"Trick, what are you saying?" I asked as I stepped closer to him but Ian held the hem of my hoodie making me pause.

Trick chuckled,"You have to come with me. The boss wants you."

"As in boss... you mean--" I trailed off.

"James," he said and he smirked at my reaction,"I've been waiting for this day because I am sick and tired of pretending to be your friend."

My heart dropped,"This was all part of your plan?"

"Yes and to be honest, it was easy to get you to trust me at first but since Marcus got in the picture... you clung to him," Trick said and took off his jersey . "And that made my job even harder. Especially when your boyfriend is a gangleader."

I took a deep breath in. "Marcus was right about you," I said through gritted teeth. I was merely disappointed that Trick was in the rival gang. That he only befriended me to get me to trust me and send me to James.

The guy who murdered my boyfriend's father.

And it hurt to find out that my friend was part of the rival gang, working with James.

"Did Marcus warn you about me? But let me guess, you didn't believe him." Trick chuckled. Anger started growing inside me the more I stared at Trick. He walked towards me,"Like the little naive bitch you are." he smirked. I looked at him, clenching my fists.

I raised my hand and slapped Trick. He stared at me in shock, holding his cheek which was turning red. People in the theater looked our way, completely ignoring the movie. I smirked and turned to Trick,"Fuck you."

Xavier smiled,"Now it's my turn." he threw a punch at Trick's face. I was shocked because I had slapped Trick and Xavier had punched Trick.

Two of the guys charged at me but since Chase and Ian were here, they pushed away from me. Ian took off his hoodie and threw it on the floor and stood with his fists ready to fight.

Chase circled the guy on the floor, staring at him with a smirk on his face. "I was looking forward to finishing this movie." Chase pointed at the huge screen and I chuckled.

The guy stood up and threw a punch at Chase but Chase dodged easily and tripped him. "Don't worry, we got this. Wait for him outside the mall," Chase said and he took off his jersey.

Trick had Xavier against the wall. He saw me walk to the entrance and his eyes widened. "No. She shouldn't go!" Trick exclaimed and Xavier punched him again.

"Shut the fuck up," Xavier spat and threw him to the floor. I wanted to protect Trick though he worked for James. I shook my head and left the theater. Pulling the hood over my head, I took my phone from my hoodie pocket and texted Marcus.

I was about to put my phone back in my pocket but it vibrated. I checked it.

I smiled and walked faster through the lessening crowd of people in the mall. I finally exited and I searched for Marcus outside.

"Mar--"

Someone spun me around and suddenly lips were on mine. Familiar lips that made me wrap my arms around their neck and pull them closer. "How'd you know?" I asked against his lips and pulled away.

"Well I didn't. But I still didn't trust Trick so I called the boys to follow us. That was the car behind us. And I stalled you a bit so that they could enter the mall before you and see what movie you were watching," Marcus explained. "How'd it go?"

I sighed, almost tearing up. "Trick wanted to take me to James. He is part of the rival gang."

Marcus quirked his eyebrow.

"Stop." I tapped his chest.

"Baby cheeks, I'm just glad you know that he isn't goody two shoes," Marcus said and held my hand.

"Are we going to my house?" I asked.

"Yeah, if you want me there," Marcus said and wriggled his eyebrows.

I chuckled and turned around when I heard voices. Chase, Ian and Xavier were standing there, slightly panting. I hugged them,"Thank you guys. Are you okay though?"

"Of course," Chase replied. "We're not that weak."

I smiled and we got Marcus' car. I was in the passenger seat while the boys sat at the backseat. I bit my lip, still thinking about Trick being in the rival gang. I knew I wasn't going to sleep at night. I wanted to cry because he had said that he was pretending to be my friend.

I shook my head, I need to forget Trick. He was just friends with me to get me hurt.

I turned to the guys as Marcus started to drive the car. "Where are you guys going to go now?" I asked.

"To sleep," Chase replied with a yawn.

Ian rolled his eyes,"To the house."

"Wait, do you guys all sleep in that house?" I asked.

"Yes... we didn't grow up with parents if that's what you were thinking. We all grew up together," Xavier said.

"Oh," I nodded. "How did you meet?"

"I don't remember that much but I know we met through Vincent," Ian replied.

"Can you guys stay over at my house?" I mused. Marcus looked at me, as well as the guys.

"What?"

"Just one day, please?" I begged. "Over my house. My parents will be back on Friday and you guys can leave on Wednesday."

Ian ran his fingers through his dark silky hair. "Sure."

Marcus shrugged.

I squealed and they looked at me weirdly. "I'm sorry," I grinned. Marcus slowed the car to a stop. I got out and shut the door, the window went down.

"We'll be back soon," he said and I nodded. "Remember, if som--"

"If something seems strange. Don't hesitate to call me," I completed his sentence. He smiled and I backed away as he drove away. I took out my phone and unlocked it. I tapped on Aaliyah's contact.

I groaned as I tried to stand up. The two guys I came with were also injured and one had their hand broken.

I stood up and just looked at the injured guys on the floor. I left the theater and the mall. I got in my car and started it. I drove away, trying to get away from here because James was going to hurt me if I didn't Alyssa.

I don't have her... and now I'm in deep--

Two black cars stopped in front of mine making me brake the car. I turned around and another car blocking me from escaping. "Shit," I cursed and my heart stopped when I saw James walk out of the car.

As I was about to lock my car doors, it was opened and I was pulled out and thrown to the ground. I was kicked, punched and thrown against my car before I collapsed to the floor.

"If you want something done properly, you do it yourself," James said and I coughed out blood and looked up at James.

"I'm sorry," I muttered.

"I knew you wouldn't get Alyssa," he said. "Like all the times you said but you didn't."

