Ch. 21 The next morning, Amy awakened to a cloudy rainy day. She rolled over on her back and looked up at the ceiling. Matches my mood, she thought, Well, at least with this weather, Nick won't come by. She heard a knock on the door outside. "Amy!" Jessie yelled, "Nick's here!" Amy groaned and covered her face with her pillow. She lifted the pillow off of her face and saw Nick standing at the foot of the bed. She looked away. He sat down beside her. She rolled on her side. "Should you keep Mandy waiting?" she asked a little icily. He grabbed her shoulder and rolled her over. "Amy, I told you that I wouldn't take Mandy back. I didn't. I sent her off last night. To where, I really don't give a damn." She looked away, arms crossed in front of her. "Nick, we need to talk." He chuckled slightly. "I thought that's what we were doing.." By the look on her face, she was not amused. He sighed. "You're right. We do need to talk." Amy looked back at him. "I know what you said and I know what you did last night." "And?" "And I need to know if you're completely over Mandy before I do this.." "Do what?" "Don't answer my questions with a question. Answer the question with an honest answer. Are you over Mandy? Is there any questioning, any doubt, that you would ever go back to her? I need to know before I do this.." He nodded. "I can honestly say I will never go back to her. I have someone else in mind that I couldn't say no to but it depends on how she feels." She gave him a look. "Who?" "You, of course. Now, what were you going to do?" She sat up and pulled him to her. "This." She pressed her lips against his and kissed him. He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed back with just as much force and intensity as she was kissing him. They both pulled away, breathless. Nick smiled, in a slight daze. "Mandy who?" Amy smiled. "Yeah, you better be thinking that." She looked away and so did he. They looked back at each other. "So, what now?" he asked. Amy shrugged her shoulders. "The question is, do we want to have a relationship or do we want to stay friends?" "Amy, that just proved we are way beyond friends." She nodded. They were quiet. Amy started biting her lip. Nick looked out the window at the rainy beach. "Do you ever on rainy days like this just wish you could lay in bed all day long?" Amy looked up from her deep thought and stared out the window. "Most of the time, I do, but yeah." He looked back at her. "Wanna do it?" Her eyes widened. "What?" "Lay in bed all day, well at least all morning?" She smiled. "Okay." He slid his shoes off, crawled into the bed next to her and snuggled up to her. She ruffled his hair and looked into his eyes. "Nick, I was wondering. If it hadn't have been for me, would you have gone back with Mandy?" He propped up on his pillow. "Probably. But see, I have you now. You have proven that I don't need her. I care about you, I could care less about her." She smiled lazily. "Good answer," she joked. He smiled and traced her jawline and facial features. He looked back into her stormy blue eyes. "What about you? If it hadn't have been for me, would you have told Lance you'd take him back on the phone the other night?" Amy looked away and looked back at him. "That's not important. I have you now. I don't need him." He smiled. "I'm glad I have you, you're my best friend, and...whatever we are now." She smiled slightly and fiddled with his diamond cross necklace. "I'm glad I have you too, whatever we are. You understand me, you know how I feel. No one else can relate to me like you do. I am so thankful, so blessed to have such a caring, sensitive, fine-ass friend like you. Sorry, had to get that last part out." He laughed. "Same for you. Girl, when I saw you on the ship that night in that dress, oh my god. I am going to make you wear that dress again and I will show the things I wanted to do to you." She laughed. "Sounds tempting, I might have to take you up on that." His face grew serious. "All joking aside, though, I feel the same way about you. You showed me that I can have a life without Mandy. I needed that. A real good swift kick in the ass. You certainly gave it to me and I thank you. You're my best friend and I really care about you." He leaned down and kissed her gently. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He started kissing her face, her throat, and her neck. She leaned her neck back and closed her eyes. When he reached the side of her neck, she squirmed a little and started giggling. Nick looked up and laughed. "Might we be ticklish?" She giggled. "No..." He looked back down at her neck. She gave him a look. "Nick...please...no.." He started tickling her neck with his mouth. She wiggled all over the bed, howling with laughter, squealing in between fits. "Stop!!" "What do you say?" "Uncle!!" "I'm not your uncle!" "Nick!! Please!!" He stopped. Her neck was covered in slobber and she was exhausted from laughing so much. She wiped her neck and gave Nick the evil eye. "I will get you for that." They heard her stomach start growling and he gave her a funny look. "A little hungry, are we?" "I'm starved." He sat up. "Me too. Race you to the table." He jumped up and ran over to the door. She got up quickly. "What? Wait! I gotta put my pants on!" He grinned wickedly. She hopped on one leg, trying to get the other in the pants. She fell on her butt. He ran out the door. She stood up and put her pants on. "Cheater!" She opened the door and there he was. She shrieked. He laughed. She slapped him on the arm and glared at him. "Nick, I swear.." They walked into the kitchen and sat down to eat. Kevin opened his eyes to the cloudy cool morning, feeling so refreshed and energized. Better than he had in awhile and he knew why. She was laying next to him. He stuck his arm out to touch her but felt she wasn't there. He looked up and around and saw she wasn't even in the room. He sat up and slipped his boxers on. He started to grab his robe but it wasn't on the table either. He smiled. That girl just takes everything, he thought, First my heart, now my clothes. He looked around for a pair of shorts to put on and found a dirty pair in the corner. He slipped them on anyway. He opened the door and walked down to the kitchen. When he looked in, he saw Beth, in his robe, sitting at the table with Emily, drinking a warm cup of tea. He smiled as he watched them. Emily was eating a bowl of cereal and Beth was getting on to her for eating with her hands. Just then, Emily hit the edge of her spoon and it went flying as well as a half a bowl of milk. The spoon just missed Brian in the living room. He turned around laughing. "Score!" he yelled. Emily giggled. Beth wiped milk off of the table and her robe. When she got up to go put them in the trash, she saw Kevin standing there. "Well, good morning sunshine." Brian laughed. "Good morning, sunshine," he mocked jokingly in a high-pitched voice. Emily giggled. Beth smirked at Brian and walked over to Kevin. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. He stopped her. "Wait, you got milk on your face, right above your lip." She started to brush it off but he stopped her. He leaned down and kissed her, gently sucking the milk off of her lip. Brian, watching them, made gagging noises. "Eww..he's sucking the boogers out of her nose!" Brian joked. Emily giggled again. Beth broke away, laughing. "Works even better than a Kleenix. Gets those hard-to-reach ones." Brian busted out laughing and Kevin looked horrified. "Try to do something romantic and it turns into one big joke." "Aww..Kevin, we're just joking," Brian teased, "Sunshine." Kevin gave him a sharp look. Beth ruffled his hair. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," she apologized, "My little Boo-Boo." Kevin, blushing, put his finger to his lips. "Shh!" "Oops.." It was too late. Brian was howling with laughter, repeating "Boo-Boo" over and over again. This woke Howie and A.J. up. Howie's hair was sticking straight up which made everybody crack up except him who was a little out of it. He looked in the mirror and tried to fix it but it was useless. He glared at everyone. "Yeah, let's just all make fun of Howie today." Kevin sighed. "Well, at least it takes the spotlight off of me." Brian, dying of laughter, suddenly busted out with "Boo Boo!" Kevin looked over at Beth. "Thanks a lot." She gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, su--" Kevin stopped her. "Please, no more pet names around them." She smiled. "I'll try." She put her arms around his waist and rubbed his back, scratching it ever-so-lightly. She felt goosebumps raise on his skin. He looked down at her with a devilish look and a grin. "Are you wearing anything underneath my robe?" She smiled flirtatiously. "Well, there is one way to find out.." He took her hand and they crept back into his bedroom. Jessie and Matt walked into the kitchen, talking quietly and laughing. They looked at Nick and Amy who were sitting at the table eating peanut butter toast and Frosted Flakes, acting like Tony the Tiger towards each other. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Jessie teased. Nick and Amy were still goofing off. "And what about me?" Nick was saying. Amy smiled and made a face. She leaned in. "You're grrrreattt..." She kissed him. Jessie and Matt stood there in shock. Matt cleared his throat and Nick and Amy looked up guiltily. Jessie laughed. "Man, whoever knew that Frosted Flakes cereal could be so entertaining?" Her and Matt sat down next to Nick and Amy and poured them some cereal. They started eating. Matt, with mouth full, pointed his spoon up at Nick and Amy. "So..when you did you two start going out?" Amy shook her head with an innocent look on her face. "We're not going out.." Jessie scoffed. "Ha! And Matt and I are really brother and sister.." Nick laughed. "Really? That's kinda gross." Matt squeezed Jessie shoulder and laughed. "Yeah, we like to keep it in the family.." Amy almost choked on her cereal. She started coughing and sputtering. Everyone laughed at her. Nick patted her on the back. "Are you okay?" he laughed. She nodded, wiping her eyes. She drank some of her orange juice. She looked up at Matt and Jessie. "Please...::cough, cough::...I'm trying..to..eat..he... here.." Jessie laughed and nodded. "Answer the question. How long have you and Nick been going out?" Amy looked at Nick and looked back at Jessie. "We're not going out. We're...we're..Nick, what are we?" Nick laughed. "I don't know." Matt nodded. "I know! You're more than friends but not quite boyfriend/girlfriend, right?" Amy pointed at him. "Yeah! That's it!" She looked over at Nick. "Isn't it?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Hell if I know." Amy smirked at him. "So glad it's that important to you." He pulled her to him by her shoulder and kissed her cheek. "It is though..," he whined. She looked over at him. "It better be." "Is that a threat?" he teased. She smiled. "More like a promise." They could hear Jessie and Matt gagging. Amy looked over at them. "Oh, shut up. Now you know what I had to go through with you two. Give us a little privacy here." They got up and put their bowls in the sink. "We'd be more than happy to," Jessie replied, "Matt and I are going to go walking and shopping or something. See ya'll later." They walked out the door, closing it. Amy looked over at Nick. "We're alone. What do you wanna do?" Nick smiled at her. "What do you wanna do?" Amy got up and pulled him into the living room. She walked over to the CD player and turned it on, pressing play. She looked over at him. "I wanna dance." "Larger Than Life" came on. Nick gave her a look. "To my own stuff?" Amy smiled. "Yeah. You can teach me some of those moves you do." He smiled. He pulled her to him and they started dancing. Nick started singing his part: "Looking in the crowd and I see your body sway.." Amy started moving her hips just like he saw her doing the night before. She smiled at him. "I bet you wish you could thank me in a different way, don't you?" He laughed. "You don't know how much, girl." She just smiled. As "I Want it That Way" came on, Nick pulled Amy to him and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They started kissing and fell back on the couch. He slid his hand under her tank top, caressing her tummy and moving upward. He kissed her neck, jaw, chin, before moving down to her throat and collarbone. Before his hand reached her breast, she stopped him. He pulled away from her but kept his face inches from hers. "What?" She pushed up and pulled the remote from under her. "This was sticking me in the back plus your hand is cold." He smiled. "It'll warm up. It's my only cold spot." She smiled slyly. "Are you sure?" Nick looked her straight in the eye. "Oh, yeah." She smiled wickedly and Nick matched it. Grabbing her hand, he asked her: "What? Don't believe me? I can prove it." She blushed. "I'm sure you can. As much as it tempts me though, I'll just have to take your word for it. Well, at least for right now." She pulled him back down, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed his lips gently then moved down his neck and throat and down to where his chain ended. She could hear his breath catch in his throat. He pulled her back up to his mouth and pressed against her. This time, he kissed her throat and neck. He felt her pulse quicken when he reached her collarbone and along her shoulders. He slid the strap of her tank top off her shoulder and kissed her shoulder all the way down to its end, right above her breast. She moaned slightly as he moved lower and his hand moved higher up her shirt. She ruffled his hair, running her fingers through it. Just as Nick began tracing kisses down her stomach, they heard a knock at the door. They jumped up and straightened their clothes. Nick walked over to the CD player which incidentally was playing, "Don't Want You Back" and he turned it down. Amy opened the door and there stood Mandy. Both gave each other a nasty look. Amy put her hands on her hips.
