On to the next one!

99999

*Zee's POV

Carly sent me an emergency text, so naturally I nagged Aaron into driving over and investigating. I leapt out his car, tucking and rolling expertly as I had practiced for weeks. I ended with a secret agent pose.

"Was that really necessary?" Aaron was still in the car.

"Nah," I admitted "But it was freaking awesome!"

He began mumbling something to himself. I ignored him, creeping up the walkway to their house. It's a good thing I'm a slow creeper, because moments before I reached for the door it swung right open and revealed Clarice's tear-stained face. She gave me a look of pure hatred as she lugged two suitcases right past me.

"He's going to leave you one day!" she screamed at the house "And then you'll be sorry! Don't come to me then!"

"Trust me, I won't!" Carly's Mom yelled right back.

This was even better than I thought.

I squeezed past, slipping into the door. Poor Aaron was forced to help Clarice follow her bags. If only he'd tucked and rolled as I suggested. I shook my head pityingly. Inside the living room it looked like a scene from a Lifetime movie. Mariska was drying any remnant of tears while leaning her head on Carly's shoulder. Nate was seated on the other side of Carly, looking perplexed and confused. Kirk stood behind the couch, mentally debating whether to hug Carly or body slam Nate. It was all so beautiful.

"Hey guys," I said softly "What's going on? I saw your Aunt burst through the door, is she leaving?"

Carly nodded.

"Oh okay. Bye Mariska!" I waved cheerily "We'll miss you!"

"I'm staying." Mariska informed me.

"Oh. Cool."

The silence that followed can only be described as awkward. I attempted whistling, but Aaron once described my whistling as the sound of a squirrel breaking wind. Then I remembered my job. "Hi Nate." I said with a devious grin.

Unnerved by my grin, Nate returned my greeting "Hello Zee. It's nice to see you again."

"You too. Carly invited you over?"

"Yeah," he seemed relieved that someone was talking to him. He must've been a lonely child. "We figured it was time for me to meet her family."

Kirk scowled fiercely. If I didn't know any better I'd say he was pouting. This sent me into a wave of giggles. Now Nate wasn't the only person sending me perplexed looks.

"It's just so adorable." I lied quickly, my giggles masking the false note in my voice "I remember when Aaron first met my family. I was surprised he didn't run the other way."

"Your family's cool." Aaron said, appearing in the doorway. He nodded at Kirk, raised an eyebrow at Nate, and wrapped an arm around my waist. I wiggled a little. PDA still freaks me out.

"Yeah, but Carly's is nuts. You know a home environment is reflective of a person." I stage whispered to Nate "For all you know Carly could be a retired axe murderer. I've seen her decapitate Cabbage Patch Kids before when she threw a temper. One day it's a cabbage patch kid, the next it's your own cabbage head." I informed sagely.

"Zee!" Aaron and Carly sounded appalled.

I shrugged "It's true!"

"It's fine." Nate smiled sincerely. Why did we have to pick such a perfect guy? Next time I manipulate someone I'm making sure they have a haunting past and feel compelled to talk like a pirate. "I think everyone's family is secretly insane."

"Really?" Now Carly was smiling up at him.

"Really."

"Oh gag me!" I groaned.

Kirk, whose eyes were suddenly tight and fists clenched, cleared his throat slightly. "I'll see you later."

"You're leaving?" Carly and I asked in unison. Oh maybe there was hope for her after all!

He nodded, having exhausted his vocabulary for the day. He gave a slight wave/salute thing and sauntered out the house. My heart went out to him. It was so obvious he was enamored with my best friend. Watching her flirt with Nate had to be painful for him. I wanted so badly to make things better, or to at least get Kirk and Carly talking.

I hugged my best friend "I will kill you." I whispered comfortingly.

"Thanks?"

99999

*Carly's POV

Mariska is Eighteen, which made her living with us easy since she was now considered a legal adult. We rearranged my room, deciding that we should split it evenly. I let her have the bed out of the kindness of my heart, and also because Rick promised to buy me one of those fancy foam beds. Mariska could keep the squeaky springs for all I cared.

