Dedicated to @Malaika_z because Yearbook Camp is adorable, and I am too excited for her next update.

-~*~-

Alright, I'll admit it: I was nervous.

"It'll be fun, Thal," Roman said as he picked me up -- because guess what? He'd offered to pick me up!

"I hope," I replied, forcing a smile as I played nervously with the seatbelt across my chest.

Roman slipped his hand into mine, his other gripping his steering wheel.

"Don't worry," he grinned, "it will. I mean, really," he started to laugh, "what can go wrong?"

Roman's optimism kept me from completely freaking out.

Because let me tell you, I felt like my gag reflexes were ready to go.

As everyone finally arrived and I realized that no one wanted to kill each other, I let my shoulders droop, allowing the breath I hadn't realized that I had been holding to escape with the tension in my neck.

Eliza had also offered much needed encouragement.

"It'll be great if we go in positively," she'd said, and it had worked. As my friends all began to show, I realized that things would be okay. There was absolutely no reason that everyone couldn't get along.

It was Jamie, to my astonishment, who seemed...uneasy.

I couldn't help but notice that she and Jason had both been quiet, and they were even more awkward around each other.

But, so far things were looking good. There had only been one argument in the 45 minutes of us all being together, and surprisingly, but also not so surprisingly, that had been Jamie and Jason's doing, too.

Not going to lie, it was April's fault.

"So how's your new man, Jamie?" She'd asked as Jamie entered the room. She shook off her coat, throwing it over one of the couches Xander's dad had positioned in the back office of the garage. It was more like a rec room than an office, seeing that there was enough space for a flat screen TV, mini fridge, two couches, a pool table and a pinball machine.

Xander had said it was where the mechanics all "hung out." Looking at all of the artwork and pictures adorning the walls, I understood why. It was like I'd been transported into someone's home, and not the back of an auto-shop.

I snorted. "Which one?"

"Oh," Jamie laughed. "Sam?" She shrugged. "Don't know, really."

"Jesus, Jamie," Mischa sighed.

April threw her head back, "Of course," she exclaimed. "Of course you're already done with him," she tsked. "That's so typical of you."

"What?" Jamie shrugged. "Turns out we didn't have much in common."

April, Mischa, Eliza and I all made gagging noises.

"What?" Jamie laughed. "What's so wrong with that?"

"Question is," Jason interjected, "when do you ever?"

Jamie went from smiling at us to glaring at Jason. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just a question," he shrugged. "I mean, you were never one to go through guys like this in high school."

Jamie's eyes widened. "Jason!"

"No, no, no," he continued, "let me guess," he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "He was tall, muscular," he shrugged, "probably sweaty with an IQ of a peanut, am I right?"

"Nailed it," Eliza exclaimed.

"Ding, ding, ding!" April pointed to him. "And we have a winner!"

Jason turned smugly from April back to Jamie. "And you wonder why you don't have anything in common? Well," he smirked, "aside from being just too fuckin' hot, of course."

Mischa turned to me. "Did he just sarcastically call Jamie hot?"

I shrugged. All I wanted to do was draw names and have fun. It was time for this argument to end. I could not handle another screaming match.

"Last time I checked," Jamie replied, "you were tall, muscular and sweaty 75% of your high school career. After every game, every practice--"

Nico nodded, raising his hand for a high-five. "Yeah, Parceira, that's just how we roll."

Jason's eyes stayed glued on Jamie. "So, what did you talk about, then?" He asked. "Since apparently, my analysis of your ex is so wrong."

Nicos hand stayed raised in the air. "Anyone? Anyone?" But our eyes were glued to the soap opera unfolding before us. He slapped his own hand. "O-kay..."

"Look," Jamie snapped, "I didn't come here to be drilled about my dating life, especially by you."

He sniffed. "Of course you didn't."

She threw her head back. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"C'mon, guys..." I sighed.

Jason laugh was devoid of humor. "What does it sound like, Jamie? Of course you didn't come here to discuss your fucked-up relationships, because y'know what?"

"Guys!"

"What? Since obviously you know me so well."

