That weekend saw the five siblings at Troy's house. The three juniors sat on the edge of the treehouse (like in Right Here Right Now) and Lachlan played with the twins on the inside. "So how has your guys' time been at East High?"
"All good Hoops, I've been getting along great with the team though Hayden could learn when to shut his mouth."
Troy nodded. "Yeah he can be a bit out of line sometimes... How about you Brie?"
She shrugged. "It's ok, I've met some people in the classes that I don't have with you guys but I prefer to hang with you."
"Why is that? Not that we don't love having you sit with us, but I'm just curious."
"I don't know really, they're nice and all but I just don't fit in with them. Plus you guys are a lot more interesting, I'd rather talk basketball with you guys than whatever girly things they're talking about."
Troy was surprised. "Damn, I've never met a girl who'd rather talk basketball than whatever you guys normally talk about."
She shrugged, "I grew up with Chad so I grew up with basketball. What can I say? I'm different than those girls."
"We know that Brie."
Chad looked between his best friend and sister, he knew they'd became close over the past few weeks, but judging by the looks they were sharing, friendship wasn't the only thing they were interested in. "Hey lovebirds, enough of that." He noticed the blush that appeared on both their cheeks at his comment and inwardly shook his head.
"So Brie, when do you turn 16?"
Before Gabriella could even respond, Chad did, his eyes narrowed. "Bolton."
Troy turned to Chad. "What I - oh sh- no that's not what I meant dude. God you know I'm not like Hayden and those guys at school. I just - they have parties almost every weekend so I was going to ask you guys to come with me to one but I didn't think you'd want Gabriella going to one when she was still 15."
Chad sighed. "Look I'm sorry dude, you're right. I'd prefer her not to be 15 if we are going to a party because I don't feel comfortable with that but at the end of the day, it's her choice. Though I don't think parties are in the cards for us because there'd be no one to watch Locky and the girls."
Troy nodded, "I can ask my mom, I'm sure she'd love to watch them. She's always complaining how she misses having young kids in the house." He looked down when he felt something drop in his lap, he smiled down at the little girl. "Hey Jas, are you ok?"
She nodded, "hi Troy."
He noticed her looking over at Gabriella. "Do you want to go to Ella?"
The girl bit her lip, much the way Gabriella did. "What if Imi comes?"
"If Imi comes then she can go to Chad or Locky, Ella's your sister too." Jasmine nodded and moved over to her sister, who pulled her into her arms and kissed her forehead.
"Are you sure you're ok Jas?"
She nodded, "yeah I just wanted you and Chad."
Gabriella smiled down at the little girl. "That's ok Angel, you know you can always come to me and Chad."
Troy and Chad smiled at the sight. A few moments later, Locky and Imi sat down, the boy keeping the youngest sister in his lap.
Chad turned to his siblings. "Guys, would you be ok to stay here with Mrs Bolton one night? We still have to ask her but if you aren't comfortable then you don't have to."
Imogen spoke up. "Are you and Ella staying with us."
"Not this time Im, but it'll only be for one night."
Lachlan spoke up. "I'm fine with it and I'll take care of the girls, but where will you guys be?"
Troy spoke up. "There's an unofficial team rule I guess you could say, that all teammates must attend at least one of the parties for the year."
"Ok so why does Gabi have to go then?"
Chad sighed, "Locky, it's just one night. Gabs has given up a lot for you guys and I just want her to have one experience that a normal teenager would, ok?"
"I know I know, I'm sorry. I know you guys deserve to be normal teenagers because you've given up so much for us. It's just hard sometimes because there's always been one of you with us for as long as we can remember, we've always had you there when we needed you."
Gabriella smiled sadly and wrapped an arm around her brother. "And we're still going to be here if you need us Locky, that's never going to change. It's only going to be one night and I'm going to have my phone on the whole night so the second you guys need us, call and I'll come right back."
He hugged his sister. "Thanks G."
She kissed his forehead in response and turned to her sisters. "Jassy, Imi, what do you think, will you be ok staying with Locky and Mrs Bolton for one night."
"The whole night?" Imogen asked.
"Not the whole night Baby Girl, just for a few hours, but you and Jas will be asleep when we get back. So will you girls be ok?" They nodded in response.
Troy spoke up. "So should we go down and ask my mom?" Chad and Gabriella nodded and they all got down from the treehouse, walking into the kitchen where Lucille Bolton was. "Hey Mama." He greeted with a kiss on her cheek.
"Hey Bud, who are your friends?"
He smiled. "This is Chad, Gabriella, Lachlan, Jasmine and Imogen. Chad's on the team with me and Chad and Gabriella sit with us at lunch."
"Well it's nice to meet you kids."
"Nice to meet you too Mrs Bolton."
"So what brings you in?"
"Actually Mama, there's something I want to ask you, would you mind looking after Locky, Jas and Imi next weekend so that Chad and Gabriella can come with me to a party?"
"Sure Bud, I don't have a problem with that, but where are their parents?"
Chad spoke up. "Our parents are divorced so our dad doesn't live 'round here, we haven't seen much of him and our mom will be on a business trip so she won't be able to look after them." The lie rolled so easily as he had repeated it so many times throughout the years.
"Ok then, no worries guys, I'll be happy to look after them."
Gabriella responded. "Thank you Mrs Bolton, I'm sorry to put you in this position."
"What position Sweetheart, you all seem like such lovely, well mannered kids and I have no problem looking after them, I miss having little ones around the house."
"Well thank you, we're only going to this one party and I probably won't stay too long so I won't inconvenience you for too long."
"Gabriella, it's no trouble Sweetheart really, you just enjoy yourself." Gabriella nodded respectfully. "Ok I'm making lunch so how about you kids go on into the living room and I'll call you when it's ready."
They all nodded and started walking to the living room but Gabriella pulled Troy back. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course Brie, what's up?"
"Umm this is going to sound kinda stupid but..." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Unless it's around Chad, you don't really call me Brie. I was just wondering why."
He blushed, "oh um, that's not a stupid question, my answer though sounds kinda stupid... I'm fine with saying it around Chad because he already has his nickname for you. I try to call you Ella when I'm talking to the girls so they don't get confused. But I try not to say it around everyone else because it's my nickname for you, you've said that I'm the only one that calls you Brie and I guess I kinda want it to stay that way."
She bit her lip and kissed his cheek. "That's not stupid Troy, it's really sweet." He only shrugged in response and they walked back into the living room with Chad, Locky and the girls.