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Then and Now Chapter 17 Nick sat on the grass watching some of the group play basketball. He watched Brian make a jump shot and Lis hifive him. Nick laid back in the grass and closed his eyes. "Whats wrong Nicky?" Aimee asked, sitting down beside him. He opened one eye and looked at his best friend. "Have you ever felt that you had made the biggest mistake of your life?" "Didn't I date you once?" she teased. "Aim, I'm being serious." he pouted. "Sorry Frack. What happened?" He closed his eyes again and just laid there for a few minutes before answering her. "I told Lis something that I don't exactly think I should have said." "Oh god, what did you say?" Aimee asked, not sure she wanted to know the answer. Nick squinted up at the sky before answering. "Its kind of a long story." Aimee laid down in the grass beside him. "I don't exactly have anywhere I have to be." she smiled and looked at him. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Nine years ago, well our parents rented this big cabin together. Since we were the two oldest kids we got to look after the others. Anyways this one night, our parents had gone to the movies and it started storming." he looked at Aimee to see if she was paying attention, she was so he continued. "Lis and I were the only ones up and we were playing with the oujia board and uh well I asked it who I belonged with and it said Lis. I always told her I made it say that but I didn't." "So that's the biggest mistake of your life?" Aimee asked confused. Nick wrinkled his forehead. "No the biggest mistake I made was telling Lis the night we arrived her she was the missing piece in my life; the part that I'd been missing since we moved to Florida and ever since she came back into it she's all I think of." Aimee opened her mouth then closed it. She had no idea what to say. "That would do it." she said finally. "That's why she's been avoiding me." Nick looked back where the group was playing basketball. His eyes stayed on Lis, just wishing she'd give him another chance.Hannah walked along the beach. The basketball came had just broken up and she wanted some time to herself, to reflect on things. She picked up a stone from the sand and threw it in the lake watching the ripples it caused. A pair of arms wrapped around her waist. "Ah!" she yelled. "Jeez Han, nice set of lungs." Brian said, turning her around to face him. She smiled. "Thanks. What are you doing here?" "I saw you walk away from the cabin and thought I'd follow." his blue eyes twinkled as he spoke. Han couldn't escape the feeling of happiness everytime she looked in them, it was almost as if she could lose herself in them. "Just came to get some air, walk, you know boring stuff." she said, starting to walk. Brian walked along beside her. "This is definitly a nice place to walk." he said looking around, the beach was surprisingly secluded. Hannah sat down and watched him sit next to her. She smiled at him, there was so much she wanted to say sometimes but she just could never find the words or the right time. No one had ever made her feel the way he did. Lis took a drink out of the fridge and sat down at the counter. Everyone else was outside enjoying the sunshine. She opened the top of her water and took a sip, not noticing a figure standing in the doorway. "Hey!" AJ said, walking into the kitchen at last. "Oh hi Bone." Krys walked in a second later, beach ball in hand. "Hey guys, hiding out from the volleyball game?" Lis raised an eyebrow. "Volleyball?" "Something about the fresh air turns the Backstreet Boys into athletic, competitive people." Krys said, sitting across from Lis. AJ tossed his girlfriend a drink and sat down. "So how's the vacation going Lis?" "What is this a double interrogation?" she asked, laughing slightly. Krys hit AJ in the arm. "Don't mind him he's just a very wacked individual." AJ raised an eyebrow. "And you would be what?" Krys shot him a dirty look and grinned. "Why don't you go away AJ? Here take the guys the ball!" she tossed it at him, hitting him right in the forehed. "That'll give me a concussion. Later chicas!" AJ stood up and walked out the patio door. Lis went back to peeling the wrapper off her water bottle, trying to ignore the fact Krys was watching her. "So whats going on?" Krys asked, taking a drink of her water. "Nothing." "Then why are you and Nick avoiding each other?" Lis shrugged. "Oh come off it and spill. We're all friends." "I know that its just something stupid." "Well that's a new description of Nicky." Krys laughed and looked out the patio doors, seeing the start of the volleyball game. Lis shook her head and laughed. "Its just he said something and I guess I just can't deal with it right now." "He told you how he felt huh?" Krys asked knowingly. "Man does everyone know?" "No I just kinda figured. Did you tell him how you feel?" Lis looked out the window at the guys, her eyes on Nick. "Honestly I don't know how I feel." Hannah picked up a handful of sand and let it run through her fingers. "Having fun?" Brian asked laughing. Han looked down at her hand then at Brian. "Ha ha ha. I always do that when I'm at the beach." "Oh really?" Brian took her hand in his and kissed it. He pulled her closer to him, and gave her a barely touching hug. Han raised an eyebrow. "What was that?" "A hug." Bri beamed. "A hug?" He nodded. "See." he did it again, this time whispering "touch" and giggling. Han shook her head and copied him, wrapping her arms lightly around his neck. "This is your new way of hugging?" Brian made a thinking face and pulled her on top of him. "I'd say yep." he grinned and kissed her slowly. A minute later, sand was being pored on them. "What the hell?" Brian asked, as Han rolled off him. He looked over to see Ang running across the beach. Han sat up, brushing the sand off her. "What was that about?" Brian shrugged. "Guess I'll go find out." He stood up and helped Han to her feet. "Would you mind...?" "Go!" Han said, and watched him jog off down the beach. She'd been right, Ang didn't like her. Right there she made the decision, she just hoped everyone would be able to live with it. With a sigh she headed towards the cabin. Ang ran up the side path and into her cabin. She hadn't realized she was jealous until she saw Han and Bri on the beach kissing. Without looking she knew Bri was coming after her. She went upstairs to her room and locked the door, this was the one time when her best friend couldn't help her. Nina sat next to Jenn on the stairs, watching Kev, Nick and D play a game of volleyball. Nina glanced at the house. "Did you see Ang go by?" she asked. Jenn nodded. "I did. But from the looks of things I think she wants to be alone." "And here I thought this was a simple vacation, not a soap opera." Nina said leaning back against the stairs. Jenn laughed and watched Brian come through the back gate. "Ang?" he asked simply. "Inside. B I think she wants to be alone." Jenn said, trying to stop him. He shook his head. "She may want to be, but she isn't going to be. I need an explanation." Nina looked at him. He couldn't be that blind could he? "I think you all ready know it." Brian sighed. "Look I'm going in to see my best friend all right?" he hopped over the railing and went inside. Next: Chapter 18 |