It's cool in the suite, so I unwrap the sweater from my waist, slip it on, and take my hair out of its ponytail.

"Alright, boys, we're all going to clean up this party mess. I cannot believe that you were going to make JR do this himself! Now, MinHyun and Aron, find some garbage bags and start on the kitchen. Um, Ren, collect all the trash from around the room. . . . BaekHo, get some paper towels and wipe down every surface, including the leather on the sofas." I survey the room again, saying, "And JR, I want youuu . . ." while wondering what else needs to be done.

It takes me a second to realize that all the boys have stopped what they're doing to stare and smirk at me. Aron leans his hands on the kitchen counter leisurely. "So the truth finally comes out, huh?" he purrs. BaekHo snickers. Ren watches the scene unfolding before him with casual interest.

"What?" I ask, confused.

Aron ignores me. "Did you hear that Len? I don't think I've ever met such a brave, confident, straight-forward little girl." Ren allows Aron one of his small smiles to show his amusement. MinHyun is looking at me and biting the inside of his cheek as if he has something he wants to tell me.

"Hello? What did I say?" I ask again, getting annoyed. JR shifts next to me, uncomfortable. "Aron Hyung," he begins, "just leave –"

"No, wait! What. Did. I. Say??" I growl. Aron shakes his head at me. "You don't even remember what you said?" He makes a tsk-tsk sound. "You, Starr, just admitted that you WANTED our boy, JR."

BaekHo laughs outright and so does Ren. MinHyun turns his back to me, ever so focused on clearing out the kitchen sink. "Aron!" JR yells. My mouth falls open. The room is suddenly too hot for the sweater I just put on. "What! No! No, no, that's not what I meant! That's not what I was going to say!" I whirl around to face JR. "I need a broom. I want you to get a broom. That's what I was . . . going . . . to say . . ." My sentence trails off. The four boys continue to hoot as I stand there in humiliation. Why does Aron feel so compelled to do this to me? I groan in mortifying embarrassment and my head falls into my hands. I focus on my amplified breathing and only my breathing. Just block out their laughter. I know that they're not laughing to be mean (except maybe the eldest bastard) but it still makes the situation worse.

After a second I feel arms wrap around my chest from behind and a chin rest on my shoulder. I stiffen, thinking that it's JR, but then vanilla and cinnamon reach my nose. "It's alright, Starr-ssi," MinHyun consoles. "We're just playing." I slowly spread my fingers so that I can peek between them, but I don't pull my hands from my face. JR's still in front of me. He wears a hesitant smile, unsure whether or not I'm really consoled.

BaekHo flies out of nowhere and attacks me from the side. "We still love you, Princess!" he crows. "Don't be red anymore!" My body shakes once with a giggle. "Why do you call me 'princess'?" I ask, my voice muffled. He leans his head against mine. "Because you act like one."

"What!"

"I meant you look like one!" BaekHo attempts to amend.

Ren comes to join our group and makes do with the limited space by squeezing his arm around my waist and smiling at me. My hands fall away from my face and I smile back. JR smiles in relief and for some reason, when I glance at Aron, he looks pleased.

I stand still and let the boys murmur other nice things to me for a few more seconds more before I straighten up and they loosen their hold on me. I regain my commanding character and say, "Thank you, MinHyun, Ren, BaekHo. But don't think this gets you out of cleaning."

BaekHo complains, "Really, I don't understand why the maids refuse to clean it."

"Maids? You mean me?" JR asks, punching BaekHo's shoulder playfully.

I shake my head. "You are NOT going to ring the maids; their job is to tidy up, change the sheets, take out the garbage - stuff like that. They're not about to clean up a party mess for five lazy – but perfectly capable – teenage boys. YOU guys made this mess, so YOU guys are going to clean it. . . . Well, don't just stand here giving me puppy-eyes and aegyo; let's get to it!"

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A/N:

New Member: http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/200710/new-member-kpop-romance-baekho-ren-nuest-minhyun

Head in the Clouds: http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/245617/head-in-the-clouds-you-baekho-ren-nuest-minhyun-nuestjr-aron

Liars: http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/219471/liars-baekho-ren-nuest-minhyun-nuestjr-jren-baekren

The New Life [M]: http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/221979/the-new-life-myungsoo-romance--teen-school-jrnuest

First and Last: http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/201667/first-and-last-love-baekho-ren-nuest-minhyun-aron-jrjonghyun