chapter two
"So…" said both AJ and Salym at the same time.
They burst into laughter, and as she did, Salym thought, ‘I miss this. Just being able to laugh with some one without the fear of being yelled at.’
AJ looked at her with quizzical eyes. "Are you sure you’re ok now?"
"Yeah… just laughing made me feel a whole bunch better."
"Well, just to make sure, I’d like to take you out tonight… to help you forget that loser… to get to know you better…" he said quietly, and Salym began to feel her heart melt.
‘What a nice guy’, she thought. Out loud she agreed with him and made arrangements for that night.
Later that night
AJ sat opposite Salym in McDonalds, helping himself to some of her fries. Their laughter was so loud that people were turning to point and stare at them. Any other time Salym would have been embarrassed, but at that moment she realized that she was having a good time, and if people wanted to get all nosy and annoyed well then it was their problem. She hadn’t felt this way in a long time and now that she was feeling good about herself she wasn’t about to stop.
"Now, where were we?" AJ asked, a trace of laughter still in his voice.
"Ummmmmm I think we were talking about your dog Delilah," Salym answered, trying to calm herself down.
"Oh yeah, you should see her. She is so cute and sweet. She still hasn’t grown into her feet and she keeps stumbling all around the place. I had to leave her with my friends though cos our apartment block doesn’t let us have animals does it?" AJ asked.
"No, unfortunately. So who are these friends? Are they as nice as you?" Salym questioned coyly.
"Nicer, I think." Said AJ.
"Hey I don’t think that’s possible!" Salym laughed.
"Oh yeah, well why don’t we go say hi then!" AJ teased her.
"Anything… just so long as they don’t make me laugh as hard as you do… my tummy hurts!" Salym started to laugh again. AJ just shook his head with a smile and led her out of the restaurant.
In the Car
"So where are we going?" asked Salym.
"You’ll see soon enough," answered AJ as he rounded a corner sharply.
"Hold on!!"
Tires squealing, Salym held on for life as the car came to an abrupt halt on a driveway. Then, as if to tease her, AJ drove ever so slowly up to the gates and spoke into the intercom.
"Hey Kev, its me, AJ. Let me in, man!" he said, and the gates swung into action.
" Kay, my friends are heaps nice so you have nothing to worry ‘bout, Salym. I’m sure they’ll love you as much as I do!"
Salym blushed at AJ’s sincerity and suddenly felt completely at ease.
"AJ, my man!" A Kentucky accent echoed across the still night air and Salym startled at the sudden noise.
"Hey, don’t worry babe, that’s just Kev," reassured AJ as he led her in the direction of the voice.
"Hey, whose you’re friend, Bone?" asked Kev as he came out of the shadows.
Salym turned to AJ. "Your nick name is Bone?" she giggled.
"Hey, don’t be mean!" he said playfully as he tickled her ribs.
"GUYS!!! HEY GUYS! Kev, where is everyone?" yelled AJ.
"In the pool… comin’ in?" replied Kev.
"Sure," said AJ. "By the way, this is my new pal Salym. Salym, Kev. Kev, Salym."
"Nice to meet ya, Salym," said Kev as he shook her hand. "Welcome to my house. Its kinda big but you’ll get used to it… I have!"
"Thanks," said Salym, looking up in awe at his height.
AJ had already turned and walked in the direction of the pool. Suddenly he turned back around, came running up to Salym and picked her up.
"Hey, what do you think you’re doing, mister?" she asked playfully, cos she already knew the answer.
SPLASH!!!
Into the pool she went, shoes and all. She came up choking on a mouthful of water.
AJ looked down, concerned. "Are you ok?" he asked.
"You seem to be asking that a lot tonight! No, I’m fine. I was just laughing when you dumped me in here and I swallowed some water." She said. "Hey, what’s going onnnnnnn…"
She screamed as two guys lifted her out of the water on their shoulders.
They were laughing so hard they couldn’t stand and all three fell back into the water.
As Salym came up for air, AJ caught her wrist and pulled her to safety.
"Those two dills are Brian and nick, better known as Frick and Frack, for obvious reasons. Guys, this is Salym."
"Nice to meet you Salym," they said playfully as they both eyed the distance AJ was away from the pool’s edge.
"Don’t even think about it you two! Man, anyone would think you guys are five years old!" AJ warned them, with a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Have a towel," a voice said behind Salym. She jumped, startled.
"hey, I’m not that scary am I guys?" another cute guy said.
"Salym, this is the last one you have to meet tonight… this is Howie D, better known as Sweet D, yet again for obvious reasons. Howie, Salym. Salym, Howie."
"The pleasure is all mine," said Howie, raising her hand to his lips and kissing it softly.
"Oh, thank you," Salym said, not quite knowing whether it was the right thing to say. But no one made any comment, so she began to look around her.
She was amazed. Palm trees, a huge beach house, a crystal clear pool and a luxurious looking house behind them made her feel intimidated, but as she turned around to see all the guys looking at her, she thought, ‘hey, this may not be so bad after all!’