No one spoke.

Well, not because it was awkward or anything. Like Bennett being richer than all of us combined time a hundred. Or him being the son of Raymond's dad's boss. Or even him being the sole heir to a multi-million corporation that changes lives. No, it was none of that.

No one spoke, because they were too busy eating.

"Dis ish sho goo!" Jordan groaned, with his mouth filled with badly chewed cinnamon buns and a cinnamon bun in each hand.

"What did he say?" I asked the others.

"He said, 'this is so good'," Bennett answered my question. That received it's well-earned questionable stares. He gave a small shrug, and answered the question all of us were wondering. "After knowing these two with no manners, you can understand what they say with food in their mouths."

Jordan snorted before swallowing his food correctly and saying, "Yeah, like that's one of the reasons why-"

"Ow!" Raymond suddenly exclaimed out of no where. He looked at Bennett with his jaw dropped. "You just kicked me."

"I know."

"Ow!" Jordan exclaimed too, dropping a cinnamon bun on the table. "You kicked me too."

"I know."

Either Bennett wanted to kick Jordan, but accidentally kicked Raymond instead and didn't care. Or he used this as an excuse to kick Raymond "accidentally" as he tried to kick Jordan. Either way, the plan is quite brilliant.

"So does everyone else enjoy the dessert?" my mom asked hopefully.

My mom baked the cinnamon buns just like I told her she should. The piping hot buns piled on everyone's plates. They were no bigger than a fist. All slathered with vanilla icing and cinnamon swirls. Just one bite of it's soft dough would make you melt.

"Is this some sort of trick question?" Raymond's dad asked.

That got a chuckle from everyone. 

"I've got some apple cider to help wash down this dessert in the kitchen," my dad told everyone.

Raymond took one last bite of his cinnamon bun and stood up. "I'll help you with that, Mr. Lorraine."

My dad smiled at him (I bit back a gag). "Why thank you, Raymond. Let's hurry up before everyone eats the rest of the buns."

Raymond nodded and headed inside the kitchen. My dad was about to head inside as well when I said something that made him stop short.

"Too late," I said as Jordan and I took the last two cinnamon buns in existence.

His jaw dropped. "That is going to come out of your allowance young lady!" My dad exclaimed playfully.

I stook out my tongue. "On what grounds?"

"The thievery of your mom's delicious dessert."

"Aw sweetie," my mom cooed.

He leaned next to my mom and gave her a kiss on the lips. I instantly looked away and didn't bother holding back a gag.

"Ugh, old people kissing," I groaned. "Get a room."

"We already do," my mom said. "This room, and our room, and your room, this whole house actually."

Raymond walked in holding the apple cider bottle and a stack of glasses. My mom was about to get up to serve the drinks, but Raymond held her back.

"Don't worry, Ms. Lorraine. You've done so much already for making this great dinner. The least I can do is pour in these drinks."

My mom feigned a gasp. "My, you can be such a sweetheart, Raymond." 

Raymond popped the apple cider open and started to pour in the drinks. Everyone ignored him as he did this, going back to their conversations with each other. Everyone except me. Raymond never does this. Willingly doing this for my mom, my mom? That's not the Raymond I know. He much rather have someone do everything for him than do things himself. He has me and probably a bunch of nerds and goons to do his homework and errands.

I watched as he poured each drink one by one. As soon as he finished with the eighth cup, he began serving them. He handed it to my parents, then his parents. He grabbed two cups in each and served it to himself, Jordan, Bennett, then me. We mumbled out our thanks from the questioning looks my mom gave us when we didn't at first. Raymond went back to get Declan's drink. I slightly looked down to pick up my cup of apple cider and looked back at him. At that moment, I saw his hand lingering over the cup. I blinked and his hand went over it in a swift movement, now picking up Declan's cup. My eyes narrowed at the cup as it was placed in front of Declan.

He then said to him, "Enjoy." After that, he went back to his seat without another word.

