Chapter 3 - The Quarrel Begins

I ran downstairs and joined Nick. Nick turned round and put his arm around me.

"Brian, this is Sarah," he introduced me to B-Rok.

Brian looked fine! He was wearing a Reebok hat back to front and a big Tommy jumper. "Nice to meet you, Sarah," he said in a total gentleman way while helding out his hand.
I shook it. "Like wise," I said, grinning.
Brian's eyes widened. "You're American?" he asked me.
I nodded, blushing again.
"But you sounded like English," Brian commented.
"That's because I lived in England before. I moved to England when I was three," I explained.
"Hello sir," Brian said in his best English accent. "Cup of tea and a slice of cheese cake?"

Nick and I both laughed.
"Very good," I complimented.

Brian smiled and stepped in. He went straight to the kitchen and got himself a glass of water.

"Man," he said in between gulps. "I'm so thirsty!"

I smiled at Nick, who winked back. Man, today's gonna be good!

"Nick!!" I heard Bob called out.
"Yeah.." Nick replied.
"Could you come for a sec?" his dad requested.
"Alright," Nick shouted back. "I'll come back later. Hang out with Brian! You'll feel closer when you get to know him," he suggested.
"Yeah, sure," I said.

Nick left. But before I made my way to Brian, Tim came running up to me.

"Save me!" he whispered.
I gave him a funny look. "What the hell are you going on about?" I whispered back.
He pointed to BJ. "She's my problem!"
"Why? I thought you were getting on very well," I said casually.
"I was! Well.. until she kissed me!" He said, sounding shocked.
"So?" I asked him, confusedly.
"She kisses like a goldfish!" he complained. He started to act out a goldfish. bobbing up and down with his mouth opened.
I laughed. Brian who's standing across me gave me a weird expression.

"What are you doing?" BJ, who came from upstairs, asked.
Tim blushed and said," being a goldfish."
BJ smiled and grabbed his hand. "Let's go to my room again," she suggested.
Tim cringed and looked at me. I smiled and told him to have fun.
"Oh, he will," BJ assured me and gave me a wink.

"What's going on there?" Brian asked me.
I shook my head. "Oh, girl trouble," I cracked.
Brian laughed. "Don't tell me, Tim just found out that BJ kisses like a goldfish," he said, laughing again.
He titled his head and raised his eyebrows. "Am I right?" he asked.
I blushed and nodded my head. "How did you know?"
"Ask AJ," he said.
"AJ McLean?" I asked him, suddenly excited.
A strange expression replaced his fading smile. "Yeah, AJ from BSB," he explained.
"Oh right," I said, totally embarrassed.

Brian puts his hand around me. "Want me to get you a drink?" he asked.
"You thirsty again?" I asked him, laughing.

He nodded and led me over to where Jane and my mom were standing.
"Jane, can we get a drink?" he asked, while smiling at my mom.
Jane nodded and pointed out where the drinks were.
"How do you do?" Brian asked, in a posh accent, to my mom. He's still in the joking mood.
My mom smiled. "Fine, thanks. I'm Janice"
"I'm Brian." Brian looked at me and then at my mom. "Mother and daughter, right?" he asked my mom.
My mom smiled. "We sure are. So, Brian - you're in that group my two daughters are always going on about?" my mom asked him. "You mean, the BSB?" Brian asked.
"That's the one!" my mom cried. "Well, I guess I'm in it. Nice meeting you. Sorry, what's your name again?" Brian asked.
"Janice," my mom replied.
They shook hands again.
Brian turned his face to me. "So, still want a drink?" he asked.
"Sure," I told him.

Brian gently took my hand and we walked over to the table where the drinks were. Brian picked up two Cokes for and handed me one.

"There you go," he said, still handling me the Coke.
I took it off him and said thanks.
"Wanna sit over there?" he asked, pointing to a seat outside.
"Wherever," I said casually.

I sat down. Brian sat beside me.

"So tell me about yourself. Where about in England do you came from?" he questioned me.

I blushed when I realized that Brian's legs were touching mine. I wonder if he knew.

"Man United," I replied.
"I like England. It's a great place," he said. He opened his Coke and took a sip.
"Okay, now it's my turn to give you questions," I said. "Do you know Hanson?" I asked him.
"What kind of question is that?" he asked me, smiling like a devil.
"It's a question, isn't it?" I replied.
Brian smiled. "I don't want you to ask me questions," he bragged.
His demanding blue eyes looked deep into my eyes. "I wanna know about you," he demanded.
He leaned over and before I knew it, he kissed me on the lips. I pulled away, in a state of shock.

"What was that for?" I asked him.

He didn't answer me but still, he tempted to kiss me again. I hesitated. I felt my face turning red that it felt as though I was in an oven. Brian slightly blushed and stood up.

"I'm sorry. I should go," Brian said.
"No, don't!" I cried. I jumped and put my Coke next to his.
"But what if Nick knew?" he turned my face me, looking into my eyes. "The kid likes you."
I looked down at the floor. I didn't have the strength to look him in the eyes. "Sorry Brian," I said and turned to walk away.

He grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him.
"I like you, Sarah," he whispered in my ear.
Brian likes me? I thought. "Brian -" I started to say.
"What?" he asked quickly.
I sighed. "I'm sorry but I.. I love Nick too much. I have never loved anyone except him - even you. He's very special to me. I'm really sorry, Brian," I said, looking down.

"I see. I'm really sorry too, Sarah. I shouldn't do that," he apologized. "Not a word to Nick, okay?"

I nodded. We walked back over to where Jane and my mom were standing. Tim and Nick had joined them.

"Where have you been?" Nick asked Brian.
"We were getting a drink," Brian replied, lying.

Nick looked at him as if he knew something but couldn't quite put his finger on what. I realized I was still trembling.

"I think the meat's about done, honey," Bob said to Jane from the barbecue stove, breaking the tension.

"About time. I'm starving!" Tim said greedily, rubbing his tummy.

Nick was still giving Brian an evil eye. "Brian, can I talk to you?" he demanded.

Brian looked at me. I nodded. Nick and Brian walked off to where Brian and I were sitting just now. I was about to watch them talk when BJ came over to me.

"Sarah, can I talk to you - please?" she asked me.

She looked quite upset so I took her hand and led her over to the side of the swimming pool.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.
In my mind, I have a thought that maybe Tim had told her that she kissed like a fish?
"It's Tim," she began
I knew it! I thought. Tim must've told her!
"The thing is.. he told me he had a girlfriend. I thought he likes me," she said, sobbing. She started to cry so I put my arms around her.
"Is it true?" she inquired.
"Yeah, it's true," I lied.

Tim owed me BIG TIME now! But lying only made it worse as BJ started to cry harder. Tim walked over.
"What's going on?" he asked.
BJ looked up. "I hate you!" she burst.
Tim was taken back by her outburst. "Hey, what did I do?" he squeaked.
"You told me you had a girlfriend!" BJ burst again.

Tim laughed and grabbed BJ. He put his arms around her and kissed her a smack on her lips.
"Well, she's history now!" he laughed. I smiled, thinking how sweet the two of them until I was interrupted by a yell from Nick. Brian and Nick were screaming at each other. Tim, BJ and I ran over to see what's going on.

"Leave us alone!" Nick spat when he saw us. "Just piss off and leave us alone!"
"No, wait," Brian said. He grabbed my hand. "I'm coming with you."
"Bloody hell, Brian!" Nick screamed. "I'm still talking to you!"
"Well I'm through with talking. I'm hungry," Brian said in a stern voice and walked away, leaving Nick alone.