.:Chapter Four:.

"So how is this going to help?" Katie bounced her soccer ball off the tip of her toe then bounced it off her knee before catching it between her hands. She spun it around a few times before resting it on her hip. She watched, eyes widening as Rhuben bounced the ball from her left foot to her knee, to her shoulder, to her head, to her right shoulder, to her right knee, to her right foot, then kicked it back up to her hands. "Better question, how did you do that?"

Rhuben chuckled, dribbling the soccer ball back and forth between her feet in a pendulum motion. "A lot of practice, Kates. A lot of practice." She placed the ball on the ground then sat down, stretching out her legs, leaning forward and grabbing onto the bottom of her feet. She pressed her forehead against her knees, completing bent over, and held it for a few moments before sitting up again, gently bobbing her knees up and down. She leaned back, resting her hands on the grass behind her. Reaching up a hand, showing off a silver band around her right ring finger, she swiped it through her hair. "And juggling a soccer ball helps with your hand-eye coordination, which in turn, helps while on a wave." She angled her head and gave Katie a long look. "While on a wave you have to look forward in the next couple of seconds, anticipate what the wave is going to do and give yourself and out before it barrels you and you'll be beauty." She held her fingers up in the OK sign and smiled. "You're making progress."

"Really?" Glumly, Katie rested her chin on her upraised knees. "Cause at this point all I have to show for it is barely there muscles that are starting to get bigger." She ripped a handful of grass off the ground and threw it. "I think I'm just better at my cunning wit and sneaky, evil ways."

"There's that," Rhuben agreed. "But you can't expect to be great at something when you first learn how to do it. Everyone has it hard when they learn a new sport." She held up a finger. "Also because water sports bring in the added danger of sharks, jellyfish, currents, tows, rips, drowning, poisonous wild life—"

"And yet people like this sport." Katie rolled her eyes. She picked up another handful of grass and threw it. "Lizz is probably going to be mad that I haven't told her that I started to learn. She's always been trying to get me to go out there, even when we first met." Her nose wrinkled for a moment. "She's supposed to get back today, right?"

"Umm." Rhuben looked at her purple and white ice watch, the reflection of the sun off the face nearly blinding Katie. "Yeah, earlier today as a matter of fact. She should be in by now. Dak went to go get her."

"And you didn't want to go?" Katie's eyebrows rose. "It would have given you and Dak some time alone," she added speaking of the teen-icon and Rhuben's boyfriend.

Rhuben snorted loudly. "And wake up at three in the morning just to pick her up? Hell no. I wouldn't even do that for Ronan." Her eyes shifted behind Katie and she pointed with her chin. "Speaking of which…" Katie turned around at the sound of a loud squeal and barely got to her feet in time for Lizzie Zevon to crash into her, wrapping her arms around Katie and lifting her off her feet. It only emphasized Lizzie's height over her. Rhuben laughed, still sitting on the ground. She held out a hand, allowing Dak to pull her to her feet in one easy tug before sliding her arms around his neck and gladly receiving the kiss he gave her. "Figured you'd be here earlier, I tried to stall."

Dak looked at her through lowered eyebrows, moving his arm around her shoulder. "You try to deal with her and her five bags in baggage claim and her going through every single one to be sure everything was still there."

"Hey!" Lizzie finally put Katie back on her feet and put her hands on her hips, wiggling her neck. "A girl needs her things," she defended herself. With a flip of her hair over her shoulder, she turned back to Katie. "Anyway I have so much to tell you."

"So do I," Katie agreed. "Considering you've abandoned me for the past two months. Do you know how bored I've been with nothing but the guys around?" She brought a finger up to her forehead and started to gently tap her temple. "They've been driving me completely crazy! And it doesn't help that the Trouble Twins did nothing but fuel it."

"Sorry mate, but once the guys get going its hard not to do anything but join in and be one of the guys," Rhuben apologized, though she didn't look sorry.

"I've heard plenty of stories, trust me," Dak said. He leaned towards Katie, discreetly pointing at his girlfriend. "Seriously, you have never seen it when these guys get utterly bored. Stay away when it gets to that point." Rhuben reached out and whacked him hard on the back. Dak straightened up. "Relax, Sugar Plum, I was just joking."

Katie looked at Lizzie and the two mimed sticking fingers down their throats. Dak waved a hand at the two girls.

"Anyway, were you ready to go?"

"I brought my car."

"That's alright, Lizard can take mine." Dak dug into his pockets and produced a set of keys. Lizzie, eagerly wiggling her fingers, held her hand out towards her brother. Dak put the keys into her hand then held on tight when she tried to move away. "I better not find any scratches on it when you bring it back."

"I was going to say the same to you," Lizzie said with a sweet smile.

