Here's an extra long chapter for being gone so long. Updates will probably be scattered over the next two weeks as well. Classes are starting to build up, and with spring break closing in, I'm sure there will be even more work.

Love you all, my darlings!

I saw my phone on the small table beside the bed. I hesitated just a minute before I grabbed it. I propped some pillows up behind me and settled in, making myself more comfortable. I might be here a while, considering we really hadn't learnt that much about each other over dinner, and I really wanted to learn as much about Pentatonix as I could. They were family, after all.

'Hey, Kirstie! What's up? I got home fine, thank you. Hope you are well.'

'I miss you too, Queen. So, holla! Haha! How are you?'

'Hi KO. The sky is up; don't you know that oh Yale graduate?'

'Scott, muy bien! You used Spanish!'

'I very much enjoyed meeting you too, Avi. I want to return your call. Is it all right if I do so now?'

I didn't have to wait very long for my replies.

'I'm glad you're OK, and I'm fine! I had a really great time with you and your friends today! We should do it again sometime!' – Kirstie

'I am doing wonderful! All I need now is a glass of chardonnay, LOL! What are you up to Miss?' – Mitch

'Not nice, smarty pants. I meant what you were/are doing. :P' – KO

'Ugh, that is enough for one day. What's up girlfriend?' – Scott

'Sure, I'm available' – Avi

I smiled at the phone and pressed the call button. I held it to my ear, suddenly becoming quite uneasy. What would I say to Avi? How would I start a conversation? What would we talk about? Was it going to be really awkward to the point where we both let silence encompass the call?

"Hey," the extremely deep voice said.

I blushed as a shiver ran down my spine. I would never get used to hearing how deep and rich his voice was. "Hello, Avriel."

He chuckled at his full name, and a grin appeared on my face. "Are you feeling well? Did you get home okay?"

I held back a giggle at the obvious concern in his voice. "I am fine, Avriel; thank you for asking. I am home safe and sound, and my headache has disappeared. I have no residual feelings of dizziness either."

He breathed out, in relief I assumed. "Well, that's good. You gave me quite a scare at the mall."

I frowned. "I'm so sorry for that. It came out of nowhere. I usually don't faint. Today's event was a rare one."

"You don't have to apologize for fainting. I'm simply glad you're okay now. If it wasn't for your friends happening to be in the food court as well, the gang and I would not have known how to help you."

I chuckled. "I can't possibly imagine what it was like to have them all coming toward you at one time."

Avi chuckled as well. "It was a bit intimidating, I'll admit."

"They're all harmless, mostly," I said. "Oh, thank you for eating with us today. I was meaning to ask, do you know who picked up my check? I was going to repay him or her."

Avi cleared his throat. "Uh...that would be me."

I was shocked. "Oh!" I paused. "Thank you, Avriel. You didn't have to."

"Nonsense," Avi said quickly. "It was nothing, I promise."

I nodded, though he couldn't see. "If you say so, then I will refrain from objecting wholeheartedly. However, I would like to make it up to you. What would you like?"

"No, no," he stated firmly. "I was raised to be a gentleman. Paying a couple of extra dollars is nothing, trust me. It was my pleasure to pay for your meal. You were the one who was recovering from a fainting spell anyways."

I groaned before I could stop myself. "I doubt I will live that down for the next week."

"You couldn't help it," Avi pointed out.

"Yes, but once the rest of my friends hear about it, I will surely be teased mercilessly." Avi hummed in acknowledgement, not quite knowing what to say I believed. So, I decided to change the topic. "How old are you?"

"I'll be twenty-seven in April. How old are you?" he fired back.

I giggled. "Twenty questions, then? Okay, I'll play along. I'm currently twenty-five, but I'll be twenty-six in June. What is your favorite movie?"

"Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, definitely. Yours?"

"The Notebook, Star Wars, and Furious 7."

"Hey, no fair! I haven't had time to go see Furious 7 yet. Is it good?"

