Hey everyone! Thanks for the awesome reviews for the last few chapters. Things are going to start picking up and getting interesting soon. I'm pretty excited for it. Some of you may have noticed that my pen named changed from LovePrincessZ to Zoerz. Zoerz is what my boyfriend and a bunch of my friends call me. Well besides just calling me Zo. Also it's a lot shorter than LovePrincessZ. It just seems so long to me.

I have a lot of crappy drama going on at home in my personal life. Just so people know.

With that being said, here is the next chapter. Leave some reviews and let me know what you think. Nice ones will cheer me up a bit.

Disclaimer: Nope, it's not mine…yet…

The eldest Pedrosa brother leaned back in his chair, eyeing two of his siblings as he crossed his arms over his well-built chest. His mind reeling while it processed everything they had just told him. After what seemed like hours, the nineteen year old finally spoke

"So this Erik guy is bad news." Letti nodded and Pedro grew quiet again, before turning to his brother.

"You said he tried to fight back, right?" Raimundo grinned.

"Well yeah, he tried." Rolling his eyes Pedro reached across the table and smack Raimundo upside the head.

"Don't get cocky Rai; you didn't get away without battle wounds either." Before Raimundo could protest Pedro waved a hand to silence him and turned to their sister.

"What did you say his last name was again?"

"Young. Erik Young. Why?"

That moment Pedro stiffened. His eyes went wide and he sat up straighter. The two younger Pedrosas exchanged glances before looking at their brother curiously.

"Merda." Pedro groaned as the eyebrows of the other kitchen table occupants rose.

"What?" Letti inquired.

"You guys remember that Chase guy? His last name was young." Pedro stated and Raimundo's eyes widened in recognition to the name. Letti simply looked down at her plate.

"You don't…you don't think there's any relation do you? You don't think…" she whispered while keeping her eyes down.

"It's not exactly the biggest town sis. Two idiots with the last name of young in the same town? It's too much of a coincidence. There has to be a relation." Pedro replied.

Raimundo opened his mouth, unsure of what to say "Pedro, if this guy is anything like Chase then-"

"If he is anything like Chase then we got a problem. Chase got what he wanted one way or another. He proved that three years ago. If this Erik kid wanted to score with Kim...and he is anything like Chase…we're going to have to watch her." Pedro verbalized before Letti cut him off.

"Merda. Rai, Erik saw you protect Kimi!"

"So?

"Rai, how often do you get protective of people? This Erik guy could try and target you if he thinks you care about her."

Raimundo flushed when the last sentence came out of his other brother's mouth. Across the table, a Cheshire cat grin spread across his sister's face.

"I have an idea" she pronounced. Both brothers turned to her, curiosity in their eyes. "Care to elaborate there sis?" The elder brother requested.

"So…Erik is going to try and score with Kimiko. Raimundo got protective of Kimiko. Erik saw Raimundo get protective, and now Erik may try and go after Rai because he cares about Kimiko. Right? So the only logical solution I can think of is that Raimundo and Kimiko stay around each other and make sure nothing happens. How do we do that without people questioning things? Well for that problem, the only solution I can think of…is that Kimiko and Raimundo pretend to be dating!" she declared.

Pedro's eyebrows skyrocketed and Raimundo burst out laughing.

"What? I think it's perfectly logical."

"I'm sorry Letti did I hear you right? You want this bimbo playboy to date your best friend? Are you forgetting what happened last time?"

"They would only be pretend dating. It's not like they would have to get…intimate…but that way Rai can keep an eye on her and the other playboys of the school would stay away." Letti spoke, smiling to herself as she watched her brother stop laughing and turn beat red at the word intimate.

"You can't be serious. What about the whole brothers and friends don't date rule? This crosses every line there."

"Yeah, we made that rule for a reason. We don't need a repeat of three years ago."

"Oh shut up. Both of you. She is my friend. This is my decision. End of story." She confirmed.

