An hour after Drake the Dork called, the phone rang again and this time it was Xander. Unfortunately for me, I was the only one home. Janice ended up going out to dinner with some of her snotty friends and neither my mom nor Rob was home yet from work. The first 3 times he called, I hung up on him. The fourth time it was my Aunt Lisa looking for my mom and then the fifth time it was Xander again. I decided to let him speak or else I'd never get my assignment done.

"What do you want Alexander?"

I asked as I sat at my desk working on my English assignment.

"Aw c'mon Dodger. You know I don't like being called by my real name."

"Well you're the one who didn't tell me about a cousin in the ELEVEN," I screamed this part. "In the ELEVEN years that we have known each other. I thought you and I told one another everything!"

"It's not my fault you didn't recognize him. Remember, he was the one who started calling you the Dodge Ball Queen."

"Yes I remember. I figured it out during English today. To think, Dork boy was the one who started my nickname."

Then I realized what I had just done. I had called Xander's cousin the nickname I had come up with to his face.

"What did you just call him? Did you just call him Dork boy?"

I could sense the anger entering Xander's voice and this was not good.

"Listen I'm sorry. You know how I get when I'm mad at someone. I give them a nickname."

Silence. That was never a good sign with Xander.

"Please say something. I'm sorry I called him that and I'm sorry I've been a bitch lately. I've been really stressed with the Halloween dance and I almost had another attack this morning."

I knew that the last bit would get his attention. Whenever I nearly have an attack, he gets all motherly on me. I listened for a response but I didn't hear any. All I heard was the click of the phone hanging up. This is not good. I sat at my desk trying to focus on my assignment when the doorbell rang. I pulled myself up from my chair and went to answer it. It turned out I had a little surprise waiting for me. At the door was Xander. I didn't bother to say anything but I just opened the door and let him in.

"So do you forgive me? I know that I was being a bit of a bitch today and yesterday but with the Halloween dance coming up and the English assignment I've been a bit cranky. Janice also didn't make my day any easier when she let the mutt into my room. I guess with Drake going to my spot it just got on my nerves even more so I lashed out."

Xander looked at me with a straight face. He wasn't budging so I gave him the old style movie actress eye lashing. It gets him every time into a laughing frenzy. So I posed myself like Marilyn Monroe, looked at him and batted my eyelashes. Once I was done his laughter filled the air so I knew that I was forgiven. I gave him a hug and we agreed that what had happened in that past day should be forgotten.

"So how are you feeling? Once you said that you nearly had another attack, I decided to forgive you."

"I'm feeling better. Janice let her dumb mutt into my room this morning. My guess it was payback for scaring the shit out of her last night. When I came home, she was snooping in my journal yet again."

We walked up to my bedroom for some privacy in case anyone in my family was to come home. Xander was the only guy allowed past the stairs since my mother has known him for over a decade. Rob had a big problem with it though. He had met Xander only once in the time that he and my mom dated but that was because I had tried to keep Xander away. Well two months after Rob and Janice moved in and I had moved back home, Rob ended up finding Xander in my room.

~*~Flashback~*~*

I was sitting on my bed reading a book for my English Class. Xander and Holly were in my class this year so they were coming over so we could work on a seminar. Xander was already there but Holly was running late. My guess is that her mom isn't home yet. Xander and I are facing one another cause he's leaning up against one of the posts. I was lucky that Janice was over at her mom's for the week so we didn't have to be bothered. Rob and my mom were out somewhere and I don't really care.

"Hey Audrey."

I cringed at the name I was born with. Now don't get me wrong, I like Audrey Hepburn for whom I was named after but the only people to use it are my mom and my granny. I looked at Xander and gave him the death glare that I had learned at a young age for those who made fun of my name.

"Oops sorry Dodge. I've been slipping into calling you that a lot lately haven't I?"

I just nodded.

"Well I've been watching a lot of Audrey Hepburn movies and you sort of look like her. That's why I've been calling you by your real name."

"Well don't okay? My mom and granny call me that so it's bad enough hearing it said by them, I don't need it from a friend."

"Okay, okay. Listen, I was wondering how exactly we're going to present the seminar."

I groaned and moved my paper with the whole set up on it over to Xander. He looked at it and was overcome by confusion.

"You still don't get it do you?"

He shook his head. I slid across the bed and sat next to him. Our book that we had chosen to do our seminar on was about the Newsboy strike in 1899. All 3 of us would dress like newsboys. Holly would put her hair under the hat in order to look like a boy. I was lucky since I always kept my hair short enough to put behind my ears. I had the movie the "Newsies" so we would play the beginning of it where Max Casella talks about how it started. Then we would talk about what actually happened during the strike.

"Okay I get it now. That's good."

Xander leaned over and gave me a hug for helping him understand. Sometimes it takes him awhile but when he does get it he's really, really smart. Just then a knock came at the door and I figured it was Holly since I always told her that if I don't answer the doorbell to come straight in. So while in mid-hug I yelled,

"C'mon in. Door's unlocked."

Unfortunately it wasn't Holly. It was Rob.

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING???? Young man, get out of my house this instant."

