Chapter Twelve

References: Neon Trees and 3OH!3 are definitely not mine.

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Okay, so being adopted is not such a big deal, but everyone (excluding me, that is...) looked so...

I don't know, shocked, maybe?

Oh, and tight-lipped. We mustn't forget that.

The interview was cut short, and almost immediately I was practically picked up by Jay and Leo and the next thing I knew, I sat in the room, pouting and sulking with all my might. I peeked a glance over to Lance, who was seated on the floor, brooding (with all of his might too, I might add). See, I'm not the only one who's upset with this whole thing of keeping things a secret from me. I think.

 "Tell me."

Leo looked up from the schedule tacked on the wall. "Tell you what, love?"

I narrowed my eyes into a glare. "Don't 'tell you what, love?' me! Something is up, and why won't you tell me??" I hissed in a harsh whisper.

I heard a chair being dragged right to my side and a heavy weight fell upon it. "We won't tell you, 'cos it's not our place to," Jay whispered into my ear.

I gave a little shudder and inched my chair away from Jay's chair. "Don't come near me. Freak,"

A hurt, puppy-like look appeared instantly on Jay's face. "Aw... you called me a freak,"

I rolled my eyes. "Need I remind you? You're not supposed to be womanizing girls whom you have a professional relationship with, 'specially when this particular girl happens to be me,"

"I wasn't womanizing you," Jay retorted, eyebrow arched. Then, he narrowed his eyes somewhat se- no! I'm not supposed to describe this jerk using the word 'sexy'! That's going against my rules! "But if you insist... I probably will..."

I shrieked and jumped off my chair as Jay chuckled behind his hands in a somewhat evil manner and Leo simply muffled his laughter. "Leo!!" I cried hysterically, "Why the hell're you laughing!?"

"I can't help it!" Leo was still laughing, "You can't seriously be afraid of him, can you?"

"Yeah," With a wonderful (Note the sarcasm here) sense of timing, Jordan came inside, back from rounding up all the instruments, "Jay's a chick magnet, all right, but if you've been immune to all our charms, you're pretty much invincible already. You can't get seduced easily, I'll give you that."

Wow. And here I was thinking Jordan had a sense of pride that matched Jay's. He's pretty quick to give up, I can see. I should get him a sticker that says 'PRIDELESS' for his bass guitar.

"And that doesn't mean I'm giving up," Jordan continued with raised eyebrows, as if he had read my mind. Damn him! "I'm merely bowing away, since Jay's got dibs on your first. After all, as the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea,"

"That is pretty much saying you gave up," I deadpanned, giving him one of my pointed looks.

Jordan gave me an inquiring look. "Ah? You want me to engage you in a game of cat and mouse with me?"

"Or me?" Jay added, smiling that dangerous smile of his.

My God, I am once again being hit with torrents of flirtatious remarks! This is so infuriating!!

"Neither," I replied with a disinterested tone. I stood up and remembered why we were in the waiting room in the first place. "Lance!"

I walked over to where the bookworm was brooding. As I looked at the keyboardist, I noticed how he looked so defenseless, sitting on the ground, back hunched over and hugging his knees. I really wonder why aren't the guys worried about him. Well, I haven't seen Gabriel since he mysteriously disappeared from bringing us back into the waiting room. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Chace, too. And I was gonna ask Chace the reason for why he looks so not 'fabulous' today as well.

Heh. Take that, Mr. OMG-YOU-SUCK-AT-DRESSING-YOURSELF!!

I gave myself a mental kick for being childish. Chace's not even here. I knelt down to check Lance's facial expression. "Lance??"

Lance, previously deep in thought, looked up and met my eyes with his. I instantly remembered the strange display of tenderness last night and my face felt prickly; a sure sign of blushing. Lance merely blinked and asked, "May I help you?"

I faked a laugh. "Oh, nothing really!" Then I stopped the fake laughter. Honestly, I really should be more open. I mean, if I keep up the fake laughs, it's really gonna kill me and make me into Barbie Kaitlyn. "Would you... like to talk about anything?"

Lance seemed to consider this option, as a thoughtful look crossed his face. "I'm not sure. Would you believe me if I said it was complicated?"

I was taken aback with what he had said. I slowly nodded, my curiousity winning over my reluctance to be near him. After all, this is the guy who, um... gave me a blanket and a pat on the head.

Yeah, now that I think about it, it sounds kind of stupid when you put it that way.

I looked over at the others, who were not-so-discreetly staring and trying to hear our conversation. "Somewhere quieter?" I suggested, shooting dirty looks at the others.

"You should go change first, though," Lance replied, nodding and standing up. He held out his hand, and I accepted it and he helped me onto my feet.

"I'll be along in a few. Go wait outside," I said, getting into the makeshift changing booth and grabbing a random pair of jeans and the airbrushed t-shirt from before as I went along.

I decided to not lose the pretty flats, though, because they were absolutely gorgeous, despite the fact that Chace had verbally abused me then practically forced me into them.

What? I've been deprived of girly privileges all my life, but that doesn't mean I grew up like a boy. I actually, if this surprises you, I happen to like girly stuff. So there.

I walked out of the booth, and the guys were still staring at me. "What?" I asked, defensively raising my metaphorical hackles.

"Where are you going with Lance?" Leo asked, seemingly mildly interested.

"You didn't want to explain. So he's going to do it. See ya," I replied, getting out before any of the others got a chance to ask. Hah! Take that! That's for keeping things a secret from me!

-

Lance regarded me with a small smile and led me to a lounge area where prospective parents usually sat while they waited for prospective children. Since there was a big buffet (graciously hosted by the company that conducted the fundraiser) outside, the lounge was pretty much empty. We sat at a small corner, and an air of seriousness descended upon Lance's aura.

I felt rather awkward, because Lance looked dead serious, as if he were about to tell me that there was some kind of national crisis going on.

"So..." he stared at me. Hard.

"So..." I stared back. Harder.

"What's so bad about being an orphan? Why'd you look so upset back there?" I asked in a hurry, afraid that Lance would withdraw back into his sulk-shell.

Lance paused and sighed. "Actually, I don't mind being an ex-orphan, really,"

Wait. What?

"Actually, it's something to do with what happened when I was an orphan,"

Wait. Come again?

"Have you ever considered, or even wondered why the band has such a strange name?"

Wait. WHAT!?

I frowned with annoyance. "Can you stop confusing me with those cryptic sentences and talk normally?" I complained, "And stop asking so many questions - I obviously have no clue of what you're talking about. And no, I've never stopped to consider the name of the band,"

Lance gave a chuckle and leaned back into the sofa easily. "All right. I'm sorry. I'll talk normally, as you wish." he said, "The Lightning Devils... it's a weird name, isn't it?"

I shrugged in my usual non-commital fashion. "I guess so. But there are weirder band names than that, though. Take Neon Trees or 3OH!3 for example,"

Lance laced his fingers together, putting on a pose of contemplation. "Well, that's true. Since Jay's the leader of this band, it's weird he chose a name like The Lightning Devils, is it not?"

Wait. He's right. For someone who takes pride in being 'awesome', 'hot' and whatnot, the name the Lightning Devils is kinda corny. "I guess so," my eyes narrowed in a reflex reaction to the picture of Jay that inevitably popped up into my mind's eye.

Lance had a weird, albeit not creepy, faraway look in his eyes. "'Lightning' because it was a flash of inspiration to form a band and to get attention people around us and 'Devils' because we're seeking attention by enticing people with our music,"

Who knew Jay was that kiddy and idealistic?

"We - Jay, Leo, Jordan, Tyson and I - met each other in the seventh grade. We were arguing and fighting that time, and got sent for detention. The teacher left us to sort out our problems, and then Jay was the one who started talking first.

"He said, 'You guys are a sad bunch, you know that? Why're you so dull?' Then all of us started talking, and suddenly Jay decided, 'I know! Let's form a band!'" Lance continued, "'All of us have something we want, right? Why not form a band to obtain what we each want?' Then we decided that from then, we would be the Lightning Devils."

Well... that's... interesting...

I never knew that the formation of the band had such a heartwarming story, to be honest. I thought Jay would've been like, "Hey! We're all handsome! We're popular! And talented to boot! Why not form the world's most hottest band? So hot that we could surpass supernova standards!"

I volunteered this idea and Lance gave me a guilty look. "I... sort of edited everything Jay said, actually."

I. Knew. It. Everything I thought Jay would say was obviously dead on.

"But what I told you is what he said, too!" Lance hurriedly pressed on to say. Then, he had a sad, sad look on his face.  "My reason for being in this band..."

The mood was definitely mournful right now. My happy-go-luckiness is practically suffocating from Lance's radiating emotions. But looking at the usually stoic, calm and emotionless keyboardist being so... upset? It made me feel sympathetic and sorry for him.

"Your reason?" I echoed. Gosh, the Lightning Devils is like some sort of epic cult or something.

"I did say that I was an orphan from here, right?" Lance asked, looking at me, "I had a friend here. We were close, maybe even like blood brothers. We agreed to be adopted as brothers. But then he disappeared one day, without telling me, and because adoption files are strictly confidential, I didn't know where he was taken. I was angry. Livid. Enraged. No one bothered to tell me, not even he himself..."

Lance paused with the tiniest of sighs, and ran a hand through his dark hair, gleaming a subtle navy from the rays pouring in through the windows. "As ridiculous and ludicrous as it is, I want to find him,"

Stunned was probably the right word to use to describe the way I felt. Really, I had no idea Lance was carrying that sort of emotional baggage around with him. He always looks so calm and collected; like nothing was able to faze him from his slow pace of life.

Guess you really can't judge a book by its cover.

Well, at least now I know why Lance didn't want to say anything when those journalists asked the question about him being an ex-orphan here. It probably was hard to be reminded that his friend just disappeared without an explanation. If it weren't for my extremely ridiculously strong sense of justice, I'd have forgotten about the blanket thing at once without asking Lance why he did it.

Well, I'll just leave that incident for now. After all...

I know how that feels... the pain of someone disappearing suddenly.

Chapter Eleven

References: Iconic pop culture, as usual.

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You might say I'm being paranoid and it's true, I was totally fidgety all morning as I waited at the breakfast table for the guys. I was wondering whether Lance would look different this morning, since that whole creepy thing with the blanket and stuff.

"Morning," a subtly accented voice rang into my ears. I jumped, yelping like a puppy getting caught doing something bad.

