A/N: Super thanks to Midaria, the anonymous "ggg" (with their slightly threatening, but still endearing review), AubreyCullen, and Sharpie-Marker1101 for their sweet reviews!! You guys totally got me through my writing block and kept me writing this fic :D Thanks to all my readers!! :D (sorry bout all the exclamations…but…:D)
The door to the penthouse suite swung open, and Adam grinned at them. "Hi, come on in," he waved them in. "Glad to see you two, Jesse was goin' mad thinking you guys weren't coming."
Jesse objected loudly, "Was not."
"Whatever you say man," Matt rolled his eyes.
The five of them were reclining in various positions around the room. Matt was seated comfortably on the ledge, reading, while Mickey was busy behind the bar. Jesse was perched on the edge of a snow-white couch in front of the television with James sitting on the coffee table a few feet away. Adam threw himself down on the other end of the couch and motioned for them to sit.
"Want a drink?" Adam offered, before hastily adding, "Non-alcoholic, of course."
Mia raised an eyebrow at this and whirled around to glance at Danny, who stared angelically down at her. She rolled her eyes at him, and he smirked.
"Sure. I'll take a coke," she said turning back to Adam.
"Diet?" Mickey asked and laughed at Mia's expression. "Not a fan?"
"Nope. Artificial sweeteners taste gross," she wrinkled her nose and ambled over to the bar. "Thanks," she smiled as she accepted the can.
"I can't remember the last time I've seen a girl drink non-diet soda," James remarked from across the room.
Mia winked and took a long swig. "I live to entertain."
James laughed. "And entertain you do."
"Anything for you?" Mickey directed to Danny.
"Water's fine."
Nodding, Mickey rummaged through the fridge and lobbed a bottle over to Danny, who nodded his thanks.
"Oh!" Mia exclaimed, and the boys looked inquisitively over at her. "I almost forgot about the yogurt!" she added as she padded over to Danny, who helpfully handed her the white paper bag.
"Ice cream," Danny supplied, seeing the uncertain expressions that accompanied this declaration.
"It's yogurt!" she complained, smacking him lightly on the arm. Taking the bag in hand, she walked over to the coffee table James was currently occupying. She stared meaningfully at him, and he sighed and moved to the couch. Mickey and Matt glanced at each other, and wandered over to the couch.
"Thanks," she grinned, as she set out the small containers. "Okay, everyone gets one of these," she handed them each a styrofoam container and spoon. Jesse pulled off the lid and sniffed experimentally at the contents, before shrugging and taking a bite.
"Hmm, not bad," Jesse gnawed thoughtfully on his spoon.
Mia laughed. "It's even better if you eat it with some of this," she said as she pulled off the lids of the toppings. Motioning for Jesse to hand her his yogurt, Mia rolled his eyes at his reluctance. "Jesse! I'll give it back," she promised
He pouted and took another bite before unwillingly passing her the container.
"Okay, so what do you want me to put on it?"
Jesse looked doubtfully at the little containers. "I dunno."
She shook her head at him, "Do you like strawberries?"
He nodded, and she spooned some of the diced strawberries onto his yogurt. "How about chocolate? Mango? Pineapple?"
Eyes brightening at the word pineapple, Jesse nodded vigorously. She chuckled to herself, and placed a large amount of pineapple, along with a small helping of mango to the side, and sprinkled a bit of chocolate on top of the whole mixture.
"Now try it," she urged, handing it back to him.
"Mmm," he chewed happily. "Really good," he said enthusiastically through a full mouth.
"Say it, don't spray it," Adam groaned.
"So, who's next?" Mia grinned as they all pushed each other impatiently to hand her their yogurt.
**
Half an hour later, with the yogurt all gone – including the several extra servings she had ordered in anticipation – and most of the toppings reduced to empty containers, Mia sighed contentedly. The second yogurt had been as good as the first, although in her defense she had fed Danny at least half of it.
She giggled in remembrance of how the boys had fallen over themselves to convince her to let them have another – before they had realized she had enough for seconds, for everyone. For all their fame, boys were clearly always going to be boys. Growing up in a house full of boys, she had quickly learned to always have seconds, if not thirds, of everything on hand.
