"Okay, here's what we can do."

            My eyes turned to Noah, who was sitting on the floor against the couch in my basement. His knees were pulled up to his chest and he rested his head on them. Rian was sitting on the couch next to him, tapping the top of Noah's head with his finger. Chloe was next to him, followed by Luke. Colton and Brendon were seated on the love seat to my right. Everyone looked deep in thought.

            "What's your idea, Noah?" I asked when no one else responded.

            "Okay, so let's spread all over Facebook and Twitter that you and I broke up," he suggested. "That way it's not like you will be cheating on me."

            Rian snorted. "So she can be called a whore for switching to me so quickly?"

            "Look," Noah started, turning his head to scowl at Rian. "At least I'm putting ideas out there!"

            "This wouldn't even be happening if it wasn't for you!"

            "I could say the same for you! You shouldn't be hitting on someone else's girlfriend!"

            "She's not your girlfriend!"

            Chloe dropped her head in her hands, letting out a frustrated sigh. "You guys just shut up! Arguing isn't going to help anything!"

            Noah looked at her, offended. "But—"

            "No buts," Brendon interjected. "Listen. It's only a magazine. You're not supposed to read what the paparazzi have to say anyway. Maybe no one will care."

            Rian shook his head. "You should know more than anyone that there will be people who care. And said people will attack Iris and blame it all on her because they probably won't want to blame us."

            I pulled my knees up to my chest, mimicking Noah. "So basically I'm going to be considered a tramp anyway. There goes my reputation."

            "No, Iris, well think of something," Luke promised. "We'll use Noah's idea—"

            "That's a stupid idea!" Rian protested, giving Luke an annoyed look. "That won't solve anything!"

            Luke rolled his eyes at him. "Shut up and let me finish. We'll use Noah's idea about using Facebook and Twitter."

            Rian raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's different," he said sarcastically.

            "Not saying Noah and Iris broke up," Luke continued, ignoring Rian. "If Rian tells them what really happened before the magazine comes out, then no one will believe it."

            "But there's still those people that don't Twitter or Facebook," Colton pointed out.

            Luke made a face. "I know that, but it's better than nothing."

            Silence fell through the room again as everyone returned to thinking. A small sigh left my lips as I pulled my knees tighter to my chest. I should have guessed something like this was going to happen. How had I let myself forgot Rian was part of Gold. And Gold was famous. Now everyone was going to think I cheated on Noah with Rian.

            Noah caught my eye, giving me an apologetic look. I turned away from him quickly. There was no reason for me to be mad at him— this was completely my fault. But I still felt resentment towards him.

            "Maybe Kevin has an idea," Chloe suggested slowly.

            "Why would you think that?" Brendon inquired, raising an eyebrow.

          "Because he's smart?"

             "And we're not?" I replied, shaking my head. "Actually... if Kevin actually tried, he'd be class president in no time."

            Chloe nodded her head. "See? Maybe he would have an idea. Or maybe he'll introduce some new information that will distract the readers from the fountain scandal."

            "That's it!" Brendon cried rather loudly. "Chloe, you're a genius!"

            She looked extremely confused. "Um...?"

            "We can tell the press that Gold and Chasing Silhouettes are planning on making a single together!" Brendon clarified, looking excited. "That's what we can do!"

            Rian pushed himself off from the couch, a grin crossing his face. "That's a good idea! That's perfect!"

            Noah perked up too now. "You think it will work?"

            "It better work," I interjected, feeling relieved. "That's a good idea. But that means you guys can't decide to just not do it."

            Rian scoffed. "Why would we refuse to work with them?"

            "I'm just saying..."

            Colton cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I really hate to burst your bubbles—"

            "Then don't do it," Noah, Rian, Brendon, and I all barked at him simultaneously.

            He held up his hands defensively. "It's an important point."

            Brendon sighed. "What is it?"

            "It's Sunday."

            I raised an eyebrow. "And?"

            "And who can we tell that can make in a front page in tomorrow's magazine? It's seven o' clock on a Sunday night. No one is open," he explained. "The best we can do is announce it tomorrow. And even then there might not be a chance of it being published this month because magazines are once a month, remember? We'd have to get a famous magazine that publishes on February second."

            My shoulders sagged and I slumped back into my seat. "Are you kidding me?"

