Ali wondered how Samantha acted around him. Was she sweet? Caring? Or did she treat him poorly, like using him for money? "On no," Ali gasped. She had forgotten to get a recorder to carry around to copy everything Nick said to her. Ali spotted a Radioshack and got up. She'd have to hide it in her purse. Quickly she walked to the store. Passing unfamiliar people each second. Out of nowhere an arm pulled her away from the store.

"Where's the fire Sam?" a tall guy asked her.

"Um, I just needed to buy something. Who are you now?" Ali asked scared.

"Sammy, its me," he lowered his sunglasses, "Nick." Ali stepped back and looked him over. A big green fish hat, black baggy pants, and a navy T-shirt.

"But you don't look..."

"Sam, you know its a disguise," he laughed.

"Right...Nick. I just need to buy something in here," she pointed towards the Radioshack.

"What do you need in there? I'll go her it," he offered.

"A recorder, you know how forgetful I am. Just to make mental notes," she giggled.

"Well, I'll go pick one up for you."

"No, you don't have to. I have my own money," Nick gave her a strange look.

"You sure?"

"Yeah," she nodded and headed in. Nick shrugged and headed in after. Ali found a perfect recorder that would fit anywhere she went. She walked up towards the cashier, but she recognized him.

"Ali, is that you?" he asked sweetly, "From Athens, GA? Its David Shybee! Remember me? I was your date to homecoming in 11th grade!"

"Umm..." she looked over where Nick was. He was still in hearing range, "No, David, I'm not," she paid and walked away quickly to where Nick was, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, I was just looking at this game system. It has over 1000 games already on it," his face lit up, but then he looked saddened, "But you're right about these things. They're childish."

"No, they aren't. I always play these things. Helps for writers block," she smiled at him. His face crept into a sly smile, "What? They are!!"

"Are you making fun of my writing?" he laughed. It was true, he wasn't the best writer, unless it was a song or something like that, "Cuz its not as bad as yours. Its not like your an editor for a newspaper."

"Yeah, you're right," Ali smiled to herself thinking how close she actually was to getting that job.

"Hey, you wanna get some ice cream over at Oberweise?....Oh, wait, I forgot about the diet. Sorry."

"I'm on a diet?"

"Not that I know of. My diet, remember? The one you made up for me?"

"I made a diet up for you?" Ali stepped back and looked him over, "Starting today, I don't care what you eat. You're a cutie as it is," she smiled brightly.

"Sammy, are you feeling okay?" he blushed a little.

"Perfect, why?"

"You just seem so different. That's all."

"Oh, well, you wanna go to Oberweise? I'll pay!" she offered hoping he'd forget that she seemed different.

"Sure, lets go," he reached out to take her hand. Ali stared at it for a moment, but when Nick gave her a weird look, she took it immediately. They walked out together with the cashier staring at them. He picked up the phone and dialed carefully.

"Hey Kev, its Dave...I just saw your friend, Nick in here...he kept calling this girl Sammy, but her name is Ali...I swear, I have proof. I'll stop by after work. Yeah, bye."

"I hope you don't mind, but I made plans with Brian to play basketball tonight. He's coming over in an hour to pick me up. You cam come if you'd like. Leigh's going to walk Tyke and Littie Leigh around the track at the park. You could walk Houston, but I know you and Leigh don't really get along so ...nevermind," he scooped a part of their banana split up. Ali put her spoon down. She was quite full.

"No, I can go. After all, you and Brian are best friends, me and Leigh can be too."

"That's real sweet of you Sam."

"That's just how I am."

"How about just you and me go out on the boat tomorrow. Spend the day out on the ocean," he suggested.

"That would be great."

"Great," he grinned and started to lean in to kiss her.

"Here goes nothing," Ali thought to herself as his soft lips gently against hers. Nick pulled away staring at her, "What's wrong?" Ali asked scared he figured it out.

"Its just, you're acting so different today. I like it. I like it a lot. You let me kiss you in public," he said amazed.

"Why not? We're in love right?"

"More so today than ever," he took her hand in his and played with it, "What happened to your acrylics we had put on yesterday?" he asked curious.

"I opened a can of pop in the car and if one falls off, they all come off."

"I see. So, you ready to go home?"

"Yes, I am."

"Welcome home!" Nick cheered as Ali walked in the house.

"Feels good to be in here."

"You know, AJ will be so glad you're here."

"Why?"

"I'm kidding, you know how much you two fight," he laughed.

"Oh, right...I forgot."

"You know, your hair is just not easy to get use to."

"Tell ya the truth, I hate it too."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'm too pale for black hair," she sat on the couch and Houston jumped in her arms and played with her.

"That's strange," Nick commented walking over to the answering machine.

"What?"

"Houston isn't barking at you," he laughed.

"Oh...huh, she must think I'm a twin of me or something," she laughed inside knowing she was.

"Who's Ali Dunnmore?" Nick called to her.

"What?" Ali jumped off the couch and went to where he was looking.

"Caller I.D. says an Ali Dunnmore called," he picked up the phone ready to dial it back.

"No, don't call, its probably a fan."

"If its a fan I want to talk to her," he finished dialing.

"Nicky no!" Ali shouted and hung it up.

"What's wrong with you? Why can't I call?"

"Let me call, if you call, they can find us, nobody knows what my voice sounds like, yours is just a tad famous, okay?"

"Okay." Ali dialed Stan's number.

"Hello?"

"Hi! Um I was wondering, how did you get this number and who is Ali Dunnmore?"

"Ali? What are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I just got home and well this number was on the caller ID."

"Your in? Great! Let me know updates later!"

"You too, buh bye!! She hung up and deleted the number off the caller ID.

"So, who was it?"

"A little boy was just playing with the phone and dialed us! Can you imagine?" she giggled. Suddenly Brian burst through the door.

"C'mon Nick lets go while that brat is gone...well hey there Sammy, why are you home?" Brian asked disappointed.

"Camping just isn't my thing. Now, what was that? Calling me a brat behind my back are we?" Ali looked at Nick. His face was blank, "So do you do this a lot? Make fun of me behind my back?" she asked him, "This could be my story," Ali thought.

"No, just Brian. I wouldn't do that. I love you. I'm sorry, and so is Brian. He didn't mean it," Nick backed away and put a guard up.

"Whoa, Nicky, calm down, its okay," Ali stepped closer to him.

"Please don't make me cry in front of Brian," he whispered to her, "I'll get my punishment later, okay?"

"Um, Sam, we have plans, and you're ruining them."

"Ugh, yeah, I know," she said weirded out, "Nick, go on, I'll stay here. We need to talk when you get back, and I won't make you cry, so don't worry. As long as I am here, you are not going to cry."

"Okay," he wiped a couple tears out of his eyes and left with Brian.

>>>>>

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