Everyone piled out of the cars and walked up the front walkway to Kevin's house. Kristen pulled it open before anyone could knock and welcomed them in. "Everyone's out back so far, food's there to as well. Help yourselves to anything, you all know the drill."
"Is everyone here?," Nick asked closing the door behind him.
Kristen shook her head, "Nope, Bri and LeighAnne aren't yet but they should be soon and AJ is running late but Amanda's here."
"Cool.."
Everyone walked through the house and out the back. Kristy looped her arm through Malia's and the two made their way over to some lounge chairs, waving at people as they went. They sat down and Kristy pulled her hair off the back of her neck and grinned, "This is the life."
Malia smiled, "Yep...sure is."
"I can't believe you don't wanna date Nick..he's fine!"
"Duhh Kristy. But I know exactly what'd happen if we ever dated."
"What?"
"The industry would eat us alive as would his fans. They already think we're dating and some hate me!"
"Not a whole lot though.."
Malia sighed and watched as Kevin playfully shoved Nick into the pool, much to everyone's amusement. She smiled as Nick surfaced and brushed his hair out of his face and threatened Kevin jokingly. "I know most of his fans like me and all that...but I know even MORE would hate me if I dated him."
Kristy sighed, "Well..I can't tell you what to do or what not to do but I'm thinking it's a shame you don't want to date someone."
"Kristy...I love him to death, he's one of my best friends in the whole world and I pretty much am indebted to him for all eternity; he did help me break into the business, he gave me the push I needed. I just don't want to ruin that friendship with a bigger step into a romance. He's cute and he's the perfect guy, but think about it Kristy, I'm way too busy right now to even think about having a boyfriend."
"True..and I understand that. Just think about it..k?"
Malia nodded, "I'm gonna have to."
Kristy stood up and slipped on her flip flops, "I'm gonna get something to drink, want anything?"
"Would you get me a coke or something please?"
"Sure..I'll be back girl."
"Okay."
Nick watched as Mike and Matt raced one another down the length of the pool. He saw Kristy head inside the house and his eyes wandered over to Malia, who was sitting by herself staring out into space. She had taken off her t-shirt to reveal a blue and green tankini top, her khaki shorts still on as well as her flip flops. He smiled when her eyes met his and she smiled as well. He motioned for her to come over and she nodded and got up and made her way over to the other side of the pool where he was. She sat down next to him, "What?"
"What what?"
"Did you want something?"
He shook his head, "Nope..you just looked lonely."
She smiled, "Nice of you to notice."
"Are you ever going to swim?"
She nodded, "Yeah..after while."
"Okay.."
Kristy came back out with the two drinks and handed her one, before sitting down across from them. Malia put her coke down and stood up, slipping her shorts off, Kristy did the same. Nick watched in amusement, "Goin' somewhere?"
Malia gave him a sly smile, "We're going to swim..wanna come?"
He grinned and stood up, "If I'm escorted by two beautiful women.."
Both girls laughed and hooked their arms through his. Matt, Mike, Howie, Trace, and some of the other guys hollered and cat-called as the three strutted by.
Once in the water, finally, they decided to play chicken. In the first round it was to be AJ and Amanda, Kristy and Mike. Trace leaned down by Malia, "You wanna be my partner next?"
She nodded, "Yeah."
"Cool.."
Nick got his sister, BJ, to be his partner as well. Once AJ and Amanda won their round; Nick, Trace, BJ, and Malia made their way into the water. Malia crawled on top of Trace's shoulders and he locked his arms around her knees. BJ did the same to her older brother. Malia and BJ shared a look before breaking down into laughter where they couldn't even fight one another. Malia laid her hands on Trace's shoulders to keep from falling while BJ wasn't so lucky and toppled into the water headfirst. That caused them to laugh even harder.
Later that night, everyone had eaten and had had their share of the pool, and now people were starting to leave.
Amanda hugged Malia, "It was good to see you again, I'm sure I'll see you at the concert, ok?"
"Alright, are you coming out any time on tour this time?," She asked.
Amanda smiled, "I don't really know just yet but I'm hoping I'll be able to."
"That's cool."
She nodded, "Yeah.."
AJ ran up and wrapped his arms around Malia and picked her up, "Hey girl!"
"Hey J!"
He kissed her cheek before setting her down, "See ya later, k?"
"Yep..later!"
They left, as did Brian and LeighAnne and Howie and his girlfriend Claudia. Trace playfully threw Kristy over his shoulder as they made their way to their car. "AHHHH! TRAACE!"
"Did you say something Kris?"
"Put me down!"
He laughed and put her down, watching the blood rush from her face. "Better?"
"Much. Thank you."
"No problemo."
Malia hugged Kevin and Kristen and said goodbye and made her way out with Mike and Matt. "Where'd Nick go?," Kristy asked.
"He was getting food to bring home.."
"Sounds good to me!," Matt said.
"All you think about is food!"
"Duh!"
Nick came out carrying two plates full of food. "We ready to go?"
Everyone nodded and piled into their respective cars.
Once back at Nick's house, everyone crowded into the living room to get comfortable for their night in.
Sometime in the middle of the night, Malia woke up and couldn't go back to sleep no matter how many times she turned over. She finally gave up and stepped over the sleeping bodies of her friends and went outside into the backyard. "Hey, what are you doing up?," A voice said from behind her.
She jumped, "Geez Nick!"
He smiled, "Sorry..."
"Scared the shit out of me!"
She sat down beside him and tucked her legs underneath her. "What are you doing out here?," He asked again.
"Couldn't sleep..you?"
"Same. It feels good out.."
"Mm hmm..what time is it?"
"A little after four."
"Ohhhh.."
"Yeah..did you have fun?"
She nodded, "Yeah..it was cool of Kev to invite everyone over."
"Yeah..it'll be awhile before we can do that again."
"I can't believe we're opening tomorrow night."
"I know..it'll be cool as hell though."
She nodded once more, "Yeah. I can't wait."
"Me neither.."
Malia turned to look at him; Nick had such a thoughtful look on his face but at the same time he looked as confused as she did. "What are you thinking about?"
"Stuff."
"No shit sherlock."
"That mouth is gonna get you in trouble one of these days.," He said with a grin.
"Yeah I know."
"I'm thinking about the tour...the guys...you.."
"Me?"
He nodded, "Yeah..in fact, I've been thinking about you alot lately."
"Is that a good thing?"
"I think it is."
"Oh."
"Can I ask you something?"
She nodded, "You know you can Nicky."
He turned to face her and realized he was within inches of her face. Her hair was tousled and pulled up halfway; her eyes were tired but he could tell something was on her mind. "Can...Can I kiss you?"
"You want to kiss me?"
He nodded ever so slightly before reaching out and brushing a strand of hair back, "Yes. Can I?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you want to kiss your best friend?"
"Because she's all I can think about anymore and it's driving me crazy."
A slight smile crossed her perfect lips, "What do you think about your best friend?"
"I think she's gorgeous and one of the most powerful, strongest people I've ever met in my entire life...and I keep thinking how badly I want to kiss her and hold her and how I never want to let her go."
By now, they were both talking in barely audible whispers. He took one of her hands in his and ran his thumb over the top of her hand, "Lia?"
"Yes?"
"Can I?"
"Can you what?"
"Can I kiss you?"
"If you want to."
"Do you want me to?"
"Yes."
He leaned in and kissed her gently and softly on her lips.
What they didn't know was that that one kiss would change them both forever.
Back to the All Of You Page
To Chapter 13
Back to the Main Page