“So Frack,” Brian began one day as they were all sitting around Nick’s pool. “How come we haven’t seen Kayleigh at all? I mean, we’ve been home for a month and we haven’t hung out with her once.”

“Who’s Kayleigh?” Kristin, Kevin’s girlfriend, wanted to know.

“Nick’s best friend,” Kevin explained. “She lives next door.” He turned towards Nick. “Where has she been?”

Nick shrugged. “Don’t really know and don’t really care. She made it very clear that she doesn’t want anything to do with me or our friendship anymore.” The guys all exchanged confused looks. Ever since they had met her four years ago, Kayleigh had been like a sister to them.

“What happened, Nick?” Brian asked.

“We got in a fight the day I came home,” Nick explained. “I told her that I didn’t like her boyfriend and she flipped out. She kicked me out of her house and we haven’t spoken to each other since.” He stood up and stalked inside. The rest of the guys all glanced at each other, surprised at how he was acting.

“Well, I’m going to go over there,” AJ said, standing up. The other three and their girlfriends watched as AJ walked next door and knocked on the back door. A few seconds later, Kayleigh opened it up.

“AJ?!” She exclaimed. “What are you doing here?” She stepped outside and pulled him into a hug.

AJ pointed towards the Carter house. “We’ve been hanging out over there all day. The rest of the guys and I were wondering why you weren’t there and why we haven’t seen you at all since we’ve been home.”

Kayleigh’s face darkened. “Cause Nick’s an asshole,” she muttered.

“Excuse me?” AJ asked with raised eyebrows.

Kayleigh shrugged. “I’ve been hanging out with my boyfriend and his friends a lot lately.”

“Well, why don’t you come over and hang out right now?” AJ invited.

“I don’t know, Age. Tyler’s here and…” she trailed off.

“So? Bring him.” AJ interrupted.

Tyler appeared in the doorway. “Bring who?”

“You,” AJ answered, pulling Kayleigh towards the Carter’s house. Kayleigh turned around and threw Tyler an apologetic look. He shrugged and followed her next door.

“Hey Leigh!” Brian called as he saw her, AJ, and Tyler approaching. “Is this your boyfriend?”

“Yeah,” Kayleigh answered, nodding. “Guys, this is Tyler. Tyler, this is AJ, Brian, Kevin, and Howie.” She glanced at the three girls that were sitting there. “And, I’m sorry. I don’t know you guys.”

Kevin smiled and introduced the girls. “Guys, this is Kayleigh. Kayles, this is Nick’s girlfriend, Jessica, Brian’s girlfriend, Leighanne, and my girlfriend, Kristin.”

Kayleigh smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, the infamous best friend appears,” Jessica snarled, giving Kayleigh an evil look.

Kayleigh didn’t know what to say, suddenly wanting to be anywhere but there. “Nick’s told me a lot about you,” she said, politely, ignoring the rude tone in Jessica’s voice. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“I wish I could say the same,” Jessica spat.

Kayleigh glanced around helplessly. Tyler was busy talking to AJ. Nick wasn’t even outside to witness it. The only one who seemed to hear was Howie. He gave Kayleigh a sympathetic glance and shrugged. She walked over to Tyler and AJ and tapped her boyfriend on the shoulder. “Can we get out of here, please?”

“What’s wrong, Kay?” AJ asked, noticing Kayleigh’s discomfort.

“In a few minutes, okay hon?” Tyler answered.

Kayleigh nodded and went and sat down next to Brian. She heard the back door open and saw Nick walk out. He glared in her direction. “What are you doing here?”

“Uh…AJ came and got me,” she stuttered.

Nick looked up and noticed AJ talking to Tyler. “Nice to see you brought my buddy, Tyler,” he remarked sarcastically.

Kayleigh rolled her eyes at him/ “At least my boyfriend attempts to be civil towards you. Your girlfriend is openly a bitch.” She stood up and stomped over to her boyfriend. “We’re leaving.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her house.

“Leaving so soon?” Jessica yelled after her.

Kayleigh squeezed Tyler’s arm tighter. Tyler grimaced. “Don’t let her get to you, babe. And please. Let go of my arm.”

“Sorry,” Kayleigh mumbled, releasing her hold on him and walking into her house.

Later That Night

“Kay! Someone’s at the back door!” Kayleigh graoned at the sound of her mother’s voice and rolled off of the couch so she could answer the door. She opened it up, saw that it was Nick, and turned around to walk back into her family room, without saying anything. Nick rolled his eyes and followed her. “Come on, Kayles. Talk to me.”

“Fine,” Kayleigh said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Your girlfriend is a god damn bitch.”

“Why the hell would you say something like that?” Nick exclaimed. “She was nice to everyone today. No one else has a problem with her. You must’ve done something to piss her off.”

Kayleigh’s eyes widened. “Tell me you did not just blame this on me.”

“Well you must have said something to her,” Nick defended. “She’s always nice to everyone.

“Get the hell out of my house, Nick!” She yelled at the top of her lungs.

“Why? Can’t handle the truth that maybe you’re the one that’s acting like a bitch?”

“Get out!” She screamed. “I can’t believe you’re putting some girl ahead of our friendship. Get the hell out of here. NOW! We are no longer friends.” Nick turned around, angrily, and stormed out of Kayleigh’s house.

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