"Leo! Morning!"

The blond - freshly showered and meticulously groomed like the British gentleman he is - sat beside me, raising a querying eyebrow. "What's up with you, love?"

I faked a laugh. "Oh, nothing really. By the way, did you know, when you said that, you sounded like some old dude?"

Oh no. Hysterical voice. Not good. My voice keeps rising in pitch like some yowling cat. Why am I always so not subtle when I want to be?

Leo was texting on his Blackberry. I noticed this, and asked, "Who're you texting so early in the morning?"

"Oh, a friend. He was just asking me some stuff."

"Wassup kitty?" Jay suddenly appeared, grinning at me and sitting on the other side of me, ruffling my hair like I'm some kinda street dog. So annoying.

"I'm not your Fido, all right?" I snapped, smacking his hand away from my head.

"Of course not," he said, spooning cereal into his mouth, "You're my kitty,"

I hate that grin. Especially when he looks so damn innocent when he just said something like that. Someone needs to find him a girlfriend, and fast.

"Leo!" I said loudly in an accusatory tone, "Why can't you tell him to stop saying those things to me? It's so... annoying,"

Leo looked at the both of us, smiling an 'aw-how-cute' smile. "Kaitlyn, we both know Jay's just joking. So there's no need to get riled up, now, is there?"

I see his point. But still...

I glared at Jay. Jay gave me a victory sign. "The handsome one always wins,"

"Bleh. Lemme go find a bathroom to puke in first. I think I'm gonna projectile vomit." I muttered, probably loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Projectile vomit? Why?"

My spine instantly went rigid. Lance. Of course, Tyson, Jordan and Gabriel were with him.

I turned to face them, plastering a super-fake smile over my uneasy expression. "You're awake! Finally!" I said, back to my super-high-pitched voice. The scene from last night keeps replaying in my mind. I feel like suiciding right now.

Jordan looked at me; a questioning look bore over his face. "What happened to you? Something wrong with your throat? We can't have that, you know,"

"Thank you for your concern, I'm fine, really," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "And I slept pretty well last night too, thanks for asking."

Jordan looked baffled. "Thanks for ask-? But I didn't-,"

Tyson took a rolled-up magazine that Jay was holding out towards him and used it to hit Jordan's head. Ooh, that hurt. "Jordan, for someone who's always making people angry, you sure suck at detecting sarcasm,"

Jordan rubbed his head, snatching the magazine away from Tyson's grip. I could see the title from where I sat, GameZone. Does he not read other kinds of magazine except ones related to video games? "Easy for you to say, pretty boy,"

The guys laughed, except for Lance. He merely took a seat across from me, reaching for the cereal box beside Jay's bowl. I watched him warily, while the others were talking; or in Tyson and Jordan's cases, arguing. Lance seemed to have noticed my stalker-ish 'tude, because he paused and looked at me.

Straight. In. The. Eyes.

I averted his piercing look-into-the-soul eyes and my gaze landed on the visible tattoo on his arm. Well, his arm is better than his eyes. Wait. What the hell am I saying now!?

"Something the matter?"

Uh, yeah? There's something the matter. What's the matter? Well, you acted all strange last night with the whole 'Sleep well', the blanket and well, it was weird! Friends do not just go around stroking each other's head while the other is asleep and say stuff like that. It's just... awkward.

I'd like to say that, but I'm not one for public confrontations. Plus, I may have just read too much into the thing, and maybe it's just something that Lance does for everyone with his whole romantic dreamer image thing. So in conclusion: I will not confront him publicly. Only when we're alone.

Note to self: Be prepared to attack where it hurts the most at all times in case moves are made. Vulnerability will not be tolerated.

"N-nothing, really." I answered, faking a laugh, "Hahahaha..."

Lance shrugged and resumed pouring cereal into a bowl.

-

"Kaitlyn!!"

I looked up from Jordan's magazine which I was flicking through idly while the guys were setting up outside. Leo had specifically given orders that no one but permitted people were to enter the little room that was temporarily serving as our, as Jay and Jordan crudely put it, 'Chillaxin' Area'.

"Chace?" the name tumbled out foreignly.

Said person cast a critical eye on me, as if he were giving me a once-over. Wait, not as if. He is. I noticed the makeshift access pass that he had around his neck, Leo's signature boldly scribbled on it.

We're an amateur band, but we're certainly not acting like one. One might believe we're actually professionals, except for the fact that we're not exactly earning anything.

"Even though I've revamped your wardrobe..." Chace began, an all-too familiar snarky tone edging into his voice. Oh, dear stars. Here comes the lecture. "How?! How on Earth can you look so... so... uncivilized?!"

He dramatically collapsed onto his knees onto the floor, the back of his hand resting on his forehead. "How?!"

If he weren't such a high-profile stylist to the stars, he would totally make a good actor.

I shrugged, pretending as if his words had no effect on me at all. Actually, I was dying to strangle him until he apologizes for insulting me, but he's a celeb stylist, so I don't want to be sued. "Hey, Chace with-no-last-name-because-it's-too-stuffy-and-formal."

Chace pouted, which made him look weird because I could see a day-old stubble - which, by the way, is weird for someone who's obsessed with me being dressed 'civilly' - on his lower face. Grown men, gay or not, should not pout. It's weird. "You're mean."

"Middle name," I answered back lightly, gesturing to a foldable chair beside me, "Have a seat, Mr. No-Last-Name."

Chace obliged and sat, his chin resting on his hand as he continued to stare at me. I must say, I think I'm the girl with the most stares gotten from Chace, since I believe he'd rather stare at hot gay prospects than unattractive girls. No offense intended.

The staring competition continued, and as I stared back at him in return, I realized something was different about him. He looked positively tired out, as if he had some problems plaguing him. I broke off our intense visual contact. "You look different. What's up?"

Chace looked confused. "Different? How so?"

I put on my wise tone. "Even though I don't know you that well, I know you well enough to know that you don't let yourself look like some guy who doesn't know the existence of shaving foam and razors,"

Chace self-consciously reached up to touch the stubble on his chin. "I suppose so..." he deliberated on my words thoughtfully. Then, he shot an accusatory look at me. "Look who's talking, Ms. I-Like-To-Look-Like-I-Have-No-Other-Clothes."

"Hey! It's not like that, okay?? I just think I shouldn't dress up too much because we're amateurs and more importantly, we're amateur rock musicians, not models!"

Chace looked bored. "I get your point, but at least wear something presentable. Don't wear a freebie t-shirt, you're appearing on TV for God's sake!" he chided, "And...I wasn't talking about that. I mean, you look like you have problems of your own too. Is it that Asher boy and Evie girl?"

Asher? Evie? How the hell does he know about them?! I haven't even seen the guy since the day we met, when he had forcefully given me a three-hour torture session! (Which, by the way, is something that I hope will never have to happen ever again.)

My theory is proven. Guys gossip like old women. God, can't they keep their mouths shut!? And they say girls are like radios.

"Of course not!" I answered back defiantly, "Asher and Evie are but a distant memory to me now!"

My view of the stylist was obstructed as he threw something at me. "Put this on. Tell me what's up while you're at it, yes?" he ordered, pushing me into the makeshift changing stall, ignoring my struggles.

I put on a sulky expression, regardless of the fact that Chace couldn't see me. "You tell me what's up first, pot."

"Pot?" I heard him ask from the other side. God! Is everyone not getting me today?

"Pot calling kettle black. Ever heard of that? You're pot, I'm kettle. Now tell me." I said as I pulled my t-shirt off. It was a free T-shirt I had gotten from a carnival last summer. Bobo the Clown.

Good times, good times.

I heard Chace sigh, and a slight creaking sound as he sat on the chair. "Well, the thing is, I-"

"WE'RE HERE!!!!"

My Lord, Jay is such a mood-killer and interrupter. And not to mention, he has bad timing, too.

"Oh, hey Chace!" Jay exclaimed brightly, and I heard him flopping into another chair. "Didn't know you were coming!"

"Just thought I'd surprise the lot of you, yes?" I heard Chace reply with a fake bright tone. Man, he's a rival to me in this faking business. I quickly pulled over the t-shirt Chace had given to me. Not bad; airbrushed thunderbolts and clouds. At least he knows what I like to wear.

I stepped through the curtains, carefully folding up my Bobo shirt and depositing it inside my bag. I wonder how Chace knew I'd end up not wearing one of his hand-picked shirts. Must be a stylist's intuition or something.

Chace cast his soon-to-be-reputable critical eye on the guys. "When I don't see any of you for a week, this is how to come back looking to me!? How is it so that only Lance and Tyson are properly dressed?"

I guess I could see his point. Lance had on a black dress shirt with white pin stripes and a skinny black tie on over his dark jeans while Tyson was a notch more fancy, with his black checkered scarf draped over a white T-shirt and black skinny jeans. We have a winner!

Jay had a dark look on his face. Obviously, he's not used to being wronged. I snickered. "That's because you're biased, Chace," he muttered, standing up.

"Come here, you street ruffians! I'll try to save what can be saved, yes?" he turned to look at me. "I shall... tend... to you later..."

Tend? I'd rather run away, but seeing as I don't want my identity to be exposed, I shall have to face Chace's wrath. Chace ushered the 'ruffians' - Heehee. Now I'm not the only one getting scolded - out of the room, leaving me and Lance alone. Tyson decided to tag along, probably to egg on the guys for being 'street ruffians', yes?

Ah, crap. Chace's way of talking is rubbing off on me.

Then, I realized my situation. Lance was there, reading a book quietly, while I, Kaitlyn Hunter, had instant super-sweaty palms that usually happen when I'm nervous. Well, hell, I am nervous right now.

I should confront him. "L-Lance...?"

Dammit. Don't stutter, me! It's a sign of weakness!

Lance looked up from his book. "Yes?" he answered in his deep tenor voice, "How may I help you?"

No turning back now. "I just wanted to ask you..." I stared at my hands. "Did you-?"

"I'm back!"

We jumped at the sound of Jay's voice. He was grinning, his school basketball T-shirt replaced with a cleaner, newer T-shirt. He picked up a chair and promptly placed it in an empty space between Lance and I and sat down. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing, really." I replied, relieved - because I wasn't actually ready to ask Lance about the thing that happened last night - and annoyed - because he interrupted me when I was going to ask Lance about the the thing that happened last night. "That was fast, by the way."

