The last thing I expected to see when I woke up was.... Luke Dawson, Jake Dawson, Austin Taylor, Chioma Dozie, Bianca Rodriguez and Chad. Or should I say, Roland Chadwick the Third. Foncy. And yet there they were, bizarrely dressed in matching colors as if they were auditioning for a 1990s pop band – in navy blue, white, black and gray. "Hello?" I croaked. "Hello? It's me..." Austin sang, wildly out of tune but points for Adele emotion. Meanwhile Chad went retro with: "Hello darkness my old friend..." Luke smacked them both and looked guiltily down at me. He knew I didn't want to get involved with his mayhem anymore. The boys straightened up and tried to behave. They stood stiffly with their hands clasped behind their backs like school children. "Can we focus back on me for a second here," Flora interrupted, "I don't understand why you're talking to Millie like you know her. I'm the one you came for." "No. You're not," Luke said, "I don't even know who you are." He did not hesitate to burst her bubble. "You're being disrespectful in their house," Jake muttered. "They've shown Millie so much respect," Luke retorted sarcastically. "It's her family," Jake fired back. "And you're mine," Luke smirked, "But I didn't request that either." "OK!" Austin interrupted, steering Luke away from his brother, "Dude, you can't be rude to her family. If you want to get the girl, you need to be liked." Luke wasn't used to altering his behavior for anyone. He said it like he saw it. Flora looked aghast, "S- s- so, you're here... but you're not here for me?" Luke's blue eyes landed like lasers on her. "You can leave now." "It's technically her house," Chad pointed out, not wanting to get involved though. "She can still leave," Luke raised the question, "Unless you want her to stay." "Well... no." Damn. Luke was firing shots today. I watched the whole thing unfold with fascination. This was the first time Luke has met Flora. And he left her looking like a deflated balloon. Honestly, her face scrunched up in shock as she realized he was here for me. I was surprised that he was still here for me. "You?" she repeated, staring at me in abject horror, "How could it be you?" And then, my mum came back into the picture. Just when my family couldn't get any more embarrassing... they did. She waltzed into the conversation, staring at the boys like they were puppies in a pet store, "There are so many of you. How do I pick?" "You don't mum," I croaked like a bullfrog. My swollen face matched. "So gorgeous," mum sighed, weaving around Chad and going on to admire Austin, "I can't take it. It's like I'm hosting auditions for the new James Bond movie here." Austin gulped in fear. Chad made no sudden movements. "Forgot to mention this part," Jake apologized. Chad and Austin had arrived late to our impromptu congregation and missed Part I of Mum's Inappropriateness. Terrible movie, never wanted a sequel. Jake dodged out of the way before mum could stroke his arm. "So suave," she purred, "Such gentlemen." Before I could say anything, he took the words out of my mouth, "I think we should leave Millie to rest. Luke and I have intruded on her enough." "No! Don't go!" Flora begged, throwing herself into the mix, "I just ordered Dominoes." "Oh well that changes everything," Austin agreed to stay. Austin and food. It's an eternal love. But Chad pushed him towards the door. The girls had already walked out without saying goodbye. They'd been itching to leave the moment they walked in. Our house was pretty bare after financial struggles post my father's departure, and the girls didn't approve. Jake was the last to leave. I felt my heart quicken at that. He paused by my couch and gently tugged at the cushions under my head, "I'm sorry if I freaked you out today. I'm happy to go at whatever pace you want." I nodded, still at a loss for real words. "You have no idea how happy you made me when you said yes," he added, "I can't wait for our date." Our date. He seemed a little nervous to admit it. I smiled shyly back. And he retracted his hand and walked out, saying goodbye to my mother and sister along the way. Flora had no words left within her except for a screech. She then gasped, "A date?! The most popular people in school were in our house. And they came for Millie! "Nothing," I answered, closing my eyes, "I'm not ready for anything to happen." This day can end. I want it to end. I was about to end scene, when mum interrupted. "Hold on. They're still in high school?!" she asked, putting down her cappuccino. She suddenly realized how inappropriate her behavior was. "Oops." I finally had some time to process this. I shoved Luke Dawson out of my mind and focused on Jake. With my cheek swollen from the wasp sting, I seriously hoped this date was not soon. Jake Dawson had asked me out and I didn't know what to do about it. I needed girl talk. I've never needed it before, but I desperately needed it now. At home, I turned to my mum. I asked her what I should do. "It's not what you should do, it's who," she said, and handed me a condom. Great maternal instinct. But, then again, I should've known better. At school the next day, I