to?"

It caught me off gaurd. A random question if you ask me. I hadn't been worrying much about college yet. I didn't really want to think about it right now since I already had enough family problems and drama. "Uh..." I stuttered grabbing one of the papers on my bed, "These are my grades? If that helps any."

Cole raised an eyebrow since it didn't sound like I was sure of myself. He looked at the paper and while he scanned the grades I kept playing. "These are really good." He said after a minute.

"Thanks but I don't really care about grades I mean-"

"What college though?"

I sighed. I had applied to a nearby college last year and accepted for one reason: home. At the time I hadn't known dad was going to re-marry so I figured I'd stay close to home. Maybe not for dad but for Suzie. She would be spending a lot of days alone and seeing to that the college was only about an hour away I could be home in a short time or visit on weekends. But now she had Lilly and dad. She wouldn't need me to cook or help clean the house. I don't want to drop out though since I already planned it all out.

It wasn't a bad college, it was business and teaching. I frankly didn't care what I studied. I wasn't someone enthusiastic about what career I wanted. I know people who have dreams of becoming surgeon's or engineers. I just wanted anything with a good salary. "Just the one up north." I muttered.

Cole nodded, "Oh yeah me too. I wanna go to the college up north also. Because, as you already know, there's just that one college that's up north." I rolled my eyes but he kept going, "I'd be able to go see you every day because I we're both going to the college up north."

"Ok I get it there's a lot of colleges in the north."

Cole smirked, "And south, east, and west. Then you have the smaller directions like North east. North west. Sou-"

"I get the point Cole." Before he could say anything more I beat him to it. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"College?"

"Oh..." He shrugged, "It's whatever."

I raised an eyebrow. I wasn't going to lie, he probably had bad grades. And everything revolved around your GPA. At least Shawn was now getting his grades up, he's been paying more attention in school but by now it barely mattered. "Whatever?"

"Yeah. The what to the ever. It's slang Tori."

"Come on show me your grades."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because."

I sucked in air making a hissing sound, "That bad huh?"

Cole glanced my way, "Yeah."

I shrugged, "It's ok. I won't judge."

Cole laughed, "Good. But I'm still not showing you."

"Please I showed you mine." I gave a big smile and batted my eyelashes.

He rolled his eyes. "Doesn't work on me. Never has never will."

"Not shocked girls have tried." Now I rolled my eyes.

Cole gave me a confused looked before it seemed to click in his head, "Oh you think I meant..." He laughed. "I was actually referring to Shawn but okie-dokey."

We played about five minutes more before I started my rant of annoyance. One of my favorite things to do would be to annoy people. Let's face it, everyone hates someone annoying but we all love to annoy people. "Show me." I said.

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"They can't be that bad."

"No."

"If I guess where you put them, then can I see?"

Cole smirked, "Yeah if you guess."

Without hesitation I answered, "The red box under your bed."

"N-Yes. Wait how the hell..." Cole turned to look at me but I kept my eyes on the screen. "Have you been in my room?"

I shrugged, "Shawn told me to go in one day. Said he needed something from the red box under your bed. First, I didn't want to look in your red box. But Shawn convinced me and told me he just wanted the blue notebook. Anyways all your old school stuff was in there. Pretty good grades in middle school."

Cole glanced at my door like he was scared someone was listening in. He looked back at me and paused the game before grabbing my hand and standing me up. "Come on." He led me to his room where I took a seat on his bed as he pulled out a small red box from underneath.

It was werid he was being so secretive. I realize his grades may be down the toilet, but I've seen a lot of bad grades. Considering in elementary and even a little in middle school the teacher would let me help her grade some work I realized then a lot of the smarter kids weren't really as smart as they turned out to be. "Are you scared to show me? Because honestly Cole they're just numbers."

"Shush." He sat on the ground and opened the box. Rummaging through all the papers he pulled out a yellow envelope and handed it to me. "Just...don't tell anyone. Especially Blake and Shawn."

I raised my eyebrow at him before opening the envelope. Inside was the usual Report Card with the pretty blue lacing around the edges. The top had Cole's name and then I started looking down. As my eyes scanned his grades they grew wider and wider. "Whoa..."

Cole sighed and sat next to me, "Yeah...I'm not dumb."

They weren't bad. I mean they were the complete opposite. His grades were shotting up so high in some subjects he had a higher score than I did. "Th-they're...." I stuttered, "Cole! They're amazing!"

"Shhh! Hush!" He frantically put his finger to his lips, placing his other hand on my mouth. "God are you trying to let the whole world know?" He whispered.

"Why are you embarrassed?" I whispered back after moving his hand. "You have a 103 in Government. That's amazing! I hate government."

"I'm not embarrassed..." He shurgged, "I just don't want anyone to know. I mean come on, it'll ruin my reputation."

I rolled my eyes. So Blake wasn't the only one with a reputation.

Cole kept going, "My friends will freak out. I mean...you thought I had bad grades."

"What's your GPA?" I asked.

Cole smirked, "Do you really wanna know?"

I thought it over, "No not really. But...why such good grades?"

He sighed again and looked down at his hands. "I applied to Harvard. I wanna be a lawyer like my mom."

I laughed, not a funny laugh but more a happy one. It shocked me that Cole didn't have bad grade, even more that they were outstanding. Knowing he wanted to be someone...successful meant a lot. He definitely wasn't the boy I thought he was a year ago. The egocentric player that would end up as a nobody and live off of his mom. He was much more and I didn't understand why he was embarrassed by it.

His reputation was apparently bigger than anything else. He, in a small fraction of a way, was like Blake. Their reputations meant more than being who they were. They were fake and no one knew. But by being fake they were everything that people wanted. Even though some of the rumors were true, a large amout probably wasn't. It was just a mask to cover up who these guys really were. But when you peel the mask off you truly see who they are, a kid following the crowd to stay in the clique.

Part of me didn't like the fact they wore masks. But another part of me understood why they did. It wasn't the outer layer that really mattered about Cole and Shawn, it was what was inside. On the outside they were all players that only cared about their next party. Getting to know both of my stepbrothers showed me that Cole isn't a jerk and Shawn isn't a player. They're both sweet and funny and I'm glad I was able to get to know who they really are than just take them for what mask they put on every morning.

All that was left was Blake. He didn't fit in with his brothers and it truly made me wonder why he was so distant. It wasn't fair I was being judgemental with him but he judges me the same way. How am I suppose to get to know him better if we can't even have a conversation? Every time I try to talk to him or we're in a room and have short conversation I end up throwing something at him. Whether it's a pillow or a remote, it ends up being airborne.

"That's really cool Cole," I said, "You'll make an awesome lawyer."

He smirked, "Hell yeah I will. I'm a Parris. We're all awesome."

I rolled my eyes and shoved his shoulder, "You should tell your brothers."

"No I really shouldn't." Cole countered back shaking his head like I suggested riding a bear through a hurricane.

"Why not?"

He sighed, "Because...because of Blake."

I frowned. If Blake was controlling his brothers also, it would be a whole new chapter of jerk in my book. What made me wonder more was why they did as he said. Why did Cole and Shawn follow all of Blake's orders? It was as if they were his personal dogs. "Are you going to explain?" I asked when Cole didn't keep going.

He rubbed the back of his neck. He seemed nervous and scared to be talking about it. "He just...I don't know. His dream is for all of us to play side by side on the field. Doesn't matter what sport, just as long as we're together."

"But that's not your dream."

Cole shook his head. "No...my dream is to be a lawyer. I don't know why, it just looks like a cool job. My mom loves it. Sure she gets stressed, but when she wins a case she's always happy." He looked over to me and I didn't know I was smiling till he poked my lip. It looked like Cole would really enjoy being a lawyer by the way he talks about it.

I scooted closer to Cole and wrapped my arms around his torso. "You should tell them. Just to get it off your chest."

He hugged me back and shrugged, "Nah. I don't know about Shawn's dream. But Blake is set on about sports."

I laughed softly, "Could you imagine Shawn's dream?"

Cole laughed causing me to move with the rhythm of his laughter. "It probably involves wanting to go to Oz and walking down the yellow brick road so he can find the Wizard and ask for a purple flying unicorn. Then he'll get a stuffed toy instead because the Wizard isn't exactly a wizard. Then he'll be so disappointed he'll jump into a hole and end up in Wonderland where he'll get a hat and become the Mad-Hatters apprentice. He'll fit right in. The end." Cole took in a breath since he had just ranted about his brother.

"You really know your brother." I said laughing. For some reason I found it hilarious what Cole had said. Maybe it was because I knew that those exact words would come out of Shawn's mouth. My constant laughter made Cole join in as well.

"What's so funny?" He said as his laughing calmed down while mine just kept going.

"I don't know," I erupted into more giggles, "I think I'm just laughing because it's fun now."

Cole stared at me with a smile tugging at his lips. He ruffled his fingers through my hair, "You're so weird."

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

"Tori did you finish your chores?" Dad asked as I went downstairs to get a snack. It was turning out to be a long day. I hadn't had lunch yet but I knew the guys had. All three of them were downstairs in the basement dicussing who knows what. Part of me hoped Cole and Shawn were going to talk to Blake about the whole secret. The other part of me was dreading it because I wasn't sure what Blake would say.

"I'm about to." I groaned as I grabbed the last set of laundry. It had all of the guy's sports clothes. "Why do I have to do this and the guys do nothing?"

My dad who was leaning against the door frame shrugged, "They took kitchen duty this week so you had laundry."

"I prefer kitchen duty." I grumbled.

"Why?" Dad asked causing me to lift an eyebrow as if saying, Seriously? I held up a brief that was half red and half blue with a Superman logo right where the crotch would be. Dad stared at it trying not to laugh. He failed and broke down laughing.

"It's not funny!" I shouted throwing it at him. "I do my own laundry why can't they?"

Dad looked at the hem of the brief and laughed harder. "The Shawn-ator." A tear formed in the corner of his eye as he kept laughing.

I tried to keep a straight face but ended up laughing as well. "It does not say that."

"Look for yourself." He threw it back at me and just as Dad had said, Shawn-ator was written across the hem in cursive. "Anyways they'd do your laundry. You just don't let them."

