Woot 2 in one day!! haha...anyway same thank yous just because I don't feel like typing them right now...but you guys know that I love ya!

The next day was Friday and the day I was supposed to go see the Prestige with my sister, her boyfriend, and Jack. We met up around 3 to get ice cream before the movie, which was an adventure in itself. Dodger decided to get a cookie monster, which was a cookie that was topped with a layer of ice cream. Unfortunately for her the cookie was hard as a rock and couldn't be eaten by just biting into it, so she got a fork and tried to break it apart. After a few attempts she succeeded, but in the process some of the ice cream splattered all over her shirt.

"Dang it!" she cried, before screaming "Ah it's cold get it off, get it off, get it off!!!!"

"Someone get hah a napkin!" Blink said.

"Heah" Said Jack as he handed her a napkin. A look of relief washed over her as she removed the freezing substance from her clothes.

"Aw man, it's gonna stain!" she said looking at the spot.

"Here, use my tide pen." I told her as I pulled the stain remover out of my purse.

"Ya carry a stain removah in ay poise?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, you've seen how big of a klutz I can be."

"Dat is true."

We then piled into Blink's car and headed for the theater. En route to the parking lot Blink ran over a grate that was laid in the ground; only when he ran over it, the car made a crunching noise and scared the rest of us half to death.

"Blink what the san juan hill are you doing?!" I shrieked after I pried my hand loose from the seat belt.

"Drivin, what ah yous doin?"

"Trying not to die!"

"Good I don't want dead bodies in me cah!"

"Blink!" Dodger said hitting him.

"What it's da truth!"

"Yeah, it'd be bit distoibin if ya did like dead bodies in da back a ya cah." Jack said smirking.

"Da whole cah is out ta get me!" Blink complained.

"I hear that." I mumbled under my breath.

"What'd ya say Angel?" Jack asked.

"Nothing, nothing at all." I said with a sigh.

"LAND!!!!" I yelled as I leaped out of the car, right after Blink put the car in park.

"Drama queen." Dodger said.

"And proud of it!"

We proceeded inside where Jack promptly paid for my ticket before I could do it myself. We watched the movie attentively and then began the debate on where to go for dinner.

"I want Chili's!"

"No let's go to Applebee's"

"How about pizza?"

"No we had pizza, how about Chinese?"

We finally decided on barbeque, and headed to a quaint place that Dodger and I knew about, The Mesquite Pit. We sat around the table waiting for our food and talking about funny childhood memories.

"Yeah, when I was little I tripped over a fence." I stated, which earned strange looks from Jack and Blink.

"How did ya manage dat?" asked Jack.

"Well, we had an old washing machine that didn't work anymore sitting by our fence and I climbed up on it and tried jumping off the fence, but the shoes I was wearing had chains on them and one of the chains got caught on the top of the fence and I tripped and fell and hit my chin on the ground, it hurt, really bad!"

"Wow." Jack said trying no to laugh ."Dat musta been traumahtic foh ya"

"PHHBTT! I stuck my tongue out at him.

"That's nothing." Dodger said smiling.

"Oh really?" Blink asked curiously.

"When I was really little, back when we where still in New York, I was playing outside with Spot. We where next to a building that had a huge snow drift next to it so Spot jumped into and it looked fun. So I picked an area that he hadn't been it yet and twirled in the air as I jumped.

"So?" Jack asked.

"So I landed on my back in an area that was covered with a think layer of ice. It was quiet painful." She said shaking her head." And then Spot started laughing at me even though I was gasping for air!"

"Ya sound a lil bittah." Jack teased.

"Yeah she hasn't let that one go, even though Spot has repeatedly apologized for it." I said with an impish smirk.

"Spot apologize?" Jack asked sounding shocked.

"Watch it," I said a warning tone evident in my voice.

"He's not so bad once you get on his good side, though if you start out on his bad side, it might be a while before you get on his good side." Dodger explained.

"So," I said trying to change the subject, "We've told you about our embarrassing childhood experiences, what about you two?"

