A/N: Life is so good, y'all! I'm writing another chapter, I've got a glass of Caffeine-free Pepsi, I've got sugar going through my veins from my pint of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, and I'm listening J.C.'s Schizophrenic! This is the best day ever! *clears throat* Anyways, back to the story.

Chapter 13: Uh-oh!

I got back to my dorm pretty late. When I went in, I was bombarded with the flashing light on the answering machine. Four messages. I rolled my eyes in complete annoyance. I walked over to the electronic device and pushed a button.

"Hi, you've reached Lil and Randa's. We can't answer the phone right now, so leave your name and digits after the beep and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Choi." The machine let out a beep.

"Hey, Lil. It's Randa. I'm sorry I blew up at you this morning. I'm staying at Nick's tonight, so when you're ready to talk, call me, okay? Love you, hun! Bye."

I pressed the erase button and waited for the next voice to fill the dark room.

Beep "Hey, Lil. It's Adam. Haven't seen you lately in history. Where were you today? Look, give me a call when you get in, okay? Love you, sweetie. Later, baby."

I wiped the tears off my face and angrily pushed the erase button. Then came the message I was dreading the most.

Beep "Lillian, it's your father. When you get this message, you call home immediately. Your mother and I would like to talk to you."

I shook my head in angst and erased that one as well.

Beep "Lilly, it's Chris. Say hello." I heard rustling in the background. "Hi, Lil. It's Rick, too." "Thank you," Chris said, then continued. "Lil, we're worried about you. If you have time-" "Yeah, if you're not too busy doing your new boy toy… OW!" "Anyway, Lil, if you have time, Rick and I would like to talk to you. Meet us at Mike's Pizza at eight. Bye, sis."

I looked at the machine in shock. Chris had actually talked Rickie into meeting me. I looked up at the machine. It read 7:30. If I hurried I could make it. I erased the message and grabbed my keys, then walked out the door.

*****

I walked into the pizzeria Adam and I had gone to for our first "date." I looked around the big dining room. My brothers were in the back corner booth. I went to their booth.

"Lil!" Chris stood up as I approached. He reached out and gave me a hug. "How you doing, hun?"

"I'm okay." I returned his embrace and looked at Rickie who was still sitting in the booth. He'd barely even look at me. "Rick." I sat down across the table from where Chris was now sitting.

"Lil." He nodded in my direction.

"What's up?" I asked, taking my coat off and putting it on the seat next to me.

"Well, we've been noticing you've been kind of out of it lately. Are you sure you're okay?" Chris looked so concerned.

I couldn't help what I did next. I laid my head on the table and began to quietly sob. "No, I'm not okay!"

"Uh, um, well…" Rick was stuttering.

I looked up at him. He looked uncomfortable and concerned at the same time. I wiped some of the tears off my face. Then I half-smiled at him.

"Rickie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you by dating Adam, but I really care about him." I looked out the window, staring off into space. "He's really sweet, you know?"

"Yeah, I know you really like him." Rick sounded cold and distant now. I looked at him. His face was contorted in anger. "I just don't trust him, you know?"

Chris glanced back and forth between the two of us. Then he cleared his throat and stood up. "I think I'll go up to the counter and place our order while you two talk things over." Then he was gone.

"Rick, are you jealous of Adam?" I asked it quietly, not even really considering it as a possibility.

"I guess I am." He shook his head in disbelief. "It's just, I've been so busy worry about the stupid Ducks coming to Eden Hall that I ignored you. I thought maybe it was my fault."

It was, you dummy. "It's not your fault, Rickie." I bit my lip in thought. Then I looked at him. "Hey?" He glanced up. "Did you know I came here before I called Adam back? Even before I called Mom and Dad? You're always number-one on my list, Rickie. Well, you and Chris."

He looked at me skeptically. "Really?"

"Yeah, always. You're my big brothers. I love you two big lugs more than anything." I smiled at him.

"Same here, Lil." He smiled back.

We started to talk animatedly about Eden Hall and the faculty. Chris came back with the drinks, a waitress right behind him with the pizza. He looked from me to Rick and back again.

"Everything sorted out?" He smiled.

"Yeah," Rickie said. "I think so."

"Definitely." I nodded in agreement. Then I looked hungrily at the pepperoni pizza in front of me. "Let's eat. I've not had anything to eat all day!"

The three of us had the best time, chowing down, and chatting up a storm. It was almost like old times. There were still awkward moments, like when I'd try and share funny stories about Adam, but all in all, it was great.

The boys split the bill, since I didn't have my purse. We left the pizzeria in laughter.

"Whew!" Rick exclaimed. "I am glad that's over."

"Me, too!" I laughed, skipping ahead, then turning around to walk backward in front of them.

"And to think I thought you were going out with Banksy to get even with me!" Rick laughed.

"Didn't she tell you? She wa-" Chris stopped when I shot him a dirty look.

Rick looked from my face to Chris's. His grin slowly faded. Then he glared at me.

"Lillian, did you start flirting with Banksy to get back at me for neglecting you?"

I somewhat chuckled. "Rickie, don't be absurd." I started to walk again.

"Lillian! Why don't I believe you?" Rick walked up to me and blocked my path. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you weren't scamming everyone you know."

I looked up and saw Rickie with his hands on his hips: his eyes were demanding an answer.

"Well, kind of." I felt like dirt.

"What does 'kind of' mean, exactly?" Rick was practically shouting.

"Well, Myranda knew." I looked at my feet in shame.

"Oh, my God, Lillian!" Rick threw his hands into the air and turned away. He looked back at me. "Have you told him yet?"

"No, not yet." I glanced at Chris, sending him a mental message saying he was dead.

"Stop sending me that look, Lil. You should have told him." Chris shrugged and leaned against a nearby fence.

"Lil, you've got to tell him. Soon." Rick looked seriously at me.

"I know! But he'll never trust me again. And…" I paused and looked at Chris who nodded encouragingly. Then I looked sadly back at Rick. "And now I really care about Adam. Like really." I sighed. The tears were coming back. I just couldn't get rid of them! "What do I do?"

Rick grabbed me in a hug, and Chris soon joined in. They tried to calm me down so we could discuss it, but no dice. Instead, they just walked me back to my dorm and put me to bed.

As I was drifting off to sleep, I couldn't believe all the pain being a troublemaker could bring. I almost lost my brother. But most of all, I could lose Adam forever.

A/N: MM-hmm. What's going to happen next? I know!! Until next time, loyal reviewers (keep reviewing!)! Bye! ~Nellie~