"Letti, she is never going to agree to go out with me."

Both siblings whipped their heads to look at the soccer star.

"You heard that too right?" Pedro whispered to her as an agitated look grew on his brother's face.

"We'll use it against him later." She answered.

"What the hell are you two talking about now?"

"How you admit to a girl not wanting to go out with you. Wasn't it just last week you said you could have any girl you wanted?" Letti reminded him.

"I can. Have you seen how gorgeous I am?"

"Cool Rai. Then fake date Kim. She's my best friend. I can talk her into it easy."

"I don't date girls Letti. I date skanks. I-"

"Too bad your dating her. "

"This isn't such a good idea." Pedro butted in. She rolled her eyes at her brother before turning to him directly.

"Look at it this way Pedro. Since Kimiko is my best friend, when Ryan and I go on double dates with her Raimundo will be there to make sure nothing happens to your favorite baby sister!" she testified.

"Wait, I'm sorry did you just say we have to go on dates?" Raimundo questioned with wide eyes. His sister kicked him under the table as she smiled at him.

"Letti Marie, we made the rule for a good reason-"

"– and now were breaking it for one. Decision made. End of story. Rai your dating Kimi. Get use to it. I'm going to go fill her in." Letti jumped up and rushed up the stairs before either of the boys could protest.

"Uh, what just happened?"

"I'm sorry Letti…you said you want me to WHAT?" Kimiko shrieked as she laid back in the foamy bubbles of her bath.

"It's only temporary. Please Kimi!"

"Why the hell would you even think of that as a way to get Erik off my back?" Kimiko yelled splashing her with soapy water.

"Kimi…it's the best option, and besides…I think Rai might like you…" Letti replied.

She watched as her friend's face grew red.

"What gives you that idea?"

"Things. Now come on Kimi, you can do this. Please? You just said a few days ago that you didn't want a boyfriend. Well this is a great way to get other guys off your back. All you got to do is pretend to date Rai. No big. All the problems are solved."

Kimiko sighed, "Letti-"

"Kimi don't make me do the puppy dog face. Raimundo's my brother. You could be good for him."

"Aren't you the one who called him a player?"

"Yes! I did! But, I think you can get that out of him. Just pretend for a little tiny bit? You could be good for him. If this doesn't work out we can call it off."

Kimiko sighed again, "You're going to keep pushing until I say yes aren't you."

"You know me so well."

"If this blows up in your face I'm giving you a mouthful of 'I told you so's '" Kimiko mumbled to her.

"Everything will be fine. I promise. I have a plan."

"And that would be? "

"Oh you'll find out when its time." Letti spun in the bathroom and eyed her best friend "Now, I have to go meet my lovely boyfriend and apologize for Jermaine's idiotic behavior last night."

"Uh huh." Kimiko barley had time to reply before her roommate rushed out the door.

Raimundo stalked up the stairs into his room and went in his closet. He needed a shower. Desperately. If he wasn't avoiding waking up his brothers the night before he would've taken one then. Dried blood, dirt, dust, and who knows what else clung to his skin. Glancing at his bed sheets he decided they should probably be washed too and yanked them off the bed. He pulled a pair of clean jeans, a clean pair of boxers and a plain white wife beater out of his draws and tossed them on the bed.

He reached down and pulled his shirt over his head. The cooler air hit his muscular chest as he noticed a bruise on the upper right side of his chest. How didn't I notice that? He shuffled into the closet and looked at himself in the mirror. His arms were filthy. There was a very visible clean section on his upper body that indicated where his shirt had been. A few bruises and cuts here and there, nothing he couldn't handle.

Battle wounds. He laughed.

As if. I've had worst from soccer. Hell I've had worst from wrestling with Carmen.

Walking back out of the closet he went over to the bed and pulled the pillow cases off. He threw them into the laundry basket just as he heard a knock on the door. Without even thinking he called "It's open."