Declan grunted and lifted the cup to his lips. He hesitated for a moment and looked at Raymond. Raymond smiled once more and lifted his cup like a toast before drinking it. Declan paused for a moment before taking a sip. My eyes widened as the cup lifted to his lips.

I stood up abruptly from my chair, nearly knocking if off backwards. "Declan don't-"

But it was already too late. I watched as Declan drank the apple cider, the liquid vanishing from the cup. I sat back on my seat, confused and worried, not knowing what to do. I looked down at cup and suddenly wasn't in the mood for apple cider. Declan set his cup back on the table with a small clunk.

"Don't what, Naomi?" He asked me as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

I knew I couldn't say anything right now. I couldn't confront Raymond suddenly in front of everyone. Raymond would obviously deny it, and I don't have any proof but a slight movement from Raymond and the evidence that Declan already drank. And if I just accused Raymond, my parents and his parents would be mad at me for accusing "innocent" Raymond. I glanced at Raymond who wore a thin smile, but his eyes sharpened at me.

"N-nothing," I said, looking down at my lap and pushing the cup away from me.

"Wow, that was refreshing," Raymond's dad said, patting his stomach.

"I'll say," Raymond himself said. "How about you Declan? You think it was good?"

Declan glared at Raymond before saying. "Yeah, it was pretty-" His stomach started to gurgle, interrupting him.

Raymond leaned forward a bit. "Pretty what?"

"It was pretty-" Declan's stomach gurgled, louder this time. My mom looked concerned at him.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, everything's-"

Once again, his stomach gurgled as if some monster was roaring in it. Declan lurched forward and held to table to keep him steady. Declan clutched his stomach tightly, cringing for a second. Now Declan had everyone's attention.

"Is something wrong with your stomach?"

"Are you sick?"

"Was it something you ate?"

My mom's face instantly fell when someone asked that. Declan looked up and shook his head immediately, denying this.

"No, no, no, I didn't eat anything bad. Your cooking is delicious, Marisa."

His stomach gurgled in agreement.

Declan shook his head. "I-I'm fine. I probably ate too fast or something. Don't worry about it."

My dad suddenly cleared his throat. "How about we all move to the living room? The adults could talk and you kids can hang out in Naomi's room."

Let me just get this straight. My dad, my over protective father who loved me every since I was born, is willingly letting his 17 year old daughter have four guys go into her room... alone. No, let me be the one to say this. My parents are crazy.

"That's a great idea." My mom said. "You guys go ahead. I'll go clean up the table then join you in a bit."

"Marisa, let me help you," Bennett offered, slowly standing up from his seat. "I'll even clean the dishes."

She waved him off. "Oh, that's alright-"

"No," Bennett said. "I insist."

My mom glanced at Raymond's dad. I knew what she was thinking. Now that they all know that Bennett is Raymond's boss's son. It would probably not good for him to wash the dishes given his social status. My mom seemed a bit torn. She didn't want Bennett to wash the dishes, but he was offering to do it, and if she won't let him he'll might get mad. Either way, Bennett could tell his dad about it. But I know Bennett more than she does, even if I just found out about this. 

"Mom, just let him." I said as I finished the drink with one last sip. "The guy's offering, might take the chance of a lifetime of someone actually willing to help you wash the dishes instead of you having to bribe dad or me."

She chuckled nervously. "Well, if you say so. Then yes, Bennett. You may help me out." She narrowed her eyes at my dad. "He's quite helpful, unlike some men I know..."

He laughed. "I live here and do more chores than even Naomi, if that's not helpful, I don't know what is."

My mom shook her head. "C'mon Bennett, let's fix everything up. Everyone else, go to the living room."

We all got up from our chairs and pushed them back into the table. Bennett was already at work, stacking the plates one by one with each. He did this almost gracefully, swiping the eating utensils and putting them all into one cup. He grabbed the stack of plates on one hand and the cup filled with utensils in the other. He headed into the kitchen as my mom followed right behind him with some other plates.