"Because whenever you feel uncomfortable, shit stops. You can't ever hear about yourself. You can never be the one to make a mistake. You're 'Little Miss Perfect,' right? You can dish it but you sure as hell can't take it."

"You guys have the same nickname!" I exclaimed, rising from my seat. Finally, I'd gotten everyone's attention.

"Can you please get along?" I begged, peering between Jason and Jamie, my two main offenders. "Please?"

"Yeah," Jason shrugged, turning away.

Jamie nodded, flashing me a forced smile. "Of course."

"Thank you," I sighed. "Lord."

Roman came to stand beside me, placing his arms around my waist as he rested his head in the crook of my neck.

"Tsk, tsk," he sighed into my ear as Jason and Jamie spread to opposite sides of the room. "Those two...what are we going to do with them?"

I laughed aloud, leaning against him. "If only I knew."

"They're going to be the death of me."

"How long again before they move out?"

"Or pay rent?"

We laughed together as Xander passed us, shaking his head.

"You guys are weird," he said. "A match made in weird-ass heaven."

Roman grinned, "Maybe," he shrugged, turning his face towards mine. "We should hang out sometime; y'know, and creep out people in public instead of our friends."

"Yeah!" I exclaimed, possibly too loudly. "I mean, yeah, totally."

Roman laughed like an actual full-on laugh. His body shook against mine. "Cool," he smiled. "It'll be fun, I promise."

I opened my mouth to respond as my phone buzzed in my pocket. Conversation surrounded me as I fumbled for my phone.

It's Nikita, I thought, seeing that I'd left her three messages that day alone. She's finally texted me back, I chanted. She's finally texted me back.

I'd received a text.

She's finally texted me--!

It was from my fucking brother.

"Son of a--"

Not that I didn't love him, or anything...

AR - Mom wants to know what you want for dinner.

Pizza, I typed back, but I stopped myself from sending it.

"Hey, guys," I called, interrupting whatever David and April had begun to laugh about. "Want to order pizza? It's already," I checked the clock on Xander's dad's desk, "it's like, six-thirty."

Roman slipped his hands from around my waist. "Good idea," he smiled.

I smiled back, watching him cross the floor, wishing he hadn't left.

"Will it be delivered here?" 'Mr. Practical' aka Jason asked, snapping me back to reality. "Can we do that at a garage?"

"Of course," Xander nodded. "What the hell do you think this is? Where the hell do you think we are?"

"Hey," Jason shrugged. "You know I don't know. I didn't know mechanic's enjoyed pizza, too. That's news to me."

"Idiot," Xander laughed, reaching out to grab Jason into a headlock.

I turned back to my phone, deleting my text to Aaron.

TR - Whatever you want. I won't be home for dinner.

"Let's get Domino's," David suggested.

Eliza choked on a laugh. "Hah, good one!" She exclaimed.

David stared at her confusedly. "What's so funny?"

Her smile fell. "Oh," she paused. "Oh, you were serious?"

"Yeah, how about not to the Domino's suggestion," April interjected. "Let's get real pizza."

"No, but wait up now," Nico began, "Domino's is good as hell. That new recipe?" He started a slow clap. "They got it right."

Mischa shook her head. "Sorry, guys, but if we're going to do crappy pizza, we ought to get Pizza Hut. It's way better."

"Domino's, Pizza Hut," Jason shrugged. "It doesn't matter; all that shit sucks."

I was surprised to see Jamie nod in agreement. "I second that."

"Jamie, if it was up to you we'd be sitting in a five-star restaurant wearing suits," David shot back.

"And your point is?"

"My point is, I'm not trying to spend $13,000.00 on fucking food."

Jamie hitched an eyebrow. "$13,000.00? Really?"

"Yeah," Robert laughed, arm around Mischa's shoulder. "That's really pretty damn specific."

"Fuck you guys," David groaned. "You get the point. Stop twisting my words around."

"Dude," Nico said, "not everyone is used to catching their food with their bare hands, okay? We all can't swim out to some reef and grab some fish for dinner."

Now, that made me laugh.

"Fuck--Nico, I thought you were on my side? I thought you liked Domino's?"

