“Hey, what’s your address again?”

I looked up from my book, a scowl at the ready.  I knew I should have gone inside right away.  I should have just gone inside and read at my desk.  But no, I decided to sit outside on the wall until the five minute warning bell rang.  And now I was paying the price for my stupidity.

“Can you go antagonize someone else?”

Dannon grinned, plopping down beside me, apparently not getting the fact that I wanted him to leave me alone.  Though, when did he?  “I would, but I need to know what your address is.”

“And why is that?” I drawled, flipping to the next page of my book.  I began reading, trying my best to ignore that Dannon was sitting right next to me.  It didn’t really work out very well.

“For the barbeque.”

I looked up, my eyebrows rising.  “The barbecue’s tomorrow,” I said stupidly.

Dannon brought a hand through his hair.  He let his hand drop and began playing with a strap of his bag’s backpack, apparently find it incredibly amusing.  I watched him silently, wondering if he was going to sit there all day or answer me.  “I know,” he said finally, looking up at me.  He smiled slightly.  “But apparently you guys have to get a really early start and your mom thought . . . .”

I felt dismay make its way into my voice as I muttered, “She didn’t.”

I looked at Dannon, petrified.  Had my mom invited him to sleep over tonight?  What happened to her morals?  Wasn’t she worried that something might happen between Dannon and I while she and my dad were sleeping?  Sure, I knew nothing would happen, and so did Dannon, but weren’t my mom and dad under the impression that Dannon and I were like . . . together?

But, then again, they hadn’t really talked about Dannon and me all week.  For the most part it was, “How’s Dannon doing?”  or “So what did you and Dannon do at school today?”  It surprised me, to be honest.

Dannon bit his lip.  Whether it was to keep himself from smiling or something else entirely, I didn’t know.  “Uh . . . she kinda did.”

I snapped my book shut and slipped it into my backpack.  There was no point in trying to read it now.  I wouldn’t be able to concentrate.  “I can’t believe her,” I grumbled, shaking my head.  I glanced at him.  “Why didn’t you say no?”

I wished, not for the first time since I woke up this morning, that Kyla was here.  Despite our obvious differences in views about this whole apple-situation, at least she’d make this problem more bearable.  But no, she had a test she didn’t want to deal with today, so she told her mom she felt faint and stayed in bed.

Now, if I tried that, my mom would laugh in my face.  But no, Kyla got away with it because her mom was cool like that.

Dannon shrugged.  “It wouldn’t be fair to your mom to make it harder on her.”

I sighed deeply, glancing toward the school building.  The crew stood there, chatting like they usually did.  It seemed like there was a hole.  Which made sense, since their insufferable little leader was sitting next to me.  “Why don’t you go to your friends?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow in his direction.

Dannon stared at me for a moment before answering.  “I need your address.  For the third time, by the way.”

shot him an I’m-so-not-impressed expression before sighing.  “Twenty-seven Oakhill Avenue.”

Dannon smiled, taking a pen out of his bag and jotting my address onto his hand.  Apparently his memory was faulty enough to the point where he’d forget throughout the day.  Though, I couldn’t really judge him on that.  I was worse.

“Thank you,” he said after he finished off the E on “Avenue” and put his pen back in his bag.  He sighed contently, looking over at me.  “So, how are you getting home?”

“Walking,” I replied, looking up at the sky.  Since Kyla had decided to stay home today, and I didn’t have a car—not to mention didn’t have my license—I was stuck on foot.  There was no bus that went on my street since I’d been getting rides since the beginning of middle school, otherwise I would have dealt with the loud, obnoxious girls and boys and gotten a ride home.

“Not anymore you’re not.”  Dannon grinned.  “I’ll give you a ride.”

looked at him from the corner of my eye.  Even though it’d be awesome not to have to walk, I hated the prospect of having another ride from him.  “But—”

“No buts!” Dannon smiled playfully, kicking his legs back and forth.

I sighed deeply.  “Whatever,” I muttered, standing up.  I grabbed my bag and headed inside without a second look back.

| It ♥ All ♥ Started ♥ With ♥ An ♥ Apple |

I pushed the entrance door open, stepping out of the school building.  I sped-walked over to a bench in front of the parking lot, flopping onto it and pulling out my cell phone.  It was silent for once—something that I quite enjoyed.  That was what I loved about free period.  I had the right to come outside and just . . . chill.