"Dad," I said seriously, "We're laughing at Shawn's underwear I'm pretty sure they'd be laughing at mine too."

"Because they have Hello Kittys or Power Puff girls?"

"That was when I was nine Dad. I don't still have those." I rolled my eyes. After mom had died Dad was in charge of buying me everything I needed. He would buy little kid underwear thinking I'd like them. But then he found it to be really awkward when ladies walked by so he would just hand me the money and tell me to go buy what I needed while he stayed in the doll section with Suzie.

"Well don't laugh to hard at whatever you find in here." Dad smirked and I just shook my head as I threw random clothes into the machine in front of me.

We heard footsteps and while I kept making sure to seperate the clothes, Suzie walked in with her backpack on and a smile on her face. She looked towards dad, "Did you tell her?"

I figured they were talking about me. "Tell me what?"

"I was getting to it," Dad said to her before turning to me, "Suzie has a play date to-"

"Please don't say play date," I begged closing my eye's desperately. I hated it when Dad thought it was ok to say the same terms he used when we were five years old. Sure Suzie is nine but I still hated the term. It made me feel like she was two.

Dad rolled his eyes, "Anyways I need you to take her to Macy's house. That's her friend, I'll let you take my car too."

"Please Tori. We just want to hang out," Suzie gave me the puppy dog eyes and put her hands out like she was begging, "I didn't even say play date."

I rolled my eyes, "Let me finish up first."

She squealed in delight, "Thanks Tori! You're the best."

"Yeah yeah."

She skipped away towards the kitchen where she was to wait for me while I finished up the chores. "Stay with her," Dad said, "Please. Just keep a close eye."

I groaned. I didn't have anything against Suzie's friends, it's just that every time I stay over to watch Suzie and make sure she doesn't break a leg or something, I end up falling asleep. Doesn't matter if it's a couch, chair, or even the grass outside, I get so insanely bored I fall asleep. There's just something about tea parties and Barbie's that don't interest me. "Do I have to?" I complained, "Why can't I just drop her off?"

"Because this is the girl that keeps telling Suzie all these sexual things." He answered causally. "Just please stay with her and make sure these people aren't a threat." It made me smirk the way dad was talking. Mom had always said that if he were to have been an FBI agent he'd probably do background checks on every person we talk to. I wasn't sure if dad was always like this, super protective. Or if it started after he became a cop. Either way, he was the right man for the job.

"But dad she's nine." I nearly shouted, "I can't stay at some person's house because you say so. I mean it's going to look like I'm her bodyguard or something."

He sighed, "Fine. You don't have to stay but at least go talk to the parents. Make small talk and then ask when to go pick her up, ok?"

"Will do. Thanks."

"Just..." He waved his hand around the laundry basket, "Finish this first."

After he walked away I kept on washing the clothing. I put in a new load of clothing into the washer, it mostly consisted of the guy's soccer jersey's. Even the USA team shirt, there was three so I knew they each had one. But each had a different number and I realized it was all their school numbers as well.

"Tori!" Suzie yelled from the kitchen, "Hurry up!"

"I'm going!" I shouted back.

"You're killing me here! Grass isn't getting any greener!"

I stood up and bent over the washer searching for the right button to press to start the machine. "Shut up," I muttered quietly under my breath.

"I'm aging here! Gonna be a grandma by the time you finish!"

I let out a frustrated sigh. Without looking I pressed a button and hit start. Instantly I started hearing the whirling of the machine commencing its cycle. "I'm here," I said when I reached the kitchen. "Let's go."

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

"Are you sure this is the place?" I asked Sue as I pulled up into the driveway of the address she had given me.

"Yeah it's what Macy told me." Her seat belt clicked and she started getting out of the car. Something about this house wasn't right. It looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't quite grasp the idea from where I recognized it. "You coming?" Suzie asked snapping me back from my thoughts.

I quickly got out and made sure to lock the car behind me. Maybe I was like my dad, paranoid for safety. We walked together to the front door but I just stood there looking up at the house. "I swear this place looks familiar." I muttered more to myself than anyone else.

Suzie shrugged, "You've probably driven by it a thousand times." She reached over and rang the doorbell. We waited a few seconds before we heard some footsteps on the other side.

"I don't know. It just loo-"

The door opened up and my eyes widened. Now I understood why I knew this house. I had been here before but wasn't paying much attention to little details, so it was all a haze. Trent Michaels stood there with the same wide eyes, "What the hell are you doi-"

There was squeal that came from behind him and suddenly a little girl came running and hugged Suzie tightly. "Oh my god! You came!" I assumed the little girl was Macy. It  was frightening how much she looked like her brother. The same dirty blonde hair with the brown eyes. But Macy had a look on her face that read Sweet little girl. Not Gonna punch your face.

Sue jumped up and down with her friend as they hugged each other. "I know right! You gotta show me your new Monster High doll. I'm dying to see it!"

What's a Monster High? I thought to myself.

"Wait wait..." Trent said interrupting the girls conversation, "This is Suzie?"

Macy nodded, "Yeah why?"

Trent kept his gaze on my sister but pointed at me, "Is Tori your sister?"

Suzie nodded. "Wait you two know each other?"

I couldn't help but grin, "Yeah we know each other real well."

Macy giggled and took Suzie's hand leading her into the house, "Wait till I tell you what my brother did."

"What'd he do?" She asked still in hearing range.

"I found him handcuffed to his bed. Trent's so dumb." Macy led my poor helpless sister deeper into the house and I just stood at the front door not sure what to do. I should probably just take Suzie and leave. Tell her that there was an emergency back home or some excuse like that. It was surprising how Trent's parents left him in charge of another human being, I wouldn't leave him in charge of a rock collection.

The haze I had about the house faded as it all cleared up. I recognized more and decided to look at the smaller details now that I had some time. Though now I recognized it, I wish I had noticed sooner. Trent was probably the last guy I wanted to have to talk to, not to mention what he did to Shawn. It all made sense though, why Macy tells Suzie all these things. But Macy was different. She actually...smiled.

"You can leave." Trent was about to shut the door right in my face before I  pushed the door opened walking inside.

"No way," I told him, "I am not leaving my sister here with you. At least not unsupervised. I don't need her to end up in the six o'clock news about a young teenage boy killing two little girls."

Trent glared at me, "Do you think of me as a serial killer or something?"

I laughed, "Might as well be. After what you did to me and Shawn."

"Shawn had it coming. Now get out of my house before I call the cops that you're trespassing."

"Wow you're an idiot," I muttered before talking louder, "Sure you wanna give my dad a ring? I'm sure he'd love to hear you keeping his little daughter as a hostage."

"When the hell did we get so drastic?" He flared and slammed the door. "I'm just taking care of my little sister and her friend."

I shrugged, "Fine by me but I'm watching over my little sister and her friend. So why don't you call a little play toy and go have sex in the room upstairs." I waved my hand and started walking in the direction that the girls went.

"You mean like your best friend Cali?"

I turned around in lightning speed and slapped Trent right across his face. There was a sharp noise and a red mark on his right cheek. "Don't even think about putting your hands on her."

He shot me such a look of hatred I thought he'd murder me right then and there. "Why not? She'll probably li-"

"Listen here," I interrupted him and started poking him the chest, "You are a sick low life that likes tormenting people. You care about nobody but yourself and one day you're going to hate yourself because of that. And when that day comes, all those people that you considered friends, all those people you looked up to or counted on will simply laugh straight in your face. They're already laughing behind you're back. You're probably gonna rot in hell anyways."

He kept a cold stare at me, like he partially didn't know how to respond but at the same time didn't want to. I don't know how long we stood having a stare off, but I wasn't going to back down. I didn't care if Cali changed she was still my best friend. I want to help her so bad, help her understand that what she's doing isn't right. Maybe I'll be able to talk her out of it and we'll be just like old times sake. Hopefully she would listen to me, after all I am her best friend.

"I'm taking Suzie and we're leaving." I said in the silence, cracking the glacier that had formed between Trent and I. I wasn't sure where Suzie and Macy were but I was leaving this place before one of use ended up murdering the other.

I started walking away but Trent grabbed my arm, "Let Suzie stay. Macy hasn't had a friend over in a long time." His eyes didn't hold the murder anymore, instead they were replaced with sincerity.

"Where are they?"

He sighed, "I don't know. The back maybe. Macy loves the trampoline."

I yanked my arm out of Trent's grasp and walked to the back of the house where I found the backdoor. It lead outside and at the end of the backyard I saw a black trampoline. Macy and Suzie were both bouncing on it while their giggles were heard.

I hadn't seen Suzie play with another girl in a while. She was either cooped up at home or she'd hang out with Conlan. I'm sure she didn't complain about that, but it was probably still nice for her to have girlfriends than just one single guy friend. Maybe that's why Trent wanted Macy to play with Suzie so badly, because she also hasn't had a chance to have fun with friends. I didn't want to be the bad guy and have to end the fun. So I took a seat on one of the chairs I found and watched as the two bounced around with the dolls in their hands.

It was probably thirty minutes later when I heard the backdoor open and footsteps coming my way. "Here," A mug was placed in front of my face so I looked up to see Trent handing it to me. "It's warm chocolate milk."

I frowned and stared at the mug for a second, "What'd you do? Put rat poison in it?"

He sighed, but it sounded like he was irritated. "To have rat poison would mean my house would be infested with rats. So just take it or I'll drink it myself."

I wasn't going to lie, it was cold. I was glad I decided to bring my jacket, if I didn't have it right now I'd probably freeze. A nice hot drink did sound appealing. I took the mug out of his hand and held it with both of mine trying to heat my hands up. "Thanks..." I muttered quietly.

"Whatever." He took a seat in the chair beside mine, the only thing separating us was the small circular table in between. Trent also had a mug in his hands as he took small sips. After he drank a little bit, I decided it was safe and drank it myself.

An awkward silence fell between us. We both didn't seem to know what to say so we kept our eyes on the girls as they rotated from jumping on the trampoline to playing with dolls. Finally I decided I couldn't handle the quiet any longer. "Why?" I asked him.