"Oh, wonderful and amazing!" I replied enthusiastically. "Favorite color?"

"Hmm, probably black, green, and dark red. Mainly rustic colors, you know?"

"Mine are black, purple, and green. I realize that's a strange combination, but I enjoy those colors. Oh, and sapphire especially. It's my birthstone, and I love it. Whenever someone buys me a piece of jewelry, I'm always telling them to make sure it has a sapphire on it."

"You don't seem to be too much of a jewelry and makeup fanatic," Avi remarked.

I responded honestly. "It's because I'm not. I really don't like makeup; it makes my face feel all greasy and nasty. I do like jewelry, but I don't wear a lot of it because I don't like the excessive amount of things moving on my body. You have no idea how annoying it is to have bracelets falling up and down your arms whenever you move."

Avi laughed. "I bet it becomes frustrating easily. Are you more of a reader or an artist?"

"Well, writing is an art, so I consider myself to be both." I chuckled. "But, no, I am most definitely a reader, but I do dabble in the arts sometimes. I enjoy writing stories and poems. I also like to sketch. I mainly sketch animals and people. What about you, besides being a singer I mean?"

"I like to read, but I don't have much time when I'm on the road. I'm not too good at drawing and painting, but I know my way around a microphone and guitar pretty good."

I laughed. "You don't say," I commented, and he joined in on my laughter. "If you could live anywhere, where would it be?"

"I'd probably live in New Zealand. I haven't been there personally, but I hear it's gorgeous."

I hummed in agreement. "It is. I was there for a short period of time, and the landscape is amazing!"

"Aw, no fair! I've traveled to a lot of places, but that's the place that has always evaded me."

"I've always wanted to go to Japan," I mentioned.

He sounded excited. "It's amazing! There's no place like it, and I really love the culture."

I giggled. "Maybe I'll be able to visit one day. What's your favorite smell?"

"Smell?" he asked.

"Yeah, like a scent that you prefer over others, one that helps you relax and center yourself."

It was silent for a moment. I assumed he was thinking. My phone vibrated, and I saw that I had texts from the others. I decided to wait to answer them. I wanted to give my full attention to Avi. "I'd have to say barbecue, but if you're being serious, then I would answer with vanilla and lavender."

I perked up. "Why? If you don't mind me asking, of course."

He chuckled. "It reminds me of this girl."

He sounded shy, and I was curious. "Oh? That's interesting and very sweet. I like leather, honey, and spices."

Avi seemed hesitant. "You aren't the slightest bit curious?"

I knew what he was talking about. "If you want to tell me, you can. If not, it's not my position to pry."

"And what is your position, exactly?"

I took a deep breath and responded. "When it comes to you, I don't know. I feel like all of the others are siblings, but you...you're different in some way."

Silence descended over the line, and I started tapping the fingers of my free hand on my thigh. I wanted to be honest with him, as honest as I could be at the moment.

"Do you know if it's a good different or a bad different?"

I sighed in relief. "It's definitely a good different. I felt really comfortable being around you, Avriel Kaplan, and that's not an easy thing to accomplish with me."

"Oh; good, I think."

I laughed. "Say what you're thinking, Avriel. I enjoy talking to people who are straightforward and state their perspective on matters."

"Alright, in that case, to me, you smell like vanilla and lavender."

A blush bloomed across my cheeks and traveled down to my neck. "Avi..."

I heard a new voice. "Avi, who're you talking to?"

It sounded like Kevin. "Kristin," Avi answered simply.

"Ah, KT!" It was Kevin, and his voice became louder. "Hey, I texted you, and you haven't replied! Now I know why! You're giving my brother all of your attention."

I giggled. "Dude, I told you she's my girl!" Avi argued. It was said playfully, but my heart still stuttered.

"Aw, fine man. Hurry up and let her talk to the rest of us, though."

Avi grumbled, and I decided to speak up. "We can do a Skype call after this, KO."

"Great! See you then!"

There was sound of movement before Avi spoke again. "Sorry about that. I had no idea he was going to come back so soon."

