For Loved-Invention, who has been begging and waiting for this update.

ENJOY!

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Life Sucks

Chapter TEN: Changes

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"Caitlyn, stop it."

Caitlyn's joking face suddenly disappeared. She pouted and moved on to the next thing to clean. Leave it to my good friend to count the number of picture frames I had stored away in the corner. Ted and Peggy were taking all my bagged clothes to a waiting truck. It's hard to digest the fact that I was moving from this corner of the world. The second I finished recording, I was to begin performing at small gigs around New York and then fly out to L.A. to open for Bleeding Sunshine. I know, I know. Don't say it. I still partly hate one third of the band but who knew that signing a contract meant that I can't cancel every show that invovled Lola.

"Are you going to throw this away or are you also collecting bike parts?" Caitlyn shoved a box of chains and extra tires to my sight. I was planning to fix my trike, but seeing as how I won't have the time any more...

"You can throw that out." I bit my lower lip, "And I guess you can throw one box of frames too."

Agh. I can't believe I'm saying that.

Cait rolled her eyes, "Please, there's no way you want to throw these out."

"Just because I don't want to doesn't mean I'm not going to." I moved over and peered inside a box full of dusty cluttered frames. That slight urge of keeping them all hit me but what was I thinking? After Caitlyn counted up to two hundred frames I asked her to stop. I knew there was still about two other boxes she wanted to clean out so she could use the box for other things.

"Why so many unused frames?" Caitlyn looked into the box with me, "Do you have any pictures?"

"No," I said slowly.

Caitlyn shook her head and smirked, "You should name your album about empty picture frames. That would be a laugh."

Hmm, that's not a bad idea.

I snorted when an idea entered my mind, "Games, Flames, and Empty Picture Frames by Mitchie Torres."

Just then Nina and Nate came barging in with food while Caitlyn and I were rolling on the floor. I could smell the aroma of Italian and seeing how my stomach was growling I should have stopped laughing but I didn't. And I'm not so sure why I found my album title so amusing.

"What's so funny?" Nina set the Olivie Garden bag's down and scanned around the now semi empty apartment, "You two haven't done much since we left!"

Caitlyn wiped her eyes, "Um, Mitchie just had a great idea for the title of her album.

Nate, being the business man he is, perked up, "Really? Usually first albums are self-titled but if you have a great idea then why not? What is it?"

Caitlyn and I exchanged looks before I blurted, "Games, flames, and Empty Picture Frames."

"By Mitchie Torres." Caitlyn dramatically added.

Once again, Caitlyn and I were sent into a frenzy for laughs while Nate and Nina had no idea what was so funny about it. When I regained my composure I waved them off.

"You wouldn't get it if I explained, "I sighed, "Pass me a plate I'm starving."

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Ted barged into my apartment, "Who said I can't wear my Converse with my dress? Oh, baby, that's just me!"

Oh Lord. Not again.

Peggy joined in on the fun the moment she appeared, "And who said I can't be single and have to go out and mingle? BABY, that's not me! Noooo, noooooo."

Nate threw on a sloppy smile as he munched on a bread stick. Caitlyn and Nina were playing air guitar. I was busy getting my plate of food and rushing into my room to avoid this nonsense. Of course, it was almost a ritual to watch the five of them start dancing like fools when the chorus rolled along. I didn't reach my room. Nate had to pull me back and throw me in the middle of their musical circle as I waited for them to finish.

"Cheer up Mitch!" Ted cried.

"I'm fine, look I'm even eating while you all act like bafoons." I shoved a fork full of Ravioli in my mouth.

"Aw come on!" Nate whined. He stopped dancing and Caitlyn and Peggy carried on with the song.

"I'm fairly entertained," I repeated.

"Sing Mitch!" Nate lightly shoved my shoulder. I scowled.