At first he said nothing but then he took a deep breath, "Well rats like to eat rotten stuff. So since we don't have rotten stuff around the house I don't think we'd get an infes-"

"I mean why are you being nice?" A million more questions started piling up, "Why did you do that to Shawn? Why do you hate me being on the soccer team? What's your problem with me?"

"Slow down," He grumbled, "I never liked questions."

"What part don't you like? The questioning or the answering?"

"Both."

"Just answer the question."

He thought it over a second, "I'm being nice because I know you're probably right."

"Meaning?"

"This is why I hate questions."

I shrugged, "To bad. I hate pineapples but you don't see me complaining."

He lifted an eyebrow and looked my way, "Why do you hate pineapples?"

"Because I feel like I'm destroying SpongeBob's home. Now answer my questions."

"Crazy," He rolled his eyes but I barely acknowledged them. "Maybe I did it to Shawn because...I don't know. Revenge."

"Revenge?" I asked somewhat awestruck. "That's the big reason?" It ticked me off that Shawn had been put in such a great amount of pain just so Trent could feel even. If I had revenge every time someone did something to me, I'd have so many people heartbroken the world itself might just collapse.

"I never said it was a good reason." He added.

"It's a pathetic reason." I almost shouted. "You were doomed from the start. Did you think Blake and Cole were going to let you get away with what you did to Shawn?"

"I never said I thought it through."

"You obviously didn't."

"That's what I just said Tori." He smirked. I really wish I could slap him again.

I clenched my teeth, "Next question."

"I don't feel like a girl should be allowed on the guys team. I frankly don't know how you even got into the system."

"What do you mean?"

"Well Cole suggested you, everyone knows that much. I mean lets face it a lot of girls at our school play soccer so why just you? Why would you even be allowed to play?" He wasn't answering any of my questions. "Rules say that the coach and team captain have to agree on whether to let someone 'different' on the team."

I frowned in concentration. "So Coach and..."

"Blake." Trent added for me. He looked towards me again and shrugged, "They agreed to let you on the team. It was three votes. Cole's, Coach, and Blake."

But Blake is a jerk face who doesn't care about anyone but himself.

I tried to push the new fact aside and took another sip of my chocolate milk, "You still didn't answer the question."

He laughed this time and I didn't understand why. "Maybe because you handcuffed me to my bed. Did you ever think about that?"

I grinned, "I think about it all the time. Your face when you heard the click. Priceless."

Trent sent me a glare, "That was a bitch move Tori."

"So was you trying to get me in bed." I set my mug down on the small table, "So don't think you're all innocent because you're not."

Trent looked towards our sisters so I couldn't read his expression. From his side I could see he looked grave, even regretful but if he did regret it a whole lot it was hard to tell. More like he regretted getting caught in the middle of his game, a little boy with his hand down the cookie jar. "It was all a game to us," He finally said after a minute.

I shivered from the slight breeze that just took up. Even bit my lip to stop my teeth from chattering. "Us?"

He nodded, "Us. Blake and I. It was just a game. Shawn played for a while, but Cole never got into it. Bastard was always drunk when he had sex. He never planned for it, it just happened."

What a wonderful thought. I said to myself sarcastically. "But," I said aloud, "Do you and Blake still play it?"

Trent shrugged, "Haven't talked to him. After Shawn humiliated me in the locker room he's kinda been distant. Then again I did fail and lose points."

I frowned, "What?"

He smirked, "I had fifty points but when I didn't get you to bed I lost ten."

I looked at Trent in disgust. How could you just earn and lose points like that? They truly thought of girls as a game. Each one seemed to be worth a certain amount of points and if you didn't get the girl then you'd lose it. Not only was it revolting but incredibly disappointing that they even keep track of that. "You're a pervert," I mutter.

Trent chuckled, "I get that a lot. I don't even take it as an insult anymore."

"That's sad..." I said quietly. We didn't say anything for another couple minutes. Trent had even got up and gone into the house coming back minutes later with peanuts in a small bowl. He placed them on the small table between us and chewed on them loudly. I ate a couple before I got curious. "So each girl was ten points?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow at me as if to say, You're actually wondering? But instead he shook his head, "One point each girl."

I choked on a peanut. "So you had fifty?" I coughed feeling my face turn red with the lodged nut. Trent patted my back roughly until I was able to swallow it down. "That's even more disappointing Trent."

He shrugged, "Blake has more. Hell I had more, but with Blake mad at me I'd get lucky to get laid by a good girl."

I laughed at that. Maybe because it was humorous how Trent had always been the ladies man, but without his connection with Blake he was simply nothing. Blake was the one that attracted the girls, not Trent. And now Trent didn't know what to do because everyone follows Blake, not him. "So why was I worth ten points? Virgins worth more or something?" I popped another peanut in my mouth chewing it slowly.

"No." He rubbed the back of his next. "You were uh...assigned to me."

I cocked my head at Trent my eyebrows raised. "Excuse me?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, "It's a uh...it's a long story."

"Well I have time." I crossed my arms over my chest obviously angry. What does he mean I was assigned? Not only was I a game to him, but he didn't even pick me. Was it even a game? More like a homework assignment.

Trent stood up and cupped his hands over his mouth. "Girls come inside!" He shouted to our sisters, "I don't want you to catch a cold let's go!"

Both of the girls started whining but were finally persuaded to go indoors. We followed after them grabbing the bowl of peanuts and our empty mugs. The wind was starting to pick up and my nose started to feel numb as the fall air made the leaves dance in circles. When we reached inside the house Trent closed the door behind us as the warmth of the house sank into us like a blanket.

Sue and Macy ran upstairs to what I assumed was Macy's room. It felt awkward and unnatural to be with Trent. Not just that but I was stabbing Shawn in the back. Worse, I was stabbing myself in the back. I should loathe Trent, not be having a conversation with him. I shouldn't be in his house in the first place, I should have taken Suzie and left when I had the chance. But I couldn't do that now. I had apparently been his assignment. Now I just want--no--need to know who the teacher was. Who the person was that assigned me to Trent.

"You're going to tell me." I said to him as he walked away from the back of the house. I followed after him as he led us deeper into his home. We reached the large room with open space and a large TV.  He took a seat on one of the sofas. I remember this as his living room and now that I don't have to worry about Trent I took in my surroundings better. Everything had an old timely fashion to it. But it looked nice and it wasn't at all terrible. I decided on taking a seat to the furthest couch from Trent. As I sat down the cusions were so soft I sank into them. "Where are your parents?" I asked.

He shrugged and grabbed the TV remote, "Out."

"Great." I muttered sarcastically. Once Trent found a station he wanted to watch I kept going, "So...explain the whole assignment thing to me."

"No."

"Yes."

"You're annoying."

"I get that a lot." I shrugged and layed back sinking deeper into the couch. "Now tell me."

"Pass."

"Whatever," I wasn't going to let it drop but I didn't say anything for a couple seconds. I yawned and checked my phone for the time, "I'll be right back." He didn't acknowledge me. He just kept watching his TV show like he was some sort of zombie. When I realized he wasn't going to ask where I was going, I answered more for myself than him, "I'm gonna go ask Macy how she knew about the cuffs. Might get a good story from her."

Trent glared at me, "I really hate you."

I smiled kindly, "Feelings mutal."

"No you misunderstand," he shifted slightly so he was facing me, "I hate you. First, you humiliated me. Second, you turned one of my friends against me then, his brothers who were also my friends, hate me also. Third, anywhere I go you're there. I can't get a break from you. Not even in sports. Worst part is you have me looking like the bad guy-"

"Maybe because you are." I interrupted.

He kept going, "No you're literally ruining my life. I'm considered even more of a jerk than I was in the beginning of the year. Before you I was just the player, now I'm the asshole. All because of you."

I laughed at this, "You're wrong."

He frowned, his glare stabbing into me like icicles. "Like hell I am."

"You are," I continued, "Whoever assigned you to me, it's their fault. If they had never suggested me I'd have never handcuffed you to your bed. And all that comes after that, is your fault for holding a grudge. Your problem is you're so caught up in the anger you don't stop to think."

Trent concentrated for a moment. He knew I was partially correct. More even that he was the bad guy. He started everything by playing a game with me, but unlike him I had won. After his humiliation, Trent focused on Shawn. He turned his attention to one of the Parris brothers because they have more power than a little nobody like myself. But he had made a mistake, he had targeted someone with to much power. Trent had miscalculated the fact that everyone would side with Shawn, including his brother's. His mind was demented to think I was the one with the blame, when in reality he was the one that was to blame for. "No," Trent finally said, "He didn't know you would pull a move like that."

"He?"

Trent ignored my question, "It couldn't be his fault because he didn-"

"This he you're talking about," I said, "When he found out what happened did he defend you?"

Trent looked down at his hands and anger shot up his face. "No," Trent stood up and pushed his fingers through his hair, "What a mother fu-"

"Who is it?" I interrupted trying to get the answer out of him. "And explain the whole assign thing. There's no point in protecting him if he didn't take your side."

He paced around the living room hatred shown in his eyes as he tried to figure out what to do. I could understand if he's mad at me, but at the same time he has no right to be, seeing to that I just helped him solve a mystery in his head. "My friend," Trent began, "He assigned me to you. Every year we pick a victim and get assigned one. If your goal to get the victim is succesful you earn five points. If you're successful with getting your assignment you earn ten."

"This whole points thing is disgusting Trent." My eyebrows were knitted together and I looked at him in disgust.

"You'd be surprised how many guys at our school play this game." He added before continuing, "The difference is, no one knows who your assignment is. But...my friend. He gave me very...detailed instructions."

I shifted awkwardly in the cushion.

"Ew not like that." Trent said when he looked at my grave expression. "I mean he told me to do something different."

"You're not helping your situation." I said fidgeting with my thumbs. Something different? What's that suppose to mean?

Trent groaned in frustration, "Alright. He said I couldn't tell anyone. Not even the people he trusts the most. He said I had to act like you were my victim, that way no one would know who my assignment was. But that's the weird thing, he wanted me to tell everyone you were my victim. That's never been done. And he made me act. Like act that it was my idea."

