12 That night, all of us were inside the entertainment room of the mansion, munchin g on popcorn and exchanging stories

on how what's-his-name totally got what's-he r-name on the back of the head, or how it was unfair that he was caught while he was not looking (cough*Ethan*cough) and other tall tales about how the boys got their asses kicked soundly at the snowball fight. Turned out, Luke was the only one who had all his lives complete when he went and ran off into the woods. Eth an and Louie had been the main candidates for being kicked out of the game, and when Ethan got the boot, Louie worked extra hard to stay in the gameby barricadin g himself in the forts and not coming out again. When I nailed Luke, the game wa s already coming to an end, and it resulted in the boys' team getting one less m ember than the girls' (only Claire got booted out, and Ynna was not actually cou nted in the team anyway . . or so we girls said. Wink, wink.) So, in short, Girls 1; Boys 0. Now we waited while Bill inserted the DVD ofPride and Prejudice(the remake of 2005 ) into the player. "Could you hurry up, please?" Alex complained. I got the feeling that Bill was t aking as much time as possible on purpose. (Again, no shit, Sherlock.) "Why do we have to put up with all this mushy crap anyway?" David grumbled. "Hey!" I protested. It was one of my favourite movies of all time, and it was no t, er, graphic enough to get us to ban the younger ones from the film-viewing. A nd more importantly, I was very in love with Mr. Darcy. Go on, laugh. I dare you . . .no, I double-dare you. And since I was the one to bring the boys' team into its downfall, I got the honor of choosing the movie, and I was glad to know tha t no one (from the girls, at least) objected to my choice. The Universal Studios theme began playing on the large screen, someone turned do wn the overhead lights (wow, like in a real theatre!) and I settled into the bac k of the couch, relaxing. I distinctly heard someone mutter (one of the boys, no less), "What a load of bullcrap." Nice way to tune it down with the presence of the younger ones. "What are we watching?" I heard Mikey ask from below. Another perk that we winne rs demanded is that we get to sit on the long couch. Claire and Ynna were sittin g on both armchairs at the end of the couch, and the boys had begrudgingly parke d themselves on the carpet. "Some stupid old romance," I heard Louie say disdainfully. "It's Pride and Prejudice," Bill said. "It's actually good, you know, once you b egin to understand what they are saying." The others snickered. "It's for girls who think they're going to die old, alone, and with approximatel y 78 cats," I heard another male voice say derisively. "Shut up," I snapped, flinging some popcorn onto Luke's head. "Defensive much?" he said. "You guys, the movie is starting," Arielle reprimanded. "Tune it down, or take i t outside." I huffed and settled onto watching the film, gushing with happiness when Matthew MacFayden made his first appearance at the ball, with the boys groaning and gri ping. After the first half-hour of the movie, I felt the urge to pee, and left my plac e at the couch. When I got back, though, someone else was sitting on my seat, an d the person was not a girl. "Get your ass off my place!" I hissed at Luke. "'S not your furniture," he replied, taking a handful of popcorn frommybowl. "But that's where I sat!" I said heatedly. "You don't have your name on it." "Oh, for crying out loud!" I heard Alex say exasperatedly, and I spied a smallis h figure untangle itself from the couch and sit on the floor. "Stop making a fus s about a stupid seat." Lizzie, who was sitting right beside her, moved over the space, and it created a domino effect until Luke had a vacant seat beside him. I was contemplating whether to sit right beside the spawn of Satan or settle int o the carpet instead when said spawn of Satan pulled on my arm roughly, causing me to sit down beside him.

"You're blocking my view," he said shortly. I huffed again and folded my arms ov er my chest. Now I'm not going to enjoy this movie as much as I did without this asshole right here. During the part where Mr. Collins, the Bennets' cousin, first had dinner with El izabeth's family, I felt Luke lean close. I stiffened immediately. "He's such a windbag, isn't he?" he remarked. Lo and behold, the devil himself h ad such a wide vocabulary. "I suppose," I said reluctantly. "How 'bout you, Ron," he said, "Would you marry someone like him just for a bett er future?" My head snapped to his direction. "This is the modern age," I said, feeling offe nded. "Husbands are not really such a strict requirement now, even though societ y still frowns upon unwed women. And anyway, I'm not really poor," I added. "I c ould marry for love if I want to, and that's exactly what I'm going to do." "So. . .you won't marry solely for money?" "Luke." What did this guy care about my wedding intentions? "Do I honestly look like a gold digger to you?" "No, of course not," he hastily said. He looked awkward for a moment, and I turn ed back to the screen. I must admit, though, that even if I really lovedPride and Prejudice, there reall y are some parts that can't help but lull me to sleep. So after my favourite par t (the one where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy danced together but separated afterward s in a bad mood because they'd argued while dancing), I yawned and slouched lowe r into the sofa. The boring parts and probably my exhaustion from the snowball f ight did not do anything to keep me awake, and I felt my eyelids drooping lower and lower with each passing moment. I suspected that the others were nodding off , too, and my suspicions were confirmed when I spied the outline of Ynna slumped over the arm of her big armchair. I was so sleepy that I let my head droop on the nearest surface available, and c losed my eyes, promising myself I wouldn't fall asleep all through the night. Be sides, my other favourite part (Mr. Darcy's proposal gone wrong) was still due i n another half-hour, anyway. What I didn't expect was when the surface I leaned on moved and came around my shoulders. My mind had already slowed down from drow siness, and I thought nothing else of it and took a quick nap. Musk, chocolate, peppermint. . . I was awoken, though, when a hand ran itself through my somewhat damp hair (I'd taken a hot shower after someone's stupidity involving snow, and thank God the d rippy nose and teary eyes lasted for only two hours. I'm resistant like that.). I started, and looked around a little groggily. Dark, chocolate brown eyes, illu minated by the glimmer of the flat screen, stared back at me, evidently startled . Luke abruptly withdrew his hand and set it on his lap, his posture stiff. What the hell just happened? The more or less two hours of the movie was finally over, and I couldn't be more satisfied. I'd squealed over Mr. Darcy's sudden appearance at Rosings and Pembe rley, cried over the proposal in the rain, and nearly melted over the ending (th ank goodness that Luke and Bill had thought to buy the U.S. version, or else no mushy "Mrs. Darcy" callings would be in order.). As the credits rolled, Seth tur ned on the lights, and the boys got to their feet and stretched, some with the p roof of recent slumber and drooling. I shrugged to myself. Hey, it was part of t he losers' consequence. I couldn't be blamed. Lizzie spied me sitting next to Luke, me not moving a muscle yet since I was sti lldrinking it all in.(Stop looking at me like that.) I didn't know about Luke, but he seemed perfectly content with just sitting there and watching everybody else say goodnight and one-by-one leave the room, with the exception of Ynna, who ha d fallen asleep completely, and Claire, who was carried by Seth out of the enter tainment room. Lizzie nudged Ethan by the elbow and turned to grin at us. It was only the twins , Mikey, who had remained behind for his sister, Ynna, Luke, and me in the room. "Do you have any intentions of getting your ass off the couch?" Ethan asked his brother, smirking. I can't help but be sketched out, noticing that Luke and Etha

n have almost identical smirks. God forbid the day they decide to proliferate. But Luke already did, remember? Mikey and Ynna and you and all that shit. Seriously, you believe that crap? I thought you were supposed to be smart. Yeah, for the first time in the history of stupidity, I believe you're right. Aren't I. "Since when did you care about what I do?" Luke said, seeming bored. The twins traded looks and shrugged. "Good night, Luke." And now it was only Luke, Mikey, Ynna, and me. Ain't that lovely. One big happy family. Damn. Scary thought. I finally stood up and stretched. Luke did the same. I went for the door, not sa ying good night. "Hey," he said, stopping me in my tracks. "What?" I said, a bit irritably. "Aren't you planning on bringing Ynna back to her room?" he said, folding his ar ms over his chest testily. "Isn't thatyourjob?" I snapped. "You're the daddy, anyway." His mouth dropped open. Ha, nowIget to use the parent card. "That's not the point, " he insisted. "Then what is?" I was barely aware of Mikey in the room, frustratedly watching u s. "Youbring her," he asserted, raising his voice. "Your room is way closer to hers. " "You'rethe guy," I retorted, raising my voice, too. "You bring her." "No,you." "You." "You!" "YOU!" Ynna gave a little snore. We turned, a bit startled, and lowered our fight down to whispers. "You bring her," I hissed. He stepped closer, probably to intimidate me. "Why should I?" he said, glowering at me. Chocolate. . . "You don't scare me," I stressed coolly. "Oh, I don't?" he spoke dangerously, walking another step towards me. "You don't." We just stood there for God knows how long, just glaring at each ot her, both raring for a fight. I haven't gotten over the pinning-me-down-on-the-s now thing; I suspect he's also not forgiven my face-bashing (literally) in the w oods. Our anger both drew us into a trance. . .just standing there, looking dagg ers, waiting for the other to look away. I want chocolate. . . "Uhm, hello," Mikey petulantly groused. "Are you done yet?" We blinked, and the spell was broken. "Uh," I managed to utter intelligently. Lu ke harrumphed and walked over to the blissfully oblivious Ynna, scooping her up in his arms. I can't quite get over the way he looked like such adadwhen he carried Ynna like t hat. Shit, my thoughts are quite a scare tonight. "Come on," he muttered grouchily to Mikey. "Let's get you to bed." He strode pas t me without another word. Mikey, though, walked by me more slowly and I caught a few murmured words. "Sometimes I can't believe you guys are my parents, but then again. . ." He slip ped out of the room after his "dad" soundlessly, and I was left alone, more conf used than ever. "Where have you been?" Charlie questioned when I got into my room. All the girls were there again, with the exception of the younger ones, Ynna and Claire. I blinked. "Huh?" "You were left back there for about twenty minutes," Lizzie said, a grin forming on her face. "Did something happen?" Shit. She must have told the others who I

was left with back in the entertainment room. "Nothing," I said shortly. "I'm tired. Can we do this tomorrow?" I made a show o f getting some clothes and some toiletries from my closet, and then walked into the bathroom, fully aware of the baffled glances from the girls. When I got back, all the girls were still there and stole (or think they did) a glance at me as I walked wordlessly to my bed, my phone buzzing madly on it. I w as sorely tempted now to throw the phone out the window with all my might in cas e it was the jackass again , and would have gladly done so, had I not caught a g limpse at the wildly blinking screen. Now, I was very thankful I did so. "Hi!" I said a bit breathlessly, sitting down on my bed and seeing the others le aning in to eavesdrop out of the corner of my eye. "Hi," a deep, laughing voice replied. "I didn't think you would miss me this muc h, sis." "I don't," I bluffed. "Mom and Dad do, though. Jake, when were you planning to t ell them you were coming home for Christmas?" "I was?" Jake said, a bit confused. "I didn't know." And then he chuckled. "Vivi an has a lot to answer to when I get back there." "Vivian has nothing to do with this," I said, feeling loyal to my younger sister and also keen to avoid a bloody mess during vacation. Remember when I said that I broke up most of Vivian's and Jake's fights? It was not a joke. Believe me; I 've seen the stains to prove it. And another one, you wouldn't want to know what the stains are of. It was one of the few reasons why I hated the role of being middle child, but one cannot have everything she wants, right? "Right," Jake replied, clearly disbelieving. "So," I said, changing the topic, "when are you coming in? You could at least sp are the details." He laughed. "Afraid not, Ron," he said. "I want it to be a surprise. Besides, Me lanie's with me." Melanie Vanders was his longtime girlfriend way back in high school, and it alwa ys made me laugh everytime I remember the story on how they met. They met in mid dle school, and Melanie always got pissed at Jake because, well, he was one oftho seguys. You know, athletic jock, asshole extraordinaire. . .the works. (Jake alwa ys dropped the airhead act at home, though, because he knows the females at home are not afraid to castrate him in case the need comes up.) Now, there was this one time when Melanie finally exploded at Jake because he'd always hit on her, a nd you know what they both did? They kissed. I know, kind of gross, kind of cheesy, and, erm, kind of stupid. But it's true l ove (for them, anyway), and they've been together ever since. Not that I did not have any objections to that at first. I recalled having some temper tantrums ( I was 11 at the time) whenever Melanie came over, but in time I warmed up to her (with the help of some Hunger Games and Sophie Kinsella novels that she gifted me withor rather,bribed) and finally realized that they suit each other, because M elanie never takes any of his shit, and that's what he needed in a girl. Anyway. . . "Mel's with you?" I shrieked, earning the startled glares from the others. "How lovely!" "But I hear you're not at home," Jake said, his tone changing. I momentarily for got my sworn loyalty to Vivian as I realized who would've told him. I did not an swer. "Ronnie?" "What?" I sulkily replied. He chuckled. "Why the sudden mood swing? Touched a nerve, maybe?" He knew perfec tly what pissed me off. He just wanted me to say it. "Vivian told you, didn't she?" "She did. Are you finally going to join my side of the battle against her?" "No, I'm doing no such thing." Pause. "So. . .where are you?" "You already know I'm not at home. Why would you want me to tell you again?" I s napped.

"Whoa, no need to getsnappywith me, sis. IS it that time of the month again? Vivia n didn't tell me shit; she just said you were staying elsewhere." "In that case, you don't really need to know. By the time you arrive, I'd alread y be back home." I took a stab at being sweet and cheerful again. "Take care, al right? Come home soon!" "I'm not content with what you said, and trust me, I'd find out one way or anoth er." I gripped my phone tighter. "Well then, good night, sis. See you soon." Click. I stared at the phone in frustration for a few seconds before flopping on my bac k on the bed. The others, knowing very well that I was not in the mood for shitc hat, finally said goodnight and filed out the bedroom. 13 Never had I felt so much relief and joy while packing my bags, getting ready to leave. Usually, it's something like reminiscing the moments passed while in my t emporary home, relishing the memories and hoping I will be back again. But this time's very different. I can hardly wait for the clock to strike nine in the mor ning before I could finally fly out of this house and proclaim, "Good riddance!" But this was not to be. I was impatient and excited to finally be out of this place that I actually had been the first to wake up (yeah, and during vacation, too!) and had taken the qu ickest shower possible (of course I'm thoroughly clean; I'm not about to become a hobo and compromise my hygiene. Are youcrazy?) . Without waking the sisters up, I sidled out the room and tiptoed to where Charlie was staying. Lo and behold; far from my expectations that Charlie would still be drooling on the expensive Dolce & Gabbana pillow at her disposal, she was already bright and alert when I quietly walked in. And she was not the only one; Lizzie and Claire were also up, and so were the five teenage males of the house, sitting at vario us spots on the carpet and in the three beanbags in the room. Contrary to my exp ected, non-attention-grabbing entrance, every pair of eyes wandered over to me a s I came in, feeling small, and feeling a particular, chocolate-brown one burnin g a hole in the back of my head. "Hi, everyone," I said in a small voice. "Hi, Ronnie!" Charlie called happily. Trust her to becomethischeerful in the morni ng. "Erm, hello," I said, and sat on her bed. Almost everyone else was in their pyja mas; all except me and Seth. The oldest person of the crazy bunch, he probably w as forced to get up so early in order to avoid the shower-hogging attitudes of t he other boys. I did not understand that, though. In a house this big, there's g ot to be at least five bathrooms all over, and that's still not including the on es in the bedrooms. "Good morning, Ronnie," Bill greeted. He was always the nicest one, but I can't help but feel a slight blush make its way to my cheeks. I smiled in response. "So, Ron," Charlie said conversationally. "What brings you here so early?" She g lanced at her watch. "It's not even eight in the morning yet." "Charlie, you twit," I replied in a light tone. "Did you forget that we're alrea dy leaving today? As in, this morning? Like, at nine" "I get it," she cut me off. I grinned. "You're already leaving?" Claire asked, her blue eyes staring up at me. "Fortunately, she is," a darkly pleased male voice countered. I shot Luke a glar e and turned back to Claire, who seemed ready to bawl. God, she's almost like Yn na right now. "Don't worry," I said hastily. "I can still call. . .and text. . .and email. . . do you use Facebook?" "Of course she does, dimwit," Luke answered for Claire. "She's not some primitiv e cave-woman,Veronica." I kept myself from wincing, knowing the act would probably stroke this bastard's ego. "Oh, I'msorry." I seethed. "It does not show on you, your Highness." "And you've got the manners of such a pleasing noblewoman, my lady," he retorted , matching my sarcastically sweet tone. I was barely aware of the others watchin

g our every move, open-mouthed. Well, if they're going to be in yours truly's co mpany, they better be used to this, and quick. "I know, sire, and that's exactly what's keeping me from taking my father's cane and shoving it up your" "There'll be no need for that," a melodious yet raised voice, bearing years and years of experience of breaking up petty and immature fights, interrupted from t he open doorway, and everybody turned. "Oh," Luke said, wide-eyed in his surprise. No doubt he played the good boy at h ome. Pretentious prick. Lilia gave us both stern looks. "Luke, Veronica," I grimaced, "you two should le arn to watch yourselves, especially in front of the little children. What kind o f examples do you think you're setting by being this way?" "Oh, a nice one, for sure," David interjected, smirking. Needless to say, it als o earned him a Lilia-patented glare, and thankfully, it shut him up. "As I was saying," she went on, with a bit of a lilt in her voice, "you two shou ld behave well, considering the fact that Veronica her and her friend Charlotte would be staying fortwo more days." Two more days? Twomore days? Two moredays? "What?" Luke and I simultaneously yelled. "What do you mean, stay here for two more days? I've already suffered enough!" "You thinkyousuffered enough? What, you think I'mecstaticover this?" "Lilia, you gotta make her leave!" "Shedoesn'tneed to make me leave, I'm going to haul my ass" I caught myself"rear end out of here in no time at all!" I heard snickers from behind us. "Good riddance, too! Have ahorribletrip home then, ingrate!" "Ingrate? What does that make you?" I was already clenching my fist around the n earest lamp, and funny thing was, I wasn't even intending it. "What, you're going to throw me my own lamp? In my own house? Go on, then, but y ou probably should warn the ones nearest you; they're more in danger of your cra p aim!" I was beginning to see red. "Try me,Veronica." That did it. "Aaaaarrghh!" I shrieked as in a battle cry, and tackled him. "Ow! Get off me, you mad woman!" he hollered as we both went down in front of th e astonished gazes of all the spectators. "Don'tcallmethatagain!" I snarled, trying to get my hands on his throat, just this o nce. "Veronica," he drawled while struggling. It provoked me more, and I wasn't gonna let go that easily. "Ow, you're crazy!" he screamed as I finally caught his neck. "Crazy, yes, but a weakling, no!" "Get off me!" he bellowed, and kicked my legs, sending me crashing down the carp et. I distinctly heard Louie mutter, "This is even better than cable." I paid dearly for my brief moment of distraction as I was shoved down the floor by a now equally furious Luke. I gave him my bestor worstdeath glare, and he match ed it with one of his own. I was so angry that I did not even take the time to a ppreciate the slight gold glimmers in his eyes. "Don't you dare do that again," Luke threatened in a deadly, dangerously low voi ce as he gripped my wrists and pinned them down on my sides. "No one's stopping me," I bit back between my teeth. Just then, I felt his tight grip on my wrists loosen, and at that moment I saw l ight again as his silhouette grew farther. "Break it up, you two," Seth said, grabbing Luke by the collar of his shirt. Bil l was trying so hard to adopt a severe expression, but it kept breaking into an amused grin. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luke being subdued by Bill and D avid, trying to block me from his fuming view. Louie held out a hand to me, and I angrily took it, intentionally pulling him do wn to my level. "If you ever try anything with meagain," I said in my most chilli ng voice, "I'll kick you where ithurts." To my satisfaction, he nodded, appearing

frightened. Lilia was livid. "Youyouhow dare you two pull off something like this!" she shoute d, finally losing control. "You're both seventeen, for heaven's sakes! Try and c ontrol yourselves!" "He started it," I muttered sullenly. Luke glared at me. "It does not matter! You took his bait, and it makes it bothyourfaults!" Lilia jus t stood there, earning the award for the second most shocking event of the morni ng. Apparently, it was really, really rare for Lilia Fencer to lose control like thatand I was ashamed to admit that I had been one of the reasons why. Even Luke looked chagrined. "I'mwe're sorry," I mumbled. Lilia just shot us a look. "If you two ever keep this up again, I'll be forced t o lock you two up in the storage room for a whole night." She looked around the silent room, thick with tension and surprise. I was being held back by Louie and David, while Luke was restrained by Seth and Bill. "Can I still trust you to ke ep all the furniture intact? I'm leaving it up to you," she gestured at the stil l open-mouthed cousins, "to make sure blood doesn't stain the floor and the wall s. Breakfast is in thirty minutes, and Veronica, just wait for your extra clothe s. Your parents sent someone over to bring your luggage." With that, Lilia walke d out with a flourish out of the stunned, silent room. The quiet was broken by a derisive voice, though. "Yeah,Veronica, behave." I instinctively kicked my foot out, and David and Louie had to work extra hard t o keep me subdued. "Wow, you guys get each other really worked up, huh." David's tone seemed to hav e an undercurrent to it, one whose meaning I didn't particularly like. "Shut up," Luke snapped, trying to get away from Seth and Bill. "No can do,coz," Bill said. I sat morosely on my bed, trying my hardest to escape from my cage of humiliatio n and indignity. I was being put under room arrest up until noon, since the cous ins seem to have taken Lilia's demand to heart. I was still ashamed of having pu shed Lilia past her breaking point, and the furtive glances being shot to me by some of the girls, who had taken shifts on making sure I don't try anything, did n't help. Luke, I heard, was likewise imprisoned in his room, guarded similarly by the other males. I smiled grimly to myself. At least I wasn't suffering this all by my lonesome. At ten, Charlie left the room and Alex took her place. Out the bedroom window on the third floor, I watched jealously as the others (the ones who weren't curren tly guarding the violent mental patients) enjoyed one of the most beautiful snow days of the year. Some were making snowballs, some comparing snow angels, while the others picked up where the last snowball fight had left off. I exhaled nois ily and whipped around when I heard Alex snicker. "Dude, I've never been in a kindergarten classroom, but I think now I pretty muc h know how it is to spend at least a quarter of an hour there." She grinned. "Not funny." I resisted the urge to stick out my tongue at her. That would most probably prove her kindergarten theory. "But seriously? Don't you guyseverget along? Even once?" she persisted. I walked away from the window and threw myself into one of the three queen-sized beds. "Ask Luke. I'm not in the mood." "Someone's cranky," she sang, settling down on one of the other beds, taking out her phone, and texting someone else with it. Kids these days. Can't even last o ne whole hour without touching their phone or laptop computer or iPod or whateve r. Just then,Closing Timeplayed inside the silent room, and even Alex looked up, curi ous to find the source of the music. I uncovered my phone from under one of my pillows and took one glance at the scr een, knowing that the caller would not help my mood. "What?" I snapped into the phone. "Whoa, back up there, honey," Jake laughed. "Are you PMS-ing on me or something? "

