Littleton Colorado, May 29th 2005

Friday, 4:00 p.m.

Iris's P.O.V

We walked into the backyard and everyone seemed to be having a good time. My dad quickly went over to Mark and started helping him with the grilling, while mom and Stormie hugged and went inside to chat or something. Rydel and the others saw me and came running up out of the pool and over to me.

"Iris! What happened when we left school? Did they hurt you?" There were sounds of agreement from everyone as they all wanted to know what happened.

I explained everything that happened. Riker picked up where I left off at the part where I stormed out and everyone laughed at the thought of Mckenzie and her friends getting what they deserved.

After we were done, the boys decided to go swimming, while Rydel and I went up to her room for a little. Her room was all sparkly and pink with Hello Kitty everywhere you looked. I kind of liked it to be honest. We sat in the middle of the floor with a bunch of tutu fabric and a sewing machine. Rydel and I loved making tutus and we'd always make one for each other every chance we got. My closet was starting to overflow with them! Rydel started layering blue and green fabric for me while I did pink and green for her.

"I started learning how to play piano again." She started off. Ever since that one night we were jamming in the basement, we all started playing together on Saturday nights. We were actually really good.

"That's great Rydel! You know I kind of had this idea when we first started playing..." I trailed off, wondering if it was a stupid idea.

"What?" She asked.

"Well, its probably stupid, but I was thinking we could form a band..."

She squealed, making me spill all the glitter I was putting on her tutu. "That's a great idea! -" She noticed all the glitter covering her tutu and apologized. I started dying laughing as I was putting the glitter back in the jar. Luckily, none got on the carpet, or that would be a pain in the butt to get out.

"You really think so?" I asked after a while.

"Absolutely! Think about it, Riker plays drums, you play bass and are teaching him to play bass, Rocky plays lead guitar, Ross plays rhythm guitar, I play keyboard, you can sing like nobody's business..."

She didn't get to finish because Stormie came into the room saying "Foods ready! Oh! What lovely tutus girls! How many have you made each other?"

Rydel and I looked at each other for a moment before saying at the same time, "Thousands!" We all started laughing and Stormie got an idea.

"Well after we eat and you go swimming, why don't we have a little fashion show like we used to?"

Rydel started jumping up and down screaming, "That's a great idea!"

I silently nodded and said, "Sure it sounds fun!"

On the way downstairs, Rydel and I started making plans. We decided that after dinner but before swimming we would sneak over to my house and get my tutus, some shirts, shoes, all my hair stuff, and some make up, then sneak back to their house and stash it upstairs. Stormie and mom would do our hair and make up and my dad and Mark would set up a small runway off the patio. We decided to let Ryland do the music, which would be provided by a CD that I would bring. It was going to be awesome!

Rydel and I quickly ate our hotdogs and potato salad, threw our trash away, and basically flew down the sidewalk to my house. We ran upstairs and started raiding my closet. I got all my tutus out along with a suitcase to put them in, while Rydel picked out some tank tops and other shirts to go with them. I was quickly getting my make up and hair stuff ready while Rydel was looking through my shoes.

"Hey, Rissy, what's this shoe box on the top of your closet have in it?" She said while taking it down.

She was only a few months younger than me but she was as tall as me, and I was like 5'6! My eyes widened as I remembered what was in it. I quickly ran over to her and put my hands on the lid.

"Wait until you see these! Your gonna flip!" Her eyes widened and she started gesturing for me to open it. I ripped off the lid and tore through the tissue paper.

Rydel screamed and picked up a black converse boot that would go all the way to my knee with a large wedge heel. "Geez Louise Rissy... What size shoe size are you?" She said.

"6 and a half."

She sighed and said, "Shoot! I'm a five..." I laughed and she looked like a light bulb went off in her head. "You are definitely wearing this! I have the perfect outfit in mind!"

I nodded and walked over to look through my CD's for something to play while walking down the runway. I found one of my favorite mix tapes and put it in its case. "Hey Del, do you have a CD player that we can hook up?"

She nodded and said "Yeah it's in my closet at home."

I nodded and put all my hair and make up stuff in a traveler bag. Rydel came out of my closet and stuffed a few more things in my suitcase. That's when I noticed she put a very familiar little black dress in there. I gasped and Rydel looked at me as I took the dress out of the case. "Rydel... no, I haven't worn this in ages! What if it doesn't fit right? Not to mention it comes way above my knees!"

Rydel smirked and ripped the dress back out of my hand. "It'll still fit, and that's where the tutu comes in! Hey, did you pack your different colored hair extentions and stuff? And what about jewelry?"

