The Trouble-Makers

"What was the hold up?" Jaime asked as we met him and Rian at the car. Alex was still tense and clearly not happy, but he was more relaxed now. I was just glad I could convince him not to go after Zack because for a moment or two it looked like he was.

"Stella had a chat with her ex," Jack explained and Jaime blew out a whistle.

"And how'd that go?" He asked, turning towards me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Fine, I guess."

"Yeah, fine because Jack showed up," Alex added, his dark eyes staring hard at the ground. He still wasn't over this, so I knew we'd have to get his mind off of it.

Jaime tilted his head at me, wanting to ask more questions but I just waved him off. "What's the plan today, anyways?"

"Well, today we meet with Mike..." Jack trailed off, and the guys attention quickly turned towards him. "He texted me last night about becoming a Trouble-Maker." A smile hinted on his face and instantly the mood lightened and a smile brightened Alex's face.

"Sweet," Rian said, leaning back against Jack's car. "What's the plan?"

"We have to think of something for him to do in order to be a part of the crew, so I was thinking we could head over to my house and think of ideas," Jack suggested, but I shook my head.

"Actually, could we go to my house?" I asked, and the boys looked over at me.

"Why?" Jack asked, an edge to his voice. Sheesh.

"Because I need to feed my cat," I explained, and I could see him fighting a smile. "And he doesn't like it when I don't come home right away." Some of the boys chuckled at this and I crossed my arms. "What?"

"Nothing," Jack said, shrugging it off. "Your house it is." With that, the boys piled into the car and again I squished in the middle, but this time between Jaime and Alex.

***

Rian blew out a whistle. "Nice place you got here," he remarked, and he kicked off his shoes as long with the other boys.

"Thanks," I said. "I'm home!" I called out, and Jaime tilted his head to the side.

"Your parents home?" he asked. I shook my head, but before I could answer a bell jingled and Jay came trotting over to me.

"This is my baby boy," I introduced them, picking up Jay and scratching underneath his collar.

"It's so cute," Rian gushed, walking over and petting him.

Jay purred a greeting, and I just smiled. "Okay, well, we'll go up to my bedroom since Jay's food is up there," I said, and gestured for the boys to follow me. I walked towards the left and stopped at a dead end. I set Jay down and reached up towards the ceiling where I pulled a string and a make-shift stairs set fell from the ceiling.

Jack cursed as he hopped out of the way, and I couldn't help but snicker at that. "What, do you have a freaking dungeon up there?" He said, quickly regaining his posture.

"My bedroom is in the attic," I explained, walking up the stairs and into my room. The thing was, I loved my room. At first I didn't like the idea of having a bedroom in the attic, but after I got things moved in it turned out pretty decent. When you walked up there was a sitting area with a few bean bags laying around and the more you walked towards the back the more you got into my bedroom where I had my bed, a bookcase, and a TV there.

"Dude, this place is sick," Jaime remarked, making his way over to a bean bag and plopping down on it. The rest of the boys did the same; already making themselves at home.

"Thanks," I said, grabbing Jay's food bowl and pouring some dry food in there for him which he munched on happily.

"I declare this as our new hang out. Everyone in favor say I!" Jack yelled, and there were a chorus of "I's" from the boys.

"I see you've made yourselves at home," I remarked, sitting down on the ground since they hogged all of the chairs.

"So, what's the plan?" Rian asked sitting up.

"I was thinking..." Jack started but I slowly tuned them out. I was always tired after school, so it was usually hard for me to maintain focus. I felt someone poke me in the side and I looked over to see Alex.

"You don't have to sit on the ground, I can if you want this," he said gesturing to the chair. His tone was a lot lighter, evidently talking about Mike becoming a Trouble-Maker made his mood better.

"No, I'm fine," I replied, waving him off. I honestly didn't mind sitting on the ground.

"Come on, don't make me get up," Alex said now, shifting his weight forward. "At least share the chair with me then. I feel bad that you're sitting on the ground."

I blew out a sigh. "Really, I'm fine."

"I'm going to get up," Alex said, a crooked smile gracing his lips.

I rolled my eyes dramatically at him. "Fine," I said, shaking my head at him. "Scoot over." My beanbag chairs were big enough to share, but since they always sunk in, Alex and I were squished together.

Jaime and Alex shared a look, and I bit my lip. I had to learn this secret language they always used between each other. Maybe it was some Trouble-Maker super power, or whatever.

"I don't know man, that sounds kind of lame," Rian said to Jack about the plan, shrugged his shoulders. "I think we should just let him join, we've seen him do enough stuff to know that he's Trouble-Maker material."

"Plus, we know we can trust him," Jaime added.

"Come on guys; you're buzz killers," Jack said, sinking more into his seat.

"So, this meeting is concluded," Jaime clapped his hands, and Jack continued to sulk. Rian chuckled at Jack's expression.

"Let's plan on Stella's introduction to the Trouble-Makers now," Alex said, a glint in his eyes and I pushed him.

"Heck no, I don't have the guts to say stuff to teachers." I shook my head.

"Yeah, she doesn't have what it takes," Jack said, leaning forward now. "We already discussed this."

I met Jack's eyes head on, watching him closely. "You don't think I have what it takes? Don't make me laugh," I teased, attempting to lean forward to but ended up just leaning more into Alex.

"I bet you've never had a drink in your life," Jack mocked.

"You've never seen me at a party before then." A wicked smile spread across my face, and Jack tilted his head to the side.

"Maybe that should be your challenge, then. To see if you know how to have fun at a party."

"Nope," I said, leaning back now. "I'm not going to have you trick me into becoming a Trouble-Maker, I already said I don't want to." I shook my head stubbornly.

"Guess we need to work on her more," Jaime said, looking over at Jack.

"Yeah, I guess so."

Notes

Really glad you guys are liking this story so far :D