#yellowpostitman

"The correct term is disabled and that never stops you," I retorted.

"How am I disabled?" he frowned.

"You're disabled in the brain," I huffed.

"I think that's referred to as being 'on the spectrum'" Austin commented.

"Fine, I'll go with you shopping," Shawn nodded devouring the rest of his meal.

"You're ditching me?" Charlie frowned.

"No, Doobin said he was having trouble remembering your choreo on top of the other classes he's taking, I figured you were going to help him out and that would have left me stuck here," I sent her a slight smirk.

"He doesn't need my help," she gave me a warning look.

"Actually, some help would be great," Doobin nodded.

"Seriously?" she asked in a flat tone.

"I mean if you don't want to, I'll just go ask one of the other students," he shrugged.

"Oh, come on, throw the kid a bone," Austin sided with Doobin. I had to cough to cover the laugh that almost burst from my throat.

"Fine, but you better pay attention because I'm not doing this again," she huffed.

"Right," but Doobin and I mumble together.

CHARLIE

         I knew that he didn't want me to help with the choreography, he could do it in his sleep. But I wasn't going to boost his ego any more than it already was.

"So what part of the choreo is confusing your little brain?" I sighed following him into an empty practice room.

We have a few around the building, they were just small 5x3 meatre rooms with a mirror covering one wall and a door, there were no window and the rooms where soundproof so that several students could practise at the same time without disturbing or being disturbed by anyone. The doors also had locks on them, convenient.

"Why don't we start with something you know isn't small?"

"You're attitude?" I raised an eyebrow.

He just smirked, let out a slight laugh, then his face turned dark with lust, he took a step towards me and instinctively I took one back leaving me pressed up against the wall, with nowhere to go. His lips connected with my neck and a small moan escaped my lips, I felt his smirk on my neck before he relocated his mouth to mine. I wanted to curse myself for giving in so easily but the logic in my brain evaporated the longer Doobin's lips assaulted mine.

"If you want me to stop just say so," his husky voice whispered inside my ear. I didn't trust my voice so I just didn't say anything, he waited a few moments before taking my silence as permission to continue.

I was lost in my train of thought as we slid to the floor, he stretched my hands over my head with one hand, logic slammed back into me when I felt the cold metal clamp around my wrists.

"What are you doing?" I frowned.

"Having a little fun,"

"What if someone tries to come in?"

"The door is locked, and the room is soundproof. But if you want me to unlock you then that's fine, just thought it would be fun," he shrugged.

I don't know why, and I wasn't even sure when I had decided it would be fine, but the words seemed to fall from my mouth before my brain had the chance to run them through a logic filter. Instead of saying what I should have said, being the responsible adult and his teacher, I said;

"Leave them on,"

BM

         I wanted to throw everything, I had to step away from my desk so that I didn't throw anything breakable or important. I was trying to function on barley any sleep, Austin has stolen so much money that I wasn't able to give a lot of shifts out to my staff and I even had to let a few go. They were understanding about the whole situation, but not being able to use my staff meant that I had to cover the shifts. Thea still came in and worked the kitchen, but she didn't say anything to me, she just showed up, did her job, and left. So my day usually went; up at 3 a.m, work at the bakery until 6a.m, come home and get a few hours sleep, usually 3 or 4, then wake up but no later than 10 a.m, set up the bar, re-stock the shelves, do ordering, open, serve customers until closing at 1a.m, clean the bar, maybe eat something, quick shower, sleep for an hour, and repeat.

So, I was overworked, overtired, understaffed, and severely stressed. I had been to the bank about a loan, but they felt like I was too much of a risk, I had reported Austin to the police, but I wasn't hopeful about getting my money back, I should probably talk to one of the boys about it because I know they would help out in the bar but they hadn't been home since I slept with Olivia, it was pretty clear they know about it, also I vaguely remembered hearing Charlie's voice.

I'd been feeling guilty about that since it happened, not just because of her technically being Sam's girl-whatever, or because it was Jae's bed, or even the whole Thea situation. Don't get me wrong, I felt bad about all of that, but I had also realised that I had kind of been seeing Somin, and I mean, we weren't dating per say but it's not okay to show someone that you're interested in them and the go and slept with someone else. That's not the type of person I am, but I haven't really been acting like myself lately.

Pushing my friends away, keeping secrets, sleeping with strangers, getting angry for no reason. Okay, not for no reason, but in from the point of view from everyone else it is for not reason because I haven't told them what's going on.

Maybe I should just sell my car.

THEA

         "I still don't understand why you haven't already done your Christmas shopping," Shawn frowned at me as we made our way back to the dance studio. We had been gone about an hour and a half, long enough for Mackenzie to be long gone, and for Charlie and Doobin to have finished, 'dancing'.

"I have most of it done, shut up, like you have any Christmas shopping done," I huffed defensively.

"I only have to buy for a handful of people, and I'm not Miss Overly Organised, which is why I'm surprised that you're Christmas shopping wasn't don't in like July," he retorted.

Okay, it was actually already done, but in September, not July. I just needed a reason to get Shawn to stay out shopping when he was insisting on my getting off my foot. Besides I found some things that I just had to buy for Charlie.

"Maybe you should have used this time to do your Christmas shopping,"

"I still have time,"

"Christmas is in like 8,"

"Yeah, that's 8 days full of time to buy things,"

"When there is nothing left in the shopping centres that qualifies as good gifts, you'll regret waiting," I shook my head at him.

"It's the thought that counts," he tried to counter,

"And apparently they're the last thought," I retorted.

"Has anyone ever told you that they can only handle you in small doses?" he huffed at me.

"All the time," I nodded as we walked into 1Million, well technically I hobbled but I wasn't about to admit that.

"Shit. I have a class in 10 minutes," Shawn groaned.

"I thought you said you were free?"

"I forgot about it, I'll catch up to you later," he rushed off.

I looked around for Charlie, she didn't seem to be anywhere maybe she was still with Doobin? Her car was still out the front, and she wouldn't leave me here anyway. She had to be with Doobin, I should probably find them before Shawn stubbled across them.

"You're back," Doobin nodded towards me, he was standing in the doorway of one of the classrooms. I looked around him to see if Charlie was in there. She wasn't.

"Yeah, have you see Charlie?"

"I have," he smirked.

"Okay, stupid question. Do you know where she is?"

"Of course," he nodded still smirking.

"Well are you going to tell me?" I sighed.

"She's in that room," he nodded towards one of the practise rooms.

"Thank you,"

"Thea," he called as I turned away from him.

"What?"

"You might need these," he handed me a set of small keys.

"These look too small to unlock the door," I thought out loud.

"They're not for the door," he smirked, I frowned and began to ask him what they were for but he turned and walked into the classroom, that Shawn was teaching.

I headed over to the door he had pointed towards turned the handle, but it was locked. I thought he had said that the key wasn't for the door. I knocked just in case I had the wrong door. Then realised that the rooms were sound proof so I wasn't sure she would even hear it, so I rattled the handle.

CHARLIE

         The door handle turned and shook, if whoever was on the other side was calling me, I couldn't hear them, the downside to a soundproof room. Did I risk opening the door to see if it was Doobin with the keys? What if it was one of the other boys? How did I explain being naked and handcuffed in a practice room? I didn't. Which left me with no other option but to wait until Doobin decided to come and save me. Even though he is the reason that I'm stuck in this situation to begin with.

My phone started buzzing in my pants pocket on the floor. I maneuverer my way towards them and somehow managed to answer the call, only because it was Thea. I hit the loudspeaker button.

"Hey,"

"Hey, opened the door,"

"Why?"

"Because Doobin gave me a key and said that you would need it,"

"Where is he?"

"In Shawn's class,"

"And where is everyone else?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

"So, if I open the door, you're the only one out there?"

"Well, other than the reception staff but they're all busy. Why are you being weird?"

"Okay, I'm unlocking the door, but hurry up," I sighed working my way to my feet. I unlocked the door and quickly ducked behind it just in case anyone looked over to see what Thea was up too.

"Why are you being so weir..." Thea started at me.

"Close the door!" I snapped.

She pushed it closed and tried to cover a laugh with a cough. May have actually worked, if she didn't just laugh instead.

"What?" was all she could manage to get out between laughs.

"Shut up and give me the keys," I snapped.

"And you think you're going to be able to unlock those cuffs by yourself?" she raised an eyebrow once she stopped laughing, although she still managed to chuckle at me.

"Yes," I cursed the doubt that found its way into my voice.

"Do you want me to uncuff you?" she giggled.

"I want you to stop being a jerk, but I guess I'll take the uncuffing," I sighed, she held her laughter until I said uncuffing, for some reason she found that hysterical.

"Thea!"

"Oh, wait, I have the perfect thing for you!" she beamed.

"Like the keys to these cuffs?"

"Yeah, yeah, in a second," she rolled her eyes rummaging through the bags in her hands.

