"Are you gonna keep standing there or are you gonna come & give your brother a hug?" Carlos asked smirking after what seemed like 15 minutes later. I was just so overwhelmed that they really here. Not anywhere else, but here. My eyes watered up. His arms were open wide & I gladly walked into them.

"Carlos! Guys, you're here!"

"Of course we're here! Otherwise, you wouldn't be you wouldn't be this crazy happy." He kissed my cheek & I pinched his playfully.

"Miranda-h!" Logan said said exaggerating my name. "Long time no see." He winked at me & tugged on my ponytail.

"Logain," I replied equally jokeful. "Shoulda stayed that way. I wouldn't have missed it at all." He grinned his Logan grin, & tugged my hair again.

When we first met, we hit it off right away. He was really easygoing, making it simple for us to team up & prank whoever we wanted & just hang out after a long, stressful day.

"Ja-ame-z," I greeted the 6'1", brunette hazel-eyed boy w/a high-five.

"Heyy Mand-ay," He caught me in one of his near death hugs. He laughed 'cause he knew that his massive strength could kill a girl, which he kinda was at the moment. He released me when I stopped struggling to free myself from his embrace.

"Kill me next time, why don't cha?" I joked.

He poked his tongue out at me. "You know you can't resist me," he replied flexing his muscles.

I'll admit they were impressive, but I didn't sway...much. "Whatever James," I smirked.

My relationship w/James always seemed to keep me from staying still, which was hard. I always preferred to be in one spot. That way I wouldn't bug anyone, given my uncoordinated nature. Whether it was going up & down the stairs to find his car keys or tossing a football around, I always had something to do w/him.

"Hey hey heyyy DBelt," I said to Dustin reaching him for a hug.

"Yola Mandy," he greeted me hugging me back.

I could always seem to count on Dustin. Every time I was in a jam, he was a phone call away every time. The best thing he ever did for me was teaching me to play the guitar. He praised me for having a "natural talent" for it.

I released my grip on Dustin & scoped the rest of the living room, looking for the blond boy w/the beautiful eyes.

"He knocked out on the tour bus like five minutes before we came here," Carlos explained when he saw the disappointment written on my face. "He's gonna be out awhile."

I wrinkled my nose. This was typical Kendall behavior. I'm glad he's resting, don't get me wrong, but I wanna see him now that I have the chance.

Just then, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," James offered opening the door.

"Some friends I have," a familiar voice muttered sarcastically to himself.

My heart stopped beating for the shortest of moments. "After all, they knew I wasn't dying to see my best friend after all this time."He came over to me. "Hey there M&M."

"Chocolate Chip!" I squealed wrapping my arms around him.

"Gee, thanks for the early wake up call guys," he said sarcastically.

"Any time buddy," Logan responded w/a smirk, tossing a pillow at him.

"Hey, hey," Mom said reprimanding Logan, "No throwing things in here."

He grinned unabashed. "Sorry Mama Peña. Blame Eyebrows over there for not waking up sooner to say 'hi' to his girlfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend," I protested at the same time he said, "She's not my girlfriend."

His smirk went wider. "Coulda fooled me."

"Manda, will you come & help me set the table ¿por favor?"

I smiled. "¡Si! Of course Mami." Kendall released me then.

"You've been practicing your Spanish," Carlos said approvingly.

"When are you gonna start Carlitos?" I said back, disappearing into the kitchen while I heard the "Oh" & "Eee" & "Are you really gonna let her talk to you like that bro?".

I smiled widely knowing I was home. These guys were my family. "Oh, & you might wanna tell Haley you're back..."