Or, in this case, call my mom and ask what the hell she was thinking by inviting a certain someone to sleep over our house. 

I dialed my mom’s number and brought the phone to my ear.  I tapped my phone as I impatiently waited for her to pick up.  Each tap sounded extremely loud, making me feel kind of obnoxious.  That was the only thing I hated about being alone in a wide, open area.  You sounded a lot louder than you actually were.

“Hello?”

My mom’s voice coming through the receiver tore me away from my reverie.  I blinked, leaning back on the bench before replying.  “Mom.”

“Daughter.”

I stared up at the sky.  It was brighter than usual—so bright that it hurt my eyes.  That was probably because there were barely any clouds today.  Only one or two dotted the scenery like little pricks made by a needle.  Except, you know, a little bigger.  “Is there a reason you invited Dannon to sleep over tonight?”

I looked around, making sure no one was around.  If word got around that Dannon Barone was sleeping over my house . . . well, let’s just say, the fangirls would attack me.  If not with questions, then with their long, manicured claws.

“You know we have to leave early for Jill’s,” she replied nonchalantly, as if she’d decided what brand of milk to buy at the store.

“And you couldn’t have offered to pick him up on the way?” I asked, picking at a wrinkle in my jeans. 

“It’s more convenient this way,” my mom reasoned calmly.  “Dannon said he didn’t mind.”

My eyebrows knitted together as a thought occurred to me.  “How’d you even get his number?”

“I hit redial.”  She grinned.  “You two must have been on the phone last night.”

I thought back to last night and shuddered.  Dannon had called, asking for information about the barbecue.  I didn’t know what kind of information he was looking for, really.  What was there to tell?  There would be my family, hot dogs, hamburgers, and probably some chicken burgers.  What else was there to know?

Well, apparently, a lot.  Because, you know, food wasn’t the only thing that mattered.  Apparently.

I sighed deeply, bringing a hand through my hair.  “Next time, can you not do that?” I demanded, dragging my hand down my face.

“Not promising anything!” she sang.

I was about to question her further, but she decided to hang up on me before I could.  I pulled the phone away from my ear.  Scowling at it.  Really, Ma?  Really?  It was incredibly rude to hang up on someone, let alone your daughter.

I let out a long breath of air, shutting my phone and leaning forward, resting my chin in my hands.  I had no motivation to go back inside, though I probably should have.  Class was going to end in twenty minutes—if that.   And I’d left my stuff inside, promising the teacher I’d be back in a few minutes.  So, I really had to go back inside.

I braced myself to stand up.  I guessed I’d head in now.  There was no point in staying out here.

“Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?”

I jumped, looking down at my phone.  In one swift movement, I picked it up, flipping it open, and bringing it up to my ear.  I stood up, patting my pants with my free hand.  “Hello?”

“Bri!” Kyla called.  “What’s up?”

I twisted around, facing the parking lot.  “Great, thanks,” I muttered sarcastically.

You just have to live through tonight and tomorrow and then it will all be over, I thought to myself.  And I didn’t even have to go through tomorrow alone.  Kyla had quickly agreed to go to the barbecue once I begged her not to make me go alone.  And, maybe if I played my cards right, she could come over tonight!  That way I’d have someone to endure my torture with.  Well, I’d be the only one really enduring it.  But still, it was nice not to have to go through it alone.

Kyla laughed.  “Look who’s cheery today.”

“Wow, you sound really sick,” I drawled, my eyebrows rising.  “Deathly ill.”

“Right?”  Kyla giggled.  “I’m feeling much better.”

I sighed deeply, not able to contain the small smile fighting its way on my lips.  “You do know that the test was only ten questions, right?  And then she ended up saying it was just a pretend test and threw it out.”

Kyla was silent for a moment.  I stared out into the parking lot, mentally calculating how many cars were parked there, waiting patiently for her to answer.  And then, so suddenly that I jumped, she burst out laughing. “Well, then I had an hour to watch Spongebob Squarepants while you guys were tortured for nothing!” she exclaimed, laughing her ass off like a maniac.

I laughed shortly, shaking my head.  “Oh, by the way,” I said, twisting around in circles, “you’re sleeping over tonight.”