Everyone had already headed into the other room, leaving me the only one in the dining room. I began walking towards it when I stopped short. Two words entered into my mind.

Strike one.

I paled at the words. This is exactly how it went. How the incident at Monday began. Bennett went first. Then Jordan and Declan. My mom came back to the dining room. I went up to her and shook looked at me in confusion.

"Naomi, why aren't you in the living room with everyone else?" She asked me as she stack bowls and plates.

"I just wanted to help you and Bennett with the dishes," I offered, grabbing a few eating utensils.

"None sense," she said, taking the utensils out of my hands. "Bennett and I are alright."

"No mom, really. Let me help." I insisted.

She put her hands on her hips. "Now you want to do the dishes? After the many times when you would whine and complain about doing this? Who are you and what did you do Naomi?" She laughed at her own joke.

"Mom," I whined. Out of all times when I'm actually willing to do the dishes, my mom refuses.

"It's just a two person job." My mom assured me. "It's alright, the two of us will be enough. Now go on to the living room with the others. And if you want to do the dishes so badly, tomorrow night you can do them."

Great, now I got to do the dishes.

"Let me just do it today, let me help you guys."

"Naomi," my mom said, suddenly sternly. "When I said no, I mean no. Bennett is more than enough help. And I want to talk to the boy who's one of my daughter's friends."

"You're going to interrogate the him?" I said in disbelief.

"Not interrogate," my mom assured me. "Just have a small chat in a room that holds knives of all kinds."

Okay, I used to be scared for my life, but now I'm just scared for Bennett's.

"Now go Naomi. When I come back, you'd better not be here." She said finally then left to the kitchen once more.

The door opened and Bennett came back into the dining room. He was stacking some more plates when he looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"Shouldn't you be with the others?"

"Shouldn't you be with me?"

Bennett was quiet for a moment, taking in the meaning of my words. Then his face dawn in realization.

"Naomi, you don't have to-"

"That's the same thing Declan told me before Principal Barnes got him."

"Well this time, I mean it," he said, "This is different now."

"How?" I asked.

"Well, for one thing, your mom seems nothing like Principal Barnes." He said. "And for another thing, we're under the same roof. If Raymond does so much as touch a hair on your head, we'll be right there."

I looked down at my shoes. "I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have doubted-"

"I would doubt you too if you let me down the first time." Bennett looked down and shook his head. "Everyday since that incident, I, no, we had to watch you unconscious with bruises all over your body. And all we could think about how it was our fault. Raymond may have given you the punches, but we were the ones who let him do that..." He trailed off, looking away from me. 

"I don't blame you for being hesitant. But please Naomi, just give us another chance. Nothing will happen-"

"I know," I said. "I was just a bit worried. That's all."

He nodded, stacking the rest of the plates now. "Okay, now go back with the others. I'll finish with this and follow right behind you."

I nodded too. "Okay, see you in a bit." I paused then added with the warning. "Watch out for those knives. They're pretty... sharp."

He took my warning in and gave me a nod. We both parted our separate ways. Bennett went back to the kitchen to do the dishes. And I went to the living room to survive.

I entered the living room to the sound of laughter. The adults were all sitting on the couch. At the opposite couch was Jordan, Declan with Raymond at a lone armchair. Jordan was at the middle of telling a story that was amusing everyone. My dad was almost at tears, Raymond's parents were clutching each other, trying their best to not fall off the couch laughing. Raymond wore a smile, though it seems like a fake one, while Declan was clutching his stomach, doing his best to obscure his pain.

I sat at the arm rest of the couch next to Declan.

"You okay?" I asked, worried about him.

He nodded painfully. "Yeah, just... cramps."

"It's you're time of the month?" I asked in disbelief.

"Uh... yeah, whatever," he said awkwardly before going back to clutching his stomach.

"So then I told him-"

I cleared my throat just before Jordan was getting to a good part of the story. 