SO I'm guessing you want to know this thing that occurred between Nate and I. He was right, it wasn't so bad being his friend. We still argue, A LOT so nothing's really changed except I'm not pushing him away as much. Hell, Nate still follows me around like a lost puppy but it's nothing new. We're on good terms. Two long months since that night and everything is just about to fall in place, like it should have in the first place. Even Tess and Nate have come around. Call me old fashion but if an ex ever tried to make amends I would kick him where it hurts and publicly humiliate him. I smiled. That's not a bad idea if I could do that to Shane. As for the whole Shane situation, I swear I hardly see him.

"Mitchie." Nate said in his sing song voice, "Think of it as rehearsal."

"I just came back from rehearsal." I winced at a pitch that Ted hit trying to imitate me. Nate neared me and I stepped back. I wasn't convince that he was up to something good with that twinkle in his eye.

I think right now is a perfectly good place to say that Nate think's is absolutely hilarious that I avoid his hugs. He chases me around on purpose to hug me just so I can squirm away and whine. I'm not sure why he enjoys it. If I ever saw a person suffer because I give them hugs, I'll stop immediately.

"Why are you running away?" Nate questioned, grinning like there's no tomorrow.

I scoffed, "Why are you following me?"

And in a flash, I was running around my apartment crying and begging Nate to stop. He and the gang had teamed up so they blocked my bedroom and bathroom. I hated them. They all heard the story of locking myself up to avoid him. Nate and I were the entertainment now.

"Please don't!" I cried.

"Don't what?" Nate smirked as he caught me in the corner. I shirvled down to a ball hoping to avoid Nate. He slowly closed in the gap like some sick predator about to attack on his prey. Tears were literally spewing from my eyes. This time, instead of tackling me into an air tight hug, he snaked his arms around me and placed his chin on my head.

"I don't understand why you hate these. I don't want to brag but I do give some pretty darn good hugs." Nate murmured to me.

I fell limp against him. It's like my legs refused to hold my weight up. I turned red as I grasped on to Nate for dear life. Dear Lord, kill me now. My weakness was so obvious that everyone noticed. Caitlyn was yelling at Nate for "tiring me out" as I was "exhausted" from today's work. Nate knew better. The only reason why he gave me hugs every moment possible was to see how spineless I got. One thing I still hate about him was that Nate was determine to find out everything. For example, when he spent the whole day at Java just to hear my reason for being so bitchy. It was in his nature and by the way he was searching for a clue in my eyes, I knew he wanted to figure this out too.

Tough Luck.

I don't even know why I become a sack of mush.

Go figure.

"Let me go!" I groaned.

"I would but I'm afraid to see you fall." Nate tenderly tightened his grip on me.

I pushed him off and quickly regained my legs back, "Nope, see? I'm good."

I avoided Nate and tried to relocate my plate of food that mysteriously disappeared. Who knew that a moving everything out of my small apartment can boost up my appitite.

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Tess and I walked around Central Park that night, enjoying ice cream on a warm summer night. Caitlyn was originally going to tag along but she had a date with Jason at the last minute. Nina gladly filled in for Caitlyn. I was going to sleep over at Peggy's because I had no bed to sleep in but Tess offered to take me out for ice cream and Nina insisted I sleep over at her place. Nate rolled his eyes when he found out the three of us were going out for a bit.

His reason for his over dramatic eye rolling?

He thinks that we're an odd bunch. Before I could protest I knew he was right. Tess, Nina and I were really different and don't say we're not. I don't think I could really point out the differences between Tess and I because it's more than obvious... but Nina? That's like fire and water with a rubber duck thrown into the mix. So exactly what were three completely different girls doing at night with ice cream in their hands?

Girl talk of course.

Nina was raving about the lastest fashion campaign that she wanted to go see. I was commenting how ice cream was a real treat from cleaning out my apartmeant all day. Tess was just too quiet for my liking. I looked at her and notice that some of her ice cream was dripping on her hand. From past experences, I would know that Tess would rather get ran over by a tree than to get herself dirty.

