Don't Call Her 'Baby'.

"Seriously? On a school night?" Mia asked, again to Mark & Lucas who came to her house to invite her and Rachel to go to a rock concert with them.

"Yes, Mia. We're asking you to come with us on a school night. How many times are you gonna ask the same question?" Lucas snapped.

"Until you get some sense in that thick head of yours and drop the idea of going too." Mia retorted.

"Why are we asking her again?" Lucas turned to Mark glaring at him.

"Mia, it's really going to be fun. Come on, go with us. Please?" Mark sighed. It was really exhausting for him to get stuck in between these two.

"Nope. I'm not going and neither you two. Did you forget we have tons of homework to do?"

"What are you?! Can't you enjoy a single night without burying your head in books and homework?" Lucas scoffed.

"Shut up, Lucas. Mia, we won't stay late and will finish our work too. Please come with us baby." Mark tried again as he took her hand in his.

"Mark I know..." As she was trying to say something Lucas cut her off abruptly, "Don't call her that."

"What?" Mark asked, confused.

"Don't call her 'baby'."

Mia and Mark looked at each other confused. This was definitely not the first time that Mark has called her 'baby'. In fact Mia was very comfortable and used to Mark's endearments towards her. They couldn't understand why Lucas suddenly reacted like this.

But it was indeed the first time that Lucas has heard him call her 'baby'. He has previously seen Mark being close to her and being affectionate towards her but when he heard him call her 'baby', he didn't like it. He didn't like that at all!

Mark looked at Lucas's frowning face and he felt something was really going on with his buddy here. Actually he had been curious about his change in behavior towards Mia for quite some time now.

"And why exactly would I do that? Care to elaborate, Lucas." Mark asked with an amused smile as his eyes shone with mischief.

"Just don't. I don't like that." Lucas replied irritated.

"You don't have to like it anyway. It's not like he is calling You 'baby', right?" Mia raised an eyebrow as she asked.

"Yeah! Why, Lucas?" Mark smirked.

"Mark." Lucas glared at him. His voice cold and threatening carrying an obvious warning for Mark to shut his mouth and listen to him.

Mark getting the message nodded at him and turned to Mia going back to their original discussion. "Mia, let's go pleeeeeeease."

"No, I'm not going." Mia decided.

"Who's not going where?" Rachel asked as she entered the room. Mark quickly rushed to her side to convince her, "Rach, you tell her to come with us to the concert."

"Tonight? Not happening. We are having a girls night tonight and it's been a long time since we've done one so, there's no way I'm cancelling it." Rachel refused as she plopped down on the sofa next to Mia. Mia beamed at her best friend for saving her.

Mark's face fell as both the girls refused to go with them. He just wanted to spend some fun time with all of his friends. Lucas who saw his buddy's disappointed expression felt bad for him but in the next moment an evil smile came on his lips.

He took Mark to one side and whispered something to him. After hearing his idea Mark got really excited and nodded in agreement. Then both of them came back to the girls and Mark said, "OK fine. I won't ask you to go to concert again if you promise me one thing."

"What thing?" Mia asked doubtfully looking back & forth between Mark and Lucas.

Mark smiled, "As you know my birthday is next week and obviously I'm gonna throw a party so..."

"So?"

"So promise me you'll come to the party. Please." As he finished Mia pointed her finger at Lucas and glared at him, "You set this up, didn't you!"

Lucas shrugged, "Why Johnson, can't you do this for your 'baby'?"

Mia looked at Rachel for help but Lucas already signalled her to cooperate with them so Rachel helplessly said, "Sorry darling I can't help you with this."

"Please?" Mark insisted.

Seeing no way out Mia sighed, "Okay I'll come to the party."

Mark enveloped her in a side hug happily, " Thank you, love."

Then they both got up to leave. Mia & Rachel walked them to the door reminding them again to finish their homework before going to concert.

Stepping out the door Lucas turned around smirking evilly and suddenly leaned closer to Mia and whispered, "If you are so concerned for me why don't you help me out, Baby." Then he kissed her cheek softly and winked at Rachel.

Turning around with a smug smile he left with Mark leaving behind Mia who by now had turned as red as a tomato!