Eight.

Getting back to the house at the end of the tour was something of a relief. The boys were being allowed three days to chill out either there or at home, with their families, before work started again—the longest break they'd had. And they definitely needed it. Even CJ barely had the energy left to bounce.

Alejandro quickly decided to spend his three days off with his family, and said good-bye to the other four guys with barely-disguised relief. None of them took any offense. They all got along fairly well most of the time these days, but they were all at least a little sick of each other by now.

Richard also took off, but only for a day. He did want to visit his father and spend at least a bit of time catching up with Sherman, but he was perfectly happy to avoid his mother and lurk at the group house.

The others basically agreed with him, and visited home, but came back to the house to relax—after all, the house had a game room, a pool, and a basketball court. (Though Chris, now allowed to play, was too bitter to want to do so.) Weisel was running things out of the house office, which put a damper on their fun, but it was clear from the amount of time he spent on the phone and faxing information around that he had something pretty big in the works—which he promised to tell them about as soon as vacation ended.

However, even with the game room and the pool, the boys all had the same favorite pastime: sleeping. The two months of touring had been grueling, and they were all exhausted, and trying to take as much advantage of the break as possible. They knew it was right back to work as soon as it ended, and they'd probably be on another tour (not a mall tour this time, Chris insisted), and sleep was a precious commodity on the tour bus.

But on the last evening of the break, knowing they'd be working at something the next day, Alejandro returned to the house and they all gathered around to hear Weisel make his announcement.

"First off, I'd like to congratulate you boys—Mister Pulitzer is very pleased with the results of the mall tour."

"Does this mean we're being promoted to a real tour now?" Chris muttered.

"Chris, hush," Ms. Alcott put in, striding into the room to join them. Richard groaned slightly.

"I'm glad you brought that up—in fact, you have. A real tour, although a short one, complete with your own opening act."

"Big time," Chris answered, sounding much more pleasant now.

"Who's opening for us?" Nick asked.

"Well," Weisel said, "pending a few contract arrangements, we have a very interesting proposition in front of us. You see, we've been talking with Face Forward—the talent scout agency that put together—"

"That put together Game On, so?" Chris interrupted.

"Exactly." He let it hang in the air. "You see, there's been talk of syndicating the show, and the first season will be on DVD soon—I'm sure your agent and lawyers have informed you of that."

"Yeah…"

"Face Forward would like to promote the DVD with a short reunion tour—the original cast, from season one."

"Whoa," Richard said, kicking Chris as he opened his mouth. "What do you mean? Chris was in the original cast—Chris is in our group. He can't do both, he'd die."

"Yeah," Chris said.

"Are you sure of that? Because we've contacted the other members of the season one cast, and they'd all love to get together again."

"Well, they would," Richard said. "I mean, none of them have careers at this point—Chris does. They're trying to leech off him."

"Worked pretty well for you," Chris commented.

"Yes, and now that it's working, I'd like it to keep working. Which it won't, if Chris dies."

"I wouldn't die," Chris snapped.

"Are you actually considering this?" Nick asked. "I mean—seriously. You'd be doing two shows a day—"

"And learning the dances for them," CJ added innocently.

"Yeah, but the publicity," Chris said. "I mean, seriously, I mean—dances?"

"Well, we'd be dancing. I mean, boybands pretty much have to," CJ explained. "Except on ballads, which suck anyway. But I assume that they'd be using dances too, since half of the show was dancing."

"Well, yeah, but… I mean, I could probably—"

"And Chris, you'd be an opener," Richard added.

"Shut up," he shot back.

"You'd have twice as many rehearsals, which would mean no sleep," Alejandro added.

"Why are you guys so against this!" Chris demanded. "I mean, I'm the one who'd be doing all the work!"

"Because if you fall asleep on stage in the middle of the performance, that wouldn't look so good for us," Richard answered. "And besides, you've got us now. We're going places. Why bother with them?"

Chris shrugged, sulky.

"Look, boys," Weisel said. "Nothing is definite yet—but the cast members are going to be in town tonight for a dinner meeting. Why don't you meet with them, Chris? Talk it over?"

"Uh… Okay," he agreed.

"And either way, you'll be starting the new choreography with Wayne in the morning."

