I was standing in front of my mirror brushing my hair when I hear a knock.

"What is it Ryan? I told you, you cannot come. It's a girls' day out. Please stop.", I request. But then see Joanne poking her head inside.

"It's me honey.", she smiles.

"Oh, sorry. It's just- What happened everything okay?", I ask, looking at her with concern.

"Yes, yes. Everything is golden. It's just that we are so busy in our work, I never get to spend time with you, talk to you. I never really asked you, how is it here. Are you comfortable? Does this feel like home? Is Ryan behaving alright, though I highly doubt that.", and we both start laughing.

I turn around to face her and wrap my hands around her waist. "It's perfect. You don't have to worry about anything. I am fine and yes this place has started to feel like home. And it's okay, I understand you both have got works to do and so you don't really get some time to spend with us, but it's fine. I really appreciate you taking your time out to talk with me. I really do.", I break the hug and smile at her. I notice that she a was about an inch or two taller than me and had a slight blondish highlight in her hair. I definitely had her bone structure.

"Sweetheart please, we should be spending time with you instead of working, considering we already lost sixteen years, but- Anyways, so umm...yesterday I heard you and Ryan fighting. Is everything alright?", she turns me around and takes the hair-brush from my hand. She gently brushes my hair and it felt soothing.

"It was nothing. All siblings fight. He stole my secret stash of Oreos, so......hence the war!", I laugh a little. I didn't want her worrying about anything. She feels bad enough not getting to spend time with us, don't wanna burden her more.

"Ahhh...well I'll show some good places to hide snacks from the men of the house.", I look back her in shock. My eyes were ready to pop out of it's sockets. "Whaaat....a lady needs her constant supply of junk snacks, doesn't she?"

"We do!", I laugh saying this and she joins too.

"Well I actually came to tell you that Adam and I are going to be out of the city for a week or maybe ten days. We have a conference to attend, well Adam has a conference, I am just accompanying him."

"That's great. Where you going?"

"To New York. Well there is one more thing. Whenever we are not in city, Ryan and Zack usually alter between both their houses, because he doesn't really like staying alone. So, are you gonna be okay with that?"

"Yeah! I mean Zack has stayed over a couple of times. It'll be okay. And I was actually thinking to head back home for the weekend maybe?", I look at her expectantly. It's been a while since I've been there. I miss it.

"Yeah, yeah it would totally be fine. Please you don't have to ask. Even that is your home and you are allowed go back anytime you want. Even at midnight, though it would be a tad bit inconvenient to the four of us.", she laughs.

"No, no I'll inform before leaving. Maybe leave a note in red!", and we burst out laughing. We laugh so hard my stomach had started to ache.

"Well, I believe you are late to meet the girls so I'll leave you get ready. Be home by 10 tops, kay?", she says in an authoritative voice.

"Yeah.", I giggle and we leave the room together. I bolt back in because I forgot my wallet.

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

I stop in front of Stella's house and honk twice before she comes skipping out of the door.

"Hey babe!", I say and back out the street.

"Hi"

"Just 'hi'. That's it. What happened? You okay?", I ask her, tearing my eyes from the road to look at her.

"Yeah, Zoe happened. What else could possibly go wrong with a blonde, cheerleader vice-captain?", she lets out a rather stressed sigh.

"Why is that pain in the ass being a pain in the ass?", I say occasionally stealing glances at her. I looked at the car clock and it was noon. Alex and Linda said they'll meet us directly at mall's food court so I offered to pick Stella up.

"There is a cheer competition coming up. She wants us to take part in it.", she says as a matter of fact.

"And?", I ask not following what is the problem with a cheer competition. Except for the fact that there are going to be some nasty bitches.

"The competition is smack in the middle of our mid-terms and the finals are smack in the middle of summer.", she adds a duh and looks out the window.

"Well aren't most cheerleaders not willing to take part in the competition?"

"Yeah! Everyone said no except her and her two minions!"

"Then you guys are obviously not going to the competition. I mean you need the whole team's consent, then you need consent from the principal and he obvio won't let you attend some stupid competition in middle of your exams.", I point out.

"She has already convinced Mr. Princi and he said yes! Yes he said yes. This is bullshit!"

"Calm down, you still need the team's consent."

