"Get low, get low, get low, get –"

"Rio!" Roxy snapped, finally looking up from her notebook, where she'd been writing out notes from her textbook, "The only thing that's going to get lower is your GPA if you don't stop jamming out to crunk music and start studying!"

Andy smiled a little as Rio – seated comfortably on one of the dark red couches next to the sushi bar, gave a fake look of hurt. "I'm unleashing my inner pop star. Maybe I'll even travel to Italy and perform with an Italian superstar who's lost his singing partner in a tragic story."

Mark – who had two younger sisters, raised an eyebrow. "You do know nobody died in the Lizzie Mcguire Movie and the Italian superstar was the bad guy, right?"

"Really," he asked, taking a sip from the soup bowl in front of him, "I don't blame him; having to be behind Brunette Hilary Duff's spotlight, I'd be jealous too."

"Oh come on," Mark grinned sarcastically, "He was a terrible singer, anyway."

"Well maybe if Brunette Duff paid attention to him she could've gotten him singing lessons," Rio finished.

While the two were arguing, Roxy leaned over the table to whisper to Andy. "What's with you? You're usually the first one diving into the soup."

"Huh?" he turned from the window to look at her. "Oh, nothing Roxy. I…my mind must be somewhere else."

She sighed and leaned back against her chair. "She's gonna come. You do know that, right?"

"I hope."

"Look lover boy, why don't you have some faith in the girl? You two were best friends apparently."

"When we were five."

"So? Be thankful you're not with Mitzi."

"How did it go in your class? I know you're in Honors so…"

"All the sophomore boys tried to pick me hoping they'd get some action because of the rumors at the party." she smiled a little. "Mark totally saved my life."

"Maybe Bloom can realize I only picked her to avoid that."

"Sure she will. Something like that – along with trying to sleep with her, is a bond that can only be strengthened by sushi."

Andy rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Confuses."

"I'm not going in."

"Oh yes you are," Anna attempted to pull Bloom into Sushi Fever by her arm, but she forgot that under her skinny figure were bones made of steel. "Come on, the project's like half of our semester grade. You look up Michelangelo or some other Ninja Turtle's name, combine it with Shakespeare and you never have to talk to him again."

"Anna," Bloom tried pulling her arm back. The two almost toppled into the bushes from the momentum. "Stop it."

"Look, I saw Rio's car. You aren't gonna be alone with guy. Nothing can go wrong. Well," she paused, "Nothing worse than last time."

"You're kidding right?" Bloom asked. "After everything I said to him? It'll be a miracle if he doesn't bomb this just to get back at me."

Anna stopped and stared at her, eyes wide. "Did you just admit to liking him?"

"What?" the redhead turned to glare at her, "I did not!"

"Denial! You like him you like him you like him!"

"Why do you remind me of the Chihuahua in Oliver and Company?" Bloom asked, watching her bounce up and down.

"I'm happy because you admitted it!"

"I didn't admit anything."

She shrugged, moving to the window to adjust her hair. Bloom followed, her arms crossed. "Well," Anna said, combing her fingers through her bangs, "It doesn't really matter if you like him or not, he's your project partner. And plus, you're doing him a favor."

"What would that be?"

"You're keeping him from getting stuck with little miss high-and-squeaky-daughter-of-the-devil." She grinned while copying Mitzi's nasally voice.

Bloom managed a half smile. "I guess. But –"

"No buts! There are two options here – you go in there, or you're getting a ride home on the roof of my car."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Roxy called, looking past Andy, "Unless of course you're a Disney person."

Confused, he turned around. An array of emotions came over him as he watched Bloom walk toward the table, a smile on her face. She put her bag on the ground and took the seat next to Andy as though none of the insults of the previous days had ever occurred. "Why am I worried?"

"Who the hell would watch a show about a teen physic?" Rio snapped at Mark then.

Andy, Bloom, and Roxy laughed. "Are they debating That's So Raven?" the redhead asked, shaking her head.

"You think that's bad, you should see them on their '90's ruled on Nickelodeon' rant. We'll be here for days."

"I almost got on Double Dare 2000!" Mark snapped, apparently listening in on their conversation.

"Yeah, but who'd let your sisters on national television?" Roxy smirked.

