Jesus, I must be getting slow in my old age. This chapters just seem to be taking longer and longer to get out. I wish that I could update really, really to keep everyone happy, but it just ain't happening. One would think that by being on holidays I could update like that clicks fingers… anyway enough whining from me and I hope that I didn't leave you in too much suspense, even though half of you probably knew what was going to happen and what is about to happen… but please enjoy!

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'Haha, nah he doesn't see my like that. He wouldn't really care what I looked like plus he is probably so busy downstairs that he wont even notice me.' Aleks quickly cover her mouth.

'What? How do you know he's down there? We only know that Logan, Kai and… Oh My God you like Tala!'

-0-

CHAPTER 10 - LITTLE BEST FRIEND

'No, I don't!' Aleks stuttered.

'Look me in the eyes and say it!'

'Say what?' Odette asked as she and Sian returned from the bathroom.

'Nothing!' Yelled Aleks and she stormed out of the room past Odette and Sian.

'Geez, what's wrong with Al?' asked Sian. 'That little show kind of reminds me of when I am PMSing.' Odette and Ariel sweat dropped.

'Was that really necessary?'

'Necessary? Is it necess-'

'Shut up Sian,' Ariel said bemused. 'But I got to say Odds, Sian did a good job! You look totally hot, and damn straight you should since its your birthday!'

'Haha, thanks, but it should be me thanking you guys. The party hasn't even started yet and this is the best birthday ever!... but what was the deal with Aleks?'

'Beats me, now, if you don't mind I need to get ready. So I'll meet you guys down stairs?'

-0-

'Why do girls take so long getting ready?' Whined Tala as he, Kai and Logan sat on the couches waiting for the girls to come downstairs, even after everyone invited plus more had rocked up.

'What are you complaining about? Its not like your waiting for anyone in particular.' Grumbled Kai. 'Your finally single, for the first time in like a year, and surrounded by girls who would willingly throw themselves at you, what the hell are you waiting for?' Tala shook his head.

'Well wouldn't it be rude if I didn't even wait for my best friend to get ready before I started getting drunk?' Logan laughed, which came as a little shock to the other two as they had almost forgotten that he was there since he hadn't said anything.

'You guys seriously haven't changed. Still insistent to do the right thing, but will jump as soon as there is alcohol involved.'

'Hey, I resent that comment.' Whined Tala. Kai slapped himself on the forehead; if the girls didn't get downstairs it was going to be a long night.

-0-

'Okay, are we all ready?' Sian asked as she re-applied her lip-gloss for the eleventh time.

'I think so.' Odette answer from one of the twin's bed, as she looked at the other three. Sian looked like her usual self, hot. Her long blonde hair had been left down in loose curls and she wore a plain, navy Versace top with a sky blue and orange mini. On her feet she wore cute orange stilettos. The twins were dressed identically, as if it wasn't hard enough to tell them apart, the only difference was the angry pout on Aleks' face which was the opposite to Ariel's which looked to be plastered with glee. That girl defiantly knew a secret of Aleks' which she was planning to keep under wraps. They both had their hair in loose ponytails with a red ribbon. They wore black boob tubes with silver diagonal lines accompanied by red short shorts and black thigh-high boots. Compared to the others Odette felt a little over dressed. She was wearing a lime green strapless mini dress with a black ropey belt around her waist. She wore similar stilettos to Sian's but hers were black with a couple of little green straps going over her toes. Sian smacked her lips together.

'Well wouldn't want to keep the boys waiting much longer, while we look like this.'

'Oh no not at all.' Replied Ariel sarcastically as she sent a wink to her twin, who simply glared back at her.

'I wont even bother asking again.' Odette laughed as she hoped off the bed. To her dismay, she was still a considerable distance shorter then the other girls even if she was wearing stilettos. 'You guys ready to party?' she said in a cheery voice as they all exited the room.

-0-

'If I haven't thanked you guys already, I am going to do it again! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!' squealed Odette as she ran around hugging and kissing all her friends. Stopping when she reached Logan so that she could give him his moneys worth for being her boyfriend.

'Man you are too cute!' cried Ariel, 'but I think that you need to especially thank Sian, since it was her idea.'

'Ah, I don't think that she's listening Ari.' Sian said as she pointed to her brother and their little friend who appeared to be completely oblivious to everyone surrounding them. The girls laughed and headed towards the dance floor.

'Fat chance I'm letting you go there after waiting for ages for you to get ready.' Kai said gruffly as he caught Sian's arm and dragged her off in the opposite direction.

'Sorry guys!' Sian called as she disappeared in the crowd.

'Well since that just about every other guy here is getting some action I reckon that I am going go fishing!' Tala said to the twins as he roamed his gaze of the crowd in search for an unsuspecting victim. Ariel nudged Aleks and winked. 'Ah, but don't worry I'll be keeping my eye on my darling little sisters, to make sure that they don't get up to no good.'

