Stupid game. I hate that stupid game. That is why we are in this mess. Of course, I didn't really want to even play the game. Playing it was all Shane's idea and I really didn't want to go against my best friend. Plus I had nothing to do. But, that stupid game lead us to this.

--- (A couple hours earlier) ---

It was a beautiful Friday afternoon in spring and I was watching the tree branches blow swiftly in the wind out the classroom window. I checked my watch and it said 2:49. Class was going to end in one minute then I can run to my locker, put my books away, get my skateboard, then skateboard, while Shane walks, to Shane's house. You see, me and Shane are best friends and have been since we were born. There is a one year age difference; he is eighteen and I am seventeen but it doesn't matter to us.

I live in New Jersey with my dad since my parents are divorced. Shane's parents have known my dad since the three of them met in preschool. They stood by my dad when my dad, John, found my mom, Heather, cheating on him with the mailman. It wasn't a pretty sight that afternoon when I was nine but the Grays' let me stay at their house that entire day.

The bell rang and I ran out of the classroom like a bat out of hell. I sprinted to my locker and quickly put in the combination. When I was about to grab my skateboard, someone else took it from my locker. I turned around to get the person who stole my skateboard when I found that my best friend had it. His dark brown almost black skater-boy hair was in his eyes. In one swift move of his head, there were to the side. His olive skinned muscular hand still had my skateboard.

"Must you steal my skateboard?" I asked sarcastically as I grabbed for my skateboard.

Shane retaliated in a girly voice, "Must you wear two black scrunchies made into one bracelet on your wrist?" I began to laugh as I finally took my skateboard out of his hand. He laughed along and we began our walk to Shane's house. As we were heading there, I took in what he was wearing since I didn't get a chance to see him before that day. Shane was wearing black skinny jeans, of course, a blue shirt with rows of lighter blue and darker blue squares on it, a white vest over it that was left unbuttoned, and a red and white rope thingy around his forehead.

I laughed on the inside. This was classic Shane. Plus, he would always wear skinny jeans, even in the summer. That guy and his skinny jeans. I swivel around a parking meter and we turn down a residential block. I wonder what people think of my outfit, I thought. Everyone knew Shane for being the outgoing and funny one of him and his brothers so almost all of his outfits were kind of expected. I never knew what people thought of mine. I got nice comments from Nate, Jason, and Shane but never from other guys at my school.

I looked down at my outfit quickly before looking up so I wouldn't hit anything. I was wearing gray skinny jeans, green Converses, a green short sleeve shirt, and that black bracelet that was made out of the scrunchies that are supposed to go in my hair. I had my dirty blonde hair in a short braid but bottom 75% of it was a low ponytail that went over my right shoulder. My side bangs were pushed to the right but were still kind of getting in my eyes.

Shane made a right at an enormous brick house. Ok, so maybe Shane and his family are rich but that doesn't matter to me. I founded Shane as we went up the driveway. I jumped off my skateboard and walked into the house after Shane. Mrs. Gray came out from the kitchen with a towel in hand. She put the towel over her shoulder and hugged Shane, than gave him a kiss on both cheeks. Did I mention that Shane and his family was mostly Italian but almost never acted like it but only in greetings? Well, yeah, now you know.

Mrs. Gray walked over towards me and I put my skateboard gently on the floor. She pulled me into a hug also. I smiled as I hugged her back. Mrs. Gray pulled away and examined me. "My, oh my. Lilly, are getting bigger every day," said Mrs. Gray. I smiled bigger because every time I come over Shane's house, she would always say the same thing. I am pretty sure I am done growing but I just let Mrs. Gray just continue her usual routine.

"Thanks Mrs. Gray," I said. She nodded at me and smiled as she noticed my hands.

"Still wearing black nail polish I see," she said to me. I laughed a little and smiled. Mrs. Gray smiled back at me. I felt so good because Mrs. Gray always treats me like her own daughter all the time. At the moment, I noticed Shane over Mrs. Gray shoulder. He was shoving a cupcake into his mouth and he saw me. Shane put his finger to his ajar lips and I giggled a little since Shane wasn't supposed to have too much sugar because there is no telling what could happen.