Ch. 22 "What the hell do you want? Cuz whatever you're selling, we're not buying..not from you.." Nick came up and wrapped his arms around Amy's waist resting his chin on the top of her head. The look on his face changed instantly. "Mandy, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you last night to leave me the hell alone?" She just smiled sweetly at him and tossed her hair back. "Hi, Nick. Well, aren't you going to invite me in?" Amy butted in. "It's not his place to. This is my house and my position and hell no. Bitches aren't allowed." Mandy gave a haughty laugh and put her hands on her hips. "Then why are you here?" "Like I said, I live here. Now, two's company, three's a crowd. See ya." Amy started to slam the door but Mandy caught it with her foot. Amy spun around and looked at her. "Didn't you hear me or do I need to show you?" She scowled at Amy and looked up at Nick. "I loved our little visit last night. Up for it again?" Amy started to lunge after her. "You little bi--," she growled. Nick pulled her by the waist, holding her back. He looked at Mandy. "Sorry, but I don't think so. The only thing that'll happen is I'll be kicking your ass out again." Mandy sighed. "Oh well. If you really think being with his hoe is better than me, it's your loss. You're just another one of her fuckbuddies." Amy screeched. "Ha! Me? You must be joking! Compared to you, I'm the Virgin Mary!" "Don't you wish? Nick, if you stay with her, you're missing out." Amy laughed out loud. "On what? A STD?" Nick snickered. Mandy couldn't think of anything creative to say so she just said something. "No that would be the consequences of being with you.." Amy started after her again but Nick still had a firm grip on her. Mandy laughed. "Please, child. Don't waste your energy, you'll need it for later." Amy was still struggling. "Listen you little bitch ass hoe, if you don't get your hoochified self somewhere else, I am going to.." "What? What are you going to do to me?" Nick was having a hard time holding her. "I could let her go, you know." Mandy stepped back. "Well, I guess I'll let you go. If you change your mind, you know where to reach me.." "At the closest street corner?" Amy retorted. Nick shook his head. "Whatever, Mandy. Just leave. I don't wanna see you or hear from you again. Now leave before you get hurt." Mandy started to say something when Amy slammed the door in her face. He finally let go of Amy. His arms were tired. She leaned against the door, arms crossed, seething. "I hate her. I swear, I could just strangle her right now." Nick ran his fingers through her long brown hair and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry about her," he whispered. Amy huffed. "She's the one who should be worried. If she says anything else to me, I swear I will kick her--" Nick hushed her by pressing his lips firmly against hers. Still kissing her, he led her back over to the couch. Just as they fell on it, another knock was heard at the door. They looked at the door. Amy jumped up. "If that is Mandy..." She jerked the door open. It was Jessie and Matt. She breathed in and out slowly. They noticed the expression on her face. "What's your problem?" Matt asked. Nick walked over to them. "My ex-girlfriend came over trying to start something with Amy." Jessie looked at Amy. "Did you kick her ass?" "She would have if I hadn't have held her back." Amy looked off. "If she messes with me again, I'm gonna do it." "Shit, I'll help you, Amy," Jessie volunteered. Nick chuckled. "I didn't think I was going to be able to hold Amy off for long. There probably wouldn't have been much left to get after Amy got her." Jessie and Matt shook their heads. Nick looked over at Amy. "You wanna go over to my house? Kevin found my PlayStation and all my games. We could play." Amy looked up at him. "What games do you have?" "Tekken 3, Tomb Raider 3, Mortal Kombat 4, Final Fantasy VII, NBA Live '99, Madden '99, Game Day '99..I think that's all.." "Cool. I have most of those games at home. Well, my brother and I do. I have to warn you. I have been well taught. I'm very good." Nick laughed. "Not as good as me, I'm afraid." "Oh, please. I'm going to kill you especially on NBA Live. I will bury you." "Let's go then!" They started to run out. Jessie cleared her throat. "Um..Amy, you might wanna put some clothes on, day clothes.." Amy looked at her tank top and flannel pajama pants and back up at Jessie. She ran into her room and dressed, throwing on her FSU sweatshirt. She came back in the living room. "Nice shirt," Nick said, "Going to college there?" "Planning to this fall. I gotta get out of Alabama." "So that's where you're from!" "Yeah. Montgomery. I thought I told you that. Or at least my accent should have given you some idea of where I was from." They walked out the door. "I really haven't paid attention to it but now that you mention it, since you're a redneck.." "Hey!" "..maybe you can explain some of those Jeff Foxworthy jokes." They walked over to his porch. She looked at him. "Like what?" "If you're at a party and someone yells, 'Hoe down!' and your girlfriend drops to the floor." Amy laughed. "You, out of all people, should understand that one..Think about it, Hoe-girlfriend, Hoe