His house? Yeah right.

"Rob! This is my friend Xander. He's over here working on an English seminar."

"Oh yeah sure. That's what he says but I know what boys want."

"Listen to yourself Rob! We're only in grade 9 and we're best friends. Neither of us has that sort of thing that you're implying on the mind. Xander's been in MY room tons of times over the years. Mom lets him. And plus, this isn't your house. This is mom's house cause she's the one who pays the mortgage."

"Well we'll see what your mother has to say about this. I'm surprised at you. You have to set an example for Janice. You were lucky she wasn't home."

With that he stormed out of the room to get my mother. Xander and I looked at one another and then my mother and Rob came back in.

"What are you going on about Hun? What strange boy trying to seduce my daughter."

My mom then looked at whom Rob was talking about and laughed.

"Hun, that's just Alexander. I've known him since the two of them were in grade one. He and Audrey are nothing more than friends. He's been in her room tons of times for sleepovers with Holly or for homework."

"But have they ever been alone together. I saw them hugging one another. I think that she should lose privilege of this room."

"Rob, I was explaining to him what exactly we're doing for a seminar. He was just thanking me. Plus Holly is coming over soon. Her mom's probably."

Just then Holly ran up the stairs.

"Hi Dodger. Hi Xander. Sorry I'm late. My mom's car broke down again."

I stood there with a smirk on my face as Rob stormed out of the room. When he first moved in and saw the attic room, he wanted it for Janice but then my mom said that it was mine. He said that in order for Janice to adjust, she'd need a bigger room and mine was the biggest. My mom just said that my father had built the room for me when I was young so that it was mine always. I was glad that my mom was sticking up for something's of my dad's.

~*~*End of Flashback~*~*

Ever since that little incident 3 years ago, Rob has stayed out of my room. I don't have much to say for Janice though. She's in there at least twice a day.

"So what are you up to?"

Xander asked as he plopped down on the bed. I took my desk chair and sat in it the backwards way.

"I was trying to work on my English assignment but that's not due until mid- November so I'm taking my time. What I really need to work on is the Halloween Dance theme. I found out during English that once again I'm in charge of everything. With this year being my last, I thought we'd have a really cool theme. There isn't going to be a carnival cause of last year's incident."

Xander agreed and the two of us set to trying to figure out some type of theme. My mom and Rob came home from work and my mom said that Xander could eat over for dinner if he wanted to. We were just having leftovers anyways.

"That's okay. I need to get home anyways. It's my turn to cook dinner since mom's got the late shift at the hospital."

"Okay see ya tomorrow."

"Bye."

With that he was gone but I was still stuck at home. At least Janice wasn't home.

~*~*The next day~*~*

Xander's POV

I'm glad that Dodger and I aren't fighting. It gets really lethal when we do. I walked to my locker to see that Dodger was there with a giant grin on her face.

"Well you look happy this morning what's up?"

I opened my locker and pulled out my books for first class.

"Last night I got a perfect idea for the Halloween dance. I know it's a bit overrated but who cares. It's classic."

I stood there waiting for her to tell me but she didn't. This was bugging me.

"Well what is it?"

"A masquerade dance. We haven't done that type of dance at this school since the 80's. I checked the yearbooks. It would be perfect and when the dance ends, everyone unmasks himself or herself. So what do you think??"

I stood there for a minute. I already knew what my costume would be so I didn't have to worry about a mask and the idea hadn't been used in awhile so why not?

"Yeah that idea sounds great. We can start on the posters today right?"

"Well I have to pass it with the principal first and if she says yes then we're a go! Well I've got to go tell Holly so I'll see ya later."

She hugged me and went off. This was going to be easier then we thought. If the party is a costume one then Drake can get Christian, Aaron, Gabe and Trey into the dance without a problem. I walked down the hall and headed for my class whistling "King of New York." Man does she rub off on me. I shook my head and continued for my class.

~*~*During lunch with Drake and Janice, who knew? ~*~*

Drake's POV

Now Janice was a bit extreme with what to do about Dodger. I didn't want to hurt her but I wanted her to pay for saying no to me. We met up on the 3rd floor knowing that neither Xander nor Dodger would be there during lunch. Janice had told me that Dodger was somewhat scared of this floor but not because it was dark, but because it was high up.

'This might actually fit into the plan' I thought to myself. By now everyone knew that the dance was going to be a masquerade so that helps even more. Christian, Aaron, Trey and Gabe would all have masks on so then no one will be able to figure out who they are.

"Will you like be talkin' to them guys you know soon? We'll have to like getting false names for them in order to check them in or else they can't."

"I'll take care of that. I learned how to make them in California. Now we'll have to get her upstairs somehow but for now."

We continued to talk throughout lunch and then got ready for class. English would be very interesting to see what Miss Dodger does.

'I'll need to know what her routine is everyday to figure out the plan entirely.' I thought as I went to class.





I know this last bit is a bit confusing but it's almost 3am on NEW YEAR"S DAY and I'm bushed. I hope all of you had a great New Years and a great upcoming year. Until the next chapter, BYE!