Chapter 11:

Beckinsile's Point of View

I give Danika a small smile as she steps over my threshold. She responds with a sarcastic smile.

"Welcome to my house," I say as nicely as I can manage.

"If that's what you want to call it," Danika sets her platform sandals by the door and walks ahead of Oliver and I.

Brandon shoots me an apologetic look as he follows Danika. Oliver stops me before I can go off and follow them.

"You okay?" He gives me a meaningful look.

"Aside from being insulted in my own house, I'm fine." I mutter bitterly.

"I know she's being a brat but we can't back out now. We're forced to do the project with her no matter what."

"How am I supposed to work with that? There's nothing we can agree on and she insults me at every chance she gets." I roll my eyes and cross my arms.

"You'll find some common ground. Becks, please be the bigger person; we all know she won't even try to be." Oliver pleads with me and I nod slowly.

I need to be the bigger person and not let Danika get to me. She isn't worth it. I take a deep breath and follow Oliver to the living room. Danika and Brandon are seated on the couch looking rather comfy. I whisper something to Oliver and then disappear into the kitchen to retrieve the cookies. Luckily, my parents have some benefit to go to tonight and Nate texted me a few minutes ago saying he was sleeping over at a friend's house. At least if Danika is going to humiliate me, my family won't be around to witness it. I give myself a mental pep-talk as I bring the cookies to the living room. A couple of hours ago, I was confident that the cookies could tame the beast that is Danika but after her recent comment, I'm not so sure.

I set the cookies on the coffee table and wait for somebody to grab one. Brandon is first, followed by Oliver. Danika doesn't even make a move for my cookies; she just sits on my couch and glares at me. I pick up a cookie and offer it to her. She looks skeptical but grabs it anyways. I wonder if Brandon gave her the same talk Oliver gave me.

"These cookies are awesome, Beckinsile." Brandon's eyes light up as he grabs a second cookie.

I smile politely and wait for Danika's remarks.

"They are pretty good cookies, I guess," Danika rolls her eyes a little and takes a second cookie.

I can feel a slight weight being lifted off my shoulders. The ice-breaker is working. I take a seat in my dad's comfy recliner and Oliver takes a seat on the couch.

"Do you guys have any ideas?" I say with a smile.

"I actually do have an idea..." Danika says with slight excitement. No sarcastic remarks; this is a good start.

~~~~~

Pizza boxes litter the floor. Cups sit on the table and props are strewn about the living room. Danika and I are wearing feather boas and cat eye glasses, acting as if we've been best friends forever. I don't know when or how it happened but for some reason we put aside the petty fights and are now somewhat friends. I don't know how long this will last but for now, I'm glad we're getting along. Oliver and Brandon are glad too. They seem happier and lighter somehow. Oliver is holding a camera and taking pictures of us while Brandon films the scene. Danika is holding a bag of coffee and we're both blurting out the final lines of our commercial.

"Cut," Brandon shouts and sets the camera on the coffee table.

"Bring it in team," Oliver chuckles and brings us all together for a group hug. The atmosphere feels different. We all seem happy and that makes my life a little easier.

Oliver, being the dork he is, wants us all to take a group selfie. This kid is honestly worse than my mom and she loves to take pictures of everything. "Maybe that's why we never take vacations anymore." I think to myself. After much groaning, we all consent. Danika, Brandon, Oliver and I put our arms around each other's shoulders while Oliver snaps the picture. We all clean up the props and then flop down on the couch.

"What do you guys want to do now?" Brandon asks with a smirk.

"Let's watch a movie," I wiggle my eyebrows and wait for the others to respond.

"Sure," They all say in unison.

"What do you want to watch?" I ask politely.

"Toy Story 3," Oliver says like an excited five year old.

"You're kidding, right?" Danika and I say at the same time.

"No, that movie is easily one of the greatest Disney films ever made." Oliver says matter-o'-factly,

Danika and I roll our eyes but agree to watch it in the end.

"But next time we're watching The Notebook," Danika smirks as I search up the movie on Netflix.

"Oh, that's right, when do you guys want to get together to draw the magazine ad?" Brandon asks with a raised eyebrow.

"We could go to my house next Friday night; does that work for you guys?" Danika says sincerely.

"Yeah; sounds great," Oliver smiles and I nod along with him.

"Do you guys want hot chocolate?" I ask as I stand up. Everyone nods and I walk off to the kitchen.

"You're doing well," I think to myself as I grab four mugs and the hot chocolate powder. I put milk in each mug and warm them up. I add a spoonful of chocolate powder to each and put the mugs on a nice tray. I cart the tray out to the living room as the movie begins. All the lights are out but I can feel my friends' smiling.

Danika is the first one to pick up her hot chocolate. Everyone else follows suit as the toys try to save the orphan trolls from the evil Dr. Pork-chop in the opening scene. I'm wedged in the middle of Oliver and Danika but I'm as comfortable as ever. I pull a blanket off the back of the couch and wrap myself in it. I tuck my knees up on the couch and settle in to watch the movie.

