Disclaimer: L.O.T.S

AN: I am very, V-E-R-Y pleased to say that the response to the last chapter was positive and stunning. So it was positively stunning. I got over 5 reviews, which made me feel so happy =D! Thanks, guys! Alexa is coming, but she has to pack her bags first ;) I'll put 3 simple statements about her at the bottom. This chapter is dedicated to Rashelleah95 and nanny kiwi gurl. One was the first to review, the other one actually responded to the line of the song…and nailed it =). Besides that, they always review my crapped-up chapters.

Sripraphai Thai
A Little Booth Corner
MB's POV
6:00 P.M

"Mmm." He stared at the menu.

"Derrick?" I asked, after watching five solid minutes of squint-staring.

"Hmm?" He asked, not sounding like the sharpest tool in the shed.

"Derrick!" His head shot up.

"What the hell?" He mumbled, falling back into his daze faze.

"No, I'm supposed to ask you, 'what the hell?'. Why are you having a blink challenge with the freaking menu?"

"'Cause I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to eat."

"What's so hard? Just pick something random."

"I can't! I'm looking for something more…particular."

"Like what? I'll help you, if it gets you to stop telling the waiter 'just a few more minutes'." I exaggerated his low voice.

"Like something that won't make my tongue burst in flames, aka something non-spicy." He glared.

"Oh." My face turned a shade of pink. No wonder.

"It's not that easy, 'Ms. I Heart Spicy'."

"There's always…water." I suggested lamely.

"Dude, I already starved for lunch. Do I have to for dinner too?" He laughed, and then it dawned on me. I could make him eat whatever I wanted him too.

The waiter came around the bend. She was clearly annoyed, coming around for the eighth time. "We're ready to order." I blurted, snickering at the boy across from me, who was groaning.

"I'll have the honey-roasted jalapeno shrimp. He'll—" I pointed to Derrington. "have the onion and lamb curry."

I mouthed, trust me, it's good.

He glared back, shut up.

The waitress nodded and slipped away.

"Sorry." I said emotionlessly.

"So what's been up with you lately?" I dropped my Coach purse on my lap.

"Nothing much."

"Ditto." I added dully.

He laughed awkwardly as we waited for our food. I twiddled with my bangles. "Actually, I'm…having a party."

I stared.

"And, um, you're my co-planner. Just telling you now."
I laughed nervously. "You never said anything about it. What's the occasion?"

I mean, you couldn't really blame me for asking WHY I was suddenly preparing Derrick's random bash. Was it…for me?

Okay, I'm a little full of hot air.

"Have you noticed anything about Cam?" Derrick leaned forward, whispering like it was some secret. Which, in fact, it may very well be.

"No." I rolled my gold-dusted eyes. "Am I supposed to?"

Derrick looked frustrated. "What does Cam not have that other guys do?" His look might as well have been Mr. Myer's creepy pre-quiz leer.

I joked. "A life?"

He laughed loudly, almost a male version of Kristen's cackle. The couple in the booth next to us threw us a dirty glance. "Good one. Now really—what else?" His tone was definitely perturbed.

"If you're so frustrated, you could just go ahead and tell me already. We're all waiting." I commented, though there was only one person hanging onto his every word.

"Who?" He snorted. "You and that banana-shaped lump?" He pointed to my hobo tote.

I mimed throwing something at him. "Shut up."

"Guess again—oh, never mind. Cam doesn't have a girlfriend. He doesn't have a crush." Derrick banged the table for emphasis.

I raised my eyebrows and pointed at myself. "So what if he doesn't? And BTW, has he ever told you that he doesn't like anyone?"

Derrick tilted his head as if he was deep in thought. "Not directly, but basically. So this party is going to change that—hopefully. Here's what I had so far." His lips parted to explain, but his phone beat him to it.

When I think about you and me
I get a little weak in the knees
I feel the flutter of the butterflies
Sometimes I can hardly breathe

Vanessa Hudgens bellowed the lyrics to "Vulnerable". I burst out laughing and gasped for breath.

"Shut up. Try to be mature." He hissed, his face a beautiful shade of red-ish pink. I snickered. "Why do you have that for a ringtone? Ehmagawd, that is so gay."

"It's not me. That's the ringtone that Alicia wanted for whenever she call—" His tongue never made it to the "ed". Our eyes grew wide as we realized what it meant. He held up a finger, flipped open his phone, and walked to the restroom for privacy. Damn, I thought, I wanted to hear that conversation.

Rivera Estate
Alicia's Bedroom
N/A (Alicia-Third-Person) POV
5:50 P.M

"Just. Get. Out." Alicia could barely form the words without stumbling over her anger.

"Huh?" Olivia cocked her head like a basset hound.

"Get OUT!" She screamed furiously. All the other girls stepped back in fear.

