"So there's deffiently a party tonight?" I asked Taylor whilst shoving books into my locker.

"Yeah its a huge one! It's this boy called Jason he has connections with the private school on top of hill," Taylor exclaimed. "All the posh kids are going too!"

"I don't know..." I sighed.

"Come on Gretch! Live a little!" Taylor jumped up and down in front of me.

"Fine! Just stop jumping around you look like your about to pee all over the floor," I laughed closing my locker.

"Great! It plans out well because we don't have to be in till 12 tomorrow because of the car wash thing. So after school we're going dress shopping and bikini shopping." Taylor grinned.

"Okay one I'm not wearing a bikini and two I can't do after school today." I explained leaning against the lockers.

"Yes you are! You have such a nice figure and you need to show it!"

"Maybe if you keep your voice down..." I glared at her.

"Good and why not after school?"

"I'm going to Nathan's." I said which I immediately regretted ad I saw Taylor grin even more.

"Nathan's!" She squealed.

"Shh it's just to clear something up with his brother okay? Stop jumping to conclusions." I scolded her.

"But you like him right?" She teased.

"Taylor." I warned.

"Fine...but he's totally into you."

"Look, after I've seen his brother I'll ask if he can drop me into town okay? And then I'll call you." I compromised.

"Unless you have sex round there." Taylor sniggered as I slapped her arm.

"Who's having sex?" Grace asked as she approached.

"No one Grace." I answered glaring at Taylor. "I'll see you two in town then," I smiled giving Grace a quick hug then heading for the car lot.

"Hey," I smiled as I saw Nathan leaning against his car.

"Hi," he smiled as he held open the door for me then climbed in the other side, he started the car and pulled out of the school.

"Gretch, you don't have to do this you know," Nathan said.

"I do. I actually like your brothers, they're funny and having one myself I know how to handle them, so it's important for me to clear the air with Kendall." I explained.

"They're probably getting ready for this party." Nathan shrugged.

"It's four hours away though,"

"You know about it?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah Taylor told me, its a kid called Jason." I answered.

"Jason's an old family friend." Nathan told me.

"Oh right," I nodded "Are you going?"

"Yeah. I take it you are too bearing in mind your best friends with Taylor," he smiled glancing at me.

"Yeah," I laughed. We soon pulled up outside the familiar house and we both got out the car then headed up to the front door. Nathan unlocked the door and held it open for me.

"Kendall!" Nathan called.

"He's upstairs," Mason popped his head round the door way of the kitchen. "Gretch!" His eyes widened as he rushed towards me and engulfed me in a hug.

"Hi Mason," I smiled.

"You okay now?"

"Sure, I'm all good," I nodded.

"I would have hit Kendall too but Nathan done it all." He shrugged.

"Mason." Nathan warned with a hoarse voice.

"Gretch?" I heard Kendall say from the top of the stairs. I glanced up and saw him, he was wearing trackies and a loose tee but that didn't distract me from the purple bruise circling his right eye and cut lip. Mason cut across me and dragged Nathan into the kitchen and shut the door. I raced up the stairs to Kendall to get a better look at him.

"Gretch, I'm so sorry...." Kendall begun.

"It's fine Kendall!" I smiled at him "You were drunk and I overreacted. It was just a bad night for everyone."

"I would never make a move on you if I was sober Gretchen." Kendall said in all seriousness.

"I know," I smiled then hugged him but he flinched, I pulled back and fowned at him. I gently lifted up his shirt and saw bruised covering most of his torso.

"Oh my god!" I gasped.

"Gretch, it isn't as bad as you think it is."

"He had no right to do this to you..." I muttered.

"I deserved it."

"No one deserves this." I look at him. "I'm sorry..."

"It's fine," he hugs me gently.

"You know you shouldn't go to this party," I smiled at him.

"Miss out on a party? Are you sure you know me?" Kendall smiled as I laughed at him. "You going to the party?"

"Yeah, I'm being forced to go."

"Taylor?"

"You know her?" I asked a little confused.

"Nathan told me."

"Nathan told you about Taylor?" I asked.

