I slowly opened my eyes with a sight to see.

Jordan was snoring right on my face. I did a double take, I could still smell the pizza from last night. I focused my eyes from the bright light and looked around. I was lying right on top of Jordan who had his arm around my waist. I shifted under his loose grip, but his arm suddenly tightened like I was some teddy bear. I placed my hands on his chest and tried to pry away from him. But there was a huge weight right on top of me.

I craned my head behind me and saw Declan right on top of me. His leg was propped on my head, an arm was rested on top of the couch's arm rest. And his head was on top of my... my eyes widened in realization, that is not my back. I tried to shake his head off my trunk, but it was as if he was glued to it. Finally his head rolled off and landed near Jordan's... no man's land. I made a face, well at least it's not mine. But then I realized something. If I was on top of Jordan and Declan was on top of me... Where's Bennett?

There was a loud snort below me. I looked down and saw to my horror that everyone was piled on top of Bennett. His legs were propped on top of the couch's back. Everyone was right on top of his stomach, but he was lying horizontal instead of like us who were lying vertical. His head was on the ground, having his hair fanned out onto the rug. His arm was over his face, covering his eyes as he snored. With his hair in that position, you could see the glint of his earrings in the light.

I let out a sigh. How am I going to get out of this mess? I tried to shimmy out of the body sandwich I was in. I didn't want to wake them up. I had enough sleep for the whole week, and thought they should get the sleep. I wanted to get out of this position as carefully as I could possibly-

Jordan suddenly rolled to his side, taking me with him. Meaning also taking Declan with him. I yelped as I fell of the couch crashing onto Bennett. His eyes shot wide open on impact, and groaned under my weight.

Then Declan's.

Then Jordan's.

Declan rolled of the couch with a yelp of a curse. His arms were flying frantically in the air, trying to keep his balance or grab something. But he landed face first onto the ground. I was trying to get off of Bennett as this happened, but he knocked me off my landing on top of me. I groaned, Bennett groaned, and Declan groaned. I tried to get up again along with Declan and Bennett when we all thought the same thing at the same time. We looked up and saw Jordan who was still fast asleep. He was lying face up of the couch. His body was hanging off the couch. If he moved just an inch, he'll fall right on top of us.

I gulped. Just don't wake up Jordan. Whatever you do, don't wake up. Obviously, he didn't listen to me. He woke up through a half snore. He tried to sit up, looking around where we were. But he didn't realize he was hanging off the couch. He wanted to sit up with his elbow propping him up. But his arm didn't touch anything and slipped into the air. He rolled off the couch and landed right on top of Declan, then me, then Bennett. All four of us grunted under his weight, then groaned in pain.

Jordan yawned. "Well, isn't this cozy."

"Ugh, how much do you weigh?" Declan demanded to Jordan.

"You should be asking yourself the same thing!" I retorted at Declan.

Bennett grunted. "I'm the one taking all of the damage," he choked out.

Everyone burst out laughing. Well, I don't know about Bennett, he sounded like he was having a cross between seizure or choking something.

"But no seriously," Declan said, pausing from laughing. "How much do you weigh? You could set a new record."

"Just get off," I begged. "I can't breathe. And I don't think Bennett can either."

"C-can't breath!" Bennett said. Hopefully he was joking. Hopefully.

"I think I'm going to pass out," I muttered, slowly closing my eyes. "Wake me up when the weight's all over."

Reluctantly, the two of them rolled off the mountain of bodies. I sat up to get off of Bennett who immediately exhaled in relief. His legs were still propped up on top of the couch which the rest of his body was on the ground. The funny position was amusing given to his usual brooding, calm self. He moved his legs of the couch and sat up with a grunt. He jumped to his feet then held his hand out to me. I took it and he helped me off the floor. Declan and Jordan were stretching, cracking their necks, rolling their shoulders, after waking up in such uncomfortable sleeping positions. Bennett grabbed the remote and turned of the TV that was still blaring the main menu of Netflix, probably all night.

"Did I fell asleep during the movie?" Jordan asked to himself. "That sucks."

"I was having a nice dream," Declan muttered, "It was a nice dream."

"Yeah, me too," Bennett said. "I think."

My eyes flicked to his hands, I still haven't forgotten what happened last night. He was twisting his ring from his finger as he stared at it. I looked at him and his eyes met might. Startled, I turned away and did a fake yawn. Suddenly I heard something, it was faint, but I heard it.

Buzz

Buzz

Buzz

I looked around the room. "Do you guys hear something?"

The others looked around the room too. Then they paused, probably hearing the same thing I was listening too. Automatically, they reached into their pockets in unison, taking out their phones.

"Not mine."

"Me neither."

"Mine's silent."

Then something dawned to me. "My phone's on vibrate." I said slowly, then looking at the three of them. "I know that sound anywhere. Is it here?"

They looked at each other, sharing a look. Then Jordan looked back at me and smiled. "Yup, I got your backpack from your locker, locker #314, right?"

"Yeah, how did you know-?"

He shrugged. "I got my ways."

