"Yeah! Two points for me!" said Rachel as she did a little victory dance.

Brian stood there in shock. "How the heck did you manage to steal that ball from me?"

Rachel laughed. "It's like I told you before, I rock in b-ball."

"No one is better than the B-Rokster," Brian said with a smirk.

"Looks like you got competition B-ROK," Rachel said as she passed him the ball.

Brian dribbled the ball passed Rachel and she quickly swept it away from his hands. She dribbled it down the court and did a graceful lay up. She cheered and walked up to Brian. He was standing there with his jaw dropped. Rachel put her hand on his bottom jaw and shut his mouth.

Brian smiled. "You're amazing."

Rachel blushed. "Well, you're not too bad yourself, bud," she said as she punched him on the shoulder.

"You wanna play another game?"

Rachel laughed. "You just can't stand the fact that I beat you can you?"

Brian smiled and brushed a piece of hair off of Rachel's face. "Come on let's go get some ice cream."

"Okay, but losers pay," Rachel said as she walked toward Brian's BMW.

"Oh so now I'm a loser."

"You make it sound like such a bad thing."

Brian unlocked his BMW. "Next time we play basketball I'm gonna cream you."

"In your dreams," Rachel said as she got in the car.

Brian started the car and they went to the nearest Dairy Queen. They went inside and looked at the menu.

"What are you gonna get?" Brian asked.

"I'm thinking of a pineapple sundae."

"Yuck! Pineapple?" Brian said with his nose crinkled

"You don't like pineapple?"

"Yeah, but not on ice cream. I think I'll stick with my vanilla ice cream cone."

Rachel laughed as she stood up to the cashier to order. They ordered their ice cream and sat down at a booth. Rachel took a bite of her pineapple sundae.

"Mmm," she said. "This is good."

Brian gave her a disgusted look "You're the first girl I've seen that eat like that."

"It's not bad." She scooped up a spoonful and handed it to Brian. "Here try it."

"No way! You're asking the wrong Backstreet Boy."

Rachel grinned. "Well, you're the only Backstreet Boy around. Try it, you'll like it." Brian shook his head. "Damn it don't be so stubborn," Brian just grinned and licked his ice cream cone. "Don't make me shove this spoon down your throat. Now try it."

Brian laughed. "All right all right! I'll try it." He took the spoon, put it in his mouth, and smiled. "It's not bad."

"See I told you."

Brian put the spoon back in Rachel's bowl. "I want some more."

Rachel slapped his hand. Hey get your own."

Brian laughed. "Sorry."

Rachel smiled as she finished eating her pineapple sundae. The both finished eating and got back in Brian's BMW.

"You wanna go to the beach or do you wanna go back to your apartment?"

Rachel shook her head. "Let's go to the beach," she said as she stood up.

"All right cool," Brian said as he followed her out.

Brian drove to the beach and they both walked along the shore. Rachel stopped and looked at the ocean. Brian looked at her. She looked deep in thought.

"A penny for your thoughts," Brian said gently.

Rachel looked at Brian. "Huh? Oh...it was nothing."

"You sure? You looked like you off in another world."

Rachel was silent for a moment. "Yeah....can you take me home?"

Brian looked at her in concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just tired that's all," she said softly.

They got back in the car and Brian drove back to her apartment. Rachel was silent the whole way back. She felt a chill go up her back and she shivered. Brian looked over at her.

"Are you cold?"

"A little."

Brian got a jacket out from the back seat. "Here put this on."

"Thanks," Rachel said and she slid it on.

The scent of Safari reached her nose. She breathed it in and smiled. Suddenly she felt Brian grab her hand. She jumped a little but then relaxed her hand in his. They arrived at the apartment a few minutes later and Brian walked her up to the door. He grabbed her hand and looked her deeply in the eyes.

Rachel shyly unlocked the door. "Do you uh. . .wanna come in for a few minutes? I don't think Kristin's back yet."

"Sure," Brian said with a smile.

Rachel opened the door and the two went inside then sat on the couch. Brian sat next to Rachel and put his hand on her cheek. "I had a really good time tonight," he said softly.

Rachel shyly smiled. "I did too." A tear came to her eye.

Brian looked at her with concerned eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Rachel wiped the tear away and sniffled. "Yeah, I'm...I'm fine," she lied.

Brian wrapped his arms around her and gave her a warm hug. He let go and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. "Good night."

"You're leaving?" Rachel asked in bewilderment.

"You just seemed a little upset. I figured you wanted to be alone. I can stay if you want."

Tears were trickling down Rachel's face. "Could you please?" she whispered.

"Yeah. . .sure," Brian said as he sat back down. Rachel scooted over and laid her head on Brian's shoulder. Brian gently wrapped his arms around her. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Rachel sat up and looked Brian in the eyes. The tears were still coming down. "It's really kind of difficult to talk about."

"So you don't want to talk about it?"

Rachel sighed. "Not right now. It's still kind of hard for me talk about."

"It's okay I understand."

"Let's just say you know where I'm coming from. And you've been through what I might have to go through." Brian looked at her in confusion. "I've lost you haven't I?"

Brian let out a soft chuckle. "I think you did."

"Sorry," Rachel said then sniffled.

Brian wiped a tear off from her face. "It's okay. Sometimes thing are best unsaid until the time is right."

"Do you always talk like a Hallmark card?" Rachel said with a slight grin.

Brian laughed. "I have my moments." Brian looked at Rachel for a moment and smiled.

Rachel brushed her hair from her face. "God I must look like a mess."

Brian shook his head. "No. . .you look beautiful."

"Yeah. . .sure," she said while blushing.

"Come here," Brian said with his arms open.

Rachel scooted closer to him and relaxed herself in his arms. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For ruining your time."

"No you didn't ruin anything. I had a really good time."

"You did?"

"Yeah, I mean you beat me at basketball. How much fun can a guy have?"

Rachel laughed and smacked him playfully on the face. Brian searched her lucious blue eyes for a moment, and slowly moved closer to her. Their lips lightly brushed together then pulled in to a light kiss. Brian shyly pulled away.

"Sorry," he said softly.

Rachel smiled. "No, it's okay. . .really," she said then gave him another kiss. She settled back into his arms and sighed. "Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?"

"For being you."

Brian kissed her on the top of her head. "You're welcome," he said as he held her tighter.

Rachel snuggled closer and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, she was asleep. Brian watched her while she was sleeping, then grew tired himself. The two laid on the couch in each other's embrace for the rest of the night.