Chapter 18

(written by Lacy)

"You really are slow, you know that, don't you?" Jade teased as she ducked around the trunk of a palm tree and Nick tried to grab her. "Oh, you're really gonna get it now," Nick said, jumping over the hammock; surprising Jade, and grabbing her around the waist. "Aaahhh!" she screamed as he picked her up in his arms; holding her like a baby. "Not so tough now, are you?" he asked as she tightened her hold on his neck. "You cheat," she said, trying to take advantage of the moment in catching her breath. "I cheat? Me? Nickolas Gene Carter? I don't think so," he said, walking towards the dock. "What are you doing?" she asked, turning her head around quickly to see where he was taking her. "No!!!" she screamed when she realized where they were headed, making Nick laugh even harder. "See?" he said as he held her over the water, "This is cheating." "Nick, I swear to God, if you dump me in this water then you're coming with me!" Jade threatened. Nick just smiled.

"Is that a promise?" he whispered in her ear, causing her to turn her head quickly and meet his lips with hers. Jade froze in shock as she realized what was happening; she didn't mean to kiss him, it just... happened. "Maybe you should put me down before you drop me," she whispered as they pulled apart and she could feel his arms shaking. "No, I won't drop you," he said, "The wind's just cold." Jade shivered as she realized just how cold it was really getting and sighed in relief as Nick carried her away from the freezing cold blackness of the water and toward her hammock. It wasn't actually "her" hammock, she had just dubbed it that because it was the one place she knew of that made her feel as if she didn't have the weight of the world on her shoulders. She felt as if she was flying each time she layed in it; whether it was swinging or not.

"Maybe I should go inside and get a sweater," Jade said as Nick layed her down on the hammock and she felt the cold breeze going through the thin fabric of her shirt. "Don't bother," he said as he layed down beside her, "I'll keep you warm." Jade just gave him a little smile and giggled nervously as his arms made their way around her. "Um, Nick..." Jade's voice trailed off. "What?" Nick asked, hearing the tightness in her voice and withdrawing his arm. "I really don't... um... I mean... Nick, I'm sorry," she said. "Sorry? for what? You haven't done anything to be sorry for," he said. "No, I have. I think I've given you the wrong impression," she said, looking up at him. "Oh. I see," he said, turning his face from hers and looking up at the sky.

"No, you don't see," she said, desperately trying to make him understand. "I do find you attractive Nick, but I like someone else." Nick turned back around to look at her. "Someone else?" he asked. "Yes. I'm so sorry Nick... I didn't mean to lead you on in anyway... can we still be friends?" she asked. She really didn't want him to be made at her for the way she had been acting. Nick looked at her with a shocked expression on his face. "Of course. Jade, I'm not mad at you. You can't help who you like. I'm glad we can be friends, that's all I really want," he said, giving her a half-smile. I'm lying between my teeth, but I guess if friends is what she wants, then I'm gonna have to live with it, he thought to himself. "So, do I know this guy?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood. Jade just laughed and tickled him. He smiled in contentment and put a friendly arm around her shoulders... after all, it WAS still cold out.....

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"They look comfortable," Brian said, looking down at Nick and Jade laying together in the hammock. Jess looked over the edge of the balcony and sighed when she saw what he was oagling over. "What was that sigh for?" he asked, sitting down on the cold metal across from her. "What sigh?" Jess asked, putting her journal aside. Brian just looked at her. "Okay, okay. It's just that... Jade... she... I dunno," Jess stamered, pulling on the arms of her sweater and not meeting his eyes.

"Jade... what?" Brian pushed, wanting to know what made this girl so uncomfortable. "She's just so slutty!" Jess broke, making Brian almost fall backwards in shock. Jess' eyes grew wide and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh my God," Jess said, tears quickly filling her eyes, "Tell me I didn't just say that." "I wish I could," Brian said, looking down at the ground beneath them, "But I don't think that's what you have to worry about." Jess got up and looked over the edge of the balcony to see what he was looking at. She gasped as her tear-filled eyes met with those of her best friend's. There stood Nick on the patio with a bewildered expression on his face as Jade stood next to him, looking up at Jess with a shocked expression on her face and eyes full of hurt. "Oh shit," was the last thing Jess said before Jade spun around and took off running as fast as she could.

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