"I do not have PMS! Why does everyone keep saying that?" I whined. "Uh, maybe because you keep acting like it?" "Shut up." A silence ensued while I spied Alex silently shaking with laughter at the corner . I instantly regretted my outburst. "So, uhm," I said a bit timidly. "What were you calling about?" "What wereyouangry about?" Jake countered. "Nothing," I said, not wanting to admit that I got into one of my usual fights a gain. "Maybe you're right. Maybe Iamjust PMS-ing." "Okay," he said, not believing me. It was the second time this week that I heard the doubt in his voice, and I did not like it. I told you people, Luke Conner m ost certainly brings out the hidden, most sadistic parts of me. "I think I now have a clue to where you are," Jake proudly declared. It was then that I realized that I still had not told him where I was, and if he still did not have any concrete idea as to where, he's not home yet. I mentally slapped myself as I recounted the telltale clues. Suddenly secretive, blurting out half-truths that neither of us really believes, prone to violent m ood swings, and manifesting bitchy disposition. Jake must have figured out that I was "At the Conners'," he stated. Another silence dominated the conversation. "Well? Am I right?" "What do you think?" I glumly replied. "Oh, poor baby," he teased. "Why are you in there?" "Maybe if you came home already and stop giving us false hopes each year, you co uld find out," I retorted, and my hand flew to my mouth. I really,reallyshould get out of here. "Ronnie." I felt guilty at his tone. "You know I couldn't really make promises. And you know I always do my best to get away from this place and get a taste of Mom's cooking again," he said in a bit of a gloomy tone. I smiled a little at hi s weak attempt at humor. "Look, Jake, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking right," I said, appalled at myself. "That's quite alright," Jake said, and I was relieved to hear that his light, ch eery tone was creeping back to his tone again. "I guess I deserved it." "You did," I said, and I could tell that he knew I was smiling. "Don't worry. I promise, I'll be there before Christmas," he vowed, and my mood instantly picked up. "Okay. Wouldn't you want to know the reason that I am here?" "Like you said, Ronnie, I'd find out once I'm home. Trust me, I think it would s ound much more interesting, hearing first-hand why my little sister is staying a t her mortal enemy's place for more than three days." I detected a note of malic ious teasing in his voice. "Don't start." "I wouldn't. . .yet," he stressed. "Bye then, Ronnie. I'll see you soon." "Bye." I pushedend calland tossed my phone on my bed. "Your brother's hot, you know," Alex suddenly commented from the other side of t he room. She would know, given the past nights I'd caught her "exploring" my pho ne when I wasn't looking. "Gross." I rolled my eyes. "And anyway, he's not available. He has a girlfriend. " "I wasn't planning on wooing him with my irresistible charms, Ronnie," she said, laughing. "I was just saying." I laughed at that, too, and I was glad to know I was not feeling low anymore. Suddenly, though, the door burst open, making us jump. "Alex!" It was Bill, and he looked a bit panicked and on red alert. He was also a bit out of breath, too. "What?" Alex said, looking rattled. "Luke! He escaped!" "What?" Alex said again, getting up from her bed in record time and tucking away her phone in her jeans pocket. "I thought you guys were watching him?" Honestly, the way they spoke in high, stressed tones, you'd think the most wante

d serial killer was at large. But then again, this wasLukewe were talking about. "He managed to slip out! Come on, help us!" With that, he dashed out, with Alex hot on his heels. And then I was left alone. With the door wide open, just waiting for me to step out and become a fugitive, too. But I just shrugged. "Eh," I muttered to myself nonchalantly. I was no criminal, not like Luke, anyway, and I'm going to be a good girl and serve my time the pr oper way. I merely closed the door gently, walked over to my bed, and dropped on my back, staring at the ceiling. Not ten minutes later, though, the door banged open again. But it was not Bill, nor Alex. It was Luke. He dashed inside and closed the door, locking it. "What the hell are you doing?" I demanded, lifting my head from the bed to get a better view of him. Not that I thought he was worth viewing, erm, no siree. "Getting out of the clutches of the Conner secret police." He shrugged and casua lly loped over tomybed. "No, I meant, what did youjust do? You freaking'lockedit!" I shrieked, stress highl ighting my voice. Now,Iwas the onepanicking. "Relax, Wilcox, it's not like something's going to happen or something." He smir ked at me. "Unless youwantsomething to happen." I was too freaked out to comprehend the double meaning of his words. Instead, I picked up the book that Arielle was reading the other night and threw it with al l my strength at him. Which, of course, he smoothly dodged. "As usual, your aim is still as precise as crap," he commented. "Youmoron!" I roared. "Don't you have any idea to what you did? Didn't you ever w onder why no one, I repeat, no one, ever locked this door? From the inside?" He just looked confused. "Maybe because you didn't know how the lock works?" I gave him my fiercest glare (which, to his credit, he flinched away from) and s tomped over to the closed door. I then attempted to furiously turn the knob. It didn't. It was merely stuck, and that told us that we were going to stay ther e formoretime than we bargained for. "This, you imbecile," I hissed, watching a horrified expression come over to his face, "is why." Fuck. 14 Fuck. Things cannot get any worse than it is already. Though I know it's a sure invita tion for the universe to prove me wrong, nothing can still stop me from making t his really-obvious-at-the-moment statement. For one, I'm locked up. Normally I would not have panicked like this, but please , cut me some slack. This isLukewe're talking about. Goodness knows all the tricks he's got up his sleeve by now. And you can't even admit to yourself that you're freakin' curious at what those tricks might be. What? Is that some kind of perverted statement? I can't believe you! Oh, please. I'm part of you. You're part of me. Doesn't make any sense how you c an't have any idea on how your mind really works, eh? It's already three in the afternoon, the others had already ceased chucking whit e slush at each other, the skies are turning a gloomy gray, and no luck at all h as been gained with finding the key to this stupid door or finding a way out of this potential hellhole. (Though I have a very sneaky suspicion that the Conners , and most probably Charlie, is prolonging the processon purpose. Those bastards. ) I lay face-down on my bed, exhausted physically and my mental exertion borderi ng on insanity. "Oh, God," I moaned. "Why do these things happen to me?" Luke, sprawled on his back on Alex's bed, made a snorting noise. "Sounds like yo u've been a very naughty girl, Veronica."

I clenched the sheets, not looking at him. "Can you just shut up with all theVero nicacracks already? It gets old after the first six or seven times, you know," I snapped. "Alright then, Veronica." I was so drained that I did not even take up his bait. I raised myself up to a s itting position. "Something strikes me as strange," I remarked, narrowing my eye s at him. "This isyourhouse, yet you act like you don't know about this stupid fau lty lock." He pushed down on the mattress and sat up, too. He then shrugged. "I told you, I 'm seldom up here at the third floor. Naturally, I wouldn't know much about it." "Why weren't you always up here?" I asked, curious. Surely Luke Conner wouldn't let any corner unexplored, would he? "Oh, I was here, alright," he replied, and I detected some kind of glint in his dark eyes. "But whenever I'm up here, something weird always happens." As if to prove his point, even darker clouds gathered in the already filled sky, dimming the large room. I bristled. "W-weird? Weird how?" It would be almost twenty-four hours later that I would realize I'd walked into another one of his traps. "Oh, you know," Luke said, giving me a lopsided grin. "Like that one time I wandered up here alone, because Mom and Dad were away on o ne of their trips again and the twins and Adam were staying downstairs. Lilia ha d gone away for some grocery shopping, and I knew I was alone." I'd unconsciously reached for one of the large pillows and hugged it tightly. Lu ke's smile grew wider. He continued. "I'd walk through the corridors here, and I 'd hear someone singing inside one of the rooms. It's a woman, it's always a wom an." He exhaled. "So, of course I was, hmm, nine or something, and I'd ask Lilia if anybody was living here." I was working so hard to resist curling up, covering my head with the pillow, an d keep repeating, "Stop. Stop. Stop." But the devil went on. "Lilia would look at me as if I was crazy" (You probably a re, I thought savagely.) "and so I'd let it go. But those things would continue. If no one would be singing, then someone would be crying." Somewhere inside the house, a door slammed, and I jumped. Luke laughed. "Are youscared, Wilcox?" he asked, his eyes shining with glee. "Of course not," I tried to snap, but my voice was a bit shaky. "Closing time, open up the doors and let you out into the world. . ."someone sudd enly crooned. That was it. "AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" I shrieked, practically flying out of my bed and jumping on wh ere Luke was sitting. I shoved myself at the farthest corner of the bed from the door. Luke burst into a loud chorus of mirth. He was even slapping his knee while he d id it, the jackass. "Well?" he asked between peals of laughter. "Aren't you going to answer your pho ne?" I was still far too out of it at the moment so I did not respond. Wiping tears o f laughter from his eyes as he got up and walked to my bedside table, he picked up the offending object and answered it. "Hi," he smoothly said into the phone. "You've reached the room of Miss Veronica Wilcox and yours truly, Lucas Conner and wereallydon't appreciate the disturbance , if you know what I mean." He dropped me a slow wink while I watched in horror. "What?" I heard Charlie shriek from the phone, and I was slightly glad to see Lu ke flinch from the phone and stick a finger to his ear. "Charlie, you know better than to believe him!" I yelled, finally getting my bod y to work and clambering down from the bed. I ran to Luke and tried to snatch th e phone away from him. "Charlie! We're not doing anything!" "Yet," Luke added. "Oh Luke, would you just shut up for a moment?" I said angrily, trying to get my phone from him. Problem is, I can't, given his gigantic height and long arms. " Gimme that!"

"Ronnie!Veronica!"the phone emitted another outlandish scream. "Tell me the truthri ght now!" "Luke!" I whined, tired of standing on tiptoe, "come on now, Luke. It's just a p hone, for God's sake!" I finally snagged the phone and immediately ran to the fa rthest spot from said demon. "Now talk," Charlie said once I stuck my mobile to my ear. Luke leaned on the wa ll opposite me, smirking and watching me. I squirmed uncomfortably under his gaz e. "What do you want to know?" I hedged. "Aboyanswers your phone and says something about not wanting to be distracted from a certain activity includingyou, a girl. What do you think I want to know?" Her voice was becoming shrill again. "Okay, first of all, Luke saidnothingof the sort," I said, feeling a bit irritated . "He did not say anything about an activity. He said he did not want to be dist racted, that's all. And anyway, I already told you I didn't do anything." A pause. "What are you doingnow?" "Talking to you. Duh. And figuring a way out of here. I was, at least." I scowle d at Luke. "Anyway, whereareyou? I don't see you trying to find us a way out of he re." I heard some low sniggers and realized I was on speakerphone. I slapped my foreh ead in exasperation. Traitors. "I, erm," Charlie began, clearly trying hard not to laugh herself. "We cannot fi nd the key. It's dark." "Enough with the excuses, Charlie." "Alright already! Lilia's out. We think she's picking up some groceries or somet hing. We don't know where the keys are, I swear." "Then find it! I don't intend to spend the whole night with Mr. Lucifer here." I saw Luke's smirk grow more pronounced. "And besides, we're hungry," I complaine d. We haven't had lunch yet. "Oh, poor baby," Charlie said. "Anyway" Beep. "What was that?" I interrupted. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" "The beep" I took the phone away from my ear and saw the gradual dimming of the b acklight.Oh God, please no. "Ronnie" was the last thing I heard Charlie say before the phone went completely dead. Oh, for the love of all that's holy! I chucked the phone angrily at my bed. "Stupidwrong timing" Luke came over, the relaxed expression finally gone from his face. "Did your pho ne just die on us?" "No, it decided to take a nap. What do you think?" I snapped. "Don't you have a charger here somewhere?" I got up, and then realized something. I slapped my palm into my forehead again. "Shit, I forgot that Seth had borrowed it yesterday. . ." Dude! When I said tha t things couldn't have been worse, I was so not expecting fate to rise up to the challenge! All the previous excitement seemed to have drained from Luke, too, as he felt ar ound in his jeans pocket. "Fuck. . .I think I left mine in my room." Well, that settles it. We're stranded, hungry, and together. . .alone. Nothing c ouldofficiallybe worse. I hadn't realized I'd fallen into a nap (a really long nap) until I jerked awake suddenly (you know those dreams when you feel yourself falling? Yeah, that's it .) and caught a glimpse of the window. It was completely black outside, and it w asn't really helped by the fact that the loud howling of the wind and white mush flying by the window made it seem like a scene straight out of a Stephen King n ovel. And then I remembered the story about the singing and the crying. As if on cue, a sharp burst of lightning cracked through the air, followed by a loud, deep rol l of thunder.

I jumped and looked around, afraid that I was alone. The room was merely illumin ated by the bedside lamps on either side of the bed, not by the overhead fluores cent bulb. And then I spotted Luke, half-lying. Onmybed. Beside me. "What are you doing here?" I asked irritably as another bolt of lightning made i ts appearance by the large window. "Reading," he said simply. And he was right. The book I had thrown at him earlie r,The Clockwork Princeby Cassandra Clare, was in his hands, and he was reading it as if it was the only reading material in the world. Well, given our present sit uation, it might as well be. I felt my jaw drop. Luke Conner wasreading?And then I remembered how he almost al ways bested me in quizzes and exams at school at the subjects that required much reading. Smart-ass. "Why do you look so surprised?" he asked amusedly, looking up from the book. I'd already read that book, more than twice in sophomore year, mainly because I'd a lso fallen in love with yet another fictional character, Will Herondale. (Swoon. ) "You just don't strike me as the reading type," I said frankly. He chuckled, the n put down the book. "Then what type do I strike you as?" he said, the amused expression not quite le aving his face. I gulped, feeling immensely conscious at the way he stared. "Iuh" I stammered, hating the way my heartbeat sped up. It wasn't supposed to, I k new it. I hated this guy,loathedhim, even. So why am I feeling some kind of pull towards him? I was barely aware of the fact that we were half-sprawled on the bed, our heads facing each other. I was barely aware of the fact thatThe Clockwork Princelay for gotten, tangled at the sheets. I was only conscious of the reality that as the s econds ticked by, we were growing closer and closer, only inches remaining betwe en our lips, the air around us electric. So electric, in fact, that we both started when a particularly loud boom of thun der made its way through the still, tense atmosphere in the room. A split-second later, we both sprang away from each other, me almost toppling of f the bed, while Luke clambered off clumsily from the other side, and went strai ght to the window, his back to me. "Looks like a blizzard," he commented in a would-be casual voice, but I could st ill hear some sort of strain. "Uhm, yeah," I answered. "Do you think Lilia made it back?" "She'd have toI doubt she can even bear the thought of at least five adolescents left alone, roaming the halls, doing whatever they please without any kind of ad ult supervision." And then we lapsed into a tense, awkward silence. My stomach growled. Loudly, at that. Despite the earlier discomfort, it seemed like everything that had passed had di ssipated slowly into a fog slowly becoming oblivious when Luke turned around and laughed his easy, carefree laugh. A laugh that I suddenly realized that I liked .Loved, even. Come on now, Wilcox.I mentally shook my head, since doing so in actuality would p rompt some awkward questions.You can't loveanythingthat's his. Watch me. "You weren't joking about your being hungry," Luke laughingly remarked. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't really joke about something like that, would I," I said, raising my voice so I can disguise yet another complaint from my tummy. "Aren't you hungry?" He shook his head, still smiling. "I'm a guy. Of course I'm always hungry. In my case, though, before I'd run in and got myself stuck with you, incidentally I'v e swallowed about five bars of granola and two bags of Doritos. I keep a stash i n a box under my bed," he whispered conspiratorially. I raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that give you one hell of a stomachache?" He grinned proudly. "Not to me it won't." I rolled my eyes. "Lucky you, then." My stomach emitted another humiliating grow

l. Luke walked away from the window and started rummaging in the cabinets in the be droom after turning on one of the overhead lights, while I watched, dumbfounded. "What do you think you're doing?" I asked slowly. "Looking for food. That stomach of yours sounds like it's going to growl out the alphabet soon," he replied, his head inside one of the closets. "But that's not mine" I broke off as he pulled out a medium-sized sack from Alex' s cabinet. "What's that?" I felt half-amused, half-exasperated at the I-struck-g old look on his face. "Heaven. . .to you, anyway," he said, dropping the sack on my bed. He was right. (Yes, it did taste a little sour in my mouth when I said that.) Th e moment I pulled open the bag's mouth, at least seven Snickers bars and three K it Kats greeted my food-deprived eyes. To my delight (and horror), my mouth imme diately watered. "Wait. . .this is not mine," I objected, though my stomach certainly did not. "N or yours, for that matter." "Pfft." He waved a nonchalant hand. "You think I care? It's their fault for gett ing us into this in the first place." He paused. "Wait, those might giveyouone hel l of a stomachache if you eat them all at once." I smiled smugly. Candy and chocolate were never one of my stomach's weaknesses. A sugar rush, maybe, but never an upset stomach. Lucky me, indeed. "Not to me it wouldn't." "If you say so," he shrugged. I threw away the remaining inhibitions regarding e ating what was not mine, since it was reallytheirfault for getting us into this. I ripped open the first Snicker bar and bit into it, my expression one of utmost bliss. I sighed. Luke laughed again. Seriously, he seemed to do that a lot lately, didn't he? "Thanks," I said thickly, my mouth full of chocolate. "If I knew you'd be like this when you get to eat chocolate, I would've bought y ou an entire store." He chuckled. I swallowed. "I don't doubt that," I said. He was actually known for being one o f the richest kids in school, so I imagined he wouldn't have any trouble buying out a store full of Snickers and Kit Kats. I admit, this moment, I'm entirely in love with Luke. And chocolate. Not necessa rily in that order. After I finished three Snickers and all of the Kit Kats, though, Luke started to pester me. "Are you sure this wouldn't upset your stomach?" he asked, in what I thought was an annoyed yet a bit worried tone. I wouldn't know exactly, though, when I'm he re floating along blissfully on cloud nine. "Hey." He walked over to me and snatched the sack away from my reach. I did not complain. I giggled instead, and a high-pitched, girly one at that. He looked su rprised, and then he raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright?" "Oh, I've never been better, Luke!" I squealed and fell on my back on the bed. L uke stared down at me, blocking my view of the ceiling. "Really?" He sounded seriously sceptical. Honestly, can't a girl just have fun? "Sure, Luke, suuuuuuure!" I giggled again. "Ronnie, I think this amount of chocolate isn't good for you." I'd started singing "My Favorite Things" while he was speaking. "Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes. . .snowflakes that stay on my no se and eyelashes. . ." I let out another high-pitched squeal and jumped around. "Ron," he said in a reprimanding tone while I scampered around the room. "Stay p ut." "Brown paper packages tied up with string. . ." I went on, with titters punctuat ing almost every line. "That's not even the right words," Luke said. "Oh, you waaaaaatched theSound of Music, Luke? You watched it? You watched it?" He rolled his eyes. "I don't think it was a good idea giving you all these sweet s."