I nodded and said, "I don't have a lot of jewelry, yours is way nicer than mine anyway." She nodded and we headed downstairs and out the door. I was getting more nervous about that dress. We decided to walk in through the front door than go around back, so as to not arouse suspicion. We walked up to her room and laid the stuff on the bed. We walked out back and immediately noticed mom and Stormie untangling a bunch of different multi colored lights and checking to see if they worked. Dad and Mark had three strings out. Their deck was large and square with the doors leading into the dining room in the middle and a patio set on the side. The patio set was pushed into the grass and dad and Mark were up on chairs tying clotheslines out from the doors with one going across it. After they put the sheets up it would work like, Rydel and I walk out of the patio doors then round a corner of the sheet and meet in the middle and walk down the runway. Riker and the boys looked seriously confused as to what was going on, but I just shrugged at him and he nodded.

Rydel and I went back upstairs to change into our bathing suits. We carefully tied our hair up so it wouldn't get wet. Rydel was wearing a pink one piece with polka dots all over it, while I was wearing a blue two-piece with my tank top and some swimsuit short shorts. We went back out side and carefully got into the pool, trying our best not to get our hair wet. Rocky and Ross were already splashing around in the pool, but Riker was nowhere to be seen. I finally spotted him coming out of the house with some swimming trunks and a t-shirt on. He walked over to the chair right where my stuff was and set his stuff down there too. He then kicked off his sandals and got ready to take his shirt off. Everything else happened in slow motion for me. He reached to the waist of his shirt and pulled it up over his chest and head almost teasingly. I could already see what looked like to be the start of a six-pack and biceps on his arms and torso.

I turned my face back around to see Rydel completely smirking at me. We swam to the other side of the pool so everyone else couldn't hear and said, "Well, I thought you would never turn back around." She started laughing and I smacked her arm.

"Oh shush your face, it's just that not all fourteen year old boys look like that okay!" My face was probably beet red by now and I couldn't help but giggle at how silly I sounded.

"Yeah well, he just started kind of working out 2 months ago..." She trailed off, as her eyes got wide. Mine did too and before I could cover her mouth with my hand she started whisper screaming. "Because of you! He's working out for you! Oh My God he likes you!"

That's when I covered my hand over her mouth and said, "He does not! Maybe he just wants to be healthy! He does eat a lot of junk food..."

Rydel was giving me the "completely not buying it" looks, and I just shrugged. Riker got out of the pool and started toweling off right in front of us. Making sure to stretch his muscles as much as possible. He went to wipe off his face and hair and I could just feel him smirking underneath the towel. He lay down on the ground right in front of us and I could see Rydel out of the corner of my eyes trying her best not to laugh.

He looked over at us and said, "Whatcha girls talking about?"

I looked him square in the eye and said, "Nothing." Before splashing him with water and swimming as fast as I could to get out of the pool. He was starting to chase me so I took off running into the front yard where I dived behind a bush. He came running up after me but must not have seen me dive behind the bush, or so I thought. Because, he got down on the ground and started doing push-ups. I gasped a little and quickly covered my mouth. I saw him slightly smile and get up to start stretching. I quickly looked around and saw a water hose hooked up behind me with a sprayer. I quietly turned on the water and silently untangled enough hose to reach him with. He started stretching again with his hands up in the air when I nailed him with ice-cold water.

He screeched like a girl and started screaming, "Cold! Cold! Cold! I'm gonna kill you Iris!"

I laughed and dived out of the bush and started running as far away from the water hose was possible. I was halfway down the sidewalk to my house when I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist. I screamed in shock and twisted my body to see Riker laughing his head off. He threw me over his shoulder and started walking back to his house, with me kicking and screaming, "Let me down! I should've killed you when I had the chance!"

He started laughing at the last one and was getting ready to throw me in the pool when Rocky silently crept up right behind him. I grabbed onto his shoulders tightly. So when Riker got ready to jump in the pool I slid out of his grasp while he landed in the pool. I landed on my feet and turned back to see everyone laughing their heads off! Stormie got it all on video too! Rydel and Ross were doubled over while Rocky and I were rolling around on the ground. We got up and I hugged Rocky screaming, "I freaking love this kid!"

Riker got out of the pool looking absolutely furious. "Really?!" He screamed.

I laughed and ran over to him, tackling him onto the ground in a giant bear hug. "Oh, come on, that was awesome and you know it!"

He looked at me with a smile creeping up his face. That's when I knew something bad was going to happen. He quickly straddled my waist and started tickling me until I couldn't breath. I flicked my legs to the side making him fall over and I started tickling him, "Iris... Sto-...Stop! I can't... take... it!"

Riker's P.O.V

I jumped into the pool without Iris on my back. When I got back up I saw Rocky and her rolling around on the ground and everyone else laughing their butts off. I tried not to laugh; it was a really good prank. I decided to put my acting skills to the test and got out of the pool looking furious.

"Really?!" I shout.