"I was getting to the best part," he whined.

"Hey, Jordan," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. "Let's go up to my room and let the adults talk."

"Aw," Jordan groaned. "Do I have to?" He said it like a little kid asking why he has to eat his vegetables.

I crossed my arms, glaring at him now.

"Oh c'mon, Naomi," my dad said. "Don't be such a party pooper."

I blinked. "What?"

"Yeah, Naomi," Raymond's mom said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. "Jordan seems to be having a great time with us. Why not just give him to us just this once? You always have him around, anyway."

"Then how about we just stay here?" I offered.

"No Naomi," my dad said. "You go to your room with your friends-" I wanted to point out Raymond wasn't my friend, but didn't want to interrupt him "-Jordan will stay here with us."

"No, it's okay dad," I told him. "It's much more fun staying here with you guys." That, and my life depends on it.

"Raymond looks like he's bored out of his mind and Declan looks like he wants to drop." My dad said bluntly.

I already know about Declan, but I looked at Raymond. He sat on an armchair in mid-yawn. 

"Yeah, can we head over to your room now?" Raymond asked me. "I already heard this story."

"See Naomi?" Raymond's mom said. "How about you guys just go upstairs and leave Jordan with us. He'll be in good hands."

"But-"

"No buts," my dad said.

I stood up and grabbed Jordan by the collar. "Jordan, could I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure, Naomi. Hey you guys, I'll leave you at a cliffhanger for now. But I'll get back to you in a-" He didn't get to finish that since I yanked him away to the hallway.

I let go of his collar and he began massaging his neck. "Ow, what did you do that for?"

"Jordan, are you seriously going to leave me too?"

He stopped short and looked at me. "What are you talking about?"

"First, Bennett, and now you." I said. "Does that sound familiar to you?"

He looked at me. "You think what will happen that Monday will happen now?" Jordan smiled. "Why do you think we're here in the first place. We're going to keep you and that Raymond guy away from you if it's the last thing we do."

"Then wouldn't it be best for you to be there if that happens?" I pointed out.

"Naomi, wouldn't it be best to get on the adults good side?" He said. "You mom already loves us. But your dad is a tough nut to crack."

I looked back to the living room and saw my dad still catching his breath from the story Jordan was telling.

"Yeah..." I said slowly. "He sure is one tough nut."

"What I'm saying is that there's no need to worry." He assured me. "Besides, you got Declan."

I looked back to the living room and saw Declan clutching his stomach in pure agony.

"Yeah, as if that's suppose to comfort me." I muttered.

"Then let this comfort you. I'm right downstairs. Just scream and I'll be there faster unless Declan gets to him first. Then I'll be there for moral support."

"I know I should be worried. Bennett said the same thing. But I still have the feeling something bad is going to happen."

"It won't," he told me. "Okay?"

"Okay."

But to me, it was not okay. It wasn't okay because another two words came into my mind.

Strike two.

He ruffled my hair in my annoyance. "Good, now let me get back to my fans."

I rolled my eyes and followed behind him as he walk into the living room. Jordan plopped back to his seat.

"Okay, so where was I?" He asked them. "Oh right, so then I told him..."

Jordan continued his story which immediately got a burst of laughter. I looked at Declan who looked like he was dying and Raymond who looked like he was dying of boredom.

"Hey Declan, let's go to my room-"

"Don't forget me," Raymond said too cheerfully, looking at me. "I much rather hang out with you."

I glared at him and Declan paused his suffering by glaring at him.

"Whatever, let's just go." 

I began heading up the stairs. Declan grunted and willed himself off the couch. He followed right behind me, taking each step with one painful cringe after the other. Raymond followed right behind him wearing face with no emotion. I took a shaky breath. There's nothing to worry about. Declan is here. More or less. And Bennett and Jordan were right downstairs.