"Oh, you think sooooooo, Luke?" I asked cheerfully. I was so sugared-up I was no t even appalled at my disgustingly girly tone. "Scratch that, I know so," he said firmly, taking me by the arm and making me si t down on a bed. In my sugared-up haze, I didn't realize whose it was. "I'm neve r giving you chocolates again." "But Luuuuuuke!" I whined. "I love chocolaaaaaates." "You're not thinking straight. Go on, sleep it off." "Hmph." I crossed my arms petulantly, like a small child. "You're always so grum py." His eyebrows shot up. "Me? Grumpy?" I nodded my head repeatedly. "Of course. If you weren't such an asshole half of the time, I think I'd even fall in love with you." His eyes widened even more, if that was possible. The rich brown color made me t hink again of all the Snickers and Kit Kats I was missing out on. "What?" "Yep," I said, nodding my head again. "Why wouldn't I? You're smart. Very, actua lly. You even beat me in some of the Biology exams. It made me hate you sometime s, you know?" He still looked stunned. I went on, shooting my mouth off shamelessly. "And then there's your looks. No wonder three-fourths of the school's female pop ulationand even some of the male species, tooalways ogle at you when you pass by. If I didn't know you, I think I would have dropped dead at your feet, too." "Ogle?" he echoed. I am so proud of my vocabulary. "But you're such a jerk sometimes, you know? You call me names and make perverte d jokes and act like you don't care at all." I suddenly yawned. Damn. Sugar rush was wearing off. Luke spluttered. "Iyou think I don'tcare?" I yawned again, this time sure it was the end. "Why do you sound so surprised?" I sank lower on the mattress of the bed. Luke was staring at me. I fidgeted uncomfortably under his gaze. "What?" I said, slowly getting horrified when I realized what I just shamelessly mouthed off. "You seriously couldn't think that I'mthatheartless, could you?" I was a little di smayed to hear some kind of sad undercurrent to his voice. "Luke," I quickly said, "I wasn't being serious. That was the sugar rush speakin g" "'A drunk man's actions are a sober man's thoughts.'" He paused for a while. "Ex cept that you're not really drunk, and I think you've been waiting for a long ti me to finally say what you said." Luke had been standing near me when I was thou ghtlessly shooting my mouth off, and now he moved away from where I was, as if r epelled by me. "Luke" "It's almost ten," he cut me off, glancing at his Rolex watch. (Nice silver shee n, too.) "You're already starting to crash. You should sleep it off." He switche d off the overhead lights, leaving a couple of bedside lamps on, and then settle d into the bed farthest away from me, watching the blizzard outside. Ashamed of myself, I merely curled up under the comforters and turned my back to him. For the first time, I hated chocolates. 15 Predictably, I kept tossing and turning that night, trying my best to catch slee p, or rather, try and get sleep to catch me. I refused to think about what occur red earlier; I know I would probably stay up all night if I even began mulling o ver it. I should have known that I would have pulled an all-nighter whether I thought ab out it or not. My restlessness must have awoken Luke, who had been lying quietly on one of the other beds, his back to me. When I fidgeted one more time, rustling the sheets, I heard him exhale exasperatedly. "Are you going to keep shaking the bed all night, Wilcox?" I heard him say, thou gh not with derision. "Because I know a better way to keep the bed shaking." Grr . I could just see the smirk on his face. I ignored him and turned and faced the wall. Moments later I felt the other side

of my bed sink with the newest occupant's weight. "Can I just ask you what you're doing here now?" I knew I should probably lay of f the infuriated rudeness because admittedly I'd just dealt a below-the-belt sta tement after all those Snickers and Kit Kats, but I still can't help but feel a bit tetchy. Hmm. Maybe it's that time of the month again. I hate my mood swings. Violently. Luke made himself comfortable beside me. "I'm trying to sleep, so please do me t he honor of shutting up." He closed his eyes, and I can't help but feel guilty o f disturbing his rest, among other things that I'm already feeling guilty of. "Um," I began timidly. "Did I wake you up?" He cracked one dark eye open and looked at me. "Eh," he said after a minute, and shrugged. "You did, but I'm a light sleeper anyway. I take a long time falling asleep again, but maybe it's because I got a lot of things on my mind tonight." A moment of silence passed before I broke it. "And trying to sleep here, inmybed, beside me, helps. . .why?" I raised an eyebrow. He opened both eyes and grinned, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. If he was angry at me, he didn't show it, and at the moment, that was enough for me. I may never admit it (to his face at least), but I get very, very scared of an a ngry Luke. "To piss you off. Or give you a night you won't ever forget." Luke smirked. "It' s all up to you, actually." I shoved him off the bed. "Get lost, loser." Annoyingly, he maintained his balance. "You know you want it." God, I wished I had fallen asleep the moment I crashed from the sugar rush, butno ooooo, I had to stay up and endure this asshole-I-just-insulted-and-hurt's airhe adedness. "So, is this helping you fall asleep? Like, right now?" I snapped. "What, you're late for some kind of ball or something?" He chuckled. "Honestly, I don't really feel like going back to sleep right now." I groaned. "Serves me right for waking you up." "Yeah, I guess so," Luke agreed. "So, since we both can't sleep. . .maybe we can . . .?" And this time, I finally managed to kick him off the bed, along with some of the comforters. He landed with athud. "Ow," came a muffled grunt from beside the bed. I chortled, basking in the glory of finally catching him off guard. Hey, it's no easy feat with him, you know. I t's like he's born with some kind of extra-sharp senses or some other crap. "What the hell was that for?" Luke said indignantly, getting on his feet yet sti ll tangled with the bedcovers, making him look like some kind of mutant Casper. He struggled with getting his arms from the cocoon of sheets. "I didn't mean wha t you think I meant." "Oh yeah?" I watched him as he thrashed around the room. He finally got his hand s free and was working on getting his legs out when he lost his balance and fell over. He turned abruptly to me when I laughed loudly, earning me a furious glow er. "Aren't you going to help me?" he asked irritably. "Hmm. . ." I pretended to think about it. "Nope, not yet." "Then when?" he asked impatiently, trying to untangle the rest of his body. "Arg h, fucking blankets!" Wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes, I went over to where he was, swearing and cursing. "So you decide to help me now, huh?" he snapped. "Bloody. . .fucking. . .sheets. . ." he muttered, almost to himself. "That's no way to talk to someone who'll help you, you know." I smirked and got down on my knees. "Yeah, laugh all you want." "Believe me, I am." We finally got his left leg free, and he stood up, straighte ning. I got to my feet too and sat back down on my bed. "So, what were you saying before you fell off the bed and got into a fight with the sheets?" I asked. "Iwassaying that since we both can't sleep, maybe we can find something to do. Ins

omnia doesn't do anyone good, you know," he said, sitting beside me again, and f or some reason, I didn't feel any reason to object. "Well, what doyouwant to do? Charades or something?" Luke rolled his eyes. "Charades, my ass." I lay down on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. "Luke, do you know what time it is?" He glanced out the window. The blizzard had stopped fifteen minutes ago, just be fore he went and got himself tangled up. The night sky was brilliant with the fu ll moon, bathing the room with silvery-white light, and illuminating the white l andscape outside. "Guess it would be one or two in the morning." "The moon's beautiful." Luke cocked an eyebrow at my random comment. "So now you're on a moonlight high? " I ignored his idiotic comment and continued to stare outside. I sighed. "This do or sure picked an awful time to lock us in, just when the moon is at its fullest ." "Moonlight is known to drive people to do some things that they don't normally d o, you know." "Yeah, like turn into werewolves." At this Luke laughed outright. "Yeah, like that." His laugh was contagious, and I smiled. "When I was twelve, I used to sneak out at about midnight, just so I could take a walk under the full moon," he said. I turned to him. "I could have had, too," I said. "If it weren't for Dad and Jak e who practically slept outside my door, afraid their little girl would sneak ou t with a boy or something." I snorted derisively. "As if." "Well, if I was your brother, I would have had, too," he said quietly. "What?" He shrugged. "You're not exactly the worst-looking girl in the block. If I was a nybody related to you I would have taken extra care, too." Did he just say I'm beautiful? "So. . .I really don't know whether I should than k you for that comment or not." He just smiled a small smile and shrugged carelessly. "Depends on how you take i t. Most girls I know would giggle and slap me in the arm." "Eh." I shrugged too. "I'm not most girls." A pregnant silence ensued. I squirmed inwardly, my discomfort growing as each se cond ticked by slowly. I reached over to the bedside table and tookThe Clockwork Princefrom where it was sitting. Might as well spend the night as productively as I could. "I never really did like that book," Luke suddenly commented. Huh? He was reading this earlier! "And why would that be?" I asked dryly. "Heroi ne not as pretty as you would like her to be?" He ignored my sarcasm. "Because it's all unreal and irrational," he pointed out. "Yeah, well, you really couldn't expect guys in Victorian era suits running arou nd chasing demons these days, could you?" "You idiot, I was talking about the love story." I put on a defensive expression. "What about it?" "Don't you think Will Herondale's making himself suffer so unnecessarily? He's a ll so angsty and stuff." Gasp!How dare he take a jab at MY Will? "Luke, he was cursed!" "And was too stupid to realize it was a false one," he said matter-of-factly. "He was twelve! He just watched his sister die." "And then he abandoned Tessa all throughout the book and suddenly declares his l ove when she's already engaged to Jem." I was starting to get irritated. "Because it was just then that he found out tha t the curse was not a real curse at all. And anyway, what do you know about angs t in love? You probably got all the girls lined up at your feet the moment you w alk into the room." He snorted. "Pfft. I admit, it seems pretty amusing at first, but it's not all t hat it's cracked up to be."

"Why? Girls not pretty enough for your taste?" He exhaled loudly, evidently infuriated. "Would you stop that? You're making me sound like a pimp." "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you weren't." And then another long silence followed. It was not as awkward for me, though, si nce I was partly occupied with the book, as if reading it would somehow comfort Will, the love of my fictional life, after all those insults. Shh, it's alright, Will, it's alright. I'm still in love with you. Swoon. Stop that, Ronnie, you're turning into a lunatic. Didn't you just hear what Luke said to MY Will? He insulted him! Insulted him, I say! Ronnie, he's not a real human. Will is part angel, you know. Argh! I'll come back when you're being reasonable, before your mind sustains per manent damage. I'll show you the door. I smiled to myself, satisfied. I've managed to piss myself off. And then I feel sick. Maybe Iamturning into a lunatic. I snapped the book shut and dropped it angr ily on the bed. "Urgh," I groaned. I hate this. "Are you okay?" I saw Luke casting me a sidelong glance. "I think I'm going crazy." "No surprises there," he said. "Laugh all you want, Conner. You might want to figure out a way to get us out of here before you get stuck with a completely loony lady." "I've been known to drive people, especially females, around me crazy." He smirk ed. "No surprises there," I muttered under my breath. "You give everybody near you a headache." "Oh Ronnie, when would you just admit that you're in love with me?" His chocolat e-brown eyes were glittering. I rolled my eyes. Yeah, Ronnie, when would you just admit that you're in love with him? And now you're back. I thought I was too loony for you. Eh. We're one and the same; I'd still understand you. I was still arguing with myself when the hairs on the back of my neck suddenly p rickled. "Did you hear that?" I suddenly asked. Luke just looked confused. "Hear what?" Maybe I was imagining it. "I-it sounded like footsteps. Outside. On the hallway. " Luke frowned. "I think everyone's asleep. I don't hear anything." But I heard it again, like footsteps scurrying past our door. Unconsciously I mo ved closer to Luke. "A-are you sure there's no rats here?" He made a contemptuous snort. "Oh please. Lilia would have eaten live flies firs t before she lets rats inside this house." I grimaced; the image it conjured was not pleasant. And then I heard the sounds hurry away, as if people scampered away. I didn't realize I was already gripping Luke's arm until he cleared his throat. "Um. . .you're cutting off my circulation." I immediately let go and curled up into a ball, but not before sticking out my t ongue at him. "It's your fault for telling me those awful stories." He laughed. "You actually believed them? Man, I was expecting you not to." "Hmph." I turned away, my arms crossed and my face burning. "I'm ignoring you." "Oh, what a loss." Even though it was dark, I could still see him grin and shift himself closer to me. We were still sitting beside each other in the same bed, and right now I was glad I did not kick him out again. "Hey." He nudged me. I in itially refused to turn, but I heard those noises again ((louder and creepier, t oo) and instantly slid closer to Luke. He gave a patronizing smile, but tensed w hen the noises resounded.

"Damn," Luke swore. "You were not lying." "I do not lie." I cringed. The sounds were louder. Luke made to get up, but I pu lled him back. He looked at me questioningly. "No! Don't leave me," I pleaded. "Then come with me." "Are you crazy? I'm not going anywhere near that thing! Haven't you watched horr or movies? The hero gets taken because he was stupid enough to go near the sourc e of danger!" "Ronnie, we're at home. On the third floor. We're freakin' lockedinsidea room at t he third floor." "And so?" I looked around a bit fearfully. "Many characters die in the so-called safety of their homes." "Ronnie." He sighed, and then settled down the bed again. "You watch and read wa y too much. Nothing's going to happen to us." The door knob rattled. "Shit! Shitshitshitshit. . ." I repeated convulsively. Moments later the rattlin g stopped, and all was quiet again. Luke had been staring at the door, too, and all color was drained from his face. "That's it," he muttered. He grabbed my hand and led me to the bed farthest fro m the door. "We're staying here." "Fat lot of help that would do," I said under my breath, but followed. We both watched for any signs of movements from the doorway, but thankfully, non e came anymore. I puffed out a long-held breath. "Sounds like they're gone." "I am so hiring an exterminator the moment I get out of here." Luke's eyes were still trained on the same spot. "Luke, do you really think rats can reach up and rattle the doorknob if they wan ted to?" I said witheringly. "A mutated rat can," he replied, the corners of his mouth lifting despite the st ress. "You know, like the ones taller than you, eight arms, ten white eyes, rott ing teeth" "Shut up," I cut across him while he grinned. I rolled my eyes. My wandering eyes fell on our still holding hands. I tried pulling it out of his firm grip, but he didn't seem to have any intention of letting go. I cleared my throat and when he turned, I looked at our hands pointedly. He merely smirked a nd pulled me closer to him on the bed, and then he turned and stared out the win dow again, my hand still in his. I tried yanking my hand out, but damn, the guy' sstrong. So I just settled down beside him and gazed at the moon, too. Moments later, I finally fell asleep. 16 A sharp white sliver of light turned the insides of my eyelids bright red before I instinctively, sleepily raised my arm to shield my eyes, and then buried myse lf deeper into the warm, comfortable blanket I was currently under. I started to drift back to sleep, hugging the cool, white pillow closer to me. Half of my fa ce was currently plunged into the soft cushion as I lay on my side, and I moment arily relished that almost-unconscious moment between wakefulness and sleep. I sighed, my eyes sliding close again. A small groan in my ear caused them to fl y open again. It was then that I realized that the thing I took as a blanket was not a blanket at all. At least, not directly. I tried to get up, but a long, tanned arm aroun d me restrained my actions. I tugged on it. Surely Luke wouldn't bethatstrong whil e he was asleep. Well, like all other things I've initially assumed, I was alrea dy wrong. And being wrong soearlyin the morning isn't really good for one's dispos ition. "Luke," I called in a low voice. I twisted and turned to him. His eyes were stil l closed, his breathing even. His hair was messy, evidently tousled about by num erous tosses and turns. I wondered, heat coming up my face, if we had been like this the whole nightor more likely, three hours. He grunted in reply. "Luke, let go of me," I hissed, trying to wriggle out from under his arm. "Quit moving," he muttered groggily, his eyes still closed.

"What?" He mumbled in his sleep and tightened his hold. I realized it was a lost cause, since this jerk is still as brawny asleep as he is when awake. I muttered to mys elf, slumping irritably back against the pillows before I felt him shift until h is mouth was next to my ear. "I said, stop moving," he said in a low voice, evidently still not completely aw ake. His breath tickled my ear and stirred the hairs at the back of my neck. I h ugged the pillow tighter, hoping desperately he wouldn't notice me shuddering. I said nothing, not trusting my voice to be steady while Luke, I think, lapsed ba ck to sleep. About twenty minutes later, though, we nearly jumped out of our skins as a loud banging from the other side of the door disrupted the peaceful quiet of the morn ing. Springing apart, I hastily straightened my rumpled clothes and smoothed dow n my hair while Luke, grumbling incoherently under his breath, slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. I tried my best not to stare, but a just-woke-up Luke was real ly something to be seen. He usually looked so put together (as proven by his at least thirteen-membered self-proclaimed unofficial fan club who took it upon the mselves to keep following him around the schoolallfreakin' day. I always wondered whether he even noticed them or if he was just simply used to it. I mean, heisLuke Conner.) I smiled savagely to myself as I mulled about what his fan club's face s would look like had they known I've been lying in bedbesidetheir sex god or what ever they're calling him now. And then I mentally slapped myself. Had I just been secretly gloating over the f act that Islept next toLuke? Iamgoing crazy. I turned to see Luke staring at me with an expression of mixed amusement and con fusion. "Bad dream last night, Ronnie?" Only because you slept next to me."I, uh," I stuttered and cleared my throat. Eve n though he just woke up, his eyes glittered as if he had been awake for several minutes now. I resisted the urge to run my hands through his messy dark hair an d looked away when the banging started again. Moments later, I heard Alex's obvi ously exulting voice call through the door. "Good morning there, lovebirds," she drawled amidst muffled sniggers. I scramble d from the bed and ran to the door, giving it a pounding of my own. "You traitors, get us out of here!" I yelled to another round of laughter from t he hall. I was fully aware of Luke now standing close behind me as I speculated the amount of physical pain I would gain if I tried to kick through the door. That desperate, huh? You have no idea. I'm feeling superbly claustrophobic in this room. The room is large. Or maybe it's because Luke is in here too? Your claustrophobi a, I mean. Please, please, get me out of here! I'm merely in your head; I can do nothing. Thenyouget out of my head! I need reason, notyou. Sweetie, Iamreason.You'rein denial. Shut up. "Aleeeeeeex!" I whined. "Give us a break! We're starving!" "Oh. . .really?" I heard sincere sympathy in her voice. I was about to pounce on it like a frog does on a fat fly, but Luke, well, being Luke, did his thing. "Don't worry, we found your sweets stash last night, by the way. Ronnie gobbled it up in fifteen minutes." The bastard's tone was smug, dammit. "What?" Alex's voice was suddenly hysterical. "How could you? I was saving it up , you idiots!" She let out an aggravated groan and we heard what was unmistakabl y a loud kick on the door. Flinching, I contemplated on the pain she must have f elt, as evidenced by her loud yowl.Well, now I know how painful that could have b een. Horrified, I tried placating her. "Alex, I did not eat it all up," I tried to sa y soothingly. "But you touched it! Arielle, tell her!" Alex was still distraughtand most likely pissed at us. "Luke, you knew full well that no one touches Alex's sweets," Arielle said disap

provingly. "But Ronnie was hungry!" he said defensively. "Ah, the distances some of us would go for our beloved," Seth remarked sagely. "Shut up," Luke replied gruffly. Was it just me, or was he turningpink? I shook m y head. Being yelled at so early in the morning isn't good for one's dispositiona nother morning lesson learned. "No,you shut up, you filthy as" Alex's voice was now filled with rage and I was fi lled with pure guilt once again. "Daaaaddy?" I cringed as I heard Ynna's voice drift through the thick door. Behi nd me, Luke stiffened. And ladies and gentlemen, I hereby pathetically present, the moment of terribly awkward silence we've all known was coming sooner or later. I can practically he ar the chorus of the crickets. "Daddy?" David's tone was one of mixed incredulity and the mad desire to laugh v iolently. "I knew it." Louie sounded so vindicated that I wanted to knock down the door on top of him. "Luke, is there something you're not telling us?" Bill sounded suspicious. Well, the sudden appearance of two never-before-seen kids calling youdaddydoes not real ly do you any credit, I reckon. Especially if you have the reputation of leaving behind a string of girls who practically have heart-shaped eyes. Yeah, like tha t in anime. "So, if Luke's the daddy," I heard Charlie pipe up. Oh God, this can't be good. Charlie went on, though. "Then who's themommy?" I turned to Luke in horror. Thiscannotbe happening. I sure say that a lot recently, don't I? Have mercy. To all the powers that be, give us a break! And it comes. On a completely unrelated note, I heard Claire's sweet voice. "The y did say they were hungry, didn't they?" "They did." Alex was seething. "Oh for gods' sake, Alex, get over it," I heard Louie snap. I could almost imagi ne Alex turning on her cousin and pointing accusingly at him. "Saythatagain, you f u" "So, Ronnie," I heard Arielle say loudly, effectively stomping down what could h ave been another war inside the household. Relieved, I answered almost instantly . "What?" "We still cannot find the keys, and Lilia's still in bed. Must be a late night," Arielle added as an afterthought. "Must be," David's smirking voice said. A resounding slap was heard, and I had t o keep myself from laughing out loud. Luke was shaking his head, a smile tugging up the corners of his mouth. "David," he said, tutting. In a louder voice, said, "So what are supposed to do now? We don't even have any more food here, let alone clothes." "Don't you guys thinkthatstage was a bit too early for you?" Louie said in a tone I did not particularly like. Damn the teenaged Conner male's innate perviness. A nother resounding slap was heard and Claire giggled. "You idiot," Luke snapped. "Imeantno SPAREclothes. Are you saying we're supposed t o stay here all day or however long it takes for you to find the damn key lying in our own filth with our stomachs practically screaming at us?" "Luke," Bill said patiently. "Shut up and look down." We both did. Between the door and the floor was a fairly wide berth through whic h minute amounts of supplies could be pushed in. A small scuffle was heard and n ext thing we knew, bundles of clothes were shoved in through the gap. "You guys," Luke complained. "You're gonna get my stuff dirty." "Just shut up and get it," Arielle said witheringly. We both reached down at the same time and bonked our heads against each other's. "Ow!" we yelled at the same time and bent down again. "Ow!" Luke tweaked my nose and bent down swiftly before I could react, picking u p both of our clothes.

