"What are you looking for?"

Adrienne looked back over her shoulder at Leslie, who stood in the doorway. "That bat BJ mentioned she had to keep Nick in-line with. Got any idea as to where it can be?"

Leslie laughed. "Trust me. It will take more than a bat to knock some sense into that boy, I'm sorry." Adrienne shrugged and shut the door to BJ's closet. "Though we do keep some mallets locked up in the kitchen pantry, if that will help any."

Adrienne snickered and flopped on to an inflatable chair. "Thanks, they may come in handy later."

"What's wrong? Nick bugging you already?"

"Oh, he's doing more that that!" The inflatable chair wobbled as she tried to make herself comfortable in it. "I'm sorry, but your brother is a---"

Leslie chuckled and shook her head. "Oh, no need to tell me what my brother is. I know that all too well, thank you." She plopped down on to the carpet in front of Adrienne and drew her knees up to her chest. "How long did it take you to realize this?"

Adrienne rolled her eyes as the memory of her flight over Nick's drumset came to mind. "Give or take?" she snorted. "I'd say less than 10 seconds after I met him."

Leslie raised a brow at Adrienne's response. "It took you that long?" The two girls giggled. "Don't worry, Andre. Nick has his moments." She smiled as she stood. "He can be pretty cool at times, believe it or not." She stretched a hand out to Adrienne.

Adrienne took her hand and pulled herself up off the chair. "They must come too far and in between, because he's been just downright rude to me ever since he came through the door yesterday."

"Maybe he just needs to get to know you better."

"Ha ha ha." Adrienne shrugged. "Whether that be the case or not, I have no desire to get to know him better, and could care less if he feels the same."

Leslie just sighed and grabbed a basketball from the floor. "You want to play a little one on one?"

Adrienne popped her gum and smiled. "I suppose I'm game." The two girls vacated the room and Leslie shut the door behind them.

"What's HE doing out here?" Adrienne scowled back at him as she knelt to tie her shoelace. "He should be inside playing Nintendo with Aaron."

He sneered at her. "I bet she only came out here to bug me."

Adrienne returned his intense gaze. "He's out here to bug me, I bet."

"Move over, big bro." Leslie commanded, shoving Nick playfully out of her way. "Me and Andre here are gonna play a little one on one."

Nick snickered. "Andre? Play basketball?" Nick shook his head. "This ought to be interesting."

Adrienne paid no attention to Nick or his snide remark, but took the ball from Leslie, performed an easy lay-up, and passed it back to her.

"Wow. I am impressed." Nick snorted, giving Adrienne applause.

Leslie shot him a look and he stopped. "Here, Andre. Take it out first." She tossed the ball back to Adrienne, who took it outside the court line and threw it in. Leslie quickly snatched the ball and dribbled past Adrienne, scoring the first point. She chucked it back at Adrienne. "1 and 0."

The two girls paused to glare at Nick, who was doubled over in laughter. "That-that was pitiful!" Tears were streaming down his face from laughing so hard, and he brushed them away. "Oh, that was bad. Here." Adrienne passed the ball to him. "Let me show you how it's done."

"Nick?" Leslie griped, watching Nick take the ball up the court and shoot a three-pointer. "We don't need you to give us a seminar on how to play basketball, thank you." She quickly snatched the ball back from him and dribbled it back over to Adrienne. "Take it out."

"Fine. Don't accept my offer to help." He sprawled out on to the grass and sipped from his bottled water. "If you want your partner there to play like an amateur, then have at it."

Adrienne growled and threw the ball towards Nick. "I'll show you amateur! Get out here!"

Nick smirked, knowing too well his plan had worked like a charm. Leslie stepped out of the way as Nick slowly dribbled up the court towards Adrienne. "I'll be sure to go easy on you, Andre."

"Save it, Carter. Just play."

Nick swung around her and tossed the ball up at the basket. Missed. "Damn." he cursed as Adrienne took the ball and dribbled it out.

"He's trying to make a fool of me. I know what he's trying to do." Adrienne thought as she took the ball back out. "Well, he's gonna have to get me first!" She quickly swerved around him as he came lunging towards her and threw the ball from the three-point line. Nothing but net.

Adrienne smiled and tossed the ball back to him. "Don't be too easy on me now."

Nick growled and took the ball outside the court. Tossed it to Adrienne. He guarded. She shot. Off the backboard. Straight into the net.

"Nuh-uh!" Nick bellowed as she smiled coyly and tossed the ball back to him. "You're cheating!"

"Poor sportsmanship is never appreciated on the court, Nickolas." Adrienne cooed, beaming from ear to ear.

Leslie stiffled a snicker as her brother's face grew redder with anger by the second. "Andre sure knows how to put him in place."

The game continued on the same course, Nick scoring a point to Adrienne's three of four. By the time the game was drawing to a close, Nick was to the point of spitting flame.

"I'm not letting you make the last point." Nick growled, passing the ball back to Adrienne. He picked up his game a bit, blocking all her shots and keeping her from scoring any addition points that would end the game in her favor. Soon, the game was tied up: 14 to 14.

"Looks like you may be losing this one after all, Andre." Nick cackled, taking the ball out. Adrienne narrowed her eyes and wiped the sweat that had formed above her brow.

Nick tossed her the ball and she dribbled it up the court, Nick on her like white on rice.

She turned left. He tried to steal the ball.

She turned right. He swiped at it again.

Turned left again. Nick knocked it from her grasp. She reached and grabbed it back.

She growled. Swerved around him. He reached to block her path.

She turned back and shot. Nick jumped to knock it back at her.

She shot again. Another block.

Gritting her teeth, she pivoted to her left and dribbled past him. He came from behind.

He tried to block. Too late. She shot. Off the rim. Into the basket.

The two girls threw their arms up in victory and shouted. Nick just kicked at the asphalt and picked up the ball.

"Woo-hoo, Andre! You were awesome!" Leslie gave her friend a high-five.

"I haven't had that much fun in a long time." Adrienne laughed, twisting the top off of her Gatorade.

"You were burning the court up out there!" She shook her head as if in disbelief. "You just kept sinking one shot after another! You whipped him!" She continued to gush as the two made their way back up the drive towards the house.

Nick watched from his spot on the lawn, a frown on his face. "I lost........I lost bad.....I lost to a girl." He glanced back up at the two girls and sighed heavily. "Even worse? I lost to Adrienne..."