My mom wouldn’t mind.  Hopefully.  Oh well, she invited Dannon without my permission.

“Okay.”

I cocked an eyebrow.  “You’re not even going to ask why?”

Kyla sighed dramatically.  I could imagine her kicked back on her bed, her legs dangling in the air as she challenged herself to keep them in the air as long as she could.  It was something she often did while she was on the phone, especially when she was home.  “I just thought that it was because you loved me.”  She sniffed.  “I assumed there wasn’t any particular reason.”  She paused.  “Is there a reason?”

I paused before telling her.  On one hand, I wanted her to know about Dannon sleeping over so that she could mentally prepare herself.  I didn’t need her fainting in the doorway.  But, then again, I didn’t need her screaming in my ear.

“Bri,” Kyla whined. “Tell me!”

I bit my lip.  “My mom invited Dannon to sleep over,” I confessed, bringing a hand through my hair.

Silence.

Huh.  That was strange.  I expected her to scream, to shout, to exclaim.  She flipped out when he called.  So, naturally, you would think that he residing in my home for a night would bring some excitement, right?

“Holy shit!”  Kyla shrieked.  “No way!”

Well, it took longer than expected, but there it was.

“Yes way,” I mumbled, scratching an itch on my forehead. 

I glanced back at the front door, antsy to get inside now.  What if I got in trouble for taking too long?  I was never one to get in trouble at school.  I was a senior and I’d never once gotten spoken to by a teacher.  So, I really didn’t want to ruin that now.

“This is going to be so fun!” Kyla squealed.

Fun?  I didn’t think so . . . . “I’ve got to go,” I said softly, kicking at a few loose pieces of tar.  “I’ve gotta get back to class.”

“All right!”  Kyla giggled.  “I’ll see you tonight.”

I hung up the phone, darting back inside, turning my phone off as I did.

| It ♥ All ♥ Started ♥ With ♥ An ♥ Apple |

I huffed, slamming Dannon’s car’s door shut as I sat down in the passenger’s seat.  I threw my bag off my shoulders, letting it fall carelessly to the ground.  I crossed my arms over my chest irritably.  Dammit.  I’d been so close.  So close!

Dannon tossed his bag into the backseat before slipping into the driver’s seat, sliding the keys into the ignition.  He grinned, apparently amused by my annoyance.  I swallowed down the urge to snap at him.  “I told you I was giving you a ride, Bri,” he said as he put the car into reverse, that ridiculous smile still on his face.

I grumbled under my breath, looking out the window.  I’d attempted to sneak past him so I could walk home.  It had been such a stealthy plan.  I asked one of his fangirls what his last period was and made sure to avoid it on my way out of the building.  I’d made it to the parking lot, up toward the street, and then—

Dannon was there, leaning on his car and laughing.  He’d grabbed my arm lightly in his hand, told me that he knew I was going to try and sneak past him, and then pulled me toward his car, ignoring me as I complained the whole way.

“You couldn’t have just let me walk home?” I demanded, not for the first time.

I turned, deciding to look at him now.  Dannon glanced at me, his eyes alight with amusement.  I glowered.  I really didn’t like him.  At all.

“It would have been awkward if I got there before you,” he pointed out as we headed down the street.

Well, that was true.  I bit my lip to keep from laughing as I imagined my mom inviting him in and talking his ear off as they sipped at some tea in little teacups.  And then, my mom would make him put on a pretty little dress and a bonnet so they could be practical ladies as they gossiped.

Damn.  My imagination was crazy.

“You know what?” I drew out.  “I think we should pick you up in the morning!”  I smiled at the thought.  “Yes, great idea.  Don’t you agree?”

Dannon shook his head, letting out a laugh.  He brought a hand through his hair, glancing at me.  “And put your mom through all that trouble?  I don’t think so.”

I fumed silently for a moment, looking out the window.  I didn’t see what the problem would be picking him up in the morning.  So it was a short detour—so what?  It wasn’t like he lived that far from us.  He couldn’t have.  He lived in the city, didn’t he?  Otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to school with us in Lewiston.

Though, didn’t some families make it so they went to school in other cities just so they wouldn’t have to separate from their friends when they moved?

“Where do you live?” I inquired, shooting him a curious look from the corner of my eye.

