I ended up not getting revenge on Aimee because she gave me back the money I spent on her milkshake.

But before doing that, she promised me that she would make me regret collecting the money. I assured her that I didn't give two shits about her threats.

The school week sped by in a flurry of work, party planning, and after-school sessions with Aimee. Ever since our first meeting, we hadn't encountered any serious problems. All in all, Aimee and I accomplished more that week than we had the first.

Finally, Friday rolled in. Aimee and I didn't meet up for practice because she had work that day, so I went home early.

After gobbling up the plate of steaming noodles Pierre had prepared for me, I rushed into the living room. I launched myself on one of the sofas, the cloud-like material sinking under my weight. I let out a sigh, looking at the large flat-screen TV set in the faded red outlined cream walls some distance away.

My eyelids began getting heavier. Thank goodness there's no...no practice today...

"Angelo?" A hand shook me, disrupting my thoughts. "Angelo, wake up."

I let out a groan as I forced open my eyelids. Who the fuck is touching me?

My swimming vision settled on Annie's face. Groaning, I glared at her. "What does a guy have to do to get some sleep around here?"

She frowned. "Six hours of sleep isn't enough for you?"

"Six hours? What are you talking about?"

I sat up, looking out of the window. Darkness clung to the streets, confirming Annie's story.

I yawned. Damn, why do I still feel so tired?

"Here." I turned my attention back to Annie, who was holding out a plastic bottle to me. "Have some water."

I snatched the bottle from her and gulped the water down.

I let out a large breath when I finished, tossing the bottle to the ground. "Thanks. I think I'm sick, the floor feels like its moving."

After a brief pause, Annie replied, "Funny you mention that..."

I glanced at her sheepishly grinning face. What the fuck has she done now?

"Annie, "what have you-ow!"

The seat and floor suddenly rocked, sending my head flying into...the back of a car seat.

What the fuck?

I rose my head, taking in the brown interior that belonged to one of the cars Tony used to drive me around. With wide eyes, I ran my hand against what I sat on, feeling the hard leather sink beneath my touch.

I looked back at Annie, who was playing with strands of her hair. "Annie?"

"Yes?"

"Care to explain what I'm doing in a car?"

After biting her lips for a short moment, she replied, "Going somewhere."

My fists clenched. "The movement of the car already establishes that fact. The real question is, where is it moving to?"

Her eyes slid away from my face. "It's better you not know now. I-I don't want to ruin the surprise!"

I looked at her outfit, appraising the tank top and shorts she wore. She's not dragging me along for one of her surprise dinners at some fancy restaurant. But what is she doing then?

I nodded. "Alright."

Glancing at the drivers' seat, I said, "Tony, please turn this car around. We're heading back home."

"No can do. Annie is paying me overtime for this."

I leaned forward and caught sight of his grinning dark-skinned face.

Treachery from all angles!

I shot him a dirty look. "Very well. You both leave me no choice."

I pressed the button to wind down the window. Without even waiting for it to fully open, I began yelling, "Help, they're taking me against my- oomph!"

Annie's hand clasped around my mouth. "Stop being so child-iiisshhhh!"

Her scream echoed throughout the car. Tony nearly swerved off the road.

Scrunching my face, I gagged at the taste of hand lotion my tongue had picked up from Annie's hand.

As her grip loosened from me, I dashed back to the window and stuck my head out of it. Fighting against the bitter stings of the frigid air striking my eyes, I once again began to yell, "Help!"

It was pretty pointless because there were only a few passersby on the street.

Still, that didn't stop me from trying. After all, it was better than nothing.

Soon after, the window began closing. Sticking my head back in, I glared at Tony. "Congratulations, Tony, the position of 'family driver' just opened up!"

"Oh shut up, I was the one who closed it, not Tony," Annie said as she settled back into her seat. "Besides, you can't fire Tony. He's our head of security and Max and I have known him since childhood. That kind of trust is hard to come by, especially with a family name like yours."

Although I had a stubborn look set on my face, I knew she was right.

Grudgingly settling back into my seat, I asked, "So, how did you do it?"

Annie frowned. "Do what?"

"Drug me, I assume. How else could you move me into the car without me waking up?"

Tony whistled. "Kid got brains."

I glared at him. "Kid would appreciate you minding your business."

"Kid would also not be getting any answers if he doesn't stop being so rude," Annie added.

I glared at her, but she didn't budge. Folding my arms, I settled back into my seat.

Defeat sucks.

Annie continued speaking. "In answer to your question, I didn't drug you. Pierre did."

"That's ridiculous! There's no way Pierre would help you with that, not even if you offered him extra pay."

A triumphant spark lit in her eyes. "I didn't ask him to."

I scoffed. "I hardly doubt that Tony would have gotten any luck in accomplishing that either."

"You're right, Tony didn't. I did."

My eyes widened as I noticed Max, who was riding in shotgun. Max? How on earth didn't I see him? And why on earth would he do something like that?

"Y-you asked him to?"

Tugging at the neck of the grey sweater he wore, he nodded. "Yeah, that's right. I asked him to put the drugs in the noodles he served you this afternoon."

I was shaking a bit, not only from this development but also from the cold air in the car. Thank goodness I wore this sweater-wait, when did I put this on?

I had on a dark sweater and pair of joggers, unlike the white shirt and blue jeans I had worn to school.

I spluttered, "Wh-what happened to my clothes?"

Max and Annie glanced at each other, before Annie replied, "Well...they're at home-"

"You don't say! Why am I not wearing them anymore?"

"We changed you, of course. Did you expect to leave the house in the same smelly clothes you wore to school?"

Between gritted teeth, I replied, "Of course I didn't! Surprise surprise, I never wanted to leave the house in the first-"

I choked on what I was about to say as a horrendous thought occurred to me. Annie didn't-

Annie rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't worry, I wasn't the one who changed you. Max and Tony did."

I didn't bother to hide my sigh of relief.

Raising an eyebrow at me, she murmured, "Why is he acting like I haven't seen him naked before?"

I retorted, "Why is she acting like that wasn't almost ten years ago? Puberty exists, you know!"

"Okay, both of you should calm-"

In sync, Annie and I both turned and yelled at Max, "Stay out of this!"

Max frowned. "I didn't say anything."

He didn't? Then who did?

My attention switched to Tony, who was looking at the road. Yet, his twitching lips disproved the notion that his mind was absent from the fight.

A short while later, Annie said, "Oh. Same goes for you, Tony."

I nodded. "I would have put a bit more of insult in that statement, but I suppose that'd have to do. As for you, Max-" I glared at him, "-I just lost a bit of respect."

Annie laughed. "I'm pretty sure he can live with that!"

Max grinned. "Sorry, but I agree with Annie. Aimee did make a good point when she called-"

Annie stopped smirking as she hissed, "Max!"

But it was too late, for Max's words had already struck a resonating chord in my head.

I directed my glare to Annie. "What does he mean by 'when she called?'"

Looking away from me, she cleared her throat. "Well, you see..."