"It's that time of the month.Again."Jack complained to Jace, trying hard to not turn into a weeping mess.

"What, the time your period starts and you're a grumpy grouch  for the rest of your day? "Jace teased.

"I wish. It's actually that time where they schedule us an uncomfortable dinner with people we don't even like and don't wanna be around for the rest of our lives. "

"Oh. "

Jace got it.

In every two to three months since they were little, their dads insisted on arranging a small dinner party with a circle of their friends and their kids and friend's kids, just so they would grow up knowing each other and not pull away from the tradition, since their dads were long time bff's and all. And also to partly gain privileged connections.

To say the least, it was a very uncomfortable evening where people pretended to like each other and sons pretended to adore their dads and Mandi would cling onto Jace like a pest.

Jace shuddered.

The fact that Mandi had intentionally remained MIA for the past few days meant she was up to something, and that was never a good sign.

"I thought you had your freaky computer to remind you of stuff. "Jack said grouchily biting into an apple.

Jace scratched his neck awkwardly.

"I kind of woke up before she did."

"Wow, you're in a good mood. "Jack jeered.

"Was. "Jace corrected, "I was in a good mood until you brought this stupid dinner up. "

"Things going well? "Jack asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Jace smirked.

"Oooh... You naughty naughty boy! Did you charm your way into her pants? " Jack asked hopefully, making him roll his eyes.

"You know am not like that, Jack. "

"Oh, right. You're saving yourself for marriage. "He continued to mock him, at the same time finding his way to a second apple.

"Hey, that's not such a bad thing!"Jace protested, though part of the reason was how his mom had strictly brought him up Lutheran.

Jack shook his head sadly.

"I never want to hear such words from a real man again. "

"Don't pressure me, man.You already did that and we all know how that turned out. "

"Yeah, Mandi was all up on you making you sin and God knows what else. "

Jace decided to make a refreshing smoothie to ease his mind about the dinner later,which was planned on a Saturday of all days.

"If you're asking if we had sex, no we didn't. "Jace clarified, making Jack's eyes widen dramatically.

"Holy shit! You're a virgin!? "Jack exclaimed, making Jace narrow his eyes at him.

"That's for me to know and for you to never find out. Honestly, Jack. You may be my best friend, but I am so not going there with you. "

"But.. But.. The things you said Mandi made you do!"Jack stammered, much to Jace's amusement.

"They don't actually have to involve that. And how did this conversation actually escalate to me talking about my sex life? "

"Fine. I'll leave it. For now. And be careful with my blender, man. It's worth a fortune."

"Am sure. "Jace deadpanned.

Jack was such a piece of work.

************************************

The minute Jace saw Mandi approach him dressed in an obscenely unholy two piece dress, he knew it was going to be a terryfying night.

It didn't help that Shane was dead eyeing him from afar, more than usual, and his dad was about to arrive in less than six minutes.

Jack had abandoned him for an apparent cooler gang of bad boys and girls, so he was all alone and the aimed target of some obsessed girls.

That is until Mandi showed up and they scampered off faster than a kitten on a wild goose chase.

"Jace. "She said softly, but with a hot newly found passion.

"Mandi. "Jace nodded.

Never show any sign of a weakness, He told himself.

"You're a rare person to find these days. "She stepped all up in his space.

Jace cleared his throat.

"I've been busy. "

Of course you've been. Mandi thought, smiling mischeviously.

"Mia, isn't it? "Mandi smiled wider, making Jace break into a cold sweat.

"What do you know?"Jace asked, sensing that Mandi had some information that he didn't, or else she wouldn't be standing here saying another girl's name, a girl she knew he was interested in, and smiling all the same.

"Oh, Jace. "Mandi trailed her hand up and down his chest, "You have no idea. "

"Mandi. "Jace was now concerned, "What do you know? "

Mandi stepped back and sighed.

"I know that I love you, and we're meant to be together forever, even if you don't realise it now. "

Oh boy.

Okay. Usually, Mandi was pretty cray cray, but today, she seemed to be a notch over the top.

Jace was really, really concerned, and was on the edge of panicking when she reached into her purse and extracted a massive ring with a huge diamond.

"What's that? "He eyed it warily while narrowing his eyes and slowly backing up.

Mandi came closer, smiling coyly, and stretched the ring out to him.