“Why?”

I shrugged, arching back against the seat.  “Just wondering.”

A small smile playing on his lips, Dannon murmured, “I like on the outskirts of town.”

The outskirts of town?  Huh.  I’d never pictured him as someone living out there.  I’d always thought that he lived in the middle of everything—just like in school.  Maybe on Main Street.  But, then again, I’d never been to the outskirts of town.  It could be just as busy as Main Street . . . maybe.

“What’s it like?” I asked, truly curious. 

Dannon grinned, tapping his hands on the steering wheel to the beat of a song I didn’t recognize.  Or maybe it wasn’t even to a song.  Maybe it was a tap-the-steering-wheel song of his creation.  “Well, there’s a dirt road and trees.  And my house.”

I stared at him.  “Very descriptive.”

“I try.”

We lapsed into silence.  Dannon looked out at the road, because, you know, he was driving, and I looked out the passenger window.  Unlike all the other times it was silent, this silence wasn’t awkward.  In fact, I kinda enjoyed it.

Who would have known that I could enjoy such a peaceful silence with a boy I despised and never shut up?

| It ♥ All ♥ Started ♥ With ♥ An ♥ Apple |

“Dannon, hon, what would you like to drink?”

Dannon and I simultaneously looked up from our card game of Uno.  I had none-too-happily agreed to play when my Mother Dearest kindly informed me that if I wasn’t nice, I was going to be grounded until I was a hundred—which was apparently the minimum.

As much as I loved the prospect of living until I was a hundred, I didn’t want to spend all those year grounded.

“Sure,” Dannon murmured with a smile.

My mom leaned against the kitchen’s doorway, a content smile on her face.  She had her arms crossed lightly over her chest as she stared down at us lying on the living room floor.  To be honest, her expression was kind of creeping me out.  “What would you like?” she asked.

Dannon smiled politely.  “Water, please.”

I discreetly scrunched my face up in disgust.  Ew.  I hated water.  It was so plain.

My mom seemed to agree with me because she stood there, staring at him for a moment before saying, “Water?  Oh, all right.”  With a shocked expression on her face, she pushed herself off the doorway and disappeared into the kitchen.

Dannon glanced at me before setting down a card.  “Why did she sound surprised that I wanted water?”

I looked through my cards, mentally cursing when I didn’t have one that could go on top of his.  That was how it’d been this entire game.  He’d set down a card; I’d draw one.  He’d set down another card; I’d draw another one.  I royally sucked when it came to games.  I could just never win.

“Everyone in my house despises water,” I explained.

“Ah.”  Dannon grinned, setting down a card.  “Uno.”

I looked down at my cards, cursing out loud this time.  I had a good twenty cards in my hand, no thanks to my crappy luck and his Draw Two cards.  And, despite all that, there wasn’t a single move that I could make.  I didn’t have any blues.  Nor did I have any nines.  Crazy, right?  What was even crazy was I didn’t even have a Wild Card.

I sighed, reaching over for what felt like the thousandth time and plucking another card from the pile.

Dannon laughed, shaking his head.  “Out of all the cards in your hand, you don’t have a single one that could go on top of that?”

I grumbled under my breath, flashing him my cards.  They weren’t anything pretty.  A bunch of yellows, a couple greens, and one red.  It was depressing, really.  “Nope.”

Dannon cocked an eyebrow, dropping his final card onto the pile.  He chuckled, cheering, “I win!” in a delighted voice.

I dropped my hand of cards onto the pile of pretty much just his cards, groaning.  “I hate card games,” I muttered. 

Dannon scooped up the pile of cards and set them neatly inside the card box.  I watched, unable to comprehend how he had enough patience to make sure they were orderly before putting them in.  I would have just shoved them into the box, not caring if the cards bent or not.

Yeah, I hated card games that much.

“Sore loser,” Dannon teased after all the cards were secured inside the box.  He handed it to me, a smile on his face.  I took it from him, irritably tossing it onto the couch.  If the couch were to spontaneously catch on fire, I’d laugh and watch the cards burn.  And then, after realizing that the fire was extremely dangerous, I’d scream and run out of the house with the rest of my family—and Dannon.  Unless Dannon had a sudden suicidal moment and stayed inside.  That would work too.

