Fortunately enough, they did get through the night. Rachel had stated that she was sorry too in a not-so-sorry tone, but luckily Bryan accepted that. They both had a truce, even though the gleam in their eyes said otherwise. But they did it anyway, for their friends' sake. After that the girls decided that they would call it a night, but before they really went home Deanna gave Shane the girls' phone number. Mellisa, Kylie, and Rachel were already out at that moment, so they did not exactly know about it.

"Thanks Deanna, I'd give you a call sometimes," Shane said, out of politeness.

"I'd be waiting," she grinned cheekily then waved goodbye before Mark closed the door behind her.

"That girl!" Bryan started again as soon as he made sure the girls could not hear him. He flopped down to the sofa where Kian and Nicky had slept on.

"You're not gonna start on Rachel again, are you?" Mark groaned.

"You have to admit it Bryan, you were a little immature," Shane said wistfully.

"Like she wasn't!" Bryan snorted.

"Get over it, big boy," Mark advised.

"But all I want was to apologize! She was the one acting so weird tonight!" Bryan shook his head, not understanding what had happened.

"Okay, okay, let's not talk about it now. I'm tired," Shane yawned.

"I would never ever want to meet her again!" Bryan vowed.

"Are you sure?" Mark looked at him teasingly.

Bryan rolled his eyes, "Whatever," he ran up the stairs to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Mark lazily switched the TV off. I mean, all it had was static, anyway.

"Hey Shane," Mark began.

"Hmmm?"

"I saw that Deanna girl giving you the look. You interested in her?" Mark asked out of curiosity.

"You mean Annie?" Shane asked sleepily, his eyes closed.

"Yeah, whatever you call her. You haven't exactly answered me yet," Mark patiently said.

"Nah," Shane gave a little laugh, then opened his eyes, "Mel is a bit cute, though."

"What do you mean? Do you like her? Are you seeing her?" Mark asked worriedly.

Shane chuckled, "Yes and no."

"Huh?"

"I mean," Shane sighed, "Yes, I think I like her but I'm not seeing her. Yet."

"Oh," Mark bit his lip.

"What is it to you, buddy?" Shane asked his friend, already closing his eyes again. He could not help it, he was damn sleepy.

"Nothing," Mark answered uneasily. Shane half-opened his eyes, curiously looking at his close mate. Ahh, whatever! he shrugged the funny thought he had inside away and closed his eyes, slowly drifting to sleep.

Meanwhile Mark took a look at his silent surroundings then gave out a sigh, There's still hope... I think... He silently prayed.

***

"I'm so happy tonight," Mellisa sighed, slowly taking a seat on the sofa inside her apartment.

"There are three things that made the dinner so special," Kylie sighed.

"And what are they?" Mellisa asked curiously.

"Nicky, Nicky, and Nicky." Kylie sighed again. Mellisa rolled her eyes, laughing.

Rachel sniffed the air, "Mmm, it's good to be in my own apartment again."

"What do you mean?" Deanna asked, laughing.

"C'mon, I don't even get the chance to breath in that place. I mean, Bryan took it all up," Rachel snorted.

"You mean you're too busy flirting with him." Deanna corrected. Mellisa and Kylie laughed.

"Yeah, I'm-" Rachel did a double take, "WHAT!!!"

"Whoa," Mellisa chuckled, "Calm down."

"Never mind, you guys are so sick," Rachel shook her head as if pitying herself, then got to the kitchen.

"Hey what are ya doin'?" Kylie asked.

"I'm still hungry! Bryan made me don't feel like eating there!" Rachel shouted from their kitchen.

"Yeah, Bryan made her wanna kiss him," Deanna whispered to the other girls. They all burst to giggles.

"What's so funny?" Rachel got back with a plate of nachos.

"Nothing. By the way, I gave Shane our phone number," Deanna quickly changed the subject.

"You what?!" Mellisa and Rachel shrieked at the same time.

"Calm down girl..." Deanna gave a little laugh.

"Did he ask for it?" Kylie asked curiously.

"No, I said I gave him, right? And I didn't say anything about you girls living with me," Deanna explained.

"He didn't know I live with you and he still accept it?" Mellisa looked a bit disappointed.

"Hey, what else can the guy do? I just wanna see if he'd really call. He would if he's a gentleman," Deanna shrugged.

"Yeah..." Mellisa bit her lower lip.

"Come on Mel, it doesn't mean that I have a crush on him or something!" Deanna reasoned.

"Yeah..." Mellisa looked down. But what if he has a crush on you?

***

Three days later, Shane decided to call Deanna. Who knows? May be Mellisa's visiting her or something, Shane thought naughtily. He picked up his cordless and pressed the appropriate buttons. After exactly three rings a person on the other side answered.

"Hello?" it was a girl.

"Hello, is Deanna there?" Shane asked politely.

"Mmm, wait a sec." the girl seemed to be covering the phone but he could still hear her shouting, "De-Ann-AAA!!!!!" she waited a few moments.

"What's that for?" a sleepy voice asked, another girl.

"Ky, where's Anna?" the girl who answered his phone asked.

"She's gone to get a new haircut, remember?" Ky answered, sounding exasperated.

"Right!" the girl laughed uneasily.

"Hello? I don't think she's in," the girl said guiltily to him.

"Oh, that's okay then," Shane was about to press the off button when he heard the girl said:

"May I know who's calling?"

"It's her friend, Shane." Shane answered quickly.

"Ohmigosh! Hi Shane!!!" the girl shrieked.

"Huh?"

"Who's that?" Ky asked sleepily.

"Kylie it's Shane!!!" the other girl answered excitedly.

Shane paused for a moment. Kylie is there? Then could it be... No, Shane shook his head, might be Rachel. But then again, she wouldn't be too excited even if she knows it was me... Shane's heart pounded twice as fast as before. What the hell am I feeling? Shane laughed, trying to brush the uneasiness away.

"Hello? Shane?" the girl got back to the phone.

"Yeah? Is this, um... Mellisa?" Shane asked softly.

"Bingo!!!" Mellisa laughed.

Shane lightened up, "Hi, what's up?"

"Nothing much," Shane could almost swear he saw Mellisa shrugging.

"Do you stay with Deanna?" Shane asked.

"Well, that doesn't sound right. Does Deanna stay with me is the right question," Mellisa gave a little laugh. "I got the apartment, but I don't wanna live alone. So I ask a few close friends of mine to stay with me. And Deanna is one of them. And answering your question, yeah we shared the apartment." Mellisa finished.

"I see..." Shane nodded, then realized she could not see him.

"So why are you callin' anyways? Did ya miss Annie already?" Mellisa asked teasingly.

"No, no," Shane shook his head, then caught himself again, "I mean... I..."

"Yes?" Mellisa laughed hearing him so uneasy.

"I was wondering if may be, uh... you're staying with Annie and I could, uh, you know, talk to you again." Shane breathed hard, waiting for the response.

"Really?" after a long pause Mellisa managed to squeal.

"Yes. So uh, when can we meet again?" Shane asked, then quickly slapped himself. That was one bold question!

"Well, wanna visit me here?" Mellisa asked back.

"Sure, just give me the address," Shane found himself grinning.

He wrote down her address and then said his good-bye. Just as he dropped his cordless, the front door slammed open and Bryan came walking in as if he was the king.

"Who's that?" Bryan asked casually, slapping Shane's back playfully.

"Oh, no one," Shane smiled at him.

Bryan eyed that friend of his curiously, "Hey Shane, what's up with that goofy smile?"

"Wanna know?" Shane kept grinning at him, "but take the goofy part back."

Bryan frowned, realizing that there was something fishy...