A/N: Here's the next chapter! Thank you for all the feedback. I really appreciate it!!!
Thank you to Ava and HorseLover20693 for your help in this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own made up characters!
October 3rd, 2031 4:30 pm (Mack's POV)
I had been back to school for the past two weeks and luckily I was having a good time getting back into the swing of things. My friends were really supportive and understanding when I needed my space. Brandon was great if I needed a timeout from school. He would surprise me with little things if I was having a bad day.
I hobbled into the house and quickly found myself going towards the kitchen.
"Hey Mack how was your day at school?" Mom asked as I
gave her a look.
"It was good. Mrs. Thompson was being a bitch again." I said as mom gave me a look.
"That old hag is still there? Your dad and I had her for English our junior year." Mom said as I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah the old hag is still there. She yelled at me because I didn't turn in my paper." I said looking at her.
"Well did you?" Mom asked as I nodded my head.
"Yeah I did; she filed it away and forgot about it. I had to go to Principle Miller and get her to talk to Mrs. Thompson." I said as mom shook her head.
"You've got a few more months then you'll never see her again." Mom told me.
"Knowing her, she'll still be teaching when I send my children to East." I said as mom laughed.
"That's probably true." Mom said as I rolled my eyes.
"What else happened today? Anything exciting?" Mom asked me as I nodded.
"Josh was talking to the Backgangers." I said looking at her.
"And who are the Backgangers?" Mom asked confused at the group's name.
"They're the worst group at East High. They make you do a bunch of stuff before they'll let you into their group. Once you're in their group, you can only hang out with them." I said looking at her.
"And Josh was hanging out with them or just talking to them?" Mom asked me.
"I saw him talking to them. I mentioned something to Emily and Miranda. They both said they would talk to him." I said mentioning Ryan and Brooke's daughter as well as Sharpay's daughter.
"Your father and I will talk to him. Meanwhile why don't you try talking to him?" Mom suggested as I shook my head at her.
"Sure mom I would be honored." I said as she smiled at me.
"Good. Now what are you up to tonight?" Mom asked me as I rolled my eyes.
"How pathetic am I that I have no plans for a Friday night?" I asked rolling my eyes.
"It's good that you don't have anything going on. You don't need to be out all the time." Mom said looking at me.
"But I don't wanna be home. Belle, Aidan, and Josh all have plans. Even the younger ones have plans. I'm the only one home tonight." I said looking at her.
"Belle is going out with Josh tonight; Josh and Miranda are hanging out at her house; and Aidan's got a date with Carly." Mom said looking at me.
"Wait, Josh Danforth is who Belle's been hanging out with?" I asked as my voice raised considerable.
"I thought you knew her tutor was Josh?" Mom asked looking at me.
"She wouldn't tell me. Are you telling me that the two of them are dating?" I asked looking at her with wide eyes.
"They most certainly are together but strictly as friends." Mom said as I smiled.
"I never saw it coming." I told her shaking my head.
"Your father and I didn't either but she's happier so we are too." Mom said as I smiled.
"That's cool." I told her smiling.
She looked at me again before leaving the kitchen as I put my head on the table. I heard the door slam before picking my head up and looking at who just entered the kitchen.
"Hey how was school today?" I asked looking over at Belle as she went to the fridge and pulled it open.
"It was all right. How was school for you?" Belle asked me as I smiled.
"Mrs. Thompson was a bitch again today." I said rolling my eyes.
"That's what Aidan said too. I don't feel a bit sorry that the woman has all four of us for English." Belle said as I grinned.
"Now that I think about it, neither do I." I said shaking my head.
We stayed quiet for a couple of minutes while I saw how happy my sister was. The grin never left her face.
"Hey Belle, why didn't you tell me?" I asked looking over at her.
"Tell you what?" She asked while grabbing the juice out of the fridge.
"Why didn't you tell me you were crushing on Josh?" I asked looking over at her smiling face.
"I don't know. I didn't want you totally freaking out. Josh and I are really good friends. We're not ready to start dating yet." Belle told me as I smiled.
"That's really good Belle. Congratulations." I said looking over at her.
"Thanks. It's something new but we're getting comfortable with this." Belle told me.
"Don't rush into anything. Wait until your 16 to really start dating him." I said looking at her.
"Thanks Mack. What are you doing tonight?" Belle asked me.
