Ch. 15
"So, how's your Quarter Pounder?" Kelly asked. A.J. nodded as he took a big bite of his hamburger. "Good," he muffled, spraying food everywhere. Kelly giggled. "That's attractive.." He nodded, laughing. "I know. Sorry." She took her napkin and wiped bits of food off her shirt and laughed again. "It's okay. I have a twelve year old brother at home, I'm used to it." "So I act like a 12 year old?" She looked up at him, smiling. "Basically..yeah. It's cute, though. Now, how you can eat the hamburger this morning is beyond me." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm used to it. When you're on the road like me all the time, you eat odd food at odd times of the day. The only one I have trouble getting used to is the baked beans in the morning. Yeech.." He took another bite and ketchup oozed out and got right above his chin. Kelly grabbed her napkin. "You've got ketchup on your mouth. Here, I'll get it." She leaned over and as she wiped his mouth, she looked into his deep brown eyes. He looked back into her eyes. She blushed and leaned back. They were quiet for a moment as they ate. A.J. crumpled up his hamburger wrapper and took a sip of his Coke. "So..do you live here or are you on vacation?" When he saw the look on Kelly's face, he added, "Just trying to break the silence with a simple question." She smiled down and looked back up at him. "Actually, I am on vacation. My family has a condo here." "The one you're staying in, I presume." She laughed. "No, the one next door." He laughed. "I knew it was obvious when I asked. How long have you been here?" "Let's see..about two weeks." "How long are you going to be here?" "Umm..the whole summer..How about you?" "We are only supposed to be here for about three weeks but with the whole shipwreck thing, I don't know how long we're supposed to be here." Kelly nodded. "Was this your only stop?" "No. We were supposed to stop in Key West, Florida and then stop in here and go on to a few other places but we hit this storm in around I guess, Homestead, maybe Key West and it threw us off track, landing us here. Right now, we're stuck. That's okay though because it is so beautiful out here...and right here.." She blushed. She finished her biscuit and threw her wrapper away. "Do you want to go to the beach? I'm tired of sitting here." "Sure." He stood up and slipped his shades on. She looked up at him. "You know, if it was cloudy outside, I'd make you take those off." They walked out the door. "Why do you say that?" he asked. "Because I love your eyes and I don't think you should hide them." He shook his head. "They're too girly." "Are not!" "Yeah, they are!" "No way!" "Yes way!" "Please.." They kept arguing on the way to the beach. Nick walked back inside and over to the booth where Brian, Kevin, and Tat were sitting. Brian saw Nick approaching so he nudged Kevin. "Let's go," he whispered. They got up, threw away their trash, and left. Nick slid in across from Tat. She looked up at him. "Nick..I'm sorry for what I said to Amy." He looked back at her. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." She nodded. "Yeah, but you're the only one talking to me. You are still talking to me, right?" "I think that's what I'm doing right now." She smiled slightly. "Ask a stupid question, get a smartass remark.." He smiled. "I'm not mad at you anymore, Tat. Just as long as you don't push Amy away from me. I know you think we have this big relationship going on but I can assure you that it's not like that. We've both just been through a lot lately and we understand each other and stuff. We're just really close. I'm not going to say there'll never be a romantic relationship but..put it this way..She means a lot to me and I'd hate to lose her. I do want to be your friend though." She smiled. "Even after the way I acted?" He smiled back. "Even after the way you acted.." "I guess I'll go apologize to Amy. She probably thinks I'm the biggest bitch now though." He shook his head. "Nah. She's very forgiving. Believe me, I have learned from experience." She laughed. "What have you done to make her mad?" He scoffed. "Where do I begin?" They got up and walked out. She smiled up at him. "You can tell me all about it on the way to her house." He nodded. "Okay. The first time I pissed her off was.." They walked towards Amy's house. Howie heard the doorbell ring. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" he yelled. He got up from his bed. It ran again. He ran up to the door. "I'm coming!" He opened the door and his jaw about dropped to the floor. It was Nick's ex-girlfriend, Mandy. She smiled sweetly at him. He didn't know what to say. "Hey, Howie!" She hugged him and stepped back, looking around his shoulder. "So, um, is Nick here?" He shook his head. "He's gone out to breakfast with the rest of the guys. What are you doing here?" "I need to talk to him." Howie wanted to say something but being the nice person that he is, he held it back. "How did ya'll find us?" "I saw the whole thing about the shipwreck and I knew it was you all so I came down here. After asking around, I finally got the address." Howie stepped back. "Mmm...I know he's gonna hate me for this, but come on in. He should be home soon." Mandy looked out. "I think I'll just wait out here." Howie nodded. "Okay." She sat down on the steps. She saw him walk up behind the house. He was with a short dark girl, laughing, as they walked to the house next door. "Who is that?" she muttered, "And what is she doing with my boyfriend?" Nick walked up with Tat to Amy's front door. He rang the doorbell. Jessie answered it. She smiled when she saw Nick but it faded when she saw Tat. "Is Amy here?" he asked. She nodded and stepped aside to let him in. "Yeah, she's in her room, singing. She does that when she's in a bad mood." They walked in and could hearing her singing, "The Boy is Mine". He laughed slightly at her choice of song. "Well, she sounds pretty good." Jessie nodded. "Thank God..." They walked into her room and knocked. She didn't hear them because she had her headphones on, laying in the bed, eyes closed. Now she was singing "Almost Doesn't Count". They just stood there and listened to her. Nick looked out the window and saw Mandy sitting on his front porch. "Oh, shit," he muttered. He turned around and looked at Tat. "Stay here with Amy. Something's come up and I've gotta go." He ran out of the room. Jessie saw him whisk by. "What's going on?" He just waved. "I gotta go." He ran out the door and ran next door. He got to the step. Mandy smiled at him. "Hey, Nick." He glared at her. "What...the...hell...are...you...doing...here?" He was out of breath. "Did you miss me?" "No!! Maybe a little..of course," he stammered, "Why are you doing this to me? Why are you here? Did the guy you dumped me for suddenly lose interest?" She looked down at her feet and gave him her pouty look which killed him and she knew it. "Baby, I was wrong to dump you. I really love you and I want you back." He raised his eyebrows. "One problem: I don't need you. Would you please move on cuz I already have." She blinked back tears and stared at him in disbelief. "What?" "You heard him," she heard someone snap," Or is the air in your head rushing out of your ears so fast you can't hear?" Mandy looked to see a tall brunette standing there, arms crossed, frowning next to the girl she'd seen earlier. "And who the hell are you?" she snapped. "Does it matter?" Amy shot back. "When someone tells you no, it doesn't mean maybe or let me think about it, it means no. Is that just too hard for you to comprehend?" Mandy looked at her and then back at Nick. "Do you know this girl?" He looked at Amy. "As a matter of fact, yes I do." He walked over to her and Tat and put an arm around both of them. "I know them both and Amy's right. You aren't wanted here so leave." She stood up. "Fine then." She walked by him. "See you, Nick." She brushed against Amy who shook her off. They watched her walk off. Nick looked at Amy and squeezed her shoulders. "Thanks." She smiled at him. "No problem. You don't know how bad I wanted to kick that bitch's ass either. Ooooh.." He smiled. "Who was that?" Tat asked. Nick and Amy looked at each other and at her. "If you don't know, don't worry about it," he told her. She nodded. "Hey! Feel like going to the beach?" Amy suggested. "Sure," they both replied. "Let's go get our bathing suits and meet back here," Tat said. They split up and went into their houses. Brian and Kevin walked towards the house. "Kev, why have you been so quiet and moody lately?" he asked. He just shrugged his shoulders and kicked up a little sand. "I guess it's cause I've seen everyone with someone or fighting over someone and I feel a little left out. You've got Leighanne, A.J.'s got Amanda, Nick's got Amy and Tat fighting over him...no