It was about half and hour later, and AJ and I were just sitting on the side of the shallow end of his pool, with our feet just dangling in the cool water. We were deep into conversation. I had told AJ about my parents fighting. I felt like crying as I talked about it. I did love my parents, I just hated that they were always fighting. AJ told me that maybe it was better for them to split up, then I woouldn't have to see and hear them fight anymore. And as much I didn't want to, I knew AJ was right. I also knew that AJ would be able to help me, because his parents got divorced when he was quite young, and he knows what I'm feeling. We talked about it for a long time, and it was good because I knew that AJ knew what I was going through. And AJ knew that I knew what he went through years ago.

I did feel kind of bad telling AJ, since I hadn't even told Nick yet. But I knew Nick wouldn't understand, and I knew that AJ did.

All of a sudden the patio door opened and Nick stepped out. I quickly wiped at my eyes, wiping away the remaining tears in my eyes.

"Oh here you two are, we've been searching the whole house for you." Nick laughed. "What are you doing out here?"

"Talking." he both replied in unison.

Nick shot me a look that said, What's he doing? I guess he saw the tears still in my eyes, and thought something was wrong. I wiped my face again. Then I shook my head "no" at him, and told him out loud,

"Nick, we're just talking. We haven't seen each other in a long time, we're just catching up on each other."

Nick then thought to himself, I haven't seen you in a long time, either, why aren't I catching up with you? He wanted to ask me out loud, but took a deep breath and held it in. Instead, he just finished, "Fine, uh, just, uh, come in soon, we're watching a movie, ok?"

I nodded and silently told Nick I was alright. After he finally went inside again, I turned back to AJ, leaned over and hugged him. After I pulled away, I saw a shocked look on his face.

"What was that for?" he asked me with a chuckle.

"Nothing. Just for being here for me to talk to. And for not trying to make a move on me, just letting me talk, and listening to me... thank you." I told him quietly.

"Well honey, you're welcome. The guys might think that I'm not trustworthy, and I'm not a good friend, but really I am." he said modestly. I shook my head in agreement. "So, you wanna go in there and watch that movie with the guys?" he asked me after a few seconds.

"Sure." I replied happily. AJ stood up, and then helped me up carefully. Then he took ahold of my hand and walked inside.

As we walked into the room where the guys were still sitting, me and AJ were still holding hands. Nick looked at us and got the wrong idea. But he didn't say anything. He just got this upset look on his face, and then it just became sad. Although, I didn't even look at Nick. I just sat down next to AJ on the open couch, and let him wrap his arm around me. Then Nick put in the movie. We watched Scream 2, and even though I'd already seen it a million times, I still get terrified every time I see it. So by the time the movie was over (it was about 8pm), I was basically hugging AJ. But I wasn't hugging him because it was him, and I wanted to, it was because I was scared. But Nick looked over and saw AJ with his arms around me, and he gave me a dirty look. AJ just shrugged and loosened his grip on me. Nick sat there, next to Howie, for a few minutes. Then he remembered about his little slumber party with Aaron. So he stood up and looked back at me.

"Avery, we should get going, ok? I have to get home and hang-out with my little brother." he laughed. I smiled at him. Nick and Aaron had always been close. They used to leave me, BJ, Leslie, and Angel out, when they played 'boy games', when we were little.

"Avery, earth to Avery." Nick called to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turned my head to look at Nick.

"Yeah, ok Nick." I said to him. Then I turned back to AJ, lowered my voice and said, "Thanks again, Mr. McLean." He chuckled and replied,

"Thank you, for the company of your presence." I giggled at him, right before I stood up. But he pulled me back down, pulled me closer, and gave me a small kiss on my cheek. I blushed and turned back to Nick, hoping me hadn't seen that. But he did.

"Ok, guys, it was nice seeing you all again, and I hope I get to hang-out with you again before you go back touring." I turned to Howie, Kevin and Brian, and told them. They each stepped forward and gave me and hug, and said their "see ya" s. I turned back to AJ once again, and smiled, right before I followed Nick out the front door, closing it behind me. Then the two of us got into Nick's truck again, and started driving back home, to Ruskin.

We had been driving for about half an hour (it took about one hour to get home) and neither of us had been talking at all. I had tried to talk to Nick, but he just ignored me. I knew he was was mad at me, but I wasn't sure why. I was pretty sure it had something to do with AJ, though.

"Nick, why are you so pissed at me?" I asked him, trying to sound upset with him. But I wasn't. I could never get mad at him.

Nick finally turned his head towards me, and said plainly,

"What's up with you and AJ?"