"And I said yes, for some stupid reason

"And I said yes, for some stupid reason. I was all ready to go and everything, and I was even sitting out on the freaking porch, but her never showed. That's when Nick came and invited me over to watch a movie. I thought he was Josh at first, so I got a little pissed, but when I figured out it wasn't I just gave up on the stupid drummer," Mal said the last word like it left a bad taste on her mouth, "And you know the rest from there."

"May I ask real quickly what on Earth were you thinking saying yes to a drummer?" Ally asked.

"I don't know. Momentary loss of common sense?"

"Apparently."

"Look, I know it was stupid. Trust me, I learned that lesson."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, Ally, I'm sure."

Except I'm totally not considering he is the only guy that I have been interested in since freshman year.

No need to mention that.

I'm just saying…

Mal shook her head.

"Okay, I guess I believe you," Ally replied, "But anyway, did you hear about Morgan?"

"No, what happened?" Mal asked, glad for a subject change. The junior mello was always getting into awkward situations.

"She asked Nick out."

"What?! Our Nick? When?"

"Yeah, she asked him out one day after practice."

"Poor girl," Mal sympathized, "She should know better."

"No kidding. Everyone knows he doesn't date band girls. But he let her down gently, or so I've heard. Some line about another girl or not the right time or something."

"Yeah, he would." Mal answered, taking another sip of her Diet Coke.

"Hey, speaking of Nick, you never told me what you did once he rescued you from Sir Ditches-a-lot." Ally said with a suggestive tone in her voice.

"Seriously, Ally, what do you think happened?" Mal replied incredulously, "We went to his place, watched a movie, and I fell asleep. Just like if I went to your house."

Except that whole, waking up with an uber soft blanket thing. But who's counting?

"I still want to know why Josh – or Stupid Drummer Boy – stood you up though."

"So do I, Ally, so do I."

Mal got home later that afternoon and found the house eerily quiet. There was no loud music coming from Thomas's room, no idle chatter from her mom's studio, nothing.

"Mom?" she called, "Thomas?"

No responses came from either. And she knew that her dad was in Alpharetta for business that week.

She circled the bottom floor, looking for some sign of life. She came to her mom's studio last.

Knocking cautiously, Mal entered the room. It was organized chaos – there were canvases and paint bottles everywhere, but they seemed to be in the right place. She took a deep breath – the room smelled like her mom, like lavender and sandalwood.

One quick scan told her that her mom wasn't there. But there was a note left on the hand – painted end table the was sandwiched between two giant canvases.

Mal, honey, I got a last minute call from that gallery I told you about the other day. They were having a show, and asked me for a few pieces. I should be home after 11, so don't wait up. Thomas is going over to Logan's, so don't worry about him either.

I love you sweetie!

Mom

P.S. Feel free to go hang out with Ally or Nick, just leave a message with me.

She reread the note a few times, then looked at the clock on her mom's wall. 7:38. Too late to get Ally or Nick to go to a movie with her. But maybe one of them could come over and hang out.

Mal grabbed her phone and dialed. She called Nick first, knowing that Ally didn't have plans anyway.

He answered on the third ring.

"Hey Mal. What's up?"

She could barely hear him – the noise in the background was deafening.

"Where are you?" She yelled, trying to get past the din on the other line.

"What?"

"Where are you?" She called, louder.

"Oh – I'm at one of David's friend's houses. Another party I get to help chaperone. Why? What's up?"

"Uh… not much, I guess. I just wanted to see if you were busy, or wanted to come over."

"Oh, sorry, I don't know how late this is gonna go. I can try to stop by later."

"Okay, but only if you feel like it. I swear, I'm not really desperate or anything."

"I know Mal. I'll talk to you later." Nick said.

"Okay. Bye." Mal answered.

As the line clicked shut, Mal walked out of her mom's studio and up to her room. The empty room was making it become more and more apparent that she didn't have plans.

Once Mal flopped down on her bed, she called Ally. She was surprised to hear her friend pick up in whispers.

"Ally? What's up?" Mal questioned with concern.

"Mal? Oh, yeah, hey, um, not too much. My sister came home today. Without letting us know. So, things are a little crazy."

"Really? Again?" Mal asked. Ally's sister, Gwen, was 4 years older, a senior in the state university. And quite the party girl, much to Ally's mom's despair. Whenever Gwen came home, their mom tried to hold an intervention. When Gwen came home without warning, loud shouting matches often erupted from their home.

"Can you get away? Come over to my place."

"No can do. If I try to leave, Mom will set the dog on me. She'll think I'm trying to sneak out to a rave to get high and/or drunk."