one for me. Plus, I ran into Beth at the hotel last night." Brian's jaw dropped. "Beth? As in Beth Johnson, your ex-fiancee? Dude, why didn't you tell me?" Kevin looked off into the distance. "She's married with a kid. Brian, when I saw her, it just took me back and made me kick myself for ever breaking it off with her. She's even more beautiful now than she was at 19. Her daughter is about 7 or 8 years old." Brian stopped in his tracks. "Seven or eight? Are you sure?" Kevin stopped and looked at him, nodding. "That's what she told me." Brian started thinking. "Let's see...it was probably born when you were..about 20. Kev, when did ya'll break up?" "November 17th, 1990." Brian cleared his throat, a little embarrassed about his next question. "Not to be too personal, but did ya'll..um..you know.." "The night we broke up was the one and only time." Brian's jaw dropped again. "Man, did you ever think that the little girl was yours?" Kevin thought about it and his eyes widened. "Oh, my...," he muttered, "Gotta go find Beth. See you later." He turned around and ran off. Brian watched him and then walked off in disbelief. Kelly sat up on her towel and looked at A.J., who was on the towel next to her. "Hey, A.J.," she called out. He lifted up his sunglasses and looked at her. "Yeah?" he asked. "I'm getting baked. Race you to the water." "Five more minutes.." She shook her head. "Nope." She reached down and grabbed his glasses. "Give 'em back, girl!" She laughed. "You'll just have to come and get me." She took off running and he went after her. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back, falling down with him on top. He hovered over her. She smiled up at him. "Can I please have my glasses back?" he pleaded. Still she shook her head. "Nope. I told you that you look better without them." "I guess I'll just have to make you.." He started tickling her. She laughed and squirmed. He had been leaning on his arms against the sand to stay off of her but he lost his balance, falling on top of her. Their eyes met and their hearts were pounding. They both wondered what it would be like to kiss the other. That was forbidden for A.J. though the thought challenged him. They gazed at each other for what seemed like the longest time, but didn't move a muscle. A.J. blushed and rolled off of her. He stood up and helped her up.She handed him the glasses. "Thanks," he said, putting them on. She turned to walk back to the blanket. "Still think you look better without them." He grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back, and kissed her. He pulled away to catch her reaction. She kissed him back. They kissed as their beach towels blew away in the breeze.Ch. 15
"So, how's your Quarter Pounder?" Kelly asked. A.J. nodded as he took a big bite of his hamburger. "Good," he muffled, spraying food everywhere. Kelly giggled. "That's attractive.." He nodded, laughing. "I know. Sorry." She took her napkin and wiped bits of food off her shirt and laughed again. "It's okay. I have a twelve year old brother at home, I'm used to it." "So I act like a 12 year old?" She looked up at him, smiling. "Basically..yeah. It's cute, though. Now, how you can eat the hamburger this morning is beyond me." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm used to it. When you're on the road like me all the time, you eat odd food at odd times of the day. The only one I have trouble getting used to is the baked beans in the morning. Yeech.." He took another bite and ketchup oozed out and got right above his chin. Kelly grabbed her napkin. "You've got ketchup on your mouth. Here, I'll get it." She leaned over and as she wiped his mouth, she looked into his deep brown eyes. He looked back into her eyes. She blushed and leaned back. They were quiet for a moment as they ate. A.J. crumpled up his hamburger wrapper and took a sip of his Coke. "So..do you live here or are you on vacation?" When he saw the look on Kelly's face, he added, "Just trying to break the silence with a simple question." She smiled down and looked back up at him. "Actually, I am on vacation. My family has a condo here." "The one you're staying in, I presume." She laughed. "No, the one next door." He laughed. "I knew it was obvious when I asked. How long have you been here?" "Let's see..about two weeks." "How long are you going to be here?" "Umm..the whole summer..How about you?" "We are only supposed to be