Brian sat on Lis' bed watching her go through her closet, trying to get ready for her doctor's appointment. The room was silent, except for the sound of the hangers moving around in the closet.
"Calm down Lis." He said, noticing her take out and put back the same shirt three times.
"I'm calm." Lis lied, inside she was starting to worry. What if something was really wrong with her?
"Then you're going blind because you've picked that same shirt four times now." he motioned to the shirt she was holding.
Lis looked at the grey UCLA tshirt in her hand. "I uh, thought there was a stain." she said, hoping it would cover.
Brian nodded and went over to her, wrapping his arms around her. "It's okay to be nervous Lis. Trust me I know all about it."
She leaned back against Bri's chest. "Thanks B, stupid huh?"
"Not at all. You want me to go with? I will you know."
"I can go it alone." she turned around and smiled.
"Thanks for everything B."
He smiled, "What are friends for?"
Aaron and Han sat in the living room, watching MTV when Lis walked through the room. "Where ya going?" Han asked, glancing at her sister.
Lis grabbed her sandals from the closet. "I've got some errands to run, I'll be home later."
Aaron turned the tv down. "Want some company?" he offered.
"No I'm okay alone, you guys have fun doing whatever."
"K, bye Lis!" AC waved and went back to the tv.
Nick was in the garage looking for his basketball hoop when Lis walked in. She didn't see him at first in the corner and he watched as she threw her tote bag in the back of her convertible and climbed in, resting her head against the steering wheel.
"Uhm you ok?" he asked, standing up.
Lis jumped back startled. "Nick! Uh I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
He walked over. "Generally people who are fine don't lean against their steering wheel."
"Just busy thinking. What are you doing in here?" She was wondering how he'd seen her, she hadn't seen him walk in. It was like he'd appeared out of nowhere.
Nick smiled. "Me and Bri are gonna put up the basketball hoop later. I'm trying to find it."
"It's not here, you left it at the beach house. It's on the workbench in the garage." Lis slid her key in the ignition, feeling Nick's eyes on her.
Nick nodded and looked over the car, he looked at the back of the driver's side thinking he could probably guess where he had hit her. He sighed. "So you're going out?"
"Yeah, errands." her eyes stopped on her watch, she was going to be late if she didn't go right then. "I gotta go, I'm late."
"Bye." He watched her back out of the driveway and speed away. How could she be late for errands? he wondered as he walked back inside.
Aaron walked into Nick's beach house behind Brian and Nick. "Man, been a while since I've been here." Brian said, looking around. The first floor was almost entirely open, only half walls separated the kitchen from the living room and the stairs.
Nick put his house keys in his pockets. "I was here the other day."
Brian gave Nick a startled look. "What?"
"Came by to check it out. I'm going to move back here one of these days."
Aaron sunk down on the sofa. "Oh goody, another decision by the great one."
Nick shook his head. "AC we all ready talked about that stuff. Now let's get the hoop and we'll go."
Brian stopped Aaron from moving. "What have you two been talking about?" he asked as Nick left the room.
"Just family stuff. Nothing big." Aaron stood up. "Be back!" and with that he disappeared upstairs.
Brian sighed and started walking out of the room, family stuff what could he be talking about..."Aaron!" he yelled suddenly, running upstairs.
Nick found the basketball hoop easily, along with the backboard. He picked it up and headed back inside the house. His eyes stopped on the row of pictures along the table, there was one they had to have missed. Quickly he looked around to see if AC or Rok were around then he set the hoop down and picked up the picture. There was him and Lisa standing in front of some sort of pillar, showing off their wedding rings. Nick stared at the wedding rings, suddenly wondering where they were. Since he hadn't heard anyone around he opened the frame and took the pic out, and stuffed it inside his backpack. Later on he'd do some investigating.
Lis got in her car, feeling dazed and confused. Everything fell into place, the last several weeks, the way she felt. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.
"Lis!" She heard a voice yell. Her eyes opened up behind her sunglasses and to see AJ and Jenn heading towards her.
"Hi guys!" She called, hoping her voice sounded cheerful enough.
Jenn and AJ stopped beside the car. "What's going on?" AJ asked, smiling at her.