Michael was still hesitant around our cousin, mindful of the miseries she and her Mom had caused us. I tried reassuring him but I knew that it would take time for him to feel comfortable. Until then I advised Mariska to be on her best behavior around him.

Zee seemed disappointed with me, which was weird. I'd done the right thing! I got rid of Clarice, forgave Mariska, and made everybody happy again. Still she insisted on clicking her tongue and shaking her head pityingly whenever she saw me. I didn't see much of Kirk since that day. I didn't know whether I was relieved or not. I was grateful that I had time to think but kind of missed his caveman grunts.

Nate spent the rest of the evening at my house. He was charming and polite, and even Michael liked him. I tried to tell myself that he was perfect, but somehow perfect just wasn't doing it for me.

The next few days were strangely pleasant. Minus Brianna sending me death glares from across the cafeteria, I'd say that everything was perfect. Nate texted and called me frequently, Mariska and I were getting along, my Mom was singing showtunes again, and life had somehow fallen back into a comfortable pattern.

Why wasn't I happy then?

"Because your heart beats for-" I slapped a hand over Zee's mouth, cutting off her sentence. She said this close to five times a day.

That was not true. My heart didn't beat for Kirk any harder than it'd beat for a jelly donut. My best friend was clearly insane, but I'd been suspecting that since the third grade.

Lunch period was comfortably awkward. Kirk didn't sit at the 'OMG I'm popular!' table, so Mariska was uncertain what to do with herself. I scooted over, making room for her. Brianna watched this transaction with narrowed eyes. I did my best to ignore her while Reggie and Aaron discussed some basketball game.

"Where's Kirk?" Zee asked out of the blue. Because we were seated close together, I could feel Mariska stiffen at the name of her ex-boyfriend.

"I don't know." Reggie answered; his baby blue eyes concerned "I really haven't seen much of him lately. Think something pissed him off?"

"Maybe Mariska knows." Brianna joined in, eyeing my cousin cruelly "After all, you two did just break up, right? Did he take the break-up extra hard? No wait of course not, after all he wanted it. Isn't that right Reggie?"

That was kind of mean. "Brianna…" I said warningly.

Brianna surprised me by giving me a warm smile. She really was a beautiful girl. If only she didn't have such a hideous soul "It's okay Carly, now Mariska's knocked off her high horse and you can have Kirk all to yourself. Just like we planned."

"What?" Mariska and I yelled.

She shrugged, widening her eyes innocently "It's the truth, right Carly?"

Everyone looked at me. "Well…" I blustered "Sort of, but that was only when she first came here! I stopped wanting that!"

"Carly," Mariska said softly "You wanted this?"

"No!" I slapped my palms on the table "I didn't want Kirk! I wanted you and Clarice to move out."

"Think about it." Zee interceded before Brianna could spread more of her poison. "If Carly were really this evil manipulator, why would she invite you to stay in her house? Why didn't she just let you leave? Don't let Brianna fool you. I didn't want you here at first, but now I see you've changed. We all have."

Mariska paused, considering. I stared at Zee in shock. "What?" she asked, affronted "You think I can't be the voice of reason?"

I was relieved that Brianna didn't get the results she'd expected. I could only handle so much drama before I self-destructed. "She's just a bully," I said softly "Like Penelope. And we all know what happened to her."

Our gazes were drawn to a table in a corner where Penelope sat with a few of her faithful followers, talking angrily and making violent gestures. "She's like a crazy person." Zee said sagely.

Brianna shuddered "I am nothing like her. I'm no backstabber, and I certainly wouldn't cheat on my Reggie." She planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Nobody wants your 'throne'" I said tiredly "And nobody at this table wants Reggie, no offense Reggie." I added quickly. He just smiled. "Just let it be." I slapped a hand over Zee's mouth before she could burst into song, The Beatles being one of her favorite bands.

Brianna stared at me, as if reading a very complicated book. "You're something else, Carly." She said. I wasn't sure whether that was meant to be a compliment. "I guess you're my competition now."