Jay stuck up his nose in the air with an indignant 'hmph'. "I am the King of Quick Changing. That's what you get when your sister brings in crazed fan girls early in the morning for eating the last of the dessert from the night before."

I took a quick glance at Lance as Jay went on to say no matter how evil his sister was, he still loved her and whatnot. Lance had gone back to his book - Dracula this time - as if I hadn't been asking him a question before.

I got bored of Jay's incessant chirping on how popular he was with his sister's friends, so I experimented with the box of masks that Chace had brought with him when he came.

"You shall be using the one with the black crystals, oui?" Chace's voice spoke into my ear. I jumped, but Chace expertly avoided colliding with my head/shoulder/whatever by withdrawing his head.

"No way in hell am I going to use any of these," I said defiantly, "Can't I stick with the one Jay gave me?"

"You will use one of these masks that I especially picked out for you!" Chace insisted, "After all, it is the least you could do for me after all that help I gave you!"

"Chace, ignore her. Please work on her to match the rest of us handsome people," Jay piped up, "But please, she's not too used to you yet despite the fact you gave her that three-hour-makeover a few months ago, so tone down with the theatrics, will you?"

Chace turned to look at He Who Has Spoken. His expression was overflowing with dramatic emotion. "My creativity must not be suppressed!" he announced with a flourish, "The beautiful people you see around you-," I looked around to see only the guys. Huh. He must be talking about some other people. "-will not exist without my unique and matchless personality, as well as my unlimited talent at making people beautiful!!"

I... see.

You know, I can totally picture Chace wrapping on a feathery boa, dressed in a skirt and parading around in five-inch heels, looking totally at ease with the world, just like Miss Jay in ANTM. Of all stylists from on the the guy's dad's company, the Gyles girls sure picked a flamboyant one to work with.

"Well, we want your unique and matchless personality to adjust accordingly to the person you're going to work on," Jay replied serenely, as all the other guys nodded in agreement, "She's lethal. She could kill any of us if she wanted. Not that, of course, she would kill me. Right, Kitty?"

I snorted. "You must be joking. I'd rather kill you than kill an ant." I answered, "After all, you're the one who stalked me, robbed me, then held me captive."

I got an indignant 'hey!' from Jay as Chace pulled me away from the band, pulling curtains across the middle of the room separating us from them. Actually, I have no idea how the curtains got there. Chace's creepy that way.

"But you just made me change like, five minutes ago!" I protested as he dragged me past the curtains.

"Quiet," Chace chided, "Fashion is an ever-changing whirlwind; a force of nature! You are in no place to question it,"

O-kay. I'm just going to shut up now, because the man is giving me the Look.

Chace made me sit in a chair, and I did so quietly as he worked on my face with lip gloss, mascara and all that weird you-know-what-I-wanna-say. I'm not sure why I need the eye stuff, though. I'm going to wear a mask, after all. I could hear the door open, and giggles of girls could be heard from the other side.

"I'm afraid the area beyond the curtain is restricted, ladies," I heard Leo say smoothly. "But I'm sure that's nothing for you, is it?"

"After all, we're all here," I heard Jay put in. I swear, I think he winked at them. I don't know how I know, but I just do. My suspicions were proved as I heard a few girls giggle shyly.

Chace worked with my hair, twisting my locks in all sorts of directions until I felt like tearing out every single strand of it.

Finally, he held up a super teeny-weeny, revealing tank top. "What do you think of this, Kaitlyn?" he whispered with a happy grin.

I screeched like a banshee as Chace dared asked my opinion on the tank top. "Do you think I'm going to perform in front of innocent little children and adults or going to go to some dark alley and lure pedophile old men as a prostitute!?"

I heard collective gasps from the Giggles Club and Jay said, "Hey! I wanna see kitty wear what you're showing her!" He stuck his head through the curtains, and I heard Jordan take over his distracting duty.

I shrieked, but thank God I was still dressed. I instinctively grabbed the prosti-top and threw it at Jay's head. Chace starting pushing Jay out, saying, "This is a sacred place for an artist and his work of art! No sacrilegious people allowed!"

"Hey! This top is sexy!" I heard Jay remark. He's probably holding it up for the whole world to see. Well, not the whole world at least. The whole room.

"Agreed." I heard Leo say. I swear, I'm going to kill them.

Chace firmly pinned the curtains together with a safety pin and turned to look at me again. "Put this on," he ordered, throwing a long piece of fabric at me.

I looked at him with the largest and most innocent eyes possible. "What if the work of art can dress herself?" I asked.

Chace rolled his eyes. "Well, the work of art did that this morning, and look how it turned out." he paused to look at me, probably imagining my Bobo t-shirt. "Apocalyptic, my dear."

Apocalyptic? I ignored his verbal smack-down, because I'd rather not do anything too conspicuous when the Giggles Club is here.

"Well then, please get out so I can change in peace." I asked him, my voice still sweet and sugary.

Chace rolled his eyes yet again. "Looking at you naked is hardly going to excite me, darling. For one, you're still an adolescent and I've seen women naked who're much much more sexier than you are, and two, I'm gay. Looking at you is like looking at a dog for moi."

A dog. Really? I refrained myself from giving him the finger and letting loose a torrent of cuss words forming in my brain. "Well, I'm sorry I give you the impression of a dog and that I'm not sexy, but I'd prefer to keep my naked body's image to myself, thank you very much." I said pleasantly.

Chace grumbled some incoherent words. "I was going to turn around while you change and watch for either Jay or Leo, if they try anything funny," he turned to poke his head out of the curtains. "You hear that, boys? Come one step anywhere near this curtain, I'll assure you, you'll have a good and long career as a soprano duo."

Now, if he weren't so verbally abusive, we'd be best bosom buddies.

I pulled on the white round-necked tee and then the ash-gray strapless dress. Wow, pretty conservative this time. Chace turned me around and beamed.

"Ooh la la! Trés bien! You look wonderful!" he exclaimed, then turned around to dig into the box of masks. He pulled out the mask that he had mentioned before, and it was, of course, cat-eared. It was entirely covered in black crystals. He made me hold it in place as he delicately guided the ribbons around my head and fastened it.

"Sit down," he ordered, pulling out a box from nowhere. I swear, he could be the next David Copperfield if he wanted. He keeps doing enigmatic things without an explanation for them.

I obeyed meekly, and he knelt down, taking one bare foot in his hand. You know, if he wasn't gay, he could be Prince Charming and I'd be Cinderella. But, you see the case, don't you? He's gay and probably taken.

He slipped my foot into a small flat-soled shoe that looked two sizes too small for me. I gasped as it fit perfectly. "Never doubt the powers of lé great artisté,"

Oh sure, lé great artisté. "So, am I ready yet?" I asked.

"Of course! Your appearance is finally presentable!" Chace announced, unpinning the curtains as I stood up. Finally. I get something else other than, 'FASHION DISASTER!'. "Oh booooys! The vocalist is ready!"

I assume he used 'the vocalist' instead of my name because of the Giggles Club's presence.

I stepped through the curtains, and a bunch of girls of various ages - Probably kids from the orphanage - eyed me; some with distaste, some with pure curiosity.

"Hi?" I said tentatively. Jay and Leo, as charming as ever, both stood at either of my sides, and draped their arms around my shoulders.

"Meet the Lightning Kitty," Jay introduced with a flirty smile, "She's our newest member, so play nice."

"She's rather shy in front of people she doesn't know." Leo added, winking at me. I felt a tad bit reassured as I recognized his way of telling me everything's fine. "So, if you ladies don't mind, please leave. We have some pre-show things to talk over. See you in half an hour!"

I sighed audibly as the last girl left and the door closed. Under a disguise makes me feel quite hypocritical. I have no idea why.

-

"Great show!" a guy dressed in a business suit said as the guys and I got off stage. I could see Gabriel a little way off with some other guys dressed with t-shirts that had 'SECURITY' printed across their backs, handling the various photographers clamoring to get to us with a couple of other people that volunteer in the orphanage. Well, by us I mean the guys. I don't really think they're at all interested in me.

"Thanks," Jay answered smacking a high-five into Leo's palm as they celebrated the success of the performance.

A woman, probably in her twenties, came running up to us. She was wearing a volunteer's shirt. "Oh, it's you! I'm sorry, I never expected the event to be this big! We're rather short-staffed because we underestimated the crowd today," the poor woman sounded extremely flustered and embarrassed; she looked near the tears, "We especially didn't think this many reporters would come!"

I'd really like to go sit her down somewhere quiet and educate her on the mysterious powers that five extremely attractive teenage boys can have.

"Sorry," we all chimed together sheepishly, "We'll talk to the reporters for you,"

"Well, if that's the case, please come over this way," the volunteer sounded extremely relieved as she gestured over to a group of chairs, "You can use the lobby,"

"Word your sentences carefully, guys," Jay warned - pretty smart of him, considering his mental aptitude. Then he seemed to have remembered I was there, "And girl," he added hastily.

"Nice save," came my sardonic comment.

I was walking behind them, and Tyson fell back to match my painfully slow pace. He leant over to my ear and said, "We don't normally do this, but it's kind of our fault that the paparazzi are here... it's unorthodox, since we're not even real recording artists yet,"

Ah. So that was it. Tyson and I caught up with them as they were getting settled into the chairs. I took a chair next to Jay, since Leo was sitting in the middle. Gabriel, and the business-suited guy from earlier, led the reporters towards us, and I could lip-read him.

They were saying that they weren't to take any unauthorized pictures and also to not fake any statements, because if not, the Lightning Devils would personally sue the felon. Ooh. Never knew Gabriel could be such a bad-ass manager-in-training.

"That's a manager that my father hired to give Gabe some hands-on training," Jay whispered to me, seeing the way I was watching Gabriel and the other guy.

"Oh," I looked up at the approaching onslaught of camera-laden people, "Look. They're here,"

"So, this is your first official performance for the public?" a reporter asked.

Leo nodded. "Well, you can say that. We have performed many times in public before, but this is the first time someone's asked us to perform. So, yes, we consider this to be our first official performance."

"Why haven't you signed with a record label yet? I believe you have been approached with many offers?" another random reporter asked.

Jay's turn. "We're still young. We still have to go to school, so we're not thinking of this for the time being. Maybe soon into the future, you may be seeing us collaborating with the world's top bands!" he said, grinning that signature devil-may-care grin of his.