"Bro, I'm literally standing here naked," I was starting to get a little annoyed.

"Yeah, I know, I'm about to fix that,"

"You could just give me the damn keys and I could get dressed!"

"Yeah, but that wouldn't be nearly as entertaining. Ah! Here it is," she smirked pulling a jacket from one of her bags.

"I have clothes over there,"

"Yeah, but this works sooo much better, I saw this in a shop and had to buy it for you, because you're technically Doobin's professor, I got you a professor jacket, with elbow pads!" she unfolded the grey checked jacket, brown patched covered the elbows.

"I hate you, now uncuff me,"

"Argh, fine," she rolled her eyes.

THEA

         I uncuffed her and she basically kicked me out of the practice room, she's so touchy sometimes. I watched Shawn's dance class through the glass door. Doobin seemed pretty pleased with himself, he caught my eye through the door and smirked at me, I suppose that the fact I was the only other person who knew about the two gave him a small kick, considering that he could basically brag about it with one look.

"Let's go," Charlie came out of the

SAM

         "I want food," Jae whined lounging across the edge of the couch.

"Then go get something," I shrugged.

"Are you kidding me? The last time I took food out of that crazy dwarfs kitchen she withheld food from me for like a week,"

"It was an hour, and that's because you were so annoying she didn't want to listen to you anymore,"

"Yeah, well, it felt like a week,"

"Then order something,"

"That takes too long to get here, and it costs money,"

"You can wait until she gets home,"

"Can you message them and see how long they're going to be?"

"Why can't you do it?"

"Because I don't know where my phone is," he whined

"You're literally staring at it,"

"Shh, busy," he muttered scrolling through Tumblr.

SAM: Hey, where are you guys? Jae is complaining he's hungry and I'm worried he is going to eat me.

I wasn't expecting her to reply so quickly but she replied before I could relock my phone.

CHARLIE: Just waiting for Thea to get her braces off, not sure how long it will take.

"Charlie doesn't know how long she is going to be,"

"They went shopping, how much can two poor girls even buy?" he huffed.

"They're at the dentist, Thea is getting her braces off," I rolled my eyes. He paused, looked at me and smirked.

"Come on," he stood up.

"What?"

"We'll go get food, Thea is going to be in so much pain when she gets back," he beamed.

"You don't need to sound so happy about it," I frowned.

"Yes, I do. Do you know how easy it is to annoy her when she's in pain, and then she does that thing where she get huffy and hurts herself, it's hilarious, but I'll even buy her food to make up for it,"

"Really?" I looked at him sceptically.

"I mean, you'll pay for it because I lost my wallet, but sure," he shrugged.

"Of course, you did," I rolled my eyes.

"I think I left it next to or on my bed, so it may as well be lost, who knows what naked parts of BM have touched that," he shuttered.

"Okay fine," I sighed.

"Keys," he held his hand out.

"Why?"

"Because you still can't drive? Do you think I'm going to walk there and like go into the building with those people?"

"Those people? Who are also going to buy fast food because their too lazy to cook for themselves?"

"If you were supposed to cook for yourself they wouldn't have invented cars and drive throughs, are you going to mope around here daydreaming about Charlie or are you going to come on this adventure with me?"

"We're going on an adventure?"

"It's modern-day hunting, come on Samwise," he stood.

"Does that make you Frodo?" I raised an eyebrow following him.

"I feel more like a Gandalf, wise and magical,"

"More like Radagast," I commented.

"Charlie likes him better anyway," he shrugged.

CHARLIE

         The boys weren't there when we got home, or at least Sam's car wasn't and he still can't drive so unless Jae decided to go out and take Sam's car, which wasn't likely.

"I thought the boys were staying again?" Thea frowned.

"Maybe they went to get a change of clothes," I shrugged.

"Hopefully they don't come back, the last thing I need right now is Jae and his stupid face,"

"Are you sure you two don't have a thing for each other?" I raised an eyebrow.

"If by 'a thing' you mean do I want to stab him with a sword? Then yes, but if you mean in the general sense, then I would rather stab myself with a sword," she pulled a disgusted face.

"You two just seem really interested in where each other are," I shrugged.

"I am in enough pain right now; do you have to make me want to vomit as well?" she sighed.

"Shouldn't you be pain-free after having your braces off?"

"You would think so, after two years with the pressure moving my teeth you would think the release would be amazing, not painful,"

"Then again, it's been two years of pressure, what happens when you release the pressure after you hurt yourself?"

"Intense pain," she groaned collapsing into the couch.

"There are painkillers in the kitchen, do you want me to get them?"

"I'll get them, hot coffee might help with the pain," she sighed.

"Alright,"

"Do you want water in the kettle?" she asked.

"I'm good," I shook my head.

She just nodded leaving the room, I checked my messages to see if Sam and sent one letting me know where he had gone, he hadn't.

CHARLIE: Hey, where are you guys?

SAM: Jae decided he would have me buy us food, he thought it would be entertaining to get things Thea can't eat and eat it in front of her.

CHARLIE: Forget his wallet again?

SAM: Apparently he lost it

CHARLIE: I bet you it's in his pocket

"Where are these painkillers?" Thea asked, she walked into the lounge room pulling the door with her.

"On the shelf about the kettle,"

"They're not," she shook her head.

"Maybe they're in my bedroom," I got up, she turned around to leave the room, the door handle wouldn't turn.

"Not funny," I frowned at her.

"Not kidding," she frowned back.

"Seriously?"

"I must have hit the lock on the way in,"

"You locked us in the lounge room?"

"I mean not if your bedroom window isn't locked," I thought about it, I had locked it a few nights ago, there was a breeze that came into my room and the window only stayed securely closed if it was locked.

"Is yours?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Paranoid," she pointed at herself.

"So you locked us in the lounge room," I sighed.

"I mean only technically, we can just call one of the boys to come to save us," she shrugged.

"Jae and Sam only went to get food, they'll be back soon,"

"See, we're fine," she shrugged again.

"I'll text Sam and ask them to hurry up,"

SAM

         CHARLIE: Hey, can you guys be quick, Thea locked us in the lounge room

"We don't need anything else?" I asked as Jae pulled out of the parking lot.

"No, why? Do you miss Charlie already?"

"No, the girls are locked in the lounge room, Charlie wants us to come save them,"

"How did they...?" he because.

"Thea," I cut him off.

"Of course," he shook his head.

"Well, let's go to the Zoo then," he smirked, which probably meant he wasn't going to save them straight away.

"The Zoo?"

"Their lounge room is basically entirely windows, which means we can eat and enjoy the show,"

"Charlie will kill you,"

"Clearly, BM opened his mouth again," Jae commented.

"When does that idiot speak when he shouldn't?" Charlie commented.

MARK

         It was pretty clear that Sam had a huge thing for Charlie, I wasn't sure she had any idea about it though, I think she might have been to preoccupied with her jealousy over the girl Sam had brought over. Whether that meant that she also liked him back or just didn't like to share her toys was another story.

"You should see how much she cooked," Jackson stated bringing in plates of food, followed by a hobbling Thea who also had plates of food.

"You think this is a lot of food?" Sam raised an eyebrow.

"Cooking is basically the only thing she is good at, next to causing harm to herself," Jae shrugged.

"I'll hurt you in a minute," Thea frowned at him.

"Scary, what are you going to do? You're crippled and tiny," he seemed to be baiting her.

"Dude, stop," Charlie frowned at him. I think maybe she noticed the uncomfortable face Jackson was pulling.

"You're so lame," he sighed but stopped making fun of Thea.

"So," Jae stretched the word out once everyone was finally seated.

"What?" Charlie raised an eyebrow at him.

"Did you really make BM leave?" Jae asked.

"What?" Thea asked.

"Is that what he said?" she frowned, clearly confused.

THEA

         "No, he just said he was leaving, but I assumed that you two had another fight," Jae shrugged.

"Well, you know what they say about assuming," I shrugged.

"I also know that BM has been an ass lately and no one would really blame you if you did kick him out," Jae retorted.

"Ew, are you siding with me?" I pulled a grossed-out face.

"What? Gross,"

"Sure sounded like it," Charlie muttered.

"I was just saying, you know what? Whatever," he rolled his eyes.

"Look, I didn't kick him out, I told him that he was welcome to stay, all I did was tell him that I was done with fighting and that I was tired of putting you all in a situation where it seemed like you had to choose sides. So, maybe it was better if we just stopped talking to each other," I said, even as I was saying it I was regretting it, it made me sad to think that BM and I were no longer friends, it was upsetting that we ever came to this point, but it did and this was the better choice than destroying the group completely.

"You broke up with BM?" Sam sounded shocked.

"We're here to eat and play games not discuss my relationship with BM,"

"Okay grumpy," Jae rolled his eyes.

"What should we play first?" Jackson stepped in before I could make a retort.

"Your mum," Jae retorted.

