Chapter 3



A.J. and Miki wen't to back to his house after they did their shopping. They plopped down on the couch with their candy and turned on the t.v. They were in the middle of watching a movie when the phone rang. A.J. got up and answered it. "Hello."
"Hey Bone, we're all going to get together tommorow at my place for lunch and a big game of basketball. Can you and Miki come?" asked Brian.
"Yeah, thats okay with me. What time?"
"About 12:00 or 12:30."
"Okay, talk to you later."
"Bye."
A.J. hung up the phone and sat back down next to Miki. "Who was that?" she asked.
"That was Brian, he was just telling me that everyones comming over to his house tommorow for lunch and basketball."
"Okay."
When the movie had ended and the credits were rolling A.J. got up and turned off the t.v. "So what do you want to do now?"
"How about we go swimming at my house," suggested Miki.
"You have a pool?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Just slipped my mind I guess," she said smiling.
A.J. got up and ran in his room. He came back with his swimming trunks and a towel in his hand. Miki followed A.J. out the door to his car.

When they got to Miki's house, she ran upstairs and put on her bikini. When she came back downstairs A.J. was waiting in the living room with nothing but his swimming trunks on. He looked up when she came in the room. He let out a low whistle. Miki giggled and led him out the back to the pool. There was a high privacy fence surrounding the backyard. The sky was begining to get dim so she turned on the lights. A.J. dove off the diving board into the pool. He resurfaced and wiped his face. "Come on in, the waters fine," he said.
Miki put her towel down on the lawn chair and jumped in. "Its cold!" she said, shivering.
A.J. swam over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Hows this?"
She smiled. "Much better."
They swam around holding each other for a few minutes, talking, and staring straight into each others eyes. A.J. pulled her closer and they kissed.

"Four players," said Brian to the man behind the counter.
Brian paid for the game and gave everyone their golf clubs. They had decided to go to the nearest golf place. They went to the first whole. "Ladies first," said Brian.
Elyse smiled and set her ball on the tee. "Ha! Hole in one. Beat that," said Elyse.
Brian went second. He hit the ball and it rolled over the cup. "No Fair!," he whined.
"Look who's whining now," said Nick.
"Shut up Frack."
Brian went over to the ball and hit it in. Kate and Nick went next. When they finnished they went into the game room. Nick and Kate went over to the basketball game. They were joking around and having a good time. Elyse pulled Brian aside. "Don't you think those two look cute together?"
"Yeah," said Brian.
"Why don't they get together?"
"I don't know. He's known Kate longer than he's known me."
"Why don't you think he's asked her?"
"He's probably afraid it will ruin their friendship," explained Brian.
"I'll talk to Kate about it. You can talk to Nick, okay?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
"Great, now lets go have some fun," said Elyse.
Brian smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too."
They kissed and went over to Nick and Kate who had moved to the air hockey table.