"Anything wrong?" I asked Tess.

Her head snapped up and instantly she shook her head, "Nothing I'm just thinking about things."

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and watched Tess make a face at my dirty habits. I'm gonna wash my hands later. It's not like I do it all the time. My napkin went missing.

"'Bout what?" I mumbled out.

"Nate." She sighed out.

I nearly choked on my lick of ice cream.

"I have this strange feeling that he's..." Tess paused and shook her head, "You're not going to believe me."

I shrugged, "You'll never guess that I believe in big foot."

Tess finally cracked a smile, "It could be as strange as that."

I smirked, "Anything dealing with Nate is strange."

Nina, who was listening intently, spoke up.

"Is this about what you told me earlier on?" She whispered to Tess.

Normally, I would make a huge deal about being the last person to know about things but I was a bit happy with my ice cream to care what nonsense was going on. Tess threw her perfectly melted cone away and wiped her sticky hands with my missing napkin. I knew Tess was up to no good.

"You see," Tess tilted her head back to look at the sky, "For a while, I've been getting this funny feeling-"

"You want Nate back?" I cut in.

Nina rolled her eyes at me and lightly slapped my shoulder, scolding me for interupting Tess.

Tess tore her gaze from the sky and looked at me, "Um no, I'll talk about that later. What I'm trying to say is that I'm starting to think that Nate is harboring some feelings for-"

"Well, I mean if you think he likes you." I shrugged.

I dodged Nina's hand from hitting me.

"Will you quit interrupting Tess?!" She whined.

Tess blushed, "I promise, Mitchie, it's over between us. There's only a couple of strings to cut but it's nothing major, really."

Confused, I looked at Nina who was watching Tess. I copied Nina and looked at Tess who was stuggling to piece together what I've been ruining for her past attempts. Tess stopped at a bench and motioned us to sit beside her. The moment my butt was on the cool bench she turned to me in a very serious manner. For a second, I thought she was going to tell me she was really an andriod or something.

"I think Nate likes you." She crisply stated.

"Come again." I smiled.

"Nina and I and well, a lot of other people think that Nate likes you." Tess repeated.

I get what she's saying. I could translate her sentence in Spanish without breaking a sweat but there was no way it could be taken as a fact. Sure Nate likes me. I don't think he would stick around this long if he didn't mind me at all. But I know what like Tess was talking about and I was having trouble just processing it.

Nate likes me.

He likes likes me.

He likes me in the way that should be forbidden. Thank the Lord that's only what they think, not what they know. So the slight stir up inside me settled and I shurgged.

"So what?" I asked, "Has he said anything about me?"

"Well not really." Nina frowned.

"Did you listen in on a private conversation that made you think that?"

Tess bit her lip, "No."

"Did you hear it from him?"

"N-"

"Then you have no right to think that he does!" I threw my hands in the air. "You can't assume something that stupid by the way things look. Nate just loves to annoy the living hell out of me."

Tess tilted her head, "I know I can't, you're right but I've also know Nate and the clues he gives off."

I sighed.

Tess straightened up, "But that's not the only thing bothering me... I did say that I have a couple of strings to cut. I guess the whole Nate liking you matter wouldn't bother me so much if I didn't feel... soo... overprotective."

Tess looked at Nina for reassurance. Nina nodded in approval of her choice of words.

"I thought you were over him." I pointed out.

Tess nodded, "Mitchie, you'll find out one day that it's hard to just throw in the towel. It's not that easy to quit having feelings for someone. And I'm not saying I still feel something for Nate because that whole chunk of lovey dovey feelings are gone. What is left is the strangeness of not having him around. It's weird. I guess I'm not used to being single yet."

I chuckled, "You can't honestly say that when I asked you to suck face with Nate that it didn't bring a rush of wonderful memories? You didn't feel anything?"

Tess shook her head, "You think I would be able to stand you right now? Knowing that there's a possibility that Nate likes you now? I'd be in a jealous fit."

