Say What?

Jake pov

Jake Hadford and his best friend Tony Benson had just finished there school report on how technology can improve your life when his phone started to go off. He quickly pulled it out of his pocket and checked the caller I.D. Seeing the name on the screen he rolled his eyes and answered with a, "What do you want, Wally?"

"Hurry put your phone on speaker!" Wally practically yelled into the phone.

"Dude I'm at the library, If Mrs. Knoxs hears it she'll take my phone away." He replied quietly so as not to disturb the other students. By this time Tony was looking at him and trying to read his expression to figure out what was going on without outright asking him.

"Just do it," came Wally's reply. He could also hear Josh in the background telling there middle brother to 'hurry up'.

Jake rolled his eyes at both brothers actions but complied putting the phone on speaker, so Tony could hear, while turning the volume down slightly. After all if both brothers were freaking out it had to be at least a little important.

"Okay Wally your on speaker, Whats so important you couldn't wait till we got home?" Jake said into the phone. "Is anyone besides Josh there with you?" He added as an after though.

"Yeah were all here, Me, Josh, Steve, Bill, Danny, Doug, and Peter."

"Would you tell us whats up already," said Tony starting to get annoyed.

"Someone bought the house next door to us," piped up Doug.

"WHAT!" said Jake and Tony at the same time, earning a few dirty looks for other students at the library, but promptly ignoring them. "Someone bought the old Madsen place?" Continued Tony while Jake just sat there in shock thinking of the last time someone new moved in. Which then got him thinking of a certain blonde haired baseball player. Quickly shaking the thought from his head he resumed listening to the ongoing conversation. He'd apparently been lost in thought longer than he originally thought, for by now the guys had started talking and making bets on weather or not the new people would have kids or not. Or if it would be an old couple or a new couple or even a single parent. They talked for a few minutes longer before Tony glanced at the clock. Seeing how late it was they quickly told the guys they were going to walk home now and to see them when they got there. After Jake hung up the phone the two boys gathered there stuff together and started home.

"Soooo," started Tony trying to fill in the silence between them on the walk home. "What were you thinking about earlier that had you so out of it?"

"Oh you know, what the new people will be like," he said quickly before he could really think about what to say. Telling Tony he was thinking about Eddie Malloy, of all people, was not an option. Although judging by the look on his best friends face he already knew.

"Uh huh, sure you were," said Tony obviously doubtful. Jake sent a small glare his direction before sighing "Fine, I was thinking about the Malloys. They were the last people to move in anywhere close to us and I was wondering what we would do if they ever came back."

"You think the new people will be like the Malloy girls?" Tony asked skepticaly.

Jake skoffed,"Pu-lease there is no one on the planet like the Malloy girls, they are completely one-of-a-kind." The way Jake said it left no room for argument.

The boys quickly walked the rest of the way home mostly talking about cars, christmas, brothers, and how good Stephanie Orton looked in a bathing suit. Coming up to the Hadford house they saw the rest of there group sitting out on the front porch, obviously waiting for them.

Quickly standing Steve ran down the steps followed by the rest of them, "What took you so long?" He asked as soon as he got within fifteen feet of them. "Mom called and said it was time to come home ten minutes ago, dinners ready and were hungry."

"Yeah, yeah," said Tony "We were a little busy." Turning to look at the Hadfords he said,"We'll call you tomorrow alright? Maybe we can see if we can find anything out about this new family."

Seeing there nods the Bensons turned and headed for the bridge that would take them across the river to home. The whole time all nine boys yelling stuff like, "Bye guys!" "See you tomorrow!" "Don't forget to call!" "Bring me cookies!" That last one got Peter a few odd looks from his brothers. "What?" he asked "I like cookies." His brothers stared at him for a second before wordlessly turning and walking into the house. They were used to his antics by now.