Olivia began to get the point and walked backwards towards the door, but slowly. Alicia followed, her almond-shaped eyes dangerously narrowed.

Alicia smiled sweetly. "And don't ever call me again. Just go back to that freaking, low-down apartment you wallow in, and don't bother me."

Olivia's lower lip trembled. "It's nawt an apartment, it's almost as big as your stupid house. Get your facts straight." She tried feebly at a comeback.

Alicia almost bared her teeth. "I don't care. GET YOUR BRAIN STRAIGHT!" Olivia tumbled out the exit and Alicia slammed the door behind her.

Kori was so scared she almost sat up straight when the girl came back. Pamela and Strawberry immediately started rubbing circles on her back in an attempt to alleviate her.

After a few minutes, Alicia was able to think clearly enough. Though it's not to say that the realizations that came with the thoughts were pleasant to her.
Everything was falling apart. Weren't alphas supposed to be able to survive when they shed off little pests like LBR's and hangnails? Contrarily, Alicia could only feel herself sinking like the Titanic.

Only one thing to do, Alicia exuded. Eeeergh. Do I have to?

A little voice inside her snootily replied, if you wanna stay on top, YES.

"Girls." Alicia announced. "I'm going to have a very special visitor over soon."

"Don't you mean we're going to?" Pamela piped up.

Alicia flipped open a cute, heart-shaped compact mirror. "No, I meant I'm." Alicia flapped her hand goodbye to her remaining clique.

Sripraphai Thai
A Little Booth Corner
MB's POV
7:00 P.M

"So…" I asked Derrick, my curiosity steaming over the top. "Whatdidshewant?" I could feel my forehead creasing. "Whatdidshesay?"

He was silent.

"Derrick? Is everything okay?" I was concerned.

"Yeah, everything's okay." He paused. "I think."

He looked down at his curry, his lips neither smiling nor frowning. "Leesh—" I hated that nickname. "—called." He stated the obvious. "She apologized and wanted to get back together."

An invisible hand reached for my throat and squeezed. Hard. But I had enough breath to ask. He didn't add any more, so I dared myself. "Derrick…What did you say?" I whispered. The answer was already hanging in my brain. This time, his gaze burned right in my amber eyes.

"Yes, of course. We're together." He broke a light smile that didn't quite reach his deep brown eyes.

All the remaining air I once had rushed out with a quiet whoooosh. Or was that the fan? All my thoughts gave me a headache.

Why the hell are you back with her?!?

Was it an ultimatum?

Ehmagawd! Confused! Ehmagawd! Why—or WTF? Ehmagawd! Jumbled up! Ehmagawd! Why—or WTF?

She's a byotch—you totally know that by now, so no excuses.

How could you? I…I…I'm the one…It's sooo not fair!

Ehmagawd! Sad! Ehmagawd! Don't cry! Ehmagawd! Miserable! Ehmagawd! Don't cry!

Do. You. Actually. L-l-like. Her. Attitude. And. Prissiness?

You're all wrong for her—CORRECTION!—she's all wrong for you.

Ehmagawd! Mad! Ehmagawd! You're crazy! Ehmagawd! Furious! Ehmagawd! You're crazy!

What the freak? YOU're the freak, geek! Ugh, I'm going crazy! Derrick!

"Huh? What, Massie?" Derrick asked my wrinkled nose and forehead.

I closed my mouth, trying to keep it all in. But, without warning, my legs shot up straight. "What the hell, Harrington? Or why the hell?" I burst.

Sometimes, you just can't keep it all in.

"She NEVER treated you right!" My hands waved around manically for emphasis. "She's a total bitch, and I have NO idea how she ever GOT you in the FIRST place! You guys are AWWWL wrong! Shut up!" I shouted to his opening mouth.

Derrick replied hardly through clenched teeth. "No, you shut up! What the fuck is wrong with you? What's your problem? Massie Jillian, it's my business. It has NOTHING to do with you, so just take your bony butt out of it, damn you."

"It has everything to do with my business!" I yelled. "Because I—I—I'm—"

Because I'm in love with you. Because I love you. And more than she ever can. Because I'm the one that knows you.

"What, Massie?" His expression was tired with a crease of vehemence. "Why?"

It was just then that I noticed all the tears streaming down my face. I didn't even care about my make-up at the moment. I stuttered, still managing a booming volume. "Because I'm—your best friend. And I care for you." I pleaded. Not a lie. And BTW, she doesn't care for you. Can't. You. Effing. See. That?!?

Ahh-bviously NAWT!

"Uh-huh." He looked skeptical. "That's it? 'Cause I've definitely had enough arguments for today."

I sat back down. Mental note: Work on better excuses.

"It's not that I don't want to talk about it—I just don't want to do it screaming like a banshee. Is that easy enough to understand?" He asked gently, as if I was a stupid kindergartener unwilling to let go of the mom on the first day of school.