"Errands." At that moment she'd never been happier her doctor's office parking lot connected to the mall's parking lot.
Jenn nodded. "Us too. You guys coming to the playoff party?"
"It's gonna be fun. We're stocking up on food now." AJ added.
"I don't know, haven't talked to the guys. Been busy hanging out with AC lately."
"Bring him too! Haven't seen him in ages." stated AJ.
"I'll run it by him." Lis smiled
"You up to lunch or you busy?" Jenn asked, setting down her few shopping bags.
AJ looked in the car. "I'd say she's free." He said, not seeing any bags.
He opened her car door. "C'mon Lis, we'll buy! Got a lot of stuff to catch up on."
Lis knew there was no way to get out of it. "All righty, if the great AJ's buying I can't resist." she grabbed her tote bag and followed her friends inside.
Brian looked around the upstairs, stopping in the last guest room. There Aaron was laying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. B closed the door halfway. "AC, what did you mean about family stuff?" he asked his friend nervously.
Aaron didn't look at him, "Nothing important Rok." Least not to Nick, he thought sadly.
Brian sunk down on the chair in the corner. "Tell me you didn't tell him, man AC he couldn't deal with it and I don't think Lis can either."
"I didn't." AC finally looked at Rok. Well he hadn't told him really, Nick had overheard.
Brian sighed with relief. "Sorry AC, I didn't mean to jump down your throat. It's just well I'm worried."
Aaron leaned back on his elbows. "Why are you worried?"
Should he say? he asked himself, well AC did love Lis like a sister. "Lis didn't go to run errands she went..."
"To the doctor." Aaron finished and Bri nodded. "That's good though right?"
"Yeah, but it's just if something is wrong or she's sick...I just don't think she'll be able to deal you know?" He said sadly, looking at his hands.
Aaron looked at the wall for a few minutes before speaking. "I think I know what's wrong with her."
Nick walked up the stairs then. "Rok, AC? Where are you two?"
AC and Bri exchanged nervous glances. "In here. You ready?"
Nick opened the door. "Yeah, I'm set. What are you two up to?"
"Just uh, hanging out." AC said, not looking at his brother.
Nick looked over his brother and best friend, evidently they were hiding something. He sighed. "All right, let's go. I wanna shoot some hoops before it's dark." he threw his backpack on his shoulder and walked out of the room.
AJ got up to pay the check, leaving Jenn alone with Lis at the table.
Jenn watched as Lis played with the straw in her drink. "Everything okay?" she asked concerned.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Lis asked, not looking at her.
"Let me see...tons of reasons. How was New York?"
"Fine, fun." Lis smiled and looked around the busy restaurant.
Jenn studied her friend. She was hiding something, that was obvious by the way she was acting and she only picked at her food. Jenn sighed and watched as AJ slid next to her in the booth.
"We're all taken care of." He smiled. "You free the rest of the day Lis?"
"I had a bit of shopping I had to do. Why?"
"Nick called my cell, apparently the guys are going to get together for a little game of hoops and I thought I'd run over. Wondered if you could bring Jenn back there later?"
"Sure. No problem, if Jenn doesn't mind the mall for a little while longer?"
Jenn laughed. "When do I turn down the mall?"
"Never." AJ said, standing up. "All right, then I'll see you two ladies back at your place Lis." He gave Jenn a kiss and Lis a hug and walked out of the restaurant.
The two girls grabbed their belongings and headed outside into the mall.
"Where to?" Jenn asked, surveying the surrounding shops.
"Gap I guess." Lis answered, putting her tote bag on her shoulder.
"Sounds good to me." Jenn said and they headed off into the crowded mall.
Brian passed Nick the ball and he put it through the hoop. "Oh yeah, we're good." Nick said, hi-fiving his team which consisted of Bri and AC. D, Kev and AJ just shook their heads.
"We'll get ya back. Its only 24-32." D said, taking the ball.
"Is it just me or does that still sound bad?" AJ asked, turning his baseball hat around.
"It's bad, really bad. Why don't you three just give up?" Nick asked, blocking AJ from taking a shot.