I thought it over trying to understand Trent's confusing words. So he was acting like I was his victim, but he was told to act that way. To play along like it was his idea. "And your friend?" I asked.

"What about him?"

"What'd he do? Like did he act surprised? Or I don't know. What did he do?"

Trent shrugged and thought his words carefully. "He acted just as bewildered as everyone else."

"Do I know him?"

He sighed, "Yeah probably."

Think Tori, I thought to myself, Who hates me enough to do this? Who would find humor in this game? What kind of person would like to put me through that? It all clicked in my head. There was only one person that not only would find that funny but would have enough connections with Trent to influence to do it. I looked up at Trent, "Does his name start with the letter B?

Trent looked at me. Although he didn't speak, the answer was clear in his face. Anger bubbled up inside me as I realized it was true. Blake stooped to low this time, I didn't even know people could be that selfish. That uncaring about someone else, how could he do that to me? How on earth could someone be so stubborn and heartless to do that? "I agreed because-"

"Save it Trent." I snapped at him as I stood up angrily, "I don't care that he's Blake Parris. He's an asshole that I hope he rots in hell because that is complete bull crap!"

He shook his head, "Not really. I was just shocked when Blake said not to tell Cole or Shawn. They apparently weren't in on it."

I wanted to throw something. I don't care what but I needed to get my anger out and talking to Trent, who is still a jerk, didn't help my situation. It just made me want to punch him. "I don't care. It's dumb and you're a pervert to do that! Play girls like they're a game! This isn't football Trent. This isn't soccer. And when you get AIDs one day everyone is going to laugh right in your face for being stupid."

"Wow you're really upset," I heard him mutter under his breath.

"I'm past upset and if you keep at it I'm going to punch in the face."

"Calm down, Jesus. He just thought it'd be funny."

"It's hysterical." I said sarcastically. Of course I was mad. At first it was at Trent, because I was his game to play. But now I find out it was all Blake's idea. That's how I got in Trent's radar, how else could he have known about me. I was a nobody, all I do is sit behind him in chemistry and listen to him complain to his partner to do the work.

But that didn't excuse Trent for all the wrong doings. Sure it was Blake's idea, but even with that Trent went along with it. He also complained about me on the soccer team, has given me hate filled looks since our incident. Not to forget the pain he put Shawn in. If Shawn knew about this, there was no way he'd forgive me. He'd probably think I was a traitor. Like I betrayed him or something. But I would have to tell him, it was all an incident of me being here.

Trent started laughing out of nowhere. I gave him a hard glare as he erupted into laughter. "It's funny," he said causing me to stare harder, "He used to tell his brother's everything. Now they barely talk. And when they do it sounds weird. For once they sound like actual siblings and not the close brother's I'm used to seeing."

I frowned, "What?"

"Yeah," Trent continued, "Ever since their dad died they've been super close. Looking out for each other and just wanting to be with each other to hold in their brotherhood I guess. It's weird. I have an idea that they needed each other to keep themselves in place."

I fell back down on the sofa and rubbed my forehead. "Yeah I can see how that worked. Shawn made the smiles, Cole was the peacekeeper, and Blake was the one that sought out for revenge and I guess the guns for when they were needed. You have all sorts of different personality's blended together. They sound like the perfect couple type thing."

Trent snapped his fingers and pointed his index at me, "Exactly. They're really close, always have been. But what happened this year?" He paced away from the coffee table in the middle of the room. I knew exactly what was wrong with this year but I wasn't sure what Trent was getting at. "This year, Blake only helps them when it's necessary, not when he wants too. Shawn has completely turned around, whatever gave him the urge to stand up to me is out of my knowledge."

"So you're saying that Blake shifted away from them but Shawn shifted away from Blake, is that it?" The way Trent was talking was confusing me. We kept hearing some playful figgles from upstairs and the girls shouting the others name.

Well at least Suzie is having fun.

"Sort of," Trent moved in behind a sofa and put his hands on it, "Shawn completely changed with that new girl-"

"Emily." I interjected quickly as Trent continued.

"-Cole was never really much of player. He was just not like us. And Blake is just the same minus the talking with his brothers. Frankly I think something happened that caused all this." I tried to hide the fact that I knew what it was. Trent was to busy staring off into space like he was saying the most brilliant thing in the world. "They used to be close," He said, "Like I mean, I've never seen any brothers close like that. Not even twins or triplets."

"I'm close to my sister," I said with a shrug.

He raised an eyebrow at me, "Oh really?"

I nodded.

"So you never get the urge to rip her head off?"

I thought about it and realized he was right. As much as I love Suzie there are those moments when I feel very irritated with her. Or stressed because she can become very annoying. "Yeah but that's with all siblings."

"That's true but they never fought. Ever. At least not at school. They'd joke around and make fun of each other but we all knew it was a joke."

"So you're saying they're fighting?"

"No."

I groaned and threw my hands in the air, "You're confusing me so much right now!"

He laughed softly, "I'm like that. Everything makes sense in my head but not in reality. In case you haven't noticed.

"I have noticed."

Trent walked over and took a seat beside me. "You're not the hideous witch I made you out to be."

I rolled my eyes, "Duh I don't have warts or moles. Or a giant honker."

"You're still cocky and annoying. Not to mention I still hate you."

I turned my head so I was facing Trent. He was still a jerk but away from the school he was surely different. Nicer, but a jerk nevertheless. Not only that but he had a messed up mind in my opinion. He needs a serious girl to commit to him and show him what right is from wrong, that is if he has the ability to actually love. "Feelings mutual." I said smiling at him, one of my five year old smiles.

He shook his head giving me a glare but there was a small smile tugging at his lips, "So what is this?"

"What is what?"

"What are we?"

"Definitely not your friend." I almost laughed at the idea. There was no way I'd ever be friends with this kid. Not only with what he did to me, even if it wasn't his idea, but what he did to Shawn as well. The way he cried over when his heart was broken, broke my heart also. The only one that was like Trent was Blake, maybe that's why they were such good friends.

Blake was the only one that could possibly think of a girl as a game or a tool. But his idea with Trent and I was going to get him a big kick in the balls. I was not, in no way on earth or heaven, going to let him get away with it. I don't care if his brothers decided to side with him, hopefully not considering they weren't let in on the secret either, but I will have a big fight with Blake about this. I can't even deny the fact that we will be fighting, it was inevitable at this point.

"But are we enemy's?" Trent asked.

"Yes."

"If we truly hated each other we would have killed each other by now."

I had to admit he was right. I had wanted to kill him, I even slapped him which felt so good. But he was nice afterwards, almost understanding that I have a loathe for him. "Why were you nice?"

He shrugged, "I know you hate me. And I know a lot of other people do too. But I guess you're different in a way. The Trips are interested in you. I mean like, they never even mentioned a Tori Linean before this year. Not to mention I have to play soccer with you."

"So you're getting me on your good side because I know the Trips?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not entirely..." He sighed deeply. "I also kinda...in a weird way...respect you. Which is totally abnormal of me because I don't respect any girls at all."

"Ain't that the truth." I smirked and shook my head. "You treat them like dogs."

He pointed a finger at my nose, "Really hot and sexy dogs."

I slapped his hand away from my face. Not comfortable with him pointing at me as he said those words. "Whatever. I still think you're demented."

"I'm dented?" He said confused.

"You have a small vocabulary don't you?"

"I used the word abnormal I think that counts for something right?"

I laughed, "Yeah when you put ab in front of normal."

"Then it makes sense," He said like a light bulb just went off over his head, "I have abs and I'm sort of normal."

I shook my head at his response. His vocabulary was just as small as Blake's. Shawn would probably say something stupid or pretend he doesn't know, but that he does on purpose. Deep down I'm pretty sure Shawn is somewhat smart, maybe some other side of him we don't get to know because he likes his funny side. Cole I wasn't even going to talk about because just thinking of him as a lawyer scared me. What if we all got together one Christmas and suddenly he starts pulling words out like gasconading or saxicolous. His mom isn't like that, but he's a Trip. He has a right to be out of the ordinary. "Just don't even try Trent."

"You're such a..." He had a grin on his face and let the sentence hang lose.

I could not be friends with Trent Michaels. It seemed that the boys weren't the only ones with a mask either. At school Trent is more of a jerk and tries to show his hatred for me a lot more clearly. But he just admitted to respecting me. I never thought a player like Trent would ever respect anyone, maybe his mother but that was still exceptional. I didn't believe he'd respect his father either, he might just think of himself superior to his dad. "Why do you respect me?" I asked after a minute.

He sighed, "That's a dumb question. I thought it was obvious."

"Nope. Remember? Everything makes sense in your head but not in reality."

"Well I respect you because you stood up for yourself. As much as I hate you, you didn't let me walk all over you. You figured it out and you defended yourself. Definitely not like the other girls I've gotten into."

"Your choice of words is in the end is disturbing," Was all I could say. I never felt someone like Trent would have the mental capability to respect someone. But he was right, I was not going to let anyone walk all over me like I was their persoanal mat.

Trent stuck his hand out for me to take but I just stared at it. "I'm Trent Michaels," He said, "Jerk, player, and sex addict."

I glanced back up at him to see if he was serious. His eyes said he was but I hesitated. I took his hand and shook it limply, "Tori Linean. And we are not friends."

He only grinned, "Frenemies?"

My eyebrows knitted as I thought it over. The guys would reject the idea. And surely I'd have to explain what this was between Trent and I. Shawn might even be mad at me for a while, but that was ok because I helped him get his girlfriend back. Not only that but I was here having a conversation with the guy that I hate most at our school. So why is it I thought it was ok to slightly befriend him? "Forty percent friend, sixty perfect enemy." I said to him.

Tori you've lost your mind.

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

Cole's POV

"Is she gone?" Shawn whispered to me as I stood at the basement steps waiting to hear the garage door close. When I heard the familiar thump of the door closing I nodded and Shawn grinned. "Good. I'd rather talk to Blake without her around. She influences his...weird side." He shuddered causing me to shake my head with a smile.