"I must say, Ronnie," he remarked, smirking. "I think I like your top." I held up said top in horror. It was one of my, er,dressyitems, not meant for bein g holed up with a hormonal male. Or maybe it isI don't know, Charlie gave it to m e last year! Idid notask for it, I swear. It was a blood red blouse with quite a deep necklineno, not really one like that of Slaggy Lindsey fromAngus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Quite decent, but like I said, not appropriate for our current, erm, situation. The blouse was not exac tly loose, and I could just imagine Luke's remarks if I ever put it on. I pounded on the door. "Charlie!" I roared. "Thiscannot be counted as an item of clothing, you idiot! Give me another one!" "Do you really expect me to run back downstairs just to suit your meticulous tas tes, Ron?" Charlie said a bit mockingly. "You can do with thatthat's what I found in your bag, anyway." "What are you talking about?" I said. "My bag's right here." "Jasomeone went over and brought extra clothes, if you don't remember." "And they sentthis?" I said in horror. I could almost see Charlie shrugging nonch alantly. "Hmm, maybe." "Charlie" "Oh, quit it, Ronnie," Luke said, rolling his eyes. "I like it." That's exactly what I was afraid of."Sorry, they don't come in your size." Laught er was heard from the other side of the door. As if he didn't hear what I said, Luke kept talking. "Though, to be honest, that shirt would look much better on the bedroom floor." "Shut up," I seethed while the others' mirth was heard through the door. I snatc hed a pair of dark-wash, boot-cut denim jeans from his hands and stalked over to the other side of the room. "Thanks a lot, guys, thanks a lot," I muttered angr ily. "I hope these can get you through the morning," Arielle said. Luke dropped down to his knees and pulled a couple of granola bars and juice boxes from under the door. Another small box was shoved in, and because I was on the far side of the room I didn't get a chance of identifying what that was. "Careful, Luke, they mi ght burst," Alex warned. Finally, a toothbrush was handed to Luke and he got to his feet. "We're going to get you out of there, hopefully before noon," Charlie said. "You'd better," I called threateningly.Before one of us here does something we'd both regret.Just then, we heard the group shuffle off to the distance. "Not a bad catch, eh?" Luke said, tossing me a granola bar. I caught it, ripped it open, and munched on it, to give me something to do. He settled down next to me, chewing on his own food. I punched the straw through the orange-juice box, almost violently, and took a s mall sip. "How long do you think they're gonna find the key?" I asked. Luke shrugged. "Don't know, don't care." "You don't care?" I said incredulously. "Wow. You must be in love with me." I to ok another bite of granola. He gave a short laugh. Isn't he going to make some sort of sarcastic comeback?I wondered. "I'm going to take a shower," he announced, dropping the empty granola wrapper i n a small trash bin inside the room. I shrugged and sipped the last of my juice. He picked up his clothes, his toothbrush, and strode to the bathroom, leaving m e to my own confused thoughts. "You're up," he said fifteen minutes later. Luke was wearing a dark blue collare d shirt and a pair of loose cargo pants and was towelling off his dark brown hai r. He then hung the towel off the end of one of the beds and shook his head like a wet dog. "Aren't you going to comb your hair?" I asked, picking up my own stuff. "Why? It's only you who's going to see this, anyway," he said, and as if to mock me, shook his head even more violently. I rolled my eyes, knowing thatI'mnot the one who's gonna get a headache, anyway. And then I remembered what I was supposed to wear. Urgh. This accursed shirt is

never going to see the light of day after today, I promised to myself. I reluctantly stepped out of the shower. Luke was reading,again, though this time it wasn'tClockwork Prince.It must have been something that his cousins pushed thr ough the gap beneath the door, and I didn't have the chance to see the title as I ducked away from his sight and packed away the clothes I'd worn through the ni ght. I yanked a brush through my wet hair and was contemplating covering my tors o for the entire morning with a pillow when Luke looked up from his book. He coc ked an eyebrow and smiled crookedly. "Nice," he said while I squirmed, then stopped. It was the kind of top that with one wrong move can leave nothing to the imagination. It was a gift from Charlie when they went to a summer vacation in France, and I'd vowed I'd never wear it in mixed company. Well, look where it got me now. I swear Charlie's trying to tu rn me into a hooker or something. "Shut up," I snapped, and then remembered that the onlyotherbook in the room was r ight beside the bed Luke was lying in. Damn. Having no other choice, I slowly dr agged my feet across the room and, momentarily forgetting the torture tool I was trapped in, reached over to get it from beside him. Out of the corner of my eye s, I spied Luke's gaze stray away from the book, which was actuallyThe Hunger Gam es, and to, erm, you guys might already know. "Hey!" I said, straightening and slapping him withClockwork Prince. "What?" he asked innocently, turning back to his book. "Don't think I don't know," I said waspishly and sat by the window, where silver sunlight filtered in through the tall trees outside. Three hours, I think, went by relatively peacefully, with no sound at all except for the occasional laugh or snort at whatever we're currently reading. See, we can actually be civil. That is, if we don't talk. Books are one of the few thing s we have in commonwe are both avid readers. When we were six, we used to compete over who read more books during the week. Up to now, I still think that if the Cold War between us hadn't existed, maybe we could still have competed over who knew more fictional characters. I'd put up my hair in a messy bun and was itching to ask Luke for the juice box he didn't drink earlier, but, well, you've gotta think I'm a moron if I was goin g over there wearing what I was currently wearing. I was uncomfortable enough we aring it in front of Jake (and bracing myself for all the hooker comments. He wa sn't exactly a saint, you know.), let alone wearing it in front of Luke. Well, my problem was solved when Luke put his book down and walked over to me wi th juice box in hand. "Hey, d'you want this?" he asked, holding it out and sitting beside me on the na rrow window seat. "Thanks," I said gratefully. "You could've just asked, you know," he said, stifling a laugh. "I could see you staring at this, licking your lips." "I was so not," I said, punching the straw through the little circle of foil on top and sipping. "You want some?" I offered. He shrugged and took it, and then held it out to me again. "It's so beautiful outside," I remarked. "Pity we're still locked up here." Luke said nothing. I turned to see him staring at me. "Erm, what?" I said. "Do I have something on my face?" "What?" Luke said, looking confused. "Oh, uh, IArielle gave us this." He reached from behind him and showed me the box I'd seen earlier when he was on his knees, tugging supplies from underneath the door. It was a small box of chocolates wit h a foreign name I didn't understand. I assumed it was Belgian. Mmm my favourite chocolate country. I thought of grabbing it away from his hands but stopped when I remembered last night. Seemingly sensing my discomfort, Luke laughed. "Don't worry," he said. "I t has only six in it. Surely you wouldn't get cuckoo with that, would you? Here. " He opened the box. "Take some." I grabbed one of them and stood up, trying to hide a big smile. I bit into it, a nd surprised at the taste, nearly spat it out. Instead, I swallowed it with some difficulty.

"What is this?" Luke was frowning as he chewed. "It tastes like wine-filled chocolate or somethi ng," he said. When I stared at him, he held up his hands. "I had some of them du ring one of our trips to Belgium," he explained. "They're not poisonous, I promi se. Nor can you get drunk. Come on, let's finish it." "If you're sure," I said. As I gobbled my third, I noticed him watching me. I hated it when people watch m e while eating. It's rude! I was about to tell him off when he tapped the corner of his mouth. "You have a little something here," he said. I raised a hand and wiped at my face. "Huh? Where is it?" He was still gazing at me. "Right. . .here." And then he leaned over and kissed me. And not just in the corner of my mouth, too. It was, to be blunt, full, frontal kissing. I was so shocked I did not react immediately after the act. Maybe Luke took it as encouragement, and put a hand on my waist. The book I'd dropped lay f orgotten on the floor, when to my own surprise (and horror), I begankissing him b ack. You're in major shit now, mademoiselle. Shh. Can't you see I'm busy? Busy with what? Playing tongue hockey with your new boyfriend here? What? If you're not seeing this right now, this is a perfectly innocent, sweet p eck! I beg to differ. I almost sighed my agreement when Luke cupped the back of my neck, pulling me cl oser to him, while his other hand pulled my hair free of its messy bun and ran i tself through it, sending little shivers up and down my spine. My arms, out of t heir own accord, wound themselves around their neck and drew him even closer, if that was possible. We were very close now, and I could feel his rapid heartbeat hammering against m y own. I was starting to run out of breath, and Luke broke away , only to kiss t he sensitive skin near my right ear. "Luke," I said, trying to catch my breath. "Luke, Istop," I said weakly. "Hmm?" he murmured, sounding a little dazed himself. What the hell did we get in to? "Stop," I tried again. "Stop what?" he whispered. "This?" He lowered his lips to my jaw. "This?" This t ime, his mouth went to my earlobe, and I shuddered. "Or this?" His lips slid to the side of my neck. "Luke," I sighed, to my mortification. I felt him smile against my skin. "Luke" I gasped when he started sucking the vulnerable part of my skin that connected my neck and my throat. My eyes started to glaze over, and my eyelids dropped halfw ay down. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I griped,he better not leave a hickey! Luke's mouth returned to mine, and my hands planted themselves on his broad ches t, meaning to push him away but instead fisted the front of his shirt. Stop, Ronnie, stop! Why are you yelling atme? It's him you should yell at! Well, given that your mouth is too busy for an activity such as yelling, might a s well But I never did find out what I had to do, because at that exact moment, I heard the unmistakable sound of key scraping against a keyhole, and the next second t hat insufferable, eternally ill-timed door burst open with a bang. "Holy shit," I heard someone mutter. As if electrocuted, I instantly pushed Luke away from me, staring at him in shock, and very, very,veryreluctantly, turned tow ards the doorway. There, to myabsolutedelight (gotta love how sarcasm drips.), all ten of the other kids in the house were standing there, some grimacing, some grinning widely and even whooping, some looking on knowingly, but not one expression told of surpris e. What the hell did I just do? Honey, I think you just completely gave in to your sworn enemy. Enjoyed it, even

.The voice was dry.Gotta love perfect timing. Feeling extremely mortified and furious, I angrily shoved Luke away from me, who , at the moment, was blinking at his relatives, seeming to just realize that the y were there and witness to madness a box of wine-filled chocolate can bring. He cricked his head when he whipped to look at me, and feeling angry at being caug ht helpless at the clutches of a known enemy (alright, I maybe a bit overly dram atic, but hey, even the children saw us!), my fist had clenched itself and colli ded with Luke's jaw before I even knew it. "Ow!" he yelled, a hand flying to his jaw. "What the hell was that for?" My eyes stung with humiliation and rage. Rage at him for starting all this, and anger at myself for going along. "Are you really asking this?" I said coldly, ca sting the others a piercing look. "Don't you ever, ever,evercome near me again!" I said, my voice quivering with cold fury. No, no, I won't cry. Sniff. I then turned abruptly and deliberately almost knocked down Seth and Arielle, wh o were standing in the middle of the doorway (the others were wise enough to mak e way for me), then broke into a desperate run once I reached the hall. I found refuge at a most unlikely area inside the houseYnna's and Mikey's room. I t was the first empty, unassuming room I could find, and the door was ajar, so I ran inside before the others could catch up to me. I sank down to the carpeted floor and hugged my knees. No, I'm not gonna cry. I'm not gonna cry. Well, what reason did I have to cry? Being locked up together with Lukewe should have seen that coming. A little less than twelve hours of no proper meal and sha llow sleepwho could have expected us to think clearly? And of course, there's the fact that you two have the hots for each other. What? That's kind of Oh shut up, Veronica. Just shut up and trust me this oncebefore things get worse. I groaned and buried my head into my arms. What the hell's happening to me? Thre e days here and the world's already upside down. Admit it, Ronnie. You wanted it as much as he did. I groaned exasperatedly again, my frustration causing my eyes to sting. It was t rue, I know it. But that did not make it any less embarrassing. Not any less emb arrassing than the fact that I may have a crush on a certain Luke Conner. Good job, girl. You're on the road to the truth. Argh! Can't I make this stupid voice in my head go away, just this once? The mos t confusing moment of my life and this voice is here to add to the chaos in my m ind. Stupid girl. I'm here to help you figure things out. I don't need any help, I thought as I sniffled. I didn't ask for thatI didn't ask for any of these! I only wanted a peaceful Christmas holiday. One I'd have to s pend at home with Mom and Dad and Jake and even Vivian. I didn't ask for Mikey a nd Ynna to turn up and tell us we're their parents. I didn't ask for some twist of fate to make me come and spend at least a week in this accursed house. I neve r asked for a circumstance that would make me live in close proximity to Lukeboth the cause and cure to this stupid mayhem in my mind. No, no. I never asked for this. I clenched my fists and felt hot tears falling down my cheeks. There are at least seven billion people in the worldwhy him? Of all the seven bil lionfrickin'people in the worldwhy him? The one person that would never like me back the way I like him. And I'm not eve n sure of what I'm feeling. I know Luke's typethe blonde, busty, brainless bimbos sauntering around the schoo l halls in mini-skirts and killer heels. I know, because I once was witness to a pretty noncasual makeout momentright beside my lockerbetween Luke and Kelly Asher s. I don't know what I did to deserve a locker right next to Ashers'. Well, hmm, maybe that one time when I "borrowed" Kelly's compact and superglued it shut. W hat? She was my lab partner back in freshman year, and I was getting pretty dist racted by the flashing of her compact mirror. Oh, and here's a tipwhen you get Ke lly Ashers as a lab partner, never, ever, ever let her touch the Bunsen burner.

It may save your life. Anywaywhy was I crying again? Damn. I got sidetracked. I was crying over this stupid dark-haired boy with glit tering chocolate-brown eyes that made you feel hungry, but not for food. And remembering his eyes gave me a sharp pain in the chest and nearly drove me t o tears again. The door creaked open and my head shot up. Shit.Insidiousmoment alert. Shut up, brain. But it was only Ynna. No one else. I stared at her, toddling precariously at the dim room. "Mom?" she called. I did not bother correcting her or anything. If anything, I h urriedly wiped my eyes and fixed my hair. "I'm here," I said, in the steadiest voice I could muster. Her face was lit up by the most beautiful smile I've seen so far. I can't help b ut smile myself, albeit a teary smile at that. Ynna walked up to me and held out her arms in an invitation for a hug. Well, who was I to refuse that? I got up on my knees and wrapped her in an embrace, all the confusion of the pas t few days crashing down on me but for once, I did not care. All that mattered w as that this sweet young girl was hugging and stroking my hair in the most innoc ent way, trying to comfort me, and I tried not to soak her with my tears. Well, sad to say, I did not succeed. I was the first to pull away, wiping again at my eyes. "Mom, are you crying?" Ynna asked. "What?" I hedged. "You are," she said, peering closely at me. "Did you and Dad fight?" she asked, a bit sadly. "Huh? Inot exactly," I said, sighing, and taking her to her bed, where she sat be side me. It was a bit comical to note that right now, Ynna was the one acting mo re mature in the two of us. "Then why are you crying?" "I don't know, to be honest." "Why don't you know why? Why do people do that?" she asked. "People cry but they don't know why." I gave her a sad smile. "Sometimes, people don't just cry because they're sad. S ometimes they cry because they're angry, or confused. It helps lessen the pain, somehow." Ynna looked at me, with a familiar brown stare that brought a pang to my chest. I sniffled. "Are you going to cry again?" I laughed. "No, don't worry. I know it's kind of scary to see your mom cry. I'll stop now." She gave me a toothy grin of her own. "Good. I'm glad that you stopped crying." She looked up at me earnestly. "I love you, Mom." And then she hugged me around my middle. For the second time that day, I was kept from reacting immediately because I was so surprised. But then after a few seconds, I smiled and hugged her back. What a sweet girl. Her parents must be so lucky. You must have raised her well,a smirking voice in my mind wryly told me. "Where's your brother?" I asked her, once we broke apart. "Where's Mikey?" "He's with Dad." Another pang shot through me. "Is your Dad. . .okay?" I dreaded the answer. "Is he. . .mad?" "Mad?" Ynna seemed to think about it. "He didn't seem mad. He was quiet. He walk ed out after you ran away." "Oh." Ynna got to her feet. "Did you hear that? I think Lilia's calling us for lunch." "Lunch?" After all that's happened, it seemed out of this world to go to somethi ng as trivial and normal as lunch. "Come on." She tugged on my hand, pulling me from the bed. And after all this time, I still can't get over how smart she seemed to be.

And how familiar she felt. oOoOoOoOoOo Lunch had been a quiet affair. To nobody's surprise, His Highness did not show u p. Didn't even offer an excuse or something. Just. . .was not there. And everyone, including Lilia, seemed to know what, or rather who, the reason wa s. To my relief nobody mentioned anything. Lilia just instructed Bill to bring u p Luke's lunch to his room. And it was the quietest lunch I'd ever have. Sometime after lunch, Seth, Bill, David, Louie, Ethan and Alex decided to go sle dding down the slope of some hills six blocks away from Luke's house. I know Cha rlie would have gone, too, but she was far more focused on nagging me about Luke that she did not come after the boys. Arielle was more concerned about me, too, that she didn't even yell at the boys for taking Alex with them. Mikey did not feel like sliding down a slope of snow. And Ynna, as loyal as she was, stayed by my side all afternoon. Luke must have been in a really bad mood that even Mikey was kicked out of his room, and probably was the cause for the latter's silence . Lizzie was sitting with us, Claire was sitting drowsily beside her. We hung ou t in the large living room, most of us sitting near the fire, sipping cups of ho t chocolate, courtesy of the marvellous Lilia. "So," Charlie said, breaking the silence. "What's up between the two of you?" "Huh?" I said, breaking out of my reverie. Charlie and Arielle traded knowing glances. "I said, what's up with you and Luke ?" "Between me and Luke?" I laughed nervously. "Nothing. What would make you think that?" I am so seriously in denial. No way am I talking "Luke-and-I" with Mikey and Ynna so eagerly watching us. Arielle followed my gaze and snapped her fingers. "All right, you two," she bark ed at the kids. "This is grown-up talk. Lizzie, take them outside." Lizzie looked ready to protest. "But" "Now." Arielle's eyes had a steely glint to them. "After we talk, we're taking y ou out for ice cream." "Ice cream! Yay!" Ynna cheered, and led the way out of the room. Claire and Mike y deliberated for a second and followed suit, muttering. Lizzie stuck her tongue out at us before exiting. "Ice cream?" I asked. "Don't worry, it's a tradition," Arielle said. The door closed with a thud. She turned to me. "Now speak." "Why did you send Lizzie out?" I hedged. "Because I know how awkward it would be for the two of you to talk about Luke. I mean, are you willing to interrogate Melanie just because you caught her making out with Jake?" I was evidently grossed out by the idea because Arielle said with relish, "That' s what I thought." I heaved a sigh. "What do you guys want to know?" Charlie took charge. "The last time we saw you guys, you were nearly knocking ea ch other out on the carpet. Which led to you two being exiledseparately.And someho w led to your being locked up together. And soon led to our seeing you two pushi ng your tongues down each other's throat" "We were not!" I interrupted loudly. "Charlie, your terminology does sound a bitmature," Arielle said. "Let's go withma king out." "Fine," Charlie huffed. "The point is, youweremaking out, kissing, getting some li p action, whatever you wanna call itand then suddenly, you see us, and you hit po or Luke in the face. I mean, what's up with that? You didn't seem like you were forced into it, but you sure did treat Luke like you were." "What? What do you mean, I didn't look like I was forced into it?" I was appalle d. "I mean, well, let's face it, youwerekissing him back, weren't you?" And that's Charlie for you. No matter how awkward or sensitive the conversation may be, she's still as blunt as a dull knife. Once again, I felt like leaping up

to my feet and running away again, but I knew she would only chase me down with more awkward and invasive questions before I finally cracked. Or even chase me purposely to Luke's room and makeusanswer her questions, together. God, I think I would die from the discomfort (surely an understatement) that sit uation would give me. "Alright!" I said, breaking down. "Alright already! I was kissing him back! Are you happy now?" I said, tears stinging my eyes once again. Arielle looked alarmed. "Okay, okay, we get it," she said. "Calm down." She turn ed to Charlie. "Would you please just tone down your questions a bit? You seem l ike you're trying to force her to say something," she said, frowning a bit. "Sometimes, that's what she needs," Charlie said, unrelenting. "Then she'd bette r answer the next question honestly if she doesn't want any more complications, right?" she said, casting a fairly critical eye on me ad leaning forward, her ca shmere-clad arms on her knees. "Yes," I replied in a small voice, having a pretty good idea what the next quest ion is going to be. "Do you like Luke?" My mouth went dry and heat crept up my neck and face. The knowledge of the quest ion did not give me any idea of what my answer is going to be. I looked at Charl ie, her gray eyes boring into mine. I turned away and looked at Arielle helpless ly. "Ronnie!" Charlie snapped, not in an unfriendly way. Just how a police officer w ould snap at someone she was interrogating. I stared back at her, afraid of what I was going to answer. "Ronnie, are you going to answer me or not?" Charlie persisted. I was becoming m ore and more fearful for my life. (Nah, that was just an exaggeration, but faceto-face with a persistent Charlie? I might as well be.) "Charlie, stop badgering her," Arielle finally said. "She's not a criminal being questioned. Calm down." They both stared at me. I rubbed at my neck consciously and accidentally touched The Spot. (Shit.) I kept myself from wincing and drawing attention to the hicke y, which I had concealed when I'd sprinted back to my room (which had been thank fully empty at that time) and changed into a moss-green turtleneck, effectively hiding the love bite. "Just look at her," Arielle said knowingly. "Blushing that way. It's pretty obvi ous what she's going to answer, isn't it?" "I guess," Charlie conceded, though the whole bad-cop-good-cop act was still not dropped entirely. She exhaled. "Look, I'm sorry, Ronnie. It's just that. . .eve n if I'm bestfriend, sometimes I need to force out the truth out of you. And I d on't wanna feel like I'm being left out just because you're afraid you're going to be judged." She stared right into my eyes, silver boring into hazel. "If you want to say something, tell me. Or even Arielle here. We're here for you. You kn ow that." Arielle and Charlie smiled tentatively at me. I smiled back. Yes, I knew that. The problem is, I don't know what I'm feeling. Or how to deal with it. oOoOoOoOo It was a pretty early night for the Conners' and Charlie and me. Apparently, as a way of showing consideration to the current master of the house (who hadn't co me out of his room since this morning), the others turned in pretty early. I was changing into a pair of light green pyjamas and a loose, long-sleeved shirt whe n Alex stopped in her tracks. "Ronnie," she said, sounding scandalized, "what on earth isthat?" I looked at where she was pointing and blushed. She had spotted the hickey on my neck.Damn Luke for this. "What?" My embarrassment increased some more due to the fact that Arielle was no w staring at me, too. "Uh. . .it's a bruise." Even to my own ears, I sounded lam e. "And that bruise came from. . .?" "Nothing," I said shortly. "Hey, do you mind? I'm going out for a walk." And wit