"What?" Jackson frowned.

"Ignore him, his mouth isn't actually connected to his brain,"

"And what's your mouth connected too?" he shot back at me.

"Jenga!" Sam stated, I think he was just trying to resolve the bickering, probably for the sake of his new side piece which he hadn't noticed was missing yet.

"You want to play Jenga?" Charlie frowned.

"Why not?"

"Maybe because your shoulder is still in the recovery stages and you're probably going to be the first to lose," she shrugged.

"No way, Thea has terrible hand-eye coordination, and we don't know how well the newbies play," Jae took the opportunity to attack me again.

BM

       "So how long did it take you to figure out Sam's in love with Charlie?" I asked breaking the silence.

"Almost as soon as we walked in, you can tell by the way he looks at her,"

"Most people can," I corrected.

"Most? It's not like he's doing a good job at hiding it,"

"Charlie is oblivious to his feelings,"

"Seriously?" she frowned.

"Yeah, or at least that's the way it seems. Honestly, I think she knows exactly how he feels but she likes the attention and doesn't want to share him with anyone but at the same time she doesn't want to date him so she just strings him along,"

"That sounds a little harsh," she continued to frown at me.

"Her and I have never really seen eye to eye," I shrugged.

"Is that because you have a little thing for her?" she raised an eyebrow.

"What? No,"

"Right, she looks like that, if you haven't had a thing for her at least once you're a liar. Hell, I think I have a thing for her,"

"I don't have a thing for Charlie,"

"Oh come on, you have issues because of unresolved sexual tension, I think that maybe you don't want her and Sam together because you're mad that there is more of a chance of her dating him than you, it's probably been sitting just under the surface since you were in high school," she tatted matter-of-factly.

"Do you mind if I call past the bar before I drop you off at home? I just have to make sure my sister hasn't destroyed my business," I ignored her statement.

"And that is called avoidance," she commented.

"Who are you?" I frowned.

"I work as a phycologist," she shrugged as if it were nothing.

"Seriously?"

"It's not that different from being a bartender,"

"How?"

"I mean, you're basically a therapist, but you don't get the pay. But therapy and phycology aren't that different,"

"You never answered my question,"

"I think I could use a drink,"

CHARLIE

         "This is really good," Jackson commented on Thea's cooking. Again.

"Why don't we change games? This one is getting boring," Sam stated at the same time.

"I think it's quite entertaining," Jae shrugged, I could hear the smirk in his voice.

The rest of the group was feeling a little tense, we were still playing Jenga, Thea had given up after the first round after she lost and Jae made fun of her, Jae lost next, of course, that could have had something to do with Thea sabotaging him but the only proof of that was him saying she bumped him and our knowledge of her personality. Jackson was the next to go followed by Sam. Which, just left myself and Mark who were not in an intense one on one and I refused to lose to this trust fund douche bag.

"Yeah, come on guys, it's just a game," Thea said cautiously.

"I'm not going to lose to this trust fund douche bag," I spoke my insult aloud.

"Charlie," Sam frowned.

"I don't have a trust fund," Mark roll his eyes.

"Sure you don't," I shrugged.

"I work hard for my money," he retorted.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I frowned.

"It means exactly what I said, my job requires actual work,"

"You don't even know what I do for work,"

"I can only assume,"

"You know what they say about assuming," Jae commented.

"Can one of you just lose so we can stop playing this stupid game?" Thea sighed.

"You only think it's stupid because you lost," Jae stated.

"So did you,"

"Yeah, but you lost first so," he shrugged.

"Are you two always like this?" Jackson frowned.

"Yes," we all said at the same time, well, all but Jackson and Mark.

"Why?" Jackson asked.

Jae and Thea launched into blaming each other, I'm pretty sure they don't even remember why they attack each other anymore. I know the rest of us don't. Mark pushed out another block, the Jenga tower was basically a skeletal structure at this point, I held my breath hoping that what was left of the tower would fall down because I had no idea how I was going to remove a block without losing. I had to bite back my frustration when his stupid dainty little fingers managed to remover the block without so much as swaying the tower.

"This is the most intense game of Jenga I have ever witnessed," Jackson commented.

"You're an intense game of Jenga," I rolled my eyes.

"That doesn't even make sense," he frowned.

"You don't make sense,"

"Just lose already," someone mutter, I wasn't sure who it was but it only made me more determined to beat Mark.

I held my breath again as I slid a block out from the tower, it shook slightly and I swear I almost threw up, I finally relaxed when the tower steadied, there was a small jolt of victory when I saw the flash of irritation through Mark's eyes. He wasn't sure he was going to be able to beat me.

My phone buzzed in my lap and I figured that it was Thea texting me telling me to stop being an ass. Instead, Doobin's name flashed across my screen after the notification of a new message.

Doobin: How's game night? Fallen asleep yet? ;)

Charlie: I'm busy winning at Jenga.

Mark just sat there staring at the tower for a while. I was getting impatient.

"There is no harm in forfeiting, I mean you're going to lose anyway," I baited.

"I'm not going to lose," he stated without looking up from the tower. I watched as he pulled the block slowly the block was halfway out when my phone buzzed again.

Doobin: I have a tower you can play with ;)

I quickly closed my phone and turned my attention back to the game. Mark was sitting on the other side of the table with the biggest smug grin I have ever seen on a douche bag. He was holding the block he had been removing before I get distracted by my phone.

"Your turn," he smirked.

"Tool," I sighed.

I decided on a block and started to pull it from its place, I was almost there, I almost had it and I was sure that there was no way that Mark was going to be able to pull another block from this tower without it toppling over. Then, my phone buzzed again and the nervousness and let's be honest, excitement that Doobin brings me, hit me all at the same time and I jumped, block still in had. The sound of the blocks crashing on the table replaced the nerves and excitement with pure irritation and the look of triumph on Mark's face had me seeing red.

"Shit," I heard Sam and Thea mutter.

"Well, that was unexpected," Jae commented.

"New game?" Jackson suggested.

"I win," Mark gave a small shrugged like it was nothing but the smirk on his face said something else.

SAM

         Charlie glared at Mark and looked like she wanted to leap across the table. She opened her mouth to speak, I was sure that when she started it would only escalate and then it would be likely that the night ended early.

"Hey, where did Oliva go?" I frowned. I hadn't noticed she was even missing until that point.

"Dude, she left with BM," Thea stated.

"Yeah she's been gone for over an hour," Jae nodded.

"Seriously?" I frowned.

"Yeah,"

"Why would she just leave without saying anything?"

"Maybe because your attention was elsewhere?" Jae suggested.

"I was just talking to you guys," I shrugged defensively.

"Sure," Thea nodded.

"Who cares why she left? She's gone, BM's gone, and there are a few other people I wish were with them," Charlie glared at Mark.

"Are you leaving?" Mark raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, enough," Thea sighed.

"He cheated," Charlie muttered.

"How exactly did I cheat?" Mark looked amused.

"Because of your dainty girl hands," she shot back.

"You have actual girl hands, so would that just even out the odds?" he questioned.

"You're girl hands," she huffed.

"Right," he rolled his eyes at her.

"Okay, seriously, new game," Thea interjected.

"Like what?"

"Umm," Thea took a deep breath then made a pop noise. She froze, Charlie, Jae and I looked at her as she continued to hold her breath and think of a word.

"Hurry up, you don't want to pass out again," Jae commented.

"What is she doing?" Jackson frowned.

"Thinking of a word that starts with pop," I stated.

"Why?"

"Because she just made the pop noise,"

"I'm confused,"

"Shh, if she doesn't think of a word she has to keep holding her breath and she'll pass out,"

"Padom," she finally breathed.

"Poppadom is not a word," Jae frowned.

"Yes, it is,"

"No, it's not, you just made it up,"

"Look it up, it's a word, maybe you should expand your vocabulary," she shot back.

"What does it mean then genius?"

"It's Indian flatbread," she stated matter-of-factly.

"You're Indian flatbread," he rolled his eyes at her.

BM

         "I don't think that is really your fault," she agreed with me.

"That's what I thought!" I almost yelled. Finally, someone was on my side.

"But it's not her fault either, and honestly it sounds like you were kind of a jerk about it. I mean it's one thing to attack her for sleeping with your friend and keeping it from you, but I mean he was also her friend so it wasn't really as bad as you make it sound. Also, the second friend she slept with she didn't know he was your friend, I mean if you really think about it, it kind of sounds like she has fallen victim and that your friends have a habit of manipulating her into bed," she continued.

"She doesn't really need that much manipulating," I shot coldly, I hadn't actually meant it but I was sick of people defending her and attacking me.

"Yeah, see, saying stuff like that to someone who is supposed to be your best friend, I'm not surprised she doesn't want to be your friend anymore, and I'm also not that shocked that everyone is siding with her instead of you,"

"I liked you better when you were agreeing with me,"

"I'm not disagreeing with you, I think that it's possible that you have other things going on in your life and you're using this as a way to get all of your frustration out,"

"You got all of that from this conversation?"