A sharp knock cut off any further thought about the demise of Dannon and the dreaded Uno cards.  I looked up, a bright smile spreading across my lips.  I hopped up, running across the living room, skidding to the front door.  I threw open the door, screaming, “Kyla!”

Kyla stood in the doorway, her arm raised, ready to knock again.  She was in her pajamas already—pink polka-dotted shorts and a white tank top.  She’d probably never gotten out of them today.  Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun, something she always did when she was getting ready in a hurry.  “Brianne!” she shouted back, grinning as she chucked her sleeping stuff in my face.  I caught it at ease, holding it to my side.

She strutted into the house, swaying her hips dramatically from side to side.  I bit my lip, holding in a laugh as she entered the living room and froze.  I shut the door, following her in.  She looked petrified—as though she was going to faint on the spot.  Maybe it was because she’d just shaken her butt in front of Dannon.

“Hey!” Dannon called cheerfully, giving a small wave of the hand.  He’d sat up now that our card game—well, basically his—was over, facing the entrance of the living room.

Kyla waved back slightly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks and the back of her neck.  “H-hey,” she muttered.  She began discreetly fixing her hair to be more presentable.  Well, if could even call it discreet.  Frantically patting your head to get any frizz off didn’t exactly count as discreet.

“So what are you guys doing?” she murmured, regaining her composure as she plopped onto the couch.

“We just got done playing Uno,” Dannon replied.

I glared at the pack of cards on the couch.  I hated them.  So much.  With a sigh I trotted over to the couch and sat next to Kyla, pushing the cards as far away from me as I possibly could.  I looked up, cocking an eyebrow when I saw Dannon staring at me.  Apparently something in my expression was hilarious, because he started laughing.  “What?” I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest. 

Dannon contained his laughter, attempting—and failing—to make a straight face.  “Nothing.”

Kyla laughed at us, making one last lame attempt at fixing her hair before giving up.  She smiled.  “Well, what are you guys doing now?” she pressed, looking between us.

Dannon and I both shrugged simultaneously, saying, “Nothing.”

Kyla grinned, standing up and pointing at me.  I stared at her, not liking that excited expression on her face.  There was something devilish behind her smile, something evil lurking behind her eyes.  Translation?  She was about to suggest something that I would not appreciate.

“I have a solution!” she exclaimed.

Suddenly I knew.  My face fell and my confused expression turned to one as dread.  No.  No, no, no.  No!  I refused to—

“We’ll play—”

Don’t say it . . . Don’t say it . . .

“—hide and seek!”

She said it.

I groaned, letting my head fall back as I closed my eyes.  Dammit.  She was obsessed with this game.  It was like the five-year-old in her never left.  Whenever she was over she would ask me to play and pout when I said no.  I always refused.  And now she was resolving to ask Dannon.  Which, by the way, was an ultimate low.  Dannon wouldn’t say no.  I knew he wouldn’t.

“Hide and seek?” Dannon chuckled, standing up and fixing his shirt.  “Haven’t played that in a while.”  He smiled in Kyla’s direction.  “I’m in.”

See?

Kyla squealed, jumping up and clapping her hands.  I stared at her blankly, wondering what on earth had happened to her as a baby to make her this way.  “Brianne, you count first!” she exclaimed, grabbing my hand.  She attempted to pull me up from the couch, failing miserably.

I shook her hand off, letting my arm fall back onto the couch.  “But I don’t want to play!” I whined, pursing my lips. 

Kyla huffed, her hands going on her lips.  She glanced at Dannon for a moment before turning back to me.  A mischievous smile played on her lips, her eyes alight with that same evil gleam.  I watched her, warily waiting for whatever she had to say.  “You have to,” she said finally, smiling sweetly.  “I could always go home.”

In an instant I was standing, glaring at her.  “What am I counting till?”

Kyla’s smile grew.  “We’re playing outside.”

Great.  That only made it worse.  Outside wasn’t exactly my thing.  I’d rather stay inside all day and read the many books on my bookshelf.  Inside was safe, clean, and quiet.  Just the way I liked it.

Outside?  Not so much.

I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest.  “That’s not Hide and Seek,” I felt the need to point out even though it made no difference what so ever.  “That’s Man Hunt.”