"Great." Chris rolled his eyes.

"Well, that's that, then," Weisel declared. "Chris, your meeting is at seven, at the Garden downtown. Dress formal."

"Uh… can someone give me a ride?"

Alejandro coughed. "I will."

"Thanks." Chris grinned over at him. "You should come meet the cast, I totally forgot you used to watch us!"

"Uh…" Alejandro shrugged. "Sure. I guess."

Chris grinned at him. "They're great, Alex. You'll see."

Alex had been immediately invited to join the cast reunion dinner, as he was wearing a tie and a jacket anyway, and now he was seated with Chris and the other six original cast members. He hadn't needed to be introduced—he knew them from the show, and they knew him as a member of the V-Tones.

Alejandro was getting along with them pretty well, being his usual, quiet self; but Chris wasn't doing nearly so well. He had remembered his first season on the show as almost a utopia, and how close the cast had been, and how much fun they'd had—and meeting everyone years after they'd left the show, he was wondering why.

It had started out fine, everyone shaking hands and hugging and greeting each other warmly. They hadn't really kept in touch, which had been fine with Chris, since he hadn't needed them—there had been other cast members to be close with when they left. And he had stayed friends with Daren, who had been the closest one to his age—but what puberty had done for Chris, it hadn't for Daren, who was now something of a hulking beast. The girls, on the other hand, all looked like copies of Shawna Rivers, complete with dyed blond hair and gobs of makeup. And none of them, nor the other two boys, seemed really comfortable with Chris. Which he sort of understood, since he had gone on to have an actual career, but at the same time it was surprising. They'd been his closest friends and by far the best cast the show had had.

And it was just awkward. Especially because they seemed so old now—Sarah and Jake especially, now in their mid-twenties, as they'd been the oldest cast members at the time.

"So," Caleb, the other boy, commented as he cut into a large slab of steak, "you've done pretty well for yourself, Chris."

"Yeah, well, I mean, we all have—we've worked really hard. And the other guys are so—"

"Chris, we're not reporters," Elisa put in, tossing her pony-tail over her shoulder. "Stop simpering."

He shrugged. "Sorry. Bad habit."

"I can't get over how grown up you look!" Sarah cooed. "You're like a real adult!"

Chris stared at her, and Alejandro snickered, but turned it into a cough, and reached for his water.

"Seriously," Jake added. "You were such a kid when we knew you. You were, like, six."

"I was nine."

"That's still tiny."

"Chris, sweetie, you've got some…" Sarah gestured at her cheek, then reached for a napkin and Chris's face. He ducked.

"Sarah!"

"What?" she asked.

"I'm not a baby, I can take care of my own face."

There was a very brief pause, and then a round of laughter, and Chris gave them all an indignant glare. Even Alejandro was smirking down at his plate.

"What? I'm sixteen! I'm not a kid!"

"Chris, sweetie, stop shouting."

"Stop calling me sweetie!"

"Look," Jake interrupted. "She didn't mean anything by it, it's just weird. You were like our baby brother, just this cute little kid who followed us around—"

Chris was pretty sure he heard Alejandro make a noise that sounded suspiciously like awww, but it was hard to say, as Alejandro was busily wiping his face with his napkin.

"—and it was cute, but you were so young. And… Loud. And hyper."

"Look, I did a lot for a little kid, so I don't know what you're complaining about."

"We're not complaining," the third girl, Tanya, put in. "We're impressed. You're, like, the leader of a boyband—no offense, Alex."

"None taken," he answered amiably.

Chris sighed. "Well, whatever. I'm not a kid anymore."

"No kidding." Sarah glanced over at Alejandro. "He's real mature now?"

"Oh, very." Alejandro nodded seriously, keeping a straight face, and Chris looked slightly relieved. "He's the hardest working guy I know."

"So what would you think of a reunion?" Daren asked.

"I dunno," Chris answered. "I mean, I'd love to get to work with you guys again, you were the best cast the show ever had, but it's not really up to me—and apparently, there are some people who think I couldn't handle two shows at once."

"Well, you'll show them," Tanya noted. "I mean, if this goes through."

"But it would be pretty hard," Chris continued. "To learn everything for two whole shows—I don't think I'd ever get to sleep."

