The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. At 5:15, a loud beep came from the loudspeaker. A woman's voice pounded through the speaker,
"Dinner will be served in the Dining Hall in 15 minutes. Tonight's menu includes home made spaghetti, and garlic bread'. Nick licked his lips and smiled.
"Mmm...sounds good" he replied. He stood up off the floor. He reached his hand down to KC who was still sitting on the floor. He pulled her up.
"I'm gonna go have a quick shower. I'll meet you in the dining hall in 15 minutes, 'kay?" he told KC, still holding her hand. KC smiled and nodded. Nick grinned.
"Great! See ya later" he said. Nick let go of her hand and walked out the door. KC stood in the same spot, in a daze, until Ashley and Laney led her out of the room saying they wanted to get ready for dinner.
"Nick seems to like KC alot" AJ said once the girls were gone. Brian nodded and shrugged.
"But you know Nick. He's a flirt" he said, standing up too.
"Where ya goin' Bri?" Kevin asked when Brian headed for the door. Brian turned around again.
"I can smell the food already. I'm gonna get us good seats, by the kitchen" he explained. AJ stood up too.
"I'm coming with you. I've got nothing better to do anyway" he replied. Brian waited for AJ to catch up to him, then they walked out the door.
"I wonder why Nick wanted to have a shower. He just had one this morning before we left" Howie pondered. Kevin nodded.
"Yeah I know, we didn't do anything today" he agreed putting down the magazine he'd been reading. Howie rubbed his stomach and groaned.
"I'm starving! Let's go to the Dining hall with Brian and AJ. Maybe they did get good seats" he announced. Kevin nodded and stood up. They walked out the door.
MEANWHILE...
"I seriously think Nick likes you KC. Did you see the way he was flirting with you?!" Laney explaimed putting some white eyeliner on her eyelids. KC frowned and shrugged.
"I doubt it. He was just being nice" she said, running her brush through her long brown hair. Ashley goffed.
"Are you serious? Didn't you notice he was only talking to you? I don't think he's said any words to me and Lan all day! Doesn't that tell you something?" she explained. KC sighed and set down her brush, facing the other girls.
"Guys, think rationally here. What would he want with me? I'm not pretty; I'm not funny; and I'm not smart. Why would he like me?" KC defended. Laney frowned.
"Shut up KC. You know you're pretty. You're the funniest out of all of us. You've got an 83% overall average. Now, march down to the Dining Hall and show Nick who you really are" Laney replied. KC smiled at her friend. She walked up to Laney and gave her a hug.
"Thanks Lan. You're the best friend in the world" she gushed. Ashley cleared her throat. Laney looked at her and held out an arm for her to join their hug. Ashley smiled and the three hugged. When they pulled apart, KC looked at her watch.
"Guys, it's 5:30. Let's go now" she replied. The other two nodded and headed for the door. KC got an idea. She told her friends to meet her by the elevator. They closed the door behind them. KC opened her suitcase and pulled out her black camera. Their friends at home would never believe that they met the Boys without proof. She checked to see if there was film in the camera. There was, so KC locked the door behind herself and headed for the elevator.
The girls reached the Hall in time to see the dinner being served. They were late. The Boys were seated by the kitchen as planned. KC sat in the empty seat Nick had saved for her. He smiled at her.
"You look nice" he said, looking her up and down. KC just blushed. Ashley sat on the other side of KC. Laney sat down in the last seat available at the table.
"Hey Laney" a voice said from beside her. She turned her head to see who it was. It was Brian.
"Hi" she mumbled. Her shyness had returned. The food was placed in front of her. Should I eat?, she though staring at the food. Brian had already digged into the dinner. Laney still stared at her place. It looked really good and Laney was hungry.
"Allergic?" Brian said, whipping his mouth with a napkin.
"Excuse me?" Laney asked quietly. Brian pointed to her plate.
"Are you allergic to the dinner?" he asked. Laney shook her head.
"I don't feel right eating in front of you" she confessed. Brian laughed and Laney was insulted.
"I'm serious" she yelled angrily. Brian held up his hands in defense.
"Sorry! But...I've never heard that excuse before" he said. Laney just shrugged.
"Never mind. You don't understand anyway." She leaned back on her chair further than she thought she did. The legs of the chair started to wobble and she fell right back off the chair on to the floor. Everyone burst out laughing at the table. Laney's face turned bright red and tears filled her eyes. She jumped off the floor and fled from the room, crying. They stopped laughing, feeling mighty guilty.
