At eleven that night, Joey got in the car to go pick up Sasha.

"Hey," she smiled, getting in the car. "Thanks again for getting me."

"No problem," Joey answered. "We saved you some Chinese food at home. If you want."

"Sure," Sasha said.

"Okay, I have to tell you something, but don't answer till you hear the whole thing," Joey told her. "It's about JC."

Sasha groaned. "Joey... leave me alone."

"Nope," Joey grinned. "Lance had this great idea... JC is pretty bummed lately, well, because of you and him, and-"

"And what?" Sasha said. "Get back together? No."

Joey laughed. "Yeah, right Sasha. That's the last thing I want." He stopped laughing. "I mean... never mind."

Sasha raised an eyebrow. "Okay... anyway, what then?"

"Well, Lance was thinking that we should through him a surprise party..." Joey hesitated. "Would you come?"

"No," Sasha said. "I have to work that night."

"Do you even know what night it is?" Joey asked.

"No," Sasha said. "But I don't want to go. Sorry, Joey, but JC is being a pain in the ass. He ignores me, and if I try to be nice, he isn't back. I don't want to go to a party for him."

"Listen, Sasha," Joey told her. "I know that, but it's going to be at your house, and it's only going to be me, you, Eryn, Justin, Lance, Chris and JC. That's all. You don't have to get him a present... but please come. It won't be the same without you." He smiled.

"Thanks, Joey," Sasha said. "But it won't work."

"Sasha!" Joey exclaimed. "Come on!"

"Joey!" Sasha mimicked. "No!"

"Well, think about it," he said. "I want a final answer by the time we get to your house."

"Fine," she said.

The two sat in silence for the rest of the ride. When they pulled into Sasha's driveway, Joey turned off the car, and looked at Sasha. "Well?"

"Well..." Sasha smiled. "I will come-"

"Great!" Joey said.

"-Under one condition," Sasha smirked.

"What is it?" Joey asked.

"If Shane can come too," she said.

"Shane!?" Joey asked. "Why?"

"Because we're friends," she said.

"I think you just want to make JC jealous," he replied. But it's me that will be jealous, he thought.

"That's not it," Sasha said, looking hurt. "I don't play those games like JC does."

"Fine, then why would you want Shane there?" Joey asked her.

"Because everyone there is good friends with JC. Except for me," she pointed out. "Since I will feel a little left out, I want Shane there, to keep me company."

"Sasha!" Joey said, surprised. "JC might be my best friend, but you're still my friend. I won't leave you out. And, JC will flip out if he sees Shane there. That would be making you be as, well, like you say, 'immature as him.'"

Sasha sighed. "You're right," she said. "Sorry. But if no one talks to me, I get to leave the party. Okay?"

"It's a deal," Joey said. He opened his door. "Let's go inside. It's always a good idea to not sleep in the car."

Sasha laughed. "Good plan."

They walked inside.

***

The next morning, Eryn asked JC to go pick up some milk, and she gathered the rest of the group in the kitchen.

"Okay," she said. "JC's birthday is in about a week. I don't think he has a clue. Is everyone here coming?"

Everyone nodded. "Against my will," Sasha added.

Joey shot Sasha a look. "Sasha..." he warned.

"Sorry," she said.

"Anyway," Eryn continued. "We need to plan what's going to go on."

"Okay, how about I bring JC out?" Lance suggested. "Sometime in the afternoon, and then I will bring him back at six."

"Sounds good," Justin said. "I can be in charge of food. And you can help me, okay Eryn? Because you know your way around the town."

"Okay," she smiled, but stole a quick glance at Lance, who frowned. "What should we get?"

"Snack type stuff, and a cake," Chris said. "We don't want to make it too cornball. It's not like we are thirteen."

"How about kareoke?" Justin suggested.

"That would be good," Joey agreed. "I'll do that."

"I'll do kareoke with him," Chris said.

"Okay," Lance said. "Joey and Chris will get the kareoke, Justin and Eryn are getting food, I am distracting JC, and there's nothing else. Sorry, Sasha."

"Oh, that's okay," Sasha smiled. "I am being forced to come anyway."

Lance looked at Sasha carefully. "You don't have to come, if you don't want to."

"Oh, I'll come," Sasha said. "Don't worry about me."

"So it's all settled," Lance smiled, and he heard the front door open. "I think that's JC."

JC walked in the room, seconds later. "Hey guys," he smiled, and handed a bag of groceries to Eryn. "There's some stuff you wanted."

"Thanks JC," she said, walking into the kitchen. When she was putting things in the fridge she looked into the living room. The only person she could see was Lance. He was sitting on the armchair that was beside the doorway.

"Lance," she whispered. He looked over, and she motioned for him to come in the kitchen. He held up a finger and mouthed, 'one minute'.

"I'll be right back," she heard Lance say. He walked into the kitchen.

"You beckoned?" He flashed her a smile.

"Yeah," she said. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure," he said, concerned. "Is anything wrong?"

"I don't know," Eryn answered, "that's why I called you in here."

"Okay," he said. "What did you want to know?"

"I wanted to know if you were mad or upset because me and Justin are going to plan the food thing together," she smiled a little. "I know it's not a big deal and stuff, but you looked a little upset and..."

"Well, if you are wondering if I wish it was me with you, you already know the answer," he said. He sighed and looked away. "Eryn, why are you even asking me? Why does it matter how I feel?"

"Lance!" Eryn exclaimed. "Don't be silly... of course it matters how you feel."

"I'm not trying to be stubborn, but it matters how Justin feels. In case you have forgotten, Eryn, Justin is your boyfriend, I'm your friend," he said.

"We talked about this before," Eryn said. "I told you how I felt."

"No you didn't," he said. "Well, you did, but you weren't very clear."

"I'm sorry," Eryn said. "I don't know what I should say." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Justin IS in the other room. I can't tell you that I like you... that's not how it works."

"You like me?" he asked. "Or were you just saying that."

"We're friends, Lance," Eryn said. She felt safe with saying that much.

"This isn't fair, you know," Lance told her. "Can't you just be straight with me? I don't care that Justin is your boyfriend, I just want to know how you feel about me. Just tell me. Who am I going to tell?"

"You're right," Eryn admitted. "Fine, here's the truth-"

"Hey guys," JC said walking in. He stopped. "Am I interrupting anything?"

"Nope," Eryn said, relieved to get out of telling Lance the truth.

"Uh, Lance," JC said. "We still need that talk later."

"Sure," he said. "Can you, um-"

"Leave?" JC put in. "Sure, I was just getting some water." He got a bottle of Evian from the fridge and walked upstairs.

"As you were saying..." Lance pushed.

"Why is it so important?!" Eryn exclaimed exasperated.

"Eryn," Lance said. "I need to know. Just how you feel right this minute."

"Annoyed," she said. "No, I'm just joking."

"Good," Lance said. "Tell me. I swear I will never mention it again."

"Fine Lance," she said. "I like you. I like you and I like Justin. But I like Justin more. There you go, okay? Justin is my boyfriend, he's the one I want to be with. You, to me, are the type of guy that... I don't know... I like you on the side. That's all... that's how I feel."

Lance stared at her. "So you do like me?"

"Yeah," she said. "But don't tell anyone... except JC. You can tell JC... I trust him. But that's it."

"Okay," he said slowly.

End of Chapter Thirty Nine