"No, I got that from the flash of guilt that goes through your eyes when you insult her," she stated downing half her beer.

"How do you know it's guilt? You don't even know me," I raised an eyebrow.

"I've seen enough guilt in my life to recognise it," she shrugged.

"Here," I handed her another drink.

CHARLIE

         "Ew, no I'm not playing that," I frowned when Thea brought the box into the room, well she tried, Jackson had gotten up to help her which she had tried to avoid but gave into.

"Come on it will be fun," she stated.

"I'm not stopping you from playing it, but my idea of fun isn't eating something I don't like the taste of," I shrugged as Mark scoffed.

"What?" I shot.

"I don't think you like the taste of everything you put in your mouth, I mean unless you do," he commented.

"I think maybe you should stop talking now," Jae warned.

"And what are you going to do you, twig bitch?" Thea shot, I think it was more to ease the tension in the room rather than actually attacking him,"

"I'll use our handy little pocket hulk,"

BM

         "You can't drive home," I frowned at both of her, both of her?

"Well you can't drive me home," she giggled.

"I'll call you an uber," I blinked to try and get her to morph back together.

"Ew, no, I don't want some creeper taking me home," she stubbled backwards, I reached out to stop her from falling but I reached for the wrong her.

"Ow!" She frowned up at me from where she had landed on her butt.

"Well if you would just stay together I would have been able to grab you, how am I supposed to know which one of you is you," I huffed defensively.

"What the hell are you talking about?" she brushed herself off.

"I'm talking about the fact that I can see two of you, no wait, three, now there is three of you,"

"You're drunk," she laughed.

"Coming from you?"

"Which one of me?" she winked.

"Come on, let's get you upstairs," I laughed.

"I am not that type of girl," she gave a flirtatious smile.

"And I'm not asking you to be, that you may be," I joked.

"That's a little forward," she raised an eyebrow.

"I was only kidding, Let's just get you upstairs so that go can sleep off some of your drunk and not put yourself in danger getting yourself home,"

"And you don't think me coming upstairs with you would be dangerous?"

THEA

         "Seriously? What are we? 12?" Mark frowned.

"If you don't want to play then don't," I rolled my eyes.

"He'll play," Jackson stated.

"Says who?" Mark turned his frowned towards his friend.

"Say's me, stop being a party pooper," he huffed.

"Can we just stop bickering with each other an enjoy a nice night?" I sighed.

"Doubtful," Charlie was glaring directly at Mark who was frowning back at her.

"Okay fine, think of it this way, playing 'I Never' will give you more information to attack each other with," I reasoned.

"I'm pretty sure he can't become much more of a douche," Charlie shot.

"Funny, because I'm pretty sure I can't imagine you being more of a,"

"Stop," Jackson frowned at his friend.

"Fine, we won't play," I shrugged sinking back into the lounge.

"Now look what you've done, she was nice enough to cook you food on a broken foot and all she wants to do is play 'I Never' and you've upset her," Charlie shook her head disapprovingly.

"Fine, whatever," Mark huffed.

"Way to guilt trip," Jae muttered.

"Who wants to start?" Sam asked.

"Does everyone know the rules?" Charlie raised an eyebrow are Mark.

"Are you asking because you don't?" he retorted.

"Aright, either play nice or everyone can go home," I snapped.

"How about we get you a drink," Jae commented.

"How about you bite me," I sighed.

"Doesn't the whole playing nice thing apply to you two as well?" Jackson questioned.

"No," Charlie and Sam commented.

"Why?"

"Because if these two start being nice to each other the whole world will implode," Sam stated.

"He's not wrong," I agreed.

"Whatever, so are we going to play or not?" Mark asked.

"Sure, why don't you go first?"

"Wait, are we going with 5 or 10?" Jae asked

"5," everyone said in unison.

"Okay,"

Everyone held up their hand, all finger straight.

"I've Never had pink hair," Mark was directing the comment at Charlie, but Jae and I also put a finger down.

"You've had pink hair?" Sam frowned.

"Yeah, after Thea attacked me with bleach, the first time, and my brother decided to fix it," Jae nodded before going quiet, which wasn't abnormal for him after mentioning his brother.

"Sam, your turn,"

"I've Never had a job I needed to wear a suit for," he stated nonchalantly but at least three of us knew that it was a subtle stabbed at Mark for his attack towards Charlie. Mark sighed and folded a finger down, but so did Jae.

"You know what a suit is?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Some of us know how to dress up,"

"Oh, I bet you dress up," I retorted.

"Jackson," Charlie encouraged.

"I've never been in a band," he said slowly after thinking for a few moments. Charlie, Sam, and Jae all put a finger down.

"I've Never ripped of a ninja turtles head and flushed it down the toilet," Jae looked directly at Charlie.

"It was your own fault for liking a lame ninja turtle and for hating on Michaelangelo," Charlie defended herself but folded a finger down anyway.

"Donatello is clearly the better turtle,"

"You're right, he's a great turtle, but he's a sucky Ninja Turtle," She retorted.

"You're mum is a sucky ninja turtle,"

"No shit," she rolled her eyes.

"I've never, been arrested," I interjected, Sam sighed folding a finger down, Jae also folded a finger down but unfortunately for everyone else wasn't capable of also keeping his mouth closed.

"You liar, you've been arrested," Jae was looking directly at me.

"No, I haven't" I frowned.

"Do you not remember last year? On BM's birthday?" he stated.

"I was brought home by the police, I wasn't arrested," I rolled my eyes.

"Only because you somehow managed to talk your way out of it," Sam stated.

"She cried her way out of it," Charlie added.

"Either way, I wasn't arrested. Your turn Charlie,"

CHARLIE

         It would have been so easy to target Jae so that he lost, but my pride and some of my stubbornness decided it would be a better idea to attack Mark instead. In hindsight, I probably should have just targeted Jae and been over with it, but I didn't want Mark to win again and he only had one finger folded. The only problem was that I didn't know him that well.

"I've never, left the country," I was looking directly at Mark but out of my peripheral I noticed Sam, Jackson, and Jae fold a finger. I had momentarily forgotten that none of them were actually born here. I just registered that Mark was American.

"Thanks, bro," Jae frowned at me

"My bad," I shrugged.

"Do you want to reset or just continue on until we have a winner?" Sam asked.

"Let's just continue or we're going to be playing this gave all night," Thea stated.

"Easy for you to say, you only have one finger folded," Jae commented.

"Yeah well you're out so shut up," she retorted.

MARK

         It was clear that she was out to make me lose, so I figured it only fair for me to target her anyone else was just collateral damage. I thought back to her Instagram and tried to remember things about her.

"I've never quoted Lord of the Rings," I stated. Her face went from shock to looking more than pissed off.

"How do you even know that?" she frowned but folded a finger.

"You look like those geeky types," I shrugged. Honestly, she kind of looked like one of those girls who pretended to like something because they thought it was cool, or they heard someone talking about it so she clearly knows everything about it. But I figured if I said that she would just get all pissy again. Not that I think she actually stopped.

"Sam," Thea stated quickly.

"I've never owned a piece of jewellery that cost more than the average of a first car,"

THEA

         Sam was clearly targeting Mark. Though I'm not sure how he would know that, anyone would tell you that he was going to take Charlie's side no matter what. Mark frowned and folded a finger, so did Jackson which surprised me.

"And you're not a trust fund douche?" Charlie raised an eyebrow at him.

"I earnt every cent," he shrugged not taking any offence.

"I'm sure you did," Charlie stated sarcastically.

"How did you even know that?" Mark turned his attention towards Sam.

"Because there is no way that bracelet didn't cost more than my car," he pointed at the diamond-encrusted chain bracelet that Mark was wearing around his wrist.

"Some people have more sense when it comes to money," Charlie commented.

"Thea can you just ask your question so that Charlie over here can lose. Again," Mark asked not breaking eye contact with Charlie. If I asked a question that had Charlie lose I was a little worried she would kill me. So rather than facing her wrath, my brain decided to expel the only question I could think of that she wouldn't have ever of done. In the process though, I didn't think of the fact that Sam might be the only person to fold a finger.

"Hey, are you okay?" Charlie frowned.

"Yeah," I nodded.

I didn't want to tell them any of this because I didn't want them to try and make me feel better about it. It was just something I was going to have to process on my own because there was nothing that was going to feel better about until I was able to play again. Music has always been my escape, and I wasn't really sure how I was going to be able to process my feelings without being able to play.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fine," I nodded again.

"Well we're almost home," Thea stated turning onto her street.