searched for a friend. I bumped into her around lunchtime as she was exiting one of the classrooms. "Julia! Julia, hey I need to speak with you," I called out, weaving through students to reach her. She jumped at the sight of me and I gave her a strange look, "Why did you react like that?" "Because you have a giant bump on your cheek and I didn't think you cared about small people like me anymore," she collected herself. I put my hand on my puffy cheek in embarrassment. Wasp stings don't go easy. "I heard that you had Luke, Austin, Chad and Jake over at your place yesterday," Julia said, "Your sister live streamed the party and you didn't invite me." "It wasn't a party, I swear," I said, searching for proof of my explanation. I looked past her and realized that she'd been coming out of the math classroom. Julia hated math. "Why were you-" "I'm getting a math tutor," she answered coldly. "I thought I was going to tutor you in calc." "I thought so too," she answered coldly, "But you've been busy." Ouch. I was really taking the hits these days. I hadn't realized how left out Julia had been all this time. Was I really that bad of a friend? Cearra was walking by and entered the conversation like a welcoming breath of fresh air. "Stop making her feel guilty, Juls. She's been busy. Not everyone gets a date with a handsome Dawson brother." She stopped when she reached us and gave me a wink. "I heard about that," Julia scowled, and her laser eyes glared at me, "But not from Millie herself. Apparently, she doesn't think it's worth letting me know." "I'm sorry," I apologized, "A lot happened yesterday. That's why I was coming to you now, I wanted to talk about it." "What's there to talk about?" Cearra asked. I hadn't realized she'd become a central part of the conversation. "He tells you the time, you pick a dress, pumpkin turns to carriage and off you go." If only it were as simple as that. "I can even do your makeup for you," she offered kindly. Julia snapped, "I didn't realize you want to become one of her minions, Cearra." Cearra whistled. We were suddenly reminded that Cearra was a friendly badass who did not take to pettiness kindly. "Watch yourself, Juls. I'm happy to x you out as quickly as you can say petty." Julia realized she'd overstepped her mark. Cearra was her key into the LUCKY group, to popularity and to so much she'd worked for this year. "Sorry," Julia apologized. "So what's the deal, Millie?" Cearra asked, ignoring Julia's grumpiness, "You can't be getting cold feet. I don't know how that's even possible when he's an Adonis." "I just..." I said, letting it off my chest, "it took me by surprise and I'm not sure what to do. People at school have been acting weirdly towards me and I don't know what Jake's intentions are..." "You're overthinking it," Cearra calmed me down, "I mean, who else would you go for? Who else is as good looking as that?" Julia responded for me. "Luke." I shook my head. "No, definitely not. Luke and I are not a thing." I returned home after my shift at Lola Rae. The last two days had been the most confusing series of events. My mother and sister were in the living room and they offered to make me dinner. I thanked them and declined, "Sorry, I ate at the mall before work." In truth, I didn't want them grilling me on Jake and Luke and all the drama that happened at our house. I wasn't used to my family being nice to me. We hadn't debriefed since Luke carried me in, unconscious. But everything at home had changed since then - everyone was nice. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I looked down and saw my Instagram notifications light up the screen – 83 friend requests. My phone didn't even seem like it was mine anymore. I didn't recognize anything that was happening on it. I threw it on my bed and fell onto it myself. I turned my head to the window and saw the Dawson house on the other side. The Dawson brothers had turned my whole life upside down. Everyone at school knew my name now and yet I had fewer friends than I started the school year with. A polite knock sounded on my door. I sat up and watched my sister enter. She held a letter in her hand and sweetly offered it to me, "This came for you after you walked in. I thought you might want it now, instead of waiting until you came downstairs." "Thanks Flora," I replied, not used to her being so friendly. It made me uncomfortable. I was used to my sister fighting with me all the time. I thought that was a central part of our relationship. After I took the letter, she lingered in my room as if waiting for me to say something else. I didn't and she awkwardly waved and left. The envelope was a pastel blue and sealed tightly shut. I ripped it open and found a letter inside. It said: STAY AWAY FROM LUKE AND JAKE, UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEE THE LENGTHS I'LL TAKE, TO END YOU. PUPPY LOVE DOESN'T LAST, BUT PHOTOS DO. And there, attached to the letter with a string, was the printed photo from that fateful camping trip. The one where I'm passed out with a $1 bill in my bra. The letter had one more verse left: STRIPPERS AND HOES, MAKE EASY FOES. SLEEP WELL MILLIE.