Disclaimer: This is a complete work of fiction. There is no resemblance to actual persons, events or places. If so, it is utterly not intended. I do not claim to own Bratz or anything associated with them at all. Their character exposure in this story is 100% non-profit and just for fun. All I own is my own story plot, thank you!

A / n: So I was playing a few girly games tonight and I realized I hadn't written for the Bratz section in so long, so I got the itch and here I am with something brand new and I really hope that you all enjoy! Please R & R, to give me some valuable feedback of yours, it's always appreciated. :)

Connections
Chapter One

Dear Cloe,

Okay so… here it goes: I told my best friend that I really liked this guy but I'm way too shy to ask him out. I know – it's the day and age where a chick should be able to ask a dude out and I can't do it. What's wrong with me? Is there anyone else who has this problem? What if I'm the only girl in the world right now who is more old fashioned, wanting the guy to ask her out? *sigh* and what's the worst part? My best friend is now dating said guy.

Confused and lonely,

LonerGroaner

Swinging the computer chair around from where it was, the honey blond let out a sigh. She always took the time to think about the troubled person's entry before writing out an option right away. This person wasn't as out-going as she was and she certainly seemed more timid. Although that best friend didn't seem so concerned about getting together with this guy that she was crushing on. Wow, decisions. Life was full of hard ones.

'Before writing this out… I'm gonna ask around town. See what people say.' In the midst of thought, she grabbed her signature purse and double checked it for everything she brought with her to the office: keys, hairbrush, perfume, deodorant, wallet, lip gloss – it was all here and accounted for.

She pulled out her htc wildfire s and checked the time. 4:57pm. She knew she would have to be at home soon for dinner or her parents would be worried and a little disappointed. There were some pains of being an only child, but she knew why she was one and it just was that way.

The other girls had different obligations after school today. Sasha was out getting mani's and pedi's with her mom. Jade was getting a start on Christmas shopping with her family, Yasmin was at dinner with Eitan right now – they'd be soon at the movies. It seemed like everyone had something to do or somewhere to be, except for Cloe. What was a girl to do?

Being the only one in the office, she locked it up behind her. This was something all the girls did for security purposes. It wouldn't be the first time something important removed itself from the office, by force.

Her heeled boots walked across the street confidently, there was a breeze that wisped her hair about while she entered the key in the lock. Opening the door, she got in and tossed her purse over to the passenger seat. She took a moment to set her phone on 'silence'. That way she wouldn't be bothered at all while driving. She could check messages after she got to her destination. Speaking of, she drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, it's smooth yet rough surface ticking her skin. "Where to first?" She wondered aloud, no one answering her of course. She decided to head on over to the mall, if she didn't meet up with anyone there – window shopping was never a waste of time for Cloe.

So off she rode down the streets and roughly ten minutes later, reaching the mall. She spotted Iden and Wayne by the closed Smoothie Bar, shortly after entering the mall plaza. She knew where Eitan was of course, so that wasn't a surprise. She gave a smile and walked towards them, "Hi there."

Beautiful, bright green eyes lit up with joy seeing a familiar, yet pretty face. "Ahh, a femme fatale at her finest!"

She giggled, her cheeks turning rosy. Iden's a European foreign exchange student. He'd only been at Stiles High for a few weeks now but he seemed to be fitting in well. But that could be all the ladies who just swooned for him everytime he walked by.

But boys swooned over Cloe and her best girlfriends quite a bit too.

"Hey you," Wayne greeted with a certain southern comfort. He was always warm and had a natural charisma to him. A people pleaser some might call him, others would say people person. "is everything okay?"

She took a moment to wonder why on earth he would ask if everything's okay, but then she realized that the sight of her not with the other girls was a rarity. "Oh yeah Wayne, everything's fine! I just received an entry for the magazine and it's got me seeking some advice. Care to give any?"

Wayne shrugged, "Perhaps, depends on the subject though."

Iden nodded enthusiastically, "I love giving advice, good tips learned that way."