"I do," he shrugged. "But, who would I be to pass up on that joke?"

Aaron texted me back.

AR - WTF?

"Yeah, great, wonderful" April said. "But, I'm sure there are other, better options than Domino's and, no offense, Misch, but Jason's right. Pizza Hut sucks too."

"Like what, then?" Collin asked. "What do you want?"

"Umm, are you kidding? Like anything else."

I groaned as my phone buzzed again.

AR - Where the hell are you?

"None of your business, Aaron," I whispered, typing:

TR - I'm with my friends.

"How about Thai?" Jamie suggested. "I want some curry."

"Great," David rolled his eyes. "Of course you do."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Leave it to Jamie to suggest something pretentious," he laughed. "Guys," he mimicked in a high-pitched voice, "guys, let's get curry. I want exotic spices tonight."

"Excuse me, but since when is Thai food pretentious? That can't be politically correct."

Nico laughed. "Leave it to Jamie to care whether something is politically correct."

"Thalia suggested pizza, so I say that's what we get," Tucker announced. "You guys need to fucking chill."

I smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you, Tuck."

He raised his hand for a high-five. "Anytime, Thal."

"We can order from the Brick Oven," April exclaimed. "It's not far from USC. My friends and I go there all the time."

Xander wrinkled his nose. "That doesn't sound like a place that delivers."

April shook her head. "It's not, but the pizza's delicious, and it isn't too expensive."

"Brick Oven it is!" David exclaimed, rubbing his hands together.

"Great," Roman nodded. "So you can go pick it up."

"Whoa, there. Hold on a second, now," David replied, "this was Thalia's idea, remember? I say she goes."

"Fuck that!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, that's so wrong, David."

"Secret Santa was also her idea," Eliza added. "So she should be able to exclude anyone she wants, too."

"David can write our names down," agreed Tucker.

"Yeah," Nico smirked, "and shake the hat."

"Look, I was just making an observation. Damn."

"A shitty observation," Robert said.

"I don't care," I said with a shrug. "I'll go get the pizza; it's not that big of a deal."

"If someone orders I'll ride with you, Thal," Eliza said, rising from her position on the arm of a couch.

"See!" Tucker said, kicking David with his Converse-clad foot. "See what you've done?"

I laughed. "It's not a prob--"

"Look," David began, "you guys don't have to--" He shook his head. "I'll drive."

I looked to Eliza and we both shrugged.

"Okay, fine."

"Yeah, sure. Whatever."

My brother chose that moment to text me back.

AR - Where, Thal?

Alright, now I was getting a little annoyed.

TR - Does it matter?

AR - Yeah, because Mom's on MY ass.

I let out a loud sigh.

TR - Aaron, I'm at the garage. Secret Santa, remember?

"Sheesh."

AR - Right.

I rolled my eyes, tucking my phone into my pocket and turning back to my friends.

"I'll order," April chimed, grabbing her phone from Collin's hand, pausing the game he had been playing on it. "What do you guys want?"

~*~

We rode to the Brick Oven in silence.

I sat in the backseat, watching the streetlights and counting the number of houses with moving decorations on front lawns. I kept checking my phone, hoping that Nikita might have texted me back without me noticing. I counted how many Beetle's we passed and wondered if Xander was close to finishing mine.

I did all of this, because neither David nor Eliza spoke during the entire ride.

"I'll get the pizza," David said as he put his Toyota Land Cruiser in park outside the restaurant.

"I'll help," Eliza offered.

He shook his head. "It's cool," he said. "I've got it--"

"We ordered three extra-large pies," Eliza interjected. "At least let me help you carry them."

"Let's just all go," I said. "Besides," I held up the crumpled wad of bills everyone had given me in the garage, "I've got everybody's money."

"Alright," David groaned. "C'mon."

Together, we crossed the street, and as David reached forward to grab the door, my Diamonds ringtone went off, blaring Rihanna for everyone to hear in what felt like a three-mile radius in Downtown Los Angeles.

"Eew," David frowned. "We're going to have to change that ringtone, Thalia."