"Ok, when I was little, befoh me parents passed away, me muddah had dis pilla dat foh some reason stayed in my room. Well one night I had a friend ovah ta spend da night and I was sound asleep and alla sudden I feel dis tap on me shouldah an it's me friend tryin ta wake me up. He was flippin out because he said he saw eyes in da cohnah a me room. I shrugged him off because I tought he was just tryin ta scah me ya know? So he stahts shakin me awake again so I figgah he's pretty scahed. So I look ovah in da cohnah an shoh enough, dere's sometin dat looks like a paih a eyes lookin back at us. So now I'se freakin out because in me mind, which was half asleep, I figgahed dat some animal escaped from da zoo and was hidin in me room. So I get up an sneak inta me parents room and wake me muddah up ta tell hah dat dere's somethin in me room. An she got up and came in me room and toined on da light an low an behold it's da pilla." Jack said.

"You were scared of a pillow?" I said.

"An animal escaped from the zoo and was hiding in your room?" Dodger said with one eyebrow raised.

"Don't judge me, Angel tripped ovah a fence."

"But she still does that."

"Hey" I protested.

"Well, when I was lil, me, me parents and some friends of ah family went on a vacation ta Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Da foist night we was dere me faddah read 'Da Legend a Sleepy Hollow' ta me an me friend, only he didn't finish da stohy. So dat night we go ta bed and me an me friend ah on da fold out couch downstaihs while our parents ah uptaihs, and my friend wakes me up in da middle a da night and he says 'Blink, dat cow skull ovah dere don't have any eyes.' An I told him dat da eyes were on da side, so den a few minutes latah, he wakes me up again an he says 'Blink, dere's a skeleton wid pink haih an a poiple robe jumpin up an down behind ah bed.' An again I tell him dat dere's nuttin dere. A few minutes latah he wakes me up again dis time he says dat dere's someone standin outside da dooh, I was about ta tell him ta go back ta bed and den we heah dis knockin at da dooh. So wid da 'Legend a Sleepy Hollow' still fresh in me mind an wid everyting dat happened, I freaked out an yelled 'It's da headless horseman, run!' So we run upstaihs ta our parents and stayed dere da rest a da week."

"The headless horseman?" Dodger asked trying not to laugh.

"I was 5, gimme a break."

"Aww, poor little Kid Blink." I said chuckling.

On the ride home we teased Blink that the Headless Horseman was riding along beside us.

"Stop it Angel, or I'm gonna staht teasin ya about snakes!" Blink said.

"Eek no!" I said pulling my feet up in the seat.

While Jack and Dodger continued to tease him, I sat back and watched, because I seriously would have freaked out if he teased me about snakes. We got back to our house and got out to hang out and drink hot cocoa/coffee. We walked in to see Spades nervously pacing the floor while talking on the phone and a confused looking Skittery sitting on the couch, watching her.

"What's going on?" I asked as soon as we walked in the family room.

"Spot called and she's been doin dat since she picked up da phone." Skittery said.

"Well surely there's a reason she's pacing." Dodger said blankly.

"I dunno, I hoid sumptin bout a fight." Skittery said.

"A fight with who?" I asked.

"I told ya, I dunno."

"Ok Spot, bye." Spades said as she hung up the phone.

"Spades, what happened?" I asked.

"Spot, Ace, Mush, and Media were on a date and Mush and Spot got into a fight." Spades said.

"Wid each oddah?" Jack asked.

"No, with two thugs." Spades answered.

"What happened?" Dodger asked sitting down.

"They went to go see a movie on north side and were walking behind the theater back to their car when the two guys stepped out of the shadows blocking their path. Ace began walking around them when one of them pulled a blade on her. And then he asked for their money, so they gave their wallets to the other guy but they didn't let Ace go. Media asked if they wanted her necklace too thus distracting them so that Mush and Spot could attack and giving Media and Ace a chance to get away."

"Are they all okay?" I asked.

"Yeah they're coming over here because Media and Ace's parents aren't home." Spades said.

"Ok, she probably needs the company too." Dodger commented.

"I hope they're all right." I said worrying.

"Don't worry Angel." Jack said giving me a shoulder hug.

We tried to pass the time with small talk until they were home, but everyone's mind was on what had happened. Finally we heard a car pull up in the driveway, followed by four doors slamming. We then heard the front door open and close as the four walked into the living room. There was an awkward silence for a moment as everyone just looked around at each other.

"Greetings Starshine, the earth say hello." Media said breaking the silence.

"Are you guys okay?" I asked standing up.

"We are, but they're not." Ace said pointing at Spot and Mush.

"Good Gravy, what happened to you two?" I asked looking at the two.

"Oh dat," Spot said pointing at a fairly deep cut on his forearm, "Dat's just from a paper cut."

"Must have been a very big piece of paper." I said dryly.

"It was."