They had decided that I would stay with them because it was unsanitary to stay above the bar and if the boys tried to change my dressings they would joke around or not do it properly if they did it, to begin with. Jae had made a joke about Thea only knowing how to change a dressing like a nurse because she hurts herself so much. I hadn't bothered arguing, there was no point when they had both set their mind to it, and I didn't really want to be able to see Jae play his guitar at night. Nor did I want him to not play it because I couldn't.

CHARLIE

He had started slipping, he had realised what his shoulder Injury meant and he wasn't handling it well, he was trying to show that he was but I could see it all over his face that this was going to be a struggle for him. Sam was never good at hiding his feelings, they always showed through his face like a lit up billboard.

"Whose car is that?" Thea asked as she pulled up to our house.

"I have no idea," I shrugged.

We all got out, BM and Jae were already here. I had to resist the urge to help Sam, it was only his shoulder and he would feel worse if I was trying to help him with something he was capable of. Thea paused and turned around.

"I don't need help," he held his hand up to her.

"I'm waiting to lock my car," she lifted her keys, but we both know that's not why she turned around.

"Since when do you lock your car in the middle of the day, at your own house?" he countered.

"Since there is a car here I don't know and I'm overly paranoid, our group has had some bad luck lately," she shrugged.

"Right," he nodded letting it go.

We made our way inside, Jae was sitting at the kitchen table across from Bernard who was Coco's friend. He travelled with her doing a podcast, both BM and Jae listen to it; BM so he knows how Coco is, Jae because, well for the same reason but he'll tell you it's because he's bored.

"Hey," Coco smiled coming out of the spare room.

"Where have you been?"

"Here, there, and everywhere, there are a lot of people to catch up with after being away for months," she smiled.

"Are you off again?" BM frowned coming out of the bathroom.

"No, a few friends are going down south to Bernard's house for a few nights, I'll be back after that,"

"Okay," BM nodded.

"Okay?" Jae frowned.

"What? I trust Coco and Bernard won't let anything happen to her," BM shrugged.

"Because if he did you would strangle him with your big monkey hands," Thea commented.

"He does kind of have monkey hands," Bernard nodded.

"Hey," Coco smacked Bernard in the back of the head.

"What?"

"Let's go before he beats you for being rude," Coco stated hugging BM goodbye.

"Be safe, call if you need me," he stated.

THEA

"I can't believe you let her go," Jae grumbled.

"Dude she's an adult, I can't tell her to not go with her friends when I don't have an issue with her travelling around the world," BM frowned confused.

"Why are you so worried about it?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not. Oh my god, you'll never guess what we found last night before BM stabbed Sam," Jae blurted out, it worked the way he wanted to because BM fell silent and was happy to change the subject rather than question him about his concern for Coco.

"What?" I asked with a sigh.

"The Polaroid box," he smirked.

"You found what now?" I froze.

I had specifically hidden that box in there stuff knowing they wouldn't check there, except that I made them go through it. That box had the only evidence, other than the photos my mother had and wouldn't let me get rid of, that I was ever fat. I specifically made sure that one of us was always missing when we want to open it just so I never had to see them again. Me and that stupid rule. I thought that it would be good for me to be able to look back and see how far I had come. Really it just reminds me of a person I hate.

"Maybe we should cook some food, buy some drinks and open the box, reminisce a little," Charlie suggested.

"Seriously?" I frowned.

"Is that something you don't want to do?" Jae raised an eyebrow.

"You know it's something I don't want to do, why do you think that I hide the damn thing in the first place?" I sighed.

"I think it's a great idea," BM nodded, glancing at Sam who hadn't said a word or really paid any attention to anything since we got home.

They were doing it for Sam's sake, well Charlie and BM were, Jae was doing it to irritate me. I let out a sigh, throwing an internal tantrum like a four-year-old, I let out a sigh. There was no way I was going to be able to say no now.

"I'll go get supplies," I sighed.

JACKSON

"Wakey wakey sunshine, you're going to be late for work if you don't get up now," I shook Jooheon's legs.

We had decided to have a few drinks and order some more food last night, it was too late and he was a little too intoxicated to go home so he just slept on our lounge. It was just easier. But he has two jobs and he works weekends. I felt bad for the guys sometimes, but he seemed to really enjoy what he does.

"What's the time?"

"Almost 12:30, you work the night shift tonight, right?"

"Yeah, I don't have to be there until 4," he yawned stretching.

"I figured this would give you time to shower, wake up a little, maybe have some breakfast?" I shrugged.

"How long have you been awake?" he frowned.

"Like three hours, I had some stuff to go over for work,"

"Where's Mark?"

"He went into the office," I shrugged.

"It's a Saturday?"

"Marketing doesn't stop just because it's Saturday,"

"I guess,"

"Coffee?"

"Yes please," he nodded getting up of the lounge and making his way into the kitchen.

"Here," I handed him a cup sitting down at the table where I had my laptop open, I was still sifting through the emails I hadn't had time to get to this week.

"Any big plans for today?" he asked sitting across from me.

"You're looking at them,"

"No plans with Thea?" he frowned.

"I mean, I'm going to call her in a minute to see how her friend is, but we have no plans to meet up or anything, not today at least," I shook my head.

"Are you playing hard to get?"

"No, she's trying to convince her friend to come with her and I asked Mark, they just haven't answered yet,"

"Why do you need people to go with you? Haven't you already met in person?"

"Not really, we only met long enough to exchange numbers, she wants to bring her friend to be safe, just in case I'm a psycho, and I thought I would brink Mark so her friend didn't feel like a third wheel,"

"You guys make things too complicated," he shook his head at me.

"Easy is boring," I shrugged.

"I guarantee you'll regret saying that," he pulled a face.

"Drink your coffee," I frowned picking my phone up from the counter.

THEA

I was walking down the snack aisle when my phone started ringing, I thought it was one of them calling me to ask for something specific, or Jae calling to insult me then add something to the list. But it wasn't, it was Jackson.

"Hey," I didn't really understand why he called when he could just text me.

"Hey, how is your friend?"

"He's out of the hospital, but I think he's realised that his injury is going to affect his ability to play the guitar for a while,"

"I'm sure he'll find something to occupy him,"

"Music is kind of his dream, it's going to be hard on him but we're all here for him so,"

"What are you up to today? Other than being a good friend?"

"That's about it actually, I'm just at the shop getting some things for us to have a few drinks and some food while we reminisce about old times and I try not to die of embarrassment," I hadn't meant to say the last part but it's not like I was good at filtering things out.

"Why would you die of embarrassment?"

"We made this box when we started high school, it's full of Polaroid photos of us all, the boys found it yesterday. So we're going to look through it," I let out a sigh.

"Why would that be embarrassing? I bet you were a cute teenager," I had to bite back a laugh.

"Some of them are just taken on an angle that isn't so flattering, and my style was questionable," there was no way I was telling him I was fat.

"I'm sure they're not that bad,"

"They're worse,"

"I don't believe you,"

"You don't have too," I shrugged.

"So, have you talked to your friend yet? I was thinking we could plan something for next weekend?"

"I haven't, but I've figured out a way to get her to agree, how's Saturday?"

"Saturday sounds good,"

BM

Sam hadn't really spoken since he'd gotten back from the hospital, he had tried to appear happy but when he thought no one was looking his smile faded and he looked deep in thought.

I think he was trying to make us all believe that he was fine and handling this, but we all knew he wasn't fine and he wasn't processing this well. Reality had clearly hit him and he had realised that the guitar was out of reach. This seemed to annoy Charlie more and she directed that at me, which I guess was fair. I could have potentially ruined any future in the music career for Sam, it felt like a tone of bricks had come crashing down on me, but that guilt was probably nothing compared to the dread that Sam was feeling.

There was a beep from the front, I was guessing that Thea was back and didn't want to carry bags. I sighed getting up to go help her, I opened the door as she reached it with handfuls of shopping bags.

"I thought you were only getting supplies?" I raised an eyebrow.

"And I did, I also realised with the back to back drama this week, we hadn't done food shopping. Now move, this is heavy," she nudged past me.

SAM

Thea was busying herself in the kitchen cooking up enough food to feed a small army while the rest of us sat at the dining table, I wasn't really sure why we were sitting here instead of in the lounge room, but I also wasn't really paying attention to what was happening around me. It's not like I didn't want to, I just couldn't seem to focus on the conversation.

I knew why they were doing what they were doing but I didn't think it was going to be any help. Some food, a few drinks, and a box full of old memories weren't going to help me forget the fact that there is a possibility I might not be able to even play the guitar the same.

I mean, the doctor hadn't said that. In fact, he had said with some rehab that I would more than likely be back to normal. But, what if the rehab didn't work? What if the damage couldn't be completely fixed? Then what?

"Sam?" Charlie waved her hand in front of my face.

She hadn't really left me alone since she got to the hospital yesterday. And if she wasn't right next to me, then she was staring at me; if this were a different situation then I would think I were dreaming and would be overjoyed. But her worry and concern weren't really what I wanted right now.

"Sorry?"