Jesse jumped up abruptly from his seat to the left of her, and Mia lifted her head curiously from its comfortable position on Danny's shoulder as he started bouncing eagerly up and down.
"Good god, you're like a bloody puppy," James groaned.
"A retarded puppy," Matt added.
He pouted for a moment, before the sugar rush re-caught up with him and he resumed his enthusiastic hopping. "Let's play Guitar Hero!"
Mia flinched as all of the other boys swiftly sat up. "What the…" she stared incredulously as they all hurried about, picking up and plugging things into the television.
Thrusting a guitar in her face, Jesse smiled sweetly, "Ladies first."
She shook her head, "No thanks."
He waved the guitar insistently.
"No, really. It's okay, I'm really not musically inclined."
"That's putting it mildly," Danny snorted.
Mia glowered at him, "Butthead."
"What? It's the truth!" he said defensively.
"So?" she pouted. "You're not allowed to agree with me on that!"
Seeing no apology forthcoming, she grabbed the outstretched guitar and muttered, "I'll show you."
"No. Don't," Danny laughed. "I'm sorry," he reached for her. Mia squirmed out of his grasp.
"Okay. How do you work this thing again?" she asked Jesse who was hovering excitedly near the television.
He vaulted over James, who was sitting peaceably on the floor, and stepped behind her. Positioning her hands, he instructed, "Okay, you just click the button that's the same color as the one you see on the screen and hit this tab thingy." Jesse chose a song, and demonstrated and Mia felt uneasily close to him. "See! It's easy."
Fumbling with the buttons, Mia tried to replicate what Jesse had just done. She winced as she failed.
Matt smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, the idiot just put you on a really hard starting song." He grabbed the other guitar and clicked too rapidly for her to follow. "Here, try this one."
She stared determinedly at the screen, and clicked at the buttons, cheering when a few matched up. Spinning around, Mia glared at the sound of Danny's muffled laughter, before turning back to the screen.
James pushed Jesse out of the way, "Psh, that's what happens when you go to a keyboardist. Let a real musician show you."
"What? I'm a very good teacher," Jesse griped.
"Okay. Whatever," James said dismissively, as he covered her hands with his and restarted the game. "Just feel the beat," he directed as he lightly pressed on her fingers. He's really close to me, Mia thought uncomfortably. Why isn't Danny upset? She snuck a peek back at him. He had stopped laughing but seemed unconcerned by what was happening in front of him. Or is he? she mused. Wow, I'm actually getting it! James still stood a bit too close for comfort, but he had retracted his hands – which meant she was actually playing, and not all that badly either. Grinning triumphantly, she faltered as a barrage of notes suddenly appeared.
"Oh, crap," she winced as she returned to missing notes. James leaned forward to replace his hands on her, but the song thankfully ended.
"You've almost got it," James said encouragingly, "Wanna try again."
Mia grimaced, "No thanks. I think I make a better audience member."
"Oh come on," Jesse wheedled.
She shook her head with a rueful grin, "I'm good."
"If you're sure," James said doubtfully.
"Yes," she reassured him, and sat back down beside Danny. "But thanks for teaching me," she added.
"No prob," James and Jesse replied together. They glared at each other and said in unison, "I'm the better teacher."
"No, I am," they exclaimed at once.
"Stop it," they protested.
"You stop it," they accused.
"Okay, I'll stop it," Adam jumped in. "Seriously, that whole talking as one is starting to freak me out." The rest of them nodded in agreement. "Why don't you just play each other and see who's better."
Mia looked over at Danny as Adam sorted the two of them out. Why isn't he saying anything? Is he mad at me?
Feeling her stare, he turned to face her a moment later. She gazed apprehensively at his impassive expression, and he sighed before slipping an arm around her. Snuggling against him, she smiled as he whispered, "I'm sorry for teasing you."
"I'm…"
He placed a hand over her mouth. "Don't apologize," he said in response to her unfinished sentence. "I'll just have to teach you how to really play later," he grinned impishly.
A/N: Read and review? Please? :D