"And what about you?" Dodger asked Mush, who was covered in bruises.

"Ummm." He said simply.

"His ribs are worse than his face." Media said.

"How would you know?" Mush asked her.

"I heard the cracking when he beat you." She answered.

"Oh, ok just so long as you have a good answer." He tried to joke.

"I am the comic relief, not you." She scolded.

"You're just joking because…" Mush started to say.

"Shut up." Media snapped.

"All right!" he said holding up his hands and then grimacing from lifting them.

She's just joking now so she doesn't crack in front of everybody. Note to self, be available in case she needs me. I thought to myself.

"Did yous go ta da hospital?" Blink asked.

"No" answered Ace.

"Why not." Spades asked.

"Numerous reasons." Media answered her.

"Such as…" Spades prodded.

"It hurt to drive." Mush said.

"Surely that can't be it." Spades said still prodding.

"Spades, I don't think they wanna talk about it." I whispered to her.

"Someone get the first aid kit." Spades said.

"Hey, noise Angel, ya on call!" Jack said trying to joke with me.

"Oh, right." I said snapping out of my thoughts and running to get the first aid kit upstairs in my bathroom. I came back downstairs and was approached with a dilemma; get to Spot who was bleeding, or Mush who appeared to be hurt worse.

"Go to Spot, he might bleed to death." Mush said stepping away from me.

"Ok, that answered that question." I said making Spot sit.

"Ow dat hoits!" Spot complained.

"Well if you'd stop moving it wouldn't hurt so much!"

After wrapping Spot's cut and getting him ice for the bruises he did have, I strong armed Mush into taking his shirt off.

"No." he said.

"If you don't I'll take it off of you myself." I said.

"Excuse me." Media interjected.

"Do you wanna take his shirt off…wait don't answer that."

"Smart mouth."

"Learned it from you."

"Mush, take your shirt off." Media said.

"No"

"Mush would you rather go in the bathroom with me and Media?"

"Fine." He said finally consenting.

"He's shy." Media said.

"You don't have to tell everyone!" Mush said.

"Would you just walk!" I said trying to push him in the door.

"Ow!"

"Oh, sorry. Move in so that I can put something on those." I said.

"Fine"

We finally got Mush to take his shirt off so that I could put Tincture of Arnica on it. I was horrified at the number of bruises on his abdomen.

"Don't look so horrified Angel." He said to my expression.

"Dang, what happened?"

"Do you want the whole story?"

"Yeah."

"Ok, this might take a while, you want to go back in the living room so everyone else can hear?"

"Um, yeah, I'm done, let's go."

"Wait, can I get a different shirt?" Mush asked.

"Hold on a sec, let me go ask Spot." I said sneaking out of the bathroom and downstairs.

"Uh, Spot, can I talk to you for a second?" I asked poking my head in the door.

"Yeah, whad is it?" he asked.

"Mush needs a different shirt, can he borrow one of yours?" I asked him.

"Uh yeah, lemme go grab one." Spot said running into his room and grabbing a shirt for Mush to wear.

"Thanks."

"Ya welcome."

"Are you okay?" I asked concerned for him.

"I been bettah."

"I bet you have."

"So uh, you should go tend ta Mush." He said trying to escape.

"Media's got him taken care of for the moment." I said wanting to pry.

"Honestly, it was like da pahkin garage."

"I'm still sorry you had to go through that." I said feeling guilty yet again.

"It ain't ya fault dat creepy guys like ya." He said.

"But no seriously, are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I just need time."

"You sure?"

"Yes mom."

"Sorry it's the maternal instinct, I was born with it." I said smiling. "If you ever DO want to talk, just knock okay? I'm never to busy for ya!"

"Thanks Angel." He said giving me a noogie.

"Ok, run before I hurt you!" I said joking.

"Aight."

I grabbed the shirt and headed back to the bathroom to give it to Mush before we all headed downstairs.

"Do any of you have objections to me telling this?" Mush asked when we were in the family room. A chorus of no's resounded across the room. I looked over at Spot and he seemed a little uncomfortable, but he set his jaw and stayed where he was.

"Ok then." Mush started. "We had just left the movie and were walking behind the theater, back to the car. When out of nowhere, these two thugs jumped out and told us to stand still. Ace, being the genius that she is, decided to walk around when the first guy grabbed her and held a knife to her throat. After that, I didn't see much because I was too busy fighting the other guy."

"I saw it." Media said picking up the story.

