Chapter Nine


Later that day they were lying by the pool catching some rays. Nick would look at Hannah lying in the chair next to his. She was absolutely gorgeous, Nick wanted to tell Hannah how he felt about her, he just didn’t know how. It was a good thing that he could pretend.

Hannah looked at Nick; they had been lying by her pool for most of the morning now. He looked like he was a million miles away. Hannah quietly pulled a super soaker out from under her chair. She silently pointed the gun at Nick and pulled the trigger. The cold water hit Nick as a shock and he jumped up and screamed.

“Hey!” he looked at Hannah who had a mischievous grin on her face.

“Got ya.” She said wiggling her eyebrows.

“You’re dead.” He said and Hannah squirted him again and then took off. He grabbed a gun and went after her. He chased her all around the house. It was like they were five years old again. In the backyard Hannah hid behind a bush and jumped out when Nick went by.

“Ahh!” he yelled and dropped his gun, then jumped on Hannah pulling her down to the ground, right into a patch of mud.”

“Nicholas Gene Carter!” she yelled at him.

“Hannah Celeste Amour!” he yelled right back. They both burst out laughing at each other. Hannah took some mud and slapped it on his face. Nick returned the favor and put mud in her hair, soon they were wrestling and covered with mud. Hannah quickly had Nick pinned to the ground. Mike and the gang walked over and interrupted the pair.

“Whoa, sorry, we’ll leave you guys alone.” Garrett said laughing. Hannah and Nick stopped, looked at each other and smiled. They ran into the group pulling them into the mud patch as well. No one escaped with out getting mud on themselves. Afterward they took pictures of themselves covered in mud. After they had cleaned up from the mud they went to the park for a picnic. Nick and Hannah were late getting there because they had the most mud to clean off. Nick gave Hannah a piggyback ride from the car to where the gang was gathering. Tim gritted his teeth when he saw them, he just wanted to rip them apart. He knew that he had no chance against Nick. Nick was a famous, rich, pop star; he could give Hannah everything she could want. Even though their school was a huge success, it wasn’t enough to measure up to Nick. Hannah hopped off of Nick and came over to where Tim was standing.

“Hey you, what are you doing here all by yourself?”

“Nothing just thinking, that’s all.”

“Oh, what are you thinking about?” She asked. Tim looked at her with a smile.

“Nothing really, just zoning.”

“Okay,” she said and paused, “Tim I have a huge favor to ask you.”

“What do you need, Hannah?”

“Would it be okay if moved our date on Thursday?” Tim’s heart sank.

“Why?” He asked but he had a feeling that he already knew the answer.

“Oh nothing big, it’s just that Nick is leaving on Friday and I want to try to get as much time in with him as possible. I probably won’t see him again for a while after this. Is it okay?” ‘No.’ Tim thought, but he said,

“Yeah, sure, no problem. When do you want to move it to?”

“Oh, how about next Wednesday or Friday?” she replied.

“Um, next Wednesday sounds great, as long as you don’t keep me out too late.”

“Well I’ll try to get you in before curfew.”

“Okay.” He joked and they both laughed. Hannah slid her arm around his waist.

“Come on, I’m starving, let’s go eat.” Tim put his arm around her shoulders,

“You read my mind.”

When Hannah and Tim came back to the group, Nick glared at them. Did Hannah not tell him something about her and Tim? Nick knew that Tim was moving in on Hannah, so he would have to tell her how he felt before it was too late.

The picnic went well, they played a game of touch football after they ate. It was one of Hannah’s favorite days by far. She basically had everyone she loved near her and they were all getting along. Hannah hadn’t been this happy in a long time. She took a break from the game and sat on the side watching everything around her with the biggest smile on her face. Nick jogged over and sat down next to her. He took a long drink of water. He was all sweaty from playing football, but Hannah thought he never looked better. ‘Wait a minute,’ she thought, ‘Did I just think that Nick looked hot? What the hell is wrong with me? This is Nick we’re talking about, the boy who used to cry every time he saw a clown.’ Another thought popped into her head; ‘He’s also the boy who held you all night when you were scared.’

“Hey, where are you, Hannah?” Nick said noticing her faraway look.

“Huh? Oh nothing, just thinking how perfect this day has been.”

“Oh,” he smiled, “Me too.” Their eyes locked for just a few seconds but it made Hannah’s heart beat a little faster. A football flying into Nick’s lap broke their conversation. They both looked where the ball came from and there was Tim smiling and waving at them.

“C’mon Nick, you plan on wussing out?” he yelled. Hannah laughed,

“You better go play, your manhood’s at stake.”

“If this was basketball, I’d be kicking their ass.” Nick jogged back out to play. Roxy came over to sit.

“Hey you, why aren’t you out there playing? It’s a lot of fun! Cute boys chasing you and wrestling you to the ground.” Roxy laughed and Hannah smiled.

“I would love to, but my knee is acting up again. I don’t want to push it.”

“Oh, okay, I didn’t know you had a problem with your knee.”

“It’s no big deal, I busted it when I was younger and every now and then it acts up.”

“Kay. You know what I can’t thank you enough for being Nick’s best friend. He’s so sweet and nice. It’s like he’s a normal guy.”

“That’s because he is a normal guy, just like everyone else.”

“Except that he’s wanted by millions upon millions of girls and he’s worth about fifty billion dollars.”

“He’s not worth that much money. Besides money isn’t everything.” She finished.

“Yeah, but it sure helps. Do you think he likes me?”

“Sure he likes everyone. He thinks you’re all great!”

“No, no, I mean do you think I would have a chance with him.”

“Really Roxy, I have no clue. He hasn’t mentioned you, but that doesn’t mean anything. Why don’t you just ask him? But then again that would be way too easy for you.” Hannah said sarcastically. Roxy rolled her eyes.

“It would be, plus what if I did and he didn’t feel the same way, how embarrassing would that be? I would just die! So could you talk to him and find out?” Roxy pleaded. Hannah gave in,

“Sure.” Roxy nearly attacked her,

“Oh, I love you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Roxy hugged Hannah almost suffocating her. Roxy then jumped up and ran to finish the game. Mike’s team (Mike, Kerrie, Anna, Sam and Tim) ended up winning the game. Hannah suggested that everyone celebrate back at her house before they headed over to the bar. They all agreed and began to pick up the picnic to leave. Hannah tried to get up and he knee gave out on her, Nick caught her and helped her to stand.

“You’re knee bothering you again?” He asked and Hannah nodded her head wincing in pain.

“Okay let’s get you home.” Nick quickly scooped her up in his arms. Mike ran over worried,

“Is everything okay, Hannah?” Nick answered for her.

“She’s okay, her knee is just bothering her again.” Mike ignored Nick,

“Hannah?”

“I’m fine Mike, my knee’s just acting up just like Nick said.”

“Well maybe we shouldn’t come over to your place then.”

“No really, I’m fine. We’re having the get together. Now go get ready.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Mike saluted jokingly and ran off. Nick took Hannah to the car and gently laid her inside the passenger seat. Hannah looked at her knee, it was swelling slightly. Nick got in the car and started it up. He noticed her worried look.

“It’ll be okay once we get home. We’ll put your knee up and put some ice on it. You’ll be just fine, just fine.” Nick finished saying it more to himself that to Hannah.