"…Point."

A round of laughs went around the table as the waitress appeared in a short-sleeved red shirt covered with cherry blossoms. "That's Kimi," Andy whispered to Bloom as she approached; "She goes to the night school for a degree in a nursing. She's more than used to us."

"I'm assuming that's a good thing?" she whispered back.

"Keeps us from getting kicked out." He replied smiling. By that time, Kimi had gotten there and was filling up Mark's water glass. "Any more drinks or food?" she asked, her voice holding a thick Japanese accent.

"Pepsi," Bloom said absently, grabbing the menu.

"A side of rice," Roxy added.

"I'll take a Sex on the Beach."

Bloom looked up at Rio in surprise. "Excuse me?"

He grinned at her and pointed to an item on the menu. "If you think that's bad, you should see the Screaming Or –"

"Rio!" Mark, Andy, and Roxy snapped while the waitress laughed a little. Bloom just looked at him like he was crazy. The waitress also noticed this and tried to contain another giggle. "Why don't we start you off with some California Rolls and a House Special? It might be better for your friend. And Mark, I believe there is a special surprise in back for you."

"The Megabucks lottery?" he guessed with a smile.

Kimi laughed. "Nothing so…rich. One second." With that, she turned and walked off.

"Okay," Andy said once Kimi was out of earshot, "you dare embarrass us like that again and you'll pay the entire fifty dollar bill."

"I say it was worth it for the reaction."

Roxy rolled her eyes. "Somewhere in a rich Hollywood home, Will Ferell weeps."

"Liar! He lives…somewhere else."

While they went at it, Andy's gaze went to Bloom as she took her textbook out of her bag. "Um…" he cleared his throat when Bloom looked over at him. "Sorry about him. He's…"

"Fantastically and superbly amazing?"

"Or a jackass." Mark smirked.

Bloom managed a small smile, even though she felt a little like the odd man out. She knew they were trying to make her feel welcome, but she still felt like she was intruding on a group of friends. "It's fine," she finally said. "So are there any ideas on the people we're doing for the project?"

Roxy, who had gone back to her notes long ago, glanced up again. "Well the artist is easy; just take your pick at a Ninja Turtle."

"Me and Ellis have dibs on the one with the purple mask!" Rio reminded, twirling a chopstick between his fingers with expert precision. His six years of drum lessons had to come with a few perks.

"It's Ellis and I, smartie," Roxy said absently.

"What about that one guy who designed the roof of a whole church?" Andy suggested, grabbing a mini tuna roll with his fingers.

"The Sistine Chapel," Bloom filled in, already flipping through her book for the right chapter. "Michelangelo designed it. I did a report on him for a final paper in my art class in seventh grade. I haven't looked at it in ages, but it could be useful."

"Alright, that makes us about a third of the way done."

"Leaching again, are we Andrew?" Rio questioned with a smirk, ignoring Roxy's eye roll.

"Hey when have I ever leached?"

"There was that Biology project last January," Mark reminded him, grabbing a tuna roll as well.

"Oh please, I was recovering from the flu!"

"Who do we always have to save when they're losing at EyeToy: Groove?" he shot back, smirking. He was tempted to toss one of the mini rolls at him.

"Get real," Rio backed up, and the boys were off and rolling. Roxy glanced up briefly with a small smile, but she stopped short when she saw Bloom next to Andy, twirling a strand of hair around her finger and glancing around the shop. Roxy felt a small twinge of guilt for her.

When Mark leaned out of the conversation to grab a chopstick, Roxy leaned down to whisper in his ear, "Bloom and I are going to step out for a second. Talk to your boy, considering this was his fault."

Mark looked at her quizzically, but she didn't look in his direction. Instead she stood up and motioned for Bloom to follow her. Together, the girls headed towards the back of the restaurant.

"Sorry about the guys," Roxy apologized. The two were in the back hallway near the bathrooms, leaning on a crate of Miller beer bottles. "They don't have much interaction with the opposite sex, despite Mitzi's attempts."

Bloom groaned a little. "Don't remind me about her. I'm already in deep water over there."

"Someone a little jealous?" Roxy asked, smirking a little at the thought of Mitzi's face red with anger. She almost wished someone had had a camera in that class.

