Here's another chapter :) Hopefully, it makes up for my slow updates. Please enjoy.

FIVE

"In every bet there's a fool and a thief."

: :

"Bubbles! Phone for you!"

I paused, looking up from the romance novel I was reading. Yes, as in one of those cheesy bad-boy stories. I sorta liked them.

"Who is it?" I called.

"Robin!" Mom replied.

"OK, thanks!"

My eyes still fixed on my novel, I reached over blindly to my bedside table, groping for the cordless phone. When my fingers located it, I brought it up to my ear and said, "Hello?"

"Hey girl!" Robin's cheerful voice replied.

"Hi," a calmer voice announced that I was having a three-way conversation with both Rachel and Serena.

"Hey Serena, how's it going?" I asked, trying to be nice to the quiet girl.

"Good thanks. How are you?"

I was surprised by the slightly more confident tone of her voice. Good. Maybe she was finally getting comfortable around Robin and I.

"I'm great," I said.

"Well, enough of these pleasantries, you two; I've got something to tell you!" Robin said excitedly.

"What is it?" I asked, closing my book and leaning back on my pillows. Robin was always good for a gossip session.

"You know how I'm on the Senior Student Representative Council, right?" Robin began.

I murmured a "yes", knowing how well-rounded she was.

"Well, in our meeting yesterday Rachel Avery had the absolutely brilliant idea that the seniors could…" she paused for dramatic effect, "… all go on a two week-long survival camp!"

A grin spread across my face. A two week-long survival camp with just the seniors? That would be awesome!

"What did the teachers say?" Serena asked.

"They said they'd think about it, but I spoke to Vice-Principal Addams about it after the meeting, and she said that it was most likely on!" Robin squealed excitedly. "Isn't it great?"

I laughed at my friend's happiness and was about to answer when I heard the crunching of gravel outside. Rolling over on my bed, I looked out of the window to see Boomer, Todd, Mitch and Brick climbing out of Mitch's car.

Brick was unloading his surfboard, which meant the boys had just gotten back from a trip to Sunset Beach. None of them wore their shirts, and Boomer proceeded to slap Mitch's stomach, earning a death glare from him. The others laughed loudly as Mitch tried to chase Boomer.

I smiled.

"Bubbles, you with us?" Robin asked.

"Yeah… Sorry, I just got a bit distracted," I muttered, my eyes fixed on Boomer's tanned, muscular chest.

"By what?" Robin pressed, obviously noticing my distracted tone.

"The boys just got back from surfing…" I told her.

"And, let me guess, they're shirtless and you're checking them out," Robin laughed.

"What? No way! They're like my brothers!" I cried defensively, though my eyes were still zeroed in on Boomer.

At that moment, Boomer tossed his head back and laughed, deep dimples forming. His eyes slid over to my window and our eyes locked. I felt my cheeks heat up but I simply waved and shrunk back from the window, my heart fluttering.

"OK, that's it. We're coming over!" Robin announced.

"We are?" Serena said uncertainly.

"Yep! No excuses, Serena. I'll swing by and pick you up. Bubs, we'll be there in ten minutes."

Before I could protest, Robin had hung up, leaving the line dead.

With a sigh, I tossed the cordless back on my bedside table and lay back with a sigh. Voices downstairs told me that the boys had entered the house. I decided to wait for Robin and Serena to arrive so that I wouldn't have to face Boomer alone.

Wait… what? Since when was I nervous about speaking to Boomer? What the hell was wrong with me lately? First Butch, now Boomer?

I didn't have long to ponder on my thoughts, however, because no more than ten minutes later, Robin's car had pulled up outside my house and I had no choice but to go and greet my two girl friends.

I walked out of my bedroom and paused on my way down the stairs. Smooth jazz was playing loudly in parents' bedroom and I could barely make out their hushed whispers. I stepped away from the door, a mild look of disgust on my face… Ew, am I right?

I glanced down the staircase to where I had a clear view of the front door. All clear. I decided to make my journey fun, so I used my hand as a finger gun.

I pressed my back up against the wall that the staircase ran next to, my "gun" held up next to my chest and my head swinging back and forth, looking for the enemies - my brother and his friends. Slowly and silently, I began making my way sideways down the staircase.