I nodded. Derrick started to talk, but then shook his head. "Maybe I'll just tell you another time."

"What?" I didn't skip a beat. "I thought you just said that—"

"Never mind. I'm confused about it myself. I can't explain what I don't know for sure."

I itched with anticipation. "Can you at least tell me what you're confused about?"

"Just get out of my head." He slid out of the booth. "Let's leave."

"Not until you tell me." I stomped my foot. "P-l-e-a-s-e?" I whined.

"Then you'll be waiting a looong time." He half-smiled. I glowered. "I hate you." I lied smoothly under my breath.

"Au contraire." This time, he really smiled and pointed at his himself. "Best friend, remember?"

My smile faded as I remembered that that was all we were…and now that they were back together again…that might be exactly that forever.

I dug into my bag and pulled out a small tip. Once we were safely on his bike, a thought suddenly occurred in my mind. "Wait—where are we headed?" I asked his pedaling sneakers.

He didn't look back as he replied confidently. "Alicia's, of course. She's helping us with the final details of the party."

I didn't even bother protesting. Derrick went even faster as we rode onto the looming bridge. I just clung onto him for the sake of love and life. I shivered from the cold and fear.

He must've sensed it. "Don't worry." He spoke over his shoulder. "We'll be there in no time."

Uh huh. That makes me feel thaaat much better, Derrington.

Rivera Estate
The Main Foyer
N/A or Various POV
7:30 P.M

A POV— Alicia fluffed her long, glossy hair one more time just as she noticed not one, but two shadowy figures biking towards the gate's broad entrance. Ehmagawd, she thoughtangrily. What the hell is he thinking? It's okay—I need to have another talk with her again anyways.

M POV—Massie could read the girl's furious expression. No duh, she could see her peering at them like Alexa Vega from Spy Kids. But what she was thinking was beyond Massie's knowledge.

D POV—Derrick swallowed. Keep the confidence. Keep the girlfriend, and keep the best friend. Most importantly: Keep a huge catfight from happening. But why couldn't they just be friends? After the summer, they acted almost identical anyways.

Alicia winked at him from behind the glass. Just like that, he almost forgot what he was thinking of again. He grinned back at her.

A POV—Alicia swiped at her eye. Stupid fake eyelashes. She blinked again and grimaced. (AN: LOL. Sorry if you don't get it. She never really winked at him.)

N/A POV—Alicia swung the regal door open, the expression of a peacock on her flawless face.

Derrick waltzed in first. Annoyingly, she pressed her lips against his cheek, leaving Massie feeling wistful.

"So where do you guys want to work? We're hand-making the invitations." Alicia chirped. Massie asked, startled. "Who said that? Or decided that?"

"I did." Alicia strode into the living room, which basically answered the first question of where they were going to work.

Derrick wiped his palms on the side of his shorts and asked way too cheerily. "Any music?"

Alicia took an iTouch out of her pocket. "Any requests?"

Derrick looked at me. "Block?"

She blurted without thinking. "Invisible. Swift." Why was that the song that just popped in my mind. But as the lyrics unwound themselves, and Alicia's frown deepened, the realization hit her.

"And I just wanna show you
She don't even know you…"

Right-In-Front-Of-The-Moving-Truck
Nanami's POV
7:30 P.M

Hey Nickle!

Super-huge sorry for not saying something in…I don't know…FOREVER LOL! The reason? It's huge. I'm moving. I'm in a state of shock bigger than Texas. Dad just got a HUGE offer. One of those "sorry hon', but I just can't turn this one down!" things. So I'm on my way! Of course, there were some things that I hated to give up. But I'm keeping in touch with my friends—thank goodness for e-mail! (BTW, my boyfriend is not counted in the "friends" thing. In fact, I broke up with him =P…)

The good thing is, we're making it a road trip, complete with tourist sites and all that good food :). So driving all the way up to our new home won't be that horrible. The moving people are going to take days to get everything, so the timing should be about correct. It's totally difficult to understand.
I'll give you my address or IM username instead once I get there. How's the drama momma been doing?

ILY + XOXO,

Na(x2)mi

She quickly scribbled the last bit. "Dear, can you hurry just a bit? It's a little cold, isn't it?" Her mother shuddered and coughed into her hand. "We have to get going soon!"

"Mo-ohm, it's South. If you think it's cold now, how will you survive in where we're moving to?" She retorted, then ran all the way down the block, slipped the letter into the narrow slot, ran all the way back to the car. She slammed the door shut.

"Let's go." She didn't look back. Goodbye, hometown!

Her mom sneezed.

KPBS
Entrance Gate
CAS's POV
5:00 A.M

"Ashlyn." Alexa nudged the sleeping body. "Wake up." Her accent sounded strangely crisp.