Kyla rolled her eyes, moving toward the front door.  “Whatever.  Let’s go already!”

| It ♥ All ♥ Started ♥ With ♥ An ♥ Apple |

“ . . . ninety-nine, one-hundred!” I bellowed, pissed the I was outside in the dark with nothing to help me see except for a pathetic little flashlight that kept clicking out on me because the batteries were probably dying.  Wouldn’t you know it, my mom, being the wonderful mother she was, decided to be oh-so-helpful and supply us with the flashlight.  But not before giving Dannon his precious water of course.

I stood up from my spot on the porch and began walking around the house, grumbling not-so-pleasant things under my breath.  Where were they supposed to hide anyway?  There wasn’t much.  There was a tree.  A puny garden that was almost completely dead because my mom’s gardening skills were as depressing as her cooking skills.  A car.  Those just screamed out hiding places, didn’t they? 

“All right, where the hell are you, children?” I yelled, not caring if the neighbors heard or not. 

turned around the corner, heading toward the back yard, and stopped dead in my tracks.

I tilted my head to the side, my eyes narrowed.  What the hell was he doing?

Dannon was sprawled out in the middle of the back yard motionless.  I crept forward, keeping the flashing light positioned on him.  I waited for him to twitch, to squirm under the light, but he didn’t.  As I walked over to him, he just . . . lied there. 

Finally I reached him.  I lifted my foot from the ground, tapping his shoe slightly with the tip of my sneaker.  “Dannon, what the heck are you doing?”

His eyes twitched open for a moment before quickly closing again.  “You can’t see me.”

I stood there for a moment, very confused.  “Uh?”

“I’m blending in with the grass,” he explained, his lips twitching into a small smile.  “Therefore I am invisible.”

I laughed, unable to help myself.  “Yeah, okay.”

“Good.  Now that we understand each other, you may leave.”

I stared at him for a long moment before kicking him slightly.  He twitched, grinning.  I kicked him again.  Another twitch and grin.  Huh.  Was he ticklish there?  I was about to test this theory, but at that moment he decided to open his eyes and sit up.  Hmph.  I was looking forward to kicking him again.  “You’re strange,” I said instead of kicking him.

Dannon smiled.  “I know.”

“Where’s Kyla?” I inquired, glancing around the yard, hoping to spot her.  I didn’t, though. 

Dannon held out his hand, and I grabbed it, struggling to pull him up.  I wasn’t exactly strong—I mean it wasn’t like I went to the gym and worked out all the time to keep my muscles strong.  Dannon seemed to find my lack of strength amusing, for he was laughing his ass off.  I glared, tempted to drop him.  That would amuse me.

“I don’t know,” Dannon replied once he was finally standing on his own.  “She laughed at me and then ran to hide.”

I groaned.  Great.  Kyla only loved this game so much because she was amazing at it.  No matter how many people were looking for her, she didn’t get found until she wanted you to find her.  She could be hiding in the most obvious of spots and you still wouldn’t spot her.  She was like a genius in that sense. 

“Great,” I muttered as we finished a complete circle around the house.  “This is just great.”

“What?” Dannon asked curiously, shoving his hands into his pockets, teetering on his heels.

“We’ll be looking for her for hours,” I muttered, bringing a hand through my hair.  The flashlight flickered off for a moment and then turned on, sputtering out life. 

Dannon smiled mischievously.  “Why don’t we go inside and wait for her to notice that we’re not looking for her?”

I stared at him, agape.  “That’s probably the meanest thing you said,” I murmured, my eyes wide.  “I love it.”

| It ♥ All ♥ Started ♥ With ♥ An ♥ Apple |

“I was waiting out there for two hours, and you guys were in here watching a movie?”

Dannon and I spun around from our spots on the couch.  Kyla stood there glaring with her hands on her hips.  We glanced at each other and grinned.  Dannon had put on some action movie that my dad loved.  I had no idea what it was called, but I didn’t really care.

Kyla stepped forward, blowing a stray strand of hair out of her face.  She glared at both of us, apparently getting over her infatuation for Dannon for a short moment.  “Well?” she snapped.  “Care to explain yourselves?”

I tipped my thumb in Dannon’s direction.  “It was completely his idea,” I said, ratting him out mercilessly. 

