"Are you sure you'll be alright?" My mom asked me.

I nodded. "Yup, everything will be just fine."

My dad patted down his pockets, checking things. "We're not forgetting anything, are we?"

My parents were going to some Christmas party at one of their friend's place. We had a small Christmas dinner before they left for the real party. I was okay with them going, mostly because they promised to doggy bag some food for me.

She kissed me on the cheek. "Okay, see you in the morning, Naomi."

"We'll open the presents together tomorrow morning," my dad told me, which he didn't because it was an obvious yearly thing we did.

"Fine, and I won't open the presents until tomorrow morning," given that's the reason why he has to always remind me since one Christmas when I was younger I tore everyone's presents when my parents were asleep.

With last goodbye's, they left to the party. I closed the door and looked around the empty house that's all to myself. I've already made a list of what I'm going to do, and I don't need to check it twice. I'll shake my presents to try to figure out what I'm getting for Christmas. I'll get a helping of hot chocolate and Christmas cookies while I watch Christmas movies from The Nightmare Before Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas to The Santa Clause and Home Alone. After that, I'll leave the traditional Santa trap of a plate of cookies and a glass of milk, and try to catch him in the act.

Though it would've been nice to spend Christmas with the guys, they were busy with their own family Christmas as I was with mine. Declan promised his parents he'll spend Christmas with his parents, and Jordan was going to eat the usual pizza after his mom's failed attempt to cook something. It was Bennett I was worried about. Now that I know he doesn't get along with his dad or brother, along with knowing he lives by himself, he won't have a Christmas like the rest of us. I tried to invite him to a Christmas dinner, but he turned it down like he did with the other guys.

I remembered that there was some Christmas banquet his brother told him he had to go as well as inviting the rest of us. But Bennett made it clear that we wouldn't go, but maybe he'll just go by himself, that's why he won't have Christmas with us. Despite Bennett's bad mood with Christmas, I'm glad I was able to make him laugh with the Christmas present I gave him. We ended up just opening each other's presents in front of each other to make up for not opening it together in Christmas together. From Jordan, I got a drawing from Graeae himself that proudly hangs in my room back in the base. Also he gave me my promised phone, all updated as he told me he will. Declan gave me a mix tape of a bunch of songs we end up liking, which I can't stop listening. Then from Bennett, he gave me a giftcard from my favorite bookstore. I'd tell you the price, but I don't know myself. I'm too scared to find out how much money he put in it or else it'll make me want to return it to him, so it's best to leave it a mystery. In return, I gave Jordan a hand-drawn Star Wars poster I got from Star Wars convention but wanted him to have it, I even threw in an easel which ends up he always wanted. For Declan, I gave the latest model of his favorite headphone brand, it was pricey, but it was worth it. Then for Bennett, I gave him a customized "Kiss the Cook" with his username of "BentOverBckwrds1" apron that made him burst out laughing. It was the laugh I really wanted from him, and he promised to always wear it when he cooks for now on.

I plopped down on the couch with hot chocolate and cookies ready for a Christmas movie marathon when the doorbell rang. My first thought were carolers that go door-to-door to sing songs. I got up and opened the door to only look up at a big guy in front of me. I slowly backed away, already sweating under my matching mistletoe pajamas I got last year, and turned to run when the guy grabbed me by the collar. I opened my mouth to scream, but he clamped his hand over my mouth. I struggled to turn around and kick him wear the sun doesn't shine, making him let go of me. Then another guy came at me, and grabbed me from behind. I punched him on the nose and was about to kick him in the jewels so he can end up like his friend when I heard someone snapped their fingers.

"Let go of her," the voice said. "I told you guys I should've talked to her first. Violence doesn't always work."

The guy loosed the grip of his hand on my sleeve, but I jerked him away. I looked behind him only to find myself glaring at the guy who said something.

"Is this really how you wish people a Merry Christmas, Bentley?" I snarled at him.

He returned a charming smile. "No, usually I let my money do the talking and give them presents to make them happy. Please excuse these guys, it worked for the others, so they thought we should treat you the same."

Others?

The bodyguard who lost his pride in the groin grunted.

Bentley rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure, sure, whatever makes you feel better. She's stronger than she looks though. It's surprising for a girl, much less a nerd."

I ignored that. "What do you want?"

He blinked. "Did you forget about the banquet?" He asked me in confusion. "I'm quite offended that you would, even after I personally invited you."

"So you think you can try to kidnap me?"

"Not think, know. Guys?"

They suddenly grabbed me and began to drag me out of my house. I would've tried to scream, but they were sure to cover my mouth so I wouldn't. One of them opened the door to the limousine waiting for us at the street and practically tossed me in, then slammed the door shut behind me. I banged my fist against the window, trying to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"Merry Christmas Naomi," someone said.

I turned around for my jaw to drop. "Declan? Jordan?"

They looked alright for fellow kidnapped people, though they were in their pajamas like me.

Jordan held out a cup in front of me. "Eggnog?"

"What are you guys doing here? Did Bentley actually kidnap you too?"

It took them a while, but they finally admitted it. They're parents were already asleep when they took them.

"They figured out about my shoulder, that's why they got me," Declan grumbled. "How they got Jordan was stupid."

