A very interesting morning, to say the least. Well, I'm just happy that every one's getting along now (with the exception of two). Some people (::cough:: Justin ::cough::) decided to be as stubborn as a mule. Don't worry, we put them in their place. Well, not really. The guys needed more/better people for their volleyball team. If you learn one thing in life, let this be it: GIRLS RULE!! It's a very valuable lesson. Let me tell you why.
Justin and I were testing the tennis nets, to see if they'd hold, while everyone else was helping out with the tables and food. It was 10:15 am. People would start arriving around 10:30.
"Now, I'm no pro," I said as Justin hit his fourth serve in a row into the net, "but I'm pretty sure the ball is supposed to go over the net."
"Shut up!" he said, frustrated. He tried serving one more time, and the ball hit the net yet again. He hunched over in defeat as I laughed. "I give up!"
"It's okay," I said, going over and patting him on the back. "Look on the bright side. At least we know the net works!" He tried to hit me, but I ducked out of the way. We walked out of the courts and down the small hill to where everyone was relaxing. Brian had struck up a conversation with AJ, Rachel, Joey, and JC, Howie was being taught a hand game by Jamie (don't ask, she's strange), and Chris, Lance, Joanne, and Maribeth were still flipping burgers. Bob came up with a few other people and whistled to get our attention.
"Thanks, you guys, but we'll take over now," he said. "Go relax before everyone gets here." He turned to AJ, Howie, and Brian. "You guys are on "C" dock, right?"
"Yeah," they said in unison.
"Then I suggest you guys rest up for the volleyball tournament. Not to put you guys on the spot or anything, but I know a lot of people who want to see if you get creamed by the girls like the other 'Hot-Stuff Pop Group' did last year and every year before that," Bob said, throwing N'Sync a smart-*ss glance. "It'll be interesting to see if, together, you guys can beat them," he turned to the girls, "our very own "G" dock champions!" He high-fived all of us.
"Bob's from "G" dock," I explained to the three BSB. "He was just egging you on."
AJ looked at all the guys. "We can beat them, right guys?"
"Yeah," JC said. I gave him a look that clearly stated who had won last year (obviously not them). "We just let you win last year."
"And all those years before that?" I asked. "How generous of you."
"We'll beat you this year," Chris said. "I can feel it."
"Then I guess it's a 'Battle of the Sexes'," I said, rubbing my hands together. "Interesting."
"It shouldn't be too hard," Maribeth said, eyeing the guys up and down. "They seem pretty weak."
"Pretty weak!" AJ exclaimed. He walked up to Maribeth so they were face-to-face. "You have anything to back that up?"
"Yeah," Maribeth said, stepping up so their faces were maybe inches apart.
"Okay, you two lovebirds," Howie intervened. "Break it up."
"Yeah, solve it on the court," Jamie said.
At this point, yacht club member started coming rapidly. By the time everyone arrived, the hill was pretty packed. The table were filled with people eating and some were even on the grass.
Maribeth and I asked Bob if there was anything he needed us to do. He said "No, but if I think of anything I'll yell."
"Okay," we said. We walked over to the little hill that led to the tennis courts and laid down on the grass. We just watched the sky for a few moments before Maribeth decided to break the "silence."
"It's amazing," she said.
"What is?" I asked, turning onto my side to look at her.
"The fact that every one's getting along," she said, sitting up and wrapping her arms around her knees. I sat up as she motioned to our group. Everyone was standing there eating and chattering away. They were having a blast. "They're all getting along so well. It's like last night didn't even happen."
"It is pretty amazing, but, unfortunately, that's not everyone," I said, sighing. We both lay back down facing each other to continue our conversation. "Why do Nick and Kevin have to be so stubborn? I just hope there's something we can do about it."
"Me, too," Maribeth said.
"There's nothing you can do." Maribeth and I looked down the hill to see Brian and AJ walking up it. Brian laid down beside me and put his head on my shoulder and his arm around my waist. AJ laid down next to Maribeth and placed his chin on her shoulder. Brian continued. "When Kevin makes up his mind, there's nothing anyone can do to change it. We're just going to have to wait for him to come to his senses."