"But how did you open-?"

He shrugged once more. "I got my ways."

My phone vibrated once more. I followed the sound until I looked at the door of the apartment. My backpack was hanging on a hook behind the door. I ran towards it, not bothering to go around the couch and instead jumped over it. I grabbed my backpack and zipped it open. My hand fished inside my bag until I got hold of it. As soon as I got it, I accepted the call and placed it next to my ear.

"Hello?" I said, hesitantly.

"Naomi?" A familiar voice answered back.

I blinked. "Mom?" I looked at the guys and motioned them to be quiet.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, were you asleep?" My mom asked me in alarm. "Did I wake you up? You voice sounds a bit groggy, so I must have."

I shook my head, then forgot she was on the phone and wouldn't see me. "No mom, I woke up a while ago. Don't worry."

"Oh," she said, sighing with relief. "I'm glad."

"So," I said, awkwardly. "Did you call to see if I was awake or something?"

"Or something," she answered my question. "Guess what?"

"What?" I said, trying to hide the impatience in my voice.

"The Myers are coming over for dinner tonight!" My mom practically squealed.

The color in my face drained away. Did she just say the Myers? The Myers? As in Raymond and his parents? My mom kept on repeating my name, asking if I was still there. But her voice tuned out of my ears as I stared at the wall, at nothing. At the corner of my eye, the guys noticed my sudden move change. They also asked what's wrong, but I didn't answer.

"Naomi? Hello? Are you still there?"

I cleared my throat. "Y-yeah, still here."

"I'm sorry," she said, continuing, "but you're going to have to cut your sleepover short with your friend. You have to come back for the dinner. It's our turn to host the dinner, and after Anna's delicious roast beef, I don't know how I can top it off during this dinner. Oh dear, I don't know what I should cook..."

I didn't bother whining the usual, 'But mom...' There were countless of times I begged her to let me sit out the dinners when either going to their house or attending our dinner. Even after all of the excuses I can think of like being sick or having a project to do, none of them fazed either of my parents. They were relentless for me to go to the dinners and refused to not let me go to them.

"You could try your duck entree," I offered, "Maybe try a different sauce, something sweeter. And for dessert, you can make cinnamon rolls, you remember how everyone in the school bakery fundraising loved them."

Which they did back in junior year. Though most kids told me they tasted disgusting, it didn't stop them or their parents for seconds and later the recipe. I glanced back at the guys again. Declan and Jordan were sitting on the he couch watching TV. The two of them lost interest in the conversation. But Bennett was still listening into the conversation, which I now noticed his head turned when I mentioned 'duck entree'.

"Yes!" She exclaimed, having me move the phone away from my ear for a moment. "You're brilliant Naomi! I'd like to see Anna top that!"

I smiled, even though I shouldn't be.

"Naomi, you have to go to the dinner, okay?" My mom asked me.

"Yes, mom." I said, obeying her like the good daughter I am.

"But come here around seven, the dinner will start at eight. Go to school, which obviously you're doing-" she laughed to herself, I didn't laugh along with her "and you can hang out with your friend, but go home directly."

"Yes, mom," I repeated.

"Okay, have fun! And tell Jodie I said hi!"

Before I could ask her who Jodie was, including blowing my cover, she instantly hung up. I turned around to the guys who were all looking at me. Declan was about to open his mouth to ask the question they were all probably thinking, but I interrupted him with my own.

"Who's Jodie?"

Jordan instantly raised his hand. "Present!"

I blinked. "Jodie? That's the best you can come up with? Jodie?"

He looked suddenly offended. "Okay, look. I'm sorry that using my awesome computer skills and being able to change my voice into a girl's doesn't amaze you. But coming up with a name was the last thing I thought of until your mom happened to ask the question. So what else was I going to say? Jodie Walker was the first thing to pop into my head."

I turned to the other guys. "So what, Declan is Decca Linwood and Bennett with be Beatrice Franklin?"

"Well if it comes to that..." Jordan said.

"This is unbelievable," I said, walking over to the couch and plopping down to a seat between Beatrice and Decca.

"What is?" Declan asked. "The name thing? Or something else."

"Something else," I answered.

The three of them looked at me expectantly, waiting for my answer. Reluctantly I sighed and gave in.

"My parents and Raymond's parents are a bit... close."

They stared at me with blank faces. I gulped at the intense stares I was getting.

Then Jordan suddenly burst out laughing then turned all serious. "Please tell me it's a different Raymond."

"No, no it isn't."

"Wow," Bennett muttered, turning off the TV. "Life must be really cruel."

"Quite," I agreed. "The four of them knew each other in college, my parents were high school sweethearts and also Raymond's. When they found out they lived in the same city and had kids the same age, we instantly hooked up like some sort of joined family or something. Now once a month, sometimes twice if I'm unlucky, we would alternate going to each other's houses for them to host a dinner and catch up. And every time, after dinner, when our parents go to the living room to chat and drink wine, Raymond and I are forced to go to each others rooms..." My voice faltered.

Declan's face hardened. "And what?"

