“Luke! Dude! Come on!”

            “Noah, shut up!” Luke growled, swatting his friend on the shoulder as he went to retrieve the little plastic ball. “I don’t see you returning any of her hits!”

            “That’s because I’m not the one playing,” Noah said in a duh voice.

            Chloe smirked across the ping-pong table at Luke, tapping her paddle against her hip. “It looks like I’m going to win this round.”

            He pursed his lips at her. “I wouldn’t plan on it.” With that he served the ping-pong ball to her with a violent swing.

            “Hey,” Rian started in a whisper, nudging my side with his elbow. “Who do you think is going to win?”

            For a moment I stayed silent, watching the plastic ball bounce across the table and back. Luke and Chloe seemed pretty even, but Luke always slipped up at the worst possible second. “Chloe,” I finally returned.

            “I think so too,” he commented, standing uncomfortably close to me. “Luke is pretty clumsy.”

            I murmured in agreement, trying to inconspicuously move away from him. Just being near him made my pulse pick up now. It didn’t make sense! Before when Rian was around me I wasn’t this nervous. Even if I did like him, I would have been nervous from the start. It wouldn’t of just suddenly sprung up on me.

            “I’m playing you next,” Rian told me.

            My head snapped toward him. “What?”

            “What?” he responded, cocking an eyebrow.

            “What do you mean by that?” I demanded, frowning at him. He was going to play me? How could he say that so proudly?

            Rian furrowed his eyebrows. “I thought we settled this earlier? After Luke and Chloe are finished, we’re playing.”

            “Oh.” That’s what he meant. Mentally slapping a hand to my forehead, I returned my attention to the ping-pong table. Now I was being paranoid.

            “My older sister and I used to always play ping-pong together,” Rian continued. “That’s how I got good.”

            I turned to look at him now. “Did you stop playing because you got famous?”

            “No,” Rian responded with a little laugh. “I would definitely still play with her if I could. She died about two years ago.”

            I blinked. Did I just hear him correctly? His sister died? How did I not know that? “Rian, I’m sorry, I didn’t know—”

            “I know,” he cut me off, grinning. “It’s fine. Actually, not a lot of people know, so it’d be awesome if you kept this quiet.”

            “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re famous. Why don’t people know?” I asked curiously.

            Rian rolled his eyes at me. “When did you first hear of Gold, Iris?”

            Confused by his question, I furrowed my eyebrows. Was he trying to change the subject? “Um, I guess about nine months ago?”

            “Exactly.”

            “Exactly what?”

            Rian gave me a look that made me think he thought I was stupid. “I wasn’t famous when my sister died, so not a lot of people know about her since I don’t like to talk about her.”

            “I’m sorry,” I apologized again, not knowing what to say. “I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

            “I know you won’t Iris,” he told me, giving me a brilliant smile. “You don’t have to promise me.”

            Abruptly I turned away from him, trying to hide my warming cheeks. What was wrong with me? He just smiled at me! There was nothing to be embarrassed about! My emotions were getting out of control. They were going to give me away if this kept up. A grimace passed over my face. I could just imagine what Rian would say if he found out I liked— no, not liked, was interested in him.

            Chloe let out an angry huff as her paddle barely missed the ping-pong ball as it flew by. Luke smirked smugly, doing a little victory dance. “Now we are tied,” he announced. “Whoever gets the next point wins.”

            “Which will be me,” Chloe responded confidently. “Loser has to buy the winner dinner.”

            Luke raised an eyebrow. “Can you afford that? I eat a lot.”

            “So do I,” she responded with a smirk.

            “Well, serve at will.”

            Chloe served the ping-pong ball, and the battle started. Both of them had serious expressions on their faces, hitting the ball back and forth vigorously. Noah cheered from the sidelines, waving his arms wildly as if to distract one of them. Rian nudged me in the rib. “What should the winner’s prize be in our match?” he questioned.

            I shrugged. “I don’t know. Dish duty?”

            “I was thinking more along the line of winner gets to sleep in loser’s bed… kidding,” he added quickly when he noticed my glare. “Dish duty sounds good to me.”

            Rolling my eyes, I returned my attention back to the match bring played. Chloe smashed the ball to the right some of the table, while Luke was on the left. He jerked his body toward the ball. In the time that I blinked, Luke was on the floor, the ping-pong ball rolling along the ground behind him.