"James I--"

"I don't want to hear it," James interuppted and walked away. "You can go," he said.

No I couldn't.

James wouldn't let anyone go that easy.

He said it himself.

I heard a knock on the door and I smiled.

"That's them," I said to Aaliyah. Aaliyah grinned and fixed her hair, tying it to a messy bun. She wore a pink unicorn onesie.

I quickly dressed into my blue unicorn onesie and tied my hair into a messy bun as well. I rushed to the front door, holding Aaliyah's hand. "Hey! Calm down," Aaliyah said through laughs. I opened it and saw the guys.

All of them.

Erik, Chase, Xavier, Ian, Cameron, Sam, Kendall and last but definitely not least Marcus. They all stared at Aaliyah for moment.

"Hey Aaliyah," Marcus greeted her with a warm hug.

"She's Aaliyah?" Erik asked and his mouth dropped open.

I nodded. "Sexy, isn't she?"

"Very," Erik said.

Aaliyah looked down smiling and blushing. She tugged a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"What are you guys waiting for? Come in," I moved out of the way for them and they walked in.

Marcus pecked my lips,"I'm sleeping with you right?"

"We'll see," I teased and shut the door.

"So what are your names?" Aaliyah asked the boys. Erik, Cameron and Ian were in the living room with Aaliyah while I was in the kitchen with Chase, Sam, Kendall and Marcus.

I could already hear laughter in the living room.

Xavier said he could bake but I didn't believe him so he went to the kitchen and started baking. I was sitting on the island with the mixing bowl in my arms while I stirred the chocolate mix.

Marcus had his body between mine as he tried to unlock my phone with the password. Chase was playing music on his phone. So am I by Ava Max was currently playing.

I sang bobbing my head. I noticed that Marcus had stopped trying to open my phone and he was staring at me. My cheeks heated as I stopped singing.

"Don't stop singing because of me," Marcus said. "You have a beautiful voice."

I smiled and sang,"Do you ever feel like a misfit?

Everything inside you is dark and twisted

Oh but it's okay to be different

'Cause baby so am I

Do you ever feel like an outcast?

You don't have to fit into the format

Oh but it's okay to be different

'Cause baby so am I."

Marcus smiled and kissed my cheek while I stirred the chocolate mix. "I can sing too," Chase said matter of factly.

"Okay Chase, okay," Sam said and Kendall laughed at Chase.

Chase frowned,"I can sing."

"Sure." Sam nodded, clearly not believing him.

"We'll be sure to tell the world about it," Kendall said with a smile on his face. Chase narrowed his eyes at them.

"Don't worry Chase. I believe in you," I said honestly.

"Quiet," Chase said. Marcus snapped his head at Chase and shot him a glare.

"I mean... I love you, Alyssa," he said and Marcus clenched his jaw, still glaring at Chase.

"I mean... I love chocolate." Chase smiled.

Marcus nodded and looked back at my phone. I shrugged at Chase and he shrugged back.

"Can you tell me your password?" Marcus asked.

I sighed,"Fine."

Marcus looked up from my phone to meet eyes with me. He smiled, "Really?"

"No." I smiled cheekily as I unlocked my phone and gave it to him. He went to my camera roll and looked at all my pictures.

He was bound to find out that I looked ugly anyway.

He bit his bottom lip as he stared at one picture of me. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at the picture. I shrieked,"No!"

It was a picture of me posing in my bikini, sitting by the pool with the golden hour sunset hitting my skin. That picture was taken by Alyson a year ago. Trust me, I still didn't have friends then but I didn't have bruises on my body.

"Holy fuck, you have a beautiful body," Marcus commented. "I'm getting a boner."

My eyes widened as my face started heating. Marcus chuckled at my reaction. "I feel like jumping in a volcano," I mumbled. "Here Xavier, I'm finished." I gave him the bowl and Xavier thanked me.

I took off the hood of my unicorn onesie. "Do you guys want to dress into unicorn onesies?"

The guys said nothing.

"I said--"

"Alyssa that's ridiculous," Xavier said.

"Yeah..." Chase agreed. "They don't have the right size for me."

Sam and Kendall eyed Chase. I chuckled,"Come on, think about it. If everyone wore a unicorn onesie, we would have little unicorns wandering the house."

"That's the idea," Kendall said.

"We don't want to do that," Sam said.

"Please," I pleaded. "I'll do anything."

"Twerk for us." Chase smirked.

Marcus shot Chase a glare,"Chase, I swear--"

"I was kidding. Can't you take a joke?" Chase snorted. "But... if she wants to... she can."

"I would only do that for Marcus," I joked and Marcus grinned.

"You all would look so adorable," I said, clasping my hands together.

"I'm already hot," Chase said.

"And... we don't want to look like idiots." Marcus raised his eyebrow. The boys nodded, agreeing.

An idea came in mind. "Wha-- are you saying that I look like an idiot?" I asked as I tried to produce tears by not blinking.

Marcus frowned,"That's not what we meant--"

"No, no I get it," my eyes only produced little tears. Only wetting my eyelids. "Do I look like an idiot?" I asked Chase.

Chase stared at me for a moment then raised his arms in the air,"Don't drag me into this." he walked out the kitchen and I glared at him.

I looked back at Marcus,"Baby... please. Look like an idiot with me."

Marcus smiled then chuckled, "Anything for you, Baby cheeks." he pecked my cheeks.

"Aww, you're the best!" I hugged Marcus and he gladly hugged me back.

"But what about the others?" I asked. "I also want them to wear it."

"Let's just wait for Xavier to finish baking and we'll handle that," he said.

"I'm not going to finish baking if we're going to wear fucking onesies," Xavier murmured.