I shook my head. "Nothing I couldn't manage. He couldn't hit me, or my parents would put one plus one when they see I went to my room with no bruise and went back out with one." I didn't tell them about what Raymond did do though...

"Wait, do they even know?" Jordan asked me.

He was facing me by sitting on the coffee table. I suddenly noticed that it felt a bit like a interrogation three to one. All three of them were surrounding me on all sides. I took a deep breath.

"No, they don't know."

"But you've been bullied for years," Jordan said, exaggerating the word 'years'. "And I don't mean a few years, I mean years since for how long? Nine, ten?"

"Eleven," I corrected, though it wasn't a good thing to point out.

"How could they not know anything for so long unless... You don't tell anyone, do you?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't tell anyone."

"Why?" Bennett asked me.

I forced out a laugh. "What'll be the use? All of the teachers must have seen me be bullied at least once, even Ms. Rhodes was there when David kicked me in the stomach-" I unconsciously touched my stomach from the memory "- and she didn't do a thing, not even go up to me and asked if I was okay, she just left me on the ground. Adults won't do anything. And even if they did, they'll only make it worse. They can't make all of the kids in school stop bullying. The bullying will just double, maybe triple, because I wasn't able to keep my mouth shut. And they'll bully me to make sure I do this time. And the parents of those kids won't really believe that they bully me, they'll sue me for making a false accusation. Even Raymond's parents thinks Raymond and I are the best of friends-" Jordan gagged a bit when he heard that "- So do you see why I don't do a thing?"

Bennett just shook his head. "This is wrong. This is so wrong."

"You can't seriously expect us to think that we'll actually let you leave to go to dinner with the person who bullies you and later stay in the same room with him," Declan said, his voice practically growling.

"I have to."

"Not unless we kidnap you," Jordan offered.

Now all eyes were on him.

He shrugged and continued. "I mean, we just did."

"I have to go." I told him, trying to sound very clearly. "You are not going to kidnap me."

Jordan pointed at me. "You have no say in this." Then he turned to the guys. "So here's what we're going to do..."

"You are not going to kidnap me," I repeated.

"Then we'll do it against your will," he said simply.

I sighed. "Jordan, I'm not kidding around. I have to go. I don't want to. This is the last thing I want to do. But I have to. Okay? I'm not joking you guys. I have to go."

Declan repeatedly ran his fingers through his hair. Jordan face fell and he stared at his hands. Bennett looked away, refusing to look at me.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I'm so scared."

"What if," Jordan said slowly and hesitantly, "we go too?"

I looked at him. Declan and Bennett looked at him.

"What?" We asked in unison.

"What if we go to?" He repeated again.

"A-are you serious?" I asked him. "You're willing to meet my parents for me? For my safety?"

"Yes!" He exclaimed, rising from his seat of the coffee table. "It's brilliant actually! I mean think about it. It's no secret Raymond's terrified of us. And if we're there, we can keep him in check."

"But wouldn't her parents wonder why she's bringing three guys to a dinner?" Declan asked, bringing his brilliant plan to the ground and stomping on it repeatedly.

"Actually," I said. "Being the Nerdy Naomi and all, I don't have a lot of friends. If my parents find out I got friends other than so called "Raymond", I don't think they would care even if you were boys, much less a gang. Okay, they would freak if they found out you're in a gang, but you get my point."

"I'm down," Declan said, crossing his arms in approval. "I think this might work. And having the chance to put that punk in line is always a great way to spend the night."

"Plus free food," Jordan added, eagerly.

Everyone has agreed with the plan. Everyone except Bennett. We all stared at him, waiting for his response. He was looking right back at me, his eyes unfazed, face unmoved. If Bennett were ever to play poker, my money will be all on him if he would win. He has the best poker face I had ever seen from movies to books I've read. Suddenly, he sighed, running his fingers in his hair.

"Okay, fine. We'll go to the dinner. The least we can do is make it up to Naomi for having her beaten up because the principal got us."

I cringed at the sudden memory. The others cringed as well. I looked at my phone at my reflection. The bruises were faint now, barely noticeable. I could just cover it up with quick, light make-up and my parents won't have to notice it. I could go sneak to my room and put some on or I could just do my best to hide them with my clothes. I'm not the type to use make-up for fashion. I'm the type to use make-up to cover bruises.

I nodded, smiling at him. "Thank you. Thank you so much. Honestly, I don't know what I would do without you guys." And I meant it, I really did.

He shook his head, having his piercings flash at me in the light. "No, Naomi, don't thank us. Thank us when all of this is over. And I don't mean the dinner, I mean everything."

At first, I didn't get what he said. But my brain started to process the words. I looked at him, at all three of them. All of them were smiling. Knowing, no, thinking that they could make a difference. That they could make a difference in my life. They think they could stop all of this. The insults, the bruises, the bullying. And I hope they're right.

But honestly, I don't know think they are.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. At the right is a cover I made for the book. I got really really bored and made a whole bunch of others. I'l post them one by one with each chapter. Now I'll go write the next chapter. Cheers.

RubixCube89201