"I'd love to collaborate with Lady Gaga," Jordan joked, and he high-fived Tyson as he said this. Really, Jordan? As eccentric as the woman may be, she could take your comment personally in the wrong way and sue you or something!

So much for wording our words carefully.

"Speaking of collaborating," reporter number three piped up, "This girl you have with you. She is the new vocalist, isn't she?"

"Well obviously," Jay said in a bewildered amusement, "What did you think she was doing up there? Making a speech?"

The other reporters laughed, and reporter number three looked slightly embarrassed. "Hey man, no offense, yeah?" Jay asked, playfully punching the said reporter's shoulder good-naturedly.

Hmph. Jay obviously knows how to word his sentences 'carefully'. "So, any chance of revealing her identity to us?" reporter number four asked, holding up his camera hopefully.

"Sorry, no," I answered, putting my input for the first time, "I'm not comfortable with seeing myself all over the news. I'd like to be less conspicuous."

I think the reporter was deaf, because he acted as if I hadn't spoken and turned to face Lance, who was quiet as he always is. What an ass. "Lancelot Montague. The keyboardist, I'm assuming?"

Uh, duh? It's not like the person working magic at the keyboard was somebody who happened to look like Lance.

Lance, obviously not familiar with sarcasm as I am, nodded. "Yes. Yes I am."

"So, I've heard from some sources," the reporter continued, "Is it true that you're a former child from this orphanage? A former orphan?"

Wait. What?

Lance was an orphan from this very orphanage?

How come I never knew that!?

I looked at the other guys; except for Gabrel, they all had tense expressions on their faces. Why didn't they ever tell me Lance was adopted? It's not that bad. But judging by the looks on their faces, my thoughts were otherwise. Something's up.

Lance, expression still stoically neutral nodded. "Yes, yes I was an orphan. I was placed here when I was younger, before I got adopted,"

Chapter Ten

References: Mostly iconic pop culture, so don't sue me!

--------------------------------------------

Hey y'all! My name's Kaitlyn Hunter, an' I'm seventeen an' living with ma single, kuh-razy shoe sellin' aunt an' my lil' bratty barbie sister! I go to seh-kewl a' the most prestigious academy in town, and I'm in a band with people my age!

Is that great or what?

Okay, so that was a lame attempt to sound like what fans think that Miley Cyrus should sound like.

So, I was like, thinkin' maybe we all should go an' have a hoe down at the barn this Sunday!

How was that? Authentic enough? No? You want an explanation?

Well, you see, one fine sunny day - actually, the weather doesn't matter much, since we were in the basement studio - our website (Yes, The Lightning Devils have a website. I must say, hats-off to the guys for an uber cool website!) email account received an email invitation to perform at an orphanage not far from Sandfields.

It's to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the orphanage since 1990 something - don't kill me. I suck at remembering facts, okay? - so they're having a fundraiser. Half goes to the orphanage's funds, the other half goes to the international worldwide fund for orphans around the globe.

So, we, the Lightning Devils, have been asked to perform a concert there! As an amateur band, we won't be getting anything other than publicity out of it, but it'll be great to hang out with the kids!

Oh. My. God. That sounded so heroic and epic. I think I have something in my eye. Sniff.

Stop with the suspicious looks already! Fine! I admit it! Ninety-eight percent of what I said was read off from the admin's - a.k.a. Jordan (he's a computer whiz, surprisingly) - blog update.

As I was saying, we were asked to perform songs that the kids like. And kids being kids, they asked for any mature rocker's worse nightmare.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I now have to practice millions of songs by Miley Cyrus slash HANNAH MONTANA OMG! (insert fangirl scream here), the Jonas Brothers (insert fangirl scream here), Justin Bieber (insert fangirl scream here) and as such.

I've been practicing my 'Miley' accent to entertain and please the children, and it is so NOT going well.

WHERE IS THE ROCK MUSIC????

I mean, granted that they asked for Paramore's Decode, but that's just about it. And I bet it's because it's a Twilight soundtrack. Insert sigh here.

I just want to dig a hole and bury myself in it.

I gotta admit though, I've been in this band for quite a while now. It surprises me that I've stuck with them this long. I really thought I wouldn't last a week.

It's already December, and the school's Fall Dance was, sadly, canceled, due to unforeseeable renovations that were held at the venue. But it's all due for winter in January, so...

I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET PARAMORE!!! EEEE!!

Ahem. Anyways. Moving on.

"Kaitlyn, you look weird. What's with all the rapid changes in facial expression?"

Poof. I can see that little frail clouded image of ambiguous, somewhat human-shaped blobs moving about in glittering lights disappear. I turned to glare at the daydream-pooper.

"Jordan! Don't interrupt a girl when she's fantasizing!" I complained, shooting the bassist with a glare.

Jordan's face had a questioning look that was paired off with his trademark 'I-did-something-bad-but-you-did-worse' grin. "Hey! Kaitlyn's fantasizing about one of us!" he hollered over to the recording room, where Leo, Jay and Lance were discussing details about the album that we were supposed to have produced for an audition for the coveted spot to perform at the now titled: January Winter Dance.

Leo, Jay and Lance instantly turned to look at the both of us. Jay had somewhat of a hard look on his face, while Leo's easygoing smile was easily paired with the bored, blank look Lance always has on his face. I kicked Jordan's shins. Hard. "Jordan's talking bull! I was fantasizing about my soon-to-be-real meeting with Paramore," I yelled at them, stressing the last sentence.

"It's fine, Kaitlyn, if you actually do, and if it's about me..." Leo said teasingly. Urgh. He is so not the person I talked to during the Evie-Asher incident, "...I'd be honored that I hold a place so special in your dreams. Day or night."

Someone please tell me why I haven't left this place yet.

"Anyways, when will we be leaving for Archdale?" I asked, ignoring Jordan's whimpers about pain and medical insurance. He can pay for it easily. He's stinking rich. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that everyone in the band 'cept me, are loaded. "Tomorrow, right? What time and where should I be?"

Did I mention the orphanage is located in the next town? Which is a middle-of-nowhere town as well? Archdale. Hm. Makes me think of David Archuleta. Don't diss his baby-face! His voice practically melts my brain. Forget Bruno Mars, David Archuleta totally sings what a girl wants to hear!

"We're meeting at my place," Leo said, "Since we'll be using my van. Your aunt's agreed to let you come with us for the weekend, right?"

I nodded. It was hard at first, but after I asked her if she wanted to put a chastity bikini on me, she decided to let me go. I know. I just rock at persuasion. I definitely have a chance at a career in law.

Well, I only thought of the chastity bikini 'cause the girl in one of the many Robin Hood movies wore one. I forget which version. Details, details.

"I have to be off now," I said, "Gotta go pack!" I stood up from the beanbag that I was sitting on, purposefully pressing a hand on Jordan's head for support. He gave me a mock death glare.

"You'd better be thankful that you're the lead singer," he said, grinning darkly, "If you weren't, I would've done much worse rather than let you torture me like this."

I shuddered as I refused to let Jordan's words enter my mind. "Oh please, like what?" I asked, "Set your fangirls on me?"

-

Sometimes, I think I should get ear plugs to block out any unnecessary comments made by the boys. I've had to sit through many discussions of whose chests were bigger, Pamela Anderson or Jennifer Lopez? To which I couldn't reply, because then Tyson had to go and say, "Pam has the bigger boobs, definitely. J Lo is the one with the hotter ass."

Then Jay had to grin at me and say, "Any comments, kitty?"  Of course, I replied with the good ol', "Dude. They're hot, but they're way older than you. Shouldn't you be talking about younger women?"

And then they started talking about Megan Fox, Katy Perry and Leighton Meester. You know, I have a vague but strong suspicion that they only talk about stuff like that in my presence to annoy me. I simply rolled my eyes and continued pushing buttons on Jordan's PSP, pretending that Kumo was Jay and I was definitely pwning him.

Tekken's a good stress reliever. I should start saving for my own PSP. I am seriously contemplating this, when my aunt sees me walking up the driveway from the window and comes out with the portable phone in her hand.

"Kaitlyn! It's your mom and dad!"

I abruptly jumped over the picket fence and bounded towards my aunt, grabbing the phone in sheer excitement. "MOM! DAD!"

"Kaitlyn! How's my artist?" my dad's voice boomed through the earpiece. His voice was rather staticky, which I think is because of the long distance and crappy connection.

"I'm okay, dad! How're you? Where's mom?" I asked, trying to sound chirpy as I followed Aunt Elle inside, shutting the door behind me. I headed for the kitchen, where Aunt Elle was sitting at her usual place at the kitchen counter on the bar stool.

There was a pause at the line, before a new voice joined in the conversation. "Kaitlyn, don't try to fool us with the 'I'm-trying-to-be-chirpy' voice, darling. I know you're still livid because of the move," the familiar, stern tones of my mother's voice reprimanded me.

I grimaced and scratched the back of my head. Aunt Elle looked up from her laptop at the kitchen counter, making a face. "Uhh..."

"Kait, stop scratching the back of your head. It makes you look like a monkey, kid," my dad put in. Damn. He knows me so well.

"Sorry," I mumbled, "Is this like a three-way call or something?"

I heard my dad chuckle. "You could say that, if you consider picking up another connecting line three-way,"

"How's France?" I asked in a deceptively bright tone, "Tried any escorts?"

I heard my mom sigh. "Darling, France is beautiful, but we're not in France. We're in Sweden. And they're called escargots, not escorts,"

Oops? Well, you can't blame me. I've never eaten French before, okay? And it's not like they told me their travel plan or anything, besides the fact that they're globe-trotting.

"Speaking of escorts," my dad said, "How's that boyfriend of yours, Ashton?"

"And Evie?" my mom added in.

This is the first time my parents have contacted me since we separated at the airport, because of the jaw-dropping costs of international calls and the lack of internet while traveling.

So, my life has pretty much been in a limbo to them. So it's one thing that they've never really understood the basis of the friendship I had with Asher, only preferring to think that he was my boyfriend (Which he so was not) and that Evie was my only best friend.  They don't know the fact that they backstabbed, two-timed and then reconciled with me.

"Dad, his name is Asher, not Ashton, and how many times do I have to tell you? He is not and never was my boyfriend," I explained patiently, insinuating the terms 'is not' and 'was never', "We were best friends, just like how Evie and I were,"

"Why? Did he dump you or something? Or did you have a fight? No one treats my artist that way. Was is another girl? Alright, Kait, I'm going to take the next possible flight and go to Boston to kick his sissy, pardon my language, ass..."