"You know, I don't remember you ever actually sleeping," Jake noted. "I'm pretty sure you used to wake up those of us who were trying to nap on the set."

"Again, I was nine."

"You were such a cute kid," Sarah continued. "Do you remember the time we needed a break from babysitting you—we said we were playing hide and seek, and let you hide for three hours?"

"Yes. Actually, I do remember that." Chris glowered. "I was nine."

"Or the time Jake wanted some time alone and locked you in his dressing room? You idolized him."

"Luckily, I got over that."

Jake laughed. "Okay, I deserved that," he agreed. "But it was funny at the time." He coughed. "Except when you started crying, I mean, that wasn't funny." He shot a look at the others, who all looked like maybe it had been a little funny, and Chris turned to his meal, clearly actively ignoring them.

Alejandro shrugged. "Well, you guys all looked really close on the show," he said. "I mean, if I remember right."

Chris glanced over at him and smiled. He had a sneaking suspicion that Alejandro had the show on tape.

"Well, we were pretty fond of him," Sarah said. "Most of the time."

Chris forced a smile on to his face. "Yeah," he said. "Ditto."

"Okay," Chris said, as they climbed out of the car. "I never want to see them again in my life. Ever."

"They weren't that bad," Alejandro said. "I mean, they did seem to like you."

"They acted like I'm still nine!"

"To be fair, I'm sure I'll still treat Rosalia like a nine year old when she's sixteen."

"That's different. She's your sister."

"And after two months of this band, you're pretty much my brother—I'm guessing it's the same for them."

"Yeah, but…" Chris shrugged. "I'm not a little kid."

"I know," Alejandro said.

"And, uh… I guess, thanks for telling them that stuff. About me being hard working and all."

"Well, you are."

"Yeah, but I know I'm still… You guys treat me like a baby sometimes, too."

"Well, you are the youngest."

"But you didn't act like that around them, you acted like I was… Mature, or something. So… Thanks."

Alejandro smiled. "No problem. I mean, hey—you were nice to Rosalia back when you still pretty much hated me, so it only seemed fair."

"I didn't hate you," Chris answered quickly. "But anyway, I never, ever want to work with them again. Ever. Rich was right, it's not worth it."

Alejandro nodded, and they started to head off to their bedrooms, but Weisel was waiting in the kitchen, not having left for the night yet. "Chris! How'd it go? Everything peachy?"

"Not… Not really," he said. "I don't think it is a good idea—I'd rather not do two shows at once."

"Well, that's a shame. It's a little too late, all the agents and contracts came through. The Game On! rehearsals start in three days. Get some sleep, you'll need it."

Chris groaned, and watched as Weisel left the room, and waited to hear the front door shut.

"God damn it! Damn it damn it damn it!"

Alejandro sighed. "It won't be so bad."

"It will! It'll be awful! It'll be worse than—it'll—Not only do I have to learn twice the choreography, with Wayne, who I hate, but I also have to work with them, who I hate, and I hate learning choreography!"

The rest of the group had come in some time around the last damn it, and were silently watching Chris's temper tantrum. But for a change, no one really blamed him for it.

Chris was lying on the couch, barely awake, not even able to pay attention to the sitcom reruns that were on. He wanted to go to bed, but going to bed would have required moving, and he wasn't sure he was up to that. Moving took a lot of energy.

It had been fifteen minutes since his second rehearsal of the day had ended, and he'd had just enough energy to pull himself from the studio to the living room, where he collapsed on the couch.

He had a dim awareness of people wandering in and out behind him somewhere, and by this point could tell who was who largely by just footsteps, and heard CJ and Nick bound off somewhere to go hang out. Richard stalked through the house to avoid his mother. The members of Game On! had finally left for the day.

More footsteps in the hallway leading to the living room. He perked up a tiny bit, recognizing Alejandro's light tread, but before he could work up the energy to mumble, "Hello," he heard another set of footsteps.

"Hey, Alex!"

And the voice. He hated the voice. And the footsteps. And the human being who created them, though at this point, Chris had trouble believing Wayne was actually a human, and not some sort of evil dancing space robot.

"Hey," Alejandro answered.

"Well, uh… I was about to head off."

"Oh. Have a nice evening."