Iris laughed and ran over to me tackling me into a hug that made us both fall onto the ground. She was on top of me and was inches away from my face. "Oh come on! That was awesome and you know it!" I felt a smile creep onto my face, and flipped us over, with me straddling her waist and started tickling her. Her melodious laugh filled the air and her cheeks were growing flushed. Then, just as she did with her dad, flicked her legs over and was now straddling my waist. She was tickling me senseless and I could barely get a word out, "Iris...Sto- ...Stop! I can't... take... it!"

She giggled and kissed my nose and got off of me. I smiled my "Million Dollar" smile and kissed her nose back. I looked over and saw mom filming the whole thing. That was going to haunt me later on. Rydel came running up and basically ripped Iris off my lap and drug her into the house. On the way inside she brought Ryland in with her too. I really want to know what's going on now...

Iris's P.O.V

After Rydel ripped me off Riker's lap, we ran inside. I quickly grabbed Ryland and told him to come inside with us. We ran up the stairs to Rydel's room where my mom was getting my crimper, and flattening iron set up to start heating up. I went inside her closet and got out the sparkly, pink, Hello Kitty CD player. I went to my purse and got out my CD too.

I handed them to Ryland and said," Can you plug this up outside right next to those big white sheets and put this CD in it?"

Ryland nodded and asked, "Why?"

I just shooed him out and said, "You'll see! When I give you the signal press play!"

I heard a faint, "Well alright." and went back into the room. Rydel pulled me over and shoved a red and black tutu in my face with a plain white t-shirt, a black tie, my red Converse high tops, and a black fedora with a red and black stripped band around it. I went into the bathroom and changed. When I came back out Rydel was dressed in a red and white sparkly tutu, with a plain black shirt, a red tie, some black Converse high tops, and a black and white striped headband. Stormie came up by then and grabbed my hand to start on my make-up, while mom did Rydel's hair. Stormie put all the foundation and blush on me, with silver eyeliner, and dark eye shadow, with super red lipstick and mascara. I looked over to Rydel; mom had crimped her hair and put black crimped extensions in it. She nodded for me to come over and Rydel and I switched seats. Mom half crimped and half straightened my hair and put red extensions in it. I looked over at Rydel and Stormie had put white eyeliner on her with red sparkly eye shadow, mascara and the same red lips as mine. Stormie told us we were done and all four of us rushed downstairs, and out the door.

Mark was waiting for us with a video camera and I nodded over to Ryland and he pressed play. The song "Can't Get You Outta My Head" by Kylie Minogue came on. I waited about ten seconds before I pushed Rydel to go. I heard everyone whooping and clapping. I peeked out onto the runway and saw Rydel totally working it. She walked back over to me after a minute and shoved me out on stage. I saw everyone start clapping and laughing, so I decided I'd work it. Moving to the beat of the song, I did a halt twirl and started dancing. My parents always said I was a good dancer. Everyone stood up and started clapping and I walked off the runway. I saw Rydel run out the kitchen doors in a blue and pink tutu with a pink sparkly top on and some blue converse. Mom replaced her black hair extension for a blue one and her red eye shadow was now pink. I ran inside and changed outfits in ten seconds flat. I was wearing a blue and green tutu with a green shirt, my blue converse, and a pair of blue suspenders. Mom quickly straightened the rest of my hair and replaced the red extension for blue. Stormie quickly wiped off all my eye shadow and replaced it with light sparkly blue and pink lip-gloss. I ran down the steps just in time to see Rydel walking off. I waited a second so the song could finish and "Billie Jean" by Micheal Jackson came on.

I walked out onto the runway in true MJ fashion. I started doing the dance while showing off my outfit. After about three minutes, I turned around to walk off, and moon walked my way offstage. I definitely heard some catcalls for that one. I returned to see Rydel cheering wearing a black and purple tutu, A purple shirt, some black suspenders, and a fedora with her hair completely straightened with the black and purple extensions in it, and some black ballerina shoes. I knew what my outfit was going to be and started getting nervous. I ran upstairs, grabbed my clothes, and ran into the bathroom. The dress still fit but it was just barely covering my butt. It was a spaghetti strap and I must say it did wonders to my figure.

I put on the black and purple sparkly tutu, and zipped up my knee high Converse shoes with the white wedge and walked out. Mom immediately crimped all my hair and put black and purple extensions in, while Stormie put dark purple eye shadow and sparkly purple lipstick on me. I quickly looked at myself and to put it one word. Hot! I zoomed downstairs to see Rydel waiting for me. She squealed and "Billie Jean" turned into "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera. I gulped. This song was hot. I took a deep breath and walked out during the chorus. I started doing the dance and the only thing I noticed was Riker's eyes pop and jaw drop. He immediately stood up and started fist pumping and catcalling. I blushed immensely and ran back to grab Rydel who was still in her outfit. We started dancing and twirling as the song went on. I didn't notice till now how the lights were in sync with the music. How Ryland did that I will never know. We posed as the song ended and everyone ran up to hug us. Riker picked me up, spun me around, and kissed my cheek. But he was dangerously close to my lips when he did. He teased me at the pool, so I'm going to do it back! I rubbed our noses together and kissed the skin between his nose and lip.