"No way in hell," I retorted as I checked my lit screen.

Eliza tipped her head backwards, black hair spilling down her back as she peered up at David's six-foot-frame. "What's wrong with Badgalriri?"

"Umm, I'm sorry," David began. "What? Who?"

I waved my phone around. "Sorry guys," I apologized, "I've got to take this."

"Take your time, Thal," Eliza said, David nodding beside her.

"Thank you," I mouthed, handing her the money as I slid my finger across the screen. Eliza blew me a kiss and entered the pizza place, David trailing behind her.

I held my phone to my ear. "Hello?"

"Hello? Thalia?"

I squealed. "Nikita! Oh my god, Nikita, hallelujah. It's really you!"

She snorted. "What do you want, Thalia?"

"Umm," I laughed, "obviously I wanted to hear your voice since you've been ignoring everyone who cares about you."

"Look, Thal, unless you've called to say that you finally see what I see, there is no reason for us to be having this conversation."

"What? Nikita, are you--"

"Serious? Hah! Dead-ass."

I stood, staring out at the street. "Really? It's got to be like this, now?"

"Look, Thal, I need to go--"

I shook my head, "No, no, no," I said. "Wait just a sec, Nikita. I shouldn't have to do this."

She snorted. "Do what, Thalia?"

"Choose!" I exclaimed. "I don't want to have either or?

"Eventually, Thalia," she huffed, "you're going to have to."

"No, but," I shook my head again, "I'm not."

"Once you realize..." She stopped. "I can assure you, you will."

"No, Nikita," I said firmer, now. "I'm not going to choose between you and Xander. I mean, for crying out loud, it's not a freaking dichotomy! You're both my friends, and it shouldn't be one or the other."

"Well," she paused, "it sounds like you've already made your choice."

"Nikita!" I exclaimed, frustrated. "I haven't chosen anyone! Christ--the boy is fixing up a car for me for free. How can you possibly hate someone who--"

"Wait, what? He's doing what?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "He's fixing up my Beetle. He's the one who found me my car."

"Thalia," Nikita's voice was stern, "I can't--please, just--"

"What, Nikita?"

"Look, I can't--"

"No, no, you can," I said. "Stop doing that! Don't start a statement and then stop it, or expect me to understand something I don't!"

She was silent.

"Sooner or later, you're going to have to talk to us, Nikita," I bit my lip, chewing it to fill the silence that had begun to overwhelm me. "Nikki," I begged, "talk to me."

She sniffed softly. "Talk to him," she said.

I couldn't believe...

"Nikita, are you crying?"

"Bye, Thal."

"Nik--Nikki? Nikita!" I stared at my phone. The call had ended. The line was dead. I threw my head back and groaned. "Fuck my life!"

"Thalia?"

I whirled around. David and Eliza stood staring at me, pizza boxes in hand.

"Hi. Yes. Hello," I walked towards them, taking a box from David. "Need a hand?"

Neither of them answered my question.

Eliza stared at me. "Was that Nikita?"

I sighed, nodding.

"Are you okay?"

I looked away. "She's still pissed."

David snorted. "What's new?"

"At least you got a phone call," Eliza said, as we all began our short walk to the car. "I've been stuck with the silent treatment since the movies."

"She still won't talk," I grunted. "She expects me to know why she's upset or something, and I just--"

"Thalia," David exclaimed, "don't do this to yourself." He looked between Eliza and me as I stacked the pizzas beside me in the backseat of the car. "Both of you."

"What?"

"Stop, I don't know, this. Don't try to rationalize why someone acts or thinks the way they do."

He and Eliza slid into the front seats.

"People are people," he continued, turning the key in the ignition. "Only focus on the good things, the good times," he paused. "You'll drive yourself crazy if you do anything else."

We pulled from the curb.

"Wow, David," Eliza breathed, verbalizing my own thoughts. "That was pretty good advice--that was pretty deep."

David laughed. "Not really," he shrugged. "I'm just tellin' you what I have to say to myself."

"David," Eliza began softly, "do you ever talk to him? Y'know, Marco?"