Pausing halfway down the stairs, I held one hand up to my mouth like a radio and made a cracking sound. "Kshht! Come in, base, come in! Coast is clear so far, no sightings of the enemy. Over. Ksssht!"

Making my hand gun again, I stepped down another step.

"BOO!"

I let out a squeal of fright and tripped over my own foot, tumbling forward. I was sent flying down the rest of the steps, bouncing off them almost one at a time and issuing a loud grunt or cry every time I did so.

Finally, I came to a stop at the bottom of the staircase, lying on the ground and staring up at the ceiling.

Weakly, I raised my "radio" to my mouth and whispered, "Kssht! Man down! We have a man down! Over. Ksssht!"

I let my hand fall to my side as the form of the one and only Boomer appeared in my line of vision. He looked worried, but the twinkle in his eyes indicated to the suppressed laughter he held.

I glared up at him.

"Sorry, Bubs, I didn't think you'd get that scared," Boomer said, his mouth working to cover up his evil laughter as he offered a hand to help me up.

I knocked his hand away and climbed to my feet myself. However, the world seemed to spin in front of me and I staggered sideways into his chest.

"Whoa there, sailor!" Boomer laughed, catching me before I fell to the floor and holding me steady.

My eyes slowly rose to meet his and he stared back, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Well, well, well, aren't you two cosy?"

I gave a huge start of surprise, causing the top of my head to collide with Boomer's chin. He let out a cry of pain and released me from his steadying hold as his hands flew up to cradle his chin. My skin tingled from where he had been touching me.

"Oh, sorry Boomer," I said sarcastically. "I guess karma really is a bitch."

He let out an exasperated sigh and massaged his chin. I turned to the person who had scared me out of my wits only to see an amused Robin, a half-smiling Serena and an irritated-looking Brick.

Uh-oh.

Boomer spotted him at the same time and shot me an uncertain look before turning to Brick with a hopeful smile. "She… er… tripped," he muttered lamely.

Brick's eyes narrowed as he looked between Boomer and I. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Oh, no Boomer, let's tell him the truth," I said, trying not to smile at Boomer's warning glance. He knew what I was up to.

Brick, however, turned his full glare on me. "The truth?" he asked heavily.

I nodded with a wistful sigh and a glance at Boomer. "The truth is… Boomie and I are lovers. We've been together for a few months now and let me tell you this," I lowered my voice to a teasing whisper, "he's great in bed."

Brick's eyes widened and he seemed utterly speechless, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly. Then his cheeks seemed to flood with colour and he turned his death glare on Boomer, who seemed half torn between amusement and exasperation.

"Oh, come on, Brick," Boomer chuckled. "There's nothing going on between us and you know it. She's just teasing… like always."

I poked my tongue out at Boomer before grinning. "Anything to get my dear old Boomie into trouble."

Brick let out a long sigh. "You had me worried for a moment there," he said.

Robin laughed. "Just worried? More like psychotically furious. You almost killed them." she stated.

Brick glared at her and said, "Come on, Boom. The boys are waiting for us in the living room and I'm sure the girls want to go up to Bubbles' room and mind their own business, right girls?"

I shared confused glances with both Serena and Robin before shrugging and saying innocently, "Sure Big Bro, whatever you say."

"Good." Brick nodded to Boomer and they both retreated into the living room, closing the door behind them as they went.

I snorted, crossing my arms. "What an asshole," I muttered.

"Why's he an asshole?" Serena asked obliviously.

"Brick never includes Bubbles and I in their 'plotting sessions'," explained Robin.

"Plotting sessions?" Serena repeated, confused.

Sometimes I forgot that she knew so little about our group.

"Yeah," I began. "You see, the guys have this stupid thing where they give each other bets when they're bored. They used to plot against Summers when the social war started. Robin and I are never included because we're girls, not that I care or anything. Those bets are just stupid."

Robin nodded, but I couldn't help but notice the mischievous glint in her eyes.

I grinned. "The outside window?"

She nodded again, an evil grin spreading across her face.

"The outside window?" Serena asked, once again completely lost.

"Follow us," I said as Robin and I hurried outside.

We crept around the side of the house until we were directly outside the living room. Like always, the boys had neglected to close the windows, and their voices floated outside to where we were crouched, hidden from their sight.

"So, what's it going to be today, boys?" I heard Brick begin and I could almost imagine all the guys perking up, ready for another bet.

