A.N. Chapter six is here! Woo. I'm doing pretty good with this. I'm surprised at how easy this is all coming together. No Punk this time, but he'll be back soon! I just want to say thank you to all of my loyal readers and let you guys know that I love ya!

Disclaimer: I. Own. Nothing. :D

Chapter 6

"Happy birthday Barbie!"

Barbie wore a face splitting smile as Eve and the twins approached the table she sat at. She hadn't been to practice since her fight with Maryse the week before, and she'd taken to sitting with Laycool and their other friends at lunch. "Aw! Thank you guys!" Barbie happily gushed.

"Do you have plans after school?" Brie asked curiously as she slipped into the open seat next to Layla, the brit greeting her with a small smile.

Barbie watched as Eve and Nikki also found seats at the table; Eve sliding in next to Aj who sat next to Daniel and Nikki finding a space in between Mike and John M. Michelle raised a brow as the other cheerleaders joined their little group. She turned her head slightly, looking back at Maryse's table where the French Canadian blonde was openly staring at their table, though when she caught Michelle's gaze she turned away quickly, immersing herself in a conversation with Torrie and Naomi.

"Not really. Mom and dad won't be home till around 8, they're doing cake and ice cream. Mom insisted." Barbie laughed, "But before then I'm completely free."

"Good!" Nikki grinned, "Cause we are taking you out!"

"Damn right we are." Eve added, though her eyes kept sneaking glances in Mike's direction. Barbie had the sneaking suspicion that the foxy Latina was starting to return 'The Miz's' attraction.

"Cool." Barbie grinned, "Anyone else want to join us?" her baby blues scanned over the rest of the faces at the table.

"We would but Layla's mom has a dinner planned tonight. That woman has been trying to get me at her dinner table for almost a year now." Michelle gave her girlfriend a sideways glance.

"Relax 'Chelle, mom likes you, you've got nothing to worry about. It's not like you've never had dinner at my house before."

"That was before your mom knew about us."

"Yeah, we'll come." Mike piped in, motioning to himself and John M.

"Thanks for the invite Barbie, but we already have plans." Aj smiled sweetly, shyly looking up at Daniel.

"That's okay Aj." Barbie smiled, "And you're welcome!"

"Alright! Then it's settled." Brie declared. "Birthday celebration at The Hole in the Wall!"

"Shouldn't Barbs be the one picking the restaurant?" Nikki questioned.

"Hole in the Wall is great." Barbie grinned, "They got the best pizza."

"Yeah they do." John M. agreed, a perfect smile curling his lips.

"Sure you want Pizza, Barbs?"

"Yes Eve, I am sure." Barbie replied, baby blues catching the pretty green of Eve's eyes.

"Alright!" Mike jumped in, "We can all meet by the flagpole after school and go from there. Sound good."

"Perfect." Eve nodded, agreeing with the football player.

"When are you coming back to practice?" Nikki questioned the birthday girl. There had been no official announcement that Barbie was off of the squad, none of the girls really thought Maryse would do that to Barbie, so they all just assumed Barbie would be back, when she wanted to be back.

Barbie sighed. She knew they had a game next week, but she just wasn't ready to face Maryse. Maryse may have been a real bitch, but Barbie had said something she wished she hadn't said. When she told Maryse she didn't know her anymore she caught the look that appeared in the other blondes' eyes, and it's haunted her since. "I honestly don't know guys," she briefly turned her gaze on the table the rest of the squad was sitting at. Maryse seemed to be in deep conversation, probably about something not so deep like Dolph.

"It's okay Barbs." Eve assured, "You're welcome back whenever you want. I know Maryse won't say it aloud but she'd never kick you off the squad."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Layla added, "She's not the same person she used to be. If you'd of told me she'd be kicking me off the squad three years ago, I'd of laughed in your face."

"Yeah but Barbie and Maryse have been friends since before we all knew each other."

"Can we talk about something else?" Barbie pleaded, clearly not enjoying where the conversation was going. She received apologies in return, and not but a few minutes later the bell was ringing, signaling lunch was over. Barbie had walked to 4th period with Eve, Mike, and Aj. The rest of the school day went by quickly for the newly 18 year old Barbie. She spent some time thinking about Phil, who she hadn't seen since he brought her home that day, and wondered why she hadn't heard from Serena. Maybe the pictures hadn't come out as well as she thought they would?

"There is no way we are all fitting in John's pickup." Eve said flatly as the group gathered around the rather small Toyota.

"We could if we just sat on each other." Mike suggested, oblivious to the dark blush spreading across Eve's cheeks as a very clear image passed through her mind.

"That would be kind of uncomfortable, but if we did it right we could all fit." Brie agreed.

"You can't be serious?" Nikki gasped out incredulously.

"It'll beat walking." Brie shrugged.