down- girlfriend on floor..Make any connection?" Nick rubbed his chin. "Now that I think about it, I may be a redneck. Tell me some more signs to see if they match up.." Amy and he walked up the stairs. "Let's see..If you see a sign that says 'Say No to Crack' and it reminds you to pull your jeans up.." Nick laughed. They walked inside. "You might be a redneck," they said. Brian was sitting there in the living room watching TV when they came in. "I am?" he asked. Amy laughed. "We're not sure. We're just saying you might be." Brian nodded. "Oh, well. I am. The whole butt crack thing is totally me," he joked. He stood up and leaned over to get a magazine purposely mooning them. Nick and Amy cracked up. "You weren't lying," Amy laughed. Brian sat up and nodded his head. "Well, I tried to tell ya.." "Yeah. Well, Amy and I are gonna play NBA Live and some other games on my PlayStation. She claims she can beat me." "She probably can," Brian told Nick, " Cuz you suck." Nick laughed. "Then why I am I kicking your ass so much?" he challenged. Brian chuckled. "Basically cuz I suck." Amy laughed. "I need to see this game though. I wanna be the first to laugh when you lose, Nicky." Amy shook her head. "So sad, Nick. Your own best friend is against you." "It ain't the first time. Let's go play." He ran off but Brian stopped Amy. He pulled her close and made sure Nick was gone. "Watch out for Nick," he warned, "Make sure he never touches your controller because he will loosen it just enough that you can play but not do any major movements. He likes to cheat, especially when there's a chance he might lose." "Amy, are you coming or have you chickened out?!" Nick yelled. "As if you could be so lucky," she yelled back. "Brian, are you giving her tips?" "Not anymore!" Brian yelled, laughing. Amy ran off to Nick's room. Brian heard the doorbell ring. "Hey, ya'll! Don't start yet! Let me answer the door!" "Hurry up!" Nick and Amy yelled impatiently. He walked over to the door and answered it. It was Leighanne. "I can't believe I was so stupid!" Kelly moaned, "To think A.J. would like me enough to dump that girl. I'd like to strangle that boy right about now.." Tat looked over Kelly's shoulder to see A.J. coming in the room. "There he is. I'm leaving. Good luck." Kelly gave her sister a pleading look but Tat just gave her a smile and walked out. Kelly turned around to face A.J. He looked so sweet she was having a hard time being mad at her. "Hey, sweetheart," he said, pulling a single red rose from behind his back. "I brought you something." She didn't move so he walked over to her. He smells so good, she thought, I know he's gonna try to kiss me but I can't let him. To her surprise, he only gave her a hug. She pulled away from him and sat down. "Why are you here?" she asked. He smiled at her. "What kind of question is that?" he asked, "To see you, of course." She narrowed her eyes at him. His smile faded. "We need to talk.." Kelly nodded her head. "Yes, we do." She pulled the letter out of her pocket. A.J.'s eyes widened and he looked down ashamedly. Kelly nodded her head. "Recognize this?" She got no answer. "Well, let me refresh your memory.." He looked up. "I remember it. I wasn't trying to insult you. Kelly, I like you..a lot, but I'm in love, I love Amanda and I can't do this to her. If it was different.." Kelly held her hand up. "I know, I know..you'd love me. That's okay. I realize I was wrong for going along with the whole thing, trying to get you to do something, when I knew you were dating her. I was wrong, I'm sorry." She looked down. He leaned over and tilted her chin up. "We were both wrong. We're both sorry. Do you think we could be friends?" Kelly nodded her head. "Of course." She leaned over and hugged him. They pulled apart. Kelly smiled. "I'm up for some shopping, wanna join me?" His face lit up. "I'd love to." She ran and got her purse and they walked out of the house off to the nearest shopping outlet a mile away. "Man, where is Brian?" Nick whined impatiently. "Probably felt so sorry for you losing to me that he just couldn't bear to watch," Amy teased. Nick raised an eyebrow at her. "Please," he retorted, "He's just tired of me winning so much." Amy laughed out loud. "Who are you trying to fool? 'Cuz it sure ain't me." Nick walked over and turned on the game. "Forget Brian. Let's just play." Amy grabbed her controller. "I'm ready," she announced, hooking up her controller. "Baby, you're going down." Nick slipped his controller in and smiled back at her wickedly. "We'll see.." Amy eyed him carefully. "Boy, don't you even try to cheat," she warned. Nick gave her an innocent look. "Who, me?" he gasped, "I cannot believe you'd think I'd do such a thing!" He sat down on the bed and Amy popped him on the arm. The game loaded and they started playing.