"Well" I said prodding her.

"The guy had a knife to Ace's throat so to distract them I asked them if they wanted my necklace as well. Then Spot rushed him, twisted the knife away from her neck while Ace elbowed him in the ribs. Spot then kneed him in the gut and got a punch to the stomach for it. They circled each other for a few minutes tossing out insults when Spot tried to punch the guy and got his arm cut open. Then when the guy tried to rush him, Spot grabbed the arm with the knife and flung the guy to the ground before stepping on his arm and picking up the knife. Then the guy tried to punch Spot in the head and Spot grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back before pulling the knife and sticking the point to the guy's spine. Then he told the guy to run or he would call the cops."

"Oh my gosh, Spot!" I gasped.

"What?"

"WOW, Ace sweetie, are you gonna be all right?" I asked the maternal instinct kicking into full gear.

"Yeah, eventually." She answered quietly.

"What happened ta yous Mush?" Jack asked.

"Well," he started, "Media offered her necklace to the guy, I looked over at her and got smashed in the gut. I tried fighting back only to be hit repeatedly in the face and gut. Every time I swung, he planted at least two in me. And then I finally did get him in the gut and he punched me so hard that I spun and did a face plant into the wall. Which is where this bruise came from." He said pointing at his eye. "As I turned to face him, he started pummeling me again. Then he hit me in the side of my head that I lost my balance and fell to the ground where he started kicking me repeatedly. Finally I was able to catch his foot and twist it to where he fell down. So I jumped him and began punching the crap out of his face. Then he hit me in my sternum, causing me to fall back when he flipped me and started beating the crap out of my face. I got one more good swing in causing him to fall off of me. We both got up and started punching each other until I got a hold of his throat and started beating his head against a wall. He elbowed me in the gut, again, before I got him in another chokehold and threw him down. I was kneeling over him pounding his face in when Spot drug me off of him and held the knife to his throat. After that he scampered away after his comrade." Mush said coming to the end of his explanation.

"Dang, no wonder your ribs are so bruised." I said gaping.

"Sorry I distracted you." Media apologized.

"It's okay." Mush said.

I was so wrapped up in what Mush and Media had been saying that I hadn't kept an eye on the time, so it shocked me when Jack came up and said they had to go.

"Heya, Angel, me an Blink gotta get outtah heah, we'se gotta woik tamarrah." Jack said apologetically.

"Oh, right, yeah, um see you tomorrow." I said as they walked out the door.

"Bye Angel." Jack and Blink said getting into their car.

"Bye!" I said waving to them. Oy it had been a long day! I walked back inside to see Ace on the phone, talking to her parents I assumed. Walking into the living room revealed Spot looking depressed, and Mush and Media talking in hushed voices to each other.

"Media," I asked, "Do you want to stay here tonight?"

"Um, I'm gonna stay with Mush tonight."

"What's wrong with your house?" My dad asked.

"My parents went to a conference and they won't be back til Monday." She explained.

"And who does Mush live with?"

"Uh, myself." Mush answered.

"So the two of you plan on spending the night together, alone?"

"Yes." Media said.

"No"

"Well, neither one of us wants to be alone."

"You can both stay here."

"We'll be all right, Mr. Conlon." Mush tried to argue.

"Two teenagers alone in a house, I don't think so."

"Technically, we're both in our twenties." Media pointed out.

"You still have raging hormones." My dad said with an air of finality.

"All right." Mush caved.

"Mush you can stay with Spot, Media you can stay with Angelica." My dad said turning around and going down the hall to go to bed.

"It's late, we should all go to bed." Dodger said.

"Yeah, me an Angel gotta woik tamarrah." Spot said with a yawn.

"Will you be able to work with a cut arm Spot?" Spades asked.

"Spades, I pahk cahs, yeah I can do it wid a hoit ahm." Spot said.

"Ok, just wanting to make sure, don't murder me!"

"Apparently it is bed time." I said.

"I'm gonna see Ace ta hah cah." Spot said walking outside as we heard her parents' car pull up.

"Ok, Spot, night." I said following everyone upstairs.

"Am I sleeping on the floor?" Media asked.

"No, you can stay in the bed so long as you don't mind me being in there too." I said smiling.

"Nah" Media said jumping into the bed.

"You seem peppy." I observed.

"Yeah, but I'm gonna crash now." She said snuggling under the blankets.

"Ok, if you need me smack me." I said turning out the light and crawling into bed.