My story planning just doesn't go where I want it to... it seems I'll have a rough five chapters left... now I'll have to knock on wood... anyhoo, pointless chapter ahoy!

"Hey, Naomi," Jon smiled cheerfully, leaning against the fence, "How's it going?"

"Great," I brushed my hair out of my eyes, "Look, it's nice to see you and all, Jon, but -"

"Oh, you're busy. That's fine, I just -"

"No, I'm not busy at all, I'm just wondering what you're doing in my neighbour's yard."

"Oh... that... well, I could've walked through your house, but I doubt your Mum would've been pleased, so I just trespassed on your neighbour's lawn."

"Couldn't just knock?"

"Nah. Listen, I just came by to tell you... in case you wanted to know... that as I passed by the Curtis residence today, just by chance, I happened to see my cousin and your lover going at each other's throats."

A year ago, I would've panicked and run straight home to break up the fight. However, today I raised an eyebrow.

"What did you just call Soda?"

"Don't remember."

"My lover?"

Jon looked offended.

"I did nothing of the sort! Why don't you come help me break it up before one of them gets charged for first degree homicide?"

I stretched and walked towards the front yard, Jon following on the far side of the fence. "Second, you mean."

"Nope. I mean first. Killing has been on both of their minds for a while now."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, let's not let them kill each other yet."

xXxXxXxXxXx

Breaking up the fight hadn't been hard. All it took was a few words of unimpression at their lack of maturity on my part, and some laughing on Jon's, for them to feel completely ridiculous.

As much as I don't want to blame anyone, I can see it was obviously Adam's fault. Marie had been outside with Soda, and Adam must have approached him. It looked like Soda was just pushing him away, rather than coming on offensively, which I could only expect when his daughter was watching.

"Man," Jon said, sitting beside me and rubbing Marie's head, to which she responded with a giggle, "Someday, I swear I'm gonna get a bunch of girls to fight over me."

"Gonna pay them?"

"If I have to."

"I can't believe Adam would actually approach Soda and pick a fight with him," I said slowly, "I mean, Marie was right here!"

"Adam's not a rational guy. Listen, he's my cousin. We're close, we're friends and all... but he can be a real ass. You're better off without him... but don't tell him I said that, or he'll pick a fight with me too, and I'm no fighter. I'm the stage actor pansey man. So... save my ass and keep quiet, alright?"

"Alright. Hey, Marie, no, that's not food," I pulled a flower out of her tiny hand before it made it's way into her stomach, "Do you think-"

My question was cut off halfway by the sound of a crash coming from the kitchen.

"Son of a bitch," Jon cursed, rolling his eyes, "Adam musta took another swing at Sodapop..."

"We can only hope it was in that order," I muttered, "Marie, lets take you upstairs."

"Sonna bish." She replied, grinning. My mouth dropped open in horror, and, turning to face Jon, saw he had a similar expression on his face.

"Oh no.. ooooh no..."

"Maybe she won't repeat it again," I squeaked, and said in a calmer voice, "Marie, listen to me. Never say that again, alright?"

"Sonna bish?" she asked

"No, Marie, I don't want to hear that-"

"What's your problem?" I heard Soda yell in the kitchen, and Jon and I rushed in.

"Oh my gosh, Soda, your eye!" I gasped, turning Marie away, lest she be frightened by the black eye Adam had inflicted on Sodapop's person.

"Nice bruise," Jon commented calmly, "And Adam, that's a pretty groovy swollen nose. Kudos to you both."

"Jon, not now," I scolded, trying not to laugh at his analysis of the situation, "Take Marie upstairs, she probably needs a nap. Adam..." I shook my head and sighed, "Get the hell out of here. Now."

He didn't hesitate to follow my command. I turned to Sodapop, who was holding his hand to his eye.

"I... I'm really..." I sighed, flinging my hands up in resignation, "I can't even apologize properly. Glory, I never thought that Adam would do something so stupid, and with Marie right there, too! He was so nice when I first met him, but like Jon said, he can be an asshole-"

"Listen, it's not your fault-"

"Yes, it is! I shouldn't have even let Adam get close to me at Christmas. I should've been doing other things, like rehersing for the opera that I'm not going to have the proper range for!"

"Naomi, it's fine. It's just as much my fault as it is yours, and the opera thing... your range isn't completely gone."

"Not completely, but my upper register is out of practice, and that's one stroke against me. Everyone else there will have a great, seasoned, perfect voice, but mine hasn't been properly used for a really long time!"

"Naomi, calm down!" Soda looked slightly perplexed at my growing anxiety.

"I'd calm down if I could, but it's all just hitting me now! What if I have a flashback onstage! That'd ruin the whole opera for everyone! And... seriously, I doubt that too many seventeen year olds are there!"

"You're probably a bit young, but-"

"A bit? My vocal chords aren't even completely developed yet! Maybe I should just audition for a musical, the range could be slightly lower..."

"You're going in circles... opera, musicals, modern, opera again, now you're on musicals again..."

"Well, I can't help it! I have no idea what I want to do!"

His response to that was just to hug me. Damn myself for enjoying it...