Katie laughed and gathered her soccer ball from the ground. "Thanks for the help, Rhu." She tucked her ball in front of her, holding it against her with both hands. "I'll see you guys later."

"You deserve a couple of days off," Rhuben said. "Get some rest. Then we'll take you back later."

"Ok." Katie smiled and waved at the couple before turning back to Lizzie, kicking the ball away from her and over towards Dak's car. "So what does it feel like to be back?" She asked Lizzie, walking with her to where Dak's truck was parked at the park edge. "I mean, you've been on a tour buys for two months, the smell must have gotten to you."

Lizzie put her arm around Katie's shoulders, bringing her into her side. She reached out and tapped the brunette on the nose. "You've been around the boys too much." She tilted her head back and heaved a heavy sigh. "I was so jealous. Don't get me wrong, the girls in my trope are cool, but I can't be around them too much for too long. They talk too much and they don't seem to want to have any fun." She dropped her arm from Katie's shoulders and pressed a button on the remote, unlocking the doors to the truck. Katie tried to hide her smile as she got into the passenger seat, high off the ground, and pulled the door shut behind her with some effort. "I don't think any of them know anything about getting snacks from the vending machine without having to pay, or playing pranks on the hotel manager, or ding-dong ditch or anything."

Lizzie then leaned over and placed her hand on Katie's shoulder, pouting up at her. "I was so bored without my best friend."

Katie rolled her eyes. Overdramatic much? But she couldn't fault Lizzie for it. The girl had always been like that it was something Katie usually enjoyed. "Well, I'm glad you missed me so much. I missed you too, of course. It really stinks for me when you leave, you know." Lifting her feet, she rested her purple converses on the dashboard as Lizzie started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards the city. "Anyway, there's something I haven't been tell you when you call and text and stuff."

"Let me guess," Lizzie said. She paused for dramatic effect. "You and Patrick did it?"

"What?!" Katie blurted before she could stop herself. She felt her face starting to turn red. Lifting her hands, she covered her face before lowering the slapping her hands into her lap. "No! I've barely even kissed the guy before a few months ago and—"

"—and we know how long you agonized over that—"

"—and we're taking things slow," Katie insisted. "Besides, I'm sure everyone would kill him if that were the case." An image popped into her head and Katie quickly shook it away, her face becoming enflamed once more. The only thing that could top that moment was seeing James, Logan, and Carlos after having taken a shower while at one of Kendall's sleepovers, shortly after having realized that boys were more than people you played tag with at recess. "Anyway, I was back at the apartment one day and I realized how bored I am when everyone is having so much fun at the beach." She started to twiddle her fingers together, feeling the crushing weight of sadness fall over her once more.

It was one of the things she hated the most, feeling left out. Being the youngest was always hard on her, especially as her birthday was 'late' in the school year and all of her friends turned the next age way before her. She was teased for being the youngest and the shortest, causing her to acquire her strong demeanor quickly. Sure, her father leaving them had something to do with it, but it didn't affect her as much as it did Kendall. As a matter of fact Kevin being there was more like a dream than anything else. If it weren't for pictures, she could sometimes trick herself into thinking it was just a dream.

Katie took a deep breath, moving her wavy hair from her face once more. "Uh, I realized that everyone was having so much fun at the beach. And as much as I hate it, I realized how lonely it is when everyone else goes and I just stay at the crib, waiting for them to get back."

"I keep telling you that," Lizzie said in a sing-song voice.

"Anyway," Katie broke in sharply, signaling her annoyance. Lizzie zipped her lips and slowed at a stop light. Katie glanced out the window, surprised to see they were already in downtown LA. She hadn't realized they had been driving so far already. "I asked…and Riley and Rhuben said they'd teach me how to surf." She squeezed her hands together. "I'm doing it as surprise for Patrick, so I can show him that I learned how."

There was silence for a moment then,"

"I KNEW IT!" Lizzie shouted at the top of her lungs, causing Katie to jump." I knew you didn't hate the beach as much as you said you did. No one can. Well, maybe people that are never around it, but there are lakes up in Minnesota. I think." Katie snorted at Lizzie's statement before leaning out of the way of Lizzie moving to slap her on the arm. "But I've been trying to get you to learn how to surf for ages and now you learn how? All because of a boy?"

Katie felt her face burn at the implication and Lizzie must have noticed it because she softened her voice, turning on the wheel as the light turned green and they moved around the corner. "I didn't mean it like that."

"I know." Katie nodded slowly.