The door swung open as Kimiko walked in. She stopped in her tracks when she glanced at him, her eyes locked on his chest. That was when he realized he was shirtless, and that she was in just a towel. His eyes went to his chest, then back to her, and he smirked.

"Like what you see?" He couldn't help but ask. The blush sneaked onto her face as she searched for a cover.

"Oh…no I was just thinking about how I thought you would've had bigger muscles for being a star athlete." She shot back.

"Ouch. Now that's just mean." He held his hand over his heart, pretending to be offended.

"Oh shut up."

"So is there a reason you're here or did you just want to see my perfect body?" He teased.

"As wonderful as your body is…I just wanted to tell you the bathrooms open. Figured you would want to shower. Get all the gunk off you." She nodded over to the clean pile of clothes he had put out.

"And you're in a towel because…you're going to join me?" He joked, smiling as he saw her entire face go red. She cleared her throat before speaking.

"As tempting as that is…Letti never unlocked the bedroom door before she left. Or she relocked it when she left. I don't suppose you have a key."

Shaking his head he responded "Nobody has a key except Letti. She put the lock on herself and never made any copies. We'll have to get you one."

She muttered something in Japanese under her breath "Well what am I supposed to do now? Sit naked in a towel until she gets back.

'You could always loose the towel.' His hormones thought for him before he internally smacked himself.

Raimundo shrugged "You could wear some of my stuff if you want. I don't have bras or anything like that but it's better than nothing. Just hang in here and watch some TV. The others won't bother you."

Before he could do anything he would regret he smiled at her and grabbed his clothes. She nodded and stepped out of his way as he headed for the shower, and she headed for his draws.

Pedro sat on the staircase that led to his bedroom listening to his brother and Kimiko's conversation. He shook his head and sat patiently, waiting a few more minutes. He finally heard the shower turn on and opened the door that went to the second floor hallway. He turned and knocked on his brother's bedroom door lightly.

"Just a second." He heard from inside, and true to her word Kimiko opened the door a second later. She stood in the doorway wearing a plain black tee shirt that had Nike written across the chest, and plaid black and red pajama bottoms. Both articles of clothing were beyond over sized on her.

"Letti's door is locked." He recited for her.

She merely nodded and raised an eyebrow at him, wondering what he wanted. She lifted a beautifully manicured finger and pointed down the hall to where the bathroom was.

"Raimundo is-"

"I know. I kind of want to talk to you privately though." Before she could even answer, he reopened the door to his attic bedroom and began to climb the stairs. Tilting her head slightly, she followed him up to his room.

It was rather plain, and had hard wooden floors. A single king sized bed sat in the corner. He gestured to it for her to sit down, which she did. Before her eyes could even explore the bedroom more he spoke.

"I'm sorry."

Confused, she sat up straighter. Watching him as he looked through his things, searching for something.

" Pardon?"

"Did Letti talk to you yet? About dating Rai?"

"Yeah, she sort of forced me to agree to it. You know how persistent she can be." Kimiko laughed. She stopped short when she realized Pedro was staying serious. Almost as if he was upset.

"Is…is everything okay Pedro?"

"If I get…grumpy…or rude about this whole 'plan' with you and Rai…I'm sorry. I'm not entirely sure why Letti would even…why she would even think of something like that."

He handed Kimiko a frame. It was silver with hearts carved into it. Inside the frame was a picture of a much younger Pedro, roughly 15 or 16, and a girl. She had glowing curly blonde hair that went down to her waist. Her green eyes lit up as she smiled. Her ivory skin tone was brought out by the beautiful dress she had been wearing. It was a deep red that matched the tie to Pedro's suit. Not entirely knowing what to say Kimiko looked up at him.

"She's beautiful."

"Her names Rayelle. Rayelle Collana."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

His eyes shut and he turned his head to the side before shaking it. He sat on the bed next to Kimiko, folding his legs.