hout waiting for them to answer, I slipped out of the room and closed the door b ehind me, not really knowing where to go. I could go to Charlie's room. Yeah, and have her breathing down at your neck again, figuratively, because of t hat love bite. And of course, why would you pass up the chance for Lizzie and Cl aire to see it and ogle? You've won the very comfortable position of explaining to Claire how hickies are acquired and describing the circumstance in detail to Lizzie about how you've gotten that spot. Good point. I abruptly turned away from the direction of the other girls' room and found mys elf wandering down the dim hallway towards the entertainment room, where we'd la st watched thePride and Prejudice. I shrugged to myself. A long, mentally engaging movie is usually good for sleepl ess nights, I'd gather. And so I continued down the dark hall, practically running because my mind decid ed it was the perfect time to bring up the most vivid memories ofInsidiousandParan ormal Activity, which I'd been real wise to watch one restless evening at home. Alone. When Mom and Dad had been on one of their date nights and Vivian was slee ping over at her classmate's. And being the intelligent gal that I am, I'd decid ed on a horror-movie-marathon, dismissing future scary thoughts. Well, look where it got me now. I finally reached the door and froze when I realized that I was not the only one inside. Though the rest of the room was covered in shadows, the large, flat scr een was alive with some raucous steampunk action scene, one that I recognized. T heWild, Wild, Westwas one of my favourite childhood movies. I hurriedly groped my way towards the long couch and was dismayed to find out that the last person I w anted to see was sitting right there, scowling at the movie screen as if it had done him a most grievous wrong. Well, I'd be damned. But there was nothing else to do. I had already come to the realization that I w as not entirely blameless for what had happened back in that room. And I'd wante d to apologize for how I had reacted. Just not now. No. I forced myself to sit at the other end of the couch. This moment is just as good as any other. I might as well get on with it before I chicken out. Gulping, I turned to Luke, who was still staring resolutely at the screen. I ign ored the surround-sound that seemed to boom from every inch of the room. "Hey," I said tentatively. His gaze flickered toward me briefly but returned to the movie just as quickly. His expression remained stony and he slid away from m e, to the very end of the opposite side of the sofa. "Luke," I tried again. Was it so ironic to note that only a few hours ago, I was calling out his name for a completely different reason? The thought brought a n ew wave of heat up my face, and I was thankful for the darkness that obscured th e blush from him. "What do you want?" he replied coldly. I tried not to flinch at his tone. "I'm talking to you," I said, feeling a bit indignant. "Would you look at me?" "I distinctly remember you telling me to stay away from you," he said tonelessly . "I don't even know why I'm here listening to you." I don't have a clue, either. Why I'm here, willing to put up with whatever the r eaction you're going to throw at me."Luke, II just wanted to say. . .I'm sorry." He cast me a sideways glance. "For what?" He's not making this any easier, is he? I rubbed my neck and winced again when I touched The Spot. I noticed his eyes dart to me once more while I berated myself for forgetting wh at rested on the base of my neck. I looked up and my gaze met his. He smirked an d turned away. I glared at nobody in particular. "You were saying?" he said, the smirk not quite gone from his face. I gritted my teeth and decided to just get on with it. It's my fault just as muc h as it was his, anyway. "I" I ignored the bad taste in my mouth. "I'm going as far as to say that what ha

ppened back there isn't entirely your fault." I swallowed the bile coming up my throat. "But I treated you unfairly. . .and I hit you in front of your cousins." The room was thick with tense silence before Luke cleared his throat, and I was relieved to see that his expression wasn't as taciturn as it had been when I fir st came in. If anything, he at least looked a little apologetic himself. "So. . .I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything." I'm sorry for not running out that room the moment you dashed in. I'm sorry for being the insufferable chicken tha t I am and running to you the moment I got scared. I'm sorry for not figuring ou t how I feel and sharing the inconvenience with all the people here, especially you. I'm sorry for liking you in the way you'll never like me back. I'm sorry for liking you in the way you'll never like me back. That kind of hurt. But it did not matter, because finally Luke had started to ta lk. "Look. . .that wasn't exactly one of the best apologies I have ever heard. . ." he began. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to listen. "But it's gonna do." H e smiled a small smile, and I felt encouraged for the first time. "I'm actually very surprised that you said sorry. Did Arielle put you up to this?" I shook my head. "Nope. It was me and me alone." He raised his eyebrows. "Wow." Luke seemed genuinely surprised. "I guess you cle an up pretty well." "I guess I do." For a few moments the lone sounds in the room were from the movie. The usual gun shots, things breaking, and Will Smith cracking out banters before doing his thi ng. "Ronnie," Luke started. "Ronnie, II'm sorry, too. F-for kissing you. Among others ." He shrugged and smiled sheepishly. I smiled, too. But the funny thing was, I didn't even know whether to feel glad or offended or disappointed that he was apologizing forkissingme. I mean, how's a girl supposed to feel after a guy says that? "Ithat's, erm, alright," I managed to say. "It's quite normal for a guy toI mean, it's quite acceptable, because it's youno, that came out wrong" Luke had an eyebrow cocked. I swallowed nervously. "So, I think I'm going to shu t up now." This apology session is turning out to be way weirder than what I had bargained it to be. "Thank God." We sat there for a few minutes. "So," I said shyly. "Erm, friends?" "You know, Ron, I never had the impression that we were friends," he pointed out . "Then maybe my I said the wrong term. Truce?" I held out a hand. He eyed it for a brief moment. "No more random hitting?" he said, taking it. "If there's no more random kissing," I shot back, and we shook on it. Another funny thing was I was actually hesitating when I said my side of the ter ms and conditions. oOoOoOoOo In the end I decided to finish the film Luke had been watching when I'd walked i n. It was just starting when I entered, and I think it was a good two hours and a half before it's completely finished. Funny I decided that. Because just a good twenty minutes into the movie and the strain of last night came crashing down on me. I yawned involuntarily while Luke eyed me without looking away from the screen. "Maybe you should go back," he suggested. "No," I objected. "I haven't seen this yet. I'm going to watch it 'til my eyes h urt." And I'm not going to walk back upstairs alone, through those damned hallwa ys and corridors and who-knows-what-else may be lurking there. "Ronnie, it was your favourite movie when you were six," he pointed out. "I doub t that you won't be able to recite each line in this movie. Right now I think yo u should go back to your room." No! I'm not going to let him kick me out. Who knows how many red-faced demons ar e waiting out there. Shudder. "Hmph." He crossed his arms. "Just admit that you wouldn't go out because you'rea

fraid.Is that true that ickle Ronnie is afraid?" There's no use lying. If I did, then I'll most certainly be forced out into the hall. "So what if I am? It's pretty dark out." Luke sighed. "Alright, they you could stay here until the film ends," he said. " But if you fall asleep, I am so leaving you alone here." I rolled my eyes and slid down to a lying position so my socked feet were on Luk e's lap. "I don't care." Ten minutes later, I slipped into much-needed sleep. Figures. I had no idea how long I was lying there. I did not care, either. And so I was p issed when I felt someone shaking my shoulder roughly. "Hey, Ron," a slightly irritated voice hissed. "The film's finished. Get up." I groaned and curled further into a ball. "Come on, Ronnie," the voice insisted. "Get up." I grumbled loudly and buried my head into my arms, desperate to go back to deep, oblivious sleep. I heard Luke mutter impatiently. I was in the halfway state between consciousnes s and unconsciousness. I know I'm asleep, but I did not have it in me to open my eyes. Moments later, I felt myself being hoisted into two strong arms, Luke still grum bling. And with that, I completely slipped into dreamland. I only came to somewhat when I was lain down on a soft mattress. I groggily assu med it was my room, but it was pretty weird that everything was quiet. No chatty Charlie or curious Alex or authoritative yet also interested Arielle or smirkin g Lizzie. Just. . .silence. Blankets were drawn over me and a large hand smoothed my hair from my face. "Sleep well, princess," were the last words I heard before a pair of lips presse d firmly on my cheek and I went back to total slumber. 18 "How come I'm not the princess?" Five-year-old Charlie whined, scowling. "I'mthe one with the princess hair!" She yanked at her golden-blonde curls, those that I had already started envying two weeks ago when we first met. Luke, who had just turned six three days ago, rolled his eyes. "We were already starting when you joined. So you're the evil queen." Charlie, well, she grew up to be a kind, compassionate adolescent (most of the t ime), but during the toddler years had been that wealthy little brat that was tr eated like a princess (well, she was practically one), stomped her feet. "Look a therhair. Now that's for evil queens." I made a face and stuck my tongue out at her. "Just do as he says, Charlie. You' re the newest one, anyway." "Not until I'm the princess," Charlie said stubbornly, but I can already see her cracking. Luke and I exchanged looks and smiled to ourselves. "Look," Luke bargained. "Someday you'll become the princess. Just not now." "Hmph." My bestfriend crossed her arms, her chin up in the air. At our mock-ster n stares, she finally threw her hands up in the air. "Okay! But just this once." She shot a long glance between Luke and me. "And just because little Luke has a crush on little Ronnie." "What?" Luke shot me a fearful glance. "Ronnie has cooties!" "Whatever," I said nonchalantly, rolling my eyes. "Can we just start already? My mom's going to call me in any moment." Charlie groaned and put on her big, golden plastic crown and turned to her hand mirror. "Next time,I'mgoing to be princess, just you two wait. And Luke will be my Prince Charming, and you," she pointed to me, "are going to be my poor maid." Luke glanced at her with a blank expression. "I'm soooo excited," he drawled, de adpan, as he picked up his plastic sword. I giggled and put on my own tiara. He turned and smiled at me. "Get on, then, princess," he said. I jumped on his back and he hooked his arms a round my little legs. "We're going to escape from the evil queen." oOoOoOoOo "Ronnie!"

I cringed and put down my bagel. "What now, Charlie?" I said tiredly. She came storming into the kitchen, where the rest of us were having a late brea kfast, save for Luke, who was probably still snoring his head off because of the late night. I'd woken up a little disoriented and found myself in my bed, with Arielle and Alex already gone, as usual. I'd assumed two things: a) that I someh ow magically found my way asleep through the winding pathways and safely into my bed, or b) that Luke, for some reason, had hauled me back to bed without even w aking me up. Well, I'd think it would be safe to assume the latter. Because let's face it, I can't even find my way around in the dark even when I'm fully awake. So I guess another session of awkward thanks was in order. But Luke wasn't there when I got downstairsthank heavens for that. Everyone was still in pyjamaswell, i t's a bit early in the morning. I'd checked my reflection in the bathroom mirror when I woke out and was extremely relieved to note that the tiny bruise had fad ed into a faint yellow mark, barely noticeable in the wintry sunshine, eliminati ng the need to change my top. I just put a white tank top underneath my green lo ose shirt. I fervently hoped that Arielle and Alex wouldn't remember what they h ad seen before I walked out our room last night. I now turned and saw a fully-fledged witch of a Charlotte Cooper, wearing a hot pink t-shirt and boxer shorts. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. Only Charlie wou ld think of putting on short boxers in winter. I amusedly watched the males subt ly check her out, though unfortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you s ee it) she didn't notice because she was busy breathing fumes around the room. I was vaguely aware that the others had surreptitiously moved down the table, awa y from the two of us, as I bravely faced down the Charlie monster. "Don't 'what-now' me, Veronica Wilcox!" She said this in one breath. She grabbed at my arm. "We have got to talk," she hissed. The memory of being carried by strong arms suddenly flooded my mind, and blood c rept up my face. "What about?" Charlie stared at my face and her scary expression abruptly changed into a selfsatisfied smirk. "I think you know." I shot one glance at the curious faces of the cousins and pulled her out into th e hallway. "What do you want?" I whispered irritably. "Tell me it wasn't you being towed late last night by Luke from the entertainmen t room." I raised my eyebrows, slightly offended at the termtowed.I wasn't a truck being to wed away from a "No Parking" spot, was I? "And you'd be awake at that time. . .w hy?" "I was having some hot chocolate with David," she muttered. "David?" A grin pulled up at the corners of my mouth. "You and David?" "It was just some hot chocolate, Ronnie." "I wasn't saying anything." I grinned widely. "Butyouand David?" "Stop it," she said quickly. "And stop changing the subject! We were talking abo ut you and Luke." "And here we go again." I rolled my eyes. Charlie and I both knew who she really had a crush on. It was just nice to see her out of her composure, for a change. Instead of it just being me who was always put on the spot, as it goes. "Well?" Charlie demanded. "David says he saw Luke bringing a sleeping person up the stairs last night. And get this: Luke enteredyourroom afterwards. Well, you we ren't back there before, were you? I know; I've checked." I lifted an eyebrow. "Taken to stalking me now, Charls?" "Whatever, Ronnie," she snapped. "All this sidetracking tells me you've got some thing to hide." "Stop blowing things out of proportion, Charlie. Alright, I might have fallen as leep too early in the entertainment room. But that's it." Charlie simpered triumphantly. "Now we're getting somewhere. So, what, no steamy good night kisses or passionate embraces?" Heat flooded my cheeks. "What the hell, Charlie? There was nothing like that."

"I bet you wish there was." "Shut up." I unconsciously crossed my arms in front of my chest. "Luke and Ronnie sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S" "What's all the singing about?" I whipped around abruptly and saw Luke leaning lazily against the wall, his arms crossed in front of him, a few feet from us. Oh God, I hope he didn't hear anyt hing. "Well, would ya look at that," Charlie said, a wide grin forming itself on her f ace. "Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear." "Shut up, Charlie," I muttered exasperatedly under my breath as Luke detached hi mself from the wall and strode indolently to where we were. His hair was still u ntidy, and he was still wearing the gray t-shirt and dark-blue jogging pants fro m last night. And he looked absolutely delicious. Shit, I did not just think that. "Well, how was your night, Luke?" Charlie asked, still grinning. Luke cocked an eyebrow. "It was fine," he replied casually, his chocolate gaze s liding to me. I swallowed, and he turned his eyes back to Charlie. "How 'bout yo urs?" My bestfriend waved a nonchalant hand. "Mine's nothing to talk about," she said dismissively. "But I bet Ronnie here's got some story to tell, huh?" She nudged me impishly while I tried with all my might to look straight-faced. "I bet she would," Luke said in a cool voice, his gaze straying over to me once more. "Listen, I'm really hungry right now. Would you mind reserving your storie s for later?" With that, he turned and loped towards the kitchen. "Huh," Charlie remarked. "I guess he's not a morning person." "I guess," was all that I said, before following Luke into the kitchen. "Well, look who decided to join us," Bill said cheerfully. "How's your night, cu z?" Luke shrugged again. "What's with all the questions about my evening?" he said, narrowing his eyes at his relatives. Bill grinned. "Oh, it was not just me who w anted to know?" I took my seat again, with Charlie beside me and Luke occupying the seat directl y opposite me. Dear me, coming face-to-face with someone I so wanted to avoid ri ght now is going to give me indigestion. I consciously minded my every bite and sip of breakfast, while every now and then Luke would shoot me a glance. I worke d to avoid gagging on my food. Well, look where that got me. I was concentrating on chewing my food slowly while the others chattered on and on over me about different silly things when I felt a socked foot creep up my py jama-pant-clad legs, causing me to jump and choke on the orange juice I was drin king. "Ronnie!" Charlie exclaimed, proceeding to pound me on the back while I coughed. My throat was starting to burn. The table fell silent as everyone turned to loo k at me. My face heated up. "Are you okay?" Luke said, an eyebrow raised, a spoon full of egg yolk raised ha lfway to his mouth. He looked indifferent, yet the gleam on his eyes said enough . I nodded vigorously and shook Charlie off me. "Fooddownthewrongway," I gasped and to ok the glass of water Mikey, who was sitting on my right, handed to me. "Thanks, " I said gratefully and downed it in one gulp. "What happened to you?" Alex questioned when I was finally able to breathe. "Looks like she was eating too much at the same time," Luke said, smirking. I st uck my tongue out at him and sipped on my juice again. Gradually the table chatt er went back to normal, and I furiously made a mental note to confront (peaceful ly, because of the truce) the culprit. Ha. That's gonna show hi And that's when the socked foot, for a second time, made its way slowly up my le g, stuffing itself in through the wide opening of the pyjama-pant. Thankfully, I didn't choke on my food this time, but I did emit a small, surprised gasp. Charlie, unfortunately, noticed. That girl notices every muscle of mine! "What n ow?" she said, giving me a suspicious sidelong glance.

"Nothing," I said in a high-pitched voice, as the foot made its way up and down my leg. After waiting for eternity for Charlie to narrow her eyes at me and ulti mately look away, I shot Luke a "what the hell do you think you're doing?" look. To my irritation, he merely smirked and winked while the foot continued its mov ement. Furious, I angrily kicked him at the shin to make him stop. His face changed fro m maliciously amused to surprised pain, and this time Seth noticed. "Stomachache, Luke?" he inquired. "I think so," he ground out, his teeth clenched together. I smiled to myself tri umphantly while he got up and limped to the doorway. "See you guys later." I gave him a mock-salute. "See ya," and grinned as he glared at me before wobbli ng outside. oOoOoOoOo So it was quickly decided that the activity of the day would be skating. Great. I love skating! Note the sarcasm, people. I've had enough balance problem s without ice-skating-shoes taking away the stability and security friction give s to my seemingly-always-under-the-influence-of-alcohol feet, thank you very muc h. When I aired out my views (not-so-nicely) and pointed out the dangers ice-skatin g would contribute to me, my family, and consequently, the planet Earth (the amo unt of thuds I would be giving the poor ice would be enough to rattle the waterworld and maybe even Hades' domain itself to insanity, I was certain) in the pri vacy of Arielle's and Alex's and my room (which had seemed to be the unofficiall y official meeting room of the double x chromosomehear us roar!), the others wave d me off. "You're overreacting, Ronnie," Arielle said as she pulled on layer after layer o f winter clothing. It was almost abnormally icy outside. "But guys!" I wailed. They all turned to me. "Girls," I amended. "Knock it off," Charlie interrupted. "But I'm gonna break my neck!"Or leg, or arm, or head. . . "No one's breaking any necks today." "Easy for you to say," I huffed. "Every one of you knows how to skate." It was t rue. Even Claire can. I'm also willing to bet all myLemony Snicketbooks that Mikey and Ynna can. (Okay, so not all. But theWide Windowis definitely staying.) "No on e of you would be risking your life this afternoon." "Oh just shut up," Lizzie said, rolling her eyes while she bundled Claire up in a bright yellow wool coat and then pulling her own mahogany hair into a messy bu n. I sighed to myself. Why did Conners have to look so effortlessly pretty? Or s hould I say, why did everyone around me have to look so gorgeous? Someone up the re must have thought it funny to surround a plain Raggedy Anne with Barbies and Kens. Well, I don't think Ken is that hot, but you get the picture. "The Conners' skating skill and expertise would most certainly keep you from kil ling yourself," Alex added. "You're willing to teach me?" I asked, brightening. "God, no!" Alex said, looking appalled at the idea. I glowered, stung. I was nott hatbad. Well, maybe a bit. The last time I'd tried skating, I'd lost a skating shoe and nearly cracked the head of the skater nearest me. My parents had to pay for the lost rented shoe and nearly had to pay for the hospitalization of the injured sk ater (thank God she was still conscious and everything and insisted on not being brought to the hospital. Fear of them, she said. But she didn't look at me too kindly afterwards. Well was it my fault I had a bit of a balance problem?) My fa mily decided to not let me within a six-mile radius of a skating rink. "What's the matter with you?" Alex's voice broke into my musing, and I looked at her to see her amused expression. "How am I supposed to skate without getting paralyzed afterwards now?" I grumble d. "I was going to say, get someone else to teach you," she replied. "Luke was the one who taught me," she said, after a few seconds' thought. "He was the one who taught Louie and Claire and Lizzie, too, remember?" Arielle

said. Claire nodded her head. "He did." Ohno.Nothim. "What about Ethan and Adam?" I asked, curious. "Oh, you know those three," Lizzie said matter-of-factly. "Teaching sessions usu ally equalled to rolling-around-in-the-snow-giving-each-other-headbutts fests. I was the only one who actually learned anything. They learned from themselves." "He didn't try to headbutt you?" I said, amused at the image of Lizzie being stu ck in a headlock with her athletic brother. "If he did then he'd certainly be castrated now and not be hitting on you or any other girls, for that matter," she replied cheerfully. "I've got an idea," Charlie piped up, and I can see the glimmers on her clear gr ay eyes that usually suggested the beginnings of a diabolical plot. The differen ce is, this time, it's gonna be me who's the target. "Why not have Luke teach Ro nnie? I'm sure he wouldn't object." "I guess he wouldn't," Arielle agreed. "That was what I was suggesting," Alex said, fastening on a wild orange bonnet o n her black hair. "But" I tried to protest. Weren't they even going to ask my opinion on this? "Ronnie," Charlie snapped. "Why are you being so difficult?"Well, why areyoubeing s o difficult?"You've got two choicesget on with your I-don't-need-any-help attitude and get left behind, allalone, in this big, empty house, or swallow your pride f or once and come with us." I scowled at her. I would have gladly accepted the crash course on skating had t he teacher not beenLuke. "Fine. Whatever." I stomped around, looking for some app ropriate clothes to wear. "Try this," Lizzie said, tossing me a bright red cashmere sweater. "No, it clashes with her hair," Charlie disagreed, snatching it away from me. I frowned. Redsodoes not clash with my hair. It's reddish-brown, a.k.a. auburn, notr ed. "How about this, then?" Lizzie held up a thick, maroon turtleneck that was a lit tle too formfitting for my liking. "Pretty good," Charlie approved. "Seriously, guys," I said exasperatedly. "You're acting like this whole thing is going to be a date." Charlie and Lizzie exchanged glances. Arielle quickly looked away, a half-smile on her face. Alex was staring a little too hard at her phone. Even Claire, with all her innocence, looked as if she had something up her sleeve. "Guys!" I yelled. "What is goingon?" Before anyone could answer, the door clicked open. "Honestly!" I heard Charlie cluck disapprovingly. "Doesn't anybody knock anymooh, it's just you." "Not 'just' me.Theme." I turned and nearly groaned. Luke leaned against the door f rame, hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes glittering. "Are you ladies done yet?" "Lucas, Lucas, Lucas," Lizzie said, shaking her head with each mention of her br other's name. "How many times did we tell you to knock before entering a girl's room? You boys might find it okay to walk in on each other half-naked, but what if we were changing here?" "You all look dressed," Luke shrugged. "Only ickle Ronnie here seem to be in the need of changing clothes. Oh, go on," he said, waving his hand airily at me, "g o get dressed. I'm gonna be waiting here, calmly. Expect nothing more than wolfwhistles and clapping." He smirked at me. I pulled my usual reaction at his jabs, a fierce scowl with matching tongue out. The difference was, an unsightly blush was probably accompanying the otherwise scathing gestures, and made the whole look appear comically awkward. The probabi lity was confirmed by his laugh and the brighter glinting of his dark chocolate eyes. "Now, now," Arielle intervened. "Go round the boys up and leave Ronnie alone. So on her face is going to be even redder than her hair," she added as Claire burst into giggles. How many times did I have to repeat that my hair isnotred?