She sucked in a deep breath, closing her eyes. She felt a little pathetic about it, really. She always told herself she wouldn't become one of those girls that tried to fake interest in something a boy she was interested in liked. The thought came back to her, nagging. Her mother had given her that advice after they had their first health class where she was told her body was going to be going through changes soon. Katie, bright-eyed at the world had thought it was a good idea to ask how to get a boy to like her, in case the time ever came, of course. And Mrs. Jennifer Knight had suggested that she try to become interested in the same things the boy liked. Katie thought it was terrible advice, knowing it would end in failure and ridicule.

Who knew I would actually be taking her advice for once? Katie slouched in her seat with more appreciation for her mother than she had felt ever before. Even when Mrs. Knight had done on strike that one time, quitting her job of being a mother, it wasn't until nearly the end of the day that Katie had finally admitted being a mother was much harder than she anticipated. Of course she didn't make life much easier for her. "You weren't there though, Lizz." Katie rolled her head to look at her blonde friend. "There was this girl there that was surfing with them and…she might have flirted with him, I don't know." She shrugged. "I don't know what he did, but I can't help but imagine it."

"I know how you feel, girlie," Lizzie said sympathetically. "It's hard to see girls throw themselves at Noah," she said with a light sigh. "Especially who quiet he is, sometimes he can't handle the attention and clams up, not sure what to say about it." She gave a dramatic sigh, causing Katie to laugh again. "I don't know how the older girls do it."

"Well, ever since the whole Lucy thing Riles can't stand it," Katie said. She bobbed her head back and forth. "But she does her best to hide it, of course." She held up a finger. "She says she's not jealous though." Lizzie gave her a knowing smile and the two laughed quietly. "Uh, Rhuben doesn't like it either, but she deals with it more in a way that you wouldn't notice unless you're paying attention. Camille gets jealous, as we've all seen. Jo gets jealous. And Stephanie doesn't really have that problem."

"Lucky her."

Lizzie pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine. Katie hopped out of the car and walked around to see she her friend had pulled into a frozen yogurt place and was already charging inside, purse swinging under her arm. "Let me guess," Katie teased. "Your diet while working is killing you?"

"You have no idea," Lizzie agreed.

Katie stepped into line behind Lizzie and ordered a French vanilla frozen yogurt with fruit loop pieces on top. The two went over to a table by the window and started to eat. Katie smiled as the creamy desert filled her mouth. She swallowed the bite and took another one, chomping into the cereal pieces then spoke up again. "I really do want to learn how," she said. "But I'm kind of afraid I won't do well. Mom has always said that athletics runs in the family, mostly because of Dad, but Kendall always manages to pick things up quickly and I always take forever."

"I don't believe that." Lizzie pointed at her with her spoon. "I heard that you were kicked off your field hockey and lacrosse teams because of unsportsmanlike behavior."

Katie grinned evilly. She could admit she let out a little bit of her aggression on the sports field sometimes. Was it really her fault that those girls continuously got in her way? They should have figured out the first time that she meant business. Mom was proud. I'm sure of it. She remembered having a lecture of the sort of behavior on the field over dinner that night, but one look at the proud smile that Kendall was trying to hide and the pride she saw hiding in her mother's eyes she knew she was off the hook.

"Oh come on, you're a Knight, you can do anything," Lizzie insisted. "I don't know anyone besides you that can drive a hotel manager crazy enough so they got grey hair."

Katie blew on her knuckles then buffered them against her chest. "I try."

The two girls laughed.

"You're going to do great, Katie. Just believe in yourself." Lizzie smiled warmly. "I already do."

Katie smiled.

"So where have you been this time?" Katie blinked, startled when a bright light was shined in her face the second she walked through the doors of the crib. She dropped he soccer ball to the ground and reached up a hand to shield her face, finding Carlos standing in front of her, holding a flashlight up above his head, pointing directly down at her. "Robbing a bank? Or locking Gustavo and Kelly in the Rocque Records vault? Or hiring a hit man to—"

"Here's the hit man!" Katie punched Carlos hard on the arm, causing him to let out a screech of pain. Her eyes moved over Logan, James, and Kendall, who were sitting on the couch, laughing at Carlos's whimpers. He held his arm to his side, hurrying back over to the couch.

"Kendall, she hit me!" Carlos whined, jumping onto the couch next to the blonde.

Kendall laughed, bringing his arms up and resting them on the back of the couch. He brought up his right leg and balanced it over his left. "I told you, you were running that risk when you thought interrogating her was a good idea."

"Gee, thanks Big Brother," Katie said, walking further into the apartment. She squinted an eye shut. "And since when is it that everything I do is your guys' business?"

"Since you start to run off at all hours of the day without telling anyone," Logan replied calmly. He held up a hand when Katie rolled her eyes. "We're just worried about you, Katie. We've seen how tired you've been lately and we just hope that nothing's going on."

