Chapter 7

Niles swam while CC sun bathed. (And no, she didn't ask Niles to help her with her sunscreen.)

It was very hot out, and Niles was happy he was in the pool. He was also happy that CC was out of the pool, so he ould look at her.

While Niles was staring, he noticed something on to the right of CCs stomach. "Hey," He asked her, "How did you get that scar?" He pointed to the mark.

CC sat up on the chair she was laying in, "It's a long story." She told him, "That I'd rather not talk about right now." She nodded her head in the direction of the few house guests that were playing cards just a few feet away.

"Okay." He told her, "Sorry."

She had already laid back down, but sat up at this, "It's okay," She assured, "I'll tell you, just not now." Then she laid back down.

A few minutes later, while Niles was playing with a beach ball by himself in the pool, he got an idea.

He looked over at CC, who had her eyes closed under her sunglasses, and was laying flat on her back in the chair. Niles quietly moved over to the edge of the pool, and when the other house guests looked at him, he made a shhhhh sign, bringing his finger to his mouth. Then, carefully, he pulled one leg out of the pool, pushed his body out, and brought the other.

He checked CC again, then slowly crept over to her. Then, without any notice, scooped her up in his arms.

"Ahh!" She yelled.

The house guests laughed.

"Would you like to swim with me?" Niles asked, smiling.

"Niles!" CC yelled, he was standing at the edge of the pool, and she was worried. "I swear, if you throw me in this pool.....I......I'll....."

"You'll what?" He asked.

"Remember, Niles, you have to be locked up in a room with me for one whole day!" She tried to convince him to keep her dry.

"Good try, Babcock." He told her, "Have fun!"

"Nil-" Splash!

When she emerged, she looked at Niles, still standing on the side of the pool.

"Niles?" She asked.

"Yes, CC?" He smirked.

She smiled flirtatiously, and blinked noticeably. "You don't want to join me?" She pouted slightly.

Niles' smirk disappeared. CC slowly got out of the water, and walked over to him.

"You don't......like me?" She whispered in his ear.

He was breathing heavy now. "I like you." He told her.

She brought her lips close to his ear, "Good." She told him, "Because then you won't be mad at me."

He got confused. "Mad, about what?"

"This!" She yelled, and she pushed him