"We were just saying that we should move to the lounge room, Thea is almost done cooking so," she gave a small smile.

"Okay," I nodded getting up.

"Did you get drinks?" BM asked standing in front of an open fridge.

Thea paused and seemed to have the sudden realization that she had forgotten to go and buy the alcohol.

"No, I did not, I got distracted trying to think of what needed to be bought food wise," she frowned.

"Okay, I'll go down and get them," BM shook his head.

"I'll come for a drive," Jae started.

"Do you want anything?" BM asked. I just shrugged.

"You idiot, he's on pain medication. He can't drink with that," Thea snapped.

"I didn't ask if he wanted alcohol,"

"But it's what you meant,"

"You don't know that,"

"Hurry up and go already," she rolled her eyes.

THEA

"Wait, let's change your dressing before those two get back," I called to Sam as they went to walk down to the lounge room.

"Okay," he sighed.

He stayed sitting at the kitchen table, I retrieved the bag of medical supplies I picked up while shopping. I turned around to a shirtless Sam, now, it's not like I hadn't seen him shirtless before, but I mean damn. His back was so nice, I didn't really understand how a back could be so attractive.

"Thea? Are you okay?" Sam frowned turning around.

Seriously, his level of attractive was extremely unfair.

"Huh? Oh, yeah," I nodded walking over to him.

"Dude," Charlie smirked at me, the face she pulled insinuated that she knew exactly what I had been thinking. Or at least that I was checking him out.

"Sorry,"

"Why?" she laughed.

"What are you two talking about?" Sam frowned.

"Nothing," I mumbled.

"Thea just appreciated your naked back," Charlie dobbed me in.

"Dude," I frowned.

"What? You did," she shrugged.

"I mean, when did you get this attractive?" I muttered.

CHARLIE

"Are you sure we have to open the box? Can't we just have a movie night or a bonfire?" Thea frowned. She got really insecure when her old weight was brought up.

"We're going g through the photos, we have never gone through them before and I guarantee there are photos in here that we will all hate," BM stated.

"Not me," Jae shook his head.

"That's because all of your photos are equally as bad," Thea rolled her eyes.

"If it makes you feel any better there are a lot of photos in this box and the ones your avoiding are definitely at the bottom of the box, we probably wont to even get to them," I shrugged.

"What photos are you avoiding?" Sam asked it was the first he had joined the conversation.

"The photos from when she was huge," BM stated, he emphasized the word huge. I think he was trying to make Sam laugh. Thea paused and stared at him. BM stopped what he was doing, realizing what had just said, even Jae looked shocked.

BM froze and looked up at her slowly, she was frowning at him now. Not even Jae was that stupid, he might poke fun at her but there were just topics even he wouldn't touch. Her past weight was one of them.

Jae smirked, I think he though Thea was about to beat BM up, I kind of thought she was. But instead she took a deep breath and said;

"Why don't you go get some glasses Matthew?" he just nodded getting up and retreating to the kitchen.

"He's just taking stabs at everyone," Jae commented.

"Dude," I frowned.

"What? Too soon?" Sam kind of smiled patting Jae on the shoulder.

"Why don't we open this box before someone else gets in trouble?" Sam plastered a smile on his face.

"Good idea," Thea nodded.

"Who would like to do the honours?" Jae smirked as BM walked back in placing glasses on the table.

"Nope," Thea shook her head.

"It's all you Jae,"

"Wait," Thea stated, we all stopped and looked at her, she reached for the bottle of bourbon and mixed herself a drink. She took a sip before gesturing for Jae to continue.

BM

"Oh my God look at this," Thea burst out laughing holding up a Polaroid of me before I started working out.

"Look how twiggy he is," she continued to laugh.

"He looks like Jae," she was holding her stomach. After we had pulled out a few Polaroids and when none of them were of her overweight she relaxed a little, and drunk a lot.

That was on Jae, I think he was trying to loosen her up and make her feel better, also if she was drunk when she saw the photos of her fat she wouldn't remember in the morning. Not that he would ever admit it.

"Give me that," I sighed taking the photo from her. She was still laughing.

"Awe, look how cute Sam was," Charlie picked up a new photo

"Back when he let us attack his hair," Thea stated still giggling.

The girls have more or less always done their own hair, or at least they did before Charlie became friends with a hair stylist. They convinced Sam to let them do his a few times, this photo was taken right after they had done his hair. I looked closer and realised that he was staring at Charlie, which wasn't surprising, that was pretty much all of the photos the two were in together.

"Awe this is cute," Jae commented sarcastically, he had a photo of Charlie back when she was doing the dance performances at school.

"Ew," Charlie frowned.

"I don't remember this," Sam stated.

"This wasn't long before you transferred," I said.

"Shouldn't that be closer to the bottom?" Thea paused.

"If that box had never moved, the order has probably been mixed up with how often the box has been moved," I shrugged.

"Here, why don't you have another drink," Jae mixes her a drink handing her the glass.

It was good timing, the next photo that was picked up was Thea just before the summer she lost all the weight, it was also when she was at her heaviest. She worked really hard all summer with Drew losing the weight. Jaws dropped the day school went back and everyone thought we had a new kid. All the guys that had bullied and made fun of her all tried to get her attention.

She lost all colour and picked up the glass downing half of it. When she put the glass back down she had a smile on her face.

"I look like I ate myself," she laughed. We all knew it was fake, she did that when she felt insecure, she would make fun of herself. But we all knew that photo was killing her inside.

Jae slid it under the box picking up a new photo. Thea picked up her glass and finished its content.

"Oh my God, look at my hair," Jae frowned down at the photo in his hand.

"I remember that. We were doing our hair and Thea attacked you with bleach," Charlie commented.

"I didn't attack him, he was irritating me on purpose, I was only threatening him until he grabbed my wrists. Then I thought why not?" she shrugged.

"He didn't mind the skunk stripe, he is the one who said no when you offered to fix it," she added looking at Charlie.

"How do you feel about it now?" I raised an eyebrow.

"It's still cool," he shrugged.

He picked up a few more photos as Thea focused on pouring herself another drink, he slid the photos under the box before she seen them. I was assuming that they were more of her overweight, but he wouldn't admit that's what he was doing.

SAM

I was heading back down the hallway after going to the bathroom, Charlie was in the kitchen making herself a cup of tea.

"Oh my god," I froze.

"What?" Charlie came up behind me.

"Oh gross,"

"What are they doing?" I frowned,

"What did I miss?" BM came through the door, he'd gone into the bathroom after me.

"That's disgusting," he frowned lifting his phone to take a photo.

"What are you doing?" Charlie frowned at him.

"I'm getting photo evidence to show them in the morning,"

"Get a room," BM commented, it was supposed to be a joke, but Thea and Jae pulled away from each other and gave each other a look.

"That's a great idea," she rose to her feet, Jae followed inking hands.

"No!!" Charlie and BM stated at the same time.

BM was over there is a second, arm around Thea's waist. He pushed their hands apart and picked her up off the ground taking her to her room. At the same time, Charlie was pushing Jae down the hallway towards the spare room where she closed him in.

"The image of them is going to be seared into my brain for the rest of my life," Charlie shook her head coming back down the hallway.

"I think I'm going to throw up," BM commented coming out of her room.

"Do you have the Bluetooth printer for your phone?" BM asked Charlie.

"Yeah, why?"

"Because if the photo goes in the box, it can't be destroyed and if we're forced to remember that until we die, then so are they," he shrugged.

"Okay," she nodded going to find it.

I grabbed my keys, wallet and left, locking the door behind me. All three of them were sitting in silence, I didn't bother saying anything, I just started the car and drove. The hospital wasn't too far away, it was about 20 minute drive which didn't normally seem that long, but it a completely silent care it felt like hours.

When we finally arrived at the hospital, Charlie was still basically shut off, she walked between the boys who watched her like she would fall apart at any moment, which wasn't that far fetched.

We got to the front desk where a lady with a smile greeted us.

"Good afternoon, how can I help?"

"Yeah, hi, we're looking for Sam Kim, he was brought in not long ago, we were told he was in ICU,"

"Are you family?"

"He's out brother," I nodded.

"Okay, let me look him up for you,"

"I can't find his name, are you sure it was here he was brought?"

"The lady on the phone said Fiona Stanley and ICU," I stated trying to squash the ball of panic rising from mt stomach into my throat.

"Okay, just take a seat and I'll call the ICU to see if they have him, sometimes they don't have time to put them in the system," she stated.

I bit back my anger, I realised now was not the time or place to blow up at someone but the fact we didn't know what happened to him or why he was here in the first place was driving me insane.

We were there for almost twenty minutes before someone could tell us where he was. the lady at the counter finally stopped with her string of phone calls, and called me over.

"I'm so sorry, he isn't actually in ICU anymore, they're so busy up there today they didn't have time to update the files on system," she stated. My heart dropped and tears started to build, my nose started to sting.