"What about Nick?" Maribeth asked.
"Nick's still maturing," AJ stated. "He's bound to be irrational. He'll probably get sick of Kevin soon and go off on his own."
"We should just let them be for now," Brian said. He sighed deeply and I knew he was just as upset about this as I was. Probably even more. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek to show him I cared. He smiled at me.
When I looked at Maribeth, she was eyeing me and Brian.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," she said. "It's just that with both of you facing the sun both of your eyes are a gorgeous shade of bright-blue. You guys look so perfect together."
Without moving, and maybe even with moving, you look like the perfect magazine couple," AJ chimed in. I giggled embarrassed. Brian just smiled and tightened his hold on me.
I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply. When I opened them, I took a good look at Maribeth and AJ. They looked so happy together.
"So, what's going on between you two?" I had to ask.
"What do you mean?" Maribeth said, confused.
"I mean, are you gonna go out or what? It's kind of obvious that you both want to," I said.
"I think AJ's too chicken to ask her out." Brian whispered in my ear, but it was purposely loud enough for them to overhear.
AJ, getting an embarrassed look on his face, thought for a moment, then turned his head towards Maribeth. "Well, what do ya say?" He asked. "Will you go out with me?"
Before Maribeth answered, I jumped in, saying sarcastically, "Oh, very formal AJ. Very nice."
Taking that as a challenge, he got up and went down on one knee in front of Maribeth, who burst out laughing at the sight. He took her hand in both of his. "I would be honored," he said, "if you would be my girlfriend."
"I'd love to be your girlfriend, AJ," Maribeth managed to say through her giggling. Brian and I laughed at Maribeth, who was almost rolling with laughter. AJ kissed her hand and she stopped immediately in surprise. I stopped laughing and raised an eyebrow. Wow! I thought. Talk about romantic!
Brian saw my look. I immediately felt bad. Then he grabbed my hand and kissed it, just so I didn't feel left out. It was such a sweet gesture that I turned my head and kissed him lightly on the lips. (PDA Alert! . . . Wait, who cares? I'm happy!)
"Eww!" AJ said, covering his eyes. "Gross!"
After Maribeth had settled down and AJ sat down next to her again, we started talking. JC, Lance, Chris, Joey, Justin, Howie, Jamie, Rachel, and Joanne all came over to join in our conversation. I immediately made an announcement.
"Guess who's going out!" I said excitedly to all of them.
"Umm . . . you and Brian?" Jamie guessed.
"Besides us!" I said, rolling my eyes.
"Me and AJ," Maribeth said, giddily.
"Really?" Joey said. "Congratz!"
"I didn't even tell you who, yet," I said, raising an eyebrow at him. He just shrugged. "Anyway, it's AJ and Maribeth."
"Always going for the weird ones," Chris said. Rachel, Joanne, and Bob (who was just passing by and did it completely out of reflex) all slapped him on the back of the head at the same time. He groaned, but shut up.
"Hey," Justin said to Brian and AJ. "You guys had better take care of these ladies. They're pretty special."
"We know," Brian said, looking at me in such a way that made my heart melt, "and we will."
"Good, because I don't want to have to kick your butts!" Justin said. I laughed and kicked him lightly so he fell backwards onto Lance, who pushed him off so he sprawled onto the grass.
"Now, where have I seen that before?" Chris pondered, jokingly. Maribeth, Rachel, JC, Joey, Lance, Chris, and I all laughed. Everyone else looked at us confused.
"Inside joke," I said.
"Ah," AJ said.
At that moment, Bob came back over and made an announcement to the group.
"The volleyball game will be first, followed by the tennis matches. You might wanna start getting set up now. It'll be about a half-hour before they start," he said.
"Okay, thanks," I said. He walked back to the grill to put on some more burgers
"Well, we'd better go get everything ready," Chris said. Maribeth, AJ, Brian, and I reluctantly moved away from each other in order to get up. Justin gave me and Maribeth a hand while Brian got a hand from Chris and AJ got a hand from Howie. Brian took hold of my hand and we went up the hill to get everything ready for the game.