“Since when do you listen to what anyone says?” Kyla demanded hotly, throwing off her shoes and collapsing beside me on the couch.  She crossed her arms over her chest irritably, tossing us a glance of mock-hatred.  The anger seemed to be easing off.

I let out a short laugh, smiling teasingly.  “Since it sounded like a brilliant idea.”

Dannon held out his hand and I slapped it with a wry grin.  I set aside my immense dislike for him to share the success of this evil-genius plan.  Kyla looked between us coolly, obviously not appreciating that we were high-fiving over her torture.  She opened her mouth to say something, but at that precise moment, my mom spoke, cutting her off.

“Guys?” she said, trotting into the living room and standing in front of the couch.  She looked down at us with a smile on her face.  “It’s nine o’clock.  Time to go to bed.”  She aimed her smile in Dannon’s direction.  “You can have the guest room.”

As Dannon began to nod, Kyla stood up, her jaw working.  “Can I have the guest room?” She trotted over to my mom and nudged her shoulder playfully.  “I mean they’re partners in crime and all.”  She shot us a mock-infuriated look.  “They probably want time to plot their next scheme.”

My mom laughed, wrapping an arm around her neck and pulling her to her.  Kyla squirmed uncomfortably, trying to get out my mom’s grasp.  With an amused smile, my mom released her grip on her.  “Sorry, but opposite genders don’t sleep in the same room.”  She grabbed Kyla’s cheek playfully.  Kyla swatted her hand away.  “You’ll be with Bri tonight.”

Kyla backed away from my mom before she could do anymore grandmother-like actions to her and sat on the couch’s arm.  She shot me a feigned angered look.  “Oh yay,” she said dramatically.

I laughed at her, shaking my head.  She was such a drama queen.

With a final laugh my mom pranced to the doorway.  She gave me a point look saying, “Bri, show Dannon the guest room.”  She paused.  “Good night, everyone!”

With that, she disappeared, probably heading upstairs to her bedroom.  I wondered if she was actually going to bed or if she was staying up late to watch chick flicks with my dad.  She couldn’t watch them downstairs because she knew I hated them.  She’d stopped putting them on in the living room after numerous complaints from me.  I felt bad for my dad.  He still couldn’t escape them.

I glanced at Dannon and then at Kyla.  None of us were the least bit tired.  Well, I wasn’t.  But neither of them looked tired in the slightest.  After a moment I huffed, grabbing Dannon’s arm and pulling him up.  “Let’s go,” I muttered.  I glanced at Kyla.  “You too.”

Together we all headed upstairs.  Kyla rushed to my room, closing the door behind her.  I could see it now.  She was probably planning on stealing my bed and sending me to the floor.  It didn’t really matter if she tried.  I’d push her off anyway.

“Come on,” I said, moving toward the guest room.  I opened the door and stepped inside.  There wasn’t really much to see.  It was just a puny little room with a bed and a dresser.  We invested big in this room, I tell you—sarcasm intended.  I turned to Dannon who stood awkwardly in the doorway.  “Here,” I told him, my arm sweeping across the room.

Dannon stepped inside, his duffel bag on his arm.  My eyebrows crinkled together. I didn’t realize he’d been holding it.  That just proved how unobservant I was—it was hitting the severe mark.  “Thanks,” he murmured, smiling slightly at me.

I nodded, pausing for a short moment before leaving the room, shutting the door softly behind me.  I paused again.  I didn’t know exactly why.  My hand idled on the doorknob as I leaned against the door.  I glanced at my bedroom, knowing that I should leave and go to Kyla.  If I waited much longer she was going to fall asleep on my bed.  Moving her while she was unconscious was next to impossible.  But my feet wouldn’t move. 

“Hey, Dad it’s me,” Dannon’s muffled voice came through the door.  “You’re probably sleeping, but I just thought I’d say good night.  Sorry for leaving you alone when there’s not much time left . . . .”

I pushed away from the door, my eyes narrowing.  Not much time left?  What the hell did he mean by that?  Shrugging off my bubbling curiosity I headed to my room.  Surprisingly, as I opened my door, I found Kyla sprawled on her self-made bed, grinning up at her like a maniac.  I stared at her for a moment before turning off my light and shuffling toward my bed struggling not to trip over Kyla as I did.

I sat on my bed, falling back onto my pillows.  Tomorrow was going to be a big day.