"He bribed me," Jordan told me.

I blinked. "With money?"

"No, with food," he said before biting a cookie.

Declan rolled his eyes. "We could've gotten away, but he told us he was going to do something to you unless we stay with him."

"Good thing they did," Bentley said as he stepped into the limousine.

"You have us here now, so what do you want?" I demanded.

"Obviously you're here for the Christmas Banquet," he told us, as the limousine began to move. "But also, you're here to help me persuade my brother to come to the banquet with us."

"Why can't you do it yourself?" Jordan asked him before he took another bite of a Christmas cookie.

Declan looked at him. "You're not helping if you keep on eating."

"Didn't you hear me? I need help. He won't listen to me, but I know he'll listen to you."

"What makes you think we'll help you?"

"The banquet has food."

"We're in," all three of us said in unison without missing a beat.

-

We were able to go past the doorman of Bennett's apartment when we arrived to his door. Bentley motioned his head to the door to one of his bodyguards and he lifted his foot, about to kick it open. Then Jordan suddenly stopped him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, are you stupid?" He asked him. "Why do something so barbaric and did I mention loud? You'll wake up the neighbors who'll wake up the cops, then where will that leave us?"

"So what do you suggest we do?" Bentley asked him.

Jordan rolled his eyes. "Pick the lock, duh." He held his hand out to me. "Naomi?"

I blinked. "What?"

"I can't pick a lock with my mind," he told me, though he sounded like he wished he did. "And we both know it doesn't take a simple hairband to hold your hair up like that."

I grumbled something under my breath and took out two bobby pins from my hair. In only a few seconds, the door opened up for us. We all walked into Bennett's apartment, being just like it was when I last came here.

Bentley studied the place. "To think he gave up our own house for this place," he muttered.

Jordan had left to the kitchen and just came back.

I blinked. "Why are you ransacking his fridge? We're already going to eat."

"You'll see," he told me.

"C'mon, let's go wake up my brother," Bentley told us, before pausing. "Um, you wouldn't know where his bedroom is, would you?"

We found Bennett's bedroom and slowly cracked the door open to hear his soft snores. The guilt of breaking into his room finally got to me. I looked at the others who wore the same expression on my face, but it was for a different reason.

"We're making a mistake," Jordan muttered.

Declan nodded. "We shouldn't be waking him up."

Bentley looked at them. "Wake him up."

Jordan eyes widened. "Are you crazy? You do it."

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you really want one of my guys to wake him or do you think it's better for one of his friends to instead?"

Jordan grumbled something under his breath and walked over to Bennett.

Not liking the tense atmosphere, I said, "Only a kiss will break the spell."

Jordan shot me a look, but Declan snickered next to me. Jordan took a deep breath then shook Bennett on the shoulder.

"Hey, wake up."

As soon as he said that, a gun was pressed against Jordan's forehead. I gasped, my hand going up to my mouth in surprise. Bennett, who looked like he was still asleep at his side, had his arm lifted up to hold a gun. Jordan Adam's apple bobbed up and down his neck, Declan gulped next to me, and Bentley just crossed his arms at this.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?" Bennett's sleep-ridden voice mumbled.

"I-It's Jordan, Bent," Jordan said quickly. "And uh... I kinda picked the lock on your-"

"Leave, I'm supposed to be sleeping," he muttered, yet the gun still didn't leave Jordan's temple.

"Yeah... I can't," Jordan admitted, his shoulders slumping from it.

The blankets stirred and Bennett slowly sat up from his bed which creaked under his weight. Jordan had slowly backed away, but the gun was still on him. Bennett was still half-asleep for not even bothering to opening his eyes and his shaggy black hair was messy from sleep. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and let out a tired yawn.

"And why not?" He asked coldly.

"How about you put the gun down, wake up more, and we'll talk?" Jordan offered.

"How about you get out of my bedroom, let me think over if I should kill you later, and let me go back to sleep?" Bennett replied back.

Jordan nodded. "Yeah, that's a good idea." He turned to walk away but Bentley shot him a look.

My mind was still processing that he has a gun with him.

"You sleep with a gun under your pillow?" I demanded.

Bennett's head dropped down, as if he was drop back to sleep, but he sat up straighter, gravity waking him up a bit. Despite his still sleepy state, he was able to answer me. "No, a gun sleeps with me over the pillow."

I looked at the others. "What about you?"

"I sleep with a knife under my pillow," Jordan told me.

"I sleep with my fist under it," Declan answered.

"I sleep with my money," Bentley said.

We all looked at him.

"What? You wouldn't?"

Bennett cracked one eye open, the other closed with his good hand covering it. "Bentley, is that you?"

Bentley smiled. "Yeah Bennett, it's-"

The gun was off Jordan and was on Bentley now.

"Go away," he said bluntly.

One of Bentley's bodyguards stepped in front of Bentley to protect him. Bennett held back the gun to calmly scratch his head with it and said coolly, "I can easily just shoot you with one bullet, then my brother with another." He aimed the gun back on them. "But I want to save bullets, so hopefully the bullet will go through the both of you."

Declan stepped forward. "C'mon Bent, you wouldn't actually shoot him."