"He's eating a cupcake, isn't he?" Mrs. Gray asked me as she rolled her eyes. I laughed a little. Mrs. Gray took this as her signal that he, indeed, was. She turned around and began to walk up the stairs, laughing and shaking her head at the thought of her eighteen year old son. I looked back over at Shane and saw him happy dancing that he wasn't in trouble.

"You are such a dork," I said to my best friend, trying to hold in laughter. I jumped up and sat on the island in the Grays' kitchen. Shane jumped up and sat next to me.

"Well, you are than dork by association," Shane said. I rolled my eyes at him. Mrs. Gray came back down stairs in a black dress. Mr. Gray was following behind in a black tux and two luggage bags in his hands. I jumped off the island, along with Shane and we walked over to them. Mrs. Gray was putting earrings on while looking in the mirror right by the front door when Mr. Gray looked over at us.

"Hi kids. We have to go to a benefit dinner and dance with your dad Lilly. It is to promote our new ice flavors and to attend some things for publicity." Oh and I thought I should let you know that Shane's parents seem to own a company known as Pink Berry. Maybe you have heard of it. "It will probably end around 3 in the morning. Do you think you two can manage Frankie?" said Mr. Gray.

"Wait. You're leaving for a benefit dinner and dance at 3:30 in the afternoon?" asked Shane. I nodded, for I agreed with his confusion as for I was just as confused. This time, Mrs. Gray turned around and answered.

"The dinner and dance is in Manhattan. It will take us about two hours to get there. Once we get there, we will check into a hotel." Me and Shane looked at each other with confusion. Why would they need a hotel? Mrs. Gray cleared up our confusion. "Sorry, but you're dad," Mrs. Gray said, looking at Shane than Mr. Gray "forgot to mention that we will be gone all weekend. We have other benefits and such to go to while in Manhattan."

"Mrs. and Mr. Gray? Will my father be there all weekend long too?" I asked simply. My father worked with the Grays' with the business since they own it together. They share the company and usually when one half of the company is going to something for publicity, the other half usually goes also.

"Yes, he is sweetie. He can stay here," answered Mr. Gray. I nodded. "So, can you two handle Frankie?" asked Mr. Gray.

"Absolutely," answered Shane. He began to push his parents out the door but Mrs. Gray stopped him.

"You also have to clean the attic. I want it clean by the time we get home. Oh and no parties." Mrs. Gray walked back into the house and grabbed her purse. She turned towards me and gave me a goodbye kiss on both cheeks. "Make sure nothing gets damaged." I nodded and laughed a little. Then, Mrs. Gray turned towards Shane. "Don't damage anything." She then smiled and hugged her son goodbye before kissing him on both cheeks and walking out the door with her purse in hand.

Shane closed the door and we walked over to the window and watched as Mr. Gray put the bags in the trunk of the limo, then heading off down the street on their way to New York. My father had called me about five minutes later, saying goodbye over the phone since he didn't have time to stop by over here. I said goodbye to him and hung up.

"What are you doing?" I asked Shane in an annoyed voice since he was already on his couch, feet on the coffee table, watching TV.

"What?" Shane asked innocently. I rolled my eyes, grabbed he remote, and turned off the TV. "That's not fair!" Shane semi-yelled at me. I rolled my eyes again and laughed a little. "Lilly! Lilly, can I please have the remote back?" I just threw the remote on the couch but before Shane could grab it, I grabbed his hand and began to get him off the couch.

"You're mom wants the attic cleaned," I said as I finally got him up.

Shane groaned and whined saying, "But I have the whole weekend to do that!"

"But Shane, if you do it now, you won't have to clean it later." I saw Shane sigh. I knew I was getting close to him doing it. "I will even help you," I said, hoping that would get him to get his butt upstairs. He sighed even heavier and I took this as my chance. I grabbed his hand once again and ran up the three flights of stairs until we reached the top floor; the third floor. I dropped Shane's hand and pulled on the string hanging from the ceiling, causing a ladder to the ladder to come down along with a bunch of dust. I coughed and began climbing up. Shane sighed yet again and followed me up the stairs.