IMPORTANT A/N: Thank you everyone for ur reviews! Im glad other ppl out there understand the hell of registration! lol. Got a little BAD NEWS: im not gonna be able to update as much as I am right now. I DO promise that I'll update at least 2-4 times a week. It's just that I have to really start on this summer honors project I have. I gotta read this 400-somethin pages long book. "Black Boy" by Richard Wright. It's not that bad, im actually getting pretty into it. But it can only hold me for about a chapter. Lol. So my time is going to be focused on finishing the book and writing a two page essay. yay…oh and this is going to be probably one of the shortest chapters of the story. Sorry! It's just that I should really be concentrating on finishing this book.

Chapter 5: Billy Butterworth

It had been about a month after I had woken up to find that "surprise" in my room. Bobby and Angel had taken the mannequin and set it on fire in the back. Jack had obviously been a bit traumatized by it, so he had stayed in his room. None of us contacted Cohen or any officials. What would they have done anyways?

I was finishing up packing for my little road trip to UM. Everyone except Bobby and Jack were out of the house. Angel and Sofi were doing God-knows-what, and Jer was dropping his kids off at gymnastics. Closing my suitcase, I started getting a bit bored. I had done everything that I needed to do. All that was left was to actually leave.

I walked down the hall to Jack's room. I heard some faint singing and strumming of his guitar. Leaning against the doorway, I smirked, wondering how long it would take him to notice me.

"Hey loser." He sang in a raspy voice.

I laughed and made my way to his bed. He lifted his legs up to give me room to sit, then set them on top of my lap.

I sighed. "Just like old times, huh Jackie?" He chuckled, but didn't stop strumming. I leaned my head against the wall. "God, do you remember all the times I hid in here? Every time I knew I was in trouble with Ma…or even the other guys."

There was small silence until Jack spoke. "Billy Butterworth." I looked at him as he looked back, and we busted out laughing.

Flashback, Sneaking Back In:

I was barefoot in the lawn. It was about 12:30 am and I was sure Ma and the guys were asleep. To my surprise I found Jerry and Angel wide awake watching something on the sofa. I couldn't knock on the back door…the window above me was Bobby's. Wow can you imagine the catastrophe that'd be?

I pulled out my cell phone and decided to just call the house. I mean we got phone calls everyday. It wasn't a big deal. Better than knocking and having one of my brothers open the door with a pistol in their back pocket.

I heard the phone ring. I can feel my heart beating faster, wanting Jerry or Jack to hurry up and answer the phone. Finally Jack did.

"Hello?"

"Jackie, go to the back door. Open it for me!" I whispered.

"Who is this?" He asked angrily. I saw him looking into the kitchen. I waved frantically. I heard Jerry asking, "Who is it?" But Jack didn't answer. He was glaring at me through the door. The phones were still up to our ears when he opened it.

"………I'll call you back." He said and hung up the phone. "You were supposed to be here 2 hours ago! Ma is going to kill-…no, BOBBY is going to have your ass!" he whispered harshly.

"Hey. Phone woke me up." I heard Bobby coming down the stairs.

"Speaking of…" Jack said. He started pushing me out the door. "Stay hidden, I'll get you your pajamas, you can act like you've been here all along." He rushed and closed the door. I hid, but heard everything that was going on.

"Hey Cracker Jack. Who was it?"

"…Some…guy."

"Who?"

"Billy. Billy…Butterworth."

I rolled my eyes. 'Nice Jackie…' I thought. When Bobby finally left, I waited for about 5 minutes before Jerry came out with my pajamas.

"Girl…you owe me big time." He threw them at me.

"Thanks Jer!" I quickly changed. Now the problem was…how the hell was I going to get back in the house?

Jack soon emerged. "Bobby's in the bathroom. Get up to my room! Hurry!"

He and I ran quietly to Jack's room. Fortunately we weren't seen. He closed the door behind him as I grabbed a magazine by his bed and started reading.

"JACK! Tai's not in her room! Where the fuck-!" He stopped as he stormed into the room.

"I'm right here Bobby." I said.

"What are you doing here? It' s already 1:00"

"I had a bad dream. Jack let me stay here for awhile."

"…You're reading 'Playboy.'" I noticed the naked girl in front of me for the first time.

"…I'm reading it for the articles."

"…You've been living with us too long." Bobby commented before leaving.

End Flashback

"Hey. You two girls braiding each other's hair?" Bobby walked in.

"Hey Bobby." I greeted. "I just finished packing. We should be ready to leave tomorrow morning."

"Right. I'll wake you up around 6:00 then."

"……Thanks." I replied, a little confused as to why Bobby wasn't resisting anymore. In fact, I knew Bobby all too well to know that something was up. I looked over at Jack, still strumming. But there was look in his eyes that showed he was hiding something from me. He was concentrating way too much on the stings of his guitar.

A/N: Ah lame and short I know. I just wanted to give you guys a heads up about updates. And also a little something. But PLEASE don't let that stop you from reviewing! Seeing the number of reviews on my story going up everyday is what keeps me writing this story! I really do love hearing from u guys! To tell the truth, I LOVE writing. It's like the one thing im good at (though some boys would beg to differ…JK JK! Im in a good mood. lol) and hearing (or reading) people complimenting me on my writing is a great feeling. I live for that feeling. Haha before I start rambling:

Isabel: musta? haha YEAH PHILIPPINES! I'm filippina too! Well I thought that you know the mercers were all mixed…why not add a pacific islander? Lol glad ur reading the story!

The Collision of Your Kiss: haha I was HOPING to pull a couple of heartstrings with that. Haha yesh thank god we only have to do registering once a year… :whew:

SuperCaptain: glad to hear that! Girls can kick ass too…just as well as bobby and angel! haha

ChaiGrl: You're totally welcome. I've been having a lot of shitty days lately…yeh their not fun…lol

angel 871: LUCKY ASS! My life would be a hell of a lot easier if I didn't have to worry about registration!

Lovebuggy: haha YUP! That's it! Haha omg! That '07 sent from heaven' motto is ours too! Wow that's a weird coincidence…lol. JESUS Garrett Hedlund has like the most finest butt. Haha was it just me or did I see some dimples there? I was like "oh turn around garrett turn around. No drop the towel hun. Drop it u know u want to! Lol god…..the things that are running through my mind right now…XXX rated! Haha don't want to get too graphic though…

Zoe: Thank you! Haha I did want to see if I made a couple people cry with that. haha I was getting a little emotional too! Cant wait to hear more from you!

Jessica: thanks! Im always glad to hear what you think!

Aragorn4ever: thanks hun!

ephona: thanks!

Chelsea: thanks sweetie!

Tanith Lilitu: Thanks hun! I cant wait to hear more from u! review AND story-wise!

JCO-03: one more year of registering at least. We actually have four different registration days. One for freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. So it's not like the whole school…thank god. haha

ZELINA: 07! Hell yah! Are u starting school yet? Does it suck? Cuz yah im not looking forward to it. Lol

Darkdestiney2000: it's alright! it's cool! Haha I was wondering where u went! Dude my schedule still isn't changed. Im gonna wait until the first day of school. Lol yes #1 procrastinator right here!

Jj2629: thanks for reviewing!

sparkl0413: haha naw I never let the man keep me down! Thanks for reading!

Really…REALLY SORRY that this chapter was so mini. Dunno when I'll update next but it'll be BEFORE the end of this week!