It's 4:07 a.m. and I cannot sleep. In fact, I am just about as wide awake as I could possibly be. I just keep remembering what has happened between Brian and I. Are we headed towards a 'more-than-friends' relationship, or is that all a nice delusion of mine? Sometimes, especially in the last few days, he gives me looks that lead me to believe that we could have something. I remember past conversations that we've had and repeat them in my mind until it's all one endless stream of babble. I can't take it anymore. This is ridiculous. My mind has been completely taken over by thoughts of him. Throwing off my covers, I hopped out of bed. There's no point in staying in bed if I can't fall asleep. I'll at least do something semi-productive. Anything is better than just laying there. I threw on my bright green and blue boy-cut bathing suit and a blue lightweight long-sleeve cardigan, and quietly made it down both flights of stairs. I hate it when everyone can sleep but me. It's just doesn't seem fair. I grabbed a banana and my wetsuit and headed out the back door. Hey, the sun will be up in an hour or so, I can just take a peaceful walk until then. I set my wetsuit next to my surfboard (which was resting against the side of the house) and began walking along the shore. I let my thoughts drift from one thing to the next with no clear destination in mind. After about twenty minutes, I felt a little bit calmer and I headed back towards the house. I sat down on the back porch and rest my head against the railing. Staring out at the still black beach, a wave of serenity passed over me. Never before had such peace consumed my body. Around five-thirty, I saw the sun beginning to peak over the great ocean. Noticing that the waves were perfect height and condition, I quickly put on my wetsuit and headed for the water. The sea was cool, but it felt refreshing on this morning. I laid down on my board and glided out. When I saw the right wave coming, I prepared and caught it. As I loomed over the water, I felt that I was once again in control of my life. Surfing did that for me. It made me feel free and independent and... powerful. Again and again, I rode the waves. After about half and hour had passed, I noticed someone come out of the house, grab a board and head for my direction. I instantly knew that it was Brian. Only he would get up and surf at six o'clock in the morning. Everyone else waited for the hot hours of the day, but not him. He laid on top of his board and glided out as I caught a wave in. Once I was into shore, I paused and waited for him to ride in. Suddenly, I was not afraid to face him. Too much has gone unsaid, now is the time to talk about this thing between us. He glided in and noticed that I was waiting for him. Willing to meet him halfway, I paddled my self out towards him.
"Hey." I said.
"Hey. Thought I might find you out here." he said.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"I heard you get up this morning and I thought that you might get up and surf." he answered. "I couldn't sleep so I was just lying there when I heard you finally get up." He noticed that I was staring at him in bewilderment. "The walls are paper thin. I heard you tossing and turning for hours. I was going to come and talk to you, but I thought that you might need your space. That's why I waited to come outside."
As we began drifting in, I looked at him and said, "Thanks."
"For what?"
"For being such a great guy. I'm sorry if I've been sending you mixed signals or, or..." I trailed off.
"No, it's me. I don't always know when to just... just..." he stumbled.
I realized that it was my turn to speak, but I was unable to find the right words. It took a split second to figure out that words weren't enough. I rolled off my board and into the water, and then came up to him. He searched my eyes for a moment and then I came out of the water enough so that I could kiss him. Shocked, Brian rolled off of his board and came beside me. He put his arms around me, reconfirming his own feelings for me. At the hotel, he'd been the one to kiss me. Now I'd kissed him and everything became crystal clear. At that point, it became obvious that no words were needed. We didn't know where this thing was going, but at least we knew that it was going somewhere. We weren't stuck anymore. Together, we rode waves for a few hours. It seems like a long time, but the hours flew by like days. Besides, no one else was crazy enough to be on the beach at that time of day, so we had the whole atmosphere to ourselves. We were in our own little world of happiness. For now, we don't need words or titles, just having each other is enough.
Dakota:
Nick and the guys were out front playing basketball....oh joy. I'm not really the athletic sporty type, so when Nick invited me to play with them.....I regretfully said no. Instead I decided its maybe best to work on my tan, I mean after all I am in Florida and what kind of person would I be if I wasn't tan. I know I know....total blonde moment. Grabbing a towel out of the washroom, I stepped onto the beach wearing my purple bikini. Finally some me time. It's kind of hard having time to yourself when you're living with six other totally fun people. Finally some time to relax. The wind was blowing lightly which made it the perfect temperature outside. Before laying down for awhile, I decided to take a quick swim in the ocean. To make sure my hair wouldn't get all tangled in the water, I tied my hair back with a rubber band and then eased into the water. It felt so good against my skin and it was so relaxing. After swimming for a few minutes, I walked out and saw Nick standing over by my towel. Smiling, I ran over to him and gave him a kiss.
"Wow, that's better then Baywatch," Nick laughed.
"You haven't seen anything yet," I joked and put my arms around my neck.
"How was basketball? Did you lose to Brian again?"
"Yeah, what's new? I don't know why I even bother trying to beat him."
