Ali woke up and padded into the living room where she found Izzy already awake.
    “What time is it?”
    “8 again. Ya know, this is really starting to bug. It’s too early to be awake. The guys aren’t up even.”
    “It’s a wonder how guys can sleep so late.”
    “What time are we supposed to be at Nick’s?”
    “Around 1:00 because it’s more of a dinner type thing and fun.”
    “That gives us 5 hours and we are up?! What the hell are we on?”
    “I’d prefer to say drugs.”
    Izzy laughed. “Help me find a bikini to wear for this barbecue.”
    “Girl you better help me find something too!”
    What seemed like an easy task wasn’t. They both spent 2 and a half-hours going through all their bikinis. They finally found something to wear along with an outfit to go over it.
    “Shit we better start getting ready knowing it takes you 2 hours to,” Izzy joked.
    Ali glared at Izzy and they both started to get ready. Surely enough 2 hours later, Ali was finally ready. They both raced into the car and drove off to Nick’s house.
    “You dork, you were supposed to have taken a right,” Izzy exclaimed.
    “Well, if you told me more in advance, I wouldn’t have screwed us up.” Ali turned around and went back the way she was supposed to.
    “Gosh you on PMS or something?”
    “No, I’m just stressed out.”
    “Seeing AJ again does that to you.”
    Ali parked the car and they both got out. They walked up the stairs and stood on the little porch.
    “Well, here’s goes nothin,” Izzy said and rang the doorbell.
    “Hey ladies,” Howie said as he opened the door. “How are you two doing?”
    “Actually, we are ok,” Ali said as both she and Izzy walked inside. The smell of the grill and the laughter of the guys was contagious. The girls set their stuff down and went out to the patio with Howie.
    “Hey look who showed up,” Howie said to the other guys. The chatter soon stopped as they noticed Izzy and Ali standing at the patio doorway. They couldn’t stop staring at what the girls were wearing. Ali was wearing a spaghetti strapped tank top over her bikini top, with short black jean shorts. Izzy was wearing her bikini top, which barely covered up much, and short blue jean shorts.
    AJ stared at Ali for a long moment. He had forgotten how good she looked in clothes like that. He then remembered what she did to him and got a disgusted look on his face. Brian, had a similar look upon his face as well. He too was mesmerized by Izzy, but then came to his senses.
    “Uh, so anyway, let’s get this barbecue started,” Nick said and went over to the grill.
    “They don’t look happy,” Ali whispered into Izzy’s ear.
    “No they don’t. They look disgusted that we showed up.”
    Just then Howie grabbed Ali’s hand. “Come on let’s play poker with Kevin.”
    Izzy laughed as Howie was pulling Ali to the poker game. Brian went to go get something to eat and walked behind Izzy.
    “Nice outfit you are wearing Izzy,” he said his voice filled with sarcasm. “Which one of us were you trying to lure into your little trap now?”
    Izzy turned around as Brian walked away. She felt like a whore now in her outfit. One comment was all it took for her to feel like the dirt people walk on.
     “Hey don’t feel so bad,” Nick gently told her noticing the change in her demeanor. “He’s just taking his anger out on you. Try to have a good time despite him ok?
    Izzy smiled. “Thanks Nick.”
    Ali, on the other hand, was having a blast playing poker. She seemed to be winning most of the hands, and she hadn’t played that many times.
    “Flush I beat you guys,” Ali grinned at them.
    Kevin groaned. “Now I remember why I hate poker so much.”
    “Hey be glad this isn’t strip poker, cause everything would be long gone for us,” Howie pointed out.
    AJ, who had been close by, walked over to them. “Well, Ali doesn’t really need a reason to strip. She did it for a living. Knowing her, she’ll do it for free.”
    Ali’s mouth hung open in utter shock. Kevin and Howie shifted uncomfortably in the silence that followed.
    “Well, gotta go,” AJ said and scooted away from them.
    Ali glared at his retreating figure. “I know I deserve some things, but that went a little too far.”
    “That’s AJ for you,” Howie quietly said. “Being tactful was always his style.”
    “And being forgiving obviously isn’t.”
    “What happened? Obviously he is upset that you guys left without saying goodbye or anything. Why did you do it?”
    “It’s a long story. Something I don’t really want to get into at the moment.”
    Kevin nodded. “Understandable.”
    “Guys the hamburgers are done,” Nick shouted.
    Ali, Kevin and Howie all went over to the grill where hamburgers were being set down for those who wanted it.
    Izzy smiled at Ali as she walked over. “Have a good time?”
    “For the most part.”
    Ali took her hamburger and sat down at the edge of the pool with Izzy beside her. As she began to eat, AJ walked over by them two again.
    “Awww how cute. The two little sluts sitting beside each other. What a pair,” AJ said with a snarl.
    “That’s it! I’ve had enough of this bullshit,” Izzy said and stomped off inside.
    “Gee all it took was calling her a slut to make her leave. I wonder what it takes to make you leave too.”
    “Look I’ve had enough of yours and Brian’s little snide comments. We are here as guests and we’d appreciate if you showed us a little common courtesy.” Ali tried to keep her cool towards AJ.
    “Courtesy? This is coming from a whore who screws with men just to get her kicks.”
    Ali stood up. She was tired of the insults, the glares, everything. “You fucking asshole!” She then shoved AJ into the pool.
    Everyone turned to look at Ali amazed at what she did. Izzy ran outside as soon as she heard Ali yell.
    “What the hell happened Ali,” Izzy asked.
    “That bastard crossed the line. I may have left that night and live to regret it, but I am not a whore nor am I screwing men just for the hell of it.”
    AJ slowly climbed outta the pool and went to get a towel. Brian stood from over by the patio door glowering.
    “Well what do you expect us to think,” Brian growled out. “You both screw us and then leave. No I’m leaving letter; no I hate you, no thanks for the good times. Nothing.”
    “Neither of us expected to be treated like shit.” Izzy sighed. “We expect some decency from one human being to another. We have our reasons why we did what we did. It’s not like we didn’t care.”
    “Could’ve fooled me.”
    “All of you shut up,” Howie quietly spoke up. Everyone turned to face him. Quiet, mild mannered Howie was finally telling everyone what he thought. “Look it’s obvious you guys need to talk. Personally, Brian and AJ, I’m sick of you guys moping around and being moody.” He pointed into the recreational room. “All of you in there. You aren’t leaving until you guys at least have forgiven each other.”
    Ali stomped off to the room Izzy not too far behind her. AJ and Brian followed shortly. As soon as all four of them were inside, Howie shut and locked the door. It was just the four of them.