Chapter 6

You said, "I remember how we felt sitting by the water
and every time I look at you, it's like the first time
I fell in love with a careless man's careful daughter
she is the best thing that's ever been mine"

Massie furiously changed the radio station as soon as she heard the lyrics to Mine. She was trying to work on her new designs for a collaboration collection that she'd been planning-but listening to the radio wasn't helping. It only reminded her of one person-Derrick who Landon had been suspiciously asking about ever since the hotel incident. "That was Derrick Harrington, wasn't it?" Landon asked, putting his arm protectively around Massie as soon as she said good bye to Derrick. "Who?" she asked, widening her eyes in faux innocence, removing herself carefully from his arm. "Your first and ex boyfriend who called you immature." "There's nothing to worry about babe," Massie said nervously, giving him a kiss on the lips. She quickened her pace, feeling Derrick's stare on her back. Her phone vibrated, indicating a new text. She'd gotten ten texts, twenty IM messages and 5 phone calls, all from him.

Derrington: I miss u already. Come visit me?

It was even harder to concentrate, knowing that Derrick was still in Paris, waiting for her to do something. "Mass?" a voice asked, light tapping on her door. "Oh um come in!" she replied, quickly turning off her phone, and hiding it behind her back. "The wedding planner sent out the invitations for our wedding," Landon said grinning, expecting a huge reaction from Massie. Massie felt her heart stop. "Wait. To who?" she asked, her eyebrows crinkling together in worry. "All of your friends in Westchester."

Back in Westchester, NY.

"And Derrick just goes off to Paris! Haven't heard a word about him or Massie," Josh concluded. Alicia's eyes grew big. "Do you think they secretly married in Paris?" she grinned. "Probably not. Mass would want a big wedding," Kristen giggled, her eyes glued to the soccer game playing on the flat screen TV. Kemp and Plovert were next to her, too absorbed to pay attention to anything else. "Point," Alicia agreed, holding up a perfectly manicured finger. A pile of letters just flew in through the mail slot, and Josh bent down the pick them up. "Credit card bill, business letter…hey, Leesh?" he asked, still shuffling the letters. "Who is this from?" He held out a big fancy purple envelope that had a big gold ribbon tied around it. "Oooh! Nice envelope!" Dylan said, noticing the over the top envelope. She snatched it eagerly out of Josh's hands, while Alicia grabbed it back.

She tore off the ribbon, and opened the envelope. A card which had a picture of two very familiar faces fell out, and Alicia's mouth dropped open. She flipped open the expensive card, and read…

Landon Drew Crane and Massie Jillian Block would like to request…

"No," she gasped, quickly reading over the words. Josh immediately went over to her, and took the card. "Are Derrick and Massie finally getting marrie-" He stopped when he read over the card. "Guys. This is bad. Very bad," he said. Dylan, Kemp, Plovert and Kristen leapt up from the sofa, and they read the card, all of their eyes growing wide in shock.

"Eh." "Ma." "Gawd."

"I just got an e-mail from Josh," Cam called, as Claire walked into the hotel room, tanned and relaxed from the beach. "Really?" she asked, making a face. "I know they aren't supposed to be bothering us…but he marked it as urgent." Claire hurried over to the computer, and Cam clicked on the e-mail. It loaded, and it showed a picture of a fancy invitation. "Hey, do you think it's Derrick and Massie's wedding?" Claire asked excitedly. "Um…Claire?" Cam asked, tapping Claire on the shoulder, and motioned for her to look on the screen. They both stared on the attachment in silence, and they turned to each other. "Landon?" Cam asked disbelief in his voice. "I can't believe Massie's engaged to him," Claire murmured, still looking at the picture.

"Why did you send them the invitations?" Massie screeched, still in shock. "I thought that you'd want to invite your friends," Landon said, trying to put his arm around Massie. She wiggled away, and frowned. "When did you send them?" He shrugged carelessly. "The wedding planner did. Like last week? I forgot to tell you," he said apologetically. That means that they would've gotten it by now. Sure enough, her laptop started beeping with IMs. Massie sat down, feeling worried, depressed and confused. Landon or Derrick? Wedding or Derrick? This well dressed guy who luh-ved pugs, or the ah-dorable blonde soccer player who had the cuh-yutest puppy dog eyes and made her feel like the most special girl in the world? Decisions, decisions…

"I'm going to go…er…shopping," Massie lied, grabbing her bag. "Oh, okay. Is Derrick still in Paris?" Landon asked suddenly, his eyes looking stormy. "Um no he went back to Westchester," she lied again, hoping that he would believe her. "Good," he said, a grim smile on his face. "Why?" she asked. "J-just out of curiosity, I don't really care, but…" she trailed off, her heart beating fast. "I can tell that he wants you," Landon said darkly, suddenly grabbing her by the hand and pulling her close. "Um okay?" she asked. "We're just friends." "But you're engaged." Massie's eyes suddenly became angry. "So I can't have any male friends who think I'm attractive?" she asked, glaring at Landon. He shrugged. "You're mine," he pointed out, as if that made everything alright. "You're unbelievable," Massie blurted out, and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Massie: coming over in 5.