"I'm sorry. I wish you could get out. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Yeah, I wil – No Mom, it isn't a guy! Mom! I got to go Mal. See you later." Ally hung up abruptly, trying to calm her mother.

Mal put her phone down with a sigh. No Nick, no Ally, nobody to keep her company.

This is getting kinda pathetic.

You're telling me.

So are you just going to sit here and accept it? Or are you going to get off your butt and do something?

What is there to do? It is 8 o'clock on a Thursday night.

So what? Don't you have a car?

Well, yeah, but where am I going to go?

Anywhere that would get you out of the house.

Mal sighed, hoisted herself off her bed, and walked into her bathroom. The face that appeared in the mirror looked slightly upset and slightly bored.

She sighed again and went back into her room to find something else to wear. She decided on her favorite jeans and the band shirt from last year.

Well, better than nothing I suppose.

So where am I going to go, dressed like this?

Where ever your car takes you.

Her car took her to the movie theater, Movies 400. After quickly scanning the Now Showing board, she stepped into line.

"One for August Rush please."

"5.75 please."

Mal dug through her wallet to get the correct change. She retrieved her ticket and saw that the movie was beginning in two minutes. She ran into the complex, shoved her ticket at the employee by the door, and made it into the theater as the trailers started to roll. Much to her dismay, she saw that there were only a few seats remaining and none were located in the row where she usually sat. She saw a seat on the uppermost row that didn't appear to be taken. Quickly and quietly, she made her way to the spot.

"Excuse me, is that seat taken?" Mal whispered to the person nearest. The guy she asked quickly shook his head, before craning it around her to see the previews that were racing across the screen. She thanked him under her breath as she crossed the few people between her and her seat.

Mal sat down, lowered her armrest, and watched the screen. The action movie being introduced drowned out all the noise around her with its cheesy explosions and loud narrations.

See, this is good. You can just hang out here, then go get ice cream, whatever. It is your night.

Yeah, I guess I see what you mean.

"So, what brings you here, Mallory Worth?" asked the person who'd just sat down beside her.

Mal glanced over and her heart started to pound.

"Josh?"

Okay, maybe not so good.

"What are you doing here?" Mal asked, inadvertently shifting to the other side of her seat, away from him.

"Watching a movie. You?" Josh replied with a smirk.

"Shut up. You know what I mean."

"What, a guy can't go see a movie? Is that illegal now? May I remind you, you are the one that came in late."

"Whatever. I'm moving." Mal had barely lifted herself off the seat when Josh threw his arm in front of her.

"Not without me. And I'm not moving. So, you aren't going anywhere. You are going to sit there and enjoy the movie, then go and get coffee with me so you can explain why you stood me up."

"I stood you up? Are you insane? It was you-" Mal was enraged.

"Shhhh!" a voice came from below them. The movie had started.

"We'll talk later." Josh whispered calmly.

Mal sat back in her seat. Of all nights, why did it have to be tonight? She didn't even have Ally for backup, or Nick to intimidate.

So this time, you'll have to fight your own battle. Unlike that time in the parking lot.

That was different. And I can fight my own battles.

Whatever you say. Now watch the movie. Might as well enjoy it.

About two hours later, Mal walked out of the theater, surprised to be next to, talking to, and laughing with Josh.

"Okay, that was definitely one of the best movies in the world." He said as he walked her to her car.

"Totally. And the soundtrack was amazing." Mal agreed, smiling.

"Definitely. So where do you want to go for coffee?"

Almost immediately, Mal stopped smiling. She'd forgotten about the 'talk' they were going to have.

"I guess I'll meet you over at The Lounge. Do you know the way?" she said stonily.

"Yeah, it is right by my house. Now, you aren't planning on running away from me, are you?" There was a serious tone in his voice that set Mal even more on edge.

"No. Unlike some people, I keep commitments."

"Sure you do." He said sarcastically before walking back over to his car.

Okay, definitely starting to hate his attitude.

He is a drummer.

Yeah, you can definitely pick up on that.

No kidding.

But you do have to go.

I know. I'd prove his point – his false­ point – if I didn't.

So let's hit it.

Mal climbed in her car, sat down, and buckled her seatbelt. She pulled toward the exit of the music theater, and ended up behind what she assumed was Josh's car. The pair drove in tandem to The Lounge and parked next to each other. Mal paused before she left her car to take a few breaths.

"Let's do this," she whispered to herself.

She stepped up onto the curb and silently cursed him when she saw him holding the door open for her.

"Thank you," she said stiffly as she walked through the door.

"My pleasure. It is good to see you are here at least."

Mal clenched her teeth to keep from responding snidely. She didn't say another word to him until they were seated with drinks. Mal had a strawberry banana smoothie, and Josh had an iced latte. Much to her chagrin, he had bought both the drinks.