here for about three weeks but with the whole shipwreck thing, I don't know how long we're supposed to be here." Kelly nodded. "Was this your only stop?" "No. We were supposed to stop in Key West, Florida and then stop in here and go on to a few other places but we hit this storm in around I guess, Homestead, maybe Key West and it threw us off track, landing us here. Right now, we're stuck. That's okay though because it is so beautiful out here...and right here.." She blushed. She finished her biscuit and threw her wrapper away. "Do you want to go to the beach? I'm tired of sitting here." "Sure." He stood up and slipped his shades on. She looked up at him. "You know, if it was cloudy outside, I'd make you take those off." They walked out the door. "Why do you say that?" he asked. "Because I love your eyes and I don't think you should hide them." He shook his head. "They're too girly." "Are not!" "Yeah, they are!" "No way!" "Yes way!" "Please.." They kept arguing on the way to the beach. Nick walked back inside and over to the booth where Brian, Kevin, and Tat were sitting. Brian saw Nick approaching so he nudged Kevin. "Let's go," he whispered. They got up, threw away their trash, and left. Nick slid in across from Tat. She looked up at him. "Nick..I'm sorry for what I said to Amy." He looked back at her. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." She nodded. "Yeah, but you're the only one talking to me. You are still talking to me, right?" "I think that's what I'm doing right now." She smiled slightly. "Ask a stupid question, get a smartass remark.." He smiled. "I'm not mad at you anymore, Tat. Just as long as you don't push Amy away from me. I know you think we have this big relationship going on but I can assure you that it's not like that. We've both just been through a lot lately and we understand each other and stuff. We're just really close. I'm not going to say there'll never be a romantic relationship but..put it this way..She means a lot to me and I'd hate to lose her. I do want to be your friend though." She smiled. "Even after the way I acted?" He smiled back. "Even after the way you acted.." "I guess I'll go apologize to Amy. She probably thinks I'm the biggest bitch now though." He shook his head. "Nah. She's very forgiving. Believe me, I have learned from experience." She laughed. "What have you done to make her mad?" He scoffed. "Where do I begin?" They got up and walked out. She smiled up at him. "You can tell me all about it on the way to her house." He nodded. "Okay. The first time I pissed her off was.." They walked towards Amy's house. Howie heard the doorbell ring. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" he yelled. He got up from his bed. It ran again. He ran up to the door. "I'm coming!" He opened the door and his jaw about dropped to the floor. It was Nick's ex-girlfriend, Mandy. She smiled sweetly at him. He didn't know what to say. "Hey, Howie!" She hugged him and stepped back, looking around his shoulder. "So, um, is Nick here?" He shook his head. "He's gone out to breakfast with the rest of the guys. What are you doing here?" "I need to talk to him." Howie wanted to say something but being the nice person that he is, he held it back. "How did ya'll find us?" "I saw the whole thing about the shipwreck and I knew it was you all so I came down here. After asking around, I finally got the address." Howie stepped back. "Mmm...I know he's gonna hate me for this, but come on in. He should be home soon." Mandy looked out. "I think I'll just wait out here." Howie nodded. "Okay." She sat down on the steps. She saw him walk up behind the house. He was with a short dark girl, laughing, as they walked to the house next door. "Who is that?" she muttered, "And what is she doing with my boyfriend?" Nick walked up with Tat to Amy's front door. He rang the doorbell. Jessie answered it. She smiled when she saw Nick but it faded when she saw Tat. "Is Amy here?" he asked. She nodded and stepped aside to let him in. "Yeah, she's in her room, singing. She does that when she's in a bad mood." They walked in and could hearing her singing, "The Boy is Mine". He laughed slightly at her choice of song. "Well, she sounds pretty good." Jessie nodded. "Thank God..." They walked into her room and knocked. She didn't hear them because she had her headphones on, laying in the bed, eyes closed. Now she was singing "Almost Doesn't