Soon we arrived to my bedroom door. I opened it up and let the guys in first. Raymond, having been in my room many times before, sat on my bed and lied back. But Declan studied my room since he's never been here before.

It was a simple bedroom, not too small or too big. It had white walls with posters of bands or anime characters. My room was connected to the balcony that hung at the back of the house, overlooking the backyard. We were standing on wooden floorboards with a white rug covering on top of it The bed Raymond was lying on was a twin bed with fluffy pillows and teal blankets. My desk with an office chair, held my desktop computer, some textbooks, and art supplies. My bookcase was next to my desk, filled with books of all genres and authors, and pictures of family, no friends, just family.

Raymond groaned. "You should get a makeover with this place. Wait, not just the room, you included. Though the room looks better than you."

I ignored his comments. He always said this whenever he came into my room. I looked back at Declan who was slumped in a purple beanbag chair my dad bought me a few years ago after I told him how I always wanted a beanbag chair to sit on. He slowly sank into the chair, both of his arms wrapped around his stomach. he was taking deep breaths as if he was going into labor or something. From how he's doing, it's most likely labor. Finally, I couldn't take is anymore seeing him suffer like this.

"Declan, are you really okay?" I asked him. "Do you want to go to a doctor?"

He shook his head, shutting his eyes. "No. I-I no need doctor."

He was in so much pain, he didn't use proper grammar.

"Was it something you ate?"

Declan shook his head again. "You fine."

He had a point. Everyone else was okay with my mom's cooking. But what did Declan had to make him like this. 

"I-I no take it anymore!" he exclaimed.

He jumped off his seat and ran out the door, bailing out of here. I opened my mouth in protest, but the door shut behind him. Suddenly, the door opened again, and his head poked into the room. "Where is it?" He didn't even bother referring to the bathroom, he just cut to the chase.

"Down the hall, first door to the right."

Declan closed the door shut then opened it again. "Be right back." He paused slightly before adding, "I think." Then he shut the door again. 

I was about to say something when the door opened. "Don't do anything," he growled at Raymond, before closing the door once more.

A few minutes passed in the room as Declan's footsteps ran away from the room. None of us spoke. I gulped nervously and looked at Raymond. He was still lying on my bed, looking at the ceiling. Then he said two words to me.

"Eye drops."

I blinked. "What?"

He sat up from my bed with his elbows propping him up. Now he was looking at me.

"Eye drops," he repeated.

"I don't-"

A smirk formed on his face. "I put eye drops into Declan's drink."

My mind slowly processed his words. He put eye drops into Declan's drink. It was then I realized that was what he did. That was the reason he offered to pour the drinks for everyone. Everyone was too busy talking, so when no one was looking he poured something into Declan's drink. It made sense now when his hand lingered over his drink, he probably hid something up his sleeve. But what did eye drops do? Suddenly, I remembered reading an article once in the internet.

I looked at him and said, "But that's a myth."

Raymond let out a laugh. "A myth I proved right. If you put eye drops into someone's drinks, it'll give them..."

"A bad case of diarrhea," I muttered to myself. 

My hand automatically clutched my stomach. I can only imagine what he must be going through. I closed my eyes and put my hand over my heart. I'm going to give a moment of silence, for the brother who has fallen to eye drops.

I looked back at Raymond, only he wasn't on my bed anymore. Instead he was walking across the room towards the door. I thought he was about to leave, but instead his hand reached for the doorknob. I watched in horror as he turned the lock with a small click. The color on my face drained away as he turned to me.

Strike three.

No, I can't believe it. This is going to happen again. First Bennett, then Jordan, and now Declan. One by one they left me until I'm all alone. My heart was racing, my palms were getting sweaty. I looked at Raymond and shook my head.

I took a step backward, which he replied with a step forward. I took another step back as he took a step forward again. This whole time he's smiling at me, that sadistic smirk that I wish I could just smack off. He was enjoying this right now, seeing my discomfort at being locked in a room with my enemy.

