This is my entry for StarCrossedLovers1001's "Random" contest.

I originally was going to post this around New Years as a companion piece to "A Christmas Cliché", but as you can see, life got in the way. I think writing this helped me get my inspiration back!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy. Please note that the characters are slightly older (don't worry, I am following the "T" rating rule ;)) and might seem a little out-of-character due to maturity.

—

Seventeen-year-old Natalie Kabra wanted to scream. However, she left that sort of thing behind once she reached fourteen, deciding that it was time to channel more maturity.

Beside her, her brother Ian let out a sigh. "I'm sorry but we have no choice. It's only polite to attend after everyone attended our Christmas party."

"But Ian, it's at the Starling's house. Their house! I was already worried at prospect of it being hosted by Amy and Sinead, but at least it was supposed to be at an exclusive club and not the geeks' residence! I doubt they know a thing about etiquette."

"There there." Ian tried to pat her shoulder but she edged away, her lips pursed.

"Everyone has already agreed," her brother pointed out. "Of course everyone associated with Amy and Sinead thinks that it's a fabulous idea, the Holts could care less as long as there's food, and Jonah doesn't have an opinion."

Natalie allowed herself a rare eye roll. She mentally did that all of the time but actually rolling her delicate eyes wasn't the best thing for them so she tried to refrain. "Jonah is going to go along with whatever Sinead says."

"Unfortunately that is true. I don't get that entire relationship."

The younger Kabra kept her lips sealed. She would never admit it to anyone, but she thought the budding romance between the two (which was only three weeks old) was actually, what was the word?—Cute. However, that didn't mean that she wanted the festivities to be at one of their houses.

"It could be worse, I suppose," she admitted. "It could be at Jonah's house, or worse, the Holt's."

She watched her brother shudder, then let out an annoyed breath. "I need to finish packing. Like you said, attending is the polite thing to do."

But that didn't mean she had to be happy about it.

—

"Welcome to the world's greatest New Year's Eve party! Hosted by yours truly, the great—"

"No one cares Daniel," Natalie bit out, the headache that started once she exited the plane increasing at the sound of his voice. "Where's my room?"

"Whoa sounds like someone needs to take a chill pill. Would you like me to 'fetch' you one princess?"

She loathed it when he called her that. But her manners kicked in, overriding her disgust. "No thank you."

A hand appeared behind Dan, shoving him out of the way. Sinead gave both of them an apologetic look, then ushered them into her house. "I can show you your rooms if you want to settle in. We aren't really doing anything until the party tonight, but feel free to explore and visit. Everyone is here except for Amy."

"Amy isn't here? Where is she?" Ian asked from Natalie's side.

"At the store. We're having some issues with the party set-up."

Natalie wasn't surprised, but she grimaced all the same. "Would you like assistance?" she offered, hoping that Sinead would say yes. After all, the Kabras were expert event hosts. "I can speak to the event coordinator if you'd like."

Dan snickered from the hallway where he'd been shoved to but Natalie ignored him, her focus on Sinead as she replied, "We don't have a coordinator unless you count Nellie."

Natalie's head started pounding harder at the thought of the older girl being in charge. "I see." Clearing her throat, she muttered, "Perhaps I will lie down a bit before the party then."

"Hey peeps, what's happening?" a voice interrupted them.

They all turned towards the stairs, where Jonah was descending, his face lit up in a grin. Natalie smiled back, actually not minding her celebrity cousin's awful lingo.

But Daniel's bothers you.

She brushed the thought off. Dan Cahill was as annoying as the time she'd had to host a tea party without an assistant, perhaps even worse. Jonah wasn't.

"Hello Jonah," her brother replied. "Sinead was just about to show us to our rooms so we can freshen up."

"I'll take you," Jonah volunteered, then did a double-take at their suitcases. "Are all of those yours?"

He let out a whistle and Natalie sniffed. But before she could reply, Sinead jumped in. "Jonah, I'm pretty sure you had just as much luggage when you arrived."

"But I'm a celeb. We have to have all kinds of stuff in case we run into the razzi'."

"The 'razzi' aren't here. Besides—" Sinead started, her voice tight. Natalie, sensing that this could turn into a huge argument, cut in.

"Will someone please show us to our rooms? I have an awful headache that I would like to rid myself of before tonight."

Dan laughed. "I know a lot of other things that would like to rid themselves of—"

"Yo, follow me," Jonah said, and Natalie complied, not looking back at the annoying peasant that was the bane of her existence.