Lucky guess, dad, lucky guess.

"Dad. Dad!" I shouted, trying to cut into his monologue flow. I am so insulted. Why is it that I have to be the one who was dumped? Why not the other way round? "We were never together. We were best friends. And you do know that most LDRs don't last that long, right?"

Here I am, giving my parents the clean-cut happy Disney version. Lord, I know I'm not religious and all, but please don't strike lightning down upon me for lying to my parents.

I swear, as there was another pause on the line, I could see my parents trying to work out what the acronym meant with a blank look on their faces.

"What's LDR? What's that? Some new, hip urban artist in your art community or something?" You know, at times like this, my dad can really be adorable. "Or is it some new kind of dope that you kids are smoking? Kait, you'd better not be going along with this, or God help me, I will get on the next plane to Sandfields and lock you in a dungeon. Or tower, since you like to paint. You need a lot of light to paint, right?"

Yep. Real adorable.

"Dear, I think it may be some kind of acronym that teenagers use on the internet and during text messaging, part of the atrocious cornucopia of improper words," My mother's always been the sensible one, she has.

I rolled my eyes. "Mom's right, dad. It's not some new artist or a drug. LDR stands for Long-Distance Relationship. In this case, my friendship with Evie and Asher."

There was a very long, "Ohhhhhhhhh," from my dad, and I could hear my mom sigh heavily.

"So I hear from Raphaelle that you're going on a trip tomorrow and Sunday?" my mom asked, deciding to change the subject.

I nodded. "Yeah, with a bunch of... friends," I am careful not to add the fact that they're all guys. God, if my parents ever heard that, they'll definitely fly over in an instant and bundle me up and send me to an all-girl's boarding school. Bleh. Middle of Nowhere is better than a nunnery.

"Well, have fun!" my dad said, "Your mother and I have to go now. It's a pity we can't talk to your sister, but apparently she's out for ballet practice, isn't she?"

"U-huh," I confirmed in a dry tone, "Well, call again soon guys! Love you!"

And the line went dead.

I found myself outside Leo's mansion the next day. It's actually the first time I've been here. And it's HUGE. Nothing new, though. It's rather English-y, with the Victorian architecture making up most of the house.

I saw Gabriel and Lance leaning against Leo's van, while Leo, Jay, Jordan and Tyson were running around the van. Probably checking the condition for the six-hour ride. As I walked towards them, I couldn't help but wonder why don't Gabriel and Lance ever talk to each other?

I know that they don't hate each other or anything, but since Gabe and I joined the band, never once have I seen Gabe uttering a single word to Lance or vice versa. But I've seen Gabriel staring at Lance strangely, for some unknown reason. I'm confused.

"Kaitlyn! Morning," Gabriel smiled at me, waving me over to fill up the gap between him and Lance.

"Hey Gabe," I replied, then turning to Lance, "Hey Lance."

I think I saw Lance tilt his head sideways briefly, as if inspecting me, before raising a hand and nodding in greeting. Feeling suspicious, I looked at him with narrowed eyes. "What do you see on me that you find that you have to tilt your head like that?"

I gasped and clamped my hand over my mouth. "Sorry! Reflex! Blame Jay and Jordan!"

Then a magical thing happened. A unicorn came trotting by, followed by the Gryffindor Quidditch team on their brooms. I think Harry's chasing after the Snitch.

Okay, okay! Joking! But I wasn't kidding about the magical part, though. Lance actually looked at me, smiled, then chuckled softly. "I see someone beautiful,"

Gabriel was obviously startled as I am, as he briefly lost his balance before re-composing himself. I know he was surprised that Lance actually smiled, chuckled and said something, but I can't help feel a tad bit insulted because Lance complimented me.

"Hardeharhar Lancelot," I said drily, "Read any new pickup lines lately?"

Lance shrugged, and walked off to the back of the van, the small smile still visible on his face.

"He's weird," Gabriel commented. I nodded mutely as I stared after the reticent keyboardist.

"Well, I get to use the sunroof again!" I said brightly, changing the subject, running towards the door at the other side.

-

The ride was very much filled with discussions and plans on how to entertain the children at the orphanage. But I don't know how the songs that we were going to play by Miley Cyrus suddenly changed into 'Who-was-hotter-in-last-year's-Miss-Universe'.

Needless to say, I am relieved to get out of the van and away from the guys. Tyson told me that Lance has a family cottage in Archdale, so we won't be going to any fancy-schmancy hotel suite. To be honest, I'm slightly disappointed. I mean, I was totally looking forward to a suite room for myself, and maybe order room service just for the heck of it. (Also because I know Jay's gonna pay for it all, so...)

"That's not a cottage!" I shrieked as Leo slowed his van down outside a perfectly normal-sized house. "It's as big as my house! It's a house!"

The house had a modern architecture; angular, flat-roofed and urban, it was mostly glass instead of walls and the colour palette was the monochrome black and white. Definitely a house that Iron Man would live in.

Lance titled his head. "It's not a house, it's a cottage," he insisted lightly, before going to unlock the sleek, mahogany front door with a key he had procured from his pocket.

I stared at him as the other guys agreed with him. "Someone, give me a wall to bang my head on," I moaned, pulling my overnight bag with me. "You guys must have bad eyesight."

I sighed as I followed the others into the 'cottage'. Well, if you ask me, it's rather elaborate for a 'cottage'.

"Wow. You don't even live here and there's like tons of really pricey stuff in here," I commented, brushing a hand on an out-of-place ornate vase labeled 'Umbrella Holder'. Someone, please get me a gun. I'm going to shoot myself in the head.

I practically conjured up a pile of sandwiches quickly as I refrained myself from getting another heart attack. The knife was one of those utensils that you find in a pricey household appliances catalogue. And the tap water is mountain spring water. You'd think I'd be used to this by now, but no, I'm not.

I really think the band should be called 'Heart Attack Devils', not 'Lightning Devils', because rather than giving lightning, they're giving me heart attacks pretty much all the time.

"Kaitlyn, you can choose wherever you want to sleep," I heard Tyson say from upstairs in a muffled voice.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," I shouted up the stairs as I proceeded to jump two steps at a time like a ninja, because I was going to start banging my head on the wall if I saw another ornate vase umbrella holder. And I don't think I can pay for the repairs of a hole in a wall, and I think my aunt will laugh at my explanation. "Didn't Chace ever teach you that?"

Tyson's head poked out from a door nearby. "Chace's the one who talks with his mouth full," he said with a wrinkled nose, before a guilty look crossed his face as he saw Leo, "Please don't tell him I said that. Chace is really into you,"

Leo seemed to have caught my slack-jawed response as he laughed and winked at me. "Don't be jealous, love. You're the only one for me."

"Whatever!" I looked into the empty, unconquered rooms.

I immediately chose the closest and simplest room, marking it by throwing my duffel bag onto the bed, because I was ready to plotz after six exhausting hours practically baby-sitting four very rowdy teenagers (Gabe and Lance not included) and well, today's too much of a shock to me. An ornate vase umbrella holder can do bad things to my heart, you know. I'm a frail little girl.

"Like the umbrella holder?"

I squawked as Jay breathed down my neck. I literally jumped a whole foot away from him, clutching desperately at the back of my neck. "Did I not establish contact boundaries on the first day we met?" I hissed, finding myself in a room that seemed to be Jordan's realm; he looked completely at ease with the modern sofas, black leather swivel chairs and glass coffee tables. Various forms of entertainment lay scattered in the room, ready for the picking.

"You might have," Jay pretended to seem like he was trying to remember my exact words as he followed after me into the game room, "Would you care to jumpstart my memory, Kitty?"

"I'd rather jumpstart you down the highway to Hell," I snarled as the others made themselves comfortable on the couches. Jordan seems to have gained superhuman speed, as he already had a teetering pile of PS3 game boxes towering beside him on the floor, as he debated with Leo on which game to get started on first.

As I claimed a white leather recliner with a large, plush cushion, I realize what Jay had said. "What do you mean, 'like the umbrella holder'?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously as Jay took a seat on the armchair near the recliner.

Jay grinned, tapping his fingers on his chin. Seafoam eyes twinkled mischievously as he said, "I may have asked the caretaker to prepare a little surprise for a certain Kitty,"

"You didn't,"

The triumphant look on the megalomaniac's face was the only confirmation I needed. I gnashed my teeth together  and grabbed one of the smaller cushions. "You're an ass," I stated as I flung it at him.

Jay easily caught the projectile, chortling as he did so. "You're just so fun to rile up, you know?" He put down the cushion.

I make a strangled noise and turned my head away from him, burying my face into the cushiony pillow.

-

The first thing I saw when my eyes opened was darkness.

My face was still buried into the oversized cushion; I had pins and needles in my legs, as I had curled them up into my usual sleeping position. I couldn't hear any noise; the boys must have probably all gone to sleep already, and they probably didn't want to wake me up.

At least they know what to do with a person prone to being cranky after waking.

I realized that I had fallen asleep. Guess I must've been more tired than I'd originally thought. My neck ached like crazy, and I have to commend myself to be able to breathe with my face pressed to the pillow like this.

I started to move, but then I realized there was somebody walking towards me. The footsteps were growing louder, then they stopped near me. A cold breeze wafted through the air, as a soft, cottony blanket covered me, and I felt someone's warm breath beside my face as he bent down.

I squeezed my eyes shut, not daring to make a single movement, pretending that I was still asleep.

"Sleep well, Kaitlyn," a voice whispered into my ear somewhat fondly, as a hand stroked the back of my head once, before the person got up and left.

My heart nearly stopped when I recognized the voice.

Lance. The voice belonged to Lance.

The Lance that usually spoke no more than one-worded replies, the Lance that preferred fictional humans to actual, living, breathing ones. The Lance that had strangely, been giving me compliments out of the blue.

Oh, boy.

Chapter Nine

You know, I never ever ever thought of Leo as you know, someone that could be interested in me and me interested in him and whatever, BUT.

Why is my heart beating so fast? Is it because I'm in shock? Or is it because I feel like I have a big fat floating banner on top of me that says, 'I'm so screwed but what the heck.'?

No. Stupid, silly Kaitlyn. Don't over-think it.

"You're... good at petting,"

Yeah, nice one Kaitlyn. Give yourself a pat on the back for the sorry attempt at breaking the awkward silence!

