Chapter 48
Friday afternoon after Kristen got through with rehearsals she went straight to Nick's house to help out with the pool party that night. "Hey Kristen how's rehearsals going?" Kevin asked giving Kristen a hug when she entered Nick's house.
"It's tiring but it's going good."
"You'll get used to it after a while."
"I sure hope so."
"Well, I'll catch you later. I have to go to the store and get some food for tonight. You want to come?"
"No, I think I'll stay here and lay down somewhere."
"Alright, bye," Kevin said getting into his car. Kristen went and looked out into Nick's backyard to see Nick, Brian, Howie, and AJ out there. Kristen went into the kitchen and got a glass of water then went and laid down on the couch.
"You sick?" Kristen opened her eyes to see Nick standing above her.
"No, just tired and completely sore."
"You want me to massage your back for you?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, I would really like that." Kristen sat up and took off her sweatshirt jacket so she was wearing her windbreaker pants and a sports bra. Nick looked at her funny. "It's only a sports bra, Nick. It covers more than a regular bra which you have seen me in before so don't freak out. You can't exactly give me a good massage through my sweatshirt."
"You're right," Nick said as Kristen laid on her stomach resting her head on her arms.
"Where's Toni and Angela at?" Kristen asked as Nick began massaging her back.
"Toni is working. I think Angela is too. They'll be here before the party starts." There was silence for a little while before Nick spoke again. "I'm sorry Kristen."
"For what?" Kristen asked confused about Nick's apology.
"For everything that I did. I never meant to hurt you in anyway. I know that even if what I did never happened we wouldn't have lasted much longer but I'm still sorry. I'm glad that we could still be friends though. If I lost your friendship I don't know what I would have done," Nick said sincerely.
"Don't worry about it Nick. It's all in the past. Besides, we're both a lot happier with Toni and AJ then we ever were together. And I can promise you that you'll never lose my friendship."
"I'm glad," Nick said as he started to massage Kristen where her sports bra was covering her back and she screamed out in pain. "You okay?"
"Yeah, it's just a little tender right there." Nick lifted up the back of her sports bra to see a huge black and blue bruise.
"What the hell happened?" Nick asked as he ran his fingers lightly across the bruise.
"What do you mean?"
"There's a huge bruise on your back where you said it was tender. What happened?"
"Shit, that's just what I need. A bruise on my back when I'll be in a swim suit in a few hours. During one of the dance routines where I was dancing with one of the guy dancers he picked me up to do a routine and messed up dropping me. I must have hit my back harder than I thought."
"Must have. Aren't these male dancers supposed to be trained not to drop the girls?"
"Well, they obviously aren't trained well enough," Kristen said as she closed her eyes and relaxed as Nick continued to massage her back. AJ walked in through the back door and saw Nick and Kristen together when an idea popped his head. He quietly went over to Nick and tapped him on the shoulder and mouthed to him to be quiet. Nick lifted his hands off Kristen's back which were quickly replaced with AJ's hands. AJ gave Nick an evil type smile and Nick caught on to what AJ was trying to do so he leaned close to Kristen and started to whisper in her ear trying not to laugh.
"You know what I was saying about me being sorry and I'm glad that we could still be friends?" Nick asked Kristen as AJ continued to massage her back.
"Yeah. What about?" Kristen asked with her eyes still closed.
"I'm still glad that we're friends but I liked what we had before better. A lot better," Nick said as AJ lightly kissed her shoulder making sure his goatee didn't touch her skin and give him away.
"Nick please don't. You're with Toni now and I'm with AJ." AJ looked at Nick as if to tell him to continue talking.
"I know but I like this with you so much better," Nick said moving away from her as AJ moved his face in front of Kristen's turned head and lightly pressed his lips against hers then quickly entered his tongue in her mouth before she could break away.
"What the hell Nick!" Kristen yelled jumping up and opening her eyes. She saw Nick fall to the floor busting up laughing and AJ stood next to her laughing. "That was so wrong!" Kristen yelled as Toni and Angela entered the house.
"What happened?" Toni asked when she saw Nick laughing uncontrollably and AJ trying to hide his laughter.
"Our boyfriends have finally proven that they are assholes that's what happened!" Kristen yelled as she walked out the back door.
"What did you two do?" Angela asked.
"We just played a little prank on her," Nick said now trying to control his laughter.
"You and your damn pranks," Angela said walking to the back door followed by AJ.
"What kind of prank did you pull?" Toni asked walking over to Nick and sitting down on the floor next to him.
"I was massaging Kristen's back and she had her eyes closed. AJ quickly took my place and I started telling her all kinds of sweet stuff as AJ got fresh with her. She thought it was me and freaked out," Nick said laughing.
"And that is funny how? That is cruel!"
"You should have seen her when she jumped up!" Nick said laughing even harder.
"You are completely impossible. You know that don't you?"
"Yeah but that's what you love about me," Nick said wrapping his arms around Toni.