Count". They just stood there and listened to her. Nick looked out the window and saw Mandy sitting on his front porch. "Oh, shit," he muttered. He turned around and looked at Tat. "Stay here with Amy. Something's come up and I've gotta go." He ran out of the room. Jessie saw him whisk by. "What's going on?" He just waved. "I gotta go." He ran out the door and ran next door. He got to the step. Mandy smiled at him. "Hey, Nick." He glared at her. "What...the...hell...are...you...doing...here?" He was out of breath. "Did you miss me?" "No!! Maybe a little..of course," he stammered, "Why are you doing this to me? Why are you here? Did the guy you dumped me for suddenly lose interest?" She looked down at her feet and gave him her pouty look which killed him and she knew it. "Baby, I was wrong to dump you. I really love you and I want you back." He raised his eyebrows. "One problem: I don't need you. Would you please move on cuz I already have." She blinked back tears and stared at him in disbelief. "What?" "You heard him," she heard someone snap," Or is the air in your head rushing out of your ears so fast you can't hear?" Mandy looked to see a tall brunette standing there, arms crossed, frowning next to the girl she'd seen earlier. "And who the hell are you?" she snapped. "Does it matter?" Amy shot back. "When someone tells you no, it doesn't mean maybe or let me think about it, it means no. Is that just too hard for you to comprehend?" Mandy looked at her and then back at Nick. "Do you know this girl?" He looked at Amy. "As a matter of fact, yes I do." He walked over to her and Tat and put an arm around both of them. "I know them both and Amy's right. You aren't wanted here so leave." She stood up. "Fine then." She walked by him. "See you, Nick." She brushed against Amy who shook her off. They watched her walk off. Nick looked at Amy and squeezed her shoulders. "Thanks." She smiled at him. "No problem. You don't know how bad I wanted to kick that bitch's ass either. Ooooh.." He smiled. "Who was that?" Tat asked. Nick and Amy looked at each other and at her. "If you don't know, don't worry about it," he told her. She nodded. "Hey! Feel like going to the beach?" Amy suggested. "Sure," they both replied. "Let's go get our bathing suits and meet back here," Tat said. They split up and went into their houses. Brian and Kevin walked towards the house. "Kev, why have you been so quiet and moody lately?" he asked. He just shrugged his shoulders and kicked up a little sand. "I guess it's cause I've seen everyone with someone or fighting over someone and I feel a little left out. You've got Leighanne, A.J.'s got Amanda, Nick's got Amy and Tat fighting over him...no one for me. Plus, I ran into Beth at the hotel last night." Brian's jaw dropped. "Beth? As in Beth Johnson, your ex-fiancee? Dude, why didn't you tell me?" Kevin looked off into the distance. "She's married with a kid. Brian, when I saw her, it just took me back and made me kick myself for ever breaking it off with her. She's even more beautiful now than she was at 19. Her daughter is about 7 or 8 years old." Brian stopped in his tracks. "Seven or eight? Are you sure?" Kevin stopped and looked at him, nodding. "That's what she told me." Brian started thinking. "Let's see...it was probably born when you were..about 20. Kev, when did ya'll break up?" "November 17th, 1990." Brian cleared his throat, a little embarrassed about his next question. "Not to be too personal, but did ya'll..um..you know.." "The night we broke up was the one and only time." Brian's jaw dropped again. "Man, did you ever think that the little girl was yours?" Kevin thought about it and his eyes widened. "Oh, my...," he muttered, "Gotta go find Beth. See you later." He turned around and ran off. Brian watched him and then walked off in disbelief. Kelly sat up on her towel and looked at A.J., who was on the towel next to her. "Hey, A.J.," she called out. He lifted up his sunglasses and looked at her. "Yeah?" he asked. "I'm getting baked. Race you to the water." "Five more minutes.." She shook her head. "Nope." She reached down and grabbed his glasses. "Give 'em back, girl!" She laughed. "You'll just have to come and get me." She took off running and he went after her. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back, falling down with him on top. He hovered over her. She smiled up at him. "Can I please have my glasses back?" he pleaded. Still she shook her head. "Nope. I told you that you look better without them." "I guess I'll just have to make you.." He started tickling her. She laughed and squirmed. He had been leaning on his arms against the sand to stay off of her but he lost his balance, falling on top of her. Their eyes met and their hearts were pounding. They both wondered what it would be like to kiss the other. That was forbidden for A.J. though the thought challenged him. They gazed at each other for what seemed like the longest time, but didn't move a muscle. A.J. blushed and rolled off of her. He stood up and helped her up.She handed him the glasses. "Thanks," he said, putting them on. She turned to walk back to the blanket. "Still think you look better without them." He grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back, and kissed her. He pulled away to catch her reaction. She kissed him back. They kissed as their beach towels blew away in the breeze. Subj: ch 16 of ship of dreams Date: 12/6/99 6:28:08 PM Central Standard Time From: Candigril0 To: Candigril0 Ch. 16 From a distance, Nick saw A.J. and Kelly. He gasped. "Oh, man," he muttered. "What's wrong?" he heard Amy ask as she came up beside him. He looked at her and was speechless. She was wearing a blue bikini. It was really revealing or anything; he was just shocked that she would wear one. It had a sports bra top and short shorts for the bottom. She just seemed too conservative for a bikini but he wasn't complaining. She blushed. "It looks awful, doesn't it? I'll go change." He put his hand up. "No, it looks great! I was just a little shocked that you would wear one." She cocked her head to the side and smiled. "Why?" "Because you just seem the type of girl that doesn't like to show too much skin." "Am I showing too much skin?" He shook his head. "No, I like that it's not so revealing. It's sexy." Both of them blushed at that. Amy laughed. "You are blushing so bad," she teased. "Me?!" he exclaimed, "Look at you!" "I'm not blushing! It's a sunburn." He scoffed. "Yeah..right. A.." They heard someone clear their throat. They turned to see Tat standing there still in her clothes. "Where's your bathing suit?" Amy asked. Tat rolled her eyes. "I can't go today. My mom has this big family tourist thing all planned out for us." "I'm sorry," Amy apologized. "It's okay," Tat sighed, "We're still having a cookout tonight if you still wanna come." Nick and Amy looked at each other and back at Tat. "Sure," Nick assured her, "We'll be there." Tat looked around. "Now I just gotta find Kelly.." Nick pointed over at the beach at where her and A.J. were making out. "Try over there." Amy and Tat both looked and gasped. Tat shook her head. "Why am I not surprised? I don't think that the fact of A.J. having a girlfriend has ever crossed her mind or either she has dismissed it. Well, I better go get her. I'll see ya'll tonight." She ran off to get Kelly. Amy and Nick smiled at each other. "Race you to the water," Amy challenged. He nodded. "Okay. On your mark, get set-- Hey!" Amy had taken off running. "I didn't say go!" She just laughed. He started running and caught up with her. He pushed her slightly, slowing her down, and got ahead of her. "Cheater!" she yelled. She ran and jumped on his back as he ran into the water. When he got to it, he swung Amy around to face him and threw her in the water. She came up gasping for air. He stood there, laughing at her. She grabbed him around the waist and pulled him down in the water. He came up with black seaweed all in his hair. She made a face. "Eww.." She pulled the seaweed out. They tried to get up but a wave washed in, knocking them back down. Amy landed in front of Nick, her head hitting him in the stomach. He made a noise. "Oof!" When the wave retreated, he sat up with Amy in front of him. She got up and helped him up. "Umm..let's go lay out for a little while. I'm getting cold." They walked onto the sand and up to their blankets that they had thrown down. They laid their blankets out, got down on them, and passed out. Kevin ran inside the hotel and up to the front desk. The receptionist from the night before looked up at him. "Can I help you?" she asked. "I'm looking for someone who is a guest here. Can you help me?" The woman smiled playfully at him. "Well, first off, I need a name." Kevin nodded. "Of course. Umm..Beth Johnson." She typed in the name on