I slapped my palm to my face. Some people never learn.

999999999999

School couldn't end fast enough for me. Kirk was absent from biology and Nate continued to text me. I liked the fact that he was attentive, but something about the constant texts bothered me. I started ignoring the buzz of my phone.

I was walking towards my jeep when I saw something unusual. The hood was up, and Kirk's familiar bottom was sticking out of it. His hands were working furiously, removing parts and depositing them on the ground.

It didn't look like he was fixing it. In fact, it looked like he was taking it apart. That didn't make any sense. I walked closer, my footsteps speeding up as did my heartbeat.

"What the hell are you doing?" I shrieked as a pretty big piece crashed on the ground.

Kirk stood upright, unsurprised. He just watched me, his eyes searching as always.

I ignored the weird tingling in my stomach. "I said, what the hell are you doing?"

He glanced at the scattering of engine parts then lazily dragged his gaze back to me. "The same thing I've been doing for months. Messing up your Jeep."

I wasn't expecting that "What? What are you talking about? You've been fixing it!"

Then I remembered when he would come to class with grease stains on his shirt. "Haven't you ever wondered why your Jeep suddenly started falling apart? And so frequently?"

It all made sense, in a weird, twisted, Kirk-like way. "But-but…." I floundered helplessly "Why?" I managed to squeak.

He gave me a look which clearly read 'what do you think?'

I didn't know what to think, or rather I didn't want to. I suddenly found my faded gray sneakers very interesting. I wanted to duck and hide from his piercing gaze, but I knew he'd find me. "Why?" I whispered "Why me?"

He just kept staring, obviously too busy for words.

"It doesn't make any sense…" I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts "Mariska is prettier, and more fun to be around. There are plenty of girls here. Why me?"

Kirk looked away. His body language calm as ever while I trembled like a leaf in a hurricane.

Part of me was excited, happy even. But the other part was more scared than I'd ever been before. I could feel my body's defense mechanisms kicking in. I needed to get out of this situation, ASAP. I wasn't prepared for this kind of attack on my emotions. I grasped desperately at straws "What about Nate?" I cursed the words they left my mouth.

"What about him?" Kirk finally responded, both verbally and physically, his shoulders stiffening.

I tried to stop myself "He's my boyfriend. We care about each other, a lot."

He tried doing that piercing eye-thingy, so I looked away. "Really." He said flatly.

"My family likes him. Zee likes him." I continued, feeling like an even bigger bitch than Brianna. "He's perfect."

"Because he's rich?" Kirk said quickly, his voice faltering ever so slightly. Only an expert on Kirk could notice the difference.

"Because he's perfect." I winced inwardly. I hated perfect. Why did I say that? I started to backpedal
"But-"

"No." Kirk took a step back "I get it. Honestly I do. You don't want to be with a poor kid, whose Dad's in jail, and whose only talent is fixing cars and getting peons to respect me." I couldn't believe he was talking so much, but he pressed on "Nate," he spat the name out "Is probably perfect, sweet, charming, funny and talks, just like a good boyfriend should. It makes sense Carly."

I was stunned that A. he spoke that much, and B. He said my name. I couldn't remember him ever saying my name before. "You can dance." Was all I could say. "That's a talent."

He almost smiled, and turned to leave. "Sorry about your Jeep." He said over his shoulder, and walked off before I could gather my thoughts.

I probably would've stood there all day, staring at my damaged Jeep, if Aaron' hadn't pulled up alongside me. Zee was in the passenger seat and looked concerned. "Carly! What happened to your Jeep? And why does Kirk look like someone ran over his dog?"

I forced a smile "I don't know, um, can I get a ride? Just give me a few minutes to put the parts inside my car."

I worked in silence for five minutes.

"Carly," Zee's voice was stern "Is there something you aren't telling me?"

"Yup!" I said honestly, locking the Jeep.

999999

My house was strangely silent without the presence of Aunt Clarice. I reclaimed my couch the instant she moved out. I loved this couch. But, sitting on it now, I felt like I wanted more, which didn't make any sense. I tried to shake the feeling, preoccupying myself with the stupidity of reality shows.