"I was just thinking…" He hesitated, and Chris was tempted to sit up and yell at him to go away already, but sitting up would have taken energy, too. "Uh, I was thinking. Do you maybe want to go get a bite to eat or something?"

"Uh… Excuse me?"

Chris groaned, but quietly, and shut his eyes. He didn't want to overhear this.

"You know. Dinner… Like, outside the house? Or will your fans mob you?"

Alejandro laughed a little. "I doubt it. See, if it were Chris…"

Wayne laughed. "Poor kid, he's exhausted."

Yes, Chris thought. I am. Go away.

"Yeah… I was gonna ask if he wanted me to bring him a hot pack or dinner or anything, but I can't find him."

Chris almost sat up again, but his muscles ached, and the temptation to hear where this was going between Alejandro and Wayne was too great. He listened instead.

"That's really nice of you, but I think he was heading straight to bed."

"Oh. Uh, well…"

"So what do you say? Dinner?" Wayne laughed.

"Just like… you and me?"

"Well, yes, that was what I had in mind. Don't tell me I'm the first person to ask you out, Alex. You're famous now, you've got to have girls all over you."

"Not… Really… Uh."

"Well?" Wayne asked. "I'm sure you could use the chance to get away from everyone else for awhile."

"I really should check on Chris first—"

"He'll be okay. C'mon, it'll be fun. Let's get your coat."

"Well…" Alejandro cleared his throat. "Uh, okay, I guess. Dinner. Yeah, that sounds okay."

"Awesome." Wayne laughed, and the footsteps started again, both pairs going the other way.

Chris waited to hear the door shut behind them before groaning loudly into the couch cushion, then rolling over and sitting up. "Owwwww. I—owwwww." He collapsed back down onto the couch, wondering if it would be bratty to whine until someone carried him to his room. It wasn't like he weighed that much.

Alejandro probably would have done it, he noted. But Alejandro was out. With Wayne. Chris really, really hated Wayne.

"Heyyyy, Chris!" Richard walked into the room and sat down in one of the chairs, and grabbed the remote. "Are you watching that?"

"Go 'head. Owwww."

"Thanks."

"Owwwwwww. Um, ow."

"Brat."

"I'm not a brat and I do twice the work anyone else around here does!"

"So go to bed."

"I'm not sure I can get up…"

Richard glanced over at him, examining him over the top of his glasses. "You okay, Chris?"

"Do I look okay?"

"You look whiny. Wait, that's always."

"I'm not whining! I've just had a really long, really bad day and I'm tired and no one seems to care! Even Alejandro left."

"He did?"

"With Wayne. He even said he was going to check on me, but Wayne didn't want him to. Wayne didn't care. All he wanted was to get in Alex's pants."

"Whoa, hey, back up. What?"

"Wayne."

"Yeah, got that. Wayne and Alex? Really?"

"Yes."

"Um, you sound a little pissed off about that," Richard noted.

"I hate Wayne."

"Uhh… Because you hate choreography?"

"Yes."

"So it doesn't bother you that he and Alex—"

"Of course it bothers me! Alex is, like, so innocent and Wayne's so sketchy, and it didn't sound like Alex even wanted to go, but Wayne was all, 'come here, little boy, I have candy.'"

"And you're not taking that too personally, you don't think?"

"What are you, my shrink?"

Richard snorted. "Alejandro can take care of himself, I'm sure."

"I'm not sure. He's not used to show biz people. Like Wayne. Who, yeah, spends all of rehearsal staring at his ass, like that's not sketchy either. And no one bothered to tell Alex that that's all Wayne wants, and now you just watch, Alex is going to show up late tonight, traumatized and scared and upset, and—"

"You realize that Wayne isn't actually the Big Bad Wolf, right?"

"He might as well be!"

"Hoooo boy." Richard sat back, looking amused. "Chris, I think we need to have a little talk about what to do when you've got a crush on your bandmate. See, there's the Nick and CJ route—"

"I don't have a crush on anyone!"

"Uh huh."

"I'm just concerned for Alex's wellbeing. I'm a concerned bandmate."

"Sure you are. So how long have you been…. Concerned? About Alejandro?"

"I don't have a crush on Alex!"

"No, no, I got that. You're concerned. Because he's on a date."

