"You ok bro?" Brian asked.
"Yeah man, I am now."
"Look Nick I'm really sorry for talking like that in front of you. I mean I should have been more sensitive," AJ apologized.
"That's cool. Just don't ever talk that way about my sister again. At least not in front of me."
"Ok, I promise."
"So, you think of her as your sister now?" Kevin asked.
"Yes, I mean we are blood related. We both came from my dad. So there will be that bond there. I just hope she feels the same way."
"Hey guys, whatcha up to?" Sandrea asked coming through the door with a very shy Leeny.
They all said their hellos. Nick walked up to the girls. First kissing Sandrea hello and then taking Leeny by the hand. "Guys, this is my sister Leeny. Leeny this is Kevin, Howie, Claudia, and Brian. You already know AJ" AJ gave Leeny one of his sexy smiles.
Leeny was a little shocked at Nick's sudden change of heart. She waved to everyone and then gave Nick a sincere smile. He excused them and led her to the kitchen where they could talk.
"Leeny, I'm really sorry for the way I've been acting."
"Nick, really, it's ok. You don't have to…"
"Please, just let me apologize. I do have to. You have been through a lot, and I was just being a selfish, spoiled brat. I should have been more understanding of your situation. After all you are my sister. And even though we haven't known each other for very long, we are still connected. We share a bond that cannot be broken, by distance, because we don't know each other, and not even if we tried to break it. Because we are both Carter's. And I will love you because you are a part of me. Now I hope you agree with me because if not then I just made myself sound like an idiot."
Leeny thought she was about to cry. "Nick that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever told me. You are the best new brother anyone could ever have. I love you too." The two embraced and went back outside together.
"That was so beautiful man," Brian joked with a fake sob.
"You guys were listening?" Nick was astonished.
"Hey, these walls are pretty thin buddy. And you weren't exactly whispering." Brian smiled at Nick. "Besides, you should be proud we heard. It was a very sweet speech. Especially coming from the best new brother anyone could ever have."
This made everyone in the room laugh. Leeny looked at the people in the room. They all seemed so close knit. She hoped she would fit in with them. They were all very friendly and they actually seemed very genuine.
"What do you say we all go out to dinner to celebrate Leeny's arrival?" Kevin suggested.
They all agreed and went to their own houses to get ready.
*Nick's house*
"Leeny can I come in?" Nick asked on the other side of Leeny's bedroom door.
"Sure Nick. I'm decent."
"Wow, you look great." Nick sat on his sister's bed.
"Thanks, I guess I was the one who got the looks between the two of us."
"Whatever! You only look nice because you look like me."
"You wish you looked this good in a skirt!"
"Actually I look quite nice in a skirt thank you very much. You can even ask Brian!"
"I won't even go there," Leeny made a face at Nick and continued putting on her make-up. She was wearing a short black skirt and a zebra print tank with a short black sweater over it.
"So are you wearing the animal print for AJ?" Nick teased.
"No! I happen to like animal prints and it has nothing to do with Mr. McLean."
"Yeah, well apparently you made quite an impression on him. He said some pretty nice things about you."
Leeny raised an eyebrow. "Really, like what?"
"Oh, just some things."
"Nickolas Gene Carter, if you do not tell me exactly what he said…"
"Woohoo! Calm down. Why do you care so much?"
"I don't."
"Excuse me, but when someone starts using my full name, they are pretty serious. Hey how did you know my full name anyway?"
"I'm a teenager. I read magazines. In case you never realized this, you are a world famous star."
"Were you a fan?"
"Maybe."
"Ok, I'll take that as a yes. So who was your favorite?"
Leeny blushed. "I didn't have a favorite."
"Liar! It was AJ wasn't it?"
"Nick if you even think about telling him, I'll…"
"Hey, you’re my sister. I wouldn't do that to you. At least not yet anyway. It's never to early to find stuff to use as blackmail."
Leeny threw a pillow at Nick's head. He smiled. They certainly were two peas in a pod.
*At Claudia's house*
"So what magic words did my beautiful girlfriend use to make Nick change his tune?" Howie asked grabbing her around her waist and bringing her in for a hug.
"I just made him realize that blood is a bond that can not be over seen."
"Why is such a smart and beautiful woman with me?"
"Your just lucky I guess."
*At Kevin's house*
"Bri, are you ready yet? It's almost time to go." Kevin called to his cousin.
"In a second."
Ever since Brian and his girlfriend Leighanne had broken up about four months ago, Brian had been staying with Kevin. He couldn't handle living in the house they lived together in for two years. He was in the process of buying another house.
Kevin sat on his couch watching TV. He sighed thinking of how lonely he'd been. He was dating a lot but he really wished he'd find the right girl for him. He wasn't as young as he used to be. He wanted to settle down already. But he wasn't going to fall for just any body. Especially not after what he'd been through in the past.