Derrington: finally! LOL what made you decide?

Massie: Landon's…ugh.

Derrington: told you.

Massie: point.

"Hey Block," Derrick said enthusiastically as he swung open the door. He pulled her into a close hug, and she breathed in the smell of his fresh cologne. "I missed you," he whispered into her hair. "You saw me yesterday," she whispered back. They were still in a tight hug. "I love you." Those three words seemed to hang still in the comfortable air, and Massie felt her insides warming up, then wet tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. "Why are you crying?" Derrick asked, finally releasing her out of the hug, stroking her hair. "Cause I'm stupid," she answered, more tears dripping out of her eyes. "You're not." "You're just saying that." More and more tears. "I should've never said yes to the engagement. I was practically forced to say yes." "Do your parents know?" Derrick asked. "They probably should've gotten the invitation by now," she pointed out.

"Will you marry me instead?" he asked. They sat down on the couch, Massie's head rested on Derrick's shoulder. She smiled through her tears. "How will I know you won't hurt me again?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Would I do that?" She turned around to look at him, her amber eyes clearly saying: Remember when you went out with Dylan? "I'm sorry." He reached into his jeans pocket, pulling out a worn out M pin. "I know you love me," he teased, putting the M pin into her hand. "You never gave one to Cam, Dempsey or Landon." She smiled again, and fiddled with the pin. "You and Landon were the only ones that liked me back," she said quietly.

"What's not to like about you?" Derrick asked playfully. "What do you like about me?" she asked, a smile appearing on her lips. "Your amber eyes. I've never a girl with prettier eyes. I love how they sparkle in the sunlight." "And?" she asked, raising her eyebrows, as if to say, go awn. "Your soft brown hair always smells nice. I love your comebacks, your laugh, and how you smile…your eyes light up." "No guy's ever said that to me before," she said, turning around and looking at him right in the eyes. "No girl's ever written a list about how much they love my blonde hair, and my ah-dorable butt shakes," he laughed. "You read the list?" she asked, still staring at him. "Yeah." He smiled at her, and then leaned closer to her. "This reminds me of Lake Placid," Massie whispered. "Me too," he said, and then pressed his lips gently against hers. Her eyes fluttered close, and her hands entwined with his.

"That was much better than the kiss at Starbucks," he chuckled, when they both came up for air. She giggled softly, and self consciously tucked a strand of hair back. Suddenly, Derrick got down on one knee, and pulled out a ring box from behind him. "Ehmagawd," she breathed, staring at the ring box. "You know that I love you, Massie Jillian Block. And nothing would make me happier than this…will you please marry me?" "I-what about Landon?" she asked. "We'll talk to him," Derrick said quietly, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Will you marry me?" "Yeah," she whispered, watching nervously as Derrick gently slid her current ring off her finger, and replacing it with his. I can't believe I just did this! "I love you," he whispered, kissing her softly.

"Mass! What is going awn here?" Alicia demanded over the phone, which was on speaker. Derrick and Massie were still at the hotel room, and they had just called the group who were still at the Hotz residence. "Yeah dude, what's going on?" Josh asked. "I'mengagedtoDerricknow," Massie blurted out quickly. The whole group whooped and hollered, and Derrick grinned and held Massie closer. "But what about Landon?" Kristen asked. Massie could almost see her sapphire blue eyes filled with worry. "That's what I'm worried about too," Massie said quietly. "Well, congratulations guys!" Kemp hollered into the phone, breaking the awkward silence. "When's the wedding?" Dylan asked. It sounded like she was chewing on popcorn. "We'll have to talk to Landon first, and then we'll start preparing," Derrick answered. "The game's starting again, we'll see you guys laterrrr," Plovert said into the phone, and the call ended. As if Landon had heard, Massie's phone lighted up with a new text.

Landon: how's shopping? Dinner tonight?

Derrick glared at the phone, and Massie quickly typed back a reply.

Massie: good. And I can't; sorry…I have to work late tonight, eating dinner with assistants.

"What are you going to say to Landon exactly?" Massie asked nervously, biting softly on her lip. "Don't worry about it Block," he said soothingly, and Massie believed him.