AJ laughed. "Nuh uh man." he faked a move and sent the ball swooshing through the basket. "Oh yeah, bone man got one!"
"Lucky shot!" Nick muttered, walking over to talk to his team.
AJ walked over to D and Kev who were grabbing drinks from the cooler on the lawn. "Just me or..."
"He's sounding more like Nick." Kev stated, glancing at his friend.
"Anyone talk to him lately?"
"I just came back home." D answered.
"Been busy. I always figured he'd call us when he was ready." AJ whispered as Nick walked over.
"Me too." Kev admitted as the blonde one made his way over.
"Giving up yet?" Nick asked with a grin, grabbing three drinks.
"No way. We can still kick your butt like we used to." D stated, heading back onto the makeshift basketball court that was the driveway.
"You wish." Nick muttered and shook his head, following his friends back onto the 'court'.
Lis listened to Jenn talk as she drove, nodding in all the right spots. As she neared the house she could make out the guys on the driveway.
Jenn looked over as Lis parked the car on the street. "Looks like the boys are into the game."
"Yeah, looks that way." She said, getting out and grabbing her bags. Jenn did the same and they made their way up to the house. They were surprised to see Alec and Han sitting on the grass.
"What are you guys doing here?" Jenn asked, claiming a spot of grass.
"We're the cheering squad. Although I think our guys need it more then team Frick and Frack." Alec informed them.
Jenn glanced at the driveway where the guys had yet to notice them. "I don't want to know the score then do I?"
Han sighed. "Probably not."
Aaron tossed Brian the ball and looked at the grass, seeing Jenn and Lis now there talking with Han and Alec. "Guys time out!"
"Why?" D asked as he was about to make a shot.
"I need a break." AC said, heading straight to the cooler. Brian nodded and turned around spotting Lis. He waved and went straight towards her.
"Hey Lis!" Kev and D said in unison waving at her.
"Hi fellas!" Lis called, she leaned back on her elbows and waited for Rok to start his interrogation.
After grabbing a water from AC, Rok went over and sat beside her. "Hey, do a lot of shopping?" he said, glancing over her bags.
"Few things, nothing big."
Bri leaned closer to her. "Well?"
"Not here B." Lis said softly, silently willing him not to press her.
"Okay." he opened his water and took a drink.
Nick walked over to the grass with D and Kevy, they were in the midst of arguing the score when Nick noticed something. The light caught something on Lis' chain and he stopped talking. Looking closer he realized it was the wedding ring from the picture. Nick swallowed the lump in his throat, as suddenly everything around him faded out.
~Flashback
"With this ring, I thee wed." Nick said seriously, looking directly into Lis' eyes as he slid the ring on her finger.
The officiator smiled. "And I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride Mr Carter."
Behind him he heard AJ go "Oh yeah." Nick just shook his head and pulled Lis close, kissing her passionately.
~~End Flashback~~
Everyone froze and watched in horror as Nick fell onto the grass. "What the hell?" AJ said, looking at Nick thinking he was playing another of his practical jokes.
"He isn't moving!" Alec said, crawling closer to him.
"Shit, Rok get over here!"
Bri left Lis' side and went over to Nick. He rolled him over and found him passed out. He looked up at his band mates who were now hovering over Nick. "We gotta get him inside. Now would be good!"
"Got it. AJ help me." Kevin instructed, within a second they had Nick supported between them and were heading inside.
Brian ran ahead and opened the door. The guys walked in and laid Nick on the couch. "Think it was the heat?" D asked, standing back.
"He was playing hard." AJ added.
Brian shrugged. "Coulda been a lot of things. Maybe we shouldn't go to the playoff party tonight."
AJ looked at Brian. "Oh c'mon man! You gotta, we've been planning this for weeks."
Aaron watched as the guys helped Nick inside the house then looked over at Lis, who was staring at the strand of grass in her fingers. "Lis, you ok?"
"Yeah." she nodded and twirled the blade of grass around.
Jenn, Han and Alec went inside to check on Nick, and Aaron grabbed Lis' bags.
"We should go in." he suggested. He was growing worried, Lis was acting out of it.
Lis sighed and stood up. "All righty." she said and followed him inside.