"Yes!"

"…With someone other than you."

"Shut up! With Wayne! Do you not get that? Wayne!"

"No, uh, I got it." Richard shrugged. "I got it. You're concerned that Alejandro can't look out for himself when Big Bad Wayne is on the prowl. Poor, innocent little Alejandro, who's two and a half years older than you are, you dope."

"Wayne is practically a pedophile."

"Alejandro is more mature than most adults I know," Richard answered.

"Well, yes, I know that, but he's still not used to people like Wayne, who think that all you need to do to have sex is buy a guy a drink, and—"

"Did you ever think that maybe Wayne actually likes Alejandro?"

"Ha!"

"Or maybe even that Alejandro likes Wayne? I mean, he did say yes, didn't he?"

"Barely!"

Richard sighed. "Look, Chris. Alejandro went out with Wayne, and maybe Wayne is sketchy, but Alex has a good head on his shoulders, and he's not going to get talked into anything he doesn't want to do. Okay? If something goes wrong, I'm sure he'll call here for a ride home. He's a smart guy."

"Well… Yeah, but… I just don't trust Wayne. That's all."

"That's probably because you're tired, and that makes you cranky and bitter."

"You talk like I'm a little kid or something."

Richard raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, shut up. I get enough of that from the idiot Game On! cast. I don't need it from you, too."

"Then maybe you should stop acting like—"

"Shut up, okay? I've had a really long day. I just want to watch a bad sitcom and go to bed."

"Okiedokie." Richard shrugged and tossed the remote back over to Chris, and started out of the room, then paused. "You know, you and Alejandro—it's a shame you don't like him, 'cause it's pretty clear he's had a crush on you since… well, forever, really. And for whatever reason, I think he still does. But that's his business, not mine, anyway. And maybe it's good that he and Wayne went out, since you don't like him. Maybe he's getting over you."

"He…" Chris trailed off, and then rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"Yeah, whatever. Later." Richard walked off, and Chris decided that what he heard from down the hall wasn't a round of hysterical laughter, just Richard clearing his throat, and he turned the volume up on the TV to block it out, anyway.

Alejandro took a deep breath and let himself into the house. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was late, nearly midnight, and he had to be up for the morning rehearsal in seven hours. He hadn't meant to stay out that late, but Wayne had offered to take him to a movie after dinner, and it had been such a long time since he'd really done anything not related to the band that he couldn't resist.

The house was dark, which was fine with him; everyone headed for bed pretty early. They didn't have much of a choice, there was so much work to be done during the day. But down one of the halls was a faint noise, and Alejandro walked towards it and saw that the TV was on in the living room, though the lights were all out, and no one seemed to be there.

He sighed and started towards the TV to turn it off, thinking about how wasteful people could be, but as he glanced around for the remote saw Chris on the couch. His head was lying against one of the arm rests and his glasses were on the floor, looking like they'd fallen out of one of his hands, which was limply hanging out over the edge of the couch. His hair had fallen in his face and he was still wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants from the day's rehearsals.

Alejandro sighed, clicked the TV off, crouched next to him and shook his shoulder. "Chris?" he asked softly. "Chris?"

"Huh—what?" Chris's eyes opened abruptly, and Alejandro handed him his glasses.

"You fell asleep on the couch, I think."

"Oh." Chris yawned. "Yeah, guess I did. Uh… You okay?"

"Yeah…" Alejandro hesitated. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"What? Uh, no reason, I just… Sorry, it's late, my brain's not working right."

"No problem. You have a good evening?"

"I think I've been asleep since seven, so… sure. Yeah. Uh, how was your… date?"

Alejandro froze. "How'd you know about that?"

"I heard you leave."

"Oh… Uh, it was fine." He sat down on the couch. "Yeah, fine."

"You sound just thrilled, really. Going out again?"

"Probably not." He shrugged. "I dunno, Wayne's a nice guy and all, but not really my type, I guess."

"Oh." Chris nodded, like he was satisfied, for some reason. But maybe Alejandro was reading into that…

Alejandro sighed. "Well, anyway, we should get to bed, huh? Rehearsal in seven hours."

"Don't remind me." Chris groaned. "I'm so sore I can barely move."