            Luke jumped up from the couch, coming over to me. "It'll be okay, Iris. It'll only be one day, right?"

            "One day that will cause me my reputation!"

            "Why are you so worried about it anyway? Your reputation?" Colton demanded. "You sound like one of those... those stuck up popular chicks."

            "She's not stuck up," Rian snapped before I could answer.

            Colton threw him an amused look. "I never said she was."

            "I'm not worried about that, Colton," I said, trying to bite back my anger. Who did he think I was? "I'm worried about being labeled as whore!"

            "You dated two guys, big whoop."

            Brendon shook his head. "This is high school, Colton, remember? You can be considered one of those for just looking at two different guys. Girls are vicious."

            Colton frowned. "But..."

            I ran a hand over my forehead, rubbing my eyes wearily. "Whatever. I brought this upon myself anyway."

            "No, I did," Noah admitted, staring moodily at the floor. "I should have just said something like people do stupid things when they're drunk, or something."

            "You think?" Rian snorted.

            I sent him a disapproving look. "It's one day. I can handle it. Hopefully people won't even read whatever magazine the article is going to be in. Maybe there won't be an article at all."

            Chloe nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah! We could get lucky and that guy could like, lose the camera or something."

            "Or you could just skip school tomorrow," Luke suggested with a shrug.

            "That's... that's actually not a bad idea."

            He grinned at me. "No, it's not."

            "If you're skipping, then Noah and I should skip too," Rian added. "That way we all stay out of the spotlight."

            "And put all the questions on me?" Luke responded, raising an eyebrow. "Gee, thanks."

            Noah shook his head. "No. I'll go to school. Rian can either come too, or skip with Iris."

            "Won't that just look more suspicious?" Colton inquired, furrowing his eyebrows. "It'd be better for you two to go and for Iris to skip."

            Rian shrugged. "I don't want to go anyway... although, what kind of class president skips school?" He smirked at me.

            "The same kind who cheats on her boyfriend," I said, giving him an innocent smile.

            "Iris?" my mom suddenly shouted down the stairs. "I want you to leave soon. I don't want you driving home in the dark with those crazy kids with you."

            Rolling my eyes, I pushed myself up from my chair. "Okay, mom. We'll leave."

            "Okay."

            Colton laughed. "Wow, your mom really wants you to stay."

            I stuck my tongue out at him. "She's just worried. But she has a point. I don't want to drive home in the dark, so let's get ready and skedaddle."

            Brendon quickly pushed himself of the loveseat, heading over to Rian. "Give me your phone so I can put my number in. We'll have to sit up a date to work together on lyrics and music. And production, of course."

            "Sure," Rian responded eagerly, handing Brendon his phone. "Sounds awesome."

            Twenty minutes later, we were halfway back to the school. Luke was sitting in the passenger seat this time, leaving Chloe squashed between Noah and Rian in the back. Rian was pouting out the window because I didn't let him take shotgun, and Noah was blabbering on about things Gold could sing about with my brother's band. I wasn't going to tell him, but all of his ideas kind of sucked.

            "I got one," Noah announced for the fifth time. "Let's sing about a car crash."

            "Too depressing," Luke and Rian immediately replied.

            Noah frowned. "A forest?"

            "Boring."

            "A girlfriend."

            Rian shook his head. "Way over used."

            "How about a cover?"

            Luke turned around in his seat, making a face. "No. A cover wouldn't cause as much excitement as a new single. Although I would like to do a more hardcore version of that ayoo song."

            "Dynamite?" Chloe asked, a smile of amusement appearing on her front. "The ayoo song?" She laughed, shaking her head.

            Luke flushed. "W-whatever!"

            "Well come up with something," Noah said confidently. "Maybe Colton and Brendon have some ideas."

            "That's why we wait until we are with them to do planning," Rian pitched in. "We don't want them to reject something of ours."

            I yawned, trying to keep myself focused on the road. It was starting to get dark out now and I was finding it extremely hard not to fall asleep at the wheel. Luke watched me warily.

            "Do you want me to take over?" he asked.

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

            "No offence Iris, but you look dead at the wheel," Chloe interposed, sharing the same look as Luke. "Maybe you should let Luke drive."