"I screwed up." His voice cracked and he opened his eyes before he continued.

"Look Kim, whatever happens with this thing, with you and Rai, I need you to promise that nothing serious is going to happen between you."

She raised both eye brows, blushing, and muttered the word "What?"

"Rayelle…she had be Letti's best friend since grade school. I mean, they were friends when they were five…and then I ruined it." He paused and looked down at the picture. Taking a deep breath, he went on,

"Growing up, I had always been so annoyed with Letti and her friends. Then I turned 15…and things changed. Rayelle had been 13 and out of nowhere it was like…she wasn't just some little girl to me anymore…I don't know what happened. But we started flirting and joking and it was great…then we started dating and it was even better. Letti had been super happy. The whole family loved her. They joked that Letti and Rayelle would be sisters when she and I got married. Rayelle was always here. Her and Letti doing sleepovers, or she and I hanging out, we were all so happy."

Before Kimiko could stop herself the words "what happened" slipped out of her mouth.

"There was this guy Chase...and uh…from what I understand Chase and Rayelle had been together and then they broke up before she even started dating me. After about two years of me and her being together, right before Letti started high school, right before Letti met you, I guess Chase decided he wanted Rayelle back. She kept saying no, that she was happy with me, stuff like that, and then it happened. About a month before school started, Chase got this Wuya girl to help him try and get Rayelle back. He figured if he could break us up, he could win her back. And if he couldn't have her, nobody could. I don't know who names their kid Wuya but…that's not really important. I think it was a nickname…anyway, she was known as being easy. She'd date any guy who would ask her out and…yeah…Somehow they had planned it out so that Rayelle thought I cheated on her… I had been walking in the halls at school heading home from football practice and Wuya came up to me. She basically attacked me."

Kimiko raised her eye brows again, urging him to continue.

"It was like she came out of nowhere. She jumped up on me and kissed me in front of everyone. Like she had done it every day of her life. I had been too shocked to do anything, and Rayelle had just turned the corner. She ran home. She had been in both track and field, and cross country...I had just gone through a three hour practice…I couldn't catch her. I got an e-mail that night that she was leaving, and breaking up with me. That was the last I ever heard of her. She moved to her dad's house in London. Deleted all of her stuff online, changed her cell number…blocked me on the new accounts. Letti was heartbroken. She refused to talk to me for over a month. I think Letti still wonders sometimes if I lied and I actually had cheated on Rayelle. Raimundo was there when it happened, so he sided with me. That was when we made a rule that none of us would ever date each other's friends again. We didn't want anyone to loose anyone else."

Looking up at him Kimiko spoke "It wasn't your fault Pedro. You didn't get to explain-"

"It doesn't matter. I was selfish. I never should have gotten involved with her friend." He glanced up at her and she could see the tears dancing in his eyes, threatening to fall.

"You still love her don't you?" His voice came from the staircase.

Both Pedro and Kimiko shifted their gazes to Raimundo, who stood with his hair still damp. The smell of his cologne floated into the room. He glanced at Kimiko and suddenly an amused look played across his features "Nice clothes."

She blushed instantly "They were the smallest ones I could find."

"Well if you weren't so short-"He began to tease before she interrupted him

"Well maybe if you weren't so fat!" She shot back. He snorted and a smirk grew on his face before looking at Pedro.

"You didn't answer my question."

Pedro rolled his eyes before growling "Why does it matter?"

"Because this is the first time I've heard you talk about her in almost two years. "

Before Pedro could come up with a reply Raimundo walked over and grabbed Kimiko's hand, pulling her off the bed.

"Come on short stuff; let's see how good I am when it comes to breaking and entering. You can't walk around in my clothes all day."

They went down the stairs, and closed the door behind them leaving Pedro alone with his thoughts. He starred at her picture for a good hour before he had to distract himself with his college work. It wasn't until late that night that he realized Kimiko never promised him anything.

R&R please? I'll try to update again asap.