Yawn. Usually I write whatever comes to my mind before I get started on my chapters, I think you can tell. So thanks for the reviews, yeah I knew you guys had a little idea as to what was happening next, but there's still a shocker for you guys. Muahaha, I like messing with you guys, just because you're awesome. Enjoy this chapter, and thanks for reading. And it still isn't Mitchie's birthday, I'm withholding it.

I barley had a chance to walk into the store before I grabbed a dress off the rack. Teresa told me it was going to be beautiful, and we were on our way to get a cake, or so Alex told me. I was still chipping away at the ice-cream in my cup as Alex sat in the front with her mom.

"I have to head back home to…" Alex faced me before returning to her mom, "Conrad is taking me somewhere and its almost three and…"

"Alex we'll be home in good timing." Her mother told her as I smiled, biting into my ice-cream, before gazing out the window. We were passing the Wiz Towers, as I pressed my nose against the truck's glass. This was the only place that Mackenzie could be talking about.

"Mitch, do you want to go home after this?" Alex asked as I studied her.

"What do you mean?"

"Well I have stuff to do today."

"And you don't want me there?" I asked as Alex faced her mom. They both did some kind of whispering but I didn't understand them.

"I….don't know how to answer that."

"Its simple, you don't want me there." I dropped my ice-cream cup as Alex nodded.

"Its for tomorrow, and I need to do this alone. But you can hang out with Harper and…I mean you can hang with Conrad or…uh."

"Everyone's busy?" I asked, a bit sad to be honest. Alex tapped her chin before staring up at me. I watched as her brown eyes turned a darker shade as we passed under a tunnel.

"You can hang out with Mackenzie, although I don't recommend it."

"I don't like her." I truthfully said. No matter how much she was helping out, or whatever, there was still something I didn't like about her.

"So are you going home then?"

"No. Teresa are you busy?" I pressed my chin against her seat, watching her from the rearview mirror before she nodded.

"Jerry and I are getting the last things to Justin that he needs, before closing the shop early. Then we have to take Alex and the rest of them to…I'm sorry we're all busy honey." Teresa was making it towards my house as I sighed.

"I'm going to be bored and all alone all day?" I asked, pouting as Alex never let her eyes move away from mine.

"Mitch," she began, "you can still hang out at my house. I mean you'll have Coco."

"Great, you're leaving me with a puppy that likes to sleep all day, or bounce all over the place."

"You're making me feel bad."

"Its fine Alex." I moved over, to lean against her seat. "I'll find something to do."

She nodded before kissing my nose and I pressed myself back into my seat. I watched as we neared my house and passed it, before heading to the Russo's. I had no idea at all what I was going to do today. There was just nothing I could think of, not one little thing. Once the sights grew familiar I could smell fresh bread and cake batter. There was a small shop just before the Russo's place, where I suppose my cake was.

"Hey, I'm going to walk to your house." I told Alex, as her mom climbed from the car.

"Don't."

"Alex It'll give me something to do."

"Mitch…"

"Lexi, I'll see you there. Besides, I'm nosy, you leave me with a cake I'll either look at it, smudge your face with it, or eat it." I told her, climbing from the car as she did the same. She was heading inside to get the cake with her mom as I made it down the block. I had to think of something to do, because if I couldn't I would lose my mind. I could play with Coco for an hour maybe but then she'd be worn out and tired. And if I help Jerry and Teresa in the sub shop, they'll still close it early. I crossed the last street, noticing Jerry outside, sweeping the store front. I made it over to him, before stepping in his sweeping path.

"Whoa Mitchie. I thought you were with Alex and Teresa?"

"I was, but they're getting my cake."

"Cake?" He glanced down the block, "I haven't had cake in a while. Teresa wouldn't let me eat any."

"I'll give you an extra big slice of mine." I told him as his face lit up. He was like a kid in the candy store, who saw something delicious for the first time. I left Jerry outside the store and made it into the sub shop, passing customers as Max worked the register.

"Hey."

"Hey." He repeated.

"Have you seen Coco?"

"Yeah, she's sleeping on the couch upstairs."

"Thanks." I ran up the spiral steps, stepping over a bucket that was placed there, for some unknown reason, before I spotted the puppy sleeping. Harper froze when she saw me. She was carrying a wrapped box in her hand.

"Mitchie, what…what are you doing here?" She asked, her eyes wide.

