Chapter 2












The next day, Megan woke up in her queen size bed stretched out luxuriously. It was 9:45, and she knew that Anna had spent the night over BJ’s. Her parents would be at work, of course, which is where they always were. Megan sighed and sat up, looking out her window towards the shore in her backyard. She had always loved the fact that she had a house that was right on the ocean. She loved the beach, and swimming.

She hopped out of bed and put on her white bikini, and over that she put her blue and white flowered ROXY shorts matching white baby-tee. She ran downstairs. She took the Fruit Loops out of the cupboard and poured herself a bowl. Then she took it outside to eat on the porch.

She climbed up a little ladder to the roof over her 1 story living room that jetted out into the backyard. She loved climbing up there because she could look over the fence into the Carter’s yard. Usually, over the summer, she could see Mrs. C gardening and the kids swimming in the pool. But today, Nick was out there, sitting on his swinging porch chair, looking into the water. Megan finished her cereal and put the bowl down. She jumped down from the roof and ran to her ladder. She hopped over the fence and walked over to Nick.

“Good morning, Blondie,” Megan said to Nick. She often called him “Blondie” because of his light blonde hair and blue eyes. She said he could be a Barbie doll, if only he was a little shorter. He was 6’0”, just a tad taller than Megan.

“Mornin’ Big Eyes,” Nick replied, still staring at the water. He didn’t say anything else, he just stared off into space.

“YOOO-HOOO, Nicky,” Megan said, waving her hand over his eyes.

“Huh? Oh, sorry, I guess I was spacing there for a minute. What’s up, Meg?” Nick said, looking at her.

Megan laughed. “Nuthin much. What are you doing up so early?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Nick said.

“Gee, that’s a first.”

Nick laughed at her. “Hey, you wanna go down to Disney today?”

Megan contemplated it. “Umm, yeah, sure, I guess. What time?”

“Like, 12?”

“K. But it’s only 10 now, so let’s go swimming,” Megan said as she hopped up and took off her shirt.

“Nah, I don’t really feel like it,” Nick said as watched Megan reveal her bikini by taking off her shorts.

“Oh, come on. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that you don’t feel like swimming,” Megan said, grinning and grabbing Nick’s hand.

Nick sighed and sat down. “Well, today I just don’t feel like it,” he said.

Megan sat down Indian-style on the grass next to him. “Okay, what’s wrong with you?” she asked him. She had known him for 13 years, and she knew that whenever he came home from tour, he loved to hang with her and goof off. He wasn’t usually down beat, and he could ALWAYS fall asleep.

Nick looked at the ground and picked a piece of grass. “Well, I don’t know. I’m just not in a good mood, I guess.” Megan looked at him skeptically. “What?” Nick asked when he saw the look she was giving him. “I’m telling the truth!”

Megan laughed. “I believe you. But usually when you come home you are so happy and carefree. I haven’t seen you sad since we were 12.”

“I’m not really SAD, I just, UHHH never mind,” Nick said as he threw the grass up in the air. “Come on, let’s go swimming.”

Megan grinned. She ran over to the pool and dove in. She came back up sputtering. “AHHH! It’s cold!” She ran to the ladder, hopped out, and ran around the yard, pretending to violently shiver.

Nick started laughing. “Is it really that cold?” he asked worriedly.

Megan walked over to him and punched him in the shoulder. “Nah, Blondie, I was just tryin’ to make ya laugh.”

Nick shook his head and took off his shirt. “What would I do without you?”

Megan laughed. “Probably die of the blues,” she said as she pushed him backwards into the water.

He came back up coughing. “You’re gonna pay, man!” he said as he pulled himself out of the pool and got up. Then he pushed Megan in, and laughing, he jumped in after her.

* * *

“Nick, hurry up, are you almost ready?” Megan called up the stairs. It was a week later, and Nick was getting ready to go back on tour. Megan, BJ and Anna were going with them. Anna and Megan had arrived bright and early that morning, only to find Nick was running behind. He had been in the shower at 7:01, while they were supposed to leave at 7. Anna and Megan had said goodbye to their parents, who had left for a business trip to Hong Kong at 6 that morning. Now they were waiting with Mr. Carter, who was driving them to the airport.

Mr. Carter came down the steps with two duffel bags and a pillow in his hands. “Girls, is your stuff in the car?” he asked.

“Yes, Mr. Carter,” Megan replied.

Mrs. Carter walked out into the hallway from the kitchen along with Leslie, Angel, and Aaron. “Now, girls, are you sure you have everything?” she asked.

“Yes, Mom,” BJ said. She went up and gave her mom a hug, then made her way around to her little brother and sisters.

“Bye, Mrs. C,” Megan said. Anna gave her a hug, and then Megan did.

“Take care of my Nicky, please, Meg,” Mrs. Carter said.

Megan pulled away and grinned. “I will.”

Nick came pounding down the stairs, breathing hard. He hugged his mom and siblings, and then said, “Come, on, let’s go. You guys are so slow.” He grinned devilishly and walked out the front door. Megan and Jane looked at each other, shaking their heads.

“Bye, guys. Have a good time. Be careful,” Mrs. Carter called from where she was standing on the front porch. Megan sat down next to Mr. Carter in the front, sticking Nick in the back with Anna and BJ.

Nick stuck his head out the window. “Bye, Mom! I’ll call you later!” He waved as Mr. Carter pulled out of the driveway.