They all came in the front door. Larson said, "Welcome back to Lara's."

"I got dibs on Lara's room," Kurtis called, bolting up the stairs.

"Oh fish sticks."

"No!" Lara yelled. She fell on the stairs and tried to grab his legs, nut missed. She got up and went in her room; he was sitting on her bed. "Get off."

Kurtis said, "I'll share with you."

"I don't care. Get off."

"You know you want me to sleep here."

Larson said, "Lara, according to the 'Larson Handbook' your horoscope says you should sleep with Kurtis."

Lara narrowed her eyes and said, "In what way?"

"Both."

"Larson, shut up."

Kurtis said, "What's the 'Larson handbook'?"

Larson said, "It's the guide on the rules and ways of living like a Larson."

"What if no one wants to be like you?"

Larson laughed, "Are you kidding? Everyone wants to be like me!"

"I don't."

"You don't count." Larson glared at him.

Lara said, "Well, while you two bond, I'm going to put the Iris back." She left the room.

Larson waited 'til he heard a door open, then turned to Kurtis and said, "You two should get together."

"That thought had crossed my mind," Kurtis said with a grin.

"I mean, I always knew Lara had a thing for me, but obviously she likes you better."

"I don't think she likes you very much."

"That's what the 'Larson Handbook' says. It also says you need to shave."

"Gimme that damn thing!"

"No!" Larson ran away with the book. Kurtis walked down the stairs just as Lara was walking out of one of her many secret rooms. The butler was still trying to get away form the door.

Lara said, "What happened to Larson?" Kurtis shrugged.

"Uh," the butler said, "Can I make a rap about you guys?"

"No," they both answered. Larson could be heard trying to sing and play the piano, of course, he sucked at both. Lara shook her head.

Kurtis said, "Lara, wanna show me your secret rooms?"

"No, not really," she said without hesitation. "Wanna go tell Larson to shut up?"

"Uhh . sure." He went into the music room; Larson was still singing and banging on the piano. "Larson, shut up."

Larson glared at him and said, "Don't interrupt my singing."

"I have to. You suck."

"I bet you can't sing."

"I don't want to sing. I want you to shut up and so does Lara."

"Get Lara in here. I want to talk to her."

"Whatever." Kurtis walked out into the hall and called to her, "Lara! Larson wants to talk to you."

Lara said, "Alright." She went into the music room and called back, "Go talk to the butler or something." Kurtis sat on the stairs and watched the butler. He was halfway to the stairs.

"Uh," the butler said. "Do you, uh, like me?"

"No, not really."

"Uh, why not? I'm a cool, uh, hip-hoppin' rapper with a big, wrinkl-"

"Ok, ok. Shut up. I don't need to hear that. Can I ask a stupid question?"

"Uh."

"How old are you exactly?"

"Uhh ." The butler stood there thinking about it for a while. Kurtis sighed. The butler finally answered, "Uh, I'm not sure. I can't remember when, uh, I was born." Kurtis stood up and went up the stairs. Lara came out of the music room; she walked toward Kurtis.

Kurtis said, "You know the strangest people-" Lara interrupted him with a kiss. He just stood there, not wanting to give her a reason to suddenly get mad and pull away. He grabbed her arms, she was standing away from him and leaning so far in he thought she was going to fall. She broke off the kiss. Kurtis said, "What was the reason behind that?"

Lara smiled and said, "I get $50."

"What?" She laughed at him and walked away. Kurtis looked at Larson. "What?" Larson shook his head and went back to the piano. Kurtis followed him. "Tell me."

Larson said, "I bet her, uh, . $20 she wouldn't kiss you."

"I thought she said 50."

"Oh. Oh yeah, I mean 50."

"You're not very convincing." Larson just shrugged. Kurtis walked away to think about it.