*~The Dream Of A Lifetime~*

“What a movie,” Valondra said, as they finished watching ‘Romeo and Juliet’. “Leo dies in, like, every movie he does.”

“It’s so sad,” Ariel said.

“He’s still alive in real life so it doesn’t matter,” Antoinette said.

“We better go though,” Ariel said. “Farah and Lillie have dates to get ready for tonight.”

“What?” Lillie and Farah asked in unison.

“Yeah with Howie and Kevin,” Ariel said. “Didn’t Loni tell you?”

“No,” Farah said, as Lillie shook her head and they both glared at Valondra. She looked at them and rolled her eyes. “How’s your head, Loni? Does it still hurt?”

“It still hurts,” Valondra said.

“Did you take any aspirin?” Kevin asked.

“I don’t carry it with me,” Valondra replied.

“How about we take the pain and put it in your ass?” Lillie suggested.

“Kiss my ass,” Valondra said and the guys just looked at her. “On second thought, keep your lips off my ass. Only God knows where they’ve been. Plus I know who you want to put your lips on and where?”

“Who and where?” Farah asked beginning to laugh.

“No comment,” Valondra said getting up. “I’ll keep my mouth shut before I get into trouble.” She went to pick the plate up off the floor and Lillie pushed her with her foot and Valondra went headfirst into Nickolas’ leg. She knocked him down and he took Kevin with him. “Is today ‘start something with Valondra’ day or what?” Lillie nodded her head, but didn’t say a word.

“It is 6:30 so I think we should go,” Ariel said. “Lillie and Farah need help with their outfits.”

“I’m perfectly capable,” Lillie said.

“Sure you are,” Valondra commented towards Lillie’s outfit; a purple sweat suit. “Very capable.” She put her plate on the food cart and looked at them. “Lillie, Farah, and Hannah are probably three of the worst dressed at school.”

“They dress the same every day,” Antoinette said. “It’s pretty sad.”

“Sorry if we weren’t born into money,” Farah said.

“We offered to take you shopping, but you refused,” Ariel said. “We wanted to do something good with our money and get ya’ll hipper cooler and classier clothes.”

“It’s not like they would thank us anyway,” Valondra said sitting on the sofa next to Alexander and they all looked at her. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Why do you have to hold a grudge against everyone?” Lillie asked.

“I’m just holding a grudge against you, Farah, and Hannah,” Valondra stated. “Didn’t your parents teach you the meaning of ‘thank you’?” They just looked at her.

“Ladies,” Kevin said. “Just calm down and get along.”

“I don’t even know why I’m sitting here,” Valondra said getting up. “I got better things to do.” She walked to the door and went to open it, as a hand went over hers. She looked and saw Nickolas standing there looking at her.

Nickolas looked at the others, who weren’t paying attention, and then back at Valondra asking, “Do you have to leave?” She just looked at him. “I’d love it if you stayed.”

“Why?” Valondra asked. “Aren’t you sick of me? My friends are along with everyone else.”

“I’m not everyone else.” He grinned.

“No you’re not.”

“So will you stay?”

“Um, actually, I have some things at home I need to get finished.”

“Right.”

“I’m not just saying that.”

“I believe ya.”

She smiled and said, “You’re welcome to walk me home though.” He smiled, but didn’t say anything. “Well the offer still stands whenever ya change your mind.” She opened the door and walked out and went to the elevator.

“Loni.” She looked and saw Nickolas walk towards her. “I’d love to walk you home.” She smiled. “So where do you live?”

“It’s just a couple blocks in walking distance.” He nodded. “What about you?”

“In Ruskin.”

“It’s, like, outside Tampa, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m good.” He continued smiling and the elevator opened. They got on and went down to the lobby in silence and then walked from the hotel into the warm setting sun.

They started walking and Nickolas asked, “So what’s the story with you, Lillie, and Farah?” She looked at him. “I understand the connection with Ariel and Toni and you, but you just seem completely different from the others.”

“We are different.” She took a deep breath. “Lillie, Farah, and Hannah think that just because Ariel, Toni, and I have money we’re different from everyone else. They tend to think that money can buy you anything, but it doesn’t. I know that for a fact. There is a difference between Ariel, Toni, and I.”

“What’s that?”

“They come from a loving family with money and I don’t.”

“I doubt that.”

“It’s true. My parents only think about my brother and sister and the money and that’s it. I’m lucky they even kept me around. I guess they thought more money at tax time.”

“That’s stupid.” She nodded.

“I live with it though and I tend not to care until they need someone to yell at. That’s, like, the only time I exist to them and I hate it. I’m actually thinking about leaving when I graduate. They don’t want me there and I don’t really want to be there.”

“No one should live in that kind of environment.”

“Are you close with your family?”

“Yeah, we have our moments.”

“Enjoy it…for the both of us.”

“I will.”

“Thank you.”

“How did your little group become friends?”

“We’re a team.” He nodded and grinned. “I met Ariel and Toni through a nanny service. Our nannies were best friends and they always hanged out at the park and they always had us. Then we met Lillie, Farah, and Hannah in grade school. We didn’t become friends until going to high school. It was safe to say we hated each other.” They laughed. “They wore such drabby clothes and clashed so bad.” They laughed again. “Then there’s Fox.”

“Boyfriend?” She looked at him.

“Not exactly; we dated for over two years and then broke up. We remained friends though and go out sometimes and do girlfriend/boyfriend things. I don’t think it classifies as actually dating though.”

“Right.”

“He’s one of our best friends and a great guy.”

“But you’re not a couple?”

“No.” He nodded and smiled. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

“No; we broke up awhile ago.”

“Oh.” They turned a corner and walked a few more feet before stopping. “Well this is my house.” Nickolas looked at the house a second then looked at her. “Thanks for walking me.”

“You’re welcome.”

She nodded and they heard, “Loni, there you are.”

They both looked and Valondra said, “Fox, hey.”

“Hey, Baby.”

Valondra looked at Nickolas and said, “Nick, this is Fox…Pacey Foxworth. Fox, this is Nick Carter.”

“Hey, man,” Nickolas said, as the two guys shook hands.

“I’ve been looking for you all day,” Pacey said.

“I was with friends,” Valondra said.

“I’m going to get going,” Nickolas said and Valondra looked at him. “Maybe I’ll see ya later.”

“Maybe,” Valondra said.

“See ya,” Nickolas said. “Nice meeting you.”

“See ya,” Valondra and Pacey said in unison and Valondra watched Nickolas walk away.