WESCHESTER, NEW YORK

RICHFORD STREET

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19TH

4:45 P.M.

"Are you sure it's okay for us to just go uninvited?" Claire bit at her pastel nails uncomfortably.

"Of course we're invited, Kristen invited us. Right, Kristen?" Massie demanded.

"Uh, ya," Kristen halted mid-dribble, kicked up her soccer ball, and cradled it under her arm.

"I just don't get why we're going," Dylan's hands were deep in her emerald green coat, which laid in perfect contrast with her fiery red hair and matched naturally with Massie's green and white Jets letterman jacket.

"Oh-bviously to help support Kristen," Massie declared as if it were the most apparent fact in the world, "with her soccer."

Dylan glanced at Massie suspiciously before popping her gum, a new unappealing habit that she entertained herself with.

"God, would you please stop doing that!" Alicia raised her glove-protected hands to cup her ears while aiming a glare at her friend.

Dylan quickly blew and popped again.

"Hey, they're here," Massie watched as four boys led by a very adorable blond ran across the lawn to greet them.

Cam Fisher, Claire's stable boyfriend, raced over to Claire's side and slung a muscular arm over her shivering shoulders. Her borrowed Calvin Klein blouse wasn't exactly doing the job.

"You look like you're freezing," Cam released his sentimental self.

"Anyone have a Snuggie?" Claire joked, having seen the robe-worn-backwards infomercial just last week and finding the concept quite amusing.

Cam laughed a giddy chuckle and ran his hands against Claire's goose bump inhabited arms to create heat.

Massie rolled her eyes at the overly affectionate couple as Derrington approached her.

"Hey Block, surprise to bump into you," A curl of blond hair landed on his lashes and he blew a puff of wind through his pursed lips to push it away.

Derrington was truly adorable, but Massie wouldn't let him see how weak his every move made her feel. Instead of melting into a glop right there on her crush's neatly shaven lawn she aimed an irresistible grin at him as he advanced closer.

"Are you ready to play some ball?" Derrington snaked around Massie, bent low as if studying her like a lion about to pounce on his pray, a devious smirk played across his flawless face.

"Should I not take that so sexually?" Massie's head followed his movement carefully.

"No," He whirled around her again, slowly, attentively. "Think of it however you—" and before Massie could react Derrington raised up his broad arms and grabbed her in a gentle tackle, "—Want!"

Massie giggled wildly as Derrington snuggled her in a warm bear hug. "God!" She shrieked with laughter, "You're such a freak!"

"Mwuah!" Derrington added a loud Disney sound effect as he lightly pecked Massie's perfect nose.

"Alright! We get it! Break it up love birds!" Kemp Hurley, one of Derrington's faithful soccer friends, jokingly slid his arms between the tightly knitted couple and used all his force to part his arms. "Pecking time is over!"

"Come on, Hurley. Don't be jealous just cause I got the hottest girl at OCD!" Derrington stuck out his tongue childishly and wiggled his butt, something that had become a signature Derek Harrington move.

"Whatever! Let's just play some ball!" Kemp announced, leading the excited group into Derrington's back yard.

"Com'on Block," Derrington slid his arm over Massie's shoulder and led her in. A wave of exuberance exploded in Massie as she felt Derrington's gentle yet manly touch. Even though she regularly heard people refer to her as "beautiful" something about the way Derek said it really made her heart skip a beat.