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“Thanks, Alice,” I said over my shoulder and skipped up the stairs two at a time.

“Oh, if it isn’t little Miss Trouble herself.”

I rolled my eyes at Alec. He walked out of the upstairs bathroom drying his hair. Alec was Dan’s older brother and, unlike Dan, complete and utter trouble. He was also Chad’s best friend. Though I didn’t call him Alec. I called him Ace and he hated it. Why did I call him Ace? Well, I had a pet rabbit when I was little and his name was Ace. I told Alec that he reminded me of the rabbit, which was a complete lie, but it really bugged him so the name stuck.

“Oh, Ace, you know I’m only half the trouble you are,” I shot back at him as I walked towards Dan’s door. “I saw an orange jumpsuit at the mall the other day, automatically thought of you.”

I grinned evilly. Alec did a month in prison a few months ago. No one knew what it was for, but he always got shitty when you mentioned it.

He threw the wet towel in my direction and missed me completely. “Your aim is off, Ace,” I sung over my shoulder, quickly pushing Dan’s door open and closing it behind me before he could respond.

To my surprise the room was empty.

“Danny boy?” I sung, looking around the empty room. The Xbox was on pause, so I knew he couldn’t be far. The sound of running water came from his bathroom. Well, that explained it.

What was with boys showering at the same time? Throwing my bag onto the couch across from the TV, I launched myself into his bed and scooped up the remote.

I was sure there was something on TV. But I couldn’t remember how to change it from the AV to TV. So instead I reached out for his laptop and typed in his password, danrules. What an original password.

***

How long does it take for a male to shower? You would think about five minutes or something, right? Well, I don’t think Dan got the memo. I glanced down at the side clock. Fifteen minutes I have been waiting here.

Sighing, I scrolled through Facebook statuses once more, stopping on Scott’s latest one. “Beer before bed.” Who has a beer before bed? Oh wait, he did. Rolling my eyes, I clicked on the comment box.

“Freak.” I pressed enter. Yep, that summed up what I thought of him. His reply to my comment flashed under mine. “you are.” I scoffed. Oh, what a great come back! So I decided to comment, “Nice comeback.”

“Nice rack.” I frowned at his comeback to my comeback. I heard the shower turn off. About time, Dan. Shaking my head, I closed the laptop. There was no winning with Scott.

The bathroom door swung open and my mouth dropped open. Dan stood there with a towel around his waist, water droplets across his shoulders and chest. I closed my mouth and shook my head slightly to break my stare.

“Took you long enough,” I shot at him. His eyes registered surprise.

“How long have you been here?” He eyed me on the bed. “I thought you would still have been a ways away.”

“Well you know me. I have a lead foot.” I shrugged my shoulders. “And to answer your question, a while.”

Dan glanced at the bag on his couch and then back at me with a raised eyebrow.

“I thought we could have a sleep over.” I smiled and shifted the laptop from my lap.

“Did you now?” Dan muttered. He walked over to his drawers and pulled out some clothes. “What if I had plans?”

“Well…” I tapped my chin to add effect. “I would cancel them.”

Dan shook his head and grinned at me before walking back in the bathroom. He left the door slightly ajar.

“I can’t go away with you,” I sung from the bed, crossing my legs. “My parents said I have to stay.”

The door flung open and Dan walked back in, pulling a clean t-shirt over his head.

“What? Why?” he frowned at me, looking disappointed.

“Because of X— Mr. Clark,” I replied and dropped my eyes to my lap. “The school said I can’t afford a break, not before the end of the semester anyway.”

“Sucks,” Dan muttered before throwing himself onto the bed beside me. “That really sucks.”

“Yep,” I replied. “You’re telling me.”