We made it there in seven minutes because I sped, and ran a few red lights. It was dangerous, and Cal and Hallie were yelling at me to slow down, while Jace opened the sun roof and stuck his head out of the window.

Like a dog.

Cal ran up the steps, smoothed his hair back, tightened his grip on the flowers, and rang the doorbell by 5:59.

He stood outside for a minute before the door opened reluctantly, and out stepped a man with jet black hair. He looked at Cal sternly and then brought him inside.

I assumed that was Lacy's dad, and he was having the father talk with Cal. Cute.

Ten minutes later, Cal and Lacy stepped outside hand in hand and got into the car.

"Where are we going Callie?" Hallie asked.

"To Maria's, Hallie." Cal replied.

Maria's was named after Sebastian's grandma. They had considered calling it Blanco's which was their last name, before Maria died. Then Mr. Blanco, Sebastian's dad, decided on Maria's after his mother.

"Oh I love that place!" Lacy said.

She was pretty, with long dark hair and a light dotting of freckles across her face. Her eyes were a vibrant green, and she seemed sweet.

"Do they have salad and meat?" Jace asked me.

"Probably." I replied.

Cal, Lacy, and Hallie had a conversation behind us as I drove. I told Sebastian to put the reservation in under the name Cal Johnson.

When we got there, a professional looking waiter asked Jace, "Cal Johnson?" Jace shook his head and pointed behind him to his brother.

"Ah, follow me sir and miss" The waiter said to Cal and Lacy.

They were lead through the restaurant, and up the winding spiral stairs to the roof.

"Fancy." Jace remarked.

"Table for three?" Asked a familiar voice.

It was Sebastian's older sister, Clara.

She looked at me with a smirk as I replied, "Yes."

After she sat us down at a table in the middle of the restaurant where the moon shone down, I glared at her. There were four tables in the restaurant like this, and Sebastian and Clara called them the romantic tables.

"Very funny Clara." I said.

"When did this happen?" She asked pouting, and pointing between me and Jace, "And you had a kid? Jeez, I've only been gone for three years. You didn't even call to tell me?" She said jokingly.

"He's one of the kids I babysit." I replied smiling at her. I hugged her.

"Hey! I'm 18!" Jace protested. "And I'm single." He added winking at Clara.

She sneered in disgust. She was a junior in college. "Lex, keep you're boyfriend on a tighter leash."

"Whatever." I said with a smile as I sat down across from Jace and next to Hallie. "What do you want for dinner sweetie?" I asked.

"Quesadilla!" She shouted. "Chicken on half."

"And what about you sweetheart?" I asked Jace in a fake sugary voice.

"Shut up." He replied broodingly.

Sebastian's older brother, Marcos, came to take our drink orders. I stood up to hug him. "Hey M! Haven't seen you in forever!" I said as I threw my arms around his neck.

"Sup little A. Good to see you." He said, hugging me back.

"Now we just need to see Sebby." I replied as I sat back down.

"He's in the kitchen making the enchiladas and chimichangas, maybe he'll bring out the food." Marcos replied.

"Of course he is." Sebastian had a natural talent for cooking. He wanted to run Maria's when he grew up.

Hallie got a lemonade, and Jace and I both ordered water.

I colored with Hallie for a while until she pushed me away. I looked towards Jace who was texting on his phone.

"So, how's soccer going?" I asked trying to make conversation.

He glanced at me and sighed before replying, "Good." Then he went back to texting.

"Is the team gonna be any good this year?" I asked, "I know we got the freshman, Velasquez. And the Felipe twins who transferred. And Smith who came from Virginia. You'll have someone to pass too this year."

Jace was the star of the soccer team, but it didn't matter how good you were, if you had no one to pass to, you're team wouldn't do well.

He looked at me for a good five seconds before replying, "Yeah."

"Johnson, you're the one who wanted to come with us, the least you can do is talk to me." I blew up at him.

He put down his phone, "Fine, wonderful weather we're having, aye?" He asked. His voice was dripping with sarcasm and resentment.

"Better." I replied clapping sarcastically myself.

He rolled his eyes and picked his phone back up.

"Ugh." I groaned and rolled my eyes also.

A familiar face walked through the swinging doors of the kitchen, and came to sit at our table. He set a platter of salsa, queso, and guacamole on the surface.

"Sebby!" I shouted throwing my arms around him.

"Hey Alex!" He said patting my back, "Im off for the night. And I brought dip."

He took a handful of chips and stuck them in the green salsa.

"Hey Jace." Sebastian said after he swallowed his chips.

Jace looked up at him and then back at his phone "good talking to you!" Sebastian said sarcastically cheerful.

Marcos came back, "Food?" He asked.

Hallie got her quesadilla, Jace got a taco salad, extra meat, and I got two fish tacos with rice and beans.

"Bro you're such a girl." Sebastian said after Jace ordered the taco salad.

"Oh yeah? I bet I could eat twice the amount of tacos you could." Jace replied.

"Bring it on." Sebastian replied.

"Guys let's not do this." I said carefully. To get them to back down. I had to be strategic. I couldn't insult their individual manly pride, but I also had to put out and ultimatum.

"Oh it's on." Jace replied.

"Jace if you do this, I'm leaving you here." I threatened.

"I'll drive you home amigo." Sebastian said.

"I'll stop being your best friend." I threatened Sebastian.

"You're not serious." He was right, I wouldn't go through with it.

And that, is how you fail at getting two boys to back down from a ridiculous challenge.

"Aye, Marcos, get me an order of 60 tacos." Sebastian called.

"Oh no." I said pinching the bridge of my nose.

||/||/||/|

Two hours and 41 tacos later, I held a sleeping Hallie in my lap, while Cal and Lacy were down the street eating ice cream.

Sebastian and Jace were struggling to finish their 30 tacos each.

Jace had eaten 21 and Sebastian had eaten 20.

"I can't do it anymore." Sebastian sighed, "You win."

"Yes." Jace said groggily, pumping a fist into the air. "Im so full."

I carried Hallie to the car, and Jace limped behind us.

He kept moaning and groaning about his stomach.

We picked up Lacy and Cal from the ice cream parlor and drove Lacy home.

It was nine o'clock and Hallie was asleep in my arms as I carried her up the stairs.

I laid her in bed, as Cal got ready for bed and Jace laid on the couch in the living room.

"Are you spending the night?" Jace asked through a yawn.

"What?" I asked.

"I have soccer tomorrow at six, and that's when Hallie wakes up for kindergarten. So unless you want to get up at five to be here by six..." Jace trailed off.

"I didn't bring any clothes, maybe next time." I said walking to the door.

"Then don't wear any." Jace said smirking.

I sighed, "You can handle things now right?" I asked.

"Yeah." Jace replied.

"Ok, good. Bye." I said and walked out the door.

When I got home, it was almost ten, and I saw Tyler waiting for me on the porch.

"Finally! You're home!" He called. "You're supposed to be back at nine thirty. What too so long? Did you stay to have sex with that Jace kid?" Tyler asked sneering when he said Jace.

"Ew, gross no." I replied, "He and Sebastian got into a taco eating contest."

"Oh, who won?" Tyler asked.

"Jace." I replied.

"Damnit." Tyler said.

"Yeah I know."

"Well, night sis." He said and walked inside, letting the door close in my face.

"Night Tyler." I replied and sighed. This would be a long few months.