I backed away from him until I accidentally backed into something. I turned around to see my desk was right behind me. I looked back at Raymond and saw he was in front of me. His hands were at either side of me, leaning against the desk. His face was at the crook of my neck, his nose touching it every time I even breath. My head turned away from him, my face getting warmer and warmer as the seconds past. I could feel his breath on my neck, the heat of his body so close to mine.

A whimper got stuck at the back of my throat, that received a chuckle from Raymond.

Even after all these years, I'm still not used to this. Whenever we were stuck together in my room, he always does this. At first I thought... I was stupid just thinking of that. To think that he could like me or something. Now I know he does this to confuse me, to mess with my head. Not once have I ever thought of him like that, or him seeing me like that. I gag at the thought just thinking about it. But here we were, just centimeters, millimeters apart from one another.

"C-can you just..." I trailed off, not knowing what I should say.

"Do what?" He asked in amusement. "Do this? Or this?" His hand slid down my arm to my waist which his hand lingered there, sending me goosebumps.

I placed my hands on his chest and did my best to push him away. But he was in the football team for Pete's sake. I couldn't push a mountain even if I tried.

"Stop," I said weakly. "I don't..."

"You don't what?" Raymond growled. "You don't know how lucky you are?"

I found the courage to look at him, our noses barely touching. "What?"

"You're lucky you got those three by your side," he sneered. "You got them to hide behind like a coward. If it weren't for them..." He trailed off this time, looking away from me.

It was then I realized something. The looks Raymond gives the guys, the way he doesn't talk back to them, everything. He fears them, that part is obvious. But he also respects them, look up to them. I remember the times before I knew the three, when Raymond would bully me as they walk by, and he would pause and give them a nod. Or he would insult me, and look at one of them for back up like, 'am I right?' but they never cared. Until now. Now the same guys Raymond looks up to are on my side.

The thought never crossed my mind until now. I knew being with the guys would give me an advantage. But I didn't know it would be like this. Being the sole thing Raymond hates is one thing, but also being friends with Raymond's idols is another.

"You're jealous." I said in realization.

"What?" He asked, startled at what I just said.

"You're jealous of me," I whispered, in accusation. "Aren't you?"

Raymond's eyes narrowed at me. "No. I'm not jealous of you." He denied, by I knew the truth behind it. "Why would I be jealous of someone like you?"

The words stung. They always stung. But like always, I let them slide.

"You look up to those three," I told him. "And don't even try denying it. But now that I, the one person you hate the most in this world, last person you'll be nice to, are friends with them... You just can't stand it, don't you?"

He was silent. He didn't dare say a word. So I continued.

"You hate me. I mean, you already hate me. But this just gives you another reason to hate me." I looked at him. "So what are you going to me now that I know. Hurt me? Hit me? Break me?"

Raymond looked away, slowly backing away from me. His fist were clenching and unclenching. He looked like he was at war with himself. He wants to hit me, but he can't. He doesn't want to hit me, but he can.

I laughed scornfully. "It's not like it'll make much of a difference now. You've broke me years ago, Raymond. I've lost my will to live because of you. And they, the same three you looked up to, picked me right back up."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up," he growled to me or himself, or both. 

"You've shut me up for too long. I've been quiet for years," I told him. "So don't you dare think-"

He grabbed my collar, yanking me forward. Then he slammed me against the wall. His arm slowly lifted me up from my collar. My hands went to my neck, trying to tear his hand off of me. My shoes were barely touching the ground and was kicking at air. 

"No!" He exclaimed, his face turning bright red. "Don't you dare think that's what I mean! You don't know what you're saying! So shut up! I'm not jealous of you! I'm-I'm-"

Suddenly the doorknob jiggled. The both of us paused and stared at the door. Then it started to knock with loud thuds. It was as if someone was trying to knock it down.

"Why the hell is the door locked?" Declan's voice roared from the other side. "Open this door!"

Raymond growled something under his breath and turned back to me.