the computer and looked back up at him. "That name isn't here." "That's her maiden name," he muttered, "What did she say her married name was?" "Excuse me?" Kevin looked up at her. "Sorry. Just thinking aloud." A line had formed behind him. "Well, while you think, can you let me these other people?" He moved aside. "Sorry." His mind was blank. Damn. What did she tell me it was? "Kevin?" he heard. That familiar voice ringing in his ears came from only one person. He looked up to see Beth standing there and his breath caught in his throat. She was absolutely gorgeous with her short brown hair, piercing blue-green eyes, beautiful smile, just everything about her. She was flashing him that beautiful smile right then. "What are you doing here?" she asked. He shook his head to break the spell she had put over him. "We need to talk." "About what?" He looked down at the little girl who was an exact replicate of her mother. "Her.." Beth looked down at her daughter and back up at Kevin. "What about her?" "How old is she? What's her name?" Beth gave him a strange look. "Why are you asking me all this?" Kevin laughed shakily and scratched the back of his neck. "Well, umm..see, I was telling Brian, you know my cousin..and I mentioned her and he asked..this is dumb.." "Spit it out, Kev." Kevin looked straight at her. "Is she mine? Am I her father? I'd really like to know." He saw the tears gather in her eyes as she looked away guiltily. "Answer me. Is she?" She nodded and broke down. Kevin's own eyes filled with tears. He noticed everyone was staring at them. "Let's go outside." They went outside and sat at a table. Beth looked at her little girl. "Emily, sweetheart. Can you go sit inside so me and Kevin can talk?" The little girl held out her hand. Beth sighed, reached in her pockets and grabbed some quarters. She handed them to the Emily and both watched as she ran inside. She smiled at Kevin. "I swear, that girl and her video games.." Kevin smiled but got back to business. "Now, let me get this straight..We break up, you have my child, never tell me, I find out some 7, 8 years later. If we hadn't have met last night, would you have just kept her from me forever? Let her grow up not knowing who her real father was? Gee, thanks." Beth slammed her hand on the table. "Kev, do you know how many times I wanted to tell you? How many times I picked up that phone and dialed your number, hanging up before you could answer?! How many times I drove by your house wanted to come in?! I was going to tell you someday; I just didn't know how you'd react!" "Beth, I would have rushed over to you and held you and accepted the child, loving her like a real father would! I would have married you right then, Beth! We would have been a family! We would have raised her together." "Your dreams of being a performer were too great. I couldn't let a child ruin it. We would have been a major roadblock on your road to success. I could never have held you back like that." "Beth, I loved you. I would've given it all up for you. Family is way more important that some silly dream." She looked inside at her, their daughter, playing. "Well, it's all in the past now and since you know, might as well introduce the two of you to each other." They walked inside to where Emily was playing Pac-Man. "Emily?" Beth called her. The tiny girl climbed off of her stool and walked over to her other. Emily crouched down to face her. "Emily, sweetheart..This is your father. Your real father." Kevin crouched down next to Beth and smiled warmly at the little girl. His little girl. He fell in love with her immediately. "Hi, Emily." She smiled shyly up at him. "Hi, Daddy." Kevin's heart soared at those words. She looked at her mother. "Why didn't you tell me before? Man! Wait until my friends find out that my dad is a Backstreet Boy!" A look of horror crossed Beth's face. "Emily Renee!" Kevin laughed. "It's okay. Emily, honey, this is going to have to be our little secret right now because if anyone finds out, a lot of bad stuff might be said about your daddy. Can you keep a secret?" "If you let me meet Nick," the little girl attempted. "Emily!" Kevin smiled at her. "You've got yourself a deal. I'll take you now." He held out his hand. "You will?!" she shrieked, "Let me go change! I gotta look good when he sees me!" She ran off to the room. Beth and Kevin looked at each other and laughed. "You're not mad at me, are