—

Natalie only napped about thirty minutes, but it completely took away her headache, as well as left her feeling like a new person. She was tempted to stay in her room once she rose and changed her clothes for the third time that day but she genuinely wanted to spend time with her cousins.

What a strange thought to have, she mused.

Though the Christmas party wasn't exactly the smoothest gathering (with all of the drama Sinead's ex-boyfriend brought to the table) it had been almost … well … nice. Life could get lonely for a Kabra, especially when one had no friends or family outside of one moody brother to talk to. She had changed slightly from the eleven-year-old girl who thought she was above everyone and everything, and though she still struggled in that area, she had attempted to broaden her social circles the past couple of years.

Besides, she told herself as she roamed the Starling's house to find the others. They probably really do need help with the decorations. Your taste and skill for the finer things in life can help them out quite a bit. It will be an act of service.

"Lost?"

She jerked her head up to see Dan standing in the doorway of a random hallway she had entered.

"Of course not."

His eyebrows raised as his green eyes studied her. "Right. Well, since you know exactly where you're at, you don't need my help finding the room where we're having the party."

Tightening her lips, she chose to ignore him and continued down the hallway, hoping that she was choosing the right direction. Footsteps sounded behind her and she bit back a groan. "Why are you following me?"

"I'm not following you. I'm trying to find—" he cut off and she turned a haughty grin on him.

"Oh? Are you attempting to find something Daniel? Do you need my help?"

"No," he chirped. "I'll just follow you since you know where you're going."

She narrowed her eyes at him, then finally sighed, her impatience overriding her pride. "You're perfectly aware that I have no idea where this room is and I'm aware that you have no idea also. Why don't we try to find it together?"

He blinked at her, surprise crossing his face. "What happened to you all of a sudden? You want to work together?"

"It makes sense Daniel. If you don't want to, feel free to find your own way. But for heaven's sake please stop following me."

"I know where the room is."

"But you just said—"

"That wasn't what I was talking about. But anyway I'll show you where the room is on one condition."

Natalie immediately felt uneasy but refused to show it. "And what 'condition' would that be?"

"Call me Dan," he said in a serious tone. "Daniel is so, so..."

"Your name?" she supplied but then let out another sigh. At this rate, she would use all of the breath she had left. "Fine. I just want to be there already."

Instead of retorting back or making a stupid joke, he passed her to take the lead and then asked, "Why? You've been sort of snappy since you've been here. Is everything okay?"

She wasn't sure how to take his words, but they didn't sound like an insult.

Their relationship was so weird. When they were younger they fought all of the time. But over the past year for some reason or another, Dan had backed off slightly, at times even choosing to be nice. She didn't know why and it unnerved her.

That's probably part of his "drive Natalie insane" plan, she thought miserably. He's trying to get me to drop my guard before he kills me or something.

"Nat?" Are you okay?" he repeated.

A strange feeling could be felt in her stomach but she wrote it off to distress. "I'm fine. And if I can't call you Daniel, you can't call me Nat. It's so, so…"

"A great nickname?"

"Horrendous."

He grinned, the action lighting up his eyes. Natalie felt queasy again and determined right then and there to eat only healthy and nourishing foods for the rest of the week.

"Here you are."

She glanced over at him, then at the door he was pointing to. "Oh. Thank you," she forced out. Walking to it, she sensed that he wasn't following and turned around. "You aren't coming?"

"No. I'm going to the supply room to get a ladder for Sinead," he replied.

That surprised her. So he had gone out of his way to help her, and after she had been slightly rude to him? But he was already turning and walking away so she brushed it off.

When she walked through the door the first thought she had was that it was a good thing she had decided to join them.

The large room was almost bare, save some DJ equipment in a corner and a few plants and decorative items strewn about the room. Two long tables sat at the other side, but besides that and her brother and cousins, it was empty.

She approached the others and as she drew closer realized that they were all sitting around two large tubs.

"Hello," she greeted them pleasantly. "Help has arrived."

Ian shot her a relieved look but everyone else merely nodded, their gaze on the items that Nellie and Sinead were pulling out and giving them. Natalie wrinkled her nose at the sight of the bright tinsel, lights, and streamers but tried to make the best of it. Spotting some ribbon, she asked Sinead if she could have it.

"Sure," the Ekat shrugged. "You can do whatever with it. We don't really have a theme."

Trying to disguise her horror at the words, she delicately took the ribbon.