"I don't waaaant to." Ashlyn mumbled.

"Pleeeeaaase?" When nothing happened, Alexa said loudly. "If you don't get up soon, you're going to get a total case of bed-head. And think of how impressed Suh-leeeena would be with that?"

That did it. Ashlyn was up. Her honey-blonde hair fell right in her face the second she straightened. Alexa sighed and handed her a much-needed comb.

"Why did ya wake me up anyways? I know you don't really give a damn about my hair. Or Selena." Ashlyn growled.

"Zoe Ashlyn Sloane!" Their mother barked through the so-called "soundproof" glass. "L-a-n-g-u-a-g-e!"

They rolled their eyes. "She should spend a year with Macy Martins." Ashlyn whispered.

"Well, you remember that I'm nawt going to be at KPBS this year, right?"

"How could I forget?"

"We're almost there! And it's going to be a whole year! And we're sisters. Correction. Twins. So I'm…gonna miss you."

"Oh." Ashlyn still had a dazed look on her face. "I'm half-asleep, so don't expect any emotion from me."

The limo took a sharp turn around the corner. Both girls tumbled off the leather seats. Once they were steady, they laughed. Ashlyn sighed. "So now that I'm awake, do you have any new ones?"

Alexa bounced in her seat. Finally, some conversation. "It's okay if you don't get it—it's a new one from the States."

"Why wouldn't I get it? We just spent the whole freaking summer there! Just spit it out." Ashlyn jeered and flipped her still-messy hair.

"Okay: I hear what you're not saying/It's driving me crazy/It's like we stopped breathing in this room/We're both the last to be leaving/I know what you're thinki—"

"Easy." Ashlyn scoffed. "Quiet. Lovato." At Alexa's scowl, she added. "But the lyrics kind of fit the moment."

"I didn't even finish it yet!"

"Girls! I mean, Ashlyn! We're here. Paul will get your stuff." The limo stopped and someone opened the right door. Bright sunlight slapped them right across the eyes.

"This is bye-for-now, I guess. Text you." Ashlyn gave her a quick hug and just-like-that, she was gone and the moment was over.

And the next thing you know, you're just a 13-year old girl headed for a place without your family. Headed to a place called Westchester.

Alexa opened up her iPod and turned it to a much-fitting song.

I'm alone, on my own
And that's all I know
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong
Oh, but life goes on
Oh, I'm just a girl, trying to find
A Place In This World

AN: Yep. That stunk. Dude, I'm about all typed-out. For some reason, this felt really short. Oh wait, I know why: because it seemed kind of pointless. But trust me, it's not.

Ahahaha! Alicington is back again, for those of you who thought it was over. Sorry. :'(. Not time yet. Speaking of time, doesn't everyone just LUUUUUUHHHHH-VE THIS TIME OF YEAR?!? Merry Christmas!

I know that that short excerpt of Sloane didn't really cut it, but that was the best I could come up with in order to post it before Christmas. Oh!—I remember that I said that I would list three thing-a-tings about her. Yeah—thing-a-tings, me and my w-e-i-r-d espressions! But you gotta love 'em ;) Actually, you might've already picked them up from her short excerpt in the chapter.

Alexa is notreally from the USA. Last year, and only for that year, she went to a boarding school in Europe. That's why it says "KPBS", for those of you that might actually read the things that tell you where, POV, and time. There's a girl named Selena (Alpha Alert!) that she doesn't really like, but Ashlyn does.

For reasons that are not going to be mentioned right now, she obviously isn't going there with her sister. She's going to BOCD. You def. should have been able to figure that one out. When she arrives in NY, her parents aren't going to be there with her. Nor is her sister. Her house is not that big, but trust me, it's posh x1000 :D.

No, for those of you that are wondering, I don't have plans for her to end up with any one like Cam, Josh, Plovert, Kemp, etc. (BTW, Josh is still not there yet. There shouldn't have been any mention of him so far. Feel free to double check and tell me.)

Hmm…those turned out to be three loooong things. Did they help? At all? Here's an appearance FYI:

She has blonde hair, just like her sister. Honey-blonde. Gray-Hazel eyes, but a teeny bit greyer than the other. Of course, she prefers to call it "smoky hazel". (Ohh, the excuses girls dream…sorry) She has big doe eyes. (Think Jayma Mays from Paul Blart: Mall Cop)

Kristen's a shortie, so she's taller than K. I don't know if they ever mentioned Dylan as short or tall…but seeing as she's size 6-or-4, I'll assume that D is tall. So taller than Massie, who is taller than Kristen, but shorter than Dylan, but just barely.

One last thing (-a-ting =D) : M.E.R.R.Y C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S!!! And hApPy NeW yEaR, because I seriously doubt I'll get another chapter up by then!

ILY (!!!!!),

Chocó prep a.k.a KLU