"You're the one to be talking." I chuckled and walked down the steps where Shawn was standing. I wasn't sure what to expect telling the truth. Tori wasn't someone bad, she wasn't someone to be embarrassed of, like we had all thought in the beginning of the year. She was what I would consider, a perfect sister to us. That's maybe why I accepted her, because she had all the qualities I wanted in a sister. Not the whole idea of, Take me to the store and buy me new shoes.

I was very thankful it wasn't that.

"Would you tell the whole school?" I asked Shawn. "You know, let them know she's our step sister?"

Shawn thought about it for a second then nodded. "Yeah. I mean why not right? I've already heard rumors of us having a thing for her, which is really gross if I think about it. And also just to get it out of the way you know? I don't want to hide this from Em either. I want her to meet you guys. Like come over and have dinner with us one day."

I smiled again and hung an arm around Shawn's shoulder, "You and me both. She seems really nice."

Shawn also wrapped his around over my shoulders but gave me a grave look as we walked into the basement. "Back off man she's mine and I'm not loosing her again."

I laughed a bit. "No I gotta admit she's pretty too." I teased him, not that Em wasn't pretty but I liked making Shawn jealous. It was a side of him I had never seen, it was sometimes more entertaining than his normal self. "She's got nice eyes. And nice hair. And she's got a great smile."

Shawn punched my gut, not hard but still enough to make me lose my words. I had grunted slightly while he gave me the evil eye. "Don't even play around Cole."

"Dang..." I pulled my arm off of him and rubbed my side. "What has this girl done to you?"

He smiled and started to twirl around like a princess holding the ends of her dress. He looked like Cinderella. "It's like candy and rainbow farting unicorns are unlimited."

I raised an eyebrow and watched him carefully. "So Em makes you feel like a rainbow farting unicorn?"

He laughed, "No but I'm happy."

"Sounds like she's the man of the relationship." Blake smirked walking out the theater.

Shawn pouted like a four year old child. "Don't be deranged Blake. I'm pretty sure I have a penis."

"The way you talk about her sounds like she's got the balls though." Blake laughed loudly and it echoed in the room. I couldn't help it and started laughing myself.

Shawn glared at us with his arms crossed. "You're both despicable." He said with his Daffy the Duck voice. I missed these moments, when the three of us would hang out together. We hadn't had much time together after dad moved in with the girls. We used to hang out almost everyday. Play video games or work out while talking about everything. There was nothing I couldn't say to my brothers, I wasn't even sure if I considered them brothers. They were my best friends that I could trust with my life. But nowadays everything was crazy and weird.

"So I was thinking some boxing." Blake said jumping in front of Shawn and bouncing between foot to foot. He held his arms up to block his face but each second he'd pretend to throw a punch. "Get our minds off of things." He said the corner of his lip smiling. "I could use a break."

Shawn put his arms up but forced a smile. "I'd love to bu-"

Blake cut him off swinging his arm over Shawn who had to duck to stop being hit on the side of his head. Blake laughed, "Nice but you gotta move." He started jumping around Shawn, keeping his arms up to block anything that might be thrown at him.

"No Blake we seriously need to talk." I said. Part of me regrets it because of the way his smile fell. He was happy a second ago but now he shifted his gaze between Shawn and I. The mood in the room became tense and even Shawn looked a bit taken aback about the tension.

"Is it just me," Shawn said, "Or does anyone else feel like a truck fell on them?" Leave it to Shawn to say what's on his mind.

"What's up?" Blake asked rolling his sleeves up and crossing his arms.

"It's about Tori." I started to say. Blake's stare turned emotionless and I was afraid he'd start walking away before I had the chance to say anything. "We just think it's ok to tell everyone now."

He stood in place and I couldn't read his expression. But I didn't have to, I knew my brother. I knew what I got myself into, and to him it was like stabbing him in the back. Especially after the pact we made in the beginning of the year, we'd completely broken it. Every little part and detail was broken. And now we were going to break the biggest rule of all, but Blake isn't going to allow us to do so. He glanced at Shawn, "Is it true? You both agreed to this?"

Shawn nodded. "Yeah man, she's not that bad. And we can't keep doing this. Why are we even hiding her? It's killing her and it's killing me because I'm hiding it from Emily. We never invite friends over anymore and so every weekend is boring. If we have parties we hide her like she's a freak."

Blake laughed, "So you want everyone to know?"

"Yes." Shawn and I said simultaneously.

"Well isn't this just peachy." Blake said throwing his hands in the air. "You both care about her don't you?" We didn't deny it. Of course we cared about Tori. So we nodded. "Well you realize what will happen if everyone finds out she's our sister right?"

"Don't give me that BS Blake." I said angrily. It was enough with the lies, with the constant excuses on why not to tell everyone. I knew Blake partially wanted everyone to know, but something held him back and it was hard to understand what it was.

"No really think about it." Blake started walking between Shawn and I with a smile. It wasn't a kindly smile, it creeped me out a bit knowing he was smiling at me the way he was. He used to only smile like that to people he hated. It was on of his, I'm going to kill you one day kind of smile. "With everyone knowing who she is, she'll be a new target. You think Tori is ready is ready for that kind of attention? Girls will 'befriend' her trying to get to us. Guys will try harder to get in her pants because she means something to you two. Do you really want that to be her new life? We've been hiding her for a half a year and you want to just quit now? She's better off not telling anyone, something as big as the Parris brothers having a stepsister is going to run through the school like a wild fire."

His gaze was deadly, but I knew exactly how to hold it. I just returned it making sure to keep my eyes on his without backing down. Yet his words started to sink in and I sadly began to realize how right he was. How dangerous it might be to admit who Tori Linean was to us. I could imagine some of the girls for sure will use her to get to us. Maybe when Tori invites them they shove her away and try to get our attention. Some guys might even stoop as low as wanting to have sex with her, or even using her to try and befriend us.

"What about her friend?" Shawn asked as I tried to find my wording. "Mark. I think he has a right to know."

"Yeah she just at least wants to tell her best friend." I said.

"And Emily." Shawn added quickly.

Blake shook his head, "Mark is friends with that girl Cali right? She won't be able to keep it a secret. She'll tell everyone."

"Not if Tori talks to her." I tried fighting back. Cali was one of Tori's friends, she'd listen to Tori for sure. But Blake had a point, she wasn't very trustworthy when it came to gossip. If Tori told Mark I knew for sure she'd tell her friend Cali. Then the small spark of fire will ablaze and like Blake said, it would spread like a wild fire.

"Please," Blake smirked, "That girl will do anything for the attention."

"How would you know?" Shawn asked awkwardly. I think we all knew the answer to the question.

"Because I slept with her, why else?" Blake shrugged like it was nothing. My mouth dropped open and I looked between Shawn and Blake. Shawn had the same expression as me as we stared wide mouthed at our brother.

"Are-are you crazy?!" I shouted.

"Dude! Tori is going to murder you! That was her friend!"

Blake shrugged again and lent against a wall, "I don't care. Tori can't control my life. Besides her friend doesn't want anyone to know she's slept with me, which I find weird since every girl likes to brag about sleeping with me."

"You've gone insane." I muttered. "Past insane! Completely-"

"Bonkers!" Shawn added for me. "This is crazy Blake you have to stop."

He narrowed his eyes at Shawn. "Stop?" He asked bewildered, "What do you mean stop?"

"Like stop sleeping with girls and try to have a serious relationship. You don't understand how it feels Blake."

"I don't want to understand what it feels like." Blake snapped harshly. "Frankly I don't care Shawn. It's the same all to me. What's the point in loving someone if they'll just leave you in the end?"

"Em won't leave." Shawn muttered more to himself than anyone else.

"Yeah she will," Blake said, "You really think you'll both get into the same college? You have half a year with her, I suggest you just say 'fuck it' and do whatever you want." I didn't know what to say, there was no way I could just intervene. So I just stood by the side and watched carefully to see where this conversation would be headed.

"You know what!" Shawn suddenly yelled louder than normal. We heard some footsteps upstairs and our mothers voice calling down the staircase to see if we were alright. Not entirely but we all answered with a yes and once we heard her footsteps disappear into a different part of the house Shawn kept going. "What are you going to do Blake?" He asked. "Get a girl pregnant and then marry her? Or are you seriously just going to stay single the rest of your life?"

Blake didn't reply immediately. He took his time as he thought the question over. "I'll marry whoever I get pregnant first, but it better be a boy. If I don't get any girl pregnant, then yes. Single life for me."

Shawn ran his hands through his hair and started to pull like he was trying to take the hair of his head. "You're so annoying! You have no heart!"

Blake looked at him coldly, "Why don't you run to Tori instead? She'll probably love to listen to all you're complaining. Seeing that she's a better sister than I ever was a brother."

"You know what your problem is?" Shawn asked and I moved beside him grabbing his arm.

"Calm down." I whispered to him softly. Something was going to happen if these two didn't decide to take a chill pill and calm themselves down.

"No." Shawn yanked his arm away from my hand and took a step towards Blake, "I was always your little bitch wasn't I? Always doing what you did and you liked that. You had a dog that followed you. Well what I learned from Tori? Be more independent. And you hate that. We all know you were dad's favorite, ever since we were kids. Maybe that's why I stuck with you Blake, because after dad died you were my connection to him. But you know what I realize now? You were never a brother to me, you thought you were my dad. Well news flash Blake, you're not! So stop acting like you are!"

It looked like something snapped inside of Blake and he swung his right arm letting his clenched fist connect with Shawn's face. Shawn stumbled back and lost his balance falling onto his bottom. He held his nose in his hand and pulled back only to find some blood rushing out. He stared at his hand that was slowly being covered up by more blood that was leaking out of his right nostril. Then he looked up at Blake who seemed just as shocked as the rest of us. I rushed to Shawn's side and tried to tilt his head back but he wouldn't let me. He just kept his glare on Blake. "You'll never be half the man dad was."

I looked up at my brother who held his fist in front of his chest like he couldn't believe what he had just done. There was anger, regret, and even hurt reflected off his eyes but I didn't have to look at him to know that he knew he screwed up. His ways of hiding is emotions failed and waves just seemed to be rolling off of him. He stood there and stared at his fist for five seconds before he let his arm go limp to his side. He started walking to the steps that led back up to the house, "The answers no. No one will know about Tori."