"I have no plans. Brandon's going out with his friends so that leaves me at home." I said fake crying.
"Aww you poor baby. I'm sorry but Josh and I are going out tonight." Belle said as I smiled.
"I guess I'll have to sit here lonely with mom and dad." I said shaking my head.
"You'll live. Have you talked to Josh?" Belle asked me as I shook my head.
"No but he was talking to the Backgangers earlier today. I told Emily and Miranda but I haven't talked to him myself." I said looking at her.
"I saw him too and I was going to have Aidan talk to him but haven't talked to him yet." Belle told me.
"I just hope he doesn't get caught up in the wrong crowd." I said shaking my head.
"That's the last thing Josh needs." Belle said as movement in the backyard caught my attention.
"Josh and Miranda are out in the back." I said as she shook her head.
"I see that. Wanna spy?" Belle asked as I laughed.
"Nah I've got a history paper that isn't going to write itself. Have fun and be careful tonight." I said looking at her.
"Thanks Mack. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow morning." Belle said as I hobbled upstairs and into my room.
Josh's POV
"What's up Miranda?" I asked looking up from my place in the gazebo that was in the backyard.
"I need to talk to you. Mack stopped me in the hallway earlier today." Miranda said looking over at me.
"And what did my older sister enlighten you about?" I asked scooting over so she could sit next to me in the gazebo.
"She saw you talking to the Backgangers. She wanted me to talk to you about them." Miranda said taking my hand in hers.
"Let me guess, Mack's worried about me?" I asked looking over at her.
"She and I are both worried. I've heard the horrible stuff they do. I'm worried about you." She said looking at me with fear in her eyes.
"They were just talking. Everything they said went in one ear and out the other." I said rubbing my thumb over her knuckles.
"Are you sure, Josh? I don't want you to get caught up in something that you don't need to be." Miranda said as I looked at her.
"Miranda, I'm going to be fine. I got great friends and most importantly, I have you. I know the bad news the Backgangers are and I'm not interested." I said watching a small smile creep onto her face.
"I don't want anything happening to you. You're my best friend." Miranda said as I kissed her forehead.
"You're mine too. What are you doing tonight?" I asked looking over at her.
"Nothing much. Why? Do you want to do something?" Miranda asked me.
"I was thinking about it. How about we hang out?" I asked looking over at her.
"Sounds good. How about dinner at my house and then we'll see from there?" Miranda asked as I smiled.
"Sounds good to me. Let me tell mom and I'll meet you on the porch." I said running into the house.
Belle's POV
"Where's the fire?" I asked watching Josh run through the house.
"Where's mom?" Josh asked stopping and looking at me.
"She went upstairs to see what the twins were doing." I said pointing up the back stairs of the house.
"Thanks. Have fun tonight." Josh said before I watched him run up the stairs.
I shook my head before walking up the stairs Josh had just disappeared. I heard Mack's music pumping as I walked past her room. I saw Aidan's door open and peaked my head in.
"Hey how's it going?" I asked leaning against the door frame and watching my brother move around the room with style.
"It's going pretty good. How's it going for you?" Aidan asked slicking his hair back.
"Not too bad. Got plans tonight?" I asked smiling at him.
"Yeah; I'm going over to Carly's for dinner. What are you and Josh doing?" Aidan asked me.
"We're going to a party that the basketball team is throwing." I said as his eyes went wide.
"Do mom and dad know?" Aidan asked as I walked in and sat in his desk chair.
"They know I'm going out with Josh but they don't know where." I said as his eyes went wide.
"Belle that's not a good idea. Do you know what goes on at those parties?" Aidan asked looking at me.
"I know there is alcohol there but I'm not stupid Aidan." I said rolling my eyes at him.
"I know you're not but there are also drugs there. Be careful and do not leave Josh's side the entire night." Aidan said looking over at me.
"Jeez Aidan calm down. I promise I won't leave Josh's side all night!" I said holding up two fingers as a promise.
"Good now have fun and be careful." Aidan said as I nodded.
"Have fun with Carly. When are you going over there?" I asked him.
"Not until 7. What time is Josh coming?" Aidan asked me.
"He'll be here at 5:45 and then we're going to dinner before making an appearance at the party." I said as he nodded.
