Dakota:

"Nick! Don't you dare!" I squealed at him pointing the ketchup bottle at me. Ketchup bottle? Yes a ketchup bottle. It's been two and a half weeks since the guys have started to live with us. Surprisingly no one has gotten killed yet. Today Nick and I went for a walk on the pier and before we headed home we horded some hot dogs and sodas up into his room. When we laid the food down, he reached out from under his bed where he hid a bottle of ketchup and mustard and pulled them out. We were eating our hot dogs nicely when out of no where he said something funny, when I was in the middle of drinking and I spit my pop out all over his shirt. I felt bad but I couldn't help but laugh because it was just too funny. Then to get me back he grabbed the ketchup bottle that I'm now squealing about.

"Look at my shirt! I think you should get something on yours in return," he laughed ruefully. Quickly backing away, I grabbed the bottle of mustard.

"Ah Ha! Whatcha going to do now, buster? Mustard stains, ketchup doesn't!"

"Well getting your shirt dirty is worth more then ruining this shirt." Nick continued to walk next to me with his ketchup bottle in hand. Not knowing what else to do, I walked quickly up to him and gave him a light kiss on the lips before he had any chance of getting me dirty. I pulled back and smiled widely at him. That's when I noticed he squeezed ketchup all over his own shirt. He was still looking at me, shocked. Well I'm glad our first kiss had a good effect on him...

"What was that for?"

"I tried to prevent you from getting me dirty. Did it work?"

"Yeah," he laughed and dropped the ketchup bottle. We walked back over to our food and finished up what was left. Afterwards Nick noticed the condition of his shirt and just took it off.

"Ooo strip tease," I laughed and he just smirked. I stood up next to him and poked his side a bit. "One too many twinkies?"

"Very funny. I'm so buff you just can hardly contain yourself. That's why your laughing at my stomach."

"Yes, Nick. That's the real reason. Boy did you figure me out," I replied sarcastically. I continued to poke at his stomach playfully and he kept trying to dodge me.

"Dakota, stop....pleasee," he whined with laughter. Then the next thing I knew he pulled me into his arms and was just looking down at me. Okay....where am I? I'm in Nick Carter's arms and...HE"S NOT WEARING A SHIRT. Breathe....

"Uh...hi," I smiled and he returned the same smile. He leaned down and kissed me with such sweetness it was unbelievable. After the short kiss, we just stood there smiling until I suggested we just talk for awhile. I was so tired that I laid on the ground and before I knew it Nick was there right beside me, holding me in his arms. He's such a sweetie. I didn't know how tired I was until I started drifting off into sleep. Before I fell totally asleep, I heard Nick start to hum a little of bit of "As Long As You Love Me" and then he kissed the top of my head.

"Nite, Kota," he whispered and I fell asleep with a smile on my face. ~~~~

Skylar:

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! my alarm screamed at me. Guess what? It's time to wake up the boys! I felt kind of stupid because I was wearing a slightly see through white tank top and a pair of Christmas boxers (even though it's July.) Oh well! Besides, none of the boys will see me because it'll be to dark to really see me. Coming out of my room, Brian's bedroom was nextdoor on the right, Dakota's room was nextdoor on the left, and Nick's room was on the opposite side of hers. Kevin, Howie and A.J. were all on the second floor. I tiptoed down the hall to Nick's room first because... well to be honest, even though Brian's room was closest, I wanted to give him as much sleep as I could so that he wouldn't think of me as the devil incarnate or a slave driver. So anyways, I walked down the hall to Nick's room and opened the door (all the doors have locks just in case they're up early and are changing or something.) I guess I wasn't prepared for what I saw... Nick was lying on the floor with his shirt off and he had his arms wrapped around Dakota. It was kind of a touching scene because (Thank God!) they were both fully clothed. Knowing that Kota would hate me if I broke up the scene, I quietly exited the room and decided to come back and wake Nick last. I headed back down the hall to Brian's room and entered. He, too, was sleeping without a shirt on and it goes without saying that I enjoyed the sight heartily.