"Don't take too long, okay?" Luke all but begged us. "If we're lucky, the ice is still going to be ice, not water, by the time we get there." "Oh, stop exaggerating, Conner," I said, rolling my eyes. "I don't take that lon g to get ready." "Well, knowing I'm gonna be in the same area, youwouldtake that long to get ready, " he said, a crooked smile on his face. "Oh, are you already so bored of me that I need to actually put some effort into it?" I gasped in mock-horror. It was easier to play along than to fall for his baits, what with all the truce and stuff. It's better for my blood pressure, too . Being around this occasional asshole seemed to take my blood pressure higher t han normal. Luke looked surprised, but quickly regained composure. "If you keep up this enti re hard-to-get attitude, you might, sweetheart," he said smoothly, winking. "Then I suppose I better put on something to keep your interest, then," I said, feigning assurance and smiling as suggestively as I could, winking back. He grinned. "Oh, by all means, do." He spotted Claire. "Here's one who actually looksready.Come on, then." He smiled as the blonde eight-year-old pranced over to him, and my heart skipped. His genuine smiles were something to get palpitations from. He gave the room a nod and disappeared out the door with Claire. "And just minutes ago you were raising hell for thinking it's a date," Arielle s aid with a grin of her own. "I had to play along," I said. "It's better for my health." "Oh, the dangers ofamor deliria nervosa," Arielle said sagely, referring to the a lias of a certain condition that is the central plot of Lauren Oliver'sDelirium. "I'm not inlove," I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. "That was some major flirting going on between you two back there," Charlie said , looking as if David Boreanaz had just walked in the door and gave her a pair o f signed boxers of his own. Seriously, just imagine her face. "It was not," I hissed, rummaging around for some thick scarf. "The lady doth protests too much, methinks," Lizzie said. oOoOoOo I looked around at the wide, dark sheet of ice stretched out for yards in front of me, and gulped. Damn. This is going to be the death of me. We still hadn't worked out the whole 'Luke-teaching-my-stubborn-nonskating-ass-h ow-to-skate' thing, even as we were all squished together at the back of the dar k green van that had carried the cousins all the way from Canada. Lucky Luke, th e bastard, had called shotgun and with Bill as the driver, the rest of us held o ur breaths and tried not to move such a body part as an elbow for fear of breaki ng a window or jabbing an eyeball in. We struggled and we cursed, and Ynna and C laire's constant yelps of glee at playing Pat-a-Cake (I don't even know how on E arth they managed that without knocking out a tooth or two) didn't do much for t he adolescents' continuously mounting tempers. Fortunately, before we all can reach boiling point, we finally arrived at Olly D ink's Rink (yes, that's his real surname), and I can't help but snicker at the n ame of the owner. "What's so funny?" Mikey asked after he'd managed to get himself out of the prov erbial sardine can, which is the nearly suffocating van. "That name is sounreal," I said, giggling while I walked with him to the counter before the others. "I mean, who has a last name calledDink?" "I do," a short, balding man replied unsmilingly behind the counter. He stared h umorlessly at us before he watched the others noisily make their way through the snow. "Oh," I said uncertainly. To my surprise, the man smiled. "Oh, relax, I was just messing with you," he said, grinning. "I'm Olly." "Well, Veronica," I heard Luke say from behind me. Cue racing heartbeat and bloo d rushing to face. "I see you've made some new friends." The others had arrived and were caught up in their own chatter. "Good afternoon, young people," Olly said cheerfully. "Sizes, please?" There was a riot while the Conners simultaneously yelled out their shoe sizes an

d poor Olly had to run around to keep up with the demand. Finally Ynna was provi ded with her own baby-pink pair, and smiling cheerfully up at me, toddled after the Bill and David, the latter not losing time in showing off his ice-skating mo ves and promptly ending up with his ass on the ice. I sniggered to myself. "Yeah, keep laughing," I heard Luke say behind me. "You just probably might end up pretty much the same way." I whipped around and sure enough, he was still the re, resting casually against the counter, behind which Olly was catering to a bl onde-haired couple. "What?" he said, looking entertained at my probably not-too-pleasant-looking exp ression somewhere between the 'surprised' and 'horrified' ends of the spectrum. "II didn't hear you coming," I said lamely. "Maybe your Luke-radar needs getting looked at," he said. "I donothave any stupid Luke-radar," I said rather harshly. "Okay, okay," Luke said, his hands up in adon't-shoot-megesture. "Someone's a litt le cranky." I rearranged my features into a calm expression and looked out into the rink, wh ere even Ynna and Claire were skating rather decently around, without any help. Sigh. I wish I could skate like that. "Why aren't you out in the ice?" I asked Luke. "Why aren'tyou?" I glared at nothing in particular. "You know very well ice-skating isn't one of my strengths," I pointed out a little irritably. "And skating's one of mine." "So is this where you boast about your trip to Atlantis or something else now? I think we've both got better things to do." "Did you fall down on the wrong side of the bed or something? You seem like you' re raring for a fight," he said, the annoying tone of patience still in his voic e. I sighed tiredly. "Was there something that you wanted?" He smirked. "You really wanna know?" When I raised a fist, he raised his hands a gain in surrender. "Alright, alright, truce," he reminded me hastily. "So, are y ou gonna be alright here on your own? I'm going to get my delectable ass right t here now if it would save you from an untimely aneurysm." He took his skates fro m the counter on which he was leaning, and made to walk towards the ice. "Wait," I said hesitantly, my hand gripping the counter edge. When Luke turned b ack, I ignored the stuttering of my heartbeat and ran towards him, my own pair o f skates dangling from my hand. "I know I told you I don't know how," I began, gathering all my courage, which, admittedly, wasn't much at the moment. "So, would youwould you mind, uhm, t-teach ing me?" I resisted the urge to close my eyes tightly while waiting for his resp onse. Luke stared at me for a few moments before his face broke into an open grin. I h ated the way my pulse raced. Like I said, if his cocky smirks and his small grin s were already dangerous, then I guess you can say his real, happy smiles were f atal. My heartbeat sounded so loud I wondered if he could hear it. "Why, Ms. Wilcox," he said, looking as if the NBA playoffs had come a bit too ea rly, "I'd be delighted to." I can't help it. His grin was contagious. I smiled back, too. oOoOoOo Oh, this is it. I amsogoing to die young. And in front of Luke, too. What a sad and pathetically degrading way to die. Touch. "Luke, II don't think I could do this," I stammered, wondering how on Earth I'd m anaged to agree to this ridiculous idea. "Oh, come on, Ronnie, there's no turning back at this point now," Luke said, enj oying himself. "But Luke, I'm going to break my neck!" I said, slightly hysterical nowOr my leg or my arm or my face. "Or worse, yours." "No, you won't," he said soothingly.

"Yeah, I probably won't crackyourhead open," I agreed. We were now on the edge of the rink, which was bounded by a thick plastic screen all around. I already had my skates on, which was certainly a sure ticket to an early and most likely humi liating death. I was standing precariously on nothing but dangerously thin blade s; I mean, whatgeniushad the idea of ice-skating? "Oh, I wanna go slithering on th e ice all day long, but what can I use? Oh, I know! Why not stand onverticalsliver s of metal and just hope with all my might that I don't slip and become winter f ish-food instead of just inventing something that is actually wider than my feet ?" How I love the irony. Not. "Oh, what I wouldn't give just to know what you're thinking of now," Luke said, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted. Well, I'm glad that at least one of us is having fun. "Right, come on," Luke said. One of his hands was resting on my waist while the other was having its circulation cut off by my nervous grip. His constant whispe ring into my ear did absolutely nothing for my concentration, too. I grasped his hand even more tightly and stiffly stuck out one leg. The moment i t touched the slippery ice, I skidded and instantly braced myself for the cold, painful impact of ice against my backside. Phooey. "Oops" Luke said as he caught me under the arms and steadied me on my feet. "Thanks," I said gratefully. "No prob," he murmured, replacing his hands where they had been a minute ago, an d I had to fight off a blush. "Let's go." "Didn't you just see that? I can't even take a step without slipping," I grumble d. "Don't worry," Luke whispered. "I'm not going to let you fall." I swallowed. I already did . . . and not in the way you think. "Ronnie?" Luke called, and I shook my head slightly to clear it. "What?" "We don't have all day, you know." So I decided to suck it up and actually try to skate. Yeah, skate when I have no real perception of balance at the moment and a hot football star-slash-ice-skat ing-teacher-sensation-as-the-others-say practically wrapped around me. Excuse me for a minute, ladies and gentlemen. I think I'm going to faint. No. I amnotgoing to faint. At least not today. "So. . ." I started, trying to make small talk to I can take my mind off the fac t that I was probably making a fool of myself in front of him. "You learned skat ing. . .when and why?" "When I was six," he replied, making sure I was steady enough (in other words, s cared stiff. . .literally) before removing his hand from my waist (thank God) an d holding on to my red-gloved hand. "I saw Seth sliding on the ice when I couldn 't even lift my feet off it, and so I learned." "Seth didn't teach you? Oh fu" I yelped as I skidded again, but Luke caught me an d grinned his signature cocky grin. "Now now, Veronica, there are kids around," he said, laughing when I stuck my to ngue out at him. "Don't show it unless you plan to use it." I went to raise a fist but slipped. Luke was beside himself now as he caught me and steadied me yet again. "Hey, truce," he chided, but he was grinning widely. "Whatcha gonna do about it?" I challenged him. He appeared to be thinking about it. "Oh, nothing," he said nonchalantly, "maybe justkissyou or something." "There was no mention of that in the terms and conditions!" So I viewed our truc e as a contract. What do you care? "But then, how are you supposed to keep yourself from breaking our agreement? I knowIwouldn't have to do what every girl dreams I'd do to them so I keep my reprod uctive organs intact. What about you?" Gaah. He has a point. Stupid reason. "It's not fair!" I insisted, for once not paying attention to what I was doing. "At least you can take my punches."

"What, you can't take my kioops!" he said again when I nearly did a face-plant on the hard ice. He had his arms reached out around me, ready to catch me. Lord, thanks for letting my life go this far. And for this hot boy trying to take every measure to keep saving my sorry ass. Did I just sayhot? "Can we stop talking about this please?" I said as acidly as I could while focus ing on touching the ice with nothing else but my feet. Not my face, not my knees , not my butt. Luke was still grinning. "I think you did that on purpose." "Excuse me? Why would I want leave an imprint of my face on this?" I indignantly indicated the cold ice. "I don't know," he shrugged with an air of careless enjoyment. "You do a lot of things that I have no idea of the reasons of." "Really?" Wow. I can already lift one of my feet while gliding, albeit stiffly. "Like what? Pray tell." "Like why you spend hours and hours in the shower." "I do not!" "Or why you have a crush on Syaoran Li ofCardcaptor Sakura.For goodness' sake, Ron , he's ten! Do you have a pedophiliac streak that I do not know of?" I wanted to slap the smirk off his face. "He's adorable!" I said defensively, avoiding his eyes. He trudged on. "Or maybe why you turn red whenever I'm around." Whoa. He got me there. I was so surprised it took all of me not to do another ne ar-face-plant, lest the arrogant bastard notice something. "What?" I said, trying to look unconcerned, but failing, by the looks of things. "Like, right now," said Luke. I dared look up at him, and sure enough, the smirk was still firmly planted on his face. Though, this time, the sparkle in his eye s took on a different aura, not merely teasing or mocking. "I am so not," I said, though he must have noticed the slight spasm in my grip. "I think I was asking you whether Seth taught you ice skating or not." "So I'm going to just ignore the suspicious way you reacted to my observation," he said cheerfully, "and just go along with your abrupt subject-changing. Anyway , Seth did not teach me. I picked it up myself." The asshole was sounding smug. "Yeah, and you went on to be America's representative in the Olympics," I said s arcastically. "Yeah," he nodded in assent, "but before that, of course, I had to undergo lots and lots of self-training to prepare, since no professional ice-skating coach ca n come near me without getting a large bruise on his ego." "Yourego needs to be bruised," I said, the back of my hand automatically flying t o drive a hard slap to his chest. He wobbled a little, and so did I. "You aresogoing to pay for that," he said, his eyes gleaming wickedly. I tried to appear indifferent. "I look forward to it," I said drily. "I knew you would," Luke replied, smirking maliciously. "Listen, Conner," I turned to him, barely aware that we were both on ice. "There 's absolutelynoway you're going to get lip action fromme.I'm resistant to your so-ca lled charms." "Keep thinking that," he said. Does this boy ever stopsmiling? He's freaking me o ut! "Of course I would." "Probably not what you're thinking the other day, though." I gasped. How dare he bring that up! I must have looked mutinous because his expression took on a scared one and he h urriedly gestured towards me. "Look!" he said hastily. "You're skating!" "Huh?" Distracted, I looked down. And what do you knowIwasskating! I had to remember that we were on slippery ice so I could keep myself from jumping for joy. "Look! I'm skating!" I cried gleefully. "Yeah, you are," said Luke, visibly relieved that my quick learning of the sport prevented me from hurling him into the ice. "And don't think for one second that you're off the hook," I said, letting go of

his hand and precariously making a circle around him. "Oh no" "And don't think for one second," Luke said into my ear, catching me for the ump teenth time, to my frustration, "that I won't get you back for that slap." His w arm breath on my skin made me shiver. Yeah, right. 19 After our feet froze to the bone and we had to be treated for frostbite (just ki dding), we got around to buying cups of hot chocolate from Olly and taking off t he torture devices they called skates and settled down around one of the large r ound tables behind the clear plastic wall that separated the ice from the parque t. I was preoccupied with a lot of things at once, and so I didn't contribute much to the usual Conner chatter, instead just sitting relatively quietly, mulling ov er my hot chocolate. I'd managed to skate! I had to work hard at keeping myself from punching a fist into the air triumphantly. Besides, I wouldn't want to inflate Luke's ego even m ore, or it's gonna have to pay rent, even in a house as large as his. I think I would have to settle for a simple thank you. I was deciding on whether to get hi m alone right now or at his house when I suddenly remembered his words back on t he ice. Don't think for one second that I'm not gonna get you back for that slap. Gulp. A public thanks it is. "Erm, hey," I timidly started to say, and tapped Luke on the shoulder. From what it looked like, he was enumerating a list ofGrand Theft Auto: Vice Citycheats to Mikey, who was diligently jotting them down on a napkin and being the poster boy of the rapt, loyal student to the experienced teacher. I rolled my eyes and rea ched over to tap Luke on his shoulder again. Since when did merely tapping him on the shoulder become so awkward? I'd always smacked him in the face whenever he comes near me. Now Luke turned to me. "Need something?" "I, uhmthanks," I said quickly and sipped a mouthful of chocolate. His eyes glinted amusedly. "Come again?" Seriously? This egotistical jerk just seems to get every opportunity to enlarge his already inflated ego. "I said, thanks," I repeated, ignoring the irritation that's building inside of me. "For what?" I sighed exasperatedly. "Well, for practically saving my life on the ice, among others," I added for good measure. Luke grinned widely. "Sure, whatever." I exhaled, relieved, before he said, "Nice try. I always thought you'd say thank you somewhere private." "You're not content with this?" I said disbelievingly. "It's okay, I guess," he shrugged. Argh, this guy is gonna give me an untimely h eart attack! "Then what do youwant?" "To get you back for that hit you'd sneaked in when I wasn't looking." Oh no. No, no, no. "No way inhell, Conner," I hissed, turning away from him. He just laughed freely. "Sooner or later, I promise." I resisted the urge to rip my hair out and get a premature bald spot. oOoOoOo I threw a wish in the well Don't ask me, I'll never tell I looked to you as it fell And now you're in my way I'd trade my soul for a wish Pennies and dimes for a kiss I wasn't looking for this But now you're in my way

I was nearly nodding off, squeezed with the others in the back of the van. The o nly thing keeping from dozing off completely was the possibility that I'd probab ly be drooling on Luke's shoulder if I even think of closing my eyes. Louie, tha t prick, snatched the shotgun opportunity away from his cousin and was now bobbi ng his head along to Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe." Your stare was holdin' Ripped jeans, skin was showing Hot night, wind was blowing Where d'you think you're going, baby? Sometimes I just can't shake off the feeling that the powers-that-be just can't get enough of messing with me. Hey, I just met you And this is crazy But here's my number So call me, maybe? To my left, Mikey slumped against me with a little snore. Almost all the others were also stealing a nap, with the exception of Luke, Alex (who was, as usual, t exting), Louie, Bill (of course! He's the driver, for pete's sake) andmoi.Even Ynn a, with all the energy of a DuraCell a couple of hours ago, had finally crashed and was snoozing on Luke's lap, her head on Luke's shoulder. It's hard to look right at you, baby But here's my number So call me, maybe? My eyes were kept from falling completely when something bright-yellow assaulted my face. "Mmph!" I grabbed the offending yellow object and realized it was a coat. Ynna's coat. Luke was snickering quietly beside me. "Get it back on her," I hissed, throwing it back to him. "Are you stupid? She's going to get suffocated." "Stop exaggerating, Conner." "What? She is. To think about it,youlook like you're not breathing either. Somethi ng wrong?" A corner of his mouth lifted and he peered closely at me, knowing how claustrophobic I'm gonna get. You took your time with the call I took no time with the fall You gave me nothing at all But still you're in my way "Get your ass away from me," I snapped, shoving his cheek away. "What?" The trademark stupid grin was back on his face. I'd beg and borrow and steal At first sight, it was real I didn't know I would feel But it's in my way "I meant this." I forcefully pushed his face away and he laughed out loud, resul ting in the numerous incensed groans and some "shut the hell up" mutters from th e others, rudely roused from their naps. Luke, being Luke, shrugged it off. "'Twas Ronnie." David irritably shifted in his seat behind us with some difficulty, since space was not a luxury either of us can afford at the moment. The resulting disturbanc e rippled around the whole van (except the Untouchable driver's and passenger's seats) and led to some more grumbles and annoyed mutterings. "David, stop rubbin g your ass around, you dope," Seth, who was sitting right beside him, snapped an d whacked him up the back of his head. "Who're you calling a dope?" David snapped back, punching Seth's shoulder. "You!" Seth retorted, pushing David back. Alex, rattled awake on David's other s ide, growled. "You'rethe dope!" David shoved Seth back. By this time, the whole van was awake. "No, you!" "NO, you!"

"You guys" Alex tried to cut in. Lizzie, Ethan, Arielle, Claire, Mikey, Ynna and Charlie were speaking all the same time, trying to subdue the guys. Well, not al l of them. Ynna was squealing gleefully and was clapping her hands. Mikey was ch anting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Claire looked bored and stared out the window ins tead. Bill and Louie seemed oblivious to the racket behind them. I shook my head, half-thoughtfully. Goodness knows who taught the children how t o deal with testosterone spills. I privately applauded them for their calm. Luke, who was the cause of all the ruckus, simply chortled to himself. I myself had given up on wondering why and how on earth he can keep smiling like that. Do esn't he know his face can stay like that forever if a gust of wind so much as p asses him? Moron. "Stop shoving me!" Seth was now yelling. "You were first!" David said, and as if to taunt him, flicked his forehead. "I" "SHUT THE HELL UP!" Alex roared. The car fell silent, except for Carly Rae Jepse n's voice, still singing, apparently as oblivious as Bill and Louie. No one dare d moved a muscle. Go Alex. "Now look what you've done," Luke said in a low voice, jamming the yellow coat b ack at my face. My angry yelp was muffled by the material. Before, you came into my life I missed you so bad I missed you so bad I missed you so, so bad Before you came into my life I missed you so bad And you should know that. . . So call me, maybe? oOoOoOoOo "Guys are stupid," Alex declared later in the evening in the confines of our bed room. I was getting dressed for bed and Arielle was digging up what looked like a whole duffel bag full of novels. "Tell me about it," I concurred, thinking about the could've-gone-better thank-y ou speech that I'd given Luke back there by the rink, only to be more-or-less th reatened by the repercussions of the one slap I'd thoughtlessly given the King o f Demons himself. "It's almost inevitable." Even Arielle was agreeing with us now. She groaned. "I think Eric has my copy ofPandemonium. The jerk didn't even think of returning it for the holidays." "What's that, some kind of book to tell you how to rule the world?" Alex asked. "Kinda." I smiled. "You read it?" Arielle stared at me. I shrugged. "Yeah. I've got all three of Lauren Oliver's works." Arielle all but dropped on her knees and tugged on the hem of my shirt. "Really? Oh please, please,pleaselend me one!" I removed her grasp on my clothes. "Why not? I think I've got e-book copies on m y laptop somewhere." "Yes!" Arielle danced around on tiptoe while Alex gaped openly at us, cellphone abandoned for once. The amused expression stayed on my face until Arielle finally regained her compo sure. Which was after about three-quarters of an hour. No, I was just kidding. It was only ten minutes. "Done yet?" I said, entertained. She cleared her throat. "No one hears about this," she growled. "Sure, whatever." I somehow can't get my mouth to stop smiling. Alex was shaking her head at us. "I can never understand what kind of joy you ge eks get from books." "Just because you don't know how to read doesn't mean the rest of us don't, too, " her sister replied nastily. Alex waved it off, to my surprise. She'd always been someone who does not take a