"Okay, if you say so," Toni said sarcastically.
"Oh come on Toni. It wasn't even my idea. It was AJ's."
"So, you still participated. That was just plain cold."
"Yeah I know. So what kind of swim suit are you wearing tonight?" Nick asked with a smile trying to change the subject.
"A dark green one piece," Toni said.
"Ah come on! Why a one piece?" Nick asked disappointed.
"Because you were mean to Kristen."
"But I didn't do anything to you!" Nick whined.
"So. Kristen's my twin. You hurt her, you hurt me," Toni said getting up.
"So what you're saying is, if I can make it up to you, I'll automatically make it up to Kristen?" Nick asked with a smile on his face.
"Depends on how you would make it up to me."
"Well, you'll just have to see when everyone leaves the party tonight."
"If I'm right about how you will make it up to me then that won't exactly make it up to Kristen too."
"Oh well," Nick said kissing Toni.
"Kristen, listen I'm sorry!" AJ hollered walking out the back door.
"Don't want to hear it AJ!" Kristen hollered back.
"What did you do now?" Howie asked. AJ ignored Howie and went up to Kristen.
"Him and Nick played a prank on Kristen and now she's pissed," Angela said to Howie.
"Must have been some prank to get Kristen that pissed then," Brian said.
"Kristen I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I just wanted to see how you would react if it were Nick," AJ said sitting down.
"Well, you got you're reaction. Are you happy?"
"No. How can I be happy if the most precious thing in my life is mad at me?" AJ asked sweetly.
"Now you're just sucking up."
"Is it working?" Kristen leaned over and kissed AJ.
"Does that answer you're question?"
"Yeah. Do you want to answer my question some more?" AJ asked with a smile.
"No, maybe later. Can I borrow your car now?"
"Boy, that was a change in additude. Don't you have your own car here?"
"Yeah but I like yours better."
"Where are you going to take my car?"
"To get me a new swim suit for tonight."
"Well, in that case here's my car keys and my credit card. I'll pay for the suit no matter what the price. But if I see you in a full one piece bathing suit you owe me for how much it cost," AJ said with a smile.
"You are a hornball," Kristen said grabbing AJ's shirt that he had taken off earlier and putting it on herself.
"You look like your drowning in that shirt," AJ commented.
"Hey, it's not my fault I'm short. Angela you want to come with me?"
"No, I think I'll have to pass. As soon as Kevin gets back I'm going to help set up the food. People should be here in about 2 hours or so."
"Alright later." Kristen went and drove to Pacific Wave since they had a wide selection of swim suits to pick from. Kristen found a light purple crushed velvet bikini that she thought was perfect. She went to go pay for it when she ran into someone. "Oh excuse me," Kristen said. She looked up to see who it was and the guy was smiling down at her. She knew she saw this guy somewhere before then realized it was the guy who asked her to dance with him at the house of blues concert. Kristen began to feel really uncomfortable with him standing so close to her.
"Are you going to buy that bikini?" the guy asked.
"As if it were any of your business," Kristen said rudely.
"Well, I'm sure your boyfriend will find you very sexy in it," the guy said smiling as he walked away.
"What a creep," Kristen said to herself as she paid for the swimsuit with AJ's credit card. The total cost of it was eighty-five dollars but AJ said any price so she bought it. She decided that she would look around the mall a little more before she left. By the time she left the mall it was already starting to get dark. She figured the others were probably wondering where she was so she hurried back to Nick's place. When she got there the place was packed. The first person she ran into that she knew was Brian.
"Where have you been? AJ's going crazy trying to figure out where you're at," he said.
"Where is he?" Kristen asked over the loud music.
"He's out back at the pool."
"Tell him I'll be out there in a couple of minutes. I'm going to go upstairs and change."
"Alright," Brian said going out back. Kristen put on the swimsuit and looked at herself in the mirror and knew AJ would like what she picked. She put on AJ's shirt and a pair of shorts and went back downstairs and outside.
"What took you so long? I've been worried about you," AJ said going up to Kristen and giving her a hug.
"Sorry. I looked around the mall for a little while and lost track of time."
"Well, there are prices to pay for being late."
"And what would that price have to be?" Kristen asked with a little additude. AJ just smiled at her then picked her up and took off running towards the pool and jumped in with her in his arms. "AJ!" Kristen yelled as she swam to the surface of the water.
"What?" AJ asked innocently.
"You could have at least waited until I was only in a swimsuit!"
"Well, go take the shirt and shorts off." Kristen got out of the pool and laid the wet shorts and shirt on a lawn chair and turned back towards the pool. She saw AJ up on Howie's shoulders and Nick up on Brian's shoulders.
"What are they doing?" Kristen asked Toni.
"They are having a chicken fight. Cute swimsuit by the way. AJ seen it?"
"No, he's too busy fighting with Nick."