"Yeah you're right," Bennett said, lowering the gun down slightly. "I don't want the neighbors to hear."

We all let out a sigh of relief, but it was too soon.

With the gun still on Bentley and his bodyguard, Bennett blindly opened up the drawer of his nightstand and pulled out a silencer out of it. He attached it to the gun quickly and it went back to Bentley. Bentley, who must've had enough of this, pushed past his bodyguard.

"You wouldn't shoot me," he said in confidence just as Bennett cocked the gun, then Bentley's voice slightly wavered, "I-I'm your brother."

Everyone suddenly jumped when Bennett pulled the trigger and a bullet hole appeared on the wall near Bentley's head. The gun went back on Bentley and Bennett let out a yawn.

"Next will be your head unless you let me go back to sleep," he threatened what sounded half-heartedly, but was really sincere.

"Stop this Bennett," I told him, "You're just a little grumpy because you're still sle-"

The gun was suddenly turned to me. I yelped and backed away in surprise, crashing back on the wall behind me. I fell to the floor, and at impact a painting hanging on the wall had fell off it. I blinked rapidly, staring at the gun at me, breathing heavily. My eyes stared at the gun pointing right at me, making my heart beat faster and faster the more seconds passed of it on me.

Declan suddenly stood in front of me, going between me and the gun.

"Bennett, snap out of it! That's Naomi!" Declan yelled at him.

Bennett blinked and lowered the gun, making me sigh in relief. He looked around the room, then down at his gun.

"What a stupid dream," he muttered as he fell backwards on his bed and amazingly went back to sleep.

I slowly got up and looked at the others. "Did that just happened?"

"You don't mess with Bennett when he's asleep," Declan told me.

"Trust me on this one, I once tried to prank him when he was sleeping," he paused and rubbed his neck, "It wasn't pretty."

"What are we going to do now?" I asked them.

"The only thing we can do," Jordan said.

Bentley's bodyguards moved to block the doorway.

"Hopefully that wouldn't be leaving, right?" Bentley asked.

"No, this," Jordan said as he took a bottle of water out of nowhere and twisted the cap off.

Before we can stop him, he walked up to Bennett and poured water all over him. Bennett shot up from his bed and held the gun at Jordan, motioning his finger to pull the trigger, but there was no gun. Bennett blinked and looked at his empty hand that didn't hold a gun, and looked at Jordan who twirled the gun around his hand.

Jordan looked back at us. "Now he's really awake."

"Yeah, and now I'm going to really kill you," Bennett muttered.

"As much as we'd love to see this, we can go to business now that you're awake. Bennett, just do us all a favor and put on something nice for the banquet."

"What are you talking about? We're not going to any banquet."

"Yes we are," Bentley said. "Look, I wouldn't have gone through so much trouble as to kidnap your friends-"

"You're so lucky Jordan has my gun," Bennett muttered.

"-if it wasn't so urgent."

"You're already awake Bennett," Declan said, trying to reason him. "And you're going to change from your wet clothes anyway, so we might as well go now."

"And there's food," Jordan whined.

Bennett was quiet for a long time before he sighed. "Fine, but what about them?" He asked, probably referring to me, Jordan and Declan. "I doubt pajamas is the dress code."

"No problem there," Bentley assured him as his body guards pulled out small boxes from behind them.

I blinked. "Did you have that the whole time? Where were you even holding it?"

"Rich people powers," Bentley explained curtly, waving it off. "Now put these on so we can go the banquet sooner. Father hates tardiness."

-

I fidgeted in my clothes, feeling embarrassed and awkward in what Bentley gave me to wear. Once I was all dressed up, I left the bathroom and peered into the living room, hiding from the guys. They were all dressed up in the black suits Bentley provided for them. Bentley looked bored, texting away in his Blackberry with either bodyguard standing next to him. Bennett stood there impatiently, his arms crossed, and glaring at his brother who either isn't noticing or ignoring it. Jordan and Declan on the other hand were still trying to figure out how to tie their ties properly, Jordan even using how to videos on Youtube to help him out.

Bentley yawned. "C'mon Naomi, you can't hide there forever."

Man, he's good.

I slowly opened the door and awkwardly shuffled into the living room. The others looked up, pausing from watching the video as it played on and glaring at his brother. I don't blame them for the weird our stares of what I was wearing. It was a knee-length dress, with a spaghetti strap black top that had a low backside to have my tattoo peek out of it, with a ruffled purple bottom, having a belt wrapped around my waist. What's worse is that I had to wear these black strap wedges because I couldn't wear the sandals I was wearing with my pajamas. The outfit was pretty, I had to admit, but it looked awful on me, I'm just wasting the designer's hard work wearing this.

I simply turned on my heel -a pretty high one, mind you- and was about to walk back into the bathroom to change back into the dressed.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, where do you think, you're going?" Bentley asked when he grabbed my wrist.

"I'm going to go change," I muttered.

He laughed. "No you're not. Why should you anyway? You look great. Right guys?"

They were still blinking at me.

"Right guys?" He pressed.

My face was burning with embarrassment. I jerked my wrist from his grasp to walk away when he grabbed my arm this time.