            “Hmm,” Chloe started teasingly, peering down at Luke. “What’s the most expensive restaurant around here again?”

            Luke scowled, pushing himself off the ground. “You won by a fluke.”

            “Don’t be a sore loser, Luke,” Noah commented, grinning. “Hey! That rhymed! I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it. I’m a—”

            “Okay, Iris and me now,” Rian interjected, cutting Noah off. “This will be a quick match.”

            I rolled my eyes. “Now don’t get too cocky, Rian.”

            He just smirked, taking Chloe’s paddle from her. Luke handed me his, looking put-off. “I can’t believe I lost to a girl,” he muttered.

            “Don’t worry, you won’t be alone soon,” I told him soothingly. “Rian’s going down.”           

            “She’s lying, Luke.”

            Luke shook his head at us, going to stand next to Chloe, who patted his arm. “We can have a rematch, Luke.”

            “That’s what the loser’s supposed to say,” he responded with a sigh.

            “Ladies first,” Rian told me, tossing me the plastic ping-pong ball.

            With a polite smile I caught the ball, automatically serving it. Rian was surprised at first, but he colleted himself quickly enough to return the ball. I narrowed my eyes at him, smacking the ball back. Usually my first hit always landed me a point.

            “Wow,” Noah commented, his heard turning from right to left and to left from right as he followed the ball with his eyes. “You guys are good.”

            I swung my arm out as Rian smacked the ball to my right. When my paddle landed I knew my hit had been too soft. Rian seemed to notice too, because the corners of his mouth turned up into a smirk. He aimed his paddle perfectly, sending the ping-pong ball straight past me.

            “And Rian takes the lead!” Noah cried, smacking his band mate high-five. “Good going dude!”

            A light sigh left my lips as I bent down to retrieve the ping-pong ball. “Don’t get too excited Noah.”

            “I want to play you after Rian,” he responded, looking excited. “It looks like fun!”

            Instead of replying to Noah I quickly served the ball to Rian. This time he wasn’t ready. The ball went straight past him while his arm lay limply at his side. I smiled innocently as he narrowed his eyes at me.

            “That was a cheap move,” he accused.

            “We never said we had to play fair,” I responded, still smiling. “Of course if you’re insecure and want to play fair, I’m all for it.”

            Rian scoffed. “No. We can play it your way. Just be ready.”

            “I’m already ready.”

            Twenty minutes later, Rian and I were at a stalemate. Both of us were panting heavily, grasping our paddles so tightly in our hands you’d think our lives lay on them. Rian was serving. I prepared myself, positioning my body in the center of the table. He smirked at me, his arm posed to serve. I waited, but he didn’t move.

            “Any day now,” Luke commented in a bored tone. “Your game has gone on long enough.”

            Rian ignored him, keeping his eyes glued to mine. “You ready to wash the dishes, Iris?”

            “Nope, but I am ready to watch you do it.”

            “Good one.”

            I frowned at him. “Are you going to serve?”

            “Eventually,” he responded, his eyes lighting up. “When you least expect it.”

            “I’m expecting it—”

            Rian suddenly brought his arm forward, serving me the ball. I returned it with ease. He smacked it back, and once again we were in an intense match. There was no way I was going to let Rian beat me at my own game. He had just gotten lucky up until now. I smacked the ball to his left side, and he quickly shuffled over to receive it. As he hit the ball, a surprised expression crossed his face. Too focused to bother caring, I brought my arm up to swat the ball back.

            “Iris!” someone suddenly shouted in my ear, jumping onto my back. “Guess who!”

            I cried out in frustration as I staggered to the side, completely missing the ball. When I turned my head, my eyes met bright red hair. It took me a minute to realize it was Colton clinging onto my back. He grinned at me, his green eyes twinkling. Annoyed, I tried to push him off me.

            “Colton! You ruined the match!” I complained, successfully removing myself from his grasp.

            Colton gave me a guiltless look. “You can play him again.”

            I turned to Rian, who was giving Colton an annoyed look. His eyes snapped to mine and he opened his mouth to say something. When nothing came out I furrowed my eyebrows. Rian seemed to think of something else to say because he suddenly looked amused. “Well, Iris. I guess you lost.”