"So," he said, in a sad attempt to start the conversation.

"So what?" Mal questioned.

"So why did you stand me up?"

Mal stared at him for a minute.

"Okay, let me make this loud and clear for you," she said angrily, "I did NOT stand you up. On the contrary, you stood me up."

"That isn't true. I was there on time. I sat in my car waiting for you for almost a half hour."

"No, you didn't. I was on my porch from 7 on, waiting for you to show up. You didn't. So I left to hang out with a nice guy."

The insinuation in Mal's comment seemed to make Josh all the more convinced.

"Exactly! I sat there and watched you leave with another guy! That implies that I was stood up!"

"How many times do I have to tell you? You. Were. Not. There!!"

"Yes, I was! I was parked across the street! I had to freaking pull away so that you and the stupid nice guy could leave and go where ever."

"Wait… you were parked across the street? Why didn't you let me know you were there?" Mal questioned.

"I called you. I called your house and some guy picked up and said he'd let you know." Josh replied.

"Some… Thomas. Freaking Thomas. My brother answered the phone."

"See? I let you know. Ergo, you stood me up." Josh sat back, convinced.

"No quite yet, mister. Why didn't you just come to the door and knock?" inquired Mal.

"Because I saw you come out onto your porch. And then you just sat there. I thought that the guy – Thomas, I guess – had told you I was there."

"And you couldn't step out of your car? You couldn't drive up and honk?"

"I had a bouquet for you. I didn't want to ruin the surprise, because you would have been able to see it had I gotten out of the car. And I had tried honking before, before I called you, and one of your crazy neighbors came up and told me they'd call the police on me if I honked again."

"Oh."

"Yeah. And then you left. With another guy. And seriously, Mal, that… well, that hurt. And I'm not one of those guys that wears my emotions on my sleeve, if you know what I mean. But I was really looking forward to getting to know you more. But you left me, sitting there, for no apparent reason."

"Josh, trust me," Mal said while looking him in the eye, "If I'd have known all of that stuff that you just told me then, I would have been riding away in a car with you, not Nick, who is, by the way, one of my best friends."

"I believe you," Josh said with a smile, "But I still want to take you out to dinner."

"What, is a movie and coffee not enough?" Mal teased.

"Not in my book. You had to pay for your ticket, and even though I managed to buy you that smoothie, that isn't how a date works in my book."

"But then what would you say if I told you that I wanted to split the check?"

"I would tell you maybe next time, depending on my mood. But I never let a girl pay on the first date. And no, this coffee does not count."

"Fine then. This doesn't count."

"But maybe tomorrow could?" Josh asked hopefully.

"No can do. I have to help my mom out for the rest of the week."

"Help your mom out?"

"Yeah. She's a painter, and some of her stuff just got accepted into a new gallery. So she is going to need help moving her paintings."

"Oh. Well, when can we hang out again?"

"Um… I'm not sure. Why don't you give me your number?"

"Okay, but I'll need yours too, so I don't have to go through your brother again."

"Works for me." Mal smiled. She told him the digits to her phone number, and then accepted his with a smile.

This was a good way to spend the evening.

Definitely. I'm glad this all got cleared up.

Yeah, maybe you can fight your own battles.

I know I can.

And we all know now.

The pair walked out of the Lounge after finishing their drinks and taking for a while. Mal was exhausted after her long day, from waking up at Nick's to working at Kangaroo Bob's, to the strenuous conversation (semi-date?) she had just been a part of. She stumbled over the curb, thankful that Josh was there to keep her from plummeting into the pavement.

"So…soorrryy," Mal yawned as she regained her balance, "I'm just tired."

"Can you drive home?" Josh asked, concerned.

"Sure I ca-caan."

"No, you can't. I'll drive you home."

"But my car…"

"Is there anyone at your house that can bring it home for you?"

"Not- noot yet…"

"Then I will bring it to you tomorrow. Don't worry about it."

Josh helped her into his car. He retrieved her keys so he could pick it up the next day. Mal fell into a light sleep as soon as she got in the car. Josh looked over at her, relaxed in the passenger seat. A small smile came to his face.

"Sweet Dreams, Mallory."

After Josh dropped Mal off (and helped her to her room), he drove slowly home. Part of him was trying to figure out the logistics of getting her car to her the next day; another part was thinking about how beautiful she looked when she was dozing in his car.

AN: Yes, I know I am a horrible person. But forgive me, because this is the longest chapter yet! (I think anyway...)
Unfortunately, this is all I have written to date. But I'm officially out of school, so I'll be working on that. Read and Review please!