AN: I'm really sorry this took so long. Gah, drama drama (and not just in the story), oh well, all in the typical life of a high school girl, right? But this is finally Thanksgiving break and I should be able to work on this a lot more this week, in between eating too much and sleeping too often.

Music I listened to while writing this chapter:

Hey You - The Exies

Superman's Dead - Our Lady Peace

Rest In Pieces - Saliva

Always - Saliva

I Am Fred Astaire - Taking Back Sunday

I'm Not Okay (I Promise) - My Chemical Romance

mOBSCENE - Marilyn Manson

Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson

Precious - Depeche Mode

Dirty Little Secret - The All American Rejects

Move Along - The All American Rejects

As you might be able to tell, I have quite the extensive and awesome music collection. Basically, if it's fun to listen to, I'll listen to it. Hence, no rap. Sorry if you like it.

Note: Now means that there's been either a time change in the story or switching points of view.

Chapter 14

Lily came out of the bathroom, dressed and hair pulled back, still slightly damp. She found a plate with a sandwich and glass of milk waiting for her on the counter. Brendan was eating his already, sitting on the couch. She picked up her food and sat down on the other one, beginning to eat quickly as her stomach growled.

"Thank you." She said about halfway through. She had no idea she had been this hungry until now.

"No problem. We'll go when you're through." Brendan replied, standing up and putting his empty plate in the sink. He went into his room and grabbed a pair of socks, along with a smaller pair for Lily, since she probably forgot her own.

When he came out of the room, Lily was rinsing out her glass in the sink, along with her plate. She glanced up and saw him standing there, holding out socks for her and smiled sheepishly, walking over and taking them.

"I forgot..." She said softly, sitting down to put them on.

"Yeah, I figured you would." He grinned, copying her. They put on their shoes as well and then there was a knock on the door. Thomas didn't even wait for Brendan to open it, he just came in.

"Hey Thomas, good timing, we're going." Brendan said, going over to Thomas and patting him on the back.

"I'm only going with you guys because I've got nothing better to do. Nerds." Thomas huffed, staring at Brendan.

"You play DDR. Don't even deny it." Brendan countered.

"Whatever, on standard. I'm not a loser." Thomas grinned as Brendan shrugged.

They took Brendan's truck and Lily sat in between them, quite aware that she was partially pressed up against Brendan as he drove along with how warm he was, up against her like that. He also smelt good. Really good. That wonderfully male smell. She was almost sorry when they arrived at the arcade.

It was 'Monday Madness'. Pay ten dollars, get unlimited games. Not too many people were there, considering they were still on break. They all entered and Brendan paid for he and Lily while Thomas paid for himself. The moment they stepped near the DDR machines, they noticed that they were already taken. One girl was playing Freckles on doubles on heavy.

She had long black hair with cherry red streaks, wore a red tank top and black baggy jeans with a jacket tied around her waist. Lily recognized her as someone from her school, Alexis, but she didn't know her personally. They were in the same grade and had a couple of classes together, but that was all.

If Alexis was here, then that meant Adriel was as well. Adriel was Alexis's older brother, graduated last year and played DDR a lot. One of the best players she knew, but an elitist asshole. He shared Alexis's dark hair and eyes, but not her calm, more sarcastic personality. He was arrogant and rude and pretty much thought this arcade was 'his', despite the fact they'd been going here just as long as he had.

"Well, well... Haven't seen the Dream Team all together here in a long while." Came a drawling voice. Sure enough, it was Adriel, approaching them with a bottle of water. "What are you doing here?"

"We came because we wanted to have some fun and I heard they had a new machine." Brendan replied, shrugging, "I don't come just to show off, you know."

"Ah, yes, you play at home so no one can see you fail." Adriel smirked.

"More like I don't have to only play in arcades because I don't depend on the bar for balance." Brendan stated, gestering to the bright red bar behind the dance pad.

"It's there for a reason!" Adriel growled, trying to justify himself.

"Yeah, in case you're falling off. Not for moving faster. You should be able to move fast enough on your own." Brendan remarked, watching Alexis as she finished her song and stepped off the pad. She turned and spotted them, picking up her water bottle and making her way over. She smiled when she spotted Thomas.

"Tommy!" She said happily, running up and giving him a hug.

"Lexie? Hey! Didn't recognize you there with the new hair.." Thomas grinned, hugging her back.

Brendan smiled to himself. This was the Lexie that Thomas had had feelings for.

"Yeah, I know. I dyed my hair for a concert I was going to, but then decided I liked it a bit too much and made it permanent." Alexis grinned, pulling back from Thomas. "I miss having you in art class. Remember the creativity stick?"

They both began laughing hard at their inside joke.

"Hi, I'm Brendan, Thomas's best friend, and this is Lily. Thomas obviously doesn't know how to introduce people." Brendan said after they'd stopped laughing.

"Oh, I already know who you guys are. You two won the tournament. I didn't go 'cause Adriel already got us into it." Alexis replied, smiling softly.

It was then that they realized that Adriel had gone off to play DDR alone. Alexis shrugged, then turned to Thomas, "Come on! I wanna beat you at Soul Calibur 2!" She grabbed his arm, tugging on it.

"Ok, ok, I'l meet up with you guys later." Thomas said to Brendan and Lily as Alexis dragged him off, although he didn't seem to mind.

Brendan turned to Lily, smiling, "I think he likes her."

Lily laughed softly and nodded, leaving a slightly awkward silence between them for a moment.

"Oooh, they have Extreme now!" Lily grinned, rushing over to it. Brendan followed her and they started playing.

"It's really nice to see you again." Alexis said after 3 rounds of Soul Calibur 2. She'd won 2 of them, the first and last.

"Yeah, I really missed seeing you every day. We didn't even have lunch together this year." Thomas replied as they sat down in a booth in the "Snack Centre". He had bought them both drinks. "How are things with you boyfriend?"

"Oh, James? We've been over for a while. He 'needed a break'. Apparently it became a permanent one." She rolled her eyes.

"I don't see how anyone could need a break from you." Thomas said suddenly, almost without realizing it.

Alexis looked down at her drink, "You're just saying that."

"Oh no, you have no idea. I think you're one of the prettiest and coolest girl's I've ever known." His fingers covered hers for a moment and she blushed deeply.

"Thanks..."

An awkward minute passed between them before Thomas withdrew his hand, breaking it, "I guess that means you're single now."

Alexis laughed and looked up, "That's what generally happens when you break up with someone, yes." Glancing over, she saw Brendan and Lily playfully trying to push each other off the dance pads, fighting over who would pick the next song. "Speaking of break ups, are they back together yet?"

"Not exactly, but I have a feeling they will be soon. Brendan was way too in love with her to never get her back. They're both just too stubborn to tell each other they still have feelings for each other." Thomas shrugged, looking back at Alexis.

"We should help them with that!" She cried suddenly.

AN: (Again) Ok, sorry this one's ending abruptly, but at least it was updated, ne? I hope to put up one more chapter before I'm forced back into school. So, new characters! Love them? Hate them? REVIEW AND TELL ME.

And one MAJOR note. I'm really sorry for all the errors in certain things. See, I write most of this on paper in school or just when I'm not near my computer and then I transfer it, but I type way too fast for my own good (about 90 GWAM, bleh) and I miss things or add things sometimes without realizing it. Lea (my semi-secret agent) is supposed to spell check and grammar check, but as you can see... Yeah. Sorry.