"I knew who you meant," he said tensely, shaking his head. "And the answer is obviously no."

"If I got you both together, would you--"

"I'd punch him in the jaw, that's what I'd do."

"David! Are you kidding?"

"Not even," he replied through gritted teeth.

"It's been a long time, David," Eliza said softly. "Don't be like Nikita, please? You guys really need to resolve any issues you might have."

"No, see, here's where my advice comes to play," he said. "I literally can't think of what I'd say...Eliza, I--" David shook his head. "I only focus on the good times."

Eliza snorted. "Like the time in 10th Grade when you two locked the girl's locker room after cheerleading practice so we couldn't get in?"

David snorted. "Hah, yeah..."

"Or the time you both replaced the pom-poms in our cabinet with baseballs?"

David laughed harder. "I forgot about that one!"

"Or the time you hung our uniforms on the basketball rim before our homecoming game?"

"Wait, that was Nico's idea!"

"So?" Eliza exclaimed. "You did it!"

"Marco did it. I only held the ladder."

Eliza punched his shoulder.

"Ow!"

"You deserved that," she replied. "For the hell you put me through, you deserved that."

"You thought it was funny," David said, grinning. "Don't lie, Eliza. When Nikita wasn't there, you laughed."

"Don't remember," Eliza shrugged, but I could see her smiling through the mirror.

"Yeah, right," David chuckled. "God, I can't believe you remember all of that..."

"I'll probably never forget it."

David turned to her, stopping at a red light. "You know what I'll never forget?"

"Hmm?"

"That game."

"The championship?" She asked.

David grinned, nodding. "The last game of the season, 10th Grade. The one that took us to state." David was full-on smiling at her, now. "That was the best day of my life," he said honestly. "I'll never forget how I felt after Collin hit that home-run. Literally the whole school rushed the field..."

"Yeah," Eliza laughed, smiling at him. "I don't think I'll forget that, either." She turned and gave him a pointed look. "Obviously."

David smiled at her, a look of understanding passing between the two of them. They seemed to share some inside joke that I, unfortunately, was not privy to.

"Y'know," he said, "I would apologize, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to."

Eliza turned away, staring forwards. The streetlight gave away the slow blush that crept up her neck.

David was still grinning, biting down on the corner of his lip. "I know I enjoyed it." He tilted his head. "Every. Single. Second."

Eliza rolled her eyes. "Of course you did," she said, regaining her composure as she pushed him lightly in his shoulder.

"Nikita's not here, y'know. You can say what you want, Eliza."

"Yeah, I'm good."

"It's okay," he shrugged. "You don't have to admit it."

Eliza laughed. "Admit what, David?"

"That you enjoyed it, too. That maybe," he said, turning down the street of the O'Hara's garage, "you might still think about it just as much as I do."

Eliza snorted. "Don't flatter yourself," she replied, but I could tell, even from the backseat, that she was trying to hold back her smile.

~*~

"Okay, so here's the deal," I announced, after everyone had filled up on pizza. "Everyone's going to pull a name out of this hat," I said, shaking the Santa hat Xander had found in his dad's desk. "You've got to choose again if you get yourself, duh."

Nico shook his head. "Damn."

I giggled, ignoring him. "And whosever name you pull, you've got from now until New Year's to get them a gift, got it?"

"And it's got to be a secret," Mischa added. "You can't let the person you get know you've got them."

"And," Jamie said, "the gift should be thoughtful. Don't just get something crappy because you don't know what he or she might like," she gave me a pointed look.

"Fuck you, Jamie," I said. "But, she's right. We've decided that everyone has a $30.00 limit, so you don't have to go overboard. It's the thought that counts, capisce?"

By the nods and looks of understanding I received, I decided that it was now or never. It was time to choose.

"Awesome," I nodded, walking first towards Tucker with my Santa hat outstretched. "Pick your person, buddy. Don't show anyone who you get."

-~*~-

Oh-kay sooo what do you think? I definitely didn't want to just leave the last chapter where I left it, and I got a ton done this weekend, so why not update, right? *kisses* *smileyface* *exohexoh*

Vomment, lovelies. <3