Disclaimer: This is a complete work of fiction. There's no resemblance to actual persons, events or places. If so, it is utterly not intended. I do not claim to own Bratz or anything to do with them at all. Their character exposure in this story is completely non-profit and just for fun. I own nothing but my own story plot, thank you!

Connections
Chapter Four

"Y'know what would be totally amazing?" The red-headed beauty asked her twin sister, Phoebe. The girls were quite opposite in most everything they did. Right down to what they wore, how they spoke, the music they listened to and the make-up tactics both used religiously.

"What's that?" She wondered in return, expecting something crazy was floating through her sister's mind. Roxxi could be real unpredictable. Most scenarios were fun, but to Phoebe it was more a pain in her behind. Bailing her sister out of trouble the majority of the time got to be so tiring.

"A boyfriend who sang." She blurted, a bit of a dreamy look upon her face.

Phoebe raised an eyebrow, a small smile of her own forming. "Well, that would be amazing sure. Do you have one? Because I know I don't."

"Totally, I keep him locked in the basement. I let him out every now and then due to good - or bad - behavior." Roxxi grinned as she nodded along with the lead singer of a boy band near blasting through her headphones.

"Roxxi!" Phoebe gasped, giving her sister a playful shove. "That's obnoxious."

"It's hardly the truth, but I'd be willing to make it reality." Her eyes sparkled mischievously, they always did. She suddenly sat up on her bed, "I received a text from Dana, party at Cloe's house later. Sweetness!"

Phoebe put her hand up in protest, "That's ironic because I just received a text from Cloe herself, stating it's a small get together. Emphasis on the 'small' part."

"Right, it's a party."

"No, a get together. On a small scale." Phoebe echoed in a stern tone.

Roxxi shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah, same thing."

"Oh boy." Phoebe let out a sigh as Roxxi ruffled up her hair, automatically frazzling her sister. "Hey!"

"C'mon, loosen up. It'll be fun, small or not. So get ready, don't embarrass me and wear something edgy for once." She gave a warm smile, she liked to give her twin an encouraging push sometimes.

"Fine, fine. Be on your best-"

"Yeah, whatever!" She hopped off her bed and headed directly into her side of their walk-in closet.

"Good grief, I hope all goes well tonight." She bit her lower lip and decided to let Cloe know they'd be in attendance.

Count Roxxi and I in, Angel! :)

Despite thinking about her sister and what her antics could be, she decided to focus on the get together and how nice it would be to see the girls outside of school. Tonight would be perfect. Or near perfect. . . she hoped.

"Who precisely packs overnight with a check list?" Dylan raised an eyebrow as he watched Iden go down a small list, at least four times. He glanced over at his own luggage - his school backpack, clothes shoved in haphazardly and his cell phone charger shoved in the side pocket. He was a low-maintenance kinda guy in some ways; this being one of them.

"It helps a person stay organized, you know. To keep track of your items so they don't end up lost. How do you say, nimrod?" Iden grinned, he was finally getting the hang of this 'friend' thing.

Dylan narrowed his eyes, "Hey! Don't be a dick, Iden." He then chuckled once the initial shock had worn off with the foreign guy poking fun at him. "I'm just kidding, that was funny."

Iden beamed momentarily, but he busied himself by going back to his checklist.

"What if we don't stay overnight? It could be risky with the girls and our input, they might not like it. . ." Cameron voiced, he had a point - but Iden wasn't having any of it.

"If there's alcohol to be had, we're staying. We're not leaving, it's silly to risk our lives when we can stay." He had a point, but so did Cameron. What if things did get rocky and they needed a get-a-way plan?

Dylan held his hand up in slight protest, "No worries guys, I can chat and get my feelings out without liquor, I'm cool. I'll be our emergency D.D."

"Breasts?" Iden questioned innocently, the guys busted out in laughter.

"No man, I ain't your pair. . . D-D means 'designated driver'."

"Oh!" His cheeks flushed red, he might not have the hang of the American way of speaking just yet. But he'd get it soon! "Oh. Right. Well, good idea then. I intend to indulge. Sometimes, females make me nervous."

"You?" Koby raised an eyebrow, looking up from his phone momentarily. "Girls make you nervous?" He repeated, just in case Iden didn't catch what he asked.

"Yes. Especially a certain one." He put his list down, looking out at the small group of guys around him. "Why does everyone think I've a gift with women?"

Dylan shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno. You flirt a lot."

"I do what?"

"Flirt." Dylan told the other. "A lot."

"Being a nice guy isn't being flirtatious." Iden narrowed his own eyes, no wonder they were coming up with all these made up thoughts concerning his seductive prowess. "No matter what part of the world I'm from, I'm a guy just like all of you. I have awkward situations, what I consider embarrassing parents - all of it. I'm just like you, except I speak funny." He mused, hopefully this would clear things up between them.

Dylan smirked, "You're a good guy Iden, I knew it from the get go. Now that we're all done being mushy, let's get this shit-show on the road!"

Cameron rolled his deep blue eyes. "Shit-show? Even you're in denial that this will go well, Dyl."

Dylan shook his head, "We know the girls, they're tight. They're cool. You're being melodramatic, man. Chill."

Soon they stopped the idle chit-chat and got to packing their overnight bags, along with a couple cases of beer to bring with them. Dylan would be their designated driver and all was good to go. A few couldn't wait, but Iden was looking forward very much so. Especially to see her again, butterflies would make him nauseous, but he hardly minded.