"You… want some help? Here." Alejandro stood up and offered Chris a hand, which he took; once Chris was on his feet, Alejandro wrapped an arm around him. "Here, lean on me, if you want."

"Thanks, Alex."

Alejandro smiled. "No problem."

They walked down the hall towards Chris's room, and Chris paused to open the door, then Alejandro helped him to his bed.

"Uh… Don't tell anyone I didn't brush my teeth," Chris said, laughing a little bit, as he set his glasses aside.

"Our secret," Alejandro agreed, and turned out the light on his way out. He glanced back before shutting the door, though, and saw that Chris was pretty much already asleep, still in the dirty rehearsal clothes. He smiled a little and shut the door, making a note to himself to get Chris up in the morning, since he doubted that Chris's alarm was set.

He headed to his own room and sighed. The date really hadn't gone very well, and he wasn't looking forward to seeing Wayne in the morning. But that would have to wait for the morning, because it was late, and he was tired, and really just wanted to go to bed and forget about it.

Alejandro wasn't telling him something. Chris was sure of it. Glancing at Alejandro over his heaping bowl of breakfast cereal, he resolved that he would find out what it was. And kick Wayne's ass, if necessary.

Or just kick Wayne's ass, period.

CJ bounced into the room and flopped down into a chair. "Morning!"

"Yeah, whatever," Chris muttered.

Alejandro said, "Good morning," but it was clear that he wasn't as focused as he usually was.

"Soooo…" CJ looked slyly at Alejandro. "How was it?"

"How was what?"

"Your big, hot date last night!" CJ leaned forward eagerly, as if waiting to hear some sordid details.

"How… did you know I had a date?"

CJ didn't respond. He didn't have to. All he had to do was point at Chris.

"Oh. Oh, uh, it was okay."

"Okay? Just okay? Come on, Alejandro," CJ wheedled. "I'm your bandmate! You can tell me anything!"

At that moment, Nick entered the kitchen, yawning into his hand. "G'morning, guys," he said sleepily. "What are we telling CJ?"

"Nothing," Alejandro said quickly.

"He's about to tell me about his date."

"I was not –"

Nick sat down at the table. "The date with Wayne, right? I'm in favor of details."

"There are no details," Alejandro said firmly. "It wasn't even really a date."

"Oh, yeah? What did you guys do?"

"Just dinner and a movie. Jeez." If Alejandro had looked uncomfortable before, now he looked like he was in positive agony.

"Dinner and a movie," Nick repeated. "Oh, honey. That's always a date."

"Date?" Richard asked, as he walked in. "Ahhh. So, Alejandro… When did you get home last night?"

Alejandro glared at Chris.

Chris shrugged. "Not like it was a big secret or anything."

"So, what happened?" Nick demanded. "Come on, what was he like?"

"Excuse me?"

"You know…" Nick trailed off. "Like."

Alejandro blinked.

"Is Wayne's rhythm in bed as good as it is when he's dancing?" CJ supplied.

"In—oh, uh, no. I mean, I don't know. I mean…" Alejandro groaned.

"Now this sounds like a story," Richard declared, sitting down at the table. "So… you two did?"

"No!"

"Really?" Richard sounded confused. "Why not?"

"What do you mean—because—it was our first date!"

"That's so cute," Nick said, beaming. "You're adorable."

"Did he try?" Chris asked, finally giving in to his curiosity, despite himself.

"Well…" Alejandro cleared his throat. "I don't think that's any of anyone's business, and anyway—"

"He did!" Chris yelled. "He hit on you! Did he touch you?"

"What?"

"When he hit on you! Did he invite you in to his apartment? What did he do?"

CJ stifled a snicker. "Show us on the doll where the bad man touched you, Alex."

"You know, I could be graduating from high school in, like, a week. I could be heading off to college. Where I wouldn't have to deal with—"

"Alejandro, come on. You have to give us details," Richard said. "I mean… He's Wayne. Everyone's been curious. Except Chris, who thinks he's evil."

"He is evil," Chris mumbled.

"Guys, I really don't want to talk about it, okay?"

"Why not?" Nick asked, sounding as though it was a reasonable question.