"I dunno. Who's turn is it?" That was Mitch.

"Is Serena here?" Todd asked hopefully.

"Oh, forget about your girlfriend for two seconds, will you, Todd? We're trying to get a dare going here," Mitch teased. "Just because you're totally whipped…"

There was a thump and a cry of pain from Mitch. Todd had obviously just punched him in the arm.

I winked at Serena, who had turned a distinctive shade of pink and was beaming at me.

"Anyway, did you hear what's going around school lately?" Boomer said.

"No, what is it?"

"Apparently that cheerleader in my Math class – Kelly Larson, I think her name is – saw Summers and Bubbles 'making out' in the hallway during English," Alex said.

My stomach sunk. Oh crap…

"WHAT?!" Brick yelled.

"Don't worry, Brick, I doubt it's true," Boomer said reassuringly.

"Yeah, it probably isn't," Todd agreed, "but Summers and Bubbles had to have at least met up."

"What do you mean?" Mitch asked.

"Well, Kelly Larson doesn't generally whip up stories out of thin air," Todd explained. "She usually has something to go with it. So I'm thinking that Summers and Bubbles at least talked…"

"Again?!" Brick cried. "I thought I told her to stay away from him!"

My insides boiled with anger. Brick seemed to think he had so much control over my life!

I made a mental note to put chili on his toothbrush tonight. Harsh, but necessary for a particularly protective, slightly older brother.

"You know what… I have an idea for our next plan of attack on Summers… but it includes Bubbles…" Mitch trailed off mysteriously.

I held my breath and leant closer to the window, not wanting to miss a word of the following conversation.

"Oh yeah? What's that then?" Brick asked. He was obviously still on edge about the rumour.

"Well, you may not like it at first but I think it might be a good idea…" Mitch began. "I think that we should… make Summers fall in love with your sister, Brick."

Silence.

"WHAT?!"

I was surprised to realise that the cry had not come from one of the boys, but from my own mouth. Robin and Serena made silencing motions with their hands, but it was too late.

Footsteps from inside told us that the boys were hurrying to the window and, in a matter of seconds, they'd all poked their heads out of the window, staring straight down at where we sat huddled among the dying flowers.

"Uh… hi?" Robin offered an innocent smile.

Only Todd seemed happy to see us and that was because Serena was there. He grinned and mouthed "Hi" to his girlfriend, who smiled shyly back up at him.

"Get inside," Brick said dangerously.

The three of us rose to our feet and climbed through the window, dropping onto the carpet. The boys turned to face us.

"What are you doing eavesdropping on us?" Brick demanded angrily, glaring down at me.

"What are you doing including me in a bet?" I demanded, glaring right back at him.

There was a few moments silence before Brick said something I never thought I would hear from him: "Will you do it?"

I gaped at him. "What?" I gasped. "For all the times you've pulled the overprotective brother act, you decide to be lenient now?!"

Brick shrugged. "Well, it's a good idea. Everyone knows that Summers has a thing for you. All you have to do is play on his feelings and then dump him when he's really attached."

I stared at him, wide-eyed. "No. Way."

"I agree with her," Boomer suddenly spoke up, his eyes on Brick. "We don't want her to become part of this social war between Summers and us. It's stupid."

"Thank you! At least someone here is being sensible!" I cried.

Brick narrowed his eyes at me. "It's either you do this for me or you're choosing Summers."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"This is so stupid!"

"Me or Summers, sis."

"Are you serious?!"

"Pick, now!"

"I pick neither!"

"That's not an option!"

"You're such an asshole!"

"PICK!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

I stopped, realizing that I'd just agreed to choose. I growled at my brother, my eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I'll… I'll…"

Brick stood silently, waiting for my choice.

"I'll do it."

Everyone reacted differently.

Brick grinned triumphantly; Mitch and Todd whooped; but Boomer just stared at me, his eyes void of emotion, reminding me of Butch's usual expression. Robin and Serena were looking at me, slightly amused yet exasperated at the same time.

I groaned quietly and closed my eyes.

What had I just agreed to?

~End Of Chapter~

And this is where the story REALLY begins. I'm excited omg haha.

A HUGE thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this. Y'all are the best, I mean it.

Favourite, Follow and Review.

~Shiloh