"Don't think you're right about any of this. You're wrong. Nothing you said is right. So just shut up."

Declan banged the door again, threatening to kick it open. When he figured it wasn't going to budge, I heard his footsteps running down the stairs.

"Listen here, Naomi," he whispered menacingly into my ear. "None of this ever escaped your lips, you hear?" 

I nodded weakly.

Raymond let go of my collar. I fell onto the floor, wincing at the impact. I gasped for air and was left breathing heavily. My hand went to my neck to massage my bruised throat. Raymond looked down at me, glaring.

The doorknob jiggled again and someone cursed from behind the door. It started to thud repeatedly as if a bunch of fists were hitting it at the same time. I knew then that Jordan and Bennett were here.

"Let me in! Open this door!"

"Naomi! Are you alright? Naomi!"

"I swear Ray, if you do anything to Naomi, I'll-"

The door opened revealing the boiling mad three. All three of them were breathing heavily, their eyes glaring at him, teeth bared, growling. Raymond had calmly opened the door, staring at the guys. Declan looked like he was ready to punch him, Jordan looked like he was going to help, and Bennett looked like he would kill him. Jordan opened his mouth to say something, probably a threat, but Raymond just shoved past him. The three were too dumbfounded to know what to do and let him pass. Raymond went down the stairs in silence. Bennett, Declan and Jordan looked at me and I looked at them. Then all at once, they said something at the same time.

"I can't believe-"

"How could we-?"

"Naomi, I'm so-"

I held up my hand to silence them.

"Can you just..." I took a deep breath, not wanting to even look at them. "Can you guys just go?"

Bennett wanted to say something, but he didn't. Declan looked at the ground in shame, his fists clenching. And Jordan looked torn, for once not knowing what to do in an awkward situation like this. Finally, one by one they left the hallway. Jordan slowly closed the door, it creaked as it did, and closing itself. I heard their footsteps fade as they went down the stairs.

I slumped against the wall, looking at the wall. They promised. They promised they wouldn't let him get me. But they didn't, and he did. While they were too busy washing the dishes, entertaining with stories and doing the "unspeakable" in the bathroom, they left me here to fend for myself. And I couldn't do that. No matter how many times I've tried, against Raymond, I just can't. I told them how serious this was, but they just waved it off. And I keep telling myself I can't blame them. But I am. I thought... I thought that with them, my life will be so much easier. But instead it's not. It became more complicated, more painful, and just worse. So much worse.

Strike one, strike two, strike three, they're out.

This was pretty intense don't you think? I wonder what's going to happen next. What does it mean now that they're out? Post your opinions on this, and your comments on the chapter.

By the way, I watched this movie called "Slumdog Millionaire" for the first time. If you've never heard of it, it's about this poor kid called Jamal who's from the streets of India in the show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. And all of the questions are answered from his life, and the whole reason he's in the game in the first place is for someone he likes to notice him. I love the movie, but guess what the final question was?

In Alexander Dumas's book, "The Three Musketeers", two of the musketeers are called Arthos and Porthos. What is the name of the third Musketeer?

A. Aramis

B. Cardinal Richelieu

C. D'Artagan

D. Planchet

I literally screamed when I saw this. If you remember from Chapter Two: The Contract of Starbucks, I or Naomi explained who the Three Musketeers were. The answer is Aramis. It wasn't D'Artagan because the story was about him becoming one of the musketeers, but he doesn't in the book. So when I saw this, I was so happy and how I know this answer and that it's connected to the book. Try watching the movie, it's good.

I have to take a bit of a break. I have a history essay to do. Well not really an essay. My teacher told us about this contest where you should write an essay about rights and responsibilities, the theme is very vague. Anyway, there is a $50 savings-bond prize and I want to do it. The due date is at May 15, so I have to finish it by then. I promise I'll update as soon as May 15 is done. But my main focus is on the essay, so I'm sorry. I hope you can be patient until then.

RubixCube89201