The next day A.J. picked Miki up at her house around 11:45 and they headed towards Brian, Howie and Kevin's place. When they got there everyone was already out back. Kevin and Howie were cooking hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill, Nick and Kate were sitting in lawn chairs on the other side of the yard talking, and Brian and Aaron were playing basketball.
"Hey Bone, come over here," said Kevin when he noticed A.J. and Miki come in the yard.
A.J. and Miki walked over to Kevin and Howie. "Hey guys this is Miki, Miki this is Kevin and Howie."
"Nice to meet you," said Kevin.
"Nice to meet you," said Miki shaking their hands.
A.J. went over to where Aaron and Brian were playing basketball. Aaron stopped and came over to Miki. "Hi, I'm Aaron."
"Hi Aaron, I'm Miki."
"Mickey? Like Mickey Mouse?"
Miki laughed. "Kinda, but its not spelled the same way."
"Oh, neat. Are you A.J.'s girlfriend?"
"Yeah."
"I thought so," said Aaron. "Do you like basketball?"
"Yeah, I love basketball."
"Great! Brian's teaching me to play. He said as soon as I get taller I'll be ready for the pro's."
Miki laughed. "Is that so?"
"Yep."
"Well, you better go back to practicing then."
"Okay, Bye," said Aaron.
Brian had gone inside to get some drinks for everyone, so Aaron went and played by himself. Brian came back out with a cooler of ice and a couple of 2-litter sodas. He set them down on the table they had set up.
"Hey Train, is the food ready yet?" asked Brian.
"Just about," said Kevin.
Everyone crowded around the table and started filling their plates with chips and potato salad. Kevin sat down a big plate of hotdogs and hamburgers. Aaron ran up and squeezed between Brian and Elyse. "Food!"
Everyone laughed. After getting all their food they sat down either at the picnic table or in various lawn chairs in the yard. When Nick was finnished with his second hamburger he stood up and rubbed his stomach.
"Who's ready for a game of basketball?" he asked.
Brian groaned and threw an empty paper cup at him. "I'm to stuffed to move."
Elyse laughed and looked at Brian. "Come on grandpa, get up and play some b-ball." She stood up and pulled him up. He groaned. "Okay, since I love you so much."
Aaron stuffed the last piece of his hotdog in his mouth and stood up. "Mime bready," he said with his mouth still full.
"What was that Aaron?" asked Miki.
Aaron swallowed. "I'm ready."
Everyone else got up and went over to where Nick, Brian and Elyse were waiting. "There's eight people, so there will be two even teams," said Nick.
Aaron started counting the people with his finger. "Hey!" he said, putting his hands on his hips and glaring at Nick. "You forgot me."
"Okay, so there's 8 1/2 people," said Nick sticking his tounge out at Aaron.
Kate hit Nick on the shoulder. "Quit being mean to your little brother, and act more your age."
"Sorry mom," said Nick.
"Don't call me that."
"Okay... mom."
Nick ducked and barely missed being hit by Kate. She chased him around the yard until she cornered him against the fence. She smacked him in the arm and laughed. "Gotcha."
"Owww... that hurt," said Nick sarcastically.
"You better shut your trap... boy," said Kate smiling.
"Heeeeeelllllllloooooooooo!" said Brian. "We're waiting for you two."
Nick and Kate came back over. "Sorry," said Nick.
"Okay, since there are 9 people, the first 5 people to make a shot are on one team," said Brian.
Everyone lined up. Brian was in the front. He shot the ball and made it. He got the ball and passed it to Elyse, who was next in line. She shot and made it. She got the ball and passed it to Kevin and stood next to Brian. Kevin shot and made it. Howie, A.J. and Miki missed, then Aaron and Kate made their shots. Nick didn't get to shoot.
"Hey, lets choose team names," suggested Nick.
After a minute of talking it over with the team Brian said, "Okay, we're the Vipers."
"We're the Stingrays," said A.J. "And we get the ball first since we have less people."
"We're playing man to man," said Kevin. "Choose a person."
"I got A.J.," said Brian.
"I got Howie," said Kevin.
"I got Kate," said Nick.
"I got Miki," said Elyse.
"I got me," said Aaron. Everyone laughed.
A.J. took the ball and passed it in to Nick. Kate guarded Nick and didn't let him pass. He had to pass the ball over to Howie. Howie passed it to Miki and she shot. *swish*
"Miki for twooooo," said A.J.
"Brian got the rebound and dribbled it down to the other basket. Brian passsed it to Kate. Nick stood in her way. Kate dribbled around him and shot. "Kate for twooooooo," said Brian.
Kate stuck her tounge out at Nick as she ran to the other goal. A.J dribbled the ball down the court. He passed the ball to Nick who went around Kate and shot an easy layup.
Brian got the ball and took it down to the other end of the court. Aaron stood there jumping up and down. "I'm open! I'm open!" Brian passed him the ball. Aaron shot and it didn't even hit the basket.
"AIRBALL!" yelled Nick.
Aaron hung his head low. Brian patted him on the back. "Its okay, you'll make it next time."
Nick took the ball down the court and passed it to Miki who made the shot. Then when they were down on the Vipers side, Brian passed Aaron the ball. He shot, and this time he made it. "Nothing but net!" yelled Brian. He picked up Aaron and swung him around. "Good shot AC."
"Thanks," said Aaron.
They played basketball for a couple hours, until they all collapsed on the grass. "I think the we won the game," said Nick.
"No way, We kicked your butt. With the help of AC here," said Brian, messing up Aaron's hair.
"Nuh uh, we won," said Nick.
"No we did."
"No, us."
Kevin groaned while Brian and Nick kept arguing. Everyone laughed. Brian and Nick stopped fighting and looked at everyone laughing. "Whats so funny?" asked Brian with his hands on his hipps.
"Don't worry about it," said Elyse.
Brian frowned and sat down next to Elyse. Nick shrugged and picked up the basketball. Aaron got up and joined him.

Chapter 5