"He talks about you a lot." Kendall gave me a warm smile. "See you at the partayy girl!" He winked and disappeared down the hallway.

"Nathan." I called.

"Yeah?" Nathan emerged from the kitchen as if on standby.

"Can you drop me off in town? Taylor and Grace are going shopping for tonight and the car wash tomorrow."

"Car wash?" Mason asked sauntering out of the kitchen.

"Yeah its like a charity thing we do every year," I explained tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Will there be girls in bikinis?" Mason asked.

"Probably," I rolled my eyes smiling a little.

"Will you?" He asked, my eyes flickered to Nathan whose eyes widened and then glared at his brother.

"Taylor wants me to but..." I shugged.

"I'll bring my car tomorrow." He smiled "So you totally should."

"And you should totally shut your mouth." Nathan glared as he turned me around and started pushing me out the door gently.

"See you at the party Gretch," Mason chuckled.

"Sure!" I managed to call back.

***

I watched Taylor try on about a thousand dresses till she found the one she loved, she claims 'it was made for her' it was a beautiful strapless burgundy coloured dress that puffed out slightly below the waist with ruffles. Grace had only tried on three outfits and decided to wear a dark grey jumpsuit with short sleeves, it was different for Grace but it suited her. Oh how I envied her for wearing anything and still looking good.

"Your turn!" Taylor smiled at me.

"But Taylor we haven't got long, I'll just wear something out of my closet..." I argued.

"This is a posher party Gretch, they'll be fresh meat, and by that I mean private school boys."

"Stay away from the Blake boys." I rolled my eyes.

"They're going!?" Taylor squealed.

"You shouldn't have said that," Grace smiled at me apologetically.

"I know," I sighed smiling.

"Hurry up then!" Taylor pushed me into a changing cubicle. "We already picked some dresses for you," she winked. I rolled my eyes and pulled the curtain across, I sae five dresses hanging up two were black, one red, one white and the other was yellow.

"Yellow! Really?" I called out to them hearing giggles. I immediately ruled out the yellow one and decided to try a black one. Stripping down I slipped into a similar styled dress to the one Taylor had chosen. Stepping out of the cubicle I gave a twirl to the girls.

"Its a no from me." Grace smiled as she tried to imitate Simon Cowell.

"Doesn't do much to your figure..." Taylor said glancing me up and down. Rolling my eyes I went back in and chose the red dress, I've always wanted to be one of them girls that could pull a red dress off but I didn't think I could. I stepped out to the girls.

"Hmmm the colours nice but it doesn't show enough boobs." Taylor announced.

"Taylor! Its a party I'm not trying to get myself laid." I glared at her, turning around and sliding the curtain back I threw the red dress to the floor and took the next dress I found my hand on. I threw it on and stepped out yet again.

"Gretchen!" Grace gasped. I looked to her as I watched her face expression change and her eyes widen.

"Okay we're deffiently buying this one!" Taylor clapped her hands together and I watched her disappear. Turning round to the mirror I noticed I'd selected the white dress. It had thick straps and clung to my body in the right places then finished mid thigh, good job I shaved my legs last night.

"It compliments your skin nicely Gretch," Grace smiled "You look so tanned,"

"Thanks," I blushed a little and turned back to my reflection. I did I guess make me look quite tanned, my dark brown hair stood out and I smiled liking what I see for once.

"Try these shoes!" Taylor popped a pair of five inch black heels in front of me they covered the whole of my foot and had a silver plate at the front. I slid them on and smiled.

"Okay Gretch we're done." Taylor smiled. We paid for our dresses and shoes and waited while the taxi driver made his way to pick us up and individually drop us three home.

"Didn't you want to look for binkies?" I asked Taylor.

"Oh!" Taylor smirked as she reached into her bag and pulled out a carrier bag.

"Don't open this till tomorrow," she handed it to me "And please wear it! We're wearing ours." She gestured to herself and Grace.

"You seriously bought me a bikini?"

"Yep." Taylor grinned.

"Don't worry I made sure it wasn't disgusting," Grace chimed in.

"I swear to God Taylor if its super skimpy..." I warned her with a death glare.

"Don't worry its not." She smiled as the taxi pulled up.