"Poor baby." Nick put his arm around my waist and then led me up to the house.
"I know. I need someone to make me feel better," he pouted and I just laughed.
"Well, I guess I could help." I pulled his face to meet mine in a heated kiss. We stood there for quite some time just kissing and touching each other.
"Get a room! Some of us don't want to see that," Howie joked and AJ followed him, making a gagging noise.
"You're just jealous because you don't have a girl," Nick smirked and then went back to kissing me. His lips tasted so sweet and they felt so soft against my own lips. I could kiss Nick for hours......ahhh! We broke away from the kiss and we were both soaking wet. AJ and Howie were standing there, holding a bucket and laughing hysterically.
"We thought you both needed to cool down." My eyes widen and anger rose within me.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
"Oh shit," both Howie and AJ said in unison as I started to run after them.
When I finally cornered them in the family room, Nick ran up behind me with a bucket of water balloons.
"I thought these would be fun," Nick said with an evil grin.
"Let's get them." The two guys had a look of horror come to their face as Nick and I bombed them with water balloons. After we ran out of balloons, both AJ and Howie were dripping wet and the room was slightly damp to say the least. Sky walked into the room after obviously hearing the commotion and almost died. She looked at Nick and I then she looked at AJ and Howie.
"What the hell?"
"Don't ask," Howie said shaking his head lightly then he walked away. I turned to Nick and almost fell down laughing in his arms.
"We make a great team, Carter," I said, out of breath.
"You will be cleaning this up. I'm not going to touch this mess!" Sky stated and then left.
"Yes, mother!" I screamed out at her.
Skylar:
I feel like all that I ever do with the guys is run and workout. I mean, I haven't become real friends with anyone besides Brian. I wish that I was better friends with everyone, like Kota is. I'm trying to make the effort to really get to know each guy so that we can be closer. It sounds so corny, but I want that kind of relationship with them.
The next day, I came in the back door, sopping wet from head to toe. I looked into the back room and saw Howie watching t.v.
"Hey, Howie!" I yelled. "Could you grab me a beach towel? There should be some in the closet right there." I said pointing. Howie moseyed over to the closet, picked out a towel, and slowly walked towards me with it. "Hurry up!" I yelled. "I'm freaking cold here!"
A smile crossed Howie's face. "Why didn't you take a towel out with you if you were going for a swim?" he asked, walking slower now.
Standing there in my little two piece swimming suit shivering half to death, I was ready to kill Howie. "I didn't plan on taking a swim, I was walking around and spontaneously decided to go for a swim. It was so nice out and all, but then the wind picked up which is why I'm standing here shivering." Howie looked more amused than sympathetic towards me. "Come on. I'm so cold and I don't want to track water through the house. Please... please give me the towel." I begged.
"Alright, alright, but only because you begged." he said.
"Ugh! I did NOT beg! I merely asked you to bring me a towel. Was that such a gigantic favor to ask from you?" By now, we were kind of enjoying this playful, sarcastic fight.
"Oh, come on, Skylar! You were begging me for it!"
"I was not begging you for anything!" I shouted back.
Just then, Brian walked in. "Is this something that my ears weren't meant to hear?" he asked, almost scared. I looked at Howie and we both cracked a smile.
"Yeah." we said in unison. Then A.J. and Nick walked in. Seeing me standing there dripping wet in a bikini next to Howie, they both wore looks of complete and utter confusion.
"What's this?" Nick asked.
Brian quietly said, "They're having some fun, I guess. When I walked in, they were begging each other for something." The look on all their faces was of classic shock. I realized the joke was just not that funny to me anymore.
"I was trying to get Howie to give me a towel." I said.
"Uh, huh." said A.J. in sarcastic nonbelief. "Is that all it was?"
"I'm walking away." I muttered with a smile as I headed towards the stairs. I looked back at Howie and jokingly said, "Thanks for... everything." With that I walked up the steps leaving the boys laughing hysterically downstairs.
Nick:
"Mail Call!" Kota yelled, walking into the house with a bunch of stuff in her arms. I went up to her and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Anything for me, Baby?" I asked, peeking at the mail in her hands.
"Um....yeah. A few bills and a magazine. Enjoy." She passed out the mail to everyone else and then she went up to her room to take a nap. With my magazine in hand, I walked into the family room where AJ, Kevin, and Howie were all sitting around.
"Hey guys!"
"Hey Frack," Howie greeted and the others quickly did the same.
"Is anyone really doing anything today?" I asked and then flopped down on the couch.
"Nope we're basically bored," AJ said while flipping through a magazine, but then quickly stopped on one of the pages. "Damn! These girls are fine."
"What girls?" Kevin asked.
"These girls in this Gap Ad." AJ set the magazine down on the end table and all the guys gathered around to look at it.
"They are hot! I mean they are just prancing around in bikinis," Nick laughed.
"We should thank the Gap Corporation for this one. That red head has a great body and so does the blonde..." Kevin added.