"Hey," Chris snapped. "If he doesn't want to talk about it, that's his business." He turned to Rich and pointed an accusing finger at him. "I told you this would happen. I said that he'd come home traumatized and upset."

"Uh," Alejandro said.

"Chris, lighten up. Wayne didn't do anything to him, he's home in one piece, and—"

"How do you know he didn't do anything?"

"Because Alejandro just told us, you moron."

Chris glowered. "Well, it's not like he's just going to talk about it."

"I'm right here, Chris," Alejandro said.

"Yeah, I know."

Alejandro raised an eyebrow and said nothing. Chris glared around the room.

"I think," he said, "that Wayne is a creep. He has no business trying to screw around with any of us, and he's what, six years older than Alex? It's just creepy!"

"Um," Alejandro said again. "I… I had an okay time, actually."

"Oh!" Nick squeaked. "Details!"

Alejandro looked pained. "I had chicken parmesan for dinner, the movie sucked, he drove me home."

"Did he kiss you?" Nick asked.

Alejandro rolled his eyes.

"Did he?" Chris asked sharply.

"You know, I'm going to go get ready for rehearsal now, and I suggest you all do the same." Alejandro stood up, deposited his bowl in the sink, and left the room.

There was a pause, and everyone else exchanged looks. "Rich—" CJ started.

"Yeah, I'll go."

Richard followed quickly, catching up to Alejandro the moment before he could have slammed the door of his room shut.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm fine, go away, it's no one's business."

"Okay, but…" He cleared his throat. "Chris is a little insane, but he has a point, in that Wayne is kinda sketchy, so if anything happened it is our business. We just want to look out for you."

"I don't need—"

"So nothing happened?"

"No, nothing happened!" Alejandro snapped, which was a little startling, because Alejandro just didn't snap. He was the only one in the band who had never screamed at Chris, even.

"Uh, okay but… You seem kind of wound up. Is all."

Alejandro rolled his eyes. "I didn't sleep with him, okay? And I'm a virgin, okay?"

"Um, figured." Richard shrugged.

"And it was the first date I've been on."

"Oh!" Richard said, squeaking, sounding a little like Nick, but catching himself quickly. "I mean, oh. Cool."

Alejandro rolled his eyes. "So go ahead and laugh; get it out of your system."

"No, I wouldn't—none of us would," Richard said quickly. "But… I mean, was it okay? Did you have a good time?"

Alejandro shrugged. "It was okay."

"Well, that's enthusiastic. Are you two going to go out again?"

"No."

"Okay. Right, well, okay." He cleared his throat again, awkwardly. "So…"

Alejandro rolled his eyes. "He did kiss me, and invite me back to his apartment, and offer to give me a ride home in the morning."

"Oh," Richard said. "I see. And you…"

"Declined."

"And everything's okay?"

"I get the feeling he hasn't been declined too often. Uh, if I make myself throw up, would they still make me go to rehearsal today?"

"Alejandro, I throw up, like, every day we go on stage. They still make me."

"Oh, yeah."

"Listen, uh… You'll be with us, okay? You won't be alone with him, and if he's an asshole I can promise Chris will throw a diva fit at him, and that's always fun to watch, if nothing else. Right?"

"I guess."

"And if you're upset, you know, there's five of us and only one of him." He shrugged. "I guess this is why we keep saying we're like brothers in interviews."

Alejandro nodded. "Okay."

"So… No worries. Anyway, I think it's pretty cool that you don't just fall into bed with anyone—I mean, when you eventually do, it'll be something pretty special."

"I hope so."

Richard smiled. "Anyway, we'll see you in the studio in a couple of minutes?"

"Yeah."

"Uh, hey… Cheer up, okay? You did something amazing."

"What did I do?"

"You made me admit that Chris was right about something." Richard shot him a smile, and Alejandro smiled back, and Richard let out a breath. It would be okay. Awkward, but okay.

AN: First off, though the girls on Game On! are all OCs (except Sarah, heh), the guys are not, and are as follows (not that we ever see them again):

Pie Eater – Daren

Jake – Jake

Itey – Caleb

As for the rest of it, we really love Wayne. Wait, scratch that. We really love yelling "Wayne!" and shaking our fists in impotent rage. Did we mention we read all of these chapters aloud before we post them? We're hilarious.