"You have no idea. She dumped a bottle of water on me today when it was raining."

"That's Mitzi."

"Yeah, but the last thing I want to do is become a personal target."

"Welcome to the club," the pink haired girl replied. "I sure didn't miss the rumor bus when I wasn't on it."

"Do you even have any idea how you wound up on that flagpole?"

"Faintly, but if I tell you I can guarantee you'll lose all respect for me."

Bloom let out a small laugh. "After hanging out with Rio? I already have an impossible amount of respect for you. You know," she continued, a little nervous, "I was going to ask….Anna knows you, and so does Ellis…and Andy, Mark and Mr. Comedy Star…and I was wondering…"

"Why do I waste my time with them when I could more than likely slip into one of the girly cliques who gossip about MTV shows?"

"Well…I meant it a little nicer…"

Roxy nodded, still smiling. "I guess I'm just more of a tomboy. I had this whole volunteer thing for one of my favorite animal shelters, and I got paired up with those three. I think Andy wanted me around because he couldn't stand Rio's annoying jokes."

"They were worse?"

"You have no idea. But Andy…" she bit her lip, debating her next words. She decided she didn't have anything to lose. "Andy's a good guy. Though it may not seem like it, he's really sweet, and if you want, can get Mitzi off your back."

Bloom's eyes widened a little. "Really?"

"Sure. I honestly think he likes you."

The look of surprise turned into a smirk. "No offense to your detective skills, Roxy, but I think I already figured it out."

She laughed. "That's another thing; I need another girl around here with an actual sense of humor. And maybe a shopping trip or two that doesn't involve a guitar store. I have the musical ability of a Disney star."

"I don't think my jokes count as very good humor."

Roxy shrugged, a small smile still on her face. "Better than Rio any day."

"Okay, so right after that she turns around, and she falls right off the stage."

Bloom and the others burst out laughing as Mark continued to tell his story from the school drama camp that'd been held the previous summer. "I swear, Mitzi had grass in her hair for a week, it was the funniest thing. And as if that weren't enough, her group lost the final round, making the winner yours truly."

Of course, the fact said story was about Mitzi embarrassing herself made it much more fun.

"Oh my God, why have I never gone to a drama camp before?" Rio questioned, popping a piece of sushi into his mouth.

"Because Mitzi stopped that same year," Mark finished.

Bloom was trying to contain a fit of giggles. "Man, and I thought my stories about her were incriminating."

"You gotta love the bond of hatred towards another person," Andy grinned, holding out a mini California Roll. "You want one?"

Bloom allowed herself to give a small genuine smile as she took it out of his hand. "Yeah, thanks." She also smiled as Mark gave him a look of approval.

As they were talking Kimi approached, carrying the check and a foil wrapped plate. "This is for you guys; five dollars off for running out that family with the screaming kid."

Andy smiled. "You don't have to take anything off for us. Rio was just being his impolite self."

From next to him, Rio let out a sigh, "You call those High School Musical guys a gay couple in front of a six-year-old, and suddenly you're a devil. Gay people are not invisible, and no high school has everyone fighting that much over a play."

"Well you're a hero to us," Kimi grinned. "So there's that. And Mark," her smile widened as she placed the foil wrapped plate in front of him. "Just a little something for you."

He looked at her suspiciously. "Will it bite me?"

"I don't know."

After giving her another look, he carefully unwrapped a corner and peeked inside. His eyes widened and he turned back to Kimi. "You didn't."

"We did."

"Kim!" he cried, suddenly ecstatic. "I love you!"

She laughed a little as everyone else gave him a look. "What is it?" Roxy asked, cautiously making sure Mark wouldn't do anything insane to her.

He grinned triumphantly and ripped back the foil. Sitting on the plate, steaming warm, was a twice-baked potato, covered in cheese and bacon.

Andy, Rio, and Roxy burst out laughing, and Bloom shook her head in confusion. "Am I missing something?" she asked Andy once his laughter died down a little.

He put his head in his hand, still chuckling. "You'll figure it out as we go along."

I feel you whispering
It's chilling my bones
I'm feeling something
That I never used to feel on my own
Oh no, oh no
You're never gonna stop us
You'll never stop

Fool Everyone (A Rocket to the Moon)