"The ring I told you about the other day. Our engagement ring, remember? "

"What's that for? "Jace was seriously panicking.

"You have an important announcement to make, okay? We're engaged. "

Jace did a double take.

"Uh..no, we're not. "

"Yes, we are."

Jace stopped running away from her and now stepped closer, really concerned.

He reached out and clasped her hands in his, diamond ring and all.

"Mandi, are you okay? Are you drunk? Are you high? "

Mandi waved him off and laughed her typical melodious laugh that usually send men in a spiralling frenzy.

"Look, Jace. I know something about Mia, something big, something I know you want to know. So in exchange for the much needed info, I'm telling you to propose and make it official during the dinner. That, or I'll just let you walk away free, and you can find everything out yourself eventually. "

If Jace had been terrified before, now he was completely mortified.

If Mandi was bribing him and being so straightforward about it, it meant the information she had was huge, and it also meant that that tiny part of him that didn't trust Mia was right.

It meant she was up to something.

But then again, Mandi was conniving, and for all he knew, maybe she was just trying to terrify him into choosing her over Mia, and apparently getting engaged to her.

Mandi saw the hesitance.

"Also, I know of an agreement between your dad and mine, which he won't tell you about unless it's really necessary, so am offering two for one. And you're know how ruthless your dad is. "

Jace was now of the verge of losing his mind.

How in the freaking hell was she getting this information? And by golly, was it true?

He was really tempted to find out, but the fear of getting himself trapped with Mandi for the rest of his life was far worse than the need to know his dad's and Mia's secrets.

"You're just bluffing, Mandi. "Jace tried, wary of this new, blackmailing Mandi.

Mandi scoffed.

"Am I? "

Her gaze was intense, rare and calculating.

"What's going on? "Jack appeared suddenly, putting his arm across Mandi's shoulder.

Mandi immediately shrugged it off with a scorn.

"Get your filthy arms off me. "She dead-eyed him, while he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Oh, am sorry. Did you forget how practical my arms are? "

They shared a solemn look, making Jace raise his eyebrows in curiosity.

"Practical my left foot. Overall, you and your arms are disgusting. "

"Or so she says. "

For a moment, Jace was really thankful for Jack the icebreaker, and for bringing back the comeback queen Mandi was, that is until she said her next words.

"Anyway, Jace was about to break some pretty big news, Jace? "Mandi looked at him expectantly, making it Jack's turn to raise eyebrows.

Jace swallowed hard.

No, he wasn't gonna do it.

"No, Mandi. I wasn't. "

Mandi narrowed her eyes, a scornful look in them, and a mischievous grin on her lips.

"Your problem. "

She turned around with poise and headed towards Shane, who Jace realised hadn't stopped eyeing them all this while.

"Finally, I thought you were never gonna say hi to me. "Shane greeted when she approached, pulling her into a hug.

"Of course I was gonna come over, I had some business to handle first. "

"Let me guess, you were forcing yourself on Jace again? "Shane laughed.

"If you put it that way. "Mandi shook her head, watching the room fill up with people, and knowing the dinner was about to start.

"So, what's so important that you had to summon my glorious presence? "She asked him, throwing her hair over her shoulder.

"Well, we kinda have a mutual problem, it seems. "Shane said.

"What? "

He awkwardly pocketed his hands.

"You want Jace, I want Mia. "

Mandi smirked.

"You mean you want to use and dump her like you usually do?And how do you expect her to fall for you, fancy wine and roses? Something tells me she's not that kind of a girl. "

"Exactly. There's something about her... I don't know. I guess I'm just generally into her. Long term. "

Mandi threw her hands up in frustration.

"What's so great about this girl that's got everyone so hang up on her? "

"I don't know, she's not a conniving creep like you are? "Shane laughed at her displeasure, making her scowl.

"You don't know that. "Mandi narrowed her eyes with a mischievous glint.

Shane caught on.

"Know something, Mandi? "

"Maybe. "

"Do share. "

"Ha. Having dirt on someone that nobody else literally has gives me the upper hand here, so no. "

Shane sighed. He knew she wasn't gonna give anything up, unless it's for something else, and he knew that he had little to offer.

"Fine. Keep your secrets. But we do have to make a plan. "

Mandi blew him a kiss as everyone was called to sit down.

"Don't worry, "she called over her shoulder, "am already on it. "

**********************************
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