'Oh, shut up Tala and just go find yourself some booty.' Aleks snapped. Ariel glared at her, while Tala looked at her concerned.

'Hey Allie are you okay?'

'Yeah, just dandy.' She grunted and trudged off. Ariel shrugged and followed her sister to the kitchen.

'Are you trying to turn him off you?' Ariel demanded.

'I don't have to.' She exclaimed as she angrily poured herself a drink. 'The fact that I am his step-sister is a big enough turn off thank you very much.'

'So what, you're just going to give up?'

'Listen, I am not giving up anything, because I don't have anything to give up on! And what the hell is wrong with you? Like I said ever since you have become a cheerleader you have completely changed! Your interested in guys, fashion and gossip… so once you've sorted yourself out then come and preach to me, but right now, I don't know you, so stop following me around!' with that she refilled her drink and left the kitchen. Ariel was shocked to say that least; it was completely out of character for her sister to act like this. Aleks was the shy, placid sister and left all the spazzing out to Ariel, but if it was true with what she had said that with Ariel becoming a cheerleader it had forced her to changed, well then it had also forced a change onto Aleks, one that Ariel did not like one bit. Ariel took a seat, she didn't know what to do right now. She didn't feel like dancing and there wasn't anyone she could talk to, since everyone else was preoccupied with each other.

'Hey, what's a pretty face like you sitting down by yourself?'

-0-

'You asked to see me Madame?' Odette's mother, Anna, blinked back tears that had formed in her eyes and averted her attention from what appeared to be a photo album, and peered over from the top of her glasses before shutting the album.

'Ah, yes thank you for coming so quickly Jacinta.' She sniffed. 'I was hoping that you could give this to Odette.'

'Of course Madame. But can I inquire as to why you just don't give it to Miss Odette?' Anna shook her head fiercely, afraid that her voice would give away her state of mind. 'As you wish Madame.' Jacinta commented before picking up the album and leaving the room.

As she shut the door behind her, Jacinta heard something fragile shatter as it hit the ground, followed by a sob. As if she knew that Anna did not want to be disturbed, Jacinta simply continued to walk to her quarters.

-0-

At two thirty in the morning the party was only just starting to reach its climax. However, there already appeared to be a quite a few people passed out and sprawled throughout the house. Most of the guest had just sung happy birthday to Odette, whether they were in a state of drunkenness, highness or delirium and all enjoyed the goodness of a chocolate ice cream cake so early in the morning!

'So, you want to get out of here babe, so I can give you my present?' Logan whispered seductively into Odette's ear as she finished off her slice of birthday cake. Odette giggled stupidly,

'I can't silly! How would it look if the birthday girl left her own party early?'

'I wouldn't objected.' He replied cheekily.

'But I would!' butted in Sian, as she clumsily tripped over her own feet and winced in pain as she expect to kiss the floor. She looked up and found that her boyfriend has lazily laced an arm around her stomach preventing her from hitting the floor.

'Oh, my hero!' she sang happily as she sprung up and hung of his shoulder.

'Hey have any of you guys seen the twins?' Tala asked as he served himself another piece of cake. The others scratched their heads thoughtfully and shock their head.

'Last time I saw them they were heading towards the kitchen.' Odette said, more seriously.

'Yeah, is saw them heading there as well, but I am kind of worried about them, cause Aleks was in a really bad mood.'

'Look Tal, I am sure that they are fine. They probably just got tired and went to their room… or they could have found a group of hunky guys-' Odette clasped her hand over the blonde girl's mouth.

'Okay, I don't think that Tala needed to hear that last bit. But I think that you should just continue to enjoy yourself, cause this night is going to last forever! And as far as I know Allie and Ari can take care of themselves.' Odette patted Tala sympathetically on his shoulder before she dragged a happy Logan away from the already depleted group of friends. For some reason when Kai saw Logan and Odds leaving he couldn't help, but feel a pang of jealously. Deep down he knew that he wanted to be the person that Odette was dragging off, but that would be close to the impossible, right now or anytime soon.

-0-

'Hey Odds, don't worry about cleaning up.' Tala said as he picked the petite girl off her feet and slung her over his shoulder causing her to drop the beer bottles that she had been holding in her hand.

'Aw Tallie Wallie, look what you made me do! Now there is even more mess!' Odette cried.

'Firstly, its your birthday so you shouldn't have to be the person cleaning up. Secondly, if you have to then we can do it tomorrow morning, but I am thinking that the maids can do it.'

'But why do they maids have to do it! We are the ones that made the mess.' She continued to whine.'