"What are you watching hon?" Mom came up behind me and peered at the television "Reality TV? I thought you hated that stuff! You always go on about how it's demeaning and melts brain cells and how it's proof that the Soviets have won."

"Mom…" I groaned into my hands "Would you believe me if I said I screwed up today?"

"Yeah." She said without hesitation "You're my daughter," she laughed "and besides everyone makes mistakes. It's having the conscience to repair them that makes us special." She rubbed my shoulders in a gentle, Mom-like gesture.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Nate. Again. I groaned again, shoving the phone back. Mom caught onto that. "Hon, wasn't that the sweet boy you invited over the other day?"

I nodded miserably.

Mom hummed for a moment. "You're not that into him, are you?"

I shook my head miserably.

She sucked in a breath, leaning against the top of the couch so her chin was resting on the top of my head. It bounced on my head as she talked "Well, seems to me you have the responsibility of letting that boy exactly how you feel, or don't feel. You can't just string him along like this. It's cruel and it's hurting you as much as it's hurting him."

"But he's so nice!" I wailed "I just can't do that to him!"

"If he's that nice, then he'll understand."

"I wish I could just make myself fall in love with him." I pouted "Then I wouldn't be in this mess."

I could almost hear my Mom smiling. "Ahhh, you mean that Kirk boy don't you?"

"What?" I said too loudly "No!"

"Oh yes," she cackled. Obviously she was spending too much time around Zee. "I saw him looking at you when he thought no one else could see. That boy is definitely into you." She giggled "It was adorable, really. He's so handsome too!"

"Nate's handsome." I grumbled.

"Yes, in a very clean-cut, Barbie and Ken type of way." She conceded, going back to rubbing my shoulders. "Technically speaking, he's the perfect guy. He's rich, sweet, handsome, everything a prince charming should be. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that our hearts never do what they're supposed to do. If your heart wants someone or something else, then it's your duty to follow it, otherwise you can't truly be happy."

I glared at the TV, where a woman with perfect teeth was selling toothpaste. "Hearts lie."

"They can," Mom agreed "which is why we have our minds to help balance them out. So, what are they telling you?"

"That I'm messed up."

"Well, I could've told you that." She joked, and then softened up "its okay hon. No one said you had to make any big decisions right now. Just think about it for a while. Make a list, if it helps."

"A list?" I frowned "Of what?"

"Things you like about Nate and things you like about Kirk."

"What good will that do?"

She stood up straight, stretching her tired arms. "You'll see." She said mysteriously.

999999

I sat in my room an hour later, staring at the pathetic list I'd written up. Under Nate I'd written: 1. He's Nice. 2. He thinks I'm funny. 3. He has a nice car. 4. Zee likes him (which isn't saying much, she also likes Richard Simmons). 5. He isn't freaked out by my family. 6. He said he likes me. 7. Did I mention he's nice?

I wanted to kick somebody. I started writing under Kirk. 1. His smile. 2. How you have to earn every smile. 3. He's good at biology. 4. He can fix cars. 5. He can dance. 6. He can make a room go quiet.7. He doesn't talk all the time. 8. His handwriting. 9. How he's always there for his friends, like the time Reggie and Aaron got in a fight and he was the one to stop them before they could get in trouble. 10. That fist-bump thingy he does with Aaron. 11. The way he said my name. 12. Zee likes him. 13. My Mom thinks he's handsome. 14. He tried bidding for me. 15. He dated Mariska, just to make me happy. 16. He sits in the corner with me at parties. 17. His eyes. 18. He has really nice teeth. 19. He took apart my car, just to fix it so he could spend time with me. 20. He's not perfect. 21-

My phone buzzed again. This time it was Aaron. "Yes oh great one?"

"Do you really like that Nate guy so much?" He demanded.

I glanced at the lists and began to smile "You know, I'm not so sure about that anymore."

99999

*End Chapter

So it's short. Sorry about that. I'm hoping to finish before I go back to school (seriously this time!)