James scratched the back of his head then turned to face Katie as well, flashing her a charming smile. "Logan thought we should have started calling hospitals hours ago," he explained. "Apparently he doesn't think you can handle yourself, like I do." He winked at her, causing Katie to smile.

"Suck up!" Carlos complained, still nursing his wound.

Katie laughed and walked around the front of the couch and sat down on the coffee table, crossing her legs as she did so. Resting her chin in her hands, she put her elbows on her knees. "So what is this? An intervention or something?"

"No, Baby Sister," Kendall said patiently. Katie was sure that if it wasn't for the sincere smile on his face that her brother would have been hiding an evil, malicious intent behind his eyes. Ready to kill anyone and anything that would potentially bring harm to her. "We just want to know what's going on."

Katie's smile faded and she grumbled, turning away from them. "Nothing."

"If it were nothing it wouldn't be a big deal," James insisted. He leaned forward, staring intently at her. "Don't forget, I have a strict hair care, face care, and body care routine that I go through every day starting early in the morning." He wagged his finger in her face. "I know that you've been leaving." Katie leaned forward and tried to bite the tip of his finger. James pulled his hand back with a mini-scream. "She almost flawed me."

"I didn't get anywhere near your face, loser, relax," Katie said, giggling a little.

"Katie." Logan got her attention. "If there's anything that you need help with, you can just tell us." His voice was low and soothing. "If there's anyone bothering you…is that Victoria girl bullying you again? If she is, you can tell us."

Katie's right eye twitched for a moment and she turned away from the boys. This was so ridiculous it should have been funny. They were so into what they thought was an intervention she was surprised they hadn't handcuffed her to a chair and forced her to tell them what was wrong. All because she was trying to keep a surprise what it was supposed to be; a secret. This just proved that they were a little too overprotective and didn't trust her that much. But on the other hand it proved they did care for her that much.

"I'm not taking drugs, I'm not in any trouble, I'm not having sex," Katie finally said.

Kendall nearly choked at the words, his face turning red. "You better not be," he warned her.

Katie smiled at her brother. "Mom knows…because I had to tell her or else I wouldn't be able to go…" she started. The boys leaned towards her, Carlos bringing the flashlight up once more. Katie grabbed the flashlight and turned it off, throwing it back onto the couch. Carlos stuck his tongue out at her, causing Katie to do the same. "I'm not in any trouble," she repeated.

"So what are you doing?" Carlos asked now. He had given up his façade of being the 'bad cop', reminiscent of his own father, and was now back to his old self, as caring as ever.

"I'm trying to learn how to surf," Katie finally admitted. Seeing the apathetic looks on the boys' faces she suddenly wondered she thought it was such a big deal. "And the only times that have been good, around the Jacksons' schedule is early in the morning and during some afternoons."

"Wait, they know?" Logan's eyebrows rose.

"Not all of them," Katie admitted. "Riles and Rhubes do, they're teaching me."

"Ah ha!" Kendall punctured the air with a stab of his index finger. "I knew you liked them more than us!"

"Duh," Katie said with a roll of her eyes. "You're al stupid and I've been around you long enough to know everything about you." She started to count off on her fingers. "I've been around you when you burp, fart, scratch your butt, scratch your balls, pick your noses, and puke and laugh at it all because you think it's hysterical." The four boys looked at each other and burst out laughing, high-fiving each other as they reminisced about something. "And you just proved my point."

Once the boys sobered up, Logan ran a hand through his hair. "So why did you want to keep it a secret?"

Katie felt herself blush and hated for it. "I don't want Patrick to know. It's a surprise for him." Her eyes moved over the boys. "And you four can't keep a secret so I didn't bother telling you."

Kendall gaped at her. "Even me?"

"You're a terrible, terrible liar," Katie reminded him.

"That's true."

Katie waved her hands. "So it's not a big deal? Just…for once, keep your mouths shut please?" She stood up and placed her hands on her hips, looking over the boys once more. "Now, is that everything? Are there any other questions?"

"Not a question, but I have a statement," Carlos declared. He cleared his throat then started to speak in his most regal voice. "Under the Big Brother Code, section two, paragraph three, it is started that if someone is found out in a life the liar must endure a tickle torture from the brother—"he motioned over to Kendall. "Or the brother that stands in,"—he motioned to himself, James, and Logan. "Whenever the former brother can't perform his duties."

"No!" Katie shrieked before Kendall grabbed her and dragged her onto the couch, the four boys tickling her, her laughter mixing in with theirs.

A/N: I had to have Lizzie come up at some point; hers and Katie's interactions are always fun for me to write. Is the pacing of the story ok or do you want it to move a bit faster? I have a smaller side-plot that's coming in the next chapter, so that might move things along a bit. Other than that, anything else you'd like to see? I hope you guys liked the chapter.

Cheers,

-Riles