"She plans to replace us.", she says in a cold tone. I shiver and look at her in shock.

"She what!?"

"Eyes on road.", I look back on the road and Stella continues. "I know! How could she do this? Now everyone is having second thoughts because no-one wants to be replaced."

"She can't replace the whole f-ing team!", I exclaim and honk at the car in front of us.

"She is Zoe. She can do anything.", she sighs and re-applies her gloss. "Like, how she is dating just to rub it in my face!", she whispers in a very low voice.

"Huh? What'd you say?", I ask as I couldn't hear her voice on top of all the honking. "God damn this traffic!"

"Calm down!", Stella says with a grim on her face.

"Oh, so you find it amusing. You-", but before I could say something the traffic starts moving and I step on the gas pedal zig-zagging between the cars.

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

"Finally!", Linds exclaims as she engulfs me.

"What took you so long!?", Alex says coming out of nowhere, putting her phone back in her purse.

"The god damn traffic!", I reply her. Linds notes the frustration in my voice and pats my back. I nod to her and we plan the rest of our day.

"But before that, food. Please. I am hangry.", I say and stalk towards the food counter to order myself a double cheeseburger. Yes, I am that hungry, don't judge. Plus, I didn't have my breakfast. Alex joins me to place order for herself and others and we wait for our order to be ready while Stella and Linda find us seats.

"Scjie ndkwn eujwv uwnfo."

"Please finish your food first, Lace.", Linda sighs, passing me a napkin.

"I was saying that-", but I was interrupted by guess who?

"Hey guys didn't know you were all here. What a coincidence?", he says smirking at me. I roll my eyes at him and continue demolishing my burger.

"I am pretty sure you did, dude.", Linda retorts but still offers him a seat. He pulls a chair and sits beside me, passing me another smirk.

"Schok jmergign.", I say with my mouth stuffed with burger. Don't blame me, the burger is equal to getting a nirvana!

"Yeah, I won't", he says and I look at him in shock.

How did you understand that!?

"Because I am psychic, babe.", he smirks yet again. Oh, I want to throw this burger at his face but that would be a waste of a perfectly-good burger. So, I do what I am best at. I roll my eyes, and he just laughs and turns towards the girls.

"So, what are your plans for today, huh?", he says putting his elbows on the table and resting his chin on his fists. His biceps flex at the movement and I look back at my burger concentrating on the mayo leaking from its sides. "I am pretty sure there is a much more interesting stuff right-beside you.", he whispers lowly in my ears. The huskiness in his voice sends chill down my spine and I scoot my chair away from his.

"Uhhh...we're jus-", Alex starts but was interrupted by Linda.

"Why should we tell you? So that you can spy on us!?", Linds hisses. I look at her in utter shock.

"Where did you learn to hiss!?", I ask in utter disbelief.

"Ohh, I need to keep snarling at those stupid baboons in school!"

"Whatsoever being the reason.", I shake my head as an image of Linda snarling and hissing at people tryna hit on her appears.

"Oh, c'mon Lin. Don't be rude. I am just....curious.", he shrugs and looks my way but I stuff the last bite in and take a swig from my soda, ignoring his presence.

"First off, don't call me Lin or else I'll break your nose. Second, our plans are none of your business.", she retorts and stands to throw her tray in the dustbin. I pass her mine too. I was too lazy to go all over to the dustbin. She gives me a glare but takes it nonetheless. I love her!

"I'd like to make it my business.", he says more to me than to her.

"On second thought, I'll throw my tray on my own. I'll throw everyone's.", I say standing up and snatching the trays from Lind's hand and the one's in front of Alex and Stella.

"Still mad?", someone whispers when I was throwing the trays and I jump. I turn around and push him away. "You look cute when you're angry.", he says as a matter of fact and I turn around to glare at him before returning to the table.

"So, are we going or what?", I say once I reach the girls.

"Yeah let's go.", Alex replies and they get and collect their belongings and we were ready to have an awesome day ahead of us. If, we are not interrupted by someone's disturbing presence.

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

A/N:

 Hiya people, I'm back with a bang! 

Did you like the moment shared between Joanne and Lacey? Oh and Lacey's going back to her old house for the weekend. What do you think will happen <insert evil smirk>.

Who was the guy at the mall? 

Anyways, later peeps.

Peace out~

Laxi