"I see the problem now," he told me. "You just need to remove this hideous thing."

I blinked. "What hideous-"

I stopped when he took my glasses off my face. He folded them up and smiled at me. "There. Now you look much better."

"Take it back."

Bentley turned. "Excuse me?"

Bennett fixed his tie a bit. "You heard me. Take it back."

"I think she looks great with her glasses," Jordan stated, pausing the video on his phone. "Don't you think so too, Declan?"

"Yeah, I don't see why she has to take them off," Declan growled at him.

Bentley eyed them. "What, you don't agree with me?"

"No," they said."

He shrugged. "Fine, have it your way."

He tossed me back my glasses which I thankfully caught in my hands. I looked down at them, having the words "hideous thing" echo in my mind in repeat like a broken record. It was because of this I slowly set the glasses down on the coffee table. My eyes slowly focused without my glasses, everything far away seemed blurry, but I think I'll manage. When I put down my glasses, I saw a hint of a smirk from Bentley, while the guys frowned and looked away to watch the how to tie a tie video and glare at his brother.

With everyone all ready (not including two people who didn't have their ties on properly) we went back into the limousine to head over to this so called "banquet". On our way there, Bentley was giving us a quick class of Society 101 on how to act while in the party.

"Stand up straight, with good posture, like you have a book on your head," Bentley told us, ignoring Bennett who must know this already.

"If you're drinking tea, lift your pinky up," Jordan mocked, making him and Declan laugh.

"Yes, you need to do that," Bentley said, making their laughing cut off short. "When you're eating, eat with your mouth closed, don't hoard food. No, if possible, just eat as little as possible. The food is just for show really. Men look like their interested in eating, but are just talking near the food table for conversation and women never eat to watch their weight."

Jordan's, Declan's, and my stomach suddenly growled in harmony.

"But you promised us food," Jordan practically whined.

He shot him a glare. "Don't whine, especially in public," he snapped, making Jordan shut up. "And fine, eat to your heart's desire, let people watch you snort food like there's no tomorrow. Watch the stares people will give you."

I hate this class more and more.

Bentley then continued with the lesson. "When talking to someone, you'll give them your upmost attention. When they're talking, you don't talk, you listen. Usually it's about work, school, politics, that sort of thing. I suggest you avoid talking to people entirely, or well, avoid everyone really."

Yeah, like that'll be easy.

"This isn't some rave or whatever high school party you go to, you don't dance and grind with someone. There will be classical music that you can only dance to only these three ballroom dances: the foxtrot, Viennese waltz and the waltz. If you can't dance to it, don't bother."

"It's not like I'm going to dance anyway," Declan grumbled.

"And last-

"Always feel like someone is watching you to judge you," Bennett cut in. "To put it simply, don't act like yourselves."

We all looked at Bennett's brother who shrugged. "Yeah, that's pretty much it."

"This is exactly why I hate these things," Bennett told him. "Do this, do that. Be this, be that."

Bentley rolled his eyes. "Aw, is the little rebel going to have a fit?" He mocked. "This is something everyone has to do. This is society, either you do what society wants you to do, or leave entirely."

"That's what I did, until you dragged me back in, even forcing my friends to come too."

"Do I look like I want to do this?" Bentley demanded. "It's because you're so busy thinking you're better than even us that dad's so pissed off at you. How about you just stop being a big baby, shut up, and come back home!"

"Enough!" I exclaimed, putting my hand on their chest before they stopped using their words and use their fists instead.

Thankfully, the car stopped and the door opened up. We got out of the car to instantly meet the flashes of cameras of photographers. I squeaked and instantly looked down at the... red carpet, holding my hands to my face to slightly cover it. Declan noticed this and stood close to me, shielding me from the cameras. We went into the big building of a banquet hall, not stopping for Bentley who paused to smile for the cameras time to time.

It was when we were finally inside, Bentley straightened his tie. "I just notified father that you're here. You're on your own," he told us bluntly, looking at his brother in the eye before walking through the door.

I eyed the guys, seeing the same nervous look I was wearing with Declan and Jordan, but Bennett looked too mad to even notice our moods. Together, we walked through the door. It was a very big room, filled with people in fancy suits and even fancier dresses. Quiet classical music played by a string quartet at the corner as the people talked to each other, probably about politics and other boring adult stuff. But it was this atmosphere of this high-class society that intimidated us, feeling like a fish out of water.

"Bennett."

I looked at where the voice was coming from to see a man standing in front of us. At barely first glance you can already tell it was Bennett's dad. He wore a crisp suit, holding an intimidating, scary posture that made me back up a bit out of pure intimidation. With black hair with a few gray strands that was gelled back, he had pale blue eyes, just like Bennett's. Even with just the blank look he wore with seeing his son, you just know they're related.

His eyes looked down -yes, from how high he was in the upper class, he was looking down at us -at Jordan, Declan and I.

"These are your so called friends?" He asked Bennett, not looking at him.

"No, they're my servants," Bennett said sarcastically.

With that, the three of us automatically bowed along with the sarcasm.

His father didn't seem to get it. "You know servants go at the back-"

"They're my friends," Bennett told him, too angry at his father for not getting the sarcasm.

