For the next hour, they all played the games. Laney found herself enjoying hanging with AJ. She managed to loosen up and play. She ended up winning the game.
Ashley couldn't keep her eyes off of AJ and Laney. Brian got a little POD'd because she wasn't trying. He covered it up with jokes, but it was obvious that he was angry. He stopped playing with her after 2 short games. He went and played pool with Howie and Kevin. Ashley felt rejected and regretted not forcing Laney to play with Brian. She watched Laney and AJ for the rest of the time.
KC quickly learned how much fun Nick was to play videogames with. She thought she knew almost everything about him, but she was wrong. He was so much better than he had seemed to be. He seemed so carefree and happy. KC noticed how he was totally flirting with her. She loved it!
At 3:30, everyone was pooped. Except for Ashley of course, who still sat on the chair. Kevin suggested going to the living room to relax. Everyone agreed to that. The guys walked ahead of the girls, talking amongst themselves. The girls walked behind them.
"Can you believe this?!" shreaked KC, grinning. "Nick was totally flirting with me!" Laney couldn't stop smiling either.
"I never really thought about AJ being so cool to be with! He's so much fun! And sweet too!" she cried. Ashley sighed loudly. KC noticed she hadn't talked at all.
"What's wrong, Ash?" she asked, linking her arm through her friend's. Ashley shrugged, tears formed in the corner of her eyes. KC gave Laney an alarmed look.
"You can tell us, hun" Laney said gently. They stopped walking. Ashley sniffled loudly. Howie stopped walking in front of them at the sound. He gave Ashley a sympathetic look and walked to them.
"What's the matter, Ashley?" he asked when he reached the girls. Ashley looked at KC, who nodded her head, meaning to just say it. Ashley took a deep breath. The other guys were out of sight now. They had disappeared into the Living Room.
"I wanted to play basketball with AJ, but Laney played. Brian was being a snot and was mad because I wasn't pyaing attention" she explained. Then she started crying again. Howie smiled at her.
"So...you're into AJ, huh?" he replied raising his eyebrows. Ashley nodded shyly. Howie took her wrist and led her away from the other girls.
"I think I can talk to AJ for you if you'd like. And Brian too" he replied. Ashley shook her head.
"Just Brian. I want him to feel guilty. But just try to get AJ to talk to me a little?" she replied. Howie frowned.
"Brian's a nice guy, he just hates being ignored. He told me and Kev that he knew you really didn't want to be there with him. That's why he left. He didn't meant to seem angry" Howie defended Brian. Ashley nodded. The other girls had made their way into the Living Room with the guys. Howie and Ashley arrived a few minutes later. Howie signalled for them not to task what happened when they came in the door. The room was huge. It had alot of sofas and chairs. There were 3 TVs set up in different parts of the room. There was a man sitting by the window, reading a newspaper. He looked young, around 25. He seemed to recognize the Boys because he kept looking at them. He didn't seem to like them all that much. There was also a woman, in her late 20s watching a TV with a young girl. Brian was talking to the little girl.
Howie and Ashley joined the others in front of another TV. Nick and KC seemed to be glued to some cartoon show. Ashley couldn't tell which one it was. She sat down beside Laney on the couch. Kevin was on the other side of Laney. AJ was sitting in a chair by the TV, talking to Nick. It seemed to be a one-sided conversation, considering Nick's interest in the TV. Howie sat on the floor with KC and Nick.
"Are you okay now?" Laney whispered. Ashley nodded and smiled.
"Doesn't AJ look hot?" she whispered back. Laney giggled. AJ looked over and smiled at Ashley. She felt the adrehnaline rush come back again. She had to bite her lip to keep from squealing. At that moment, a little girl came walking towards them. It was the same girl that Brian was talking to before. He came walking behind her. Brian grabbed the girl's hand.
"Everyone, I would like to introduce you to my new best friend. This is Alyssa McDougall. She's this many years old" he said holding up four fingers. Everyone greeted her. Alyssa ran off.
"What can I say? I seem to make girls nervous" he replied looking at Laney. Laney cracked a tiny smile.
"Sorry" she replied, bringing her hand to her mouth to bite her nails. Ashley pushed her hand down, glaring at her. Laney blushed and closed her eyes momentarily. Brian laughed.
"Don't be embarrassed. I bite my nails too. I just can't seem to break the habit!" he said, walking over to the chair beside the couch where Laney was sitting.
"Yeah, I know" she said quietly. Brian took Laney's wrist and pulled her off the couch. Laney looked scared.
"Come with me to the vending machine outside. I feel a sugar rush coming on" he said as he pulled her to the door. Laney let him pull her. Once they were out of the door, he let go of her wrist. Laney felt disappointed. They walked quietly to the machine. Brian took some spare change from his pocket.
"Look" he said, showing Laney a gold coin, smiling. "Canada has a dollar coin". Laney laughed quietly.
"It's called a looney" she said. Brian slipped it in the machine.
"How long have you lived in Canada?" he asked, punching in the buttons for a Mars Bar.
"For almost 3 years. I used to live in Ireland. I was practially raised in Dublin actually" Laney explained. She began to feel less nervous around "her Brian". Brian bent down and picked up the chocolate bar from the slot.
"I've been there. It's a very beautiful city. Very scenic. Have you been there since you moved away?" he asked opening the wrapper. He offered a piece to her, Laney waved it off. She wasn't ready to eat in front of him yet. She had this thing where unless she's known a person a long time, she won't eat in front of anyone.
"No. My dad just lost his job, so we don't have the money to fly there" she explained. Brian nodded. he had taken a bite of the chocolate bar when she started talking. He had a mouthful. Laney giggled at his attempts to swallow. Finally it was down.
"How come you don't have an Irish accent?" he asked, licking his lips, staring at the bar. Laney was asked this question alot.
"Well...I wasn't exactly born in Dublin. We moved there from Minnesota when I was 7. I never picked it up" Laney said. Brian nodded, in the middle of the remnance of another bite. He had a smudge of chocolate on his chin that he didn't seem to notice. Laney took a kleenex from her jeans pocket and handed it to him. By then he had finished his bite.
"What's this for?" he asked looking at the tissue. Laney giggled.
"You've got some chocolate on your chin" she replied. Brian whipped the chocolate off.
"Wow. Is my face ever red!" he said. Laney shook her head.
"No, it isn't. Just filled with chocolate" she giggled. Brian frowned.
"Are you serious?" he asked. Laney nodded and smiled. Brian let out an exasperated sigh. He dropped the kleenex to the ground and ran back into the Living Room.
"GUYS! DO I HAVE CHOCOLATE ALL OVER MY FACE?!" he yelled running in the room. Laney smiled. She reached down and picked up the kleenex. She debated whether or not to keep the tissue as a souvenir. Then decided against it. That's a little too twisted. And besides, she thought, I've got the real Brian right in front of me. She threw the kleenex in the garbage can and walked into the Living Room.