"You ladies ready?" Wayne finally showed up, last minute as usual but already packed.

"Fu-" Cameron started, but Wayne stopped him.

"Ah, ah - we gotta let Iden get the hang of speaking our native tongue, we'll work on coarse language next week." He grinned, giving Iden's shoulder a pat. "Let's go boys!"

Cloe's long blonde hair was tied up in a messy bun, her 'for-the-moment' side-bangs off to the right side, perfectly brushed out. She wasn't too dressed up, a pair of light blue yoga pants, the matching tank-top and a casual black cardigan. As ready as ever for this get together. Except for her best girls, they were downstairs getting ready.

The blonde was upstairs pacing back and forth in her bedroom. She couldn't stop herself from worrying about the consequences. She never thought this hard about something, but she wondered if this was a test of some sort. If they'd bust in while the guys were here and - she took a deep breath. Everything would be fine. It would be, she knew it would. Or well, seriously hoped.

She left her bedroom and trotted down the stairs, the front entrance where her stairs lead. She passed through the kitchen and entered the living room where Sasha, Yasmin and Jade were setting up. Jade was getting an assortment of finger foods ready, an array of coolers and liquor bottles were already in the fridge, getting their chill on.

Sasha went around the living room and hid anything that looked extremely priceless - just so they wouldn't break anything they certainly couldn't afford to replace. Just taking precautions of course. She truly didn't think they'd get rowdy or anything, but she wasn't too sure. With the boys tagging along and all.

"Is anyone nervous?" Yasmin asked suddenly, straightening out a sofa cushion.

"Nervous? Why would we be nervous, Pretty Princess?" Jade questioned back her best friend's way.

"Well, I mean. . . we've all had girl sleepovers and stuff. We know what to do, how to chill. . . but we've never actually done this with the guys before." She did have a point there. A couple of the girls in their close group had attended house parties, but they never stayed long. They usually ditched early to hang out with each other. This was a valid point Yasmin had. "I mean, guys aren't generally picky about food, but I wouldn't know what music to play, if my playlist is too girly. . . or if there's certain things we can't talk about, it's so different."

"Different isn't a bad thing Yas," Sasha began to explain. "I have cousins and they've had friends stay over. They don't do anything extra special. Maybe play video games or something, I'm not really sure but they aren't aliens. They're just guys."

"Sometimes they keep me guessing," Cloe added in finally, joining her best friends on the sofa. "to be honest with you guys, I hope this doesn't get out of hand. . ." this was the first time she had a chance to really talk to her girls outside the hustle and bustle of school.

"Are you regretting this party, Angel?" Sasha inquired, sitting down beside Cloe. A hand patting her knee comfortably.

"I won't regret it if we don't get caught," she admitted truthfully. "My parents said they weren't going far even though they'd be gone for a couple days. It makes me wonder if this whole thing's a test. Maybe it's a trust test! What if they don't trust me? Ooh man." She groaned, putting her head in her hands. A worried, muffled sigh escaping her mouth.

"Ooh, that's. . . damn. You should've told us earlier Angel!" Sasha had no idea that Cloe wasn't a hundred and fifty percent sure of her parent's whereabouts. This. . . might not be a good idea after all.

"I wanted to! You guys seemed so excited, I was hoping I could share your excitement, but apparently it turned into paranoia and here I am." She exhaled sharply, "I really wish I said something sooner."

"Yeah, it's a bomb idea - but if you're not sure we can pull this get together off without your 'rents coming home. . ." Jade stopped in mid-sentence. "you do realize you won't be the only one knee-deep in crap, right girl?"

Cloe raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"Well, if your parents come home and are pissed - they'll no doubt tell all our parents too. You guys know how strict mine can be, of course I didn't tell them boys would be over. . . could you imagine their reactions if we told them the truth?" She glanced around at Yasmin, Cloe and Sasha. "C'mon, like you guys were truthful I'm so sure." Her words dripping with sarcasm.

Cloe knew she wasn't honest, her worry only elevated when she learned Sasha nor Yasmin told their parents the situation either. "What?! Oh no."

Yasmin shifted forward, "I just told my mom it was a regular sleepover. . . I guess that was my first mistake, Angel."

Sasha shook her head, "No girl, you're not the only one wrong here. If my daddy only knew. . ."

"Let's calm down guys, before Cloe falls over of a heart attack." Jade tried to think quickly, how to come up with a solution or even a statement to reassure them what they were doing was alright. But she couldn't find the proper reassurance at the moment.

Cloe leaned back and sunk into the sofa, "You're screwed. I'm screwed. We're all screwed."

"No, maybe not." Yasmin voiced, all girls looked at her. "Guys! I'm waiting for one of you to come up with something brilliant here. Anytime now." She sighed, bringing her knees to her chest.

Cloe looked over at the antique grandfather clock that was kitty-cornered in the living room. So many antiques in her home. . . so many breakable things! No, she couldn't panic. She'd remain calm. She needed to. "It's not too late to take back the invite right?!"

"No, we can do it!" Yasmin handed Cloe her own phone, the blonde's fingers texting furiously until they heard a sound that made their hearts drop.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

) *( B ~ r ~ a ~ t ~ z ) * (

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