His father shot him a glare for making a fool of himself, which isn't really his fault. "My name is Benedict-"

Jordan coughed at the name, making Declan and I elbow him at the side in unison, and Jordan grunted from the double attack.

"-Frazier, Bennett's father," he finished, showing a stern look at Jordan. "I hope you all enjoy the party." I would, but he didn't even sound sincere, he sounded like he rehearsed to say it without even meaning it. He turned to Bennett. "Come. There are some people waiting to see you."

"I don't-"

"You don't, what, Bennett?" He practically demanded, but his voice was low and quiet.

"Nevermind," Bennett muttered, before glancing at us. "The food is over there. Don't listen to Bentley and his stupid rules." With that, he followed his father towards a group of people.

"Damn," Jordan muttered. "The atmosphere was so thick and tense, you could cut it with scissors."

"You almost blew it when he was telling us his name," Declan growled at him.

"How can you not laugh at that name?" Jordan asked it. "It's Ben and d-"

"Don't even finish that," I told him. "C'mon, I'm hungry."

Throughout the whole party, the three of us used the snack tables as our base. The food was the only welcoming thing here, willingly letting us eat it since no one else seems interested in it. The food looks great, but there were only these small plates, as if they're forcing you to take a little at a time. It was torture, it was food torture. As I gorged down the food eagerly, I looked around the party. Though my vision is blurry, but I was still able to make out it with my eyesight radar. Despite the seemingly adult party, there were a few kids our age in their own little groups. Bentley was flirting with a group of girls, making them giggle as they twirled their hair. Bennett was still with his dad, holding a fake smile I didn't like to see on him, when his posture looked bored and labeled "get me out of here". There were a few girls flocking around Bennett as they're parents talked to his dad.

Speaking of girls...

"Um, excuse me?" A girl asked Declan and Jordan with her friends behind her, her voice heavy for flirting. "I was wondering if-"

She stopped when the two turned to look at her. Then she faced the buys with their cheeks puffed out with food, awkwardly trying to chew the food they stuffed into their mouths as fast as they can to talk to her. But by the time they even swallowed their h'ordeuvres, there was only this smoke silhouette of them as they ran away as fast as they can in high heels.

"No wait!" Jordan called out, wiping his mouth with his blazer sleeve. "I can share!"

"I'm not always like this!" Declan assured her. "I'm just really hungry!"

I snickered to myself as I continued eating, ignoring them as they shot glares at me.

"Well, snotty rich girls aren't my type anyway," Jordan grumbled.

"Yeah, you said it," Declan agreed, which is rare itself.

They clinked plates then went back to eating with me. Those girls went back to their friends, and continued talking about whatever rich girls talk about, probably expensive makeup and even more expensive clothes. You could hear them giggling and gossiping between each other. I couldn't help but insert some words in their conversation as I ate my food.

"Oh, did you notice my new fur coat?" I asked in a high-pitch voice, talking for one girl.

"I did, it looks so faboo!" I had another agree.

"Thanks! I got it for enough money to feed a whole village, the coat is made of the last specimen of a now extinct species and-"

"-the coat is one of a kind, made of the blood, sweat, and tears of the workers in a sweat shop. Oh, life is good," Jordan finished with the same mocking voice.

All three of us snickered at the fake conversation.

"Man, I'm just glad Bennett isn't like this," Declan said between bites.

"Can you just imagine what he'll be like if he did?" Jordan asked.

"Even if he did, he wouldn't even be seen hanging out with us mortals," I told them.

We laughed at the thought of it, causing a few heads to turn in our direction. I would have ignored it, but a woman closest to us was talking about us with another.

She told her friend, in a terrible bad whisper. "Don't you find it so undignified for a girl to hang out with boys? Doesn't she care what others think? She should be out with other girls. Unless-"

"Welcome to the 21st century, sister!" Jordan snapped at her, making her blink.

She straightened herself. "Why, I'll be-"

"-going away now," Jordan finished with a smile.

"How dare-"

"-you be so judging?"

"Don't talk-"

"-dirty to me," Jordan sang like to the song by Jason Derulo. "Lady, I can do this all day. You better leave now while you still can."

She huffed and walked away with her friends along with her judging words and looks.

"Don't listen to people like her," Declan told me.

"Yeah, what do they know?" Jordan asked.

Bennett finally reunited with us when he walked over to the food table. I was happy to see him finally ever since we arrived to this party, though the guys were not.

"Sire," Jordan said dramatically. "What gives us the great honor to be in your presence?"

Bennett blinked. "What?"

"We are just mere lowly peasants," Declan told him, looking away from him. "You are so far up, we dare not even look at you in the eye."

"Please stop."

I couldn't help but go along.

"Would these appetizers suffice your taste buds?" I asked him tentatively as if I was intimidated by him with a small curtsy, holding out my plate like an offering. "We worked so hard to cook to your liking from the village's own food supply, which happens to be so small with the coming winter. But from the looks of it, these mere morsels could never do suffice, I'm terribly sorry."

"Are you guys done?" Bennett asked us.

"We are, my lord," we all said in unison, as we bowed down to him.