"I brought some stuff too," Nellie announced. "Of course, Christmas is over but I did bring some mistletoe with me." The older girl's facial expression turned innocent. "I'm not sure who here could actually use it…"

Everyone turned to Sinead and Jonah. The Ekat's face was bright red as she turned away, pretending to be busy with decorations while the Janus was grinning. "Heeeey I'll take it," he joked.

"Shut up Jonah," Sinead mumbled, turning and tossing some bright blue (and rather tacky-looking, in Natalie's opinion) tinsel at him. "Start hanging this up."

He looked blankly at the item, and Amy leaned forward and snatched it from him. "I'll do it. Who wants to help me?"

"I will," Ian spoke up. Natalie barely held back a retort as her brother stood, using the pathetic reasoning of Amy 'needing someone with marvelous taste' to assist her. It was true, but Natalie doubted that was the sole reason. But her brother's love life was none of her business, and he would only get stiff and snooty if she brought it up.

She just started to look back down when Nellie and Ned announced that they were heading to the kitchen to start preparing the food. Madison volunteered to help and the three headed off. Jonah stood too but instead of heading to the door he joined Sinead (who was still sorting through decorations) and showed her something on his phone. Natalie half-expected her to tell him to stop goofing off but the redhead chuckled at whatever it was, then allowed Jonah to place a kiss on her cheek. As she watched, Sinead went back to her task but kept talking to him. Smiles were on both of their faces as they worked, and, realizing that she was staring, Natalie quickly finished tying the ribbon in front of her, attempting to ignore the feeling that came over her while watching them.

It was stupid. She was only seventeen, had her entire life in front of her, and didn't have time for a relationship. Still, she couldn't help but want something like she just witnessed.

I mean, if it can happen for them, why not me?

Her reverie was interrupted by a loud clanging sound. Whirling to the doorway, she relaxed as she realized that it was merely Daniel—Dan, (she had better get used to calling him that, not that her promise would last that long.) returning with the ladder. He made carrying it look effortless and she tried not to notice how muscular he was now, a big change from the eleven-year-old who could barely lift weights. Her eyes darted down, landing on the ribbon that was now shaped into a beautiful bow. Feeling satisfied with the result, she turned her attention to the next ribbon. But her attention was caught by Ian.

"If you will kindly set it here, I will hang the streamers," he stated, drawing a raised eyebrow from Natalie. Her brother, volunteering to risk his life by climbing up a creaky ladder? She doubted that he had ever climbed one in his entire life. It confused her, but then she caught the way his gaze darted to Amy, then back at the ladder.

Was he trying to impress her? How silly. A Kabra impressed with showing off wealth and using smooth words, not by performing feats of danger. Those sorts of things should be left to the Tomas'.

Dan must have been thinking the same thing because he snorted. "You, climb a ladder? Aren't you worried that it might mess up your designer clothes? Besides, it will be faster if I do it."

Ian scowled and attempted to move past Dan but the boy blocked him. Though his teeth Ian said, "I am capable of ascending a ladder, Daniel. If you will move and allow me to demonstrate..."

"No way. It will take all day for you to even get up one step. I should—"

"For goodness sake!" Sinead snapped, appearing between the two. "I'll do it so you two can stop your machismo display."

"Baby, I don't think that's a good idea," Jonah piped up from behind her.

They all turned to see the Janus wearing a frown. "What if you get hurt?" he argued.

Natalie thought it was adorable how he was looking out for Sinead, but she apparently didn't.

"Oh, so now you want to start too?" she threw him an annoyed look.

Hamilton cleared his throat from beside Natalie. "We can draw straws?"

"Or I can simply do the job," Ian cut in. "Daniel is underage and shouldn't attempt dangerous feats and Sinead is a girl."

At the last word, Sinead stiffened, then slowly turned from Jonah to face the Lucian. "And exactly what does being a female have to do with climbing a ladder? I could out-maneuver you any day Kabra."

"I'm only stating that you are of the more delicate sex and—"

Positioned at Sinead's back, Jonah and Sinead's brothers were giving Ian wide-eyed, warning looks. Jonah even made the cut-throat sign.

But it was too late.

"Delicate?!"

Even Natalie cringed at that one, and she hastily stepped forward, placing a hand on her brother's arm. "Now Ian, maybe we should just let Daniel—"

"Ahem."

Natalie sent the Madrigal with a questioning look, then remembered their deal. "I mean Dan"—she said the nickname like a curse—"climb the ladder. He obviously wants to and has a point about your clothes." Her eyes ran over his custom-made trousers. "Furthermore—"

"Quit speaking to me like I'm a child," her brother sniffed.