"This is like my second home."

"Alex isn't here." She informed me as I nodded.

"I know."

"Oh."

"Yeah." I made it up the second spiral steps as I heard the girl drop something. Maybe the box had gotten too heavy for her. I walked into Alex's room, looking for Coco's leash when I spotted Mackenzie laying in a dress, on her back, reading a magazine.

"Why are you in here?" I asked, moving towards the girl as she sat up, crossing her legs, but barley closing her book.

"I'm waiting for Conrad. He's taking Alex to the studio and…I mean…uh…forget I said anything." She tapped the book as I pulled myself in the middle of the bed, sitting across from her.

"What are you wearing?" I focused on the girl as she looked at her outfit.

"Clothes."

"I see that." I told her, before pulling the book from her hand. It was some teen vogue special edition magazine, with tons of photos of dresses and things like that. "So if you're waiting for Conrad, why are you in Alex's room?" I asked, still staring at the pages in front of me.

"Because I slept in here last night, well up to the point where Alex kicked me out, but…"

"Mackenzie," I looked up at the girl, "don't play tricks with me."

"What are you talking about?" She giggled slightly, pulling her book back as I brushed my fingers through my hair.

"You may fool Conrad, and he's an amazing guy, but you can't fool me."

"And you lost me." She climbed from the bed, sliding her shoes on as I watched her.

"Mackenzie, if you're trying anything, I'm not going to stand for it."

"It's a good thing you're sitting down then." She pulled a back pack from the floor as I made it over to her.

"I'm serious here. I'm done with drama, and I'm done with being hurt. I'm going to tell you this once, and only once."

"And what's that?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"If you think that you can come between Alex and I….I wanna see you try. But more importantly, you won't stand a chance against me." My words must of clicked in the girl as she dropped her arms, glaring at me. Then she snickered before shaking her head.

"I have a boyfriend Mitchie. I'm not interested in your little girlfriend. Why would I do all of this to help her?"

"I don't know. Maybe you have a weird twisted mind, that, and you having a boyfriend didn't stop you from hitting on Alex before."

Mackenzie looked away from me, before moving out of the room and towards the spiral steps, facing me one last time.

"I don't want your girlfriend, and I can't believe that you think I'd do that to you."

"Just stay out of her room and we'll be fine."

"You can't make me." She spoke up as I heard a car park outside. Coco had heard the noise as well, getting up to bark as loudly as she could downstairs. "Your delusions will get to you." She waved me off, walking down the steps as I pressed my back against the archway. Maybe I was thinking over things a bit too much, maybe Mackenzie was in Alex's room because she was bored or something. How would I know? I kicked the wall before heading back into the room.

…. ….. …. … ….. ….. …..

Alex's P.O.V

Once Mitchie's cake was placed in the freezer in the sub shop, I ran upstairs to see if Conrad had made it back. Coco was sitting on the couch wagging her tail harshly as I walked over to run my fingers through her fur.

"Your girlfriend is losing it." Mackenzie told me, as she came down the stairs.

"What did she do?"

"She kicked me out of your room."

"That's Mitchie for you," I said smiling as Max came up the spiral steps.

"Conrad said he's on his way."

"Okay, thanks," I refaced Mackenzie, "so what else did Mitchie do?"

"She accused me of liking you."

"No she didn't." I giggled, before the girl's expression proved everything true. "Mackenzie I'm sorry, maybe…but why would she think that?"

"I was in your room. Don't you listen?" She waved her hands in the air, tossing her backpack onto the floor before laying across the couch. Her dress had slid up her legs, as I walked over to grab a pillow, tossing it at her.

"Cover yourself, and call me when Conrad gets here."

"Yeah, yeah."

I made it up the steps, pulling on my doorknob, opening the door as I spotted Mitchie sitting on the edge of the bed, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Mitch are you mad at me?" I asked as she looked up.

"No." She whispered.

"So is that spelled y-e-s."

"Its spelled I-d-o-n-t t-h-i-n-k s-o."

"Oh." I nodded, walking over to sit next to her. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to accuse Mackenzie of liking you, its just..she gives me bad vibes and I haven't gotten over them since L.A."

"Don't worry Mitch, you're the only girl in my life." I pulled her into me, as she laid her head against my shoulder, nodding. "Besides, she has Conrad, she can get all touchy feely with him."