Bennett glanced behind him then looked at me. "Do you want to dance?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, and then looked away. "No."

Jordan gasped. "You're refusing a direct order from his royal-?"

"Don't finish that," Bennett told him.

"-pain in the ass," Jordan finished anyway, but in a stage-whisper that made him and Declan snicker.

He looked back at me. "Why? You don't like to dance?"

"It's not that. It's just that the food is more welcoming than you," I said, eating another snack.

Declan snorted. "Dude, you just got rejected."

"An ego destroyed," Jordan said with a karate chop.

"It's only because you don't want those girls flocking around you anymore," I told him, already figuring it out with the glares from the others girls on me.

"They're animals," Bennett told me, "animals."

"Well you can be their dinner, since they don't want any of this food here," I told them. "I'm not going to dance with anyone-"

Jordan suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor.

"Oh no, I'm not-"

"Too late," Jordan said as we began to sway to the music.

He was originally wearing the dark grey jacket, but he took it off and left it on the snack table. Now he dressed casually, wearing just a grey waistcoat and a lighter grey shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Jordan must've had trouble with his green tie because it was slightly loose, letting him have the top buttons of his shirt popped open to look natural.

He waggled his eyebrows. "You gotta admit. I pull this off, don't I?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, sure," I admitted.

He grinned at that. "That's all I wanted to hear."

It was hard enough to walk in these shoes, but with Jordan I didn't seem to mind as much. He kept on twirling me around and round, making me dizzy. We didn't care about the looks people gave us, they were probably just jealous of how fun we were having. As he spun me, he accidentally let go, making me stumble. I could have easily balanced myself out, but I lost my footing with the high heels and nearly fell. Thankfully though, Declan caught me with one arm, as he held his plate of snacks with the left.

"Are you alright?" Declan asked me as he set the plate down on the table.

I nodded. "Yeah, I am."

"Sorry Naomi," Jordan said, scratching his neck.

Declan glared at him. "You should be more careful."

"I will, now let me go back to dancing with her," he said.

"And let her get almost get hurt again?" He asked. "Not a chance."

Jordan frowned, but it ended quickly when he suddenly smiled. "Fine, you dance with her."

"Maybe I- Wait, I can't dance."

"You will now," Jordan said before pushing me closer to Declan, and then grabbing his plate of snacks to walk away.

Declan and I awkwardly stood there, shuffling from foot to foot. Then he sighed and grabbed my waist and hand.

"Don't laugh," he grumbled as we started to sway to the music.

I didn't, I only smiled.

He shot me an uneasy look. "Why are you smiling?"

I shooked my head. "Nothing. You just don't seem like a bad dancer."

"So you're a dancing expert?" He asked me.

"Maybe when I'm alone in my room and I want to dance to my favorite song..." I admitted.

I got what I was hoping for and he cracked a smile, not seeming as nervous as he used to be. At first he- well, we were shy at dancing together, but it seemed alright between us. He wore a black suit and black tie, but the red shirt he was wearing was a noticeable contrast between the two. He also had this red pocket square -a handkerchief- at a left side of his suit. His tie was really badly done though. It was like he closed his eyes and made a random knot.

"Let me fix your tie," I offered him as I let go of his hand.

With his hands now on my waist, I began to fix his tie as we continued to dance to the music. My mom taught me how to make and fix a tie after having to fix her husband's tie so many times when he's always late to work.

"There you go, all better," I said with a last pull of the tie.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Naomi's the name, tie fixing is my game," I said jokingly.

"No, I just mean... thank you."

"For what?" I asked.

"For anything, everything." He gave me a small smile. "I'm glad that I- that we have you as a friend."

"I should be saying the same thing."

He paused from dancing then took something out his pocket. He then revealed that he had my glasses with him. I thought I left it on a table back in Bennett's place, and I was going to get them another time.

I blinked. "Why do you have it?"

Declan awkwardly looked away. "I know you can't see well without it, and I don't think someone shouldn't wear their glasses just because some idiot told them they look better without them."

It was because of this I took the glasses and put it on. I was happy to see clearer now, and see the small smile in his face.

Suddenly someone tapped Declan on the shoulder. He turned and we saw Bennett.

"May I have my turn now?" He asked him.

Declan shrugged. "Yeah, sure." He looked back at me. "It was nice dancing with you." Then he left to fight his snacks back from Jordan.

I crossed my arms and looked away from Bennett.

"You're only going to use me to not have those girls on you like the last shoes on sale," I huffed.

"That may be true, but I still want to dance with my friend."

"Well fat chance..." I faltered when I looked at him.

He awkwardly cleared his throat, his ears showing a tint of pink in embarrassment. He then slightly bowed with his hand extending out to me.

"May I have this dance?"

I frowned, but I had to give in, you can't just turn someone down after doing that. He took my hand and we began to dance to the music. Bennett seemed like a natural to dancing compared to the other two.

Bennett looked comfortable in his suit, probably being raised in it from the looks of it. He was wearing a navy blue three piece suit- like a regular suit, but with a waistcoat too- and a darker blue tie, along with a white pocket square. I didn't really blame those girls for flocking over Bennett, or Jordan and Declan- well until they ruined any hope with that first impression when they looked like chipmunks filling their cheeks with acorns.