ny shit from anyone, but then, maybe she got it from someone else. Arielle, most likely. "So, what about that e-book?" Arielle prompted impatiently. It was now my turn t o shake my head while heading to my bedside table to get my laptop, and that's w hen something bright on my mattress caught my eye. "Arielle," I said, "I think I need to drop in on Ynna's room before you get your e-book." oOoOoOoOo "But why? I thought Harry was the good guy!" "Well, he is" "Then why are they all avoid-y?" "Because" "He wouldn't open up the Secrets room, would he?" "Well" "And he wouldn't PePetPerturn those people to stone, would he?" "Ynna" "Even Ron's sister" "Ynna!" Luke's voice was exasperated. I stifled my laugh by placing a hand over my mouth and proceeded to tiptoe into the Mikey and Ynna's half-open door. Apparently, Luke was there, and from what I heard, was having aHarry Potterdebate with achild.And a one-sided debate, as it loo ked. "ButDad" I heard Ynna start again. Luke, who was stretched out beside the two-year -old on her bed, looked up from theChamber of Secretsas I walked in, looking relie ved that I'd distracted Ynna from all her interrogations. Mikey was nowhere to b e found, and I was worried that he might be spending more time with all the othe r guys. There goes his innocence, or whatever remained of it. "Hi." I held out Ynna's yellow jacket, the one that Luke had stuffed into my fac e during the trip back home. "I think this is yours." "Yay!" Ynna made to get up, but Luke pushed her back gently, getting up himself to retrieve the coat from me. "Well, what do you say to yourMom?" Luke asked Ynna as he handed her her coat, th e stress on the wordmomwith a touch of mocking. I rolled my eyes but said nothing. I'm going to get back at him anyway. "Thank you, Mom." Ynna snuggled with the yellow material. "How nice of yourDadto read the rest of the book with you, honey," I said as sweet ly as I could, sitting down on Ynna's other side of the bed. I saw Luke narrow h is eyes at me and had to supress another chuckle. "Where's Mikey?" "He's with Ethan and the rest," Luke answered. I clucked my tongue. "It's way past his bedtime,honey," I said, winking at him an d enjoying his open-mouthed expression. "Don't you think he should be over here by now?" "He's going to be back soon," Ynna said before stretching out her little body an d yawning. "If you say so, sweetheart." I have to admit, it's kind of fun watching Luke be jerked out of his composure for once, fighting to hide his astonishment at my li beral use of endearments. I am naturally a sweet person, you know; it's only aro und him that my sadistic, vicious, she-demon side comes out. Really! And I swear , that girl who I supposedly tripped back in fifth grade and ended up in crutche s?Nottrue. And anyway, she's a bitch. Really. What's with all those looks? Don't b elieve me? Then go to hell you sceptical bunch of losers! Ynna yawned again and snuggled under the covers. "Good night, Mom. Good night, D ad." She mumbled something else before closing her eyes. "Hmm?" Luke said, easing the coat away from her. "I said I'm glad you and Mom aren't fighting anymore. . ." The words slurred tog ether, and I knew she was almost completely asleep. Luke smoothed back the hair from her forehead and we both stared at her for a few minutes before my gaze con nected with his. "So. . ." Luke began uncertainly. "So what, honey?" I said, winking again at him before getting to my feet, straig

htening my clothes and making my way out to the hall without looking back, leavi ng the door ajar. "Hey," Luke called about five seconds later, catching up with me. I quickened my pace and ignored me, but he easily kept up. Stupid long legs. I heard him chuckle beside me. "Seriously, Wilcox. . .who knew you could be so" "What? Charming? Sweet? Nice? Non-demonic? For your information,sweetheart, I onl y go Rambo when you're around," I informed him sardonically. "I was going to sayhot, but charming works as well," he replied merrily, and I kn ew he was beaming cockily even without looking at him. "Shut up." "Will not do, ma'am." "Are you going to follow me all night?" I demanded, halting abruptly and turning to glare at him. I pointed to the other end of the hallway. "Your room'sthatway. " Luke shrugged. "So, is walking you to your room a crime now?" "Well, it is you we're talking about, Luke. Ninety-nine percent of what you do c an easily be considered a crime. That's a fact." "DoIlook like someone untrustworthy?" He flashed a cocky smirk. Groaning, I threw my hands up and started to brisk-walk along and try to pay no attention to him, but he blocked my way."What now?" I asked tiredly. "I think I've got a sudden, random hankering for some cookies that Lilia baked t his afternoon while we were in the rink." "And I care. . .why?" "You're a whiz at lock-picking. Come on." He grabbed my hand and practically dra gged me down the stairs with him, rushing straight to the huge, darkened kitchen . He pulled me to the pantry door after switching on some lights. "So?" Luke said, when I stood there without doing anything. "So what?" He pointed to the keyhole. "Pick it." I heaved a sigh. "Luke, I think you need to get your head checked. Not that you didn't need it years ago. You don't seem to remember thatyouwere the one who taugh t me lock-picking when we were six." He didn't miss a beat. "I forgot." "Lock-picking is not something you can easily for" "Oh, hush," he interrupted, stepping closer and raising a hand to my hair. I bro ke off, my heartbeat suddenly thumping loudly against the inside of my chest. Now this is why I don't like being alone with him. Touch. But it feels good, yes? Can I just ask why you suddenly developed a crappy French accent? It's Italian, you freak. It's the language of luuuuuuuurve. French is the language of love, idiot. Whatever. Charlie was right, youdosidetrack others if you've got something to hide . Even from yourself. At this point, I wouldn't find it hard to believe if there was some kind of tram poline inside my chest and my heart kept leaping up and down on it as Luke's han d touched my hair, as if to caress it. He then grinned and pulled out a hairpin. "There." He triumphantly displayed the tiny hair accessory and held it out to me . "Now do it." I sighed, mostly to myself, and took it. "Don't think I'm doing this for you. I think my sweet tooth suddenly went loose." He leaned languidly against the wall beside the pantry door. "Sure, let's go wit h that," were the words he just said while I picked and jiggled the knob as quie tly as I could, feeling as if we're robbing a bank. I was alsoveryaware of the ste ady gaze I knew he had on me, and I wanted to finish the job as quickly as possi ble. Except "Were you looking down myshirt, Conner?" "What?" Luke looked up, surprised. "I wasn't!" Yeah, right. As if the vivid blush on his cheeks said otherwise. "OW!"

"Shut up, Luke. You're gonna wake up the whole house." "You punch like a dude!" Scowling, Luke rubbed his arm and stuck his tongue out at me. "Yeah, well, think twice before you do anything like that again. And stop smirki ngyou deserved it this time," I warned, knowing what he was thinking at this very moment. "I didn't say anything. You know, you'd make a fine opponent of Manny Pacquaio's ," he mused. "This better not leave a mark," he threatened. "Why, afraid of showing the bruise you got from agirl?" When he glared at me, I s miled sweetly. "You big baby." Luke rolled his eyes. "Just pick the damn lock." At last, the lock clicked open and Luke let out a cry of delight. "Yes!" He easi ly reached up one of the top shelves without using the pantry ladder (and mind y ou, they really were that high, except for the fact that no measure of height ca n come between Luke and his sweets. It's another thing we have in common. Drats. ) and nabbed the cookie jar from it. Before I knew it, the once-full jar was now left with only a third of its origin al content. "Crap," I muttered as I finished my last cookie. "Lilia is going to kill us." "Eh." Luke dusted his hands off and took a swig of coffee, ignoring my raised ey ebrow. We were sitting down on the small island in the middle of the huge kitche n, the cookie jar sitting pitifully in front of us. Why, Veronica? Why did you have to get my cookies? Oh God, did I just imagine a cookie jar guilt me for agreeing to one of Luke's c razy schemes? I desperately need a life. "Are you even planning to get some sleep tonight, Mr. Starbucks?" Oh, alright, s o I was out of some clever names for the pyjama-clad teenage coffee-slurping mal e in front of me. So what? Sue me. "No, I don't sleep at night. I'm actually Edward fucking Cullen," he replied, de adpan. "Have you been reading thatTwilightshit again? That trash rots what remains of you r brain. Besides, vampiresdosleep, you know. The real ones, at least." His face took on a slightly puzzled expression. "I thought chicks likedTwilight." "Shows what you know. So what now, you picked chicks up by dropping gay vampire lines on them? How original," I said drily. Luke shrugged. "They liked it. But then again, they always liked whatever I told them, you know?" "Shows what they know," I muttered. "Or that they were not blind. Or anything," Luke added in a low voice. I raised an eyebrow. "What?" Luke cleared his throat. "Anyway, do you have any particular reasons of finding out my plans for the night?" He put his coffee cup down and smirked at me. And here we go again. Yeah, here we go again. I am so over this. Then why not take a different approach? What? Try taking him up on his "offers." See how he reacts. You're supposed to be guidance, you moron, not some manual on how to deal with b eing propositioned north of. Hey, it was just a suggestion, and besides, one major factor on why he never kno cks it off is because he always knows how you react. So go on, shock the pants o ut of him. That sounds kinda sketchy. Whatever. Go for it, girl! Using what little amount of flirting I knew, I raised a hand twirled hair around my finger subtly. "Oh, I don't know. . ." I drawled, watching his reaction. "Ma ybe I have plans, too. . ." I trailed off. Damn. I've been watching way too many crappy rom-com movies for me to actually act this one out. Note to self: Never watchThe Ugly Truthever again.

I told you it was shit. But it was Katherine Heigl! Sure enough, he looked fairly surprised, but I had to give him props for keeping up quickly. "And those plans would include. . .?" I shrugged and tossed my hair behind my shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe I'm not c ounting on getting some sleep tonight, too." I basked in the glory of confusing Luke for once in my life. Ha. Take that. He'd somehow moved closer to me, rooting me to the stool I was sitting on next t o the island. "I'm listening," he said, almost whispering. I raised my eyebrows. "I don't think you're interested," I said coolly, making t o stand up but his hand on my shoulder pushed me back down again. Okay, this isenough. I've had enough fun for the night. But His Lordship (and I say this sarcastically..) seemed to think differently. H e stepped closer. "Oh, no, I don't think so," Luke said in a darkly amused tone. "You're not getting away with something as vague as that." "I can, too," I objected, but before I could do anything else, he stepped even c loser, and claustrophobia kicked in. I focused on breathing evenly. "I beg to differ," he replied, enjoying the moment. "Tell me, is thisyourday or so mething? Because I swear you were singing a different tune just a couple of minu tes ago." He smirked. Gasp! How dare he bring up a girl'sday. . .or something. Oh, he issogoing to get pu nched in the gut for that. "Don't even think about it," he whispered right in my ear, and I fought hard to keep the shivers down. Was he some kind of mind-reader? And then I remembered th at I unconsciously curled my hands into fists at my side. This defense mechanism 's starting to become a reflex, eh? "Don't even think aboutwhat?" Luke raised a hand and brushed a strand of hair from my face. The spot he came i n contact with grew warm and before I knew it, the warmth had spread to my cheek s and neck. Oh, mother of pearl. . . "That reminds me," he said, almost to himself. He then looked directly at me and grinned. I swallowed. "I think you owe me something. . ." And with that, he started to lean closer to me. Every remaining brain cell in my head was screaming, "No! NO!" yet I was complet ely petrified, unable to do anything as second by second he came closer to me.Oh God, why did I even have to slap the bastard. . . Six inches. Four inches. Two inches. No distance at all. . . BANG! We both jumped a good four feet into the air while Arielle called out at the top of her lungs. "Ronnie! What time were you planning tooh." She broke off, staring bewilderedly a t the both of us and the, erm, lack of personal space in between. And if that wasn't enough, Mikey came running into the room, but not before cras hing into Arielle. "What are you guys doing here?" Mikey asked, evidently surprised at the presence of the three of us at the kitchen at such an untimely hour of the night. His ga ze strayed to the almost-empty cookie jar at the island near us. "Oh boy," Mikey slowly said, his stare flitting to the jar, to Luke, and then to me. "What have youdone?" Arielle tore her incredulous gaze at us and to the jar. Geez, this jar is gettin g way too much unnecessary attention tonight. "You two do know that your asses w ould be profoundly kicked in the morning, right?" Luke and I hastily moved a good five steps away from each other before hanging o ur heads guiltily. "It was her," Luke muttered. Excuse me, it waswhonow? "What?" "Well, you did pick the lock," he replied matter-of-factly.

"Well, I wouldn't have ifsomeonedid not drag me all the way down here instead of l eaving me alone and going tohisroom and do whatever Lukes do!" I seethed. "You could have easily said no," he pointed out, his voice rising. "Well, you didn't really give me any choice on the matter, did you?" I crossed m y arms, glaring holes at the floor. I can'tbelievehim! And here I thought we were getting along so well for the first time since third grade. Goes to show good things seldom last, sweetheart. Who said it was a good thing, anyway? "Guys, guys," Arielle said soothingly, "no need to do an all-out WWE match right now if you don't want to wake Lilia up." Luke and I were still glaring daggers at each other. This guy just had the nerve to look at me that way after what he just said? "But we promise, we'd hire a reputable funeral service after Lilia's done with t he two of you," Mikey remarked. "Why are you doing here, anyway?" Luke snapped, breaking the glaring contest and levelling his death-stare at the ten-year-old instead. To his credit, Mikey did not completely flinch away. Just a bit. "Er,. ." "Don't be stupid, Luke, like you always are," I interjected. "Mikey's obviously trying to sneak in some cookie-time himself." "I was not," Mikey vehemently denied, turning pink. "Leave Mikey out of this," Arielle snapped. "Don't take your frustration out on us. Look, I'm sorry if we'd accidentally walked in on yourmoment" "What moment?" Luke and I chorused. Now our death-stares have joined forces agai nst Arielle now. "Whatever, you guys. Denial isn't just a river in Egypt" "Like we haven't heard that one before," Luke muttered. Touch to that one. "But we've got to solve the situation at hand," Arielle said loudly, talking ove r Luke. "I mean, what with the cookies and" "What about the cookies?" A fifth voice asked. We all turned around in horror. "Uhgood e-evening, Lilia," Arielle weakly greeted. 20 It was the twenty-third of December. And yes, only two days before my favourite holiday itself. The problem was, I was not feeling Christmas-y, myself. For one, I was mad at Luke. How dare he pin the cookie-disaster on me alone? Nee d I remind him that it wasHis Highnessthat so insisted my participation in that ne ar-criminal act? Can't he take responsibility for his actionsjust this time? Well, he did take the blame when you knocked over the gingerbread house that you r mother made when you two were seven. That was an accident! Yeah, and the icing you had all over your face said otherwise. I didn't ask Luke to cover up for me. And that time when you set fire to the new bird-house that Jake and your dad mad e for Jake's Shop class. It's not my fault it was out in the sun and the magnifying glass was incidentall y right above it. And when you broke the window in the AP English classroom when you were in seven th grade. Hey! I was aiming for Luke, you know. Yeah, and if I remember correctly, you two were not speaking then, but he still covered for you. So what's your point? Luke was wrong. You're not only blind. You're stupid, too. Okay, granted, he did not deny that it was his idea. What he just said was that I was the one who picked the lock. But still. It's the principle of the thing, you know? And it did put me in a bad light.

But you were the one who did it. And you did say that you were not doing it for himyou said that you suddenly craved cookies, too. Someday, you're gonna stop making so much sense. I try, honey. Anyway, what did Luke mean when he said I was blind? It's not like I walk around crashing into walls or something. . .so I do, sometimes. But it's not that ofte n to legally declare me as blind. I'm putting this too literally, aren't I? I exhaled loudly and tried not to think about it too much. "Hey, Ronnie." Charlie poked her golden-blonde head into the room where I was ly ing listlessly, staring at nothing at all. "Are you packed yet?" "Yeah," I replied. My red suitcase was up and ready at the foot of my bed, the a ccursed red shirt shoved deep within its dark shell. I hoisted my laptop bag on my shoulder, the e-books Arielle had so relentlessly begged off me stored in a s ilver flash drive that I'd left on her nightstand last night. It was not there t his morning, so I guessed Arielle had finally gotten her hands on it. I pulled a t the suitcase handle and rolled it towards the door. "Are you sure you want to leave?" Charlie asked once I stepped outside. The othe rs were nowhere to be seen. "What do you mean? It's two days before Christmas." My best friend peered closely at my face before backing up. "Come on, then." She towed her own brightly colored luggage towards the main hall. As it turned out, the entire household was waiting for us there. I nimbly ducked under the mistletoe (that evil shrub. . .) and approached Lilia. Oh, you were wondering how I could do that so bravely after last night? Well, I don't believe it either. See, when Lilia had caught us jabbering at the kitchen, each one of us froze, even Mikey. No one dared breathe. And then Lilia's roving pale blue gaze spotted the jar. We'd waited for the blow to fall. Except we'd heard, "Oh. We'd just have to make more, then." I was so shocked that I stared at her, mouth open in not exactly an attractive w ay. And there I thought I'd have to write my will so early on in my life. "W-what?" Luke had choked out. Lilia turned to him. "Well, you couldn't expect the rest of us to split this amo unt of pastries, could you?" She'd glanced at the clock hanging on the wall abov e Luke's head. "I think you kids had better go to bed now. It's getting pretty l ate." And with that, she'd taken on her heels and left us probably with our jaws lying right there on the floor. Honestly. You know the feeling when you're headed for the electric chair and the n there's a national black-out and the jail you're in didn't have a generator se t? Yeah, I don't, either. But I'm pretty sure the events last night made up for a s imilar situation. Now Lilia reached out for a hug. I obliged and she murmured in my ear. "Thank yo u for staying with us, Veronica. Luke and the others couldn't have been happier. " "It was my pleasure." And the thing is, I actually meant it. She released me. "I do hope you'd come by soon. Have a Merry Christmas!" "You too." I smiled genuinely. Far from what I expected, I actually enjoyed my t ime here. Aside for the couple of run-ins I'd had with Luke (and the inevitable nagging and questions that I'd gotten from his large family afterwards), it had been. . .fun. Yeah, fun. If that was the right term that encapsulated the laughs, conversation s, confusion, and fury that I'd went through here. Not to mention the impromptu skating lessons I'd gotten yesterday. It was now Charlie's turn to formally bid adieu to the motherly housekeeper whil e the cousins smiled at me and called out their various holiday greetings and wh atnot. "It's been fun rooming with you," Alex said, for once her phone not in her hands . "I mean, besides all the denial and whining and shit, you're pretty cool."

I rolled my eyes at that and grinned. "Thanks for the books, anyway." I waved a nonchalant hand at Arielle, who was gl ued to her Kindle but had taken the time to flash me a sincere smile and call ou t her gratitude. "Merry Christmas." "Hey, where do you live again?" Yeah, I already knew that was David. "I'd like t o pay a visit sometime." He winked and slapped Louie on the back. "Sorry about the mistletoe thing, by the way," Louie grinned, ignoring my quick glare at him. "I mean, it was just a spur-of-the-moment prank, but I guess it ac hieved the desired results." He looked over at Luke, who by this time still hadn 't said a word. He was standing by the foot of the grand staircase, his hands in his pockets and his expression a million miles away. I wonder what the deal with him is now. "Drop by sometime soon," Bill said, a dimple forming at his cheek while he smile d. "I will," I promised. "You sure you don't want me to drive you?" Seth called. I shook my head. "Charlie brought her car. Thanks for the offer, though." "Hey, don't think I won't get you back for that sneaky snowball a few days ago," Ethan muttered. He still hasn't gotten over that yet? Wow. This kid has some se rious grudge-holding issues. And then it struck me how his words were a bit similar to others I've heard befo re. "Don't think I won't get you back for that slap." "Get over that already," Ethan's twin scolded him. She turned to me. "Hey, you a nd my brother still have some unresolved issues," Lizzie told me, an impish grin on her face. I rolled my eyes. "Ethan's a bit of a sore loser, isn't he?" "I meant Luke." "What about him?" "Oh, nothing." Lizzie shook her head smilingly. "Clueless." "Hey, I heard that." I frowned slightly. "Good for you." "Are you really gonna leave?" Ynna's large doe-like eyes looked up at me pleadin gly. "Yes, I am," I replied, my resolve wavering just a little. Ynna ran and hugged my legs. "Come back soon, okay?" "I will." I couldn't for the life of me bring myself to say any more goodbyes wi th the little kids there looking so sad. Even Mikey looked a little sullen. "Call us, okay?" Claire said, smiling sadly. "Look, here's a deal, okay?" I said, unable to help myself any longer. I crouche d down to their level. "I'll be spending Christmas at home, but Charlie and I wi ll be here for New Year's Eve." "Really?" Ynna and Claire perked up. "You'd do that?" Mikey clarified. The others were waiting for my answer. I shrug ged. "Sure. I mean, I'm pretty sure my family would be sick of me eating everything a t home by then." I straightened and looked up to meet Luke's questioning stare. I quickly looked away just as Charlie walked towards me with her bag. "Did I just hear you say we're gonna be here for the New Year?" she asked, her g ray eyes sparkling. "I think you did." "Score!" "Charlie, no one said you'd be coming." "But you said 'we.'" "I meant Jake and Vivian and me." I stifled a giggle. "Liar." Damn. Giggling always gave my lies away. I turned towards the household. "Bye." I even looked towards Luke and mouthed "T hanks" and gave him a little wave before Charlie and I were completely outside i n the freezing cold. We loaded our luggage onto the back Charlie's Prius and I was about to get in wh

en I spotted a tall figure sloshing through the snow towards us. I looked toward Charlie confusedly. "Go!" she mouthed from the driver's seat. I obliged and met Luke a few yards from Charlie's car. "Hey," Luke said once we got within hearing range. He was not wearing any kind o f coat or something, just a green long-sleeved shirt and jeans that he was weari ng back in the house. Not even a warm hat. Geez, isn't he freezing? Concerned? So what if I am? Hey. I was just asking. And you can't see me right now, but I'm totally smiling knowingly. And you can't see me right now, but I'm totally giving you a murderous glare. "Aren't you cold?" I blurted out without thinking. "What?" Luke looked down. "Oh. Oh, no. Not at all. Anyway" "So" We both broke off and Luke gestured towards me. "You first." I nodded. "So. . .uh, thanks for having us here. Not exactly for the reason. . . but thanks for putting up with it all the same. Uhm," I cleared my throat, "and sorry if we pissed each other off more than usual for the few days that we were here." I tried hard not to look away. "I guess we're just not fit for living wit h each other, eh?" I smiled a little. "All the same, thanks. I knew you could ha ve easily kicked me out. . .b-but you didn't. S-so, yeah." I swallowed afterward s, my mouth dry. I was pretty sure my right eye was twitching. Have I ever said how draining it was to be carrying out a civil conversation wit h Luke? Mostly because I was not used to it, and it made me feel strangely vulne rable whenever we're interacting without violence or yelling or. ..yeah. A silence fell upon us before Luke spoke. "Well. . .thanks for being here. I mea n, I don't think I could have stood Ynna and Mikey and all the others if you two hadn't been here. Oh. . .and sorry for, you know, some other things. . ." He wa ved a hand airily. "And for last night." I couldn't figure out whether he was ta lking about the cookie jar or the near-kiss that was interrupted. "And. . .thank s for not breaking anything here." He smiled, too. I remembered when I nearly th rew a lamp at him the last time I'd tried to leave this house. Who would have th ought that we wouldn't have progressed to throwing televisions or stereos or oth er shit this time around. I shrugged, still smiling. "Sure. I've made a startling discovery during my stay here, you know." Luke raised his eyebrows. "Oh? What's that now?" "That we could actually carry on a conversation without throwing things at each other." "Ha-ha, very funny.Youwere the one who threw things and tackled me and other shit. " "Well you were the one who always started it." A loud honk ensued from behind me . "I think you'd better go," Luke prompted after a few moments of silence. "Erm, okay. Merry Christmas." I gave him another wave and turned, but Luke stopp ed me. "Wait," he called. "What?" "Is it true you're coming back here for the New Year?" I pretended to think about it. Luke was visibly becoming impatient and another h onk of Charlie's horn jolted us. "Cooper, get off the damn horn!" I yelled and turned back to Luke. "Well, that's what I promised Ynna and the others, and I keep my promises," I re plied. By this time the both of us were smiling slightly at each other. "Would Charlie still be with you?" Luke wanted to know. "Yeah, I think. She lied her ass out of another one of her crazy family reunions , did you know that?"