            I stared at him in shock. “But Colton distracted me!”

            “You did say we weren’t playing fair,” he pointed out, looking self-satisfied. “It’s only fair, isn’t?”

            “But—”

            “Can’t face that you lost to me?” he teased.

            I glared at him for a moment before turning to Colton, who was still beaming at me. “Thanks a lot,” I snapped at him.

            He held up his hands defensively. “Hey, hey. I didn’t know you guys were playing a serious game.”

            “Well we were!”

            Colton chuckled, ruffling my hair with his hand. “You’re still as competitive as ever. Remember when you used to cry when I beat you?”

            Flushing, I stepped out from under his hand. “I-I didn’t cry!”

            “You just had something in your eye?” he guessed with a grin. “I’m sure Chloe remembers, right Chloe?”

            Chloe blinked as both Colton and I turned to her. I narrowed my eyes threateningly. She gave me a sheepish look. “You know what? I have short term memory loss and I can’t remember that long ago.”

            “Yeah, okay,” Colton responded sarcastically, but still didn’t lose his grin. “I remember it perfectly.”

            “What’d you come down here for?”  I demanded.

            “Trying to change the subject now?”

            I gave him a flat look. “Colton.”

            “To tell you and your little friends dinner is ready,” he enlightened me. “I hope you’re hungry. Amy made enough to feed a herd of elephants.”

            Luke smiled broadly at him. “Sounds like she made just enough food for me.”

            Colton appraised him for a moment. “You’re as skinny as a twig.”

            “A twig that is very hungry,” he responded, laughing at his own joke. “Let’s go eat.”

            All of us trooped back to the kitchen, where my mom and Brendon were already seated. A large array of food was spread out on the table, taking me by surprise. She really had made enough to feed a herd of elephants. I took a seat at my regular spot and Rian quickly sat at my left. Colton took a seat on my right, nudging me in the shoulder with his elbow.

            “I picked up your favorite desert,” he said, looking proud of himself. “Chocolate mousse.”

            I grinned at him. “I’m surprised you remember.”

            “It’s hard not to notice your obsession for chocolate,” Colton commented with a small laugh.

            I glanced at Rian, who was talking to Brendon about something. Rian had figured out my obsession for chocolate pretty easily as well. Was it really that obvious? Rian suddenly turned and our gazes locked. He gave me wicked smile. “It looks like there are going to be a lot of dishes tonight, huh?”

            “Nothing I can’t manage,” I responded nonchalantly.

            “I can help you if you want,” Colton suggested, leaning around me. “I’m a guest after all.”

            Rian narrowed his eyes at Colton, but said nothing. Colton continued to smile at me, waiting for my reply. I grimaced at him. I wasn’t sure whether or not that was supposed to be a dig at Rian. “I can handle it myself,” I finally responded. “It’s my penalty for losing the game.”

            Colton shrugged. “Okay, but I’m here if you need me.”

            I smiled at him. “Thanks.”

            “So, Rian,” my brother started, gaining not only Rian’s attention but mine as well. “I thought it’d be a fun idea to make a collaboration song together. You know, both our bands together.”

            Rian’s eyes lit up immediately. “Really?”

            Luke looked like he was about to pass out. He was staring at Brendon like Brendon had just offered him a million dollars for free. I held in a laugh when I noticed Noah was actually choking on his drink.

            “I’m sure my producer wouldn’t mind. It’d be really good for business,” Brendon told Rian. “Plus, I’d love to work with Gold.”

            “I’d love to work with you too!” Noah gasped, pounding his chest. He coughed a few times, trying to clear his throat.

            “I’ll talk to my manager about it—”

            “Boys,” my mom interjected, sending Brendon a disapproving look. “No business at the dinner table.”

            Brendon flushed, dropping his gaze. “Sorry, Mom…”

            “So what are your plans for tomorrow, Iris?” my mom asked, turning her gaze to me. “Are you going to show the boys around?”

            I bit my lip. “Um, we’ll probably downtown… if they’re up for it.”

            “I am!” Noah chirped, looking excited. “I want to go shopping.

            My mom turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “A guy that likes to shop? You’re perfect for Iris.”

