| Chapter One |
| "I love you are such strong words. And really, I don't love you." He couldn't believe the words were leaving his lips. She bowed her head, and he knew she was crying. "Matt...." she whispered. But she could speak no more. She choked back the rest of her sobs, then pulled her hand from his. The simple action was all it took for him to break down. 'I'm so sorry Mandy. So, so sorry." He stood, left a kiss on her forehead, and then he was gone. Mandy sat there a few more moments, too shocked to move. I never saw it coming. Why didn't I see this coming? There must have been some sign. Any sign. She put a hand to her temple, sighing. Thinking was too hard right now. "Uh oh. What's the matter Manny?" Veronica asked, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Are you okay?" "No V!" Mandy wailed, burying her head in Veronica's shirt, "Matt.... he broke...." Once again,her words left her. But Veronica knew. "Okay, okay. You know what? We'll get through this. You know Nikki and Jenny, they can make anybody laugh, and Danay and me, we're here to talk. Hell, D was born to do it." She paused, then gave Mandy a sympathetic look. "Do you want me to talk to him?" Mandy looked up at her, her face full of hope, "Would you? Veronica, I don't know what happened to us!" "You got it Mandy. I just hope he listens to me. But, if he won't give any of us the time of day, then forget him. He isn't worth the effort." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Whassup whassup? Wha- whassup whassup?" Nikki chanted as she danced into the room. Justin rolled his eyes, but Chris lept up and started dancing with her. "Ok that's enough you two." JC said quickly, as the two danced on. "Can we please keep this G?" "Awww, JC you are absolutely no fun. Can't you lighten up? A little? Maybe?" He shot her a look, "Or not, not is good." She walked around the room, hugging each guy. "Joey can't you give one hug without..." she stopped, "Hey Lynn how's it goin'?" Lynn laughed, "Nikki Nikki Nikki. What am I going to do with you?" Nikki laughed in return, and plopped down on Justin's lap. She cracked up again when he winced. "J, I am as light as a feather and you know it." She screamed as he picked her up, letting her back down, then sitting on top of her, "J-us-tin!!! You aren't the lightest stud on the block, babe." "Fine, whatever." He let her up and she scrambled to JC, whining about her legs. "On Nikki, you're such a baby." Veronica and Danay ran into the room, "Guys we really need your help..... What in the hell?" They looked around the room. Joey and Chris were yelling back and forth about Nikki something or another, Justin was getting yelled at by his mom for crushing Nikki, while Nikki herself was hugging JC around the middle, pretending to cry, and Lance was just sitting in the middle of the floor, reading the newspaper. "Maybe we should leave......" Danay said. "Nah." Chris said, and everybody stopped what they were doing and turned to Danay and Veronica, "Now what were you saying?" They shook their heads, "Okay, well.... guys listen, Mandy and Matt broke up. I want Trace or one of you to talk to him," Veronica said. "I can talk Trace into it, but will you guys please brainstorm on how to get them back together?" Justin's face turned pale, "Matt... oh God. Yeah, V we're in. JC? Meeting in Nikki's room at eight." Nikki raised an eyebrow at him, but he continued, "If anyone can do it, its the three mouseke- I mean musketeers. And V, I think talking to Trace is our best route at this point." |