"What do you mean he isn't in ICU anymore?"

MARK

"So last night was fun," Jackson stretched, we'd only woken up ten minutes ago, well I had, he only came out of his room about a minute ago.

"It was fine," I shrugged.

We ended up drinking with Drew for an hour or so, Jackson got a little towards the drunk side but not to the point he was a handful, I had a few drinks but was for the most part fine.

"That girl was crazy," he stated.

"Which one,"

"That BM guy's friend, I wonder if they got home okay?" he questioned thoughtfully.

"Who knows, she seemed like a psycho, girls like that shouldn't drink," I shrugged.

"So what's the plan for today?" I asked sipping at my coffee.

"I was going to take a drive out to see if another store had my phone model in stock because I won't have time to do it tomorrow before they shut and I need to make some calls today for work, but then I realised it was Sunday and they would be closed, so I'll just find the numbers in my contacts on iCloud and use the landline," he shrugged.

"What calls? It's a Sunday,"

"Roster and payslips," he shrugged, picking up the phone from the kitchen bench.

"And our landline is dead," he sighed sitting it in it's cradle to charge.

"Just use my phone," I shrugged throwing it too him.

"What is wrong with you?" he panicked as he reached to catch it.

"What if I had of dropped it?" he frowned at me.

"I would have just bought a new one tomorrow,"

"It must be nice to have to time to go to the phone store and just buy a new phone while you're supposed to be working. I'm going to have to use my lunch break," he huffed.

"Again, working is your choice. But I'll pick your phone up tomorrow so don't worry about it," I stated.

"Seriously?" he smirked slightly.

"Yeah, whatever. Just write the exact model you want and I'll pick it up from you tomorrow," I nodded.

"You're the best," he smiled.

"It's no issue," I shrugged.

BM

A nurse came to direct up through the hospital. The lady at the front desk had explained that he wasn't on the system in ICU because he was in the middle of being move out of there and into a private room, apparently he had private health insurance.

He was stable and no longer needed to be in ICU, which was good but Thea almost climbed over the desk and killed the lady for wording it like he had died.

Charlie was still in her own head, Jae and I walked either side of her as a precaution as the nurse explained the situation to Thea, she'd tried to talk to Charlie but she wasn't listening. She most likely wouldn't actually be able to function until she sees for her own eyes that he is okay. We got to his ward, Bianca was sitting in the waiting room when the nurse directed us down to Sam's room. She frowned as she seen us and got up.

"What are you doing here?" she frowned at Charlie who didn't even seem to register she was being spoken to.

"Charlie is his emergency contact, they called us," Thea stated.

"You can't go in his room," she crossed her arms over her chest defensively.

"Yes we can," she stated.

"I'm not aloud in his room," she defended.

"You're not his family," Thea retorted.

"I'm his girlfriend," she snapped.

"You're his play thing, now go away," Thea was getting angry, honestly her handle on her emotions was probably starting to wear away, she could only shut it off for so long.

"He loves me," she frowned.

"Lead the way," Thea ignored Bianca, turning back to the nurse.

"Unless Sam say's otherwise, you get to stay out here," she threw over her shoulder at Bianca.

"You can't do that,"

"I can actually," she nodded and we continued following the nurse down the hallway towards the room they had put Sam in, while Bianca just stood there frozen.

"I thought she would follow," Thea muttered more to herself than anyone else.

"She probably feels guilty," the nurse commented.

"She should, she gave him food poisoning," Thea shook her head.

"She is also the reason he had to have his stomach pumped, she gave us the wrong information and with the information she gave and his vomiting, we thought he had alcohol poisoning,"

"So he didn't need the pump?" I frowned.

"No," she shook her head.

"She is seriously the dumbest person I have ever met," Thea rolled her eyes.

"This is his room, I'll let the doctor know you're here and he will be by shortly to explain everything better to you," she smiled gesturing to the door on the left.

CHARLIE

We piled into the room, Sam was sitting up right in the hospital bed looking exhausted but there weren't any tubes sticking out of him, just the IV so he looked fine. The numbness faded and was replaced with concern, relief, and anger.

"Hey bro, you okay?" BM asked.

"You look like shit," Jae chimed in.

"Looks better than you do," Thea stated.

"You idiot," I shook my head. Sam gave a smile and laughed a little, he reached for his stomach and winced. The other three frowned at me.

"Don't laugh," I frowned sitting on the end of his hospital bed, kicking my shoes off I crossed my legs and kind of just glared at him while he talked with the others until the doctor came in.

SAM

The doctor walked him holding a clip board with what I assumed as my information on it. He frowned down at it and hummed over it before looking up.

"Mr Kim, how are you feeling?" he asked. Charlie's face had relaxed slightly but she still glared at me.

"Exhausted, like someone vacuumed my stomach and not in a good way," I shrugged.

"Is there a good way to vacuum someone's stomach?" Thea frowned. BM hushed her which resulted in her glaring and pouting at him.

"I apologise for that, we were lead to believe you had alcohol poisoning, so your stomach was pumped as protocol. We were misinformed, you were actually suffering from salmonella poisoning and a lactose attack. The reaching and vomiting from that caused a tear in your stomach which is where the blood was coming from," he explained.

Thea frowned at me, Charlie glared, and both boys rolled their eyes.

"But he's okay right?" BM asked.

"He's alright, we're just going to keep him in for a couple days for observation and to make sure the tear gets better and not worse,"

"Thank you doctor," Thea gave a small smiled, the doctor nodded and left the room.

"Just so you know if you weren't hospitalised I would hit you," Thea stated.

"Thea, be nice," BM stated.

"Why? He was stupid enough to eat something he knows his stomach can handle on top of eating something someone who has zero experience in cooking made him, that's self inflicted,"

"Thanks for the sympathy Thea," I nodded.

"She's just being mean so she doesn't cry," BM stated.

"I can hit you," she warned.

"With your little feather punches?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Both of you knock it off," Charlie rolled her eyes as there was a knock at the door.

"Sorry, there is a Beunka out here who says she's your girlfriend and is wanting to see you," the nurse poped her head in.

"No," both girls stated as I nodded.

"Ignore them, they're just mad. She can come in," I nodded.

"Why would you do that?" Thea frowned. Charlie just rolled her eyes.

Bianca rushed into the room to my side, she glared at the girls, mainly Charlie for sitting at the foot of my bed, but there was no way she was going to move especially if it was an issue for Bianca.

"Oh my god, baby are you okay?" she looked my over grabbing hold of me hand.

"I'm fine," I sighed.

"No thanks to you," Thea snapped.

Charlie looked like she wanted to kill Bianca, but she stayed quiet, probably biting her tongue. Thea wasn't exactly capable of doing that. I think if Charlie opened her mouth things would get ugly.

"Me? You let him drink and get alcohol poisoning," Bianca defended herself.

"He didn't have food poisoning," Charlie seethed through clenched teeth.

"How do you explain him throwing up blood and needing his stomach pumped," she asked full of attitude.

"First of all, he didn't need his stomach pumped, secondly, he didn't drink enough to get alcohol poisoning, thirdly, he is a grown ass man, no one lets him drink he's an adult capable of making his own dumb decisions, and finally you fed him dairy when he was lactose intolerant and you used either bad or under cooked chicken or eggs and gave him food poisoning. So don't act all high and mighty when you almost killed him,"

"He's not lactose intolerant, and even if he was I didn't put lactose in it, so it wasn't my cooking,"

BM

The way Bianca said it insinuated that it was Thea's cooking that had almost killed Sam. Thea was quiet for a moment, her teeth clenched, her fist in balls, her eyes fixed on Bianca. Out of the many moods Thea has, this one was both the scariest and hardest to predict, the calm before the storm, or at least the silence. Silent Thea only meant a handful of things, she was asleep, she was in pain, she didn't have a response to the insult because it had actually hurt her, or she was trying to calm herself so she didn't physically assault you, the restraint never lasted long. It didn't take a genius to figure out which one fit the situation.

"Thea knows how to cook, and he has only eaten food you've cooked in the last 24 hours," Charlie defended.

"Sam can you please tell them it wasn't my cooking? And clearly Thea messed up somewhere," she rolled her eyes turning to Sam.

Thea took a deep breath. Usually a sign that the restraint she had was about to slip.

"How else would she know it was egg or chicken. She knows it was her and she's trying to blame me," she continued.

"Why don't we go and get coffee, who wants coffee?" I stood up dragging her with me.

"I'm good," Charlie and Jae stated at the same time.

"God no," Sam shook his head.

"We'll be back," I stated lifting Thea off the ground as she went to lunge herself at Bianca.

CHARLIE

"It wasn't my cooking," Bianca stated again.

"It sort of was," Sam grimaced.

"But I didn't use lactose. Where do you even find that vegetable?" she frowned.

"Oh my god," Jae mumbled.