Beside me, Leo's body shook slightly in laughter as he chuckled. I stuck my bottom lip out and wrinkled my eyebrows in an attempt to sulk and pout with all my might. "What?" I asked defensively, looking up to glare at him.

"Nothing, it's just that...," Leo broke off into another round of chuckling, making me fume and seethe beside him.

"I'm sorry if I said something weird, okay?" I growled. God. It's like the universe is out to get me or something.

"No, it's not weird," Ooh. I like how he says 'weird'. It's so... British. Okay. I am not making any sense here. "It's quite endearing, actually,"

"Would you like me to castrate you?" I asked with a fake, sugary smile plastered on my face, "'Cause I can come up with many ways to do it. In fact, I'm pretty sure Google can give me at least a hundred and one ways,"

Leo pulled his arm away from my shoulders; I could see that pearly-white grin on his face. I really wanna smack it off right now.

"Looks like you're back to normal, Kaitlyn," he commented, moving back into the respectable distance away from me on the bench, "I like that smile. As fake as it may be, it's a sight better than that frown you had on,"

"What, because I look like less of a frog when I smile rather than frown?" I grumpily asked, toying with the plastic folder in my hands.

"Well, that and the fact that you're loads more prettier when you smile," Leo replied, winking at me.

I felt the temperature escalate; my neck warmed right up. The autumn breeze did nothing to cool my cheeks as another bout of silence hit us. I wondered what to say next.

"Kaitlyn, I-,"

Oh. Not that. I have a feeling that I don't really want to hear this. So...

I did the smart thing. I ran away from him.

-

I haven't been to any practice sessions for two weeks now. At least Asher listened to me and went home. I haven't seen hide nor tail of him or Evie since that Friday when they unexpectedly dropped by to 'bring me back'.

Yeah. Right. Like I'd actually believe that.

I'm pretty sure that I'm causing some troubles for the band right now, from my being absent. I checked the internet, and they haven't performed at all since I started avoiding them. Gabriel has tried talking to me, but I shook my head and left. I don't think any of them know why I'm really avoiding them.

I know. I'm a coward. I run away. That's my thing, you know?

On the first day of the third week of avoiding them, I was painting in the quiet simplicity of the art room. The door creaked open reticently, as if the intruder didn't want to disturb me. Too late. There's an odd brush stroke in my painting now. Dammit.

"Who's there?" I murmured while feeling annoyed, not tearing my eyes away from the canvas, "I'm busy and I booked this room beforehand, so whoever you are, if you don't have anything to do with me, please leave,"

"I do have some business with you, you know," a familiar voice broke through the three-second pause after my cold greeting. It sent tingles up my spine, and I put my paintbrush and palette down on the table. My cheeks prickled with heat.

"Leo," I said shortly, but not as cold as I thought it would seem. I sounded more like a strangled cat, actually.

Silence ensued as Leo sat on the edge of a chair near where I stood with my easel. The only sounds came from the radiator in the corner, a weird series of metal creaking that frankly made the silence all the more awkward.

"Er...sorry 'bout what happened the other day," Leo said hurriedly as he broke the silence, "I was-,"

"Joking? Playing?" I guessed with a small smile, knowing that obviously, whatever I had felt at that time meant nothing, "I know that, Leo. This is you we're talking about,"

My response caught the blonde off-guard. He confusedly tilted his head sideways before regaining composure. "You... aren't going to kill me or press charges against me or anything?" he asked, wariness edging his voice.

Well, he could just have a little bit more faith in me. I'm insulted. "No, you moron," my tone was dry, "In fact, I'd expect nothing less from you,"

Leo smiled at me apologetically. "That's true..." You know, he actually sounded rather wistful... or reluctant. I can't really tell which one it is.

"So, the air is cleared up, I suppose," I pulled my easel aside and pushed it against the wall, making sure the label with my name on was visible, "I feel really retarded now. I've been absent for two whole weeks because of something harmless like your frivolous comments,"

"To be fair, you were emotionally distressed at that time," Leo replied as we made our way out of the Arts and Language wing, "I was wrong to employ my usual people tactics right then,"

"True," I sniffed contemptuously, ignoring the throbbing that had started up again in the back of my mind, "People tactics? So you hit on men too? I wasn't aware that you went both ways, Leo,"

"Kaitlyn!"

-

We entered the spacious studio in the basement, where I could see Gabriel and Tyson deep in some intense conversation, Jordan sitting on an office chair with his feet on the coffee table, thumbs deftly jabbing the buttons on his PSP, Lance reading a new book and Jay frantically gabbering into his mobile.

All activities and noise ceased instantly and they all looked at the both of us.

"Er, hi."

-

After a somewhat civilized reunion with the boys, Leo and Gabriel went off early, to go book a venue of some sort for our next performance. Jordan was dozing on the recliner inside the recording booth, and Lance and Tyson had to attend to some family matters.

Jay, seated on the sofa, was staring off into space, absent-mindedly plucking at his guitar with his fingers. The glassy glaze over his green eyes was a sure indicator that he wasn't really paying attention to his surroundings; a frown formed on his brow.

Curious, I took a seat next to him.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, poking his back, "Pissed that I ran off without warning and avoided you guys for two weeks?"

Jay seemed to be startled, because he turned to me quickly, almost dropping his guitar. "N-no. Any reason I should say something?"

An oddly quiet and unresponsive Jay? His aberration is disturbing and spooky. It is, it is. Somehow, the absence of his signature cocky grin makes me miss it.

"You deal with that girl Evie yet?" he asked me unexpectedly, "And I heard from Leo that you met some guy called Asher. Your ex?"

Oh yeah. Evie. And Asher. How nice of him to remind me. Asshole.

"No, and I'd prefer if you didn't mention them again," I said curtly, turning my back on him, "And he's not my ex. He's my ex-best friend,"

"You know, if you don't deal with that problem right now, it might resurface soon again," Jay said, ignoring my request.

Despite the fact he had ignored what I said, he was right. I really had to deal with them. I can't just run away from my problems. But it's hard, you know, to face them after their betrayal. I can't even stand the sight of Evie's or Asher's faces anymore. It's hard like that.

"Anyways, Gabe managed to book a slot in a cafe with live entertainment. We're due there tonight. Be there at six, okay?" Jay stood up and crossed over to the door, "Well, unless you wanna wait here, you can leave now."

I watched him dumbly as he coolly opened the door and shut it as he left the studio. Not a word of insult, no Kitty, no nothing. I wonder what's wrong with him?

Well, I honestly can't be bothered right now. It's already four and I need to go home and get changed for the performance. Talk about last-minute.

-

I found myself dressed in jeans and a hooded sweater thrown over a t-shirt, since I really don't want to be all fancy like the last time. But believe me, my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when I saw the price tag of the clothes, especially the jeans.

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS! 

My old ones which Chace subsequently oh-so cleverly dumped into the recycle bin cost about thirty only.

I feel like I'm robbing Chace. He's giving me like, a new wardrobe of clothes every two days, and I can't keep up with all the clothes, so I had to give some to Goodwill and Aunt Elle.

Of course, I picked the not-so-attention-catching cat mask. After Chace found out that I was going under a tacky pseudonym, I received a box full of different kinds of cat eye-masks. Rhinestone-studded ones, ones that were entirely made of steel and ones with feathers and whatnot.

Well, he could have been discreet about it. I had to lie to Genevieve through my teeth that it was part of some non-existent art project I had at school, to which she responded with, "Well, you don't have to be embarrassed about trying to be like the Lightning Kitty. Everyone wants to be like her," and then flipped her hair and sashayed off somewhere.

I nearly burst a gut laughing after that. I mean, it's funny when people think I want to be like the Lightning Kitty, because I am the Lightning Kitty.

A lone figure stood outside the restaurant, which I assume has to be Jay, since he was the one who told me to be there. Only...

Why the hell is it that it's Evie who's standing there?

Evie was just about as surprised as I was, meaning, she had the same 'OMFG why the hell are you here?' look on her face.

Evie took up a sassy, don't-mess-with-me stance, while I stopped in my tracks, raising an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?" she said, giving me a sniff, as if I were some kind of anathema.

Well, I'm insulted. I just used my green apple shampoo and my cinnamon bath soap!

"Is is a crime to stop by a cafe in a town which I live in?" I asked her with an innocent look. Really, I should be the one asking her that question!

"Jayden told me he'd be here." Evie said smugly, "For me."

"And I care because...?"

"Don't you like him?" Evie asked as I caught her off-guard with my nonchalant question.

I sighed. Evie will always be Evie. "Look, just because he's my friend, it doesn't mean I'm physically or emotionally attracted to him,"

"Kaitlyn? Evie?"

Asher. The little clockwork wheels in my mind started turning as I started to make out why it seemed so suspicious that the three of us were here.

Of course. I should have known.

I turned around, ready to walk off, but I was obstructed by someone whom I suspect was the mastermind of this little encounter. Nosy Parker Jay. I grabbed his shirt and dragged him a few metres away from Evie and Asher, so that they wouldn't be able to hear what I was about to say to Jay.

"Jay, why the hell did you lie to me?" I asked him prodding his chest with the surreptitiously cloth-covered mask.

"Kitty, why the hell did you try to run away from your problems?" Jay asked back, his voice distinct and sultry. Guess the ol' Jay is back. "Don't run away. Talk things over with them. It will all be solved if you do."

"Right now, I can't face Evie, all right? And Asher, too," I said, feeling tears prickling at my eyes, "What they did to me, Jay, is not something that I can just throw to the back of my mind and forget about. They betrayed me, and didn't even try to tell me that they're in love with each other. They just chose to drop me and then blame me for dropping them. They broke our promise, Jay. They haven't even tried to apologize to me yet. How do you think I feel, huh?"

"Then tell them," Jay said simply.

I'm stumped. What does he mean by 'tell them'?

"Tell them what?" I asked, arching an eyebrow to question him.

Jay chuckled softly. "Well, kitty, what you just told me, of course!" he said, as if it were the most obvious - well, I suppose it is - thing in the world, "If you really feel that way, then tell them! Tell them how much they hurt you. You actually still love them, don't you?"

He's right. Although I have a certain amount of hate for Evie and Asher, I still love them. Maybe it's not hate. Maybe it's resentment. They used to mean the world to me. And maybe they still do right now.

"They don't love me," I muttered like a little spoilt child.