"If you wouldn't behave like one, I wouldn't have to—"

"Can you hand me the tinsel Amy?"

They all whirled to see Dan halfway up the ladder, a smirk on his face. His sister (who had been silent this entire time) let out a sigh that sounded annoyed but complied, giving him the blue tinsel. Ian released a huff as well but Natalie felt relieved. He could have hurt himself, trying to show off and all and Daniel had probably done this a thousand times—

The thought fled her mind as Dan's form suddenly flew through the air. It was like time stopped, went into slow motion, then sped ahead as he landed on the floor with a 'thud'.

Natalie stood there, frozen, a feeling of panic and dread overtaking her as she stared at the crumpled body in front of her.

"Dan!" Amy said frantically, rushing over to her brother. "Are you okay?"

A groan is all that came from him but it was enough to propel Natalie to over where he was lying.

"Dan?" she echoed Amy, her voice drowned out by the rising of other voices around her.

Drawing closer she waited to see if he would move and he finally did but his face cringed in pain when he tried to get up.

"Don't move," his sister snapped. Turning to Sinead she said urgently, "You can look at him right? Don't you know what to do?"

Natalie, still feeling numb, glanced at the Ekat also but she was shaking her head. "Ned would be our best bet. He's in the kitchen."

"I'll go," Hamilton volunteered, already mostly out the door.

They all turned their attention back to Dan, who was trying to get up again.

"Stop!" Natalie blurted out. "Why are you moving? You're hurt."

Later she would wonder why she suddenly cared so much, but right now the fear was still clenching her chest, causing her emotions to be all over the place. Staring at his figure, she fought the feeling as much as she could.

"It's not that bad," he argued, but his face was pale and he ended up lying back down. "I just need a second."

"The wind probably just got knocked out of you," Sinead stated. "Not surprising, considering the angle and the speed that you fell. I bet if I calculated it—"

Thankfully Ned rushed in at that time, cutting off the Ekat's boring speech. Natalie didn't know why the way Daniel had fallen even mattered at this point. Ned motioned them back, then crouched beside Dan, eyeing him up and down as the others from the kitchen joined them.

"Have you tried to move? Where is the pain coming from?"

"My arm. I held it out to break my fall but it doesn't hurt that bad" Dan answered nonchalantly. But Natalie thought that he must be exaggerating. His face was still too pale, his eyes too blank.

Ned reached out and touched it, then moved it around a few times. The Madrigal cringed and Natalie reacted instantly. "Can't you be more careful? He just had a bad fall—"

But Dan cut her off. "For goodness sake Natalie! I twisted my arm, not broke my entire body!"

The words were snapped out, laced with annoyance and even malice, and she flinched.

"I-I-" she stammered, taken aback by his tone. When his scowl only deepened, she felt tears sting her eyes and was horrified by the thought of them being seen by anyone. She had no idea why she was even doing something as pathetic as crying in the first place. Barely holding in her emotion, she tightened her jaw, looked away, and made herself stay, planting her feet firmly on the ground. Every instinct told her to run away, to find somewhere private to let herself cry but she would be damned if she gave in to a weakness like that. Instead she thought of shopping and shoes and vacationing on a warm island somewhere, far away from rude Madrigals and confusing emotions.

"It looks like it's just a sprain," Ned announced, rising from his crouched position. "I don't think anything is broken. Sinead, go get me a bandage so I can wrap it." He turned back to Dan as his sister obeyed. "You'll need to put ice on it every twenty minutes for the next couple of hours and try to keep it elevated it too."

"Great," Dan said, his voice dull.

"Well it could have been worse," Reagan pointed out. "Maybe next time you should let a girl do it."

Dan rolled his eyes while everyone chuckled at the light teasing. Everyone but Natalie. She was still struggling to compose herself and was startled when a hand touched her arm.

"Are you okay?" her brother murmured, thankfully too low for anyone else to hear.

"Perfectly fine." The words came out rough but she didn't think he noticed. She was touched by the gesture though; Ian wasn't always the most sensitive person in the world.

Nellie instructed Dan to go to the kitchen to get some ice and Natalie realized that it was the perfect time to retreat gracefully without questions. Everyone was busy commenting on the incident and arguing over the durability of the ladder so she slipped out, determined to get a handle on whatever was causing her to react this way.

I need to rest again. That's the key. I'm reacting this way due to jet-lag.