"She's got a point." Barbie added. "The Hole is like a forty five minute walk from here, and that's only if we walk the highway."

"And I am NOT doing that." Brie nodded.

"So we packing it like sardines?" John M. questioned. He was leaning back against his truck with his arms crossed, his shades pulled down over his eyes.

"Guess we are." Eve sighed.

Barbie being the birthday girl got to sit in the passenger seat next to John with Nikki sitting between them. Brie squeezed into the tight space in the back with Mike, and Eve who originally tried to sit on Brie, sitting against Mike. She looked absolutely flustered. The ride to The Hole wasn't a very long one and the entire backseat of the Toyota was very much relieved to be out of the truck. Brie had spent almost the entire ride squashed between Mike's giant shoulder and the side of the truck.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Barbara, happy birthday to you!" the entire group sang as Barbie blew out the candles that had been shoved into the thick, extra cheese, hamburger, and pepperoni pizza.

Barbie had a huge smile on her face as everyone started plucking the candles out of the cheese. "Thank you guys so much! I'm having a great time."

"I've got a present for you." Eve spoke up, digging around in her book bag. She pulled out a small, finely wrapped box. "I saw it a few weeks ago, and it instantly made me think of you."

Baby blues wide, Barbie accepted the gift, pulling the ribbon out. Everyone was watching her closely, probably as curious as she was. Eve wore a knowing smile. When Barbie pushed the paper away, and lifted the lid off the box a loud squeal erupted from her throat. "Oh my god! Eve! I love it! Thank you so much!"

"What is it!" Nikki gasped, trying to peer over her side of the table, earning an elbow from her sister. She glared back at her but fell back into her seat.

Barbie had flung herself at Eve and had her in a tight hug, one of her hands still gripping tightly at the box. "I'm glad you like it!" Eve smiled.

Barbie pulled back and pulled the silver chain from the box, a beautiful pink butterfly pendant hung from it, with silver accents. "It's beautiful, Eve."

"Wow! That IS gorgeous!" Brie agreed.

Mike and John just kind of watched the exchange with amusement. They had known what was in store for them when they'd agreed to go to a restaurant with a bunch of girls. "We should take the bill." John offered quietly. "It's the least we can do."

Mike seemed to contemplate the idea before nodding his agreement.

After Barbie had slipped her necklace around her neck with help from the very girl who'd bought it for her, the party had dug into their cheesy pizza and had a good time laughing and talking. It was exactly how it used to be between Barbie, Eve, and the twins. The only difference was Maryse and Laycool's absence from the booth. Barbie had dwelled on it not more than a moment not wanting to kill the mood at the table. When everyone was ready to head out Mike and John had split the bill between themselves, which turned into a four way split when the twins insisted they pay for part of it (also not having had gifts for Barbie). It had been a great time.

"Thanks a lot you guys! It meant a lot to me." Barbie thanked the group once more as John's packed pickup pulled up in front of her house.

"No problem Barbs! If anyone deserves it, it's you." John grinned.

"You're welcome Barbie!" the twins sang in unison, followed by more you're welcomes from Eve and Mike.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow!" Barbie smiled happily as she grabbed her bag and slid out of the truck, Nikki instantly sliding over and making room for Brie to slide into the seat she'd just been sitting in.

Everyone waved their byes to Barbie before the truck pulled off. When Barbie entered her house she was greeted by her entire family. "Happy birthday!" Denise even threw a handful of confetti in the air.

"Hi guys!" Barbie was once again wearing a huge smile. As soon as she had the door closed behind her, her mom had dragged her into the kitchen where a marble, buttercream frosted cake was waiting for her, eighteen candles shoved into the sugary frosting. "It looks great mom!"

"Thank you sweetie, ready to light the candles?"

"Sure am!"

"Hurry up Barbs, I want to have my piece of cake."

"Denise, let your sister get comfortable." Her dad scolded.

Another round of happy birthday was sung as the kitchen lights were flicked off and Barbie blew out more candles. This time she wished for something really good to happen. "This cake is amazing, mom." Barbie grinned, having just finished her piece of cake. "Thanks a lot you guys."

"Don't thank us sweetie, you deserve it."

After everyone was done with their cake and Barbie unwrapped the gifts her parents had got her, (her dad gave her a can of pepper spray which had earned him some strange looks from everyone including herself and her mom had got her a new case for her phone. Denise had gifted her with a new pair of pajama pants) she'd gone up to her room to do the little bit of homework she had and take a shower. She'd just been settling onto the living room couch to watch a little tv before bed when the doorbell rang.

"Barbra, will you see who that is?" her mom called from the kitchen, and Barbie had moved to the door and pulled it open. Baby blue locked with a similar blue color and Barbie felt her heart swell.

"Maryse."

A.N. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. The next chapter will continue from this one! :D If you want more you've got to review!