He laughed. "Typical Charlie." "So. . .I think we'd better go." "Uh, yeah, yeah, I think you'd better," he agreed and looked over to where the P rius was. "Lucky Charlie is driving this time. Or else another mailbox would be" "Shut up," I interrupted, sticking my tongue out at him. "Jake put something on the driveway." I waved and turned. "Goodbye." "Bye," Luke said. "Don't crash into your mailbox again!" "Whatever!" I called back without looking at him while Charlie ducked out her dr iver's window. "I'm not Ronnie!" Luke was evidently laughing when he walked back to the mansion. "What do you know," Charlie remarked as I got in her car, "looks like Conner and you didn't have to throw chairs at each other just to say goodbye." She backed out of the parking spot and I can't help but smile to myself, with Charlie shoot ing me knowing glances the entire drive back home. oOoOoOoOo As Charlie neared my driveway, I spied a tall, familiar-looking man leaning agai nst the porch of my house. A tall, brown-haired man four years my senior. "What the hell . . .Jake?" I said disbelievingly. The car hadn't even stopped co mpletely before I wrenched my door open and flew out into the snow. "Jake!" Without even thinking, I ran to him and reached out to punch him in the shoulder. And there's some brother-sisterly love for you. "Ow!" Jake whined. "You hit like a guy!" "Take it like a man, you baby. Where the hell have you been all this time?" I mo ck-angrily asked while Charlie parked and walked up to where we were, laughing a t us. "Well, let's see. I've been to Belgiumdid you know they make the best chocolates ever?and then to Spain, I nearly got busted by a bull" I laughed and made to punch him again, except he'd already put his arms up in de fense. Huh. Maybe Idohit like a guy. "I'm serious. What finally gave you the idea of maybe spending time with your family for at least five days?" "Well, seeing my sister was staying over at aguy's house" He gave me a look, "I can 't help but get curious as to why she would be over at the particular dude she c laims to hate with all her itty-bitty-black heart." I waved his comment off airily. "How 'bout you carry our bags back to the house and I tell you the whole story? Oh, and Charlie is staying here," I said, gestur ing to said person. "You know, crazy family and shit." "Oh," Jake said knowingly. "I feel your pain, Charlie," he said sympathetically. "Look what I've got for a sister. Or sisters, for that matter." He grinned. Charlie giggled. She'd had this disgusting crush on my brother since fifth grade . Just a crush, though. Besides, Jake's taken. And we all know who Charlie is fo r. "Oh, Ronnie!" I looked over Jake's tall form and saw a girl with long, vivid red hair and was about five inches shorter than my brother. "Melanie!" I grinned and hugged my future sister-in-law (I think). "So how are y ou holding up?" "Huh?" Melanie looked at me confusedly. "You know, being together with my ass of a brother and all." "Very funny," I heard Jake say from behind Charlie's car, taking out our suitcas es. "Why don't you two come in? You look frozen." Melanie beckoned Charlie and me in to the warm house. Charlie and I obliged and I silently rejoiced in the feeling of being in my own house again. "Honey!" Mom came flying out from the living room and gave me a hug. "How were t he Conners?" "Fine, fine," I replied, taking off my coat. Charlie did the same and smiled pol itely at my mom and dad, who had gone out of his study to greet us. "I heard the cousins had come over from Canada." "They did," I said.

"So. . .what did you guys do?" I was not surprised to see some kind of subtly malicious look on my mother's fac e. I mean, I'd have gotten my own sadistic side from someone, right? "Some skating. . .the cousins went skiing but I did not go, well, because if I d id, I may have come in here in crutches, you know?"And besides, my bestfriend and a cousin of Luke's had been grilling me about some. . .incident while the other s left to slide down a mountain of snow. "You actually managed to skate without breaking your leg?" Jake said, entering t he house with both bags and dumping them by the doowway, Melanie beside him. "Ar e you sure you didn't lose a shoe this time?" I stuck my tongue out at him, but Charlie had answered for me. "Luke taught her. " "Did he, now?" The expressions on my family's face ranged from absolutely deligh ted (Mom and Melanie. . .well, she would soon be family, so why the hell not) to having a twitching eye (Dad) to a maliciously grinning one (Jake, no less.) "But Ronnie's supposed to have some serious balancing problems," Vivian piped up , entering the room at that precise moment. "So this involved, no less, some holding hands, hands at waist, catch-me-when-Ifall moments?" Jake continued, paying no attention at my misery. All eyes were on me now. Thank you, Charlie. Thank you. "Whatever, Jake," I snapped. "Hey, I'll just unpack my things," I told them. "Co me on, Charlie." "But" "Come on." No one argued with this tone. Except maybe Mom, but I'd never pulled this on her yet. Charlie must have caught on, because she skipped to my side and politely excused herself from my family. Now I'd just have to think about where to hide your body, my dear Charlotte. Bwa hahaha. Charlie gulped. Now what was that again about my theory of her being a mind-reader? oOoOoOoOo "No! Please, no! I promise, I wouldn't blab again!Pleeeeeeease!" "I don't think you would. But just to make sure. . ." "Noooo!" Charlie threw herself at my feet. "If you pull another one like this again. . ." "Please, Your Highness, I'll behave now! I'll be a good girl! Justnoooooooooooooo o!" I cringed. Her shrill voice was getting to me. I stuffed a finger in my ear. "Ge ez, relax, Cooper. It's justHouse." "What do you mean,, it's justHouse?" She gasped. I rolled my eyes. My bestfriend did have a touch for the dramatics. "It'sHouse,for fuck's sake!" I'd managed to get hold of her external hard drive when we'd unpacked (she was s taying in my room since Melanie had already gotten the guest room) and had plugg ed it to my laptop computer, and now my finger was hovering over the "Delete" bu tton while the folder marked "House All Seasons" was highlighted in light blue o n the screen. Charlie hysterically tried to swat my hand away from above my keyboard. "Get you r hand away from that wretched "Delete" key!" "Charlie," I slowly said, "you do realize that even if I push this, you could st ill be able to retrieve the files from the Recycle Bin, right?" "What?" The poor girl looked baffled. "Nothing." I stifled a giggle. "II knew that." "Right. You're such a spaz, Charlie." She stuck my tongue out at me. If you still haven't picked it up yet, wewerevery m ature adolescents, aren't we? "Gimme that," she snapped, trying to snatch her hard drive away from my laptop. "No can do, missy," I scolded. "How am I to make sure that you wouldn't screw up

again?" Charlie looked up at me innocently from where she was on my carpet. "Don't you b elieve me?" "Of course I don't," I said cheerfully while Charlie crossed her arms with ahmph. "Hey, loonies?" I heard Jake call from outside my room. "Mom says to come down f or dinner." I glanced at the clock on the laptop screen. It was ten minutes past seven in th e evening. "Sure, we'll be down there in a jif." "You'd better," Jake said before I heard his heavy footsteps make their way down the hall and down the stairs. "Come on, freak," I beckoned Charlie. When she didn't respond (she was still sta ring petulantly at nowhere in particular), I lightly pulled at a lock of her hai r. "What? And don't touch my hair," she said, casting a slightly irritated look at me. "Mom's serving apple pie for dessert," I said, trying to bribe her. Charlie's eyes lit up but she narrowed them at me. "But apples are not in season ." "Suit yourself, then." I got up and made to close my bedroom door at her, but sh e quickly ran out. "I didn't say I wasn't coming." I shrugged good-naturedly and went down the stairs with my crazy best friend. oOoOoOoOo It was already ten in the evening and Jake had washed the dishes (He and Vivian nearly threw plates at each other before Melanie had, er,encouragedJake to tidy up after the meal.Brr.Arielle was rightany sister of one half of a "loving" couple wo uld have to throw up once she walks in on one of their moments. I weep for my po or eyes.) Charlie had to finish settling in (and securing her belovedHousecollecti on) while I stepped out for a minute to my balcony (yeah, as the eternal referee between the oldest and the youngest sibling over the balcony room, I was reward ed with it) and closing the French doors tightly. Why, you ask? Well, let's just say I got an unexpected phone call. "Luke?" I said disbelievingly into the receiver. "Sorry for this, but why the he ll are you calling?" "The kids asked for you," Luke replied. "Msay I ask why you're whispering?" "The house is also full at my end, you know," I hissed. "Hang on, I'll unblock y ou from my cell" "So that explains the perpetually busy tone," Luke mused. "Even when you're at m y place and we're in the same room and you were clearly not speaking on anyone o n the phone and I can't even make a fucking call." "Oh, shut up, Luke," I said. "Anyway, why were you calling me when you know I wa s there?" "To piss you off."Typical. "Whatever. Just call me on my cell before someone here picks up the other receiv er and listens in." "Why, is there anything you two are hiding?" a third voice asked. "Jake!" I yelled into the receiver. "Get off the phone!" "Geez, woman, I think you just completely destroyed my eardrums,"Luke said irrita bly. "Was that your brother?"To his credit, he did sound a little nervous. "What kids?" Jake queried. I angrily jabbed the "End Call" button and stormed out into the hallway to put t he receiver back into its cradle. On the way back to my room, I ran into my idio tic and nosy brother. "So, is there any reason why you'd blocked Luke from your phone?" Jake asked, sm irking. "What do you care?" I snapped. I honestly love my family, but sometimes they wer e too nosy for their own (and mine) good. "Wait," Jake began, his expression suddenly turning suspicious. "He hasn't tried to have phone sex with you, has he?" "Of course not!" I exclaimed vehemently, my voice shrill, heat flooding my face.

"How dare you even think that? I'm not some slut, you know!" "Ah, he'd better not,"leidiot said, his expression clearing. Off the mutinous look on my face, he shrugged and said, "Well, I think I'd better leave you two loveb irds alone to make your 'courtesy calls,'" he said, his fingers forming air quot es. "Shut up, Jake, it's not as if you're any better," I said nastily. "I think I'd have to tell Dad to pitch a tent by your room to make sure you don't sneak into Melanie's room late into the night." "You wouldn't," Jake threatened. "I would if you don't stop bugging me about Luke." I glared back. "So you're saying that you and Luke have is the same as what I have with Melanie ?" I flipped my brother off and slammed the door to my bedroom. Even in my room, I could hear Jake chortling outside.Brothers.Can't live with them, can't live withou t them. Charlie was in the shower when I'd come in, so I stole into my balcony again and made sure the door was closed. I flipped my cell open and unblocked a certain n umber, and pressedCall. Luke picked up on the second ring. "So are you going to say sorry for blasting m y eardrums open now?" "I'm doing no such thing," I assured him. "Ah. And I thought we were making so much progress now." I could just picture hi m smirking into the phone and cocking an eyebrow up. "Don't kid yourself, Conner. Unblocking your number does not even count for prog ress." "Oh, but it is," Luke replied innocently. "How else were we gonna keep in touch, hmm?" I rolled my eyes. "A letter from a bottle sounds nice." "Do I sound like I'm stranded on some godforsaken island to you?" "You know, that's actually one of my fantasies." A pause. "Right. Any other, ah, 'fantasies' about me that you entertain? And the y say you're such a good girl,"Luke remarked, a lilt in his voice. "Shut up, Luke. I'm having no such thing of the sort," I said heatedly. "Oooh, but you let slip that you do. Tell me, and maybe they need not remain mer e fantasies." "Leave me alone." "You sound defensive, sweetheart." "I'm not." "Am too." "Am not." "Am too." "Am not!" Tap, tap, tap.I turned to see a wet-haired Charlie knocking on one of the French doors leading out here. "Who's that?" she wanted to know. "No one," I mouthed and turned away from her. I took a seat on one of the two po rch chairs (the one under the awning, with no snow on it). "What's with the lack of speakage?" "You're such a dork sometimes, you know that?" "A dork that you fantasize about?" See, it's just moments like this that makes you want to word your sentences a li ttle more carefully, lest this pervert reads too much into it. "Ido nothave fantasies about you, Lucas Conner." "Okaaay." His tone made it sound like he was talking to a cranky pre-schooler wh o's badly in need of a nap. "I don't." "If you say so." "I said I don't!" "Right." "Luke!" I whined.

"What? I believe you."But the smirk in his voice said otherwise. "Why did you call again?" I asked, slightly annoyed. "You were the one who called, Ms. Amnesiac." I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, but why?" "I don't know. Maybe you missed hearing my voice or something." I snorted. "As if." Now, I know I did have a completely legit reason. . . "Hey, is that Ronnie?"I heard David ask from the other end of the line. "Go away,"Luke snapped. "Ooh, hey guys, Luke's on a phone call with Ronnie!"David called smugly to the ot hers. "Really?"I heard Claire say. "Gimme!" Alex demanded. "It's not even a day yet,"Bill remarked. "Oh, you know people in love,"Arielle commented sagely. "God, they just can't stand a day without each other, can they?" Lizzie gushed. "Zip your face,"Luke muttered irritably. "Hang on a moment, Ronnie, okay?" I shrugged, even though I know he couldn't see it. I could think more clearly wi thout his cousins' smug voices drifting through the phone, anyway. When I next heard him, it was much quieter now. I figured he was in his room. "So have you figured out the reason why you called yet?" "Well, I'm pretty sure it's not because I'm hopelessly in love with you or somet hing," I replied drily. "Ouch, that hurts." I rolled my eyes at that yet again. "Yeah, it hurts,"Ethan called out from the background. I heard some shuffling and winced when Luke yelled at his younger brother. "What are you guys still doing here? Get out!"Multiple footsteps were heard scram bling farther from the scene."Wait, except you two. No, notyou two,idiots! Get Mike y and Ynna in here!" And that's when I remembered. Funny, though, that it had to take fifteen minutes of enduring this prick's arrogance before I did. Come on, now, he wasn't that bad. Oh, alright, I guess. I mean, you did laugh at what he said, didn't you? Of course I did. And no broken furniture in sight? None so far. And no urge to hurl the phone at the wall? None whatsoever. Huh, I think I'm actually enjoying this. Damn right you are, sweetie. "Hello?"Now it was not Luke who was speaking. "Ynna?" "Hi, Mommy!" I smiled despite myself. "Hi there, honey," I said sincerely. "How are things ba ck there?" "Lilia made cookies!" "Oh, did she now?" No doubt to replace the ones Luke and I had gobbled up. "Yeah. When are you getting back?" "I think in about four days. Why?" "I miss you." "I miss you too, sweetheart." I know the whole thing's crazy, but Ynna was just so sweet and innocent that I can't help but want to be who she's made me out to be. I mean, Jake and the others might say that I've got a little black heart, bu t come on. Even a little black heart would melt at the sight of someone like Ynn a. "Come back soon, Mommy, okay?" "I will." "Promise?" "Promise."

"Mikey and Dad misses you too, you know." I raised my eyebrows. Mikey I'd believe, but Luke? I resisted the urge to laugh loudly at what Ynna said. "Yeah, well, tell them I miss them too. Would you give the phone to Mikey, dear? Don't hog Mommy all for yourself." "Oh. Sorry!"I heard some scuffling. "'Lo?" "Mikey?" "Uh, yeah."Yeah, Mikey and I hadn't talked much when I was there, but he was havi ng so much fun with the cousins that I did not want to ruin it for him. "How are you guys doing there?" "Well, Lilia replaced all the cookies that you and Dad ate up last night." So now he's calling Luke "Dad?" A slightly evil plan was forming in my mind. "Mikey, did you call LukeDadwhen we were still there?" A pause."Um, no." "Why not?" "I dunno. I think it's embarrassing for him to be called that in front of the ot hers." "Well, here's the plan, kid. Call him that all the time while I'm not there, and when he gets mad, run up to Arielle or Lizzie." I cackled evilly. "Uh, Mom? You there?" "Yeah. If you do that, I'll buy you and Ynna a whole box of doughnuts when I get back," I promised. "Sweet!" "Yeah. Now can you give the phone back to your Dad now? I'd have some words with him," I said. I must say, playing the parental cards is fun. But really, wehave gotto return these kids to their parents somehow. I was mulling over the agencies of child and parent locators all over Connecticu t when Luke came on. "So Ynna was saying that you missed me?" Damn his self-righteous tone. "Yeah, how I miss you so, my darling," I said sarcastically. "I knew you were secretly in love with me. Well, if it pleases you to know, I mi ss you, too." I raised an eyebrow. "Is Ynna there?" "What? No, she's not here. I thought you two had talked." "Iforget it." "And what did you tell Mikey, anyway? He had this really evil grin on his face w hen he left." "That's my boy," I said absently, feeling confused. "Come again?" "Huh? What?" "What, what?" "You're seriously mentally disturbed, Conner." "I'm the one who's mentally disturbed? Have you taken a look at your journal lat ely?" "What? No. . ." I gasped. "Haveyoubeen looking at my journal?" "No, of course not. Why, have you got something to hide? I prefer to not exactly know how much girls are gushing and obsessing over me, you see. Kinda takes off the mysterious aura." "I amnotgushing and obsessing over you in my journal," I snapped. "Hey, I didn't say anything."He was obviously grinning now. "Whatever." I glanced at the screen quickly and saw that the call was nearing an hour now. Crap, my parents are gonna have a fit. But I couldn't care less. Strange. I couldn't keep myself from yawning, though. "Tired?" "Huh? A bit. Who knew having an hour-long conversation with you is going to be s o exhausting?" "It's been an hour?"I just knew he was looking at his cellphone screen himself.

"Yeah, in case you haven't noticed, Mr. Timekeeper." "You better get used to it, Wilcox, because once I find out about those little f antasies of yours, your call summaries may well reach twelve hours, if you know what I mean." "I told you, Idon'tfantasize about you!" "So you say." Charlie, apparently unable to wait any longer, strode out into the balcony. "Are you planning to get your ass in here any moment tonight, Ronnie?" "Huh?" "Charlie's still there?"Luke asked. "Yeah, I told you she wanted to get away from her family," I muttered while Char lie demanded, "Justwhois so important that you'd be giving up preciousMonopolytime to chat with?" "I think I now know what made her so loony,"Luke remarked. "Like you're not, yourself," I replied, not really paying Charlie any real atten tion. "Hey, I'm normal,"he said defensively. "Yeah, so normal that you practically get a heart attack every time you see a du ck," I said sardonically. "What? Howurgh. I knew I shouldn't have told you that." "Well, too late now, isn't it? One's watching you right now." "What? Where? How did you know?" And I can't help it. I'd promised him I wouldn't laugh when he first told me whe n we were six, but the phobia's so ridiculous that I can't help but burst into u nstoppable fits of laughter whenever he panicked around a duck. "Hey, it's pretty normal for a person to have phobias, you know."His defensive to ne drove me to laughter again. "But it's not normal to fall into a lake because of them. Especially a duck-phob ia," I stressed in between laughs. "Keep laughing, Ronnie. As if you don't jump up a chair when you see a freakin' cockroach." "Cockroaches are icky. Ducks are perfectly legit." "Now I know what to give you for Christmas." I gasped. "Don't you dare, Luke!" "Oh, so thatisLuke," Charlie commented, her eyes glinting. "You're still here?" I said after jumping when she spoke. "I should have known. Well, as they said, there's always time to share. I'm goin g to bed now, Ronnie." "But what aboutMonopoly?" I asked, covering the mouthpiece of my phone. "It can wait. Your sweetheart there can't." "He's not my sweetheart, Charlie, we were just talking." "Right. Talking hour-long conversations and neglecting your bestfriend." Charlie shook her head mock-disapprovingly. "Well, I guess I deserved that for all thos e times I neglected you during ninth grade. Well, it's your turn now." "Charlie! I could go hang up now if you want." "But I don't. I promise I'm not mad. And I'm a bit sleepy now, anyway. Go on," s he waved her hand airily, "continue listening to Luke's sweet nothings." "We're not whisperingsweet nothings,Charls. We're just talking." "Right," she repeated, her tone obviously humouring me. "Charlie. . ." I whined. "What? I didn't say anything." She went back into the room and tucked herself in . I hesitated, and brought the phone back into my ear. "What was that, recess or something?" "Huh?" "Because I was talking to complete silence for five minutes and I didn't even kn ow you were not listening." "Hey, I'm sorry, Charlie and I were just talking." Silence. "Hey, are you mad? What were you saying?" I heard him exhale. He was most likely irritated at me for ditching him. "Nothin

g. Forget it." "You sure?" "Yeah." But I still got the feeling he was a bit annoyed. However, I did not want to pus h it. It was a miracle we'd been talking smoothly for this longI didn't wanna rui n it. "So what'd you get me for Christmas?"The playfulness was back in Luke's tone, but I still can't shake off the feeling that I'd just missed something important. "A rubber ducky. How 'bout me?" "Cockroach Clusters from Honeydukes,"he replied without missing a beat. Round Two was on. And that, folks, is how I ran up two whole hours on my phone bill in just one ni ght. With the last person anyone would expect to be talking with me for a whole two hours. Some things just change, don't they?