Riker's P.O.V

Oh My God. She looked beautiful in all the other outfits but this was just, different. And her dancing? Hot. I felt a weird tingling in my chest and figured it was just from the soda and music. They stopped and we all ran up and hugged them. I picked her up, spun her around, and kissed her cheek, dangerously close to her deep purple lips. I think she noticed the teasing and rubbed our noses together before kissing the skin underneath it. It suddenly got really hot out.

She smiled shyly and said, "Well I'm gonna go change out of this breath restricting dress. Do you wanna go to my house for a little and watch a movie?"

I nodded. Not trusting my voice. She smiled and went back upstairs. I sat down and waited for her to come back down.

After five or so minutes she came back and said, "Hey I'm gonna change into my pajamas when we get there. Do you wanna change into yours right now?"

I nodded and ran upstairs to my room. But I stopped and looked into Rydel's room where mom and April were packing up.

"Do you think they like each other? They're acting quite couple-ish for best friends."

My mom looked at April with a thoughtful face and said, "I'm not sure. He's like that anyway. Cuddly you know? Maybe they're just that comfortable with each other." I decided to stop ease dropping and ran into my room to change.

I changed into my blue basketball shorts and white t-shirt. I threw on a pair of sandals and slowly made my way downstairs. I was thinking about what April and Mom were saying. I do not like Iris like that! ...Right? Ugh! I'm just going to stop over thinking it before I lose my mind. I walked out back and Iris stood up and we started walking up the sidewalk to her house.

I grabbed her hand and she intertwined our fingers while swinging our arms while saying, "Did you like it?"

I almost choked on my spit, "What?! Liked what?"

She gave me a confused look and said, "...The fashion show. Are you alright?"

I looked over at her and smiled. The streetlights lit up her face and she looked beautiful. "Yeah. Just kinda tired is all."

She nodded and let go of my hand to open her door. We went in and I sat on the couch while she went upstairs. "Hey Riker, just put a movie in. I don't care which one!"

I walked over and started going through her movies. I found "When A Stranger Calls." The one with Camilla Belle and stuck it in. After about five minutes she came back down in blue and red Superman pajamas and she brought a big blanket. Her eyes widened as she saw what movie I put in. I was expecting her to yell at me for putting such a scary movie in. But, with Iris? Always expect the unexpected.

She smiled and said, "Sweet! I wanted to watch that one too!" She went over and pressed play on their T.V. and sat next to me on the couch with the blanket threw over us. About halfway into the movie she lay down so her head was on my lap. I looked down and smiled, I could tell she was getting really tired. I started playing with her hair as I watched the movie. I looked over at the clock on the table and it said 11:30. The movie was ending and I was really tired too. The door opened and April and Martin came in.

"Awe! Wait! Let me get the camera!" She ran into the kitchen and pulled out a camera from their junk drawer. Martin took his shoes off and went upstairs to put Iris's suitcase in her room.

April came back over and said, "Put your head to the side and act like your sleeping!" I obeyed and she snapped a couple of pictures before Martin came back down. I carefully lifted her up bridal style and walked up the stairs with Martin behind me. I walked into her room and noticed her pull out bed set up right underneath her day bed. I placed her onto hers and pulled the covers up over her.

Martin said, "It's really late and I don't want you walking back. Just spend the night."

I nodded and thanked him. He went over and kissed her on the forehead before patting me on the back and leaving. April then came in and kissed her on the forehead. She walked over and kissed me on the cheek and hugged me too saying, "Thank you so much. She's been a brand new person ever since you came along. It's like our little light lit back up."

I hugged her back and said, "I heard you and mom talk about us. I do love her, in a lot of different ways. I just need to figure out what those ways are."

She nodded and pulled back with slight tears in her eyes. She turned the light off when she left. I looked over to Iris who was snuggled in the blankets. The glow from her clock on her face. I bent down and swiped the hair off her forehead before planting a soft kiss of my own on it. I got down onto my own bed and pulled the covers over me.

"Goodnight Iris. I love you." I heard a grunt like snore and laughed silently. I quickly fell asleep in a dreamless sleep.

So there ya have it! Chapter five! Sorry it's been so long, I've been super duper busy lately. Oh, did anyone else see the promo for 'Girlfriends & Girl Friends'? Did anyone else just die from feels like me? I don't know if the promo is aired on DC or not because Ferris Wheels & Funky Breath doesn't air till tomorrow. I just checked tumblr and everyone was freaking out so I looked it up and watched online and … yeah I pretty much freaked! Anyways, I'll update when possible! Thanks guys!:)

Lots of love!

-Lora & Lizzie