"It's fine. Usually, any and all conversations are made public amongst the school because there are so many people around. It's hard to have privacy. Luckily, I manage to kick everyone out of my room whenever I have a call."

Avi chuckled. "I hope you don't literally kick them out."

I giggled. "Of course not! I have no desire to damage my foot. Although, if I was wearing heels, they would be hurting very badly right now. I'm sure Kirstie can support that."

"I'm very sure she could. Thankfully, I've never been on the receiving end of a high heel."

"So, what are you and the group doing tomorrow?"

"We have a show later in the evening. Before that, we'll probably just hang out and prepare. You could hang with us, if you want," he offered.

I smiled. "I would love to, but I actually have a lesson tomorrow morning I have to be at. I'll make sure to call before the show, though, if that's acceptable."

"Acceptable? It would be encouraged!"

I laughed. "I'm glad you can keep up with my rather obtuse sentences."

Avi seemed puzzled. "Why wouldn't I be able to?"

"Most people our age talk in slang instead of English."

Avi chuckled. "That's very true."

I smiled. "I should probably go ahead and do that Skype call I promised Kevin. It's getting late, and I have a few things I wish to do. I have to search for my riding boots. They seem to have walked away."

"All right. I guess I'll hear from you tomorrow."

I laughed. "You'll actually hear from me in a few minutes, but yes, I will call you tomorrow. Goodbye, Avriel. I am so glad I met you."

"I feel the same way. Bye, Kristin."

I hung up. If I had let the line stay on for any longer, I would have continued the call if only to listen to his breathing.

Realizing I had promised a Skype call but did not know their names, I arranged Pentatonix into a group text. 'I'm up for a Skype chat! What are y'all's names?'

They sent their replies, and I grabbed Silver's laptop and pulled up his Skype. 'My username is Quicksilver87'. I quickly ran a finger through my long hair, wanting to make sure it looked somewhat nice, before I accepted the call from the others.

"Hi!" I called to them all. They all responded similarly. I noticed that Scott and Mitch were in the same picture, like Kevin and Avi were. Kirstie was the only one other than me who had her own window, and I assumed they were in hotel rooms.

"Girl, is this your room?"

I shook my head no at Mitch's question. "No, this is my friend's room. I'm staying at his apartment tonight, to get away from the crowd at school."

They nodded. "Are you feeling better?" Kirstie asked.

"Yes, I'm feeling a lot better! Well, I'm kind of tired, but that's because I was rudely awoken this morning by Mikayla and Davis."

"Oh, what did they do?" Scott asked, extremely curious.

"They shocked me," I answered, "with a low-voltage taser." Kevin and Avi stared in shock while the trio laughed like hyenas. I scoffed and rolled my eyes, chuckling to myself. "You will be very pleased to hear, then, that I plan to get them back in a more horrifying and possibly illegal way."

That shut Mitch and Scott up, who moved closer to the screen as if I was going to tell them some top secret information. "What are you planning?"

I smirked. "I'll never tell those who laugh at my misfortunes."

Mitch pouted. "Please, please tell us!"

I giggled. "I'll let you know when we meet up again."

Kirstie squealed. "Yes! We totally should hang out again!"

I smiled. "This time I won't bring all of my crazy friends. What would y'all like to do? I think it would be best to go somewhere small so the fans won't be swarming y'all every few minutes."

"What activities do you like to do?" Kevin asked.

"Well, riding and working out are really my only hobbies, I guess you would say. I would invite y'all to the barn, but I can't imagine Mitch would like it there."

Scott chuckled. "He'd be scared to death of the horses."

Mitch slapped Scott's arm. "I would not!"

Avi chuckled. "All right, guys. Break it up. We'll go wherever you would like to, Kristin."

"Would y'all be interested in bowling? I know this really great place just outside of the city. I could pick y'all up from the hotel you're staying at, and we could make a day out of it."

"That sounds amazing!" Scott said. "I haven't been bowling in forever!"