"You know," Mitchie sat up, turning into me. "I haven't see Conrad nor Mackenzie do anything remotely romantic besides that walk on the beach."

"Maybe they don't like being open with their relationship."

"Who are they hiding it from? Two lesbians?" I asked as Alex giggled, standing up.

"I don't know. The public maybe."

"Should I apologize to Mackenzie?"

"Uh, that's your call, you have a right to question her. She's been doing creepy things." I made it over to my closet to grab my song book as I heard Mitchie walking over to me.

"What things?"

"The stuff from L.A, and this morning, and last night, but it could be nothing."

"It could be something." Mitchie told me as I ran my fingers against her cheek.

"Or it could be nothing, but to be on the safe side, I'll make sure she's far away from me, and I'll have Harper as my body guard." I giggled as Mitchie stood un-faltered. "Okay, not funny." I pressed my lips against hers before reaching for my notebook and moving out of the closet once more.

"Am I still suppose to stay here and do nothing?" She asked as I pulled her hand into mine. We made it back downstairs where Mackenzie and Conrad stood waiting for me.

"Call me if you want to talk." I searched for my own phone before pointing to it. "You can call me, and then I'll talk with you for however long you want." I nodded as Mitchie sighed, agreeing with me. I pulled my phone up, before kissing her once again, this time making sure Mackenzie saw it.

"Gross." The girl complained as she pulled on Conrad to follow her. I giggled before waving goodbye to Mitchie as she stood next to a whimpering Coco. Once the house door was closed I separated Conrad and Mackenzie.

"I need to talk to her, we'll meet you downstairs."

"Make it snappy," the boy told me as I nodded.

"Mackenzie, whatever it is that you're doing, I want it to stop."

"Great, now she's got you thinking I'm doing something."

"If the shoe fits."

"Listen Alex, I don't like you, I like you as a friend, but I don't like you in that way. But you need to pay more attention to that Claire girl you invited. I was at Mitchie's concert with you guys and trust me, she's not an angel. She likes Conrad, that I know, but that girl has a hidden agenda. So maybe your finger is pointing at the wrong person."

"Why should I care that she likes Conrad?"

"Because I've seen the way she was looking at Mitchie. It's not just Conrad. Trust me, it wasn't innocent."

"Mackenzie, tell me that you're not trying to hurt Mitchie, or me for that matter. And then I'll believe everything you have to say, and put it on trust." I watched the girl as she crossed her arms.

"I'm telling you that I would never hurt you guys. You're helping Conrad and me while we're helping you, I couldn't ask for anything more." She seemed sincere, so I nodded.

"Then I'm sorry for accusing you of.."

"I don't care Alex. I get it. You guys love each other, if anyone comes between that, you'll kill them. I got that memo and I understand it clearly. But I'm serious about that Claire girl."

"I'm starting all my relationships on trust, so if Mitchie trusts her, so do I."

"But she doesn't trust me." Mackenzie said as I nodded.

"Yeah, but..I think I trust people a little bit more then she does."

… … ….. ….. … ….. …..

Mitchie's P.O.V

I sat out on the patio with Coco. She was chasing her tail, and I was going through small figurines Teresa asked me to take a look at. They were beautifully sculpted, and hand painted. Wait, maybe Teresa gave a few of these to Justin, because I remember them in his place. I smiled, tracing the outline of some of the figures before staring into the sky. Tomorrow I was tuning eighteen. Tomorrow would be the official start of the rest of my life, and Alex has been a part of it since I was young. It was weird that I knew her my entire life, I've loved her for as long as I could remember, and yet I've only been dating her for almost a year.

"Wow," I said aloud, giggling as Coco barked. "Shush."

I smiled, closing my eyes before laying back against the lawn chair that I was in. The sun was hidden behind the buildings but I could slightly feel the warmth it caused around me.

"I wonder what song Alex is singing to me." I whispered into the air, letting my voice get carried off by the wind. "Plus Mackenzie said that she was heading to the studio, so is she recording something?" I sat up, smiling hard. "What if she sings to me in front of everyone at the party? Wait isn't that the idea? Oh god, what if I get nervous? I bet I'll turn red in the face. Well then I'd match my dress for sure." I stopped talking , noticing that I was going back and forth with myself. "I lost it didn't I Coco? My brain that is."

The puppy only tilted her head in confusion.

