"When are they getting here?" Asked Jake, the oldest Hadford boy.
"Your the one that has Eddies number," said Wally, the second youngest brother.
"Oh yeah." Jake said, a little embarrassed that he forgot.
"I hope they still have game," said Josh, Jake's twin.
"Boys the Malloy's are here, go outside to greet them," orders their mom. All the boys then walked outside and lined up waited for their old frienemies to come
back.
The Malloy girls got out of the car and walked over the the Hadford house. When the boys saw them, their mouths dropped wide open, they just stared.
"Damn," thought Josh," Beth is prettier than I remember. I hope She still likes me." Josh and Beth had a thing for each other three years ago, and since she left, he hadn't met anyone that he liked as much as Beth Malloy.
All the Hadford boys changed in some way. Jake, the oldest, also the twin of Josh, still was a sports freak. His hair had gotten darker, he had grown taller, and he had some acne on his face which he was very embarrassed about. Josh, Jake's twin, looked exactly like Jake except instead of having light brown eyes, he had greenish bluish eyes, and a little taller. Wally, the middle child, had gotten a lot thinner, and taller. He had lively, brown eyes, and brown hair. Peter just grew taller.
"Hey," Eddie broke the awkward silence," long time, no see."
"Yeah..." Jake stumbled.
"You ok?" Eddie asked Jake who was just looking at her, wide eyed. His voice being a lot lower, obviously hitting puberty.
"Uh... What? Sorry." He said, feeling rather embarrassed. Eddie had always been one of the guys to Jake, he never looked at her as pretty. "What happened to her?" Jake wondered.
"How have you guys been?" Josh asked.
"Great. How about you guys?" Beth answered with a smile. She too noticed the change in the twins voices.
"Honestly? Pretty bored without you girls here." He replied truthfully. Josh couldn't get over how amazing Beth looked.
"Caroline, your awfully quiet," Wally observed.
"Yeah, I'm just so excited to be back," she told him.
"I'll bet," laughed Wally.
"Why don't come in and join us for dinner?" Mrs. Hadford insisted.
"Of course, thank you!" Smiled Mrs. Malloy.
"Come inside children," smiled Mr. Hadford.
All seven kids came in and went down to the basement to catch up with each other. Beth sat down by the end of couch, and Josh went over and joined her. Eddie and Jake were already talking about baseball tryouts for the upcoming year. That meant Wally was stuck with Caroline.
"Hello Wally..." She smiled and batted her eyelashes.
"Same old Caroline" Wally thought. He just sat there for a while staining into space wondering where people go when they die.
"Whatcha' looking at?" Purred Caroline's sweet voice.
"Nothing." Wally sounded annoyed.
Meanwhile Josh couldn't take his eyes off Beth.
"What?" Beth asked. "Do I have something on my face?"
"Oh, um sorry." Josh quickly said, and smiled. Beth noticed he was blushing
"Uh yeah." Beth realized she was now the one blushing. "So do you still like art?" She filled the awkward silence.
"Yeah, I've never been more interested," he answered," and you probably still like reading mystery books, I assume."
"Actually no, not as much as before. I've been very interested in photography lately," Beth laughed.
"Really? That's so cool!" Josh smiled at her. "Um Beth, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, of course!" Beth said.
"Hmm... You're not dating anyone are you?" Josh asked embarrassed, and he started turning red again.
"No, but there is someone I have in mind," giggling at Josh.
"Oh," Josh sounded sad. Beth could obviously tell he didn't get that he was that somebody, she was going to say something, but she decided to let him figure it out on his own.
Jake and Eddie were laughing in a corner I the other side of the room,"I can't believe the boys didn't except you on the team!" Jake sounded astonished, "you're the second best player I know, besides me."
"You mean that?" Eddie asked, not trusting Jake when it came to being nice.
"Yeah! You're amazing at any sport, you're funny, you're competitive, and not to mention you're pretty," Jake said, not wanting Eddie to know he's had a crush on her since they've met.
"Jake Hadford just said I'm pretty? Wow I must be, for you to say that," joked Eddie. Jake's ears turned bright red. "Girls must just be all over you, I mean you're athletic, you're really strong, and you're not so bad looking," Eddie laughed.
"Gee thanks," Jake laughed too.
"We should practice together sometime," Eddie suggested.
"How about tomorrow?" Asked Jake.
Just then Mrs. Hadfords voice shouted,"girls you're mom says its time to go!"
"It's a date," Eddie smiled at Jake as he started to blush again,"bye Jake!"
All the girls said goodbye, than thanked the Hadfords for a lovely evening, than left. The boys all gathered in the twins bedroom. "We'll Caroline's still crazy as ever," Wally reported.
"I think Eddie likes me." Admitted Jake.
"HA! In a million years!" Laughed Josh.
"What? A girl can't like me?" Jake sounded offended.
"Sure one can, but not by the name of Edith Anne Malloy," Wally said.
"We'll I think she does! But I certainly don't like her in that way!" Jake ensured, but deep inside, he had to admit he really did like her since they first came to Buckman. "We'll Mr. Romance, Beth still into you?"
"I don't think so, she said she liked someone..." He sounded disappointed.
"We'll anyways, I'm going to the school field to practice baseball with Eddie tomorrow," Jake stated.
"The whomper, the weirdo, and the crazy are back, " Wally said in a serious voice.