"DIE LITTLE MAN!" AJ yelled in the pool as he tried to shove Nick off Brian's shoulder's and into the pool but failed. Kristen and Toni started busting up laughing as both Howie and AJ grabbed at Nick and caused him to go flying into the water screaming.
"You cheated!" Nick said. "Howie's not supposed to touch me!"
"Oh don't complain. It's not like we made up rules," AJ said.
"But there are rules to follow," Brian said.
"Not anymore," Howie said slapping Brian on the back.
"Yo Kevin! How about a little competition!" AJ yelled.
"I don't think so Bone. I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings when I beat ya."
"Fine. Who can I compete against?" AJ asked as he looked around the pool area. He spotted Kristen and got out of the pool and walked up to her. "You picked the best swimsuit. You look great," AJ said giving her a kiss on the cheek. Now how about you join me in the pool for some competition!" AJ said excitedly.
"You are acting like a little kid. You know that don't you?" Kristen asked.
"Hey, you're never to old to act young. Now let's go," AJ said dragging her to the pool. AJ climbed up on Nick's shoulder's this time while Kristen tried to climb on Howie's.
"Okay this isn't going to work. I'm sorry Howie but you're too muscular and my legs are too short and I can't wrap them around you. AJ will knock me off in a second."
"Hey that's the whole purpose," AJ said.
"I don't think so." Howie helped Kristen off his shoulders then helped her onto Brian's shoulders.
"You have to go easy on me AJ. You're a guy and a lot stronger than me so be nice," Kristen said.
"Don't think so. That's not the way it works," AJ said as he wrapped his arms around Kristen then fell backwards into the pool with her knocking both Brian and Nick over as well.
"Where'd they go?" Brian asked Nick when they resurfaced the water.
"Down there," Nick said pointing to the bottom of the pool where Kristen and AJ were kissing. After a couple seconds they ran out of air and swam up to the surface. "There is no making out in my pool unless it is me and Toni," Nick said.
"Well, there's no having sex in my bed unless it's me and AJ and you seemed to have broken that," Kristen said.
"You had sex in Kristen's bed? How did she find out?" Brian asked surprised.
"She rudely walked in on us," Nick replied. Brian started busting up laughing. "It's not funny."
"Maybe not from your point of view!" Brian yelled still laughing.
"Forget it," Nick said getting out of the pool and going up Toni. "How about I start kicking people out of my house so I can make it up to you still?" Nick whispered into Toni's ear.
"How about we just let them stay and we can go upstairs?" Toni asked with a smile.
"Because I don't want Kristen and AJ doing anything in my pool."
"Oh yeah right. AJ might try and do something but Kristen won't do anything at all."
"I thought she brought back out her wild side since this whole thing with me and her blew over."
"She did but that don't mean she's addicted to sex."
"Like AJ?"
"Exactly."
"I'll be in my room. Come up in about ten minutes that way none of the guys will say anything if they see us leaving together," Nick said giving Toni a quick kiss. Toni thought she would make Nick suffer a little so about thirty minutes later she went up to his bedroom. She opened the door and he wasn't in there. She heard water running from his bathroom so she figured that he was taking a shower. She closed his bedroom door, got undressed, then grabbed a towel and wrapped in around her and quietly went into the bathroom. She saw Nick standing in the shower with his eyes closed letting the water run down his body.
'He is too gorgeous' Toni thought as she stood there watching him. She took her towel off and quietly opened the shower door and stepped in behind Nick wrapping her arms around him. Nick jumped a little being startled by Toni. He turned around and faced Toni and wrapped his arms around her as well.
"I said ten minutes not thirty," Nick said smiling.
"So sue me," Toni said as she kissed Nick.
"You know it's a good thing you're not leaving me for three months," Nick said separating from the kiss.
"Why's that?"
"Because I would miss this way to much," Nick said as he kissed Toni again and allowed his hands to roam over her body.
A couple hours later everyone had left the party except for Kristen and AJ. They were sitting on the edge of the pool with their legs in the pool. AJ sat behind Kristen wrapping her in his arms. "How's your back feeling?" AJ asked her since her swimsuit top wasn't covering the bruise.
"It's still sore but it's feeling better."
"That's good. You know I'm going to hate it when you leave," AJ said kissing her on the neck.
"I know the feeling," Kristen said then paused for a couple seconds. "I never really did thank you."
"For what?" AJ asked confused.
"For everything."
"Elaborate please so I know what you're talking about."
"Well, ever since we met you've always been there for me. Everything that happened with Nate you were behind me one hundred percent. You forced me to do things I didn't want to do but you knew was the best for me. You were right. Then you were there with the whole ordeal with Nick. You helped me out in more ways than I can ever repay you."
"You are repaying me."
"How?"
"With every second you spend with me." Kristen turned her head around and looked at AJ.
"I love you AJ Mclean."
"I love you too," AJ said as he held her tighter as they kissed.
Chapter 49