I couldn't help but snicker at the thought.

"What's so funny?" Bennett asked me.

"Something about chipmunks."

He shook his head.

I blinked. "What? What is it?"

"Only you of all people would be thinking of chipmunks right now."

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked him.

He shook his head again. "No, not at all."

I missed a step and stumbled closer to Bennett. I would have been embarrassed at my new found clumsiness with my Kryptonite of high heels when I noticed something.

"Are you wearing cologne?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Depends," he said without missing a beat. "Are you wearing perfume?"

"Bentley made me wear it," I grumbled. "I said no, but out of nowhere he sprayed that stuff on me."

"You smell nice though," he told me.

"I do?" Curious, I sniffed myself.

Bennett let out a snort and started to chuckle. "Only you, Naomi, only you."

We passed by his brother as he continued to entertain a group of girls. He probably said something funny because they all burst into a fit of giggles.

"Have you two always not liked each other?" I asked him.

"We used to be close," Bennett told me. "But then we went our own ways. He liked society better, I didn't. After that... we rarely even talk."

"It's sad to see siblings fight," I said. "I mean, fighting over the remote is alright, but being that distant... No family should be distant with each other."

"Well with distance, it may seem like it with her from how many miles she is, we're closer to her than to each other."

"Her?" I repeated. "You mean your mom?"

"No, I-" He stopped himself, and I knew I must have struck a nerve. My stomach dropped at my mistake. He suddenly changed the subject by saying, "I'm sorry about earlier, you know... with the-"

"Gun?" I finished.

"I shouldn't have- I mean, to actually point it at you. I can't believe I actually did-"

"It's alright, Bennett," I told him. "You were tired, and you didn't know it was me. It was like a ... a defense mechanism with you. Actually, it was pretty cool."

He blinked. "Really?"

My eyes lit up. "Yeah. That looked like straight from a movie or a book. I didn't know it was possible, but you just became ten times cooler."

He paused, making us stop dancing. "Oh um..." He slightly looked away from me, averting his eyes. I noticed his cheeks starting to turn pink along with his ears.

I moved to look at his face, though he turned it more so I couldn't. "Are you blushing?" I accused.

He cleared his throat, and composed himself, but it didn't work. He was merely just frowning to cover up the redness in his cheeks as he furrowed his eyebrows together, trying to gather his cool again. "No, I'm not."

"You are. You totally are. I can still see the pink in your cheeks. The Bennett Frazier is actually blushing. You're just denying it because you're breaking your image of looking cool." I suddenly took out my phone and took a picture of him.

He blinked. "Where did you get that? How were you even hiding it?"

"Do you really want to know?" I asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"Delete it."

I grinned at him and took a step forward, making him nervously take a step back. "You've always been so cool, Bennett. Cool people look you up to you and learn from you. Just looking at you makes others feel cool."

"Stop it Naomi."

"You're cooler than cucumbers. You're so cool, you're ice. You're the sun's weakness. You're so cool, your presence will cool anyone within your radius in a hot summer day. Instead of saying cool, people say you name."

"C'mon, please stop," he told me.

"Oh, he's begging now," I noted. "You can look up the word cool and see a picture of your face as an example, no, as the definition. People don't need to use words to describe the word. They just see your picture and instantly get the word."

The music suddenly stopped and we heard the tap on a microphone. Everyone turned to see Bennett's dad on stage with a microphone.

Bennett backed away and covered his face with his hand. "Thank you so much," he said gratefully.

Jordan and Declan came up to us, Declan being nice enough to give me a plate of more food. We then listened at Bennett's dad began his speech.

"I just want to thank everyone again for coming to our banquet tonight," he said. "We may be all here to catch up and for the food-" everyone chuckled at the last part, but no one really came here for the food. We came here for the food. I have no idea what these other people were here for.

"-But why we're really here is because I have an important announcement to share with you all."

He paused for a moment then looked at Bennett. "My son, Bennett Richard Frazier-"

Jordan looked at Bennett in disbelief. "Your middle name is Rich-"

Bennett elbowed him in the stomach. "Shut up."

Jordan said softly, "That's three elbows to the stomach..."

"-will officially co-work with me once he graduates, and will then inherit the company once I retire."

Everyone in the room began to clap, but only the three of us looked at him in disbelief.

"Did you know this?" Declan asked him.

"No," he said, glaring at his father.

"Once you graduate," I repeated. "That's a really big thing. I can't believe you'll have such a high position in such a big-ranking company when you're barely out of high school."

Bentley walked up to Bennett, smiling at him.

"Congratulations," he told his brother.

"Did you know this?" Bennett demanded from him.

"Me?" Bentley asked innocently. "I didn't know a thing."

"Bennett, how about you come up on stage?" His dad asked him. It may sound like an offer to most people, but from the look in his eyes, it was an order that he couldn't refuse.

Bennett glanced back at us then walked over to the stage and climbed up the stairs to be next to his father. A waiter gave them each a glass of champagne, and then champagnes were passed around to everyone. I looked down at mine, wishing it was apple cider instead.

"Do you have anything to say?" Bennett's dad asked him.