"Is it just me or does the blonde look familiar?" Howie pointed out.
"Yeah, she does," AJ said in astonishment. We were all silent for a moment and then we all looked at each other in realization.
"Oh my god!" we said in unison.
"Hi guys!" Kota said cheerfully. We all looked at each other and then at her.
"Kota!" we stated at once.
"I...I...I...thought you were taking a nap," I managed to get out while trying to change the subject.
"I couldn't get to sleep. Why are you guys acting strange?"
"Acting strange how?" Howie asked.
"Um it looks like you're hiding something," she pointed behind our backs where we were trying to cover up the magazine.
"We are not!" AJ defended. Kota started to walk around behind us to see what we were hiding. Quickly, she snatched the magazine out of our grasp.
"You were hiding Entertainment Weekly? You guys are strange," she laughed and then walked out onto the porch with the magazine.
"The hot blonde in the ad.....that...that was Kota! That girl is FINE!" AJ exclaimed finally.
"AJ! Keep your eyes in your sockets. She's my girlfriend, Man!" I said with a slightly angry tone.
"Well.....I mean.....you're one lucky guy, Nicky." Howie stated patting me on the back. I knew I was lucky before.....they're just now realizing this? Ignoring their statements of amazement, I walked out onto the porch to talk to Dakota.
"Hi, Baby," I said, sitting next to her.
"What was all that about in there?" she asked with a curious expression and I just merely smiled.
"Oh....they just discovered something that I knew the whole time," I explained and then gave her a sweet kiss on the lips.
"What would that be?"
"Uh...that you're really hot," I said, blushing furiously.
"Why does everyone think that all the sudden?" Kota asked and then started blushing a little herself.
"We saw your modeling Ad in the magazine..."
"Oh my god....It's in this magazine?" she said slightly shocked.
"Yeah..." She quickly flipped through the magazine and put her head in her hands when she saw the picture.
"I can't believe that picture of me is in a national magazine that's on newstands everywhere...."
"What are you worried about? You look drop dead gorgeous in it."
"But you're my boyfriend so you're suppose to think that," Dakota sighed and then an idea dawned on me.
"Come here. This will prove it..." I said grabbing her hand and then we walking back inside where Kevin, Howie, and AJ were still sitting around.
They all just sat there and stared with their mouths practically wide open.
"See..." I pointed out. She smiled a little and then kissed my cheek.
"Thanks for making me feel better."
Brian:
"When I walked in and heard them saying something about begging, I was a little bit taken aback. I mean, I know that they were just joking, but I... I have feelings for Skylar. Real feelings, and I don't want them to get lost in the shuffle of just being friends. I want more than that with her. I want her to... I want her to... I just want her." I let out a frustrated sigh. "So what should I do, Gabe?" I asked my only real girl friend in the world over the phone.
"Well, Brian, I'd go for it." I smiled, thinking it funny that Gabe was just about the only person in the world who actually calls me Brian. That's only because she knew me long before people started calling me B-Rok. Gabe continued, "I mean, you obviously have deep feelings for her. Why not? She probably likes you, too. And if she doesn't, then A: you haven't laid on the charm yet, or 2: she's just stupid. What do you think?" she asked me.
"I don't know, with all of us living here together, she's probably trying to be friends with each of us. But how do I let her know that I want to be more than just friends?" I questioned her.
"Um..." Gabe muttered.
"Come on, Gabe. You're the only person in this world that I can talk to about this. If I told the guys, it would probably find its way back to Skylar. You're the only person I can turn to. Besides, you've been my best friend of the opposite sex since, like, forever. You know what girls, women, like. I just need you to pass a little bit of that knowledge in my direction."
The other line was silent for a moment. "Well, if the only alone time that you can get with her is when you guys are working out or whatever, then start with that. Just let her meet the real you, separate from the smartass you can be when you're with the guys. Take her out some night, just as friends and let it turn into more. Come on, Brian. You've never had any trouble getting the ladies to like you. Why are you so stressed out over this girl?" Gabe asked. I thought about it for a second.
"She's just different. I don't know how to explain it. And, we're already friends, I'm just afraid that she won't want more than that. I mean, I want her to be MY girl, you know?"
"Well I personally think that you are on your way. Just wait for the right moment to make your move. I'm sure that the two of you will "fall together" on your own if this is meant to be," Gabe quickly answered back.
"Thanks, Gabe. I just needed to get all that off my chest. I can't talk to the guys about this, not yet. You're such a great friend to me. What can I do for you? Any guy problems?" I asked.
"Nope. Jeremy and I are still going strong. You should come visit us sometime soon. We'll get the whole gang back together and go clubbing or something. Maybe even bring this girl so that we can meet her." Gabe said.
"We'll see. Hey, I've got to go 'cause we're recording some songs today. So, I'll talk to you later?" I could feel her happy smile across the phone wires.
"You bet, Brian."
"See ya, Gabe." I hung up, feeling happy, too. Maybe this will work out.