"Lactose is in milk genius," I rolled my eyes.

"Why are you sitting on his bed?" she turned to me and frowned.

"Because I am,"

"You have a habit of sitting or sleeping in his bed," she stated.

"What is your point?"

"He's my boyfriend, not yours,"

"That's fantastic, do you always try to kill your boyfriends?" I asked emotionless.

"I didn't try to kill him,"

"Okay," I nodded not really want to make Sam anymore uncomfortable that he already was.

"Get off his bed," she frowned.

"No,"

"Yes,"

"Beunka, she's not doing anything wrong," Sam sighed.

"She is trying to take my place,"

"She's just sitting there," he sighed again.

"Yeah it's not like they're sleeping together," Jae stated. Both Sam and I glared at him then Sam avoided looking at me.

"You realised he probably doesn't want to deal with an argument, What with getting sick and almost dying," I stated, she just rolled her eyes and ignored me.

SAM

Thea and BM had come back not long ago, Thea looked like she'd been crying so I was getting whatever emotional block she had put up to get everyone here had dissipated. But I was thankful for them being back, I felt a little less trapped.

Bianca had sat coddling me while simultaneously glaring at Charlie, and Charlie had refused to move and ignored anything Bianca said to her. Which irritates her and Jae wasn't helping with his commentary that just annoyed her more, sometimes I swear Bianca pretended to be dumb, but I think it's more the case she is only some what smart when it comes to certain things, like jealousy because there is no way someone can fake being that dumb for so long.

"Yo, what's the time?" Jae asked as he was pulling his phone from his pocket.

"Oh I've got work," he continued.

"I'll take you," Thea offered, it wasn't really weird for her to offer/mother. But it was a little strange that she was being nice to Jae, their relationship is literally built on insults and making fun of each other.

"Why?" he frowned skeptically.

"Because by the time you leave here by bus and get home to get change and then leave for work, you'll be late," she shrugged.

"So you're going to drive me all the way to work?"

"I was going to just drive you to the house but yeah I guess I can do that," she shrugged.

"Are you okay?" Jae raised an eyebrow.

"I'm fine, I'm going to the bathroom while you make up your mind," she stated leaving the room.

"She's weird today," Jae frowned.

"She's been crying, she's probably feeling a little too drained to fight with you," BM stated.

"Why was she crying?"

"Because the rest of is suck in situations like this," I shrugged regretting the movement.

"And she cries at everything," BM added.

"She deals with you lot no wonder she cries," Charlie stated.

"How has she managed to make this about her?" Bianca sighed rolling her eyes.

No one said anything, it looked like Charlie wanted to but she just rolled her eyes and kept quiet, which I was thankful for. I honestly didn't want to lay here and listen to them arguing.

"Dude, where's your necklace?" Charlie frowned.

I reached up to my neck suddenly feeling the absence of the chain and pendant that usually hangs around it and there was nothing.

"I don't know?" I said slowly.

CHARLIE

"They took it off you when you were brought in," Bianca shrugged as if it were nothing.

"Why?" Sam frowned.

"Dude it's protocol, relax, I'll go ask for it," BM stated trying to keep the piece.

Everyone knew how much that necklace meant to Sam, you didn't even need to know why to know; I mean he has never taken it off.

"It's just a necklace, it's not important right now, Sam should be resting," Bianca stated.

"Charlie why don't you come with me?" BM stated before I could say anything. Usually I wouldn't have gotten off the bed, but I needed a minute or two away from Bianca before I peeled her face of her skull.

"You don't need to play guardian all the time," I sighed as we walked down the hall way towards the reception for this wing.

"I like playing guardian," he shrugged.

"How are you doing?" he asked after we were quiet for a moment.

"I'm fine," shrugged.

"Really? Because you seem kind of mad," he hummed.

"Because she infuriates me, she's ridiculously dumb and she annoys me,"

"Okay," he nodded.

"So you slept with Sam?" he gave me a side glance.

"What's your point?" I raised and eyebrow as we got to the desk.

"I don't have one," he shrugged turning his attention to nurse.

BM

"How can I help you?" the nurse smiled at us.

"Our brother down the the hall had his necklace removed when they took him through. We were just wondering where we would get it from?" I asked.

"What was your brothers name?"

"Sam Kim,"

"Oh, we handed that straight over to the girl that came in with him, she should have all of his stuff,"

"Bitch," Charlie mumbled turning around heading back towards Sams room.

"Thank you for your help, that wasn't directed at you," I gave her a smile before chasing after Charlie.

She was already half way back down the hallway, to be fair it wasn't a long hallway but Charlie was livid.

THEA

Jae and I walked back through the halls. We'd gotten half way back to the house when he'd realised he'd got his days mixed up and didn't actually have work so we turned around and came back. As we turned the corner we seen Charlie in Bianca's face a few meters away from Sams door.

Charlie look furious, Bianca look terrified and was failing at trying to show she wasn't. It was weird, I mean we don't like Bianca, and sure we make comments at her or about her and I've almost smacked her once or twice but, not Charlie. Charlie had an amazing hold on her temper, she generally just let things go because she didn't see the point in getting so worked up over something, it was probably a lot to do with her growing up with her brothers. I looked at the scene, clearly Bianca had pushed it too far, I noticed the necklace hanging from Bianca's hand, I couldn't be sure but from where I was standing it looked broken. Charlie snatched the necklace from her and slapped her across the face.

BM was quick to snake and arm around her waist and pull her away from a cowering Bianca, Jae jogged down the hallway, me not too far behind.

"Dude," Jae frowned, clearly I wasn't the only one confused by her mood.

"Put me down," she snapped at BM who was unsure if he should do it or not. He looked to me for help.

She wasn't me, she'd already got a smack in and was done, she probably just wanted to be alone right now. I nodded and he placed her back on her feet.

"Can I have your keys please?" she asked, I didn't think twice I just handed her my car keys and she made her way down the way Jae and I had just come.

"Are you going to explain what happened?" I turned to BM.

SAM

Jae, BM, and Thea made their way back into my room. Their mood was different from when they left.

"Where are Bianca and Charlie?"I frowned.

Bianca had left not long ago to go to the bathroom I was a little worried she'd got lost.

"Bianca went home and Charlie had to go do something," Thea shrugged.

"What?"

"Don't know, she just said she'll be back," she shrugged again, Jae rolled his eyes at her, it wasn't his normal Thea eye roll and this wasn't really a situation for it anyway but I didn't think too much into it.

"Okay, did you find my necklace?" I turned to BM.

"Yeah, they have it locked away there getting a someone to go get it and bring it too you, everyone is just busy right now," BM stated not really looking at me. Jae rolled his eyes again.

"What?" I frowned at him.

"They don't have your necklace," Jae started. My heart stopped.

"What?" I felt like ice.

"Jae," Thea frowned at him.

"What? I'm not going to lie to him," Jae shrugged.

"Where is it then?" I asked a little worried about what they would say.

"Are you going to explain what you saw or do I have to tell him from what I was told?" He asked

BM

"Charlie is going to kill us both," BM sighed.

"She'll get over it," Jae shrugged.

"Can someone tell me what happened to my necklace?"

"They gave it to Bianca when they took it off you, Charlie and I were coming back down the hall after being told this and Bianca was standing outside your door with it in her hand before we reached her she pulled it until the chain snapped, Charlie, I assume, has gone to get it fixed," BM explained.

"You assume?"

"She got mad and slapped Bianca which is why Bianca left, then asked for Thea's keys and left without another word, she has your necklace now," BM continued.

CHARLIE

I'd walked in and out of three different jewelers, none of them could fix it on sight they all had to send it away and I couldn't do that, I could let someone else look after something so important so I just kept looking for someone who could fix it on site. It wasn't like it was be actual chain that was broken, it was just the clasp.

I was walking into another jeweler when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I figured it was either Jae or Thea trying to see where I am.

"Good afternoon, how can I help you?" an elderly Scottish man greeted. It was an old school jeweler, privately owned not one of the big name chains so I was hoping he wouldn't have to send it away.

"I have a necklace with a broken clasp that I need fixed today,"

"What kind of clasp?"

I pulled Sam's necklace from my pocket and hesitantly pasted it too him, he lent over the glass display cabinet full of antique jewelry.

"When was the last time this was maintained?"

"I'm not sure, it's my friends, he got it from his grandmother a few years ago, I don't think he's taken it off since, so at least 4 years," I shrugged.

"Mm," he nodded.

"Can you fix it? Without sending it away,"

"Lass, look around you, this isn't the type of place that sends things to others to do their job, I can have this fixed for you in 10 minutes, if you don't mind waiting,"

"I don't mind," I shook my head.

"Take a seat then lass, back in a moment," he gestured to and old style lounge.

I sat down, and checked my phone.

(1) New Message(s)

Sam: I can get it fixed later, so calm down and come back to the hospital. Thea's mothering me and won't go away, come save me.