Chapter Five- The Guys Are Losers
"Can she hang out with us for a couple hours? We'll make sure she's back at the hotel around 10:30." Matt blurted out when he realized that her father was still standing there.
Lori's father looked at him and said, "I don't know. It's OK with me if it's OK with her mom....and Lori. But you guys have her back at the hotel at 10."
"Where's her mom?" Matt asked.
"She's standing outside." her father answered simply.
"Are you sure she can hang out with them dad? She just met them. They could be creeps." Nick said.
"We're not creeps." Greg assured him.
"You just met her." Nick reminded him.
"And I like her." Matt blurted out. "It'd be cool if I could get to know her."
"I knew you liked her!"
Matt looked at his friends as if they were nuts and then looked back at Nick. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of your sister."
"I don't care what you do to her. I'm just saying that you guys could be creeps. You all may be part of Nightmare Street, but you know......that doesn't mean you're angels." Nick explained. "Even though Lorr thinks you're so important. She's so obsessed."
"Come on you guys. You can't yell at me to stop what I was doing and then stay here and ...." a voice said. The voice belonged to Lori, but when she realized that the guys were still standing there she stopped mid-sentence.
"This guy right here wants to know if you want to hang out with him and his friends." her father, Donnie, said.
"Don't tease me like that. It's not very nice." Lori frowned.
"He isn't teasing you. Matt likes you and wants you to hang out with him." Chris told her.
"Chris, dude, shut the hell up." Matt said angrily.
"Watch your mouth. Her father's standing right there. If you swear and give him the wrong impression, you might lose your chance." Chris warned him.
"Crap." Matt muttered.
"You guys are losers. I really don't understand why she's obsessed." Nick said as he rolled his eyes.
"She's a teenage girl." Jesse said simply.
"Too bad she couldn't be obsessed with Eminem or something." Nick said. "At least he's cool."
"The guys are cool and what do I have in common with Eminem?" Lori snapped.
"You guys both have bad attitudes." Nick said. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Oooh. Wow. We both have bad attitudes." Lori said dryly. "God I have more in common with the guys. They're like...the same age as me. Well, Jesse is anyway."
"Jesse's the same age as you but you're in love with Matt." Nick blurted out.
"NICK SHUT UP!" Lori screeched.
"Why? It's not like you're gonna go out with Matt." Nick said coldly.
"Your brother really hates us doesn't he?" Matt asked looking at her.
Lori took a few steps towards him and said, "Don't let my stupid brother get to you. He's only 12."
"Are you really in love with Matt?" Greg asked surprised.
"Ignore that comment. My brother has no clue what he's talking about." Lori told him.
"So you don't love me?" Matt frowned then smiled at her.
"She does love you. She just doesn't want you dissing her." Nick answered.
"Lori, go hang out with them. Ignore your brother." Donnie said. "And make sure you have her back by 10 Matt."
"Yes sir." Matt said politely. "And thank you."
Surprisingly, he grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the group into a corner of the store so they could talk.
Chapter 6