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

I handed Shawn another bag of ice and he placed it on his cheek. His nostril was filled with paper towel as he lay his head back on the cushion of the sofa trying to stop some of the bleeding. Blake had disappeared into the cave we all call his room and from within all we heard was some loud music. Mom and Dad have walked by a couple times but we kept lying and telling them that it was an accident because we were playing around. Maybe we didn't snitch because Blake is our brother, or the fact that no one likes a tattle-tale.

"My face is having a period." Shawn groaned dramatically.

"It's not that bad suck it up."

"Not that bad?" Shawn almost shouted. I took a seat across from him and propped my legs up on the arm of the couch. "There's a watermelon in my cheek and my nose is gushing blood like Niagara Falls."

"Don't be such a drama queen."

He smirked, "More like drama king. I'm pretty sure I have balls."

"Dude what if a guy didn't have balls?" I asked randomly.

Shawn shrugged, "He'd have no weak spot. So that's good. But he'd also be considered a girl. Like...a large man lady...let's name her Helga."

I laughed, "Helga?"

He smiled, "Why not? A pet man lady named Helga. So gonna add that to the list of Things I want that don't exist but will surely have when I get older and the world is different list."

"That's an insanely long title..." I added.

"You can call it T-I-W-T-D-E-B-W-S-H-W-I-G-O-A-T-W-I-D list."

"How'd you do that?" I was a bit shocked Shawn had gotten every letter right on one try. I would have needed time to think about every word and then every letter.

He knitted his eyebrows at me like I had just asked the stupidest question on Earth. "Did you think I made that list up right now? I've had it for ages." I shook my head at him looking down at legs. "I also have the Things I'll be able to buy list or T-I-B-A-T-B-L. Also the If I get this when I'm older I'll surely have a fit like a little child in Christmas list and you can abbreviate that as-"

"Yeah yeah just the first letter of every word." I shook my hand around to show I knew what he was talking about. Shawn was a very...special child. Even though a couple minutes ago his brother punched him in the face, he was still acting like a complete doofus.

He only shook his head, "It's impossible for you to understand. Only my mind understands. Just forget I mentioned it." He went back to relaxing, his head hung back and the his hands pressed the ice onto his cheek. I pulled out my phone and started playing a few games. I was not going to go upstairs and talk to Blake. I can understand why he doesn't want anyone to know about Tori and I do care about her, which is why I don't want to put her in that position. But at the same time it was stupid that Blake is so self conscious that he can't tell anyone about Tori. "Hey Cole?" Shawn muttered underneath his hand. His eyes were shut and he looked a bit tired.

"Yeah?" I didn't look up, instead I kept swiping my finger across the screen.

"My head hurts..." He grumbled. "Could you do me a favor?"

"Do you need an aspirin?" I finally looked up and saw him shake his head.

"Could you go to Starbucks and get me a chocolate chip frappuccuino." He opened his eyes and looked at me pleading softly, "Please. I'll be your best friend."

"You're my brother how much closer can we get." I smirked and put my phone back in my pocket.

"Well I could move to the couch and sit beside you. Then we'd be real close." He wiggled his eyebrows.

I shook my head in disapproval. "Save it for Emily please."

He grinned. "Yes sir. If you could please hand me the phone so I can call her."

"What are you going to tell her?" If Shawn told her he'd been punched in the face by his own brother, then Em will probably become suspicious and want to know what had been the cause of that punch. Then Shawn would have to explain, it just all sounds like a big mess.

"I just want to talk to her." He looked at me confused. "Don't worry I won't tell her what Blake did. I'd actually rather just forget about it."

I nodded and stood up, stretching as I did so. "So one chocolate chip frap. Anything else?"

He thought for a moment, "The little lemon cakes they have."

"You going to pay me back?" I asked. He laughed so hard tears started forming in the corners of his eyes. That answered my question.

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

It was freezing when I got out of my car. The line at the drive thru was so long, I much rather have gone in the shop and gotten everything there and leave. But when I stepped out of my car the wind felt like cold needles poking through my jacket and hitting my skin. I quickly jogged to the entrance of Starbucks, keeping my hands safely secured in my pockets so they wouldn't freeze.

I pulled the door open and shivered as the warmth from inside hugged me. The smell of coffee beans and the noise of the machines whirling filled the air. There were a few people sitting around with their laptops, probably finishing any assignments while they drank their coffee. I walked up to the counter and got in the line of two people. When it was my turn I placed the order. "A lemon cake and chocolate chip frap," For Shawn, "And a hot chocolate." For me. Why Shawn wanted an icy drink in such cold weather was out of my expertise.

"Alrighty," The lady said, "Name please."

"Parris." I said to her. She scribbled it down with a sharpie and told me the price. I paid her in cash and walked over to the other side of the counter waiting for my order to come out. I laid back and yawned deeply. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something familiar and turned my head. My lips curled up into a smile as I saw a little strawberry blonde drinking some coffee while typing at her laptop.

How many times have I run into this girl? Three? Tori asked me if I had a crush on someone, it wouldn't exactly be a crush but I found this girl attractive. I was slightly creeped out myself that I ran into her a third time, at a different store too. So I walked over and took a seat across from her. Her eyes lifted up and I smirked, "Jodee right?"

She stopped typing and stared at me for a second, "Oh my god are you stalking me?"

"I was about to ask the same thing." It was the same girl I saw from the sport's store with Tori. Same girl who had opened a door while I rammed into it at Hollister. Same one who had lied about her name being Julie when it was actually Jodee. How much weirder can this get?

Jodee pulled the notebook that was at her side and started to place it in her backpack. "Stop following me."

I just kept my gaze on her. "Do you work here too?"

She gave me a slight glare, "I was told not to talk to strangers."

"I'm hardly a stranger. This is the third time we cross paths." I laid back in the chair and crossed my arms. "It's not everyday you keep finding a pretty girl wherever you go."

"I was told not to talk to stalkers either."

"If I were a stalker would I be able to do this," I stood up and started doing the robot. At first she just sat in her chair a bit lost of words but she snapped out of it and continued to pack her things making me laugh. "No but seriously," I said to her, "Calm down I'm not going to hurt you."

"I'm just really creeped out considering this is the third time I've met you." She said to me. "You ruined my day I was trying to work."

"Well keep working I won't bother you." I sat back down and re-crossed my arms, she gave me a weird look. Finally she started to take her pencil out of her backpack and pulled out the same notebook as well. She looked back at her laptop screen and started typing away. Her eyes were green like mine, but I liked hers better. They reminded me of the grass in the spring. "Do you remember my name?" I asked.

"Thought you said you weren't going to bother me." She answered without taking her eyes off the screen.

"It's a simple question."

"No. I don't remember."

"I think you're lying."

She chuckled. "I keep running into an attractive stalker and now he's calling me a liar. Well today is interesting."

I grinned, "You think I'm attractive?"

"Well you're not hideous if that's what you mean."

"Well I thi-" I was interrupted by a young girl at the counter.

"Paris?" She said. I sighed inwardly but came up and took my drinks with the small bag of lemon cake. I know I should probably have left and gone home to give Shawn his drink and cake. But I didn't want to now that I had found Jodee. So I went back and took a seat in front of her shoving Shawn's drink to the side and sipping on my hot chocolate.

"I thought your name was Cole." Jodee said. "Not Paris."

"I knew you knew my name!" I said happily. She blushed slightly but kept her eyes on the screen as she typed away. "And no. My last name is Parris. They pronounce it wrong. It's parr like in golf, then is. So parr-is."

It was always a misunderstanding for everyone to call us Paris. But we aren't named after the city in France, the extra R adds emphasis in our name. Though my brothers and I have gotten used to some people calling us the Paris Brothers. Only the school and outside friends and family really know it's pronounced Parr-is.

Jodee just nodded and started typing again. I took a another sip of my hot chocolate trying not to burn my tongue. She had a chocolate chip cookie by her side and I didn't think she'd mind if I took a little piece off. So I reached over and took a bit of her cookie. "No!" She shrieked and grabbed my hand biting onto my wrist.

"Ow." I pulled my hand back and rubbed my wrist where I saw indentions of her teeth. "Did you just bite me?"

She shrugged like it was nothing, "I don't like people touching my cookies. I love chocolate chip cookies."

I shook my head even though I was smiling. This girl was just something else. "Well then..." She kept typing and after a minute I got bored and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Work." She replied hastily.

"For what job?"

"Hollister." She said before adding in, "I quit the sports store. They were all jerks."

I nodded a bit in understanding. I had a job once, but decided to quit because the pay wasn't good compared to other jobs. But since sophomore year I haven't had a job. Part of me decided I'd have one when I went to college, to occupy myself. But frankly, I just depended on my mom for cash. "How old are you?" I asked Jodee.

"Don't you know already?" She looked up at me a playful smile. "You're my stalker aren't you? Doesn't that mean you have my medical records and birth certificate?"

I stretched my arms out trying to play along. "Well I find it easier to stalk someone if they think you're not a stalker. Therefor I ask questions."

She rolled her eyes. "I wonder how many girls you've stalked."

"Well you're by far the prettiest out of all of them." I smiled and her cheeks turned a slight red. It was cute when she tried to duck her head in her laptop so I wouldn't see. "Anyways," I asked again, "How old are you?"

"Nineteen." It caught me slightly off guard. I didn't think she was a year older than me, maybe a year younger but she didn't look nineteen. She looked seventeen but definitely not like a college girl. "You?"

"Seventeen. Turning eighteen in January."

She looked up at me with pouty lips, "That's adorable. You're a cute little high schooler."

I rolled my eyes. "So what college are you in?" I wanted to change the subject before she started treating me like a child.

"I'm not in one at the moment." She must have taken a year off. Gotten a year away from school, a year off sounds really nice but without school I wouldn't know what to do. It's been leading everyone their whole lives, and even with homeschooling you're preparing yourself for college or to get a job.

I decided changing the subject again. "What's in there?" I pointed to her notebook that was at her side.

