"HEY!!" Ali shouted, getting out of the pool. She flung her wet arms around both boys, and Nick peeled her off.
"Em, I want you to meet these two." She said to her friend, who was cowering in the pool.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Emily hissed. "It was supposed to be a surprise." Ali told her, a little confused at her friend's behaviour.
'Guys, this is my best friend Emily. Em, Nick and Brian." she introduced.
"Hey Em!" Nick waved and went back to dunking Ali.
'Hi Emily." Brian smiled warmly at her, totally melting her insides.
'Hi Brian.' she said shyly.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked.
"Not at all." She could barely contain herself as Brian stripped off his shirt and jumped in the pool.
'Hey Frick, did you want a bathing suit?" Nick asked his friend.
'It's a little late for that now Frack." Brian said with a laugh. Nick looked down at his own wet shirt and ripped it off. He jumped in; creating a large splash that soaked Princess Foxy.
'Nick!" Ali scolded as Foxy ran under a lounge chaise.
"Aw, Fox," he coaxed her out from under the chaise and stroked her. He yelped as she shook out her fur.
"She got you back.' Brian observed. Nick cannonballed back into the water.
'Will you stop it?" Ali splashed him.
"Stop what?" Nick asked, grinning. "I don't like that look..." she trailed off and swam away from him.
'Ali stop flirting.' Emily teased her friend. Ali's face flushed.
'I'm not flirting.' She mumbled, but Brian caught her look.
"Ooh, someone has a crush on Nicky." He taunted.
"No I-" she suddenly disappeared under water.
"What the...?" Emily wondered what had happened to her friend. She came up a few seconds later, choking and spitting water.
'Ali, are you ok?" she asked, concerned. Nick surfaced a few seconds after her.
"Ohmygod.' His face paled at the sight of Ali. He grabbed her waist and took her to the shallow end. He held onto her as she kept on coughing up water. Her slender body wracked with force as her lungs tried to clear the water. After a few minutes, she stopped and glared at Nick.
"Nick, that was NOT funny. I totally wasn't expecting that.' She snapped, hitting him.
'Ow! Ok, I'm sorry." he apologised, but she detected a trace of a smile on his lips.
'I'm not laughing.' She retorted, and got out of the pool.
'Hey Al?" he called out, and she turned around.
"You do realize you're wearing white." He reminded her. She quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself. Nick laughed and swam over to Brian and Emily, deep in conversation.
"Nick, that's not the way to win her over.' Brian told his friend.
'Who said I was trying to win her over?" Nick asked. Brian just gave him a look and hopped out of the pool.
"Nick, don't be an ass, she's had too many of those in her life." Emily told him before allowing Brian to help her out of the pool. The three of them talked quietly on the patio, leaving him in the pool. Deciding it was no fun without anyone to bug, he too got out. He shook himself off like a dog, since Ali had taken his towel.
"Nick!" Ali and Emily shouted.
'What?" he demanded.
'Grow up.' Ali told him. Nick stuck his tongue out at her. She got up, throwing him the towel and went back to her house.
'WHITE!" Nick yelled at her retreating back. She flipped him the bird over her shoulder and continued home.
"What the hell's wrong with her?' Nick wondered.
"She doesn't need added aggravation Nick.' Emily spoke up.
'Who said I was aggravating her?" Nick wanted to know.
"It's obvious you are. This is a trying time for her, she just wants to have fun and take her mind off things." Emily told him, her temper beginning to flare.
"Well then she shouldn't take things so seriously." Nick remarked.
"Not everyone's as immature as you are." she snapped.
"Um, Em, come with me.' Brian interjected, hoping to divert a fight. He walked her over to the front yard and waited for her to explain. Emily shook her blonde head in wonder.
'I can't believe I just yelled at Nick Carter." she said.