            Frowning, I debated for a moment. Maybe it was best not to kill us all. "Fine," I mumbled, pulling off into a conveniently located gas station. Luke switched to the driver's seat and, after a small squabble, Chloe climbed into passenger while I took her place. Noah grinned at me, pushing his body closer to the door so there was more room for mine.

            "You can sleep on my shoulder if you want," he offered.

            "I'm not going to fall asleep," I told him, smiling. "Thank you though."

            Contrary to my words, the next thing I knew I was being shook awake by Noah. My eyes snapped open and I met his. He scrunched up his nose, picking my head up, and removing it from his shoulder. Blushing, I pulled back from him as quick as possible. "I said you could sleep on my shoulder. Not drool on it."

            "Sorry," I muttered, adverting my gaze.

            Noah grinned, ruffling my hair. "It's fine. The limo's here, so I gotta go."

            I gave him a half-smile. It sounded so weird hearing him say he had a limo waiting. It was just another reminder of just how famous Gold actually was. Staggering a little, I climbed out of the car. Noah tossed my keys to me, informing me that Chloe had already headed home. "Did you wait to be picked up so I could sleep more?" I questioned, feeling a smile spread across my face. "Aww, that's cute!"

            He shrugged. "It was kind of an unspoken agreement between Rian and myself. Ah, speak of the devil." He nodded behind me, and I turned to see Rian trudging over towards us.

            "The limo is waiting," Rian informed Noah when he grew close enough. "Better go catch it."

            Noah nodded in response, brushing by me, heading towards the vehicle. "See you sometime, Iris. Be careful."

            Be careful? What did I need to be careful about? Confused, I turned my gaze to Rian. "Aren't you leaving too?"

            "Yeah, but I'm walking you to your dorm first."

            "You don't need to—"

            "Well I'm going to."

            "But—"

            He cut me off. "No buts."

            "Okay," I gave in, knowing he wouldn't take no for an answer. "Um, it's this way."

            Together we set off through the campus. Only a few stragglers were walking the grounds, probably headed back to their dorms from the parking lot or a sport. Rian stayed silent, dogging behind me like my shadow. It was kind of an awkward silence, considering what had happened over the course of the last few days. When we approached my dorm, I stopped, turning to face him. "I'm good from here."

            He frowned slightly. "Okay."

            Another moment of silence passed by us. I dropped my gaze, playing nervously with the loose strings on the bottom of my shirt. "So..."

            "Goodnight, Iris."

            I looked up just in time to see Rian moving his face closer to me. Taken by surprise, I froze, very aware of his growing proximity. Finally I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing myself for what was to come. The scent of Rian's cologne took over my sense of smell. It was a pleasant smell, a masculine one. Any second now and I'd feel his lips against mine...

            My eyes shot open in surprise. Now was not the time for something like this. Just as I was about to protest, Rian suddenly stopped, his eyes snapping open. A small scowl appeared on his lips. "Sorry, Iris," he muttered, backing off. "That was stupid."

            I held up one of my hands defensively. "No! That was fine! I mean..." I trailed off, feeling my cheeks fill with color.

            Rian's usual smirk slipped onto his face. "Oh? You wanted me to kiss you?"

            "Um, no—"

            "Whatever happened to 'I barely know you'?"

            Blushing furiously now, I glowered at him. "Goodnight, Mr. Drew." Twisting on my ankle, I began to march towards my dorm door.

            Rian laughed, easily catching my elbow and pulling me to a stop. "Wait, Iris. I'm kidding."

            "I'm going to bed," I muttered, sparing him a quick glance.

            He turned me towards him, and before I could blink he had his lips pressed to my forehead. When he pulled away, I stared at him in shock, my forehead burning from where his lips had touched. "I think that's acceptable," he stated, letting go of my elbow. "Right?"

            I didn't know what to say. So instead of replying, I quickly turned away from him again, hurrying to the entrance. My heart pounded in my chest frantically. I tried my best to calm it down, but found I couldn't. How could Rian have caused such a heavy response with just a kiss to the forehead? I was kind of terrified of what would happen if we actually kiss kissed.

            Before I entered the dorm building, I turned around to see if Rian was still standing there. He was. He grinned at me, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. Turning back to the door, my cheeks grew warm once more.

            Something told me I wouldn't have to wait long to find out.

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Merry Christmas!!