~~~~~

It's the end of the movie. Andy and the toys are having their last playtime. Danika and I are in tears and holding onto each other. The boys had fallen asleep a long time ago so we're the only ones watching the movie. We pull each other into a hug and begin sobbing as Woody says his final line, "So long, partner."

The end credits begin rolling and the final song is playing. Danika and I are still clutching each other and sobbing which startles the boys awake.

"What happened? Did you guys change the movie while we were sleeping? Last time I checked, Toy Story wasn't supposed to make teenage girls cry." Oliver chuckles as he rubs his eyes.

"Shut up; we teenage girls are very emotional people, okay?" Danika snaps as we continue hugging each other and sobbing as if we'd just watched Titanic not Toy Story.

"Okay," Oliver says with a humorous eye roll.

Danika checks the time on her phone which makes her eyes grow wide.

"It's 12 A.M. my curfew was like 11. My dad will kill me." Danika groans as gets up off the couch.

"C'mon, I'll take you home." Brandon mutters with a smile as he walks towards the front door.

The rest of us follow him to the front door. Danika slips into her platform sandals and leans on Brandon for support. I give her a smile as Brandon opens the door for her.

"Thank you so much; I'm so glad we can get along, Beckinsile." Danika doesn't have a trace of sarcasm in her voice as she pulls me into a hug. I hug her back tightly and watch as Brandon walks her to his car.

"I can't believe what's happened in the course of one night." I say incredulously as I shut the door.

"It's the power of the cookie." Oliver smirks as he walks back towards the living room.

I follow him and stand in the doorway.

"What do you think you're doing?" I shake my head at him and smile a little.

"I can't leave you alone in a house at midnight. Also, you'll get lonely if you're here all by yourself." Oliver chuckles and slips his hands behind his head.

"Oh right, you're the cop's son." I say knowingly as I sit down next to him.

He laughs, picks up the remote and selects a crime drama from my queue. I pull the blanket around us and watch intently as the show begins.

~~~~~

"Becks, wake up," I hear Oliver whisper.

I open my eyes and find that I'm lying on his shoulder. I brush my hair out of my eyes and look at the time. It's close to 3 A.M. I sit up, a little startled by the fact that Oliver is still at my house at 3 A.M.

"Sorry about that," I mutter and am thankful for the darkness because I'm almost certain that my cheeks have turned bright red.

"It's okay, I don't mind." Oliver chuckles easily.

"Are you sure he's not your boyfriend?" I snap my head up and find Gabe standing in the doorway.

"What?" Oliver's eyebrows shoot straight up as he turns to face me.

"Yes, I'm completely sure that he's not my boyfriend." I say with my blush intensifying.

"Where did you hear that?" Oliver turns back to face Gabe.

"A little bird called observation." Gabe smirks in my direction.

"You're an idiot." I mutter and continue staring at the ground.

"I know; why don't you explain to the court why he stayed with you until almost 3 A.M.?" Gabe crosses his arms, humor seeping from all corners of his body.

"Well Judge Judy, he didn't want me to be alone in a house until everyone got home. It's not safe for a teenage girl to be home alone very late at night. It's a recipe for disaster." I cross my arms and stare straight at him.

"So, he just stayed here to protect you and keep you safe; away from any danger?" Gabe smirks even wider.

"Wow, you figured it out, Sherlock." I roll my eyes and stand up.

"I'm such a genius, I know."

"You're arrogant, that's what you are." I mutter as Oliver stands up too.

"I'm going upstairs. Turn off the lights and turn on the alarm before you come up. Mom and dad should be home soon. So, if you want to avoid the awkward conversation, I'd say goodnight now." Gabe sends a wink in my direction before running upstairs while I whip a pillow at his head.

"I'm sorry about that," I say as we walk towards the door.

"Its fine," Oliver chuckles as he grabs his jacket and bag. "Do you want to work on the English project tomorrow; you know if you're free?" Oliver rubs the back of his neck and waits for my answer.

"Yeah, I think I am. What time?"

"Like noon," Oliver says with a small smile.

"See you then, Olly Pop." I give him a smirk as he walks towards his bike.