"Basketball?" Nick said his face lighting up. "Excuse me," he said kissing Crystal on the cheek and jogging off.
"Boys," Crystal said shaking her head.
Kyndall laughed. "Yes, well, Catlyn is almost as bad as a boy when it comes to that game," she said shaking her head.
"So tell us a little about yourself," Leighanne smiled at Kyndall.
"What would you like to know?" she asked.
"Well, where you're from, what you do, how you met the boys."
"Okay, well. I'm 25 years old. I'm originally from Oklahoma, but I moved down here about two months ago. I really don't have a job right now. I'm kind of living off my savings until I get completely settled here. Umm…and I met AJ and Howie at a club a couple of weeks after I moved down here," she said smiling over at Howie.
"That was you," Miranda exclaimed. "I knew I recognized you. You were at the club that night. You knew who I was."
Kyndall nodded slowly, looking over at Miranda. "Yes. That was me," she said quietly.
"Hmm…" she said thoughtfully staring at Kyndall.
"Are you a big fan of the Boys?" Shawna asked moving so that Kevin could get up and go check on the food.
Kyndall shrugged. "I guess. I don't listen to them a lot," she replied.
Shawna nodded. "Yeah. I wasn't too keen on their music either. I'm more of a country type chick."
"That's because you're a hick," Miranda said snidely.
Shawna glared at Miranda. Crystal sighed. "Come on ya'll. We don't need to be fighting in front of the guests."
"Yeah," AJ said looking at Miranda. "Just chill out."
"What?!" Miranda exclaimed. "I didn't do anything." She looked at AJ who had a disgusted look on his face. Crossing her arms, she stood up and walked away, pouting. Shawna shook her head and sighed.
Crystal looked over at Kyndall and smiled. "I'm sorry about that. As you can see, some of us don't get along too well."
"Well, SHE doesn't get along with US too well," Shawna mumbled. "I'm sorry AJ, but that chick of yours is going to get her ass kicked one of these days."
"Oh Lord," Kevin said sitting down. "Randa and Shawna at it again?" he asked recognizing the expression on his girlfriend's face.
AJ sighed. "Yeah. Miranda had to open her mouth." Looking over at Kyndall he smiled softly. "I'm sorry about that."
She shrugged and looked away as she realized she had been staring. "It's okay." Leighanne looked at the two of the thoughtfully, taking note of the look that passed between them. She looked over at Howie who just shook his head. Nodding in understanding, she looked away.
"So, what else do we have planned for this evening?" Howie asked looking around the table.
"Well, we have some movies and stuff that we're planning on watching if everyone can agree on one. We also thought we'd play pool or something," Crystal answered.
AJ grinned. "Pool? Groovy," he said.
Kevin stood up, walking back over to the grill. "Hey Leighanne, wanna go get your boy and tell him that the food is ready?"
"Sure," she said standing up and walking towards the house. Crystal stood up and followed going to get Nick. Shawna joined Kevin at the grill, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
Howie smiled. "I'm going to go get some drinks. Ya'll want anything?"
"Ummm…a beer," AJ answered.
"A soda," Kyndall smiled at him. Howie nodded and walked towards the house. "Thanks for the presents," she said softly once they were alone.
"The…presents? Oh," AJ smiled. "No need to thank me. Something I wanted to do."
"Yes, well. It was very sweet of you," she said looking at him.
"Nothing you didn't deserve," he said softly staring into her eyes. "Do you think that perhaps we could --"
"AJ!!" Miranda called from the house. "Could you come here for a second?"
AJ sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said standing up and walking towards the house.
"Me too," Kyndall murmured watching him walk away.
"Wow," Brian grinned at Catlyn. "You're really good at this."
"Go ahead and say it," she teased.
"Say what?" He asked looking at her.
"For a girl. I'm really good at this for a girl," she smiled at him.
"Well, now that you mention it," he winked at her.
"Hey guys!" Nick exclaimed walking over.
"Hey Frack. Ready to get killed?" Brian asked, his ever present grin plastered on his face.
"Killed? By you?" Nick laughed. "Yeah right. Just give me the ball and give up now," he said.
"Not by me," Brian said shaking his head. "By her," he pointed at Catlyn.
"There's no way a chick can beat me at basketball," Nick said haughtily.
"Wanna place a wager on that?" Catlyn asked with a smirk.
"Sure, what'cha got?" Nick asked looking at her with interest.
"Hmm…you win, I take you out anywhere you wanna go. I win, you take me," she grinned.
"Okay," he nodded. "That seems fair."
"Allrighty then," Brian said. "To 20 then?"
"To twenty," Nick and Catlyn said at the same time. Grinning at each other, they got into jump position as Brian tossed the ball in the air. Catlyn hit the ball away from Nick, jogging over and taking possession.
"Dammit," Nick grumbled.
"Dude, she's like a foot shorter than you," Brian teased.
"Shut up BRok."
Nick and Catlyn played a close game, their styles surprisingly very similar. Catlyn was a little quicker than he was, making it easy for her to move past him. Nick was taller than she was, making it easier for him to shoot over her or to block her shots. They were both extremely competitive, giving the game all they had.
By the time they hit 20, the game was tied. "Well, that's interesting," Brian said looking from Nick to Catlyn and back again. "Game point," he said as once again they took a defensive position across from each other. This time it was Nick who got possession of the ball. Driving to the basket for a lay-up, he bricked it. "Dammit," he growled as he watched Catlyn take it back.
"Awww. Poor Nicky. Gonna lose to a girl," she teased. Dribbling around him, she stopped right under the basket, tossing it up and missing on purpose.
"Why'd you do that?" Brian asked blinking in confusion.
Catlyn shrugged. "Just a game. Didn't mean anything," she smiled and started walking off.
Nick ran over and stopped her. "Does this mean we aren't going to go out?" he asked. "Hey Leigh," he said as she walked by.
"Hey Nick. Time to eat," she smiled. "You must be Catlyn. I'm Leighanne," she said.
"Hello," Catlyn smiled. "Brian is over there shooting," she pointed.
"Thanks hon," she said walking off.
"Going out?" Catlyn asked looking at Nick.
"Yeah," he grinned as they walked back inside.
"I don't know," she said softly. "We'll talk later." She waved to him and walked over to the table where Kyndall and AJ were talking.