Insert another of Jay's annoying cryptic chuckles. "Kitty, my dear, if I remember correctly, I heard from the grapevine that that fellow, Asher, was the one who suggested to following you here, and he told you that he had fallen for you, didn't he?" he said, "And that girl who's so into me? She never said anything about hating you, now did she?"

Oh. He's right. But how he knows that my private encounter with Asher had included some rather sensitive things, I will never know. I distinctly remember omitting the part where Asher had confessed in my conversation with Leo, just only telling him about our promise.

I should be wary of stalkers next time. Jay probably has a gang of spies hiding in the shadows and reporting on my every move.

I can just vividly imagine an evil-looking Jay sitting on a plush boss chair, twirling his curly mustache with one hand and stroking an evil-looking persian cat with the other, with the black-clad-super-spies on the ground, saying, "Sir, we have come to report to you that Kaitlyn Hunter is currently in a conversation with her ex-best friend, who had romantic feelings for her,"

What? My mom always said I had a big imagination. I should volunteer myself to a movie-writing-company. Maybe Disney'll hire me!

Dream big, girl.

Jay's eyes softened as he took hold of my hand. "Look, I'll be right by your side, okay?" he assured me, "So go on. Tell them how you feel,"

Strangely comforted by the equally strangely mellow Jay, I determinedly walked up to my ex-best friends with my head held up high.

They looked at me strangely, and it wasn't until I saw Jay grinning from the corner of my eye that I realized why. Jay still had a hold on my hand, and I had adamantly declared that I had no feelings for him a few minutes ago.

With much difficulty, I snagged my hand off Jay's - who made it difficult just to annoy Asher, I suspect - and inhaled deeply.

"Evie, Asher," I began with a dramatic tone - What? If my life is going to be like Gossip Girl, might as well exaggerate it - to my voice, "Please let me speak first. I want to let you know how hurt I was when I saw the two of you together. I was shocked; betrayed. I didn't want to believe it at first, you know? I thought maybe I was just hallucinating, and when I look back again, I'd see something else..."

It's gone quiet now. Evie and Asher are looking at me intently. I snuck a look at Jay, who winked back at me and gave a discreet jerk with his head to tell me to go on.

"...but I didn't. I still saw the two of you, the two people whom I believed in most in the world, betraying me. I was heart-broken. My best friends breaking the pact we made. You didn't even try to contact me, to tell me that, "Hey, Kaitlyn, we're dating now. Is that okay with you?". Maybe I would've been okay with it, maybe I would've given you my blessings. But you didn't..."

I stopped, hesitantly bringing my eyes up to look at the two people standing in front of me. Evie and Asher, always so fabulous in appearance no matter the situation.

"Kaitlyn," Asher was first to reply, "I...I realized I never did apologize. I just wanted to say that I was sorry for all that I did, or didn't do that day," I looked up at Asher in surprise, "I'm sorry for not thinking things through that day," He cleared his throat, "For letting my emotions run away with me. I still love you. I really do."

Evie faced me, her cerulean eyes flashing with anger. "This is why I hate you! I've always hated you! I thought we could be the best of friends when we first met, I really did! But when you told me that you were with Asher, that was it! I hated you from then!" she screamed, "I love Asher more than you ever did! I've loved him since we were in kindergarten! I even applied to the same high school so that I could be with him!"

I was taken aback. I really was. I never knew that Evie had such strong feelings for Asher. Love, huh? I wonder if I'll ever feel that way.

For a surreal moment, I swear my eyes flickered over to Jay as I thought that. Goodness, I must be extremely stressed out as of lately.

Then, something clicked into place.

"Evie, I don't even like Asher in the romantic way anymore. I may have had felt the smallest of stirs, but being apart from the both of you has given me time to think. If you want Asher, I give you all my support," I told her firmly, before turning to Asher, "You still love me, but not that way, am I right?"

Asher swallowed, and stepped back as he nodded. "Yes. But how did you know?"

Evie's dark look of hatred morphed into one of confusion; her blue eyes were wide in question. I smiled, knowing what was going on in Asher's mind.

"Because, Asher, didn't I say I had time to think?" I explained slowly, carefully wording my thoughts, "I know you. You're an almost perfect human being, so it makes sense that you're basically faultless. You could never lead a girl on, it's just not you. You love me, but not the way that you used to think it was. You have feelings for me, but as a sister and a best friend,"

"I..." Asher was at a loss, he was probably shocked at my sudden flair of spiritual intelligence.

Well, believe me, Asher. So am I.

Even Evie is slightly taken aback; her pale eyebrows had shot up into her hairline. I could feel the warmth radiating off Jay beside me, and I was glad for it, because the autumn chill was getting to my bones. Maybe I should've worn a thicker coat or something.

"You love Evie," I decided to say, "But you just didn't know it, because you've known each other for such a long time. When I came, that was when I became a threat to Evie, and your feelings started to make sense to you,"

Asher had nothing to say, but he smiled as he shook his head in disbelief. "I always knew you were a rather astute girl," he sounded rather wistful. Honestly, I feel like I've been insulted. I am intelligent to certain degree, you know! "But to be able to read into me this much... I'm proud to have been able to call you my best friend,"

Evie, standing beside Asher, was shell-shocked. I wouldn't blame her - I would be too, if a childhood love has finally been reciprocated after so long. "Asher?" her voice was barely a whisper; it was as if she thought that if she were to speak in a louder voice, what had just happened would turn out to be an illusion.

Asher gave the blonde a sheepish smile, shoving his hands into his pockets like he always did when he was feeling shy. "I meant to tell you after we patched things up with Kaitlyn," he admitted, "Sorry it took so long for me to realize what I feel for you. I've been blind,"

"Damn straight," I put in unnecessarily, "Now I think it's time to kiss and make up!"

The two of them looked visibly startled by my brash suggestion; scandalized, even. I raised an eyebrow as Jay started to chuckle beside me. "What?" I asked defensively, "It's not like the two of you haven't kissed in front of a bunch of people before! And I was your best friend! There's nothing to be afraid of!"

Evie grinned; I'll admit that despite her shortcomings, she was still a good person. She was just sensitive, like all other girls. "As much as I would like to do so, I think we'll just take this new level of our relationship slowly," her eyes moved to look at Asher, "Just like the level before,"

Asher seemed to agree, but I was dissatisfied. "Fine, be like that," I stomped childishly, "Just don't forget to call me for your wedding!"

Evie gasped and aimed a smack at my arm, but I stepped back, laughing. Asher was furiously blushing now; he was always a shy one.

"Thank you, Kait. For everything," Asher sounded earnest, as he linked hands with Evie, "We'll miss you,"

"Bye. I'll e-mail you sometime," Evie promised with another smile.

I nodded as I waved at their retreating figures. Finally, the drama is done. Have I mentioned how much I hate confrontations? At least this one came out okay. Nice to know that I have finally done something right.

I heard sniffling beside me. What the-? Jay's crying!?

I saw Jay with his arms covering his face. "Oh please, that is so touching (insert sniffle), so melodramatic (insert sniffle), so sentimental (insert sniffle)," boy, his sniffles are getting on my nerves, "I can't help but cry!!"

"J-Jay?" I was incredulous.

Jay uncovered his face, grinning his impish grin. "Psyche!"

"You weren't crying??" I asked. Heh. I knew those sniffles were exaggerated. Who am I kidding? This guy's broken probably about billions of hearts by now. Jerk.

"Of course I am! My heart's practically flooding with tears right now," Jay said, the grin still lazily stretched across his handsome face.

"Sure it is," I said misanthropically.

"It is! It is!" he insisted, "It's bleeding too!"

"U-huh." I said, distracted by the cars whizzing by. I started for home and Jay followed.

"It's really bleeding, you know," Sudden change in tone. His voice was quiet.

"Sure, sure it is," I murmured, thinking of Evie and Asher. A small part of me was wondering why Jay suddenly seemed so serious. "Why?" I asked after a moment's thought.

Jay grinned again. "Nothing special!" he said, "I'll see you at school, all right? Kitty's gotta get some rest!"

I watched as Jay ran ahead of me, whistling a random, happy tune. I wonder why he had seemed so weird earlier today, and serious just now. Maybe he's having his own problems too?

I shook my head and laughed at myself. This is the number one seducer in Sandfields Academy. He can get any girl he wants with a click of his fingers. Who am I kidding?

He's certainly the last person I'd expect to have love problems of his own.

Chapter Eight

Reference: Taylor Swift's You Belong With Me is mentioned here. I lub this song! And mentions of Twilight, Edward Cullen and Bella Swann, Lucas Till and DAVID ARCHULETA!!!


-----------------------------------------------------

So tell me.

How does one describe the setting where you're seated on a sofa with two of your new friends, and two girls on the sofa opposite of yours, one who was your best friend?

Awk-ward.

Both Jay and Gabriel fidgeted uncomfortably next to me; Dakota had serenely given her brother a smile with a threateningly quiet, "Jay, Kaitlyn's your guest."

When someone emphasizes their last word like that, you obviously know what's going to happen to you if you happen to defy the order hidden among the sentence. Gabriel had decided to stay as well, instead of heading down to the recording basement because, well, Dakota's smile scared him too. To be honest, I'm quite frightened myself.

Fifteen-year-old girls who look like harmless lambs are not what they always seem to be, let me tell you.

Evie broke the silence first.

"You never said you were moving here," Evie said, her tone clipped and cold. Ouch? She's not as nice as the other Evie. The school nurse, I mean. Ms. Summers. Ms. Summers is way nicer and is not as catty as this Evie is.



I shrugged indifferently. "Well, you never asked. Besides, when I told you my parents were sending me to live with my aunt somewhere, you never replied,"

"I did reply," she sniffed, throwing back some of her hair over her shoulder.

Yeah. Well, your reply wasn't that much of a reply, was it? All the e-mail said was, "Oh. Too bad. You'll miss the awesome Back-to-School BBQ party that Tanya's throwing at the beach!"

Now you tell me, is that or is that not a proper reply when a person who has been your best friend for two years tells you they're moving!?



Exactly my point.

"What are you doing with him anyway?" she asked, directing her eyes towards Jay.

Ah. Jay. Always the centre of attention. Bloody limelight hog.

"We're acquaintances," Jay put in helpfully.



"He dragged me here against my will," I said dryly.



"Who are you, by the way?" Dakota, Jay's sister, asked. "You don't look like you're from around here,"

"I suppose you know my name already, but I'm Kaitlyn Hunter," I replied, smiling a polite smile. Well, I can't be rude to a person in her own house, now can I? Sans Jay, by the way. He's a special case. "The person your delightful and dear brother molested and kidnapped,"

Okay. So I lied about the etiquette. Doesn't everyone do that?