            “Mom!”

            Noah grinned. “Oh, I know.”

            Rian snorted quietly. “Yeah, right,” he muttered.

            “Wait, Iris and Noah are dating?” Colton asked, furrowing his eyebrows. “I thought you said it was fake…”

            “It is fake,” I assured him. “Noah is just…”

            “Awesome?” Noah suggested with a smirk.

            I shook my head at him. “Annoying.”

            “Hey! I resent that!”

            “I know.”

            He gave me a flat look that I returned with an amused smile. Noah was really fun to poke fun at.

            “So you’re single?” Colton inquired, leaning towards me. “Guess what? I’m single too—”

            “Colton!” my mom scolded. “Not at the dinner table!”

            Colton leaned away again, pressing his lips together. “Right, right.” He winked at me. “But later.”

            “Later we can discuss business,” Rian cut in before I had the chance to respond. “I think it’d be a good idea to make something together…”

            “And I’m not interested in dating celebrities, Colton,” I said, offering him an apologetic smile. “Sorry.”

            Colton made a face. “Great.”

            “Don’t hit on my sister,” Brendon admonished. “At least not when I’m in the room, please.”

            Once again I found myself turning to look at Rian. He gave me a disapproving look. “What?” I asked.

            “You don’t date celebrities?”

            “Um,” I hesitated, dropping my gaze. It was so easy to say no to Colton, but for some reason I didn’t want to say it to Rian. If it was Rian who was asking me out, I wouldn’t have a problem— wait, no! It wouldn’t matter! “I don’t,” I blurted out.

            Rian looked suspicious. “Really?”

            “Really.”

            “Well, we’ll see about that,” he responded with a shrug. “You’ll come around.”

            I wanted to ask him what he meant by that, but I decided it’d be best not to. He probably would take that as a sign that I wanted him to ask me out or something. Which I didn’t. He probably was just teasing me like always.

            By the time dinner was over, nearly all the food was gone. Everyone helped clear the table, but when it was time to start the dishes, they all suddenly had something extremely important to do. My brother was the first one out of the kitchen. Colton lingered for a moment, asking me if I wanted help again. When I refused he went to go join my brother in the living room, leaving me alone with Rian.

            “Are you really just going to stand there and watch me doing the dishes?” I demanded, scowling at him. “Because if you are, I’d rather you not.”

            Rian shook his head. “No. I’m here to help.”

            “You’re what?”

            “Did you really think I was going to make you do all the dishes by yourself just because you lost?” he inquired.

            I stared at him for a moment, a little taken aback. “Uh…”

            He laughed, gently pushing me out of the way. “I’ll start by washing and you can dry. Then we’ll switch, okay?”

            “Okay,” I responded slowly, unable to stop staring at him. Who was this, and what happened to the jerk?

            Suddenly something cool and wet hit my face, making me jump. Rian quickly covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. “Pay attention, Iris.”

            “Don’t flick water at me.”

            “Like this?” he asked, flicking more water at me.

            I narrowed my eyes. “I mean it, Rian.” I flinched as once again he flicked more water at me. “Rian!”

            He chuckled, turning his back to me. “If you space out again, I’ll do it again.”

            “I won’t space out,” I snapped, pulling open one of the kitchen drawers to get a towel. “Geez.”

            Rian picked up a plate and began washing it. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, a small smile spreading across my face. He actually wasn’t that bad when he wasn’t being a jerk. And he looked pretty cute doing the dishes. If Rian was like that all the time, I could definitely see us dating…

            “Iris!” I winced as one again he flicked water at me. He smirked in amusement, shoving the plate he had been cleaning into my face. “Dry it.”

            Taking the plate, I glowered at him. I changed my mind. He wasn’t cute at all.

_________

Dead.

And you know how I said they hired my friend at my work?

He still hasn't even started training. There are about to get one hate raid from a Jordan Lynde soon.

Soon, my friends, soon.

On another note I saw Pierce the Veil Friday night and ran into them at Uno's and got to hang out with everyone and get pictures and Vic is so cute and short and sgjsdfiogjsdfklhngfjhdfghsdfgchsf. and then the guys I went with are like best friends with Tonight Alive so we could to chill with them after the show because they love us and it was perfect.