"Never mind." I closed my eyes once more, laying back down before humming. Tapping my feet to the air. I heard something crash down below, before people began making noise. I stood up to peer over the building, just when Coco was trying to hop in my lap. Jerry had dropped something onto the ground, and was running in circles to catch it. I shook my head, heading back inside to help him close up the shop.

"Your husband is having trouble with things downstairs." I told Teresa, as she began wiping down her kitchen counters.

"He's clumsy that's all."

"Yeah, I know. So I was going to help him, that's okay isn't it? I'm not going to see anything will I?"

" Nope." Teresa was confident in her answer, so I happily left Coco with the woman, and made my way to the sub shop. There were maybe three to four people still eating, but no one else was making their way inside. I ran out to Jerry, before he closed the box he had in his hand earlier.

"Whoa Mitchie, a little help." He waved me over as I helped him carry the thing to the car. It was heavy for cardboard.

"So what's in here?"

"Just tablecloths. They weigh a ton, don't they?" He asked me as I nodded before closing the truck tightly. We were making our way back into the restaurant when once again, for the third time today, I spotted Claire. This time she was at a store across the way, buying something, before walking back onto Waverly.

"Mitchie can you switch the sign to closed?"

"Yeah." Jerry made it on the inside as I held the door open with my foot, making sure to flip over the sign as Claire's squeal filled the air.

"Mitchie! I got you something."

"For my party?" I asked, letting the door closed as she nodded. She had a dark red bag in her hand, with yellow tissue paper sticking out.

"I'm super excited."

"Yeah. Where do you keep coming from?" The blonde shrugged as she focused on the sub shop.

"Aw man, I was hungry." She whined.

"Well you can come in and get a sandwich."

"But its closed."

"Not to me it isn't." I told the girl before we made it inside. The last three people left as Claire sat at the counter as Jerry faced me. He held a broom between his fingers, looking over it before he continued to sweep.

"So what kind of sandwich do you want?"

"Whatever you guys have."

"That narrows it down," I said sarcastically, before walking into the back. There were a few wrapped sandwiches that no one picked up, labeled to-go. "Jerry? Can we eat the to-go sandwiches?"

"Yeah." He called to me, as I grabbed two and made it back over to the girl at the counter. I sat next to her, sliding her turkey on wheat, before I studied my own.

"So, where's Alex?" Claire asked, biting into her food.

"She's planning stuff for my party. I'm glad it'll be over tomorrow. Then I can get my girlfriend's attention back."

"Funny Mitchie. How can her attention be pulled away from you…you're very beautiful."

"I know." I nodded, kicking the counter in front of me as I bit into my sandwich. The sub shop was eerily quiet.

"Sometimes you're just hypnotizing," the girl smiled before picking at her food.

"So what have you been up to for these past few days?"

"Getting ready for my senior year. But you and Alex decided to ditch us and what, go to college for early admissions? I never knew she had it in her. I mean you're smart but…"

"Hey Alex is very smart, she just needs a push at things sometimes."

"More like a shove."

Jerry walked over to the register, staring at me as I did the same to him. It was creepy how he was just watching me like that. Then he opened the register, taking the money tray, and reclosing it.

"I've seen you before right?" Jerry asked the girl as she nodded. "And your name is?"

"Claire."

"Okay, I'll put that in my memory banks." Jerry used his index finger to point at me before he walked out. I was going to ask him what it meant, but decided against it.

"I have a question for you Mitchie."

"Shoo."

"How come you didn't stay in CR, that company is where stars are born."

"I didn't think it was good for Alex and I to be apart. That and…my heart wasn't really in it."

"Who are you lying to?" Claire grabbed my hand, making me face her. "You've been singing since middle school, maybe even before that. You love music, its your life."

"Its not my life, but it's a big part of it. But, CR had too many demands that I couldn't live up to. I didn't want to be their perfect child." I sat my sandwich down before climbing from my seat, letting Claire's fingers drop to her side.

"Well what about Conrad? He's a hottie right? Well if you look by past your fetish for girls."

"Fetish? I've never heard anyone say that before."

"Oh. Well, if you didn't date Alex, and you liked guys, Conrad would be a great choice right?" I rolled my eyes, walking behind the counter and into the kitchen for some sodas. After pulling up a root bear and a cola I walked back out, handing the girl one, before opening my own.

"Did you forget that before Alex I did date a guy."

"Oh yeah, our freshmen year you were Todd's girlfriend."

