Chapter Ten

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

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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.