"You really like questions don't you?"

"Well you're not asking any."

"I just did."

I kept my mouth in a straight line in slight annoyance. "Could you just answer?"

She sighed and stopped typing putting her laptop aside and grabbing her drink between her hands staring me straight in the eye. "If I answer can I ask something?"

I nodded, "Yeah sure."

"It's a journal where I keep poems and letters. Poems when I'm procrastinating or just need to reflect on actions or things that have happened recently. And letters to just get all my feelings down on words without having to tell the person up front." It almost sounded like a diary but at the same time something more to just keep you in place. "Now my question." She said before I could respond. "Why are you here? Like why are you talking to me?"

I thought it over. Why was I talking to her? It was just because I felt interested in her. She was different in a way I didn't understand. Maybe because she wouldn't throw herself at me like many of the girls at school, or because she doesn't know who I am to some of the people in this town. She didn't treat me like royalty, which a lot of people do, she treated me...like a regular guy. And it was nice. I didn't feel the pressure and it was relaxing and calming at the same time. "Can I draw something?" I asked her. "In your journal?"

She gave me a look but I took her pencil and pulled her notebook in my lap so she couldn't get it. I flipped to the closest blank page and started drawing. "Cole give it back." She whined and tried to reach over, "Seriously it's not funny."

"Hang on." I scribbled about one more minute before I looked at my drawing and showed it to Jodee. "See? It's us." I had drawn two little stick figures, a girl and boy holding hands. With the words, Why can't we be friends? Written across the top of them like it was a rainbow.

She stared at it for a second, trying to keep a straight face but it slowly caved in and became a smile. "First the weird stares at the sports store. Then the awkward questions in Hollister, and now a creepy drawing in Starbucks."

I shrugged and looked at the drawing. "I like it." I signed my name at the bottom before handing Jodee her notebook. She looked down at the drawing for a second before closing it up and looking back at me. For a second there we just smiled at each other. I wasn't sure what to say anymore, it wasn't awkward, it was tranquil. "So what are you drinking?" I didn't really know what else to say.

Jodee seemed confused for a second before she looked down at the cup she was holding. "Oh...just some Caramel Frap with extra caramel. It's what I always get here." She then looked at my hot chocolate and Shawn's frappuccuino. "You?"

I held my drink up. "Hot chocolate for me. And that's for my brother."

She nodded, "Right I remember you said those two guys were your brothers."

"They are." I pulled out my wallet and took out the picture of all three of us on our knees with our football gear on. Call me old fashion but I always carry around pictures of my family. Now I just needed to add Tori, Sue, and dad so they wouldn't be left out. I placed the picture in front of Jodee and pointed at each of us. "That's Blake, Shawn, and that's me."

Her eyebrows knitted together and looked at it carefully. She pointed at Shawn, "His smile looks like he's crazy so I'm going to guess he's the funny one." Then she turned to Blake, "His eyes look cold and hard. He's a jerk and player." Finally her finger pointed at me, "And you just look really sweet and nice."

I stared at her in disbelief. "How did you..."

She shrugged, "I know my guys."

"Could you like tell my future also?"

Jodee laughed and it made me smile. "No but I can just tell. Anyways, you three don't look like brothers."

"We're well known." I added with a shrug.

"Really?" She asked lifting her eyebrows. "How?"

"Have you never heard of The Trips? Or the Parris brothers?" I didn't want to sound cocky, I was just shocked she had never heard of it. Like ever ever. Usually people don't know what we look like, but they have at least heard of us.

"No..." She hesitated a bit. "Why? Am I suppose to know?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Just forget I mentioned it."

She seemed to have thought it over. Like she was trying to recall if she had heard of that name. I didn't really want her too, I liked how she didn't know."Well if it makes you feel better. I only moved here a couple months ago." She finally said.

"Where from?"

"California."

"Bet you miss the beach." I totally did. Every summer we'd always go down to the beach and try to catch some waves. It was a family tradition to do it. But this summer we hadn't gone because mom was preparing for her wedding. It would have been nice though, to just go for a while. The salt water helping us cool off in the hot sun.

"Yeah I miss it a lot. But it's ok. I'll get used to it."

Before I could say anything else my phone started ringing and I pulled it out of my pocket. I read the caller ID and answered the call. "Yes Shawn?" I asked. Jodee pulled her laptop back in front of her and took a sip from her drink before biting a piece off her cookie.

"Why'd you call?" Shawn asked.

"What do you mean? You called me."

"Um...no you didn't." Shawn said from the other side of the line. "You called me."

"Bro my phone started ringing and I picked it up."

"Wrong again. My phone started ringing and I picked it up."

"What are you talki-"

He interrupted me. "Anyways thanks for calling since you still haven't brought my frappuccuino! Did you die or something!"

I pulled the phone away from my ear and Jodee laughed a bit even though she was looking at her laptop. "I got side tracked." I answered casually. He was shouting so loudly anyone in a three foot radius around me could hear him.

"With what?!" He shouted again. "Did a truck trample your car?"

"No..."

"Was there a grizzly in a tutu on the road?"

"No..."

"Did a meteor land in front of you and a space baby came out and you had to save it before government officials arrived so you snuck him into your car and now you're taking him to a secret hideout where you keep your make-believe dragons?"

"What the--no! That didn't happen either." He just let his imagination run wild that time. Or maybe not, I wasn't sure if I can compare his imagination to his sense of logic. "What's a make-believe dragon?"

He ignored my question. "So why on earth is my frappuccuino not in my hands at this moment?!"

"I told you," I said again but this time I looked at Jodee. Her eyes were concentrated on the computer screen, and her eyebrows were pinched together as she was reading something. "I got side tracked."

"Just...just be here soon. I need my frappuccuino."

"God calm down with the frappuccuino."

Shawn sighed deeply, "Never send a Cole to do a Shawn's job."

I laughed, "I'll be there as soon as I can be."

"Don't get side tracked again."

"No promises."

"You should probably go." Jodee said to me.

"Yes Cole you totally sho-" Shawn stopped in mid-sentence. "Back up was that a girl! Can she hear me? Hello!"

I face palmed and Jodee giggled. "Shawn shut u-"

"Cole has to have mangos every time he showers!" He shouted so loudly I thought the whole shop would hear. "It's apparently a very nice smelling shampoo. Oh but he's single! And he's not so hardheaded! I'm sure you can give him a hard head aren't I right!"

"Shawn!" My face heated up but I wasn't the only one. Jodee turned red and looked down at her keyboard.

Shawn's laughter was heard on the other side of the phone. Before we heard a different voice. Blake's shouting was distant but still well heard, "What the hell happened?"

Shawn groaned, "Got to go. He's back. Cole hurry up and get your butt over here!"

"Yeah yeah." I said before hanging up. "So um..." I said awkwardly to Jodee, "That was Shawn."

"He's funny." She said with a small smile. Of course he was funny, but that was embarrassing. A classic Shawn move though. "So you shower with mangos?"

"Hey it's a really nice smelling shampoo." I tried making a point but there was no arguing myself out of this one. I do have this obsession with my mango shampoo. Just because I always have a small bottle of it in my gym locker so whenever I go shower after sports I can use it. I was really upset when Suzie had given it to the neighbors, it's not a cheap shampoo either.

She just rolled her eyes. "Well you better be heading off. Or your brother might kill you."

I looked over at his drink and realized it had melted, but his cake was intact. "Yeah...but before I go." I smiled at Jodee and sang softly, "Why can't we be friends?" She covered her eyes under her hand and shook her head. "Pretty please give me your number."

She sighed before taking a pen out and writing her number on a small sheet of paper. She then handed it to me and smiled. I got up and took all my stuff before starting my way to the door. "Hey Cole?" I heard her say so I turned to look at her. She studied me for a second before talking. "We have an opening for a job at Hollister. Sure you're not nineteen but I can put in a good word and get you a job?" I grinned and she quickly added, "I mean only if you want to of course."

"What will I have to do?"

"You just have to apply, answer some questions, then model." She shrugged, "Like I said you're not hideous so why not."

"I'll give you call about it." I winked before exiting the shop and heading for my car. It was still super cold so the moment I got in the car I turned the heat up and warmed my hands. Then I took the small sheet of paper Jodee had handed me and added her to my phone. Once I had her added I sent her a text.

Missing you already Jojo.

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

When I got home the first thing I heard was shouting coming from the inside. I had gotten side tracked again and now Shawn's frap was completely melted and looked like milk with pieces of chocolate on the bottom. Dad's car wasn't in the driveway but I kept hearing Tori's voice inside the house, which brought me back to the constant yelling I kept hearing.

I opened the door and found Tori and Blake yelling. My first thought was, Where are mom and dad? My second thought was, Why are they fighting again? Then my last and third thought was, Why is my USA soccer team shirt shrunken into dwarf size?

"It was an accident Blake!" Tori shouted at him. Shawn stood in between them trying to sort everything out.

"What happened?" I asked putting everything down on the kitchen counter. "And where's mom and dad?"

"Mom had to go shopping for some food at the store. And Bill had to go take Suzie to the doctor because she sprang her ankle at her friends house." Shawn answered. He then looked at his frap and frowned, "It's melted!"

I was only worrying about Suzie. It was probably why Tori was home early, because Suzie got hurt at her friends house. It made me wonder what happened though. I snapped out of it and looked at Shawn and his angry face. "Sorry I got-"

"Side tracked I know." Shawn muttered something under his breath but I didn't really care.

"You did it on purpose!" Blake hollered at Tori.

"No I didn't! I was being rushed it wasn't my fault!"

"You had laundry duty!"

Shawn choked back some laughter, "Duty..."

Blake turned to Shawn. "Oh grow up!"

"Stop yelling and tell me what's going on." I shouted over all of them.

"Look at your shirt and figure it out yourself." Blake tossed me my national soccer shirt. It was shrunken way to small to fit me. It could probably barely fit a large dog. I wasn't even going to lie to myself, I was disappointed. It was one of the few shirts that I cared about because I've had it for years.

"It was an accident." Tori strained her words and it was hard not to believe her. "Suzie was rushing me to hurry up and I was feeling pressured. So I just clicked the button without looking. I swear Cole I didn't mean to."