"Sounds good. You better go get ready. It's all ready 5:30." Aidan said looking at the clock on his night stand.
"Thanks Aidan." I said before walking out of his room and down to my own.
"Mackenzie!" I yelled while lying on my bed staring up at the ceiling.
It took her a few minutes but she ended up standing in my doorway with an annoyed look on her face.
"What do you want?" Mack asked propping her foot out.
"What do I wear tonight?" I asked looking at my older sister for advice.
"How about jeans and a long sleeve shirt? That'll look cute." Mack said as I shrugged.
"Which shirt? And how should I wear my hair?" I asked looking over at her.
"You never were like this until a boy came into your life. Brush your hair and leave it down and the red shirt in your closet." Mack said as I nodded.
"Thanks Mack. Did you find anything to do tonight?" I asked her as she smiled.
"Brandy, Brittany, and Ericka are coming over and we're having a girls' night." Mack said happy.
"That's good. Have fun tonight." I said before hearing the doorbell ring.
"I'll go stall him. You finish getting ready." Mack said before hobbling down the hallway.
I put a clean pair of jeans and the red shirt Mack picked out on before going and standing in front of the mirror. I ran the brush through my hair before putting some chap stick on and smiling.
I shoved my clogs on before walking downstairs. I saw dad and mom both talking to Josh.
"There you are. Ready to go?" Josh asked turning and smiling at me.
"Yeah I am. I've got my cell phone and I'll see you guys later." I said looking at my parents.
"No later than midnight, Belle." Dad said as I nodded.
"I'll have her home before that, Troy." Josh promised before I smiled up at him.
Josh held out his hand that I took as we stepped out into the cool autumn night. Josh led me to his car and helped me inside. I put my seat belt on and sighed before looking over at Josh with a smile on my face.
Aidan's POV
I watched Belle and Josh take off for the party. My stomach had been in knots all day since Josh told me where he was taking Belle tonight. I knew the basketball parties were the worst parties ever but I trusted my best friend with my little sister.
"Are you ready for your date?" Mack asked leaning against my doorframe staring at me.
"Yeah and a little nervous. Are you ready for your girls' night?" I asked teasing her a little.
"All we're doing is gossiping about guys and watching chick flicks all night. What's more than that?" Mack asked as I laughed.
"You'll have fun. Did Belle tell you where they were going?" I asked looking over at her.
"She just told me they were going out tonight. Do you know where they're going?" Mack asked with one eye raised in suspicion.
"They're going to the basketball party." I said as her mouth dropped.
"I wonder if mom and dad know about this?" Mack asked as I shook my head.
"She conveniently forgot to tell them that little detail." I said as Mack's mouth dropped.
"You're going to have to tell them. Belle could be in danger." Mack told me as I shook my head.
"You and I both know that but Belle doesn't know the danger she could be in." I said as we heard movement outside the door.
"What master-mind plan are the two of you coming up with?" Mom asked popping her head into the room.
"We're just talking." I said as mom's eyes went wide.
"You two never just talk. What's going on that I need to know about?" Mom asked as I looked over at Mack. I gave her the younger brother look which she threw back.
"Aidan has something he needs to tell you." Mack said quickly before mom's eyes diverted their attention to me.
"What's going on Aidan?" Mom asked giving me her patent mother's look.
"Belle didn't exactly tell you where they were going tonight. Or I should say she lied." I said looking at mom.
"What do you mean she lied?" Mom asked her voice gaining more power with each word.
"They weren't just going out to dinner. They were going to the basketball team's party that is being held at the Davidson's household." I said looking at her.
"She said they were going to a party." Mom said as Mack and I both traded looks.
"A party where there'll be alcohol and drugs?" Mack asked butting into the conversation.
"She left those out. Troy!" Mom yelled as Mack and I looked at each other worriedly.
"What Gabi? What's going on up here?" Dad asked coming into the room.
"Did Belle tell you where her and Josh were going?" Mom asked looking at dad.
"She just said they were going out to dinner and then some friends were getting together for a little party. Why?" Dad asked looking at Mack and me and then mom.
"That little party is actually a basketball team party with alcohol and drugs." Mom said as dad's eyes went wide.
And a lovely cliffhanger to top it all off!!!! It had to be done. How do you think Troy is going to react??? Feedback and ideas are always welcomed!!! Thank you to everyone who has submitted feedback!