'Geez, I should have let Logan take you home when he left.' Odette pouted causing Tala to laugh at her. 'Geez don't worry about the maids, they are paid to clean up. So just chill… I reckon that we should head off to bed.' Odette tried to nod her head as best as she could, but found it difficult as all of the blood had rushed to her head, making her feel slightly dizzy.

'So, did you manage to find the twins?' Odette asked as they made there way to Tala's room.

'Well, I found Ari. Seems like that cheerleading stuff as changed her for the better.' When Odette sent him a quizzical look he continued. 'I found her with a guy, who she actually wasn't trying to beat up.'

'Wow, really?' Odette asked jokingly. They both laughed at the thought of it. 'But still no sign of Aleks?' Tala shook his head.

'Nah, maybe we should stop by her room on the way up, just incase she's in there.'

'Aw, Tala for a guy that was use to being an only child for so long you have adapted so quickly. Kind of makes me wish that I had an older brother like you.' She wrapped her arms around his waist as they continued to walk down the hallway.

'Geez, Odds don't get all sentimental on me! But, you will always be my little sister' Tala ruffled her hair, making Odette pout angry and attempt to flatten her hair using her hands. They stopped outside the twins' door and looked at each other. 'Do you want to knock? If she's in there, I think that she would prefer to see you. She didn't see to happy with me last time I saw her.' Odette rolled her eyes and knocked on the door. While the waited for a response Odette turned and whispered in Tala's ear.

'For someone who was so worried, you sure back down really quickly when it comes to the crunch.' No response came from the other side of the door.

'Maybe she's in there, but she's asleep? Should we just pop in?' Odette shrugged.

'I don't know, but let me guess. You want me to go in an see if she's in there.' Tala rolled his eyes dumbly before he nodded. Odette sighed and opened the door as quietly as she could. Sure enough there was a lump in the middle of Aleks' bed that was smothered in her quilt.

Aleks heard a faint knock coming from the other side of the door, but she couldn't be bothered to acknowledge it. She didn't feel like talking to anyone at the moment, especially Ari or Tala. After a couple of seconds she heard the door handle click as someone twisted it from the other side.

'I think that she is asleep.' Tala whispered loudly.

'Oh well good observation Einstein! Now you know where she is, can we please go to bed!' Tala nodded his head and took one last glance at the sleeping figure on the bed before he shut the door silently.

-0-

Both friends were lying on Tala's bed in their pjs.

'If Kai was hear it would be like old times.' Odette said as she rolled on to her side and look at Tala. He nodded and yawned.

'Yeah, its been a while since we all spent the night together. It's a shame Kai offered to take Sian home considering Logan was going there.' It was Odette's turn to yawn.

'Oh well, we will just have to tell him what he missed out on.' She giggled and leant closer to Tala so that she could kiss him on the cheek and then snuggled into his chest. 'Nighty night T.'

'Night Odds.' He replied as he wrapped a hand around her waist and held her close. Before too long the two friends drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

The silence was broken by a faint beeping noise that could be heard coming from Odette's jacket. Tala leaned over Odette's sleeping body, quickly, but quietly as possible. Not wanting to disturb her sleep. The caller id was set on Private number, causing Tala to answer the call cautiously.

'Hello?'

'Uh, Master Valkov?' came a monotonous voice from the other side of the line

'Yeah?'

'I have some news concerning Miss Odette.' Tala looked down at Odette small figure rolled tightly up in a ball. 'Master Valkov?'

'Yeah, sorry… um she's actually a little busy right now, but is there anything that you can tell me and I will pass it on to her as soon as possible.' There was a silence for a little while.

'All I can ask of you is to ask Miss Odette to ring her home as soon as possible, we have some news concerning her mother.'

'News? What kind of news? Is everything alright?'

'That is all I am allowed to disclose to you. My apologies Master Valkov.' Then the line went dead. Tala stared blankly at the wall, what on Earth could that have been about? He was thinking to himself when he felt a small jab in the side of his stomach. He thought nothing of it at first, but sure enough it came again this time a little harder. He turned his head and looked down, and groggy jade coloured orbs met his icy blue eyes.

'Hey your awake, sorry if I woke you.' Odette shook her head innocently.

'Who called?' she asked croakily.

'Someone from your house. They said about you mother.'

'My mother? What's the time?' Tala rolled over and looked at the alarm clock on his bedside table. It read 3.30pm in the afternoon.

'3.30' Odette yawned again.

'I'm sure that it can wait. I'm so tired.'

'Okay, go back to sleep.' Odette mumbled a couple of incoherent words and was soon fast asleep again. Tala smiled down at his little friend, his little best friend.

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I have been having other idea for different stories, so I think that I am going to pause this story here for a while until I have posted around 10 chapters for a new story. I will hopefully continue to write for this one so once the other one is up to scratch I can update this on immediately or unless I have huge objections for halting this production. So if you really like this story and want to know more you better let me know as soon as possible!