you?" she asked. He shook his head. "Nah, just a little disappointed. I thought you wouldn't have kept something like that from me." She nodded. "I'm sorry." "Don't worry about it. Where is your husband? I'd like to meet him." "Actually..we're divorced. That's why we're here. To get away from him." "I know it's not any of my business, but what happened?" "Emily. He didn't like that I had a child outside of marriage, said I was wrong so I dumped his I'm-such-a-perfect-little-angel ass." Kevin laughed. "So..did you ever find anybody else?" Kevin looked down at his feet but looked back up at her. "I've dated a few girls but nothing really serious, nothing like you." Beth faced him. "This may sound a little far-fetched but do you think there could possibly still be something between us?" "You know, Beth, every time I see you I feel like I never stopped loving you. Truth is, I never have." "Really? I still love you too. That was the other thing wrong in my marriage. So, there is still something there?" He leaned down to kiss her. "Let's find out," he whispered. She smiled and leaned forward. Just as their lips met, Emily ran downstairs and up to them. They broke away and looked at her. Kevin smiled. "Are you ready to go, my little princess?" Her face glowed when she smiled. Just like her mother's. She spun around in her dress. "My, aren't you looking so beautiful?" He looked at Beth. "Just like your mother." She blushed and hit him playfully on the arm. "Flatterer." He laughed. Kevin felt a tug at his hand and looked down at his anxious little girl. "Can we go now?" He smiled at her and held out his hand. "Sure, c'mon. Let's go." He took her hand and Beth's hand as they walked down to his condo. "Hello, Kelly," Tat interrupted her sister and A.J.'s little kiss. Kelly looked up and did a double-take. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Public beach," Tat shot back, "So sorry to interrupt your little affair, but we gotta go, Kel. Remember that little tour Mom wanted to take? Well, she's ready to go. So say, bye-bye, A.J." "What?!" Kelly shrieked, "Today?! I'm not going." Tat gave her a thin smile. "That's not an option, I'm afraid. Say bye-bye, A.J." Kelly looked over at A.J. "Bye," she cooed softly. He pulled her to him. "Bye." He kissed her again. Tat rolled her eyes. "Cut the 'parting is such sweet sorrow' crap and c'mon!" Kelly rolled her eyes at A.J. and he smiled. "You are coming to our cookout tonight, aren't you?" she asked. He kissed her forehead and smiled down at her. "Of course I'll be there. See ya, hun." She smiled. "Bye." Tat pulled her arm. "C'mon!" Kelly jerked her arm free. "Fine, I'm coming!" Tat stalked off and Kelly ran up after her. "Damn, girl. What is your problem?" Tat stopped and whirled around at her. "My problem?! You should be asking yourself what is your problem. Did you ever stop to think that maybe what you were doing was wrong? That maybe he has a girlfriend? My guess is you did and just didn't give a shit." Kelly put her hands on her hips. "For your information, he kissed me first! Obviously, he's the one who didn't care!" "And you went along with it!" "Why do you care?" "I don't! I just thought you might have!" Kelly finally figured out why Tat was acting out like this. "You didn't get to hang out with Nick today, did you? And now Amy and him are all alone and it's bugging the hell out of you." Tat just glared at her sister and they walked silently up to their condo. They left with their family. Amy opened her eyes. She tried to sit up but couldn't move. "Hey, Nick!" He opened his eyes and looked at her. "Yeah?" "I can't get up." He looked at her and his eyes widened. "Amy, you are so burned! You look like a lobster!" He tried sitting up and couldn't move either. She laughed. "You're redder than I am!" They struggled but both managed to finally sit up. Both groaned in pain. "Oh, it hurts!" she moaned. "The flesh, it burns," Nick moaned. "I'm getting in the water," Amy finally decided. "I gotta try getting up first." "All right, here's the plan: You get up and then help me up." Nick shook his head. "Nuh-uh. You get up and help me up." Amy shook her head. "Let's try getting ourselves up then." They finally managed to get up. Amy sighed. "Man, forget the water. Let's go home." He nodded. "I agree." They painfully grabbed their blankets and with arms around each other's shoulders, they staggered slowly home.