"I forget about him a lot. The last time I spoke about him was….months ago. He never meant anything to me, and I always knew that Alex was important to me. I just didn't want to admit it then."

"Yeah, because I've seen the way the both of you were back then. You were more then friends, even if you didn't see it." Claire sipped on her cola as I leaned over the counter, pressing my elbow against it, before cupping my soda can.

"But Conrad is a nice guy, so yeah, he'd be an awesome boyfriend." I bit my bottom lip before Jerry walked back over to us.

"Okay Mitchie, Teresa and I have to get out of here, and no offense Chair, or Claire, but you have to leave. No strangers in the house." Jerry told the girl as she looked around before nodding. I shook my head before walking the girl to the door.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." Claire said, once stepping onto the sidewalk.

"Yeah." I nodded. She ran her fingers over my hand before waving goodbye and leaving.

"Mitchie, I know that you see what she's doing," Jerry came over to lock the door.

"No. What is she doing?"

"She's flirting with you, and I don't like it."

"She is?" I asked. Honestly I just thought we were talking, but maybe I was missing something.

"I need to watch that girl, and so should you." He peered out the door. "She seems shifty."

"Great." I sighed, pushing my hair behind my ear, "now both Mackenzie and Claire are acting like total weirdoes." I grabbed my soda, before following Jerry up the spiral steps. Teresa had a box sitting in front of her.

"Max, Jerry and I will be going to meet Justin, so we shouldn't take more then three hours at the most." I nodded as Teresa spoke, before sitting on the sofa.

Jerry walked over to his wife, grabbing the box before speaking, "Have you ever heard of a Claire?" he asked her.

"The blonde girl from the bake sale months ago? Yeah." She nodded.

"I think she has a thing for Mitchie."

"Really?" Both faced me as I pulled my legs up to my chest.

"Okay guys this is getting creepy, I get it. Claire is bad. I shouldn't try to be her friend, I got it." Coco leapt up next to me before stretching on the couch, and taking up most of the space.

"Three hours." Teresa repeated as I nodded. She made her way out the door with her husband before locking up. I sighed before facing Coco.

"Guess we should call Alex, I'm bored.

…. ….. …. … …..

Alex's P.O.V

Conrad was moving microphones around as I stood against the wall watching him. Mackenzie was busy reading over my song a few times before handing it to me.

"You can just practice a few of the verses before singing the entire thing." The boy informed me as he made it out of the sound booth.

"Good luck," Mackenzie smiled, hugging me off guard before she walked out. I did a small dance to shake the jitters out of me before I was ready to start. Conrad had came up with a tune to fit in the background, I didn't want something that would overpower my voice, because at this rate, I was getting cold feet about everything.

"Whenever you're ready, just give us the cue." Conrad's voice came through speakers overhead as I nodded. I took a deep breath before pressing my fingers against the microphone as my phone began to ring in my back pocket. The familiar melody began to play. Nobody's gonna' love me better, I must stick with you forever.

"Mitchie what's wrong?" I asked, lifting the phone.

"Nothing. I'm just bored."

"Oh. Well I was just about to rehearse a few things." I focused on the people on the other side of the glass as Conrad did some kind of motion with his hand. I nodded before listening to Mitchie.

"I guess I'll leave you alone. Do you think Max still has his game in his room?" She asked me as I nodded. Realizing that she couldn't see me shortly after.

"Yeah, he should."

"Okay, I'll go and get that. I'll let you plan your little serenade now." Mitchie giggled from the other end, as my heart pounded loudly against my chest.

"Guess I'll talk to you later." My voice shook.

"You sound nervous, " Mitchie's giggle caused me to smile, "I love you Alex, now sing your heart out."

"Great that's a big help. Love you too."

"Bye."

"Bye," once I hung up the phone Conrad made kissy faces to the window before Mackenzie hit his arm.

"Continue." She told me, as I grabbed the microphone again. I took a quick breath before beginning.

"It's just you and me
And there's no one around
Feel like I'm hanging by a thread
It's a long way down"

Okay one more chapter before the cuteness of the party, its going to be an overload of it. Just a small snippet of stuff getting resolved, and then smooth sailing form there. So I hope you guys don't die because of the wait. Also, I wrote this chapter and the last one in the same day, I just didn't want to upload them back to back. My brain is happily working full speed ahead. Yay.