"But you did say you felt overprotective." Nina pipped up. Tess glared at her and Nina shrinked in her seat. I smiled at Nina and secretly thanked her. I already had a theory for Tess.

She still liked Nate, she's going delusional and thinks Nate likes me, and now she's a tiny bit jealous.

"I know what I said," Tess growled, "I do feel a bit overprotective but I guess I want to know if... well, if you like him too Mitchie."

Theory comfirmed. Tess is jealous. And not only is she jealous she's scared that I might mike him too and we just might make this damn great couple. HA! Never!!! I'm sure if I repeat this whole thing to Peggy or to Caitlyn they would be laughing. What kind of nut job thinks that Nate and I would ever... gosh! Just thinking about it gives me chills. Yuck.

"Nate?" I closed my eyes, "You really can't be serious. I think we would be awful together. No, I know we would be awful together. And I'm just lucky that I barely consider Nate a friend. I don't like him. At least, not in that way."

Nina and Tess exchanged glances. Neither of them looked convinced but thankfully they didn't say another word.

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I woke up bright and early next morning to be at rehearsals. I was given word that I was to appear on a morning show next week with none other than Connect Three. I had a funny feeling that Nate was somehow behind all this. I didn't mind, really, I just didn't want to wake up at an unreasonable hour and see Shane's stupid face. Nina, who decided to tag along and help us rehearse (AND was more than excited to work with us), taught me the harmony to some new Connect Three song. As much as I liked them (Ha), I have to say this song wasn't their best work.

And believe me, I didn't waste a second to let Nate know what I thought about his song. The moment three bodies stumbled in I approached Nate.

"Ready to rehearse?" I grinned.

Nate eyed me, "Yeah sure."

I motioned over to Nina, "Don't want to be mean but I think you completely lost your touch."

Nate look surprised. He placed his guitar case down and took his time to settled himself before he looked back at me.

"You don't want to be mean? That's a first." He grinned. Nate took his guitar and propped it up against the piano.

For a second there, I thought that Nate was going to be upset at my comment. He then leaned over and looked up at Shane.

"I didn't write it." He chuckled. "I'll be back, I'm gonna go get some coffee for Jason. His date ran late into the night."

I rolled my eyes, "Figures."

When Nate left, a very awkward silence filled the room. Nina avoided to speak. Jason was dozing off. Shane was fiddling with his phone. I was trying to vision myself on stage with those three lousy boys while I leaned against the piano.

"Mitch, pass me the music sheets."

I glared at Shane who didn't bother to look at me. And who in the hell does he think he is? Mitch? What makes him think he can call me that?

I smiled sweetly at him, "You have legs, get them yourself."

Sure, the music sheets were within my reach but I'm not going to do any favors for the jerk! I watched him intently until his eye flickered up to mine and I lost it. I wish I was kidding but I did. The next thing I knew I was holding Nate's severed guitar in my hands. Shane and Nina were gasping and yelling at me. I didn't understand a word because I knew my life on earth was limited.

You know that cheesy "my life flashed before my eyes" thing? That's exactly what happened to me. And guees what I saw?

This stupid list.

1. Ride a camel.
2. Skip around the park, barefooted.
3. Make my own line of Mitchie Sun-dresses.
4. Break any of the Connect Three band member's guitar's.
5. Don't ever break out into the music scene with a name as bad as Bleeding Sunshine.
6. Make a friend.
7. Write a song that really means something to me and would slap the heck of all those who hurt me.
8. Cry helplessly on someone shoulder.
9. Get a cell phone.
10. Fix my tricycle.

So while I was mentally hitting myself for ever making that stupid list Nate walked in with two cups of coffee in his hands. I braced myself for the worst and boy did I get it.

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Ah, I didn't forget about the list. And of course I just had to sacrifice Nate's Guitar. -grins- I hope you liked it. The next chapter should be much more interesting and longer as well.

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