I looked at Evie again. "Why are you here anyway?" I asked, because I really was curious, "It's not summer holidays anymore. They are way long over."


"Asher insisted on coming to look for you, since it's Friday and we have no school tomorrow," she muttered, "And he left me at some nasty little random chain restaurant to look up your address, and that's when I met Dakota, who then brought me here,"

"Asher did?" I echoed, dumbfounded.

Gabriel elbowed me lightly in the ribs. "Kaitlyn!" he whispered into my ear, "Who's Asher?"

Good question. I did say that I had friends and a best friend in Boston, but I guess I forgot to mention something else.

Something like, my other best friend?



Evie, who was the queen of gossip back at our high school, earned her title by being able to hear just about anything and transmitting anything interesting to anyone who passes by. Actually, now that I think about it, I can't believe I was ever BFFs with her. Woe is me, truly.


"Who's Asher?" she gave me a pointed look; her eyes reminded me of my homeroom teacher, "I can't believe you would just bury Asher like that. What kind of sick b-person are you?"



Sick person? I'll bet everything I have that she was gonna say sick bitch. Oops. Pardon my language.

"Says the person who chose a party over someone who was supposed to be her best friend," I muttered, standing up, "Forget it. I'm leaving,"

I stormed out of the room and mansion.


-

I felt pretty bad later, though. Leaving just like that, unannounced. I did promise the guys that I'd record with them and stuff, but I broke it. I stared at the folder containing lyrics of all the Lightning Devils' songs. Maybe I am a bitch, for being so mean like that. I can't really face Evie now, or Asher for that matter.



"Kaitlyn??"

Speak of the devil. I glanced up and got a shock. A dirty-blond-haired guy with cognac-colored eyes looked at me as if he were seeing an apparition of me. Asher.

Memories that I created with him and Evie came flooding back into my mind, a dam that I created whilst packing my things and crying, broken open.



"Asher?"

Asher, as heartbreakingly handsome as always, gazed at me, his jaws wide open. "I can't believe it... I found you! You're alive!"


"Uh, Asher, I moved. Not died,"

Bless my sarcasm to always work, even in the most sombre of situations.

I stood up from the bench I was sitting on, and started walking away. Well, tried to walk away. Asher caught my arm. "Are you avoiding me?" he asked me incredulously, "After all I did coming all the way to this place to look for you?"

"I never asked you to," I reasoned with a snide tone, taking a few steps away from Asher. I'm not taking any chances with a very emotional guy.

Asher Greene, a perfect male specimen standing at five foot nine; hair like the sandy dunes and liquid amber eyes. A package of a male model. An All-American Golden Boy with stellar achievements who is every parent's dream child. My… best guy friend.



I know what you all are thinking. What a waste, isn't it?



"Kaitlyn..." Asher had that sad puppy look on his face that never failed to capture the hearts of girls who are into sensitive guys; his brows knitted together and his eyes were large and sorrowful. He stepped closer towards me. Damn it. His arms are reaching out towards me!

I don't like it.

It's kinda creepy, somehow.

"What are you doing here anyway?" I asked, laughing nervously. Not good.

Asher stopped his advances towards me, but he still had his eyes locked into a steady gaze with mine. "I came to bring you back,"

Well, he's as straight-to-the-point as usual.



"Well, you can't," I answered, "Because this is where I'm supposed to live now,"

"But we all miss you..."

Yeah. Sure. Sure you do.

"Uh-huh...so that explains why I watched you and Evie kiss the day I was supposed to leave?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, "Quite strange, considering the fact that, oh, I don't know, you told me that you had fallen for me?"



That caught him there.

 Asher's eyes grew wider in shock.

"H-how did you-?" he sputtered.

"I was there," I deadpanned, "I dropped by the beach so I could say goodbye since none of you bothered to send me off at the airport, so I decided to say goodbye there. Instead of doing so, what did I see my ex-best friends do but kiss? The both of you broke our promise."



"It wasn't intentionally, I swear. We were drunk," Asher put in; there was a slightly desperate tone to his voice.

"Passionately, might I add?" I said. Even though I feel hurt, it felt kind of good too, to finally let it all out into the open. "Both of you seemed perfectly sober. As far as I'm concerned, I'm pretty sure Tanya is very much against alcoholic drinks since that accident her boyfriend had. So I'm sure there wasn't anything to make you guys drunk and kiss behind my back,"



"But if you just let me explain-!"

"I do not want to hear anything from a big, fat, frickin' liar!" I seethed, silencing Asher with my outburst.

A few quiet minutes crawled by, as he obviously had nothing to say to my rage, and I sighed. I wanted to get out of here. 

"Please, go home with Evie and don't ever come back," I said softly, and walked away from him, "Do me a favor. Bye."

-



To be honest, I was feeling pretty down after that. I went to another park; this time I made sure there was no one I knew present before I sat on a bench and huddled there, listening to my iPod. Taylor Swift and David Archuleta both helped me with their songs when I first felt the stabs of betrayal and hurt.

'It rains when you're here, it rains when you're gone, and I was there when you said forever and always...'

As I listened to Taylor's voice, I vividly imagined my own life back in Boston. I really should clarify a few things here.


Evie and Asher had been my world; they had been the best friends I ever had. My parents' jobs required a lot of moving around, since they were both writers. They needed to go to places for inspiration and research; all that author-y stuff. So when they finally decided, "Enough! We shall settle down in Boston!", I was mad for joy.

I always referred to Boston as my home. We had never settled down longer in any other place than Boston. Come to think of it, I don't even know where my real hometown is.



Evie had been the first person to talk to me, to tell me where the best places around were. She was the popular one, the one that guys always wanted to ask out. Evie had dismissed the fact that the both of us had been completely different people with two different personalities that didn't match. She had been my best friend.



She was the one who had introduced me to Asher. We hit it off instantly, because of our mutual interest in many things. Asher was always the one who helped me get through the tough times at school, like the time when I had forgotten to study for a test and he helped me cram by giving me quick notes he'd make especially for me, or when the time he had filled in for me when I got sick and was unable to help the cheerleading squad be their mascot.

It just happened - how, I do not know - but I found that I was increasingly attracted to Asher. Who wouldn't, though? He's a frickin' real-life Gary Stu. Then, he had admitted that he had fallen for me, a week before I found out that I was moving. I had been happy, I guess, knowing that my feelings could be reciprocated despite the long distance.

But we had an agreement. The three of us would still be best of friends; nothing in the equilibrium of our friendship was going to change. We would suppress any different kind of feeling for the sake of our friendship.

I suppose I had been played. Made fun of. Ridiculed. Lied to. Seriously, I can't believe I ever actually thought that Asher had been telling the truth, and that Evie had kept her promise, even for a second. I shouldn't have; it was impossible.


Despite knowing that, I was unable to accept the fact that the two people whom I trust the most betrayed me like that. My two best friends. Unconsciously, my eyes started to tear up.

"Kaitlyn?"

I looked up to the familiar voice. Leo. He looked at me with his startling blue eyes; his golden eyebrows furrowed. He looks concerned... I think.


What?? He may be mad at me for ditching them, you know. I know I would. It's rude to ditch without informing people involved in said ditching.



"What are you doing here?" I asked him, hastily wiping away my tears, trying to look as casual as possible. I trained my puffy eyes on the folder, hoping that I passed off as nonchalant.

Leo took a seat beside me on the bench.

"Well, when I showed up at Jay's place with the other guys, he told me that you left suddenly..." he trailed off, "Why?"

Trying to look like I am not sad: Epic, collosal FAIL.



I shook my head, hugging my knees tightly to my chest. "It's...kinda complicated to explain,"



Leo smiled. "I can do complicated,"



Wow. This is so... Twilight. It's like, I'm Bella, he's Edward, Edward asks Bella about her life, she says it's complicated. Edward can do complicated too, you know?

"Are you quoting Edward Cullen?" I asked, a smile itching at the corners of my mouth. It's kind of stupid, yet funny, at the thought of the suave Leo quoting a sparkly vampire off a movie, "That is so lame,"



Leo chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Well, you caught me there," he admitted, "My sister asked me to watch the Twilight saga with her yesterday. She practically had me strapped and chained back into a chair while re-watching the movies five times. It was hell, considering the fact I only got two hours of sleep before I had to get ready for school,"


Ah. That explains why I bumped into him this morning.

"Must've been agony," I commented while making a face, "Watching the same movies over and over again,"

"You do not want to know what other movies she had me watching the other day,"

"Try me," I challenged.



"Then you tell me what's up first," he replied.

Well...



"The girl with Dakota is my ex-best friend," I confessed, "And I just met my other ex-best friend not too long ago,"



And then I started blabbing everything.



I know. I can't believe myself either. Pouring my heart out to a guy who's notorious for breaking girls' heart? Something is very wrong with me. But still... it's kind of refreshing.


"Well, Kaitlyn, I must say, if they came looking for you, maybe there's this little thing that's bugging their subconscious," Leo said in a sagely manner, after I was finally done ranting, "Maybe they want you to forgive them? You could have been mistaken about your notions for their actions, and they want to explain it to you,"


"But I just can't..." I said softly, staring at the sky. Clouds swathed the twilight sky; a faint dull ache starting throbbing at the back of my mind. Oh God, this is so scene-off-a-movie-ish.

"I'm pretty damn sure you can," came Leo's reply, "After all, this is the girl that called Asher a 'big fat frickin' liar', we're talking about,"

A bubble of laughter escaped from me; I couldn't help it. It sounded pretty darn silly when I think about it, acting like a kid and calling Asher something like that. How much more classier can I get?

"Well, you have to face them at some point of your life," Leo reasoned, as I faced him again. A smile played at his lips. "Might as well do it now."

"I trusted the both of them so much, but they backstabbed me," I said bitterly, "How would you feel if someone did that to you? Literally? I could demonstrate if you'd like,"



At this point, both of us were looking right into each other's eyes. You know, to make my point come across clearly. It is strictly for that matter and NOT romantic. At. All.

Well... I'm having second thoughts on that one.

As I buried my face into my arms again, Leo reached out, and stroked my head comfortingly. I could feel the temperature within me rise, as I processed the fact that he was touching me and I had not screamed yet.

What is wrong with me?