Cloe pulled her cellular phone out of her purse. "Okay, well the reader goes on about not being charismatic enough to ask a guy out. She states that she feels she's a bit old school in wanting the guy to ask her, but then her best friend turns around and dates him, so now they're going out and she's on the outs."

Wayne scrunched up his nose, "Well… it depends. I mean, I'd say ditch them both. That kinda trash deserves one another. But… depending on how strongly this girl really likes this guy, maybe try and pursue anyways? Some people just know their soulmate when they see them, others have years of searching and others end up settling for much less than they wanted."

Cloe nodded, she shifted her eyes to Iden. "Okay, what says you?"

Iden thought about it for a moment, "For once the female know how the male feels. To ask a girl out, especially if he doesn't possess the most charming qualities… is a great, big obstacle. It is so… hard, yes? If I am to ask you out, my heart pounds harder and I sometimes sweat," he blushed heavily. Continuing on as if he'd never revealed that. "it isn't as easy as it seems for a guy to do the asking either."

She gathered her hair to one side, flipping it over her shoulder entirely so it would stay there for awhile. "Those are both very good inputs. But… what should I say about this best friend though? I wouldn't want to say anything nasty… even though what that friend's done seems quite nasty in itself."

Wayne nodded, agreeing. "I couldn't hold it together that well. With guys, we actually communicate with each other. We'll go, 'Oh hey, she's pretty hot' or 'I'm gonna go for her' – that's pretty much guy-talk for, 'Back off, she's mine, pursue something else' and we actually listen. Or if we don't, we punch one another in the face and get the hell over it." He gave a sigh, running his hand through his dirty blond hair. "That's the problem with you girls, it's all catty and back-stabbing. If you just communicated and listened, there'd be a lot less drama."

It was a decent point. However Cloe had one to counter it with. "Yeah but there's some girls who just don't give a shit, Wayne." She figured it was time he learned about the true female jungle. Everyone and everything was prey. "I could tell a girl I like a certain guy and to stay away… but some girls just don't care and will go after that guy no matter what. You know how guys get accused of thinking about one thing and one thing only?"

Both Iden and Wayne nodded at this.

"Girls can do the same thing, only it's not as… talked about. Huh, I wonder why actually."

Iden chirped up next, "Hey – perhaps you could do that as a main article for your magazine. How you say… double standards?"

Cloe froze for a moment, that… was a fantastic idea! She hugged him right on the spot. "Iden! You're a brilliant chap, or whatever they call you back home." She laughed, blushing a bit as she did so. "I'm gonna gather some of my girlfriends and then all you guys sometime this weekend – for a get together, or sleepover… yeah sleepover, and we'll get into double-standards and get the ball rolling for the article in the best way possible! It'll be great! I'll text you, if I don't have your number I'll either find it or e-mail you – whatever… you'll get the deets so stay tuned!"

The first thing the blond beauty went to do, after parting ways with the boys, was 4-way call her best friends. No wait, scratch that – bad idea. Yasmin was on a date. Well, she'd 3-way call with Sasha and Jade, and call Yasmin later. "Hey girls! And mommas, how's it going?"

Sasha giggled as both she and her mother said hello. "What's up, Angel?"

"Hey! Family holiday shopping going on, what's the e-merg?" Jade piped up, having snuck into a different aisle of the store to take this apparently important phone call.

"Lighten up! I just came across a really cool main idea for our magazine this month. You guys are gonna love it."

"Go on."

"Listening."

"Well," Cloe began again, excitedly making her way towards her car. "I got an entry from a reader and it sent me out to get some advice from people. So I run to the mall and I see Wayne and Iden. So I stop and chit-chat with them and bam – Iden gives me the idea of doing an article on double standards! Kinda like a 'guys versus girls' but in terms of what they should / shouldn't do, or whatever."

"That would be cool and all," Jade interrupted. "but we're all girls. All four of us that run the magazine are girls. Females. Fe-males. How can we know what dudes, even do?"

That was a good point. Not many of them really hung out with guys full-time, or long enough to figure out what they do, or don't do.