"Brian!" I whispered quietly. "Brian, time to wake up!" I again whispered quietly. No reaction whatsoever. I leaned closer to Brian's ear, "Brian." Without opening his eyes, he turned his face towards mine and gave me the warmest and best french kiss I've ever received. Oh my God! He just kissed me! What the hell am I thinking? He's sleeping! I've heard of sleepwalking, even sleeptalking, but sleepkissing? Oh my God! What if he wakes up and thinks I kissed him or was watching him sleep or something. Oh my God, I've got to get out of here! I quickly tiptoed to the door and left. What am I going to do now? Dakota's in Nick's room having some kind of escapade and I'm having a major life crisis here. Screw it! The guys can run later, who knows what I'd find in the other guys' rooms. I ran into my room and closed the door. I hopped back into bed and tried to sleep. ~~~~

Dakota:

I woke up and looked around the room. It suddenly dawned on me that I wasn't in my room, but in Nick's room. His muscular arms were still wrapped around me and I had an incredibly warm feeling spread over me. This just felt right, like his arms were always suppose to be around me. I rolled over so I was facing him. Nick was still fast asleep, but he looked so gorgeous to me. I lightly brushed my lips against his shoulder and sighed contently. Then, ever so slowly, Nick woke up from his sleep and smiled when he saw me laying here.

"Hey you," he said, sleepily.

"Hey back to you. I guess we kind of fell asleep like this....it probably wasn't very comfortable for you. You should've woke me up and sent me to my own room....."

"You looked so peaceful. There's no way I could've woken you. Plus, I kinda liked having you near when I slept." He kind of said that a little shyly, but pulled my closer afterwards. I really liked him though. There's something special that happening between us and I don't want to ever ruin it. ~~~~

Skylar:

Three hours later, I was still laying in bed waiting to hear any movement that would indicate that someone else was up. At 11:15, I heard a light tap at my door.

"Dakota, come on in! I really need to talk to..." my sentence dropped abruptly as Brian walked in. "Brian! I thought..." I stumbled for a few seconds, "that, that, that you were...you were Dakota. I'm sorry. Listen to me, I sound like a fool. Sometimes the words just don't come out right and..." I looked up and Brian flashed me a killer smile that completely set me at ease.

"It's okay, you must've had a rough morning." he said. I looked at him puzzled. Did he know?

"Rough... rough m-morning?" I stuttered.

"Well, yeah. Weren't we supposed to get up and run at 8 this morning?"

"Yeah, yeah, the run. Well I... I just thought I 'd give you guys an extra day of indulgences." I said with a relieved smile. Dakota suddenly entered my room, "What does that mean? Everyone gets tasteless dessert?" I hurled a pillow at her which promptly hit her in the head. Then, low and behold, who walks in but Nick.

"Hey, be careful!" he said outloud without realizing that he was being protective of Dakota in front of Brian and I. "Oh, my!" Brian took the words right out of my mouth. Nick started grasping for some control, unsuccessfully I might add.

"I just meant... you know... I mean... well you know..." "Thanks, Sky." As our moment was ending, Howie came in. He looked at Brian who understood the look and said, "Hey! I just had a dream also!" We all laughed at the reinactment of the "Everybody" video.

Without thinking I chirped in, "And I thought I was the only one who thought that scene was gay." I clapped my hand over my mouth, "I am so sorry. I could write a book with all the stuff I've thought aloud that I shouldn't have. Honestly, I'm so sorry!" Nick, Brian and Howie all looked at eachother and just busted up. Howie, with his severe bedhead, quickly explained to me that the whole scene was a big joke. And by the end of the story, we were all rolling with laughter. Suddenly, Dakota looked at me funny and starting making some weird gestures at me. I looked down only to realize that when I sat up to talk, the blanket had come off my chest revealing, well, all that I have to give through my tank top. I think Brian realized at the same time because, always the gentleman, he made some bullshit excuse and left the room. Finally, Dakota kicked Howie and Nick out of the room with orders to wake up A.J. and Kevin. She sat down at the edge of my bed and said,

"We have got to talk!"

Chapter 4