"Yes," Bennett said as he took the microphone then raised his glass. "I want to make a toast to be the first one to point out that you're all snotty, uptight, ungrateful pigs who have nothing better to do than sip champagne and talk about politics."

There was a huge gasp in the room. His dad looked seething mad, but was doing his best to hide it. He tried to get the microphone back and you can hear him say "What are you doing?" but Bennett pulled it away from him.

"I don't see why I'd want to spend one more minute in a room filled with people like you, along with kids you're raising like yourself, much less work in a company the rest of my life with people like you." He drank the glass of champagne down to the last drop.

"Cheers," Jordan said brightly as he drank his own as well as Declan.

I took a small sip of mine and just set it down on the food table.

"And I just want to say," Bennett paused then said, "that I refuse the offer."

Bennett handed the mike to his dad and went down the stage to walk back to us. The room could be dead silent if you didn't include the sound of Bentley's clapping filled the room.

"Clap," he told us.

His bodyguards began to clap, though now as eagerly, just forced. We were too shocked to clap, much less do anything.

Bennett put his hands in his pockets. "C'mon, we're leaving." With that, he began to walk towards the door.

Jordan and Declan stumbled and bumped to each other. Then they went to the food table and picked up platters of food for each hand before following Bennett. I walked after them, but I suddenly paused and went back to the table to grab a plate of food and stuffed an h'ordeuvre into my mouth. I looked at the people looking at me with shocked looks in their faces and gave them the peace sign. Then I caught up to the guys as I chewed the food while we walked out the door.

Bennett loosened his tie. "You see why I don't like these things now?"

Jordan laughed. "That's one way to leave a party in style."

"I doubt we'll be going to these types of parties anymore," Declan muttered.

I looked at Bennett. "That was so-"

"Don't even," he warned me.

"Cool," I finished, noticing his ears redden a bit once again. "That was so cool."

"Bullying will stop when the world stops going around or we all die." -BreannaScott6

This is what one reader said in referring to my little rant of how we can't stop bullying. A few of you agreed with me while others didn't. I realized my mistake in my rant.

What I'm saying that we can't stop bullying still stands. But I'm not saying that we should just GIVE UP on trying stopping it. I never said that, what kind of person would day that? Think of bullying as a disease with no cure... yet. Scientists are and will never stop trying to find that cure. But until then, we should learn and share how to survive and live with the disease until said cure is found.

Here's another analogy. Think of bullying as a bullet now. Obviously, no one can survive a bullet coming right at them, unless they're Superman or Superman saves them. (Looks up at the sky) Whoops, nevermind. That was just a bird or a plane. I get those things confused... We should be learning how to soften the blow by adding layers and layers of walls, in this instance, we should be teaching others and ourselves how to handle bullying as we keep up with the campaigns, the hashtags, the speeches of stopping bullying.

To put it simple, let's focus on how to survive bullying as we work on stopping it as well.

I want to tell to you guys straight, I do my best to NEVER fangirl for any of the ships or the guys I tease you guys with. But when I wrote that conversation with Naomi and Bennett and made Bennett actually BLUSH, I may have fangirled a bit. I mean, blushing guys? SO cute! What about that awesome Bennett moment with the gun? I gave myself a pat on the back for writing something that made me fangirl. And I hope you enjoyed that video too. When I saw it, I might have teared up by it. I don't really like soda, but if anyone would offer me Coca-Cola, I'd take it.

I also want to tell you that I'm moving the deadline of the end of this book down. It was originally supposed to be at March 1, my birthday. But first of all, it's sad to end my book, and you guys will just hate me and my birthday. And second of all it's on a Sunday, I can't make you guys be depressed before a school week. Even I'M not that evil. So I just want to tell you my deadline will be before March 6, I won't tell you when, it's just somewhere before that. Now before you go, I have this great poem a reader gave me which I hope you guys enjoy as much as I did.

"She. Me. You. Him. Us.

We're all a little broken

She cries herself to sleep every night

She said if I died no one would miss me at all.

He told me I wish I had gone so I could just be done.

You put the blame on your arms.

Cover them with deep scars to remind yourself of how useless you are .

They write these words on walls to reminds them of all their flaws

She's a mess

He's so fat

You're ugly.

They're such weirdos.

She lost the will the smile and forces laughs up like her bile

he thinks no one would notice

You don't know how beautiful the world can be.

It not always gonna be so harsh and mean there are places we can be.

I know she is capable of amazing things I know it's hard to face all the demons but you should know you don't have to do it alone.

I know it seem as if the world is crashing down and it feels like no one can stop it know.

But I will carry the weight of the world if it means you will stay

I hate seeing you cry

I don't like when people die

You said if I wanted to help I should give you a gun so you could shoot yourself.

But I am part of you so would you kill me too?

You are worthy of living and happiness no one can tell you differ.

Open your heart and mind

Remember all the good memories

It will get better and if not just flick everyone off that's something you would most definitely do

So before you take the next step think of me and all the important people who love you in life.

She told me she hates heartache.

So don't cause it.

He says his family is his life.

So don't end it.

You say time heals.

So be patient.

We can put the pieces"

-TeenageBomb

RubixCube89201