"I have that part of it solved too. This weekend, tomorrow night hopefully. I think my parents are going away again. Anyways! I'm going to invite you girls, Yas, Rox, Phoebe, Dana, many of the girls and then some guys over, but the same amount of guys to girls… and we'll have like, a double standard debate and we'll take notes and it'll be awesome."

"That does sound scorchin'," Sasha paused, she was contemplating something. "but is everyone just gonna open up and talk? Or are we gonna need some booze and truth or dare or something to get everyone loosened up a bit first?"

Cloe waved it off, "Whatever you figure we'll need, just get it. Or let me know and I'll get it. But this is going to be great! So, we'll meet up tomorrow at school and spread the word? And start our planning?"

Jade could feel herself smirking. Coming from a rather strict home, she loved the chance to get out and about and cause a little trouble whenever she could. "Sounds perf! Okay, see you two tomorrow. Gotta go, love you bye!"

There was only Cloe and Sasha left on the line.

"The idea is hot, hot, hot Angel! Since Iden gave you the idea, don't forget to invite him! He's pretty flirtatious, but I think he's got a thang for our Kool Kat, so who knows what's gonna go down at this double standard party!"

Cloe smiled to herself, "That's exactly my point. Alright, love you lots Bunny Boo! See you soon."

Polita wiped the beginning sweat off her brow; she'd spent the afternoon cooking up a storm in the kitchen. It was one of the rarities she did this, especially with how much she and her husband traveled with his business. He needed to visit every location often to make sure it was all running smoothly and accurately. It was a family owned business, but he loved it.

The meatloaf was now on the table and ready to be served, the table was set by her loving husband Darien. All was right on track and time… except for their daughter. She was now late.

Her brows furrowed in worry, "You suppose she's alright?"

"Yes, yes Polita – Cloe's a big girl, she can take care of herself hon. She's fine. She'll stroll through any moment now and-" before he could even finish his statement he narrowed his eyes towards the kitchen doorway, the small entrance room leading into the living room, and then into the kitchen – she appeared a little frazzled, but as smiley as ever.

"Hi! Sorry I'm late, I was all wrapped up talking with the girls about this really cool article idea we have for the magazine. But I'm home now!" She kissed her mother's cheek and then hugged her father as he kissed her cheek.

"It's always good to see you come home Cloe, but maybe fine tuning that punctuality would be a good idea, hmm?"

"Yeah, no problem dad." She set her purse down in the front entrance, hanging up any outerwear she had on and sitting down at the table. "Ooh, momma that meatloaf smells delish! What's the occasion? There's never usually just meatloaf for no reason." She giggled lightly to herself, but then quieted down shortly after.

Polita ran her slender hand through her ash blond hair, pushing back some loose strands from her face. "Your father and I…" she began as they each sat down to the lovely meal. She figured that she should just come out with it, even though Cloe was never a fan of her parents going away, because a couple days most always turned into a couple weeks. "are planning on going away again. Not too far, just a few cities over and making our way back. It's going to be a few days and…" she sighed, "are you gonna be okay with this sweetheart? Be honest."

Normally Cloe would be a bit disappointed. Yes she could take care of herself, yes she was independent. But it didn't mean that she didn't want her parents at home. At least she had some probable plans this weekend. "It won't be too bad this time around kiddo; we'll just be a couple…maybe a few days. We'll certainly be back by Monday evening. Tuesday-ish, possibly... the latest."

She gave a nod, "It's cool you guys. I know you have a lot to do and sort through for the holidays and stuff. Really, I'll be fine. I'll invite the girls over for a sleepover and we'll chill, it'll be just fine don't you worry." She assured them, to both their surprise. They eye-d one another.

"You're positive this is alright, Cloe?" Her father asked yet again.

"Yes, daddy. It's okay – honestly. It is." This just made her even more psyched about the plans she'd just made with her girls. She wasn't even thinking about the other couple nights she'd be alone.

He gave a confident smile, "Thank you Cloe, that's very kind of you to approve of mine and your mother's travel plans. We love you very much and make sure to stay safe. And pass the meatloaf while you're at it, I'm starved."

Cloe smiled excitedly and did so, hardly being able to wait until tomorrow.

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