When I looked up at her I saw how sincere she was. How she knew she had messed up but wishes she could go back. "I know..." I found myself saying. "It's ok we all make mistakes."

"Yeah like letting my frap melt." Shawn complained.

"Drop it Shawn." Blake snapped at him before turning his attention back to Tori. "You're lying. You meant to do this. Just like when you turned our shirts pink."

"I swear Blake it was an accident!" She answered.

"You think you're little miss perfect don't you? Don't even lie. You think you can do anything to us and get away with it." Blake balled up his fist. "You think it's funny don't you?"

"No I don't." Anger reflected off of Tori. "And you? You think you're so perfect? Tell me Blake have you told your brothers the truth?"

"What are you talking about?" He spat out. Shawn and I could do nothing but watch as everything unfolded in front of us. Shawn started to eat his lemon cake taking sips of his melted drink.

"Oh don't act like you don't know." Tori took a step towards him. "That's what you're good at right? Acting? Acting like you don't know? Aren't I right?" Blake looked confused at first but then a spark of recognition and understanding blazed in his eye. Tori forced a smile, "Tell them Blake. I hear this is the first secret you've kept from them. Honestly, have you kept more?"

Blake kept his gaze on her. A cold, hate filled gaze that even made Tori flinch before gaining her composer. "What's she talking about?" Shawn asked. He looked like a little kid, eating quietly and now his face fell like he had just found out his pet turtle didn't really run away.

Blake took in a breath and looked at us. "Remember when Trent told us that Tori was his victim?" Shawn tensed at the hear of Trent's name. We both nodded and Blake continued. But this time he looked directly at Tori. "I played along, I lied. She wasn't his victim. She was his assignment from me."

Tori crossed her arms, she looked a bit happy knowing he had admitted it but anger fumed in her eyes. "What else have you kept hidden from us?"

"That's it." He barked.

"I think you're lying." Tori took another step, "Or better yet. You're acting aren't you? Honestly I never thought you, Blake Parris, of all people on this earth, would be an actor."

I tried processing everything I had just heard. Shawn stopped chewing and thought it over just as I did. Blake never hid these things from us, maybe then I would have laughed at the scenario. When I didn't feel like Tori was a sister, much less a step sister. But now, I couldn't believe he had done that. Worse, he lied to us and he acted like he knew nothing of it. When Trent had told us his victim was Tori my first thought was, Why? He had never noticed her any year before so why the sudden interest. I even came to the conclusion that he knew we're step siblings and maybe that's why. But now it all made sense.

"Wait so...you acted like you didn't know?" Shawn asked and Blake nodded. "Why? You always tell us who you assign. Like seriously you tell us so we can watch closely to see if they get into a serious relationship or not. Dude why didn't you tell us?"

Blake shrugged, "I found it inconvenient to do so. You both were going to run to Tori and warn her." He then turned back to Tori. "So how'd you find out anyways?"

She kept her lips in a straight line and I was unable to read her expression. Worst part was I didn't know what to do at this point. I always found myself just wanting to stop a fight but right now all I could think of was how Blake lied to us. Yeah brothers lie to each other, but never has he lied to us like that. He's kept secrets, like surprise gifts and things such as that. Yet he's always found it better to tell us everything, to get it off his chest. It was what we all did. If any of us was happy about something, we'd share the idea. If any of us was sad, we'd tell the other. If any of us was angry, we'd ask for their opinions. It's what I thought kept us connected and such great friends.

"Why's it matter?" Tori asked Blake.

"Because only one other person knows and you know exactly who that is." He faced us before taking Shawn and I's arms and dragging us upstairs.

Shawn tried tugging out of Blake's grip."My frappuccuino!" He cried as he accidently left it on the counter.

Before we knew it we were in Blake's room. Everything was dark and I noticed he added more posters on his bedroom wall. There were cars and sports stars. Behind I could see the impressions of the pictures he had of some girls. Usually he'd try to hide them since mom disapproved, so he'd cover them up with fancy Porsche or Ferraris. For once his room was clean, I had gotten used to seeing it filled with clothes. One time his room was so full of clothes, I couldn't see the floor and the highest bundle of littered clothing came up to my shins.

I snapped out of my daze and yanked my arm from his grip. "What's wrong with you?" I almost shouted. "You've been an ass all day!"

"You have!" Shawn backed me up pulling his arm out of Blake's grasp as well. "You're just missing the giant snout and long ears! Then you'll surely be an ass!" My hopes of Shawn backing me up crumbled down like an ancient building.

"Just listen to me." Blake said desperately causing both Shawn and I to raise our eyebrows. "She shrunk our clothes on purpose to mess with us. I know she did because it's almost like when she put that sock in the washer to make our clothes pink."

I crossed my arms and shook my head. "You're wrong Blake. This time it was an accident."

"Oh really?" He pulled his chair from his desk and turned it around so the back was facing his front. He laid his arms on the top of the chair and looked us in the eye. "Only Trent and I know about that secret."

Shawn crossed his arms. "You didn't tell us. Which is what I find really annoying."

"He's right," Even though Shawn can't back me up I can surely help him. "You lied and acted like you knew nothing. Maybe we hated Tori then, but now if I knew you had done that I would have seriously punched you in the face. You don't do that to a girl Blake. It's jus-"

"You never seemed to mind before." Blake cut me off. "In fact you used to laugh."

"Hence the word before." I added. "Plus she's not just a girl. She's our sister, you don't do that to family."

Blake's stare turned cold. Colder than usual but he looked down. "Then explain to me how she knew? If Trent and I were the only ones that knew about this secret."

Shawn shrugged, "Trent is a jerk. He probably told someone that's connected to Tori or the word spread and boom! Tori knows."

"Or she talked to Trent." Blake looked up at us with a serious face.

It caught me slightly off guard. No one likes Trent anymore. Not after he messed with Shawn. It was just going downhill for him this year, which I was totally ok with. But still, Tori would never converse with Trent. "She wouldn't do that..."

Shawn looked down at his feet. "She would never. She hates him just as much as I hate him. And trust me that's more than a dinosaurs size."

Blake grinned evilly. "So Trent went behind my back and told someone? You're saying he went behind my back and told someone? We all know he's terrified of me."

I rolled my eyes at Blake's cockiness. Yeah maybe a lot of people did fear him, that's no excuse to use. Trent went after Shawn and broke him up with his girlfriend, I'm sure he would have told someone else about his little deal with Blake. Unless he is terrified, which could also be the case.

"You're both blind." Blake said to us after we didn't respond. "You've allowed her to get in your heads. You've treated her like your real sister when she was just using you."

I was at loss of words so I shook my head. "No. You're lying."

Blake kept going. "She's manipulating you into trusting her when in reality you should be watching your backs."

"She wouldn't do that to us!" Shawn shouted. "She's a great sister. She's helped me through a lot and you know that."

"It's her way of gaining your trust." Blake said. "Her way of making you blind to the reality. She doesn't care about you two. She's just using you to get her ways."

"Which is what?" I asked angrily. My fist were clenched at my sides. Blake was lying, Tori would never do that.

He shook his head. "I don't know yet but she's going to use you. She's going to do something to you, or she's going to make you do something you'll regret. Why do you think I keep my distance? Because I can see through her act and see what she's really doing." He looked directly at me, "You're too nice to see through it. You always look for the good inside people." He looked at Shawn, "You're just to...easily amused to see it."

Shawn lent towards me and whispered, "Should I be offended by that?"

I ignored his question and stared at Blake trying to figure out the situation at hand. Tori would never do that. She was a good person, even better than Blake was. She wasn't manipulating us, he was. He had to be. But why would he tell us all this? "So Cole," He said to me, "Are you going to pick between a girl you met a couple months ago, or you're triplet brother that's been there for you your whole life?"

I stood in place as Blake asked Shawn the same question. "This isn't right..." I muttered to myself. But I looked up at Blake and saw he was looking directly at me before turning his attention to Shawn.

"You said yourself you hate Trent." Blake said. "So would a good sister go behind your back and talk to your enemy?"

"No..." Shawn scratched his head. "But she is a good sister."

"Apparently not." Blake put his weight on the front of his chair looking between us.

"So..." Shawn said hesitantly, "What do you propose we do?"

I snapped my head at Shawn and looked at him with clear shock written across my face. He fell for the trap. He fell into Blake's manipulation. But I was slowly sinking into it also. Blake was wrong. Blake was wrong. Tori wouldn't be using us. As if reading my thoughts Blake answered the question, "Think about it Cole." He said with a smile, "You've had girls use you all the time. This one is just closer than others because her dad married our mother. What she probably wants? I don't know. But she's just using you like all those other girls."

This isn't right...

"What do we do?" I found myself asking. But inside I could only see how wrong  this was. How wrong Blake was. He wasn't right. He couldn't be right. He's my brother though. He may lie and cheat but he was my brother by blood. I've known him all my life.

This isn't right...

"We'll get to her before she gets to us." Blake said.

"What do you mean?" Shawn asked.

"What I mean is," Blake grinned with a hint of loathing in his eyes, "We'll do something that will make her regret her dad every married mom. We'll destroy the very thing she cares about most, even if it's something small. What we'll do? Crush her spirits."

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Dun dun duuuuuuuun. Hope you liked the chapter :) I don't have anything to really say. Just please please pleeeeaaasssee tell me your favorite scene. Give me feedback on what you thought. My final exams are approaching so I might be off for a while, but when I come back I'll have a lot of time to write.

So what do you think of Tori and Trent being frienemies? My friend Madison just about strangled me :/ Hi Madison! I love you please don't kill me! <3

Also the scene with the boys, a lot of brother drama there I guess. I liked writing about it though, you met the playful side of Blake till you know...it went crashing down like a rocket coming back into the atmosphere.

Cole has a new friend :) and Shawn really wanted that frap but it just didn't happen. Poor Shawn :/ He should've known not to send a Cole do to a Shawn's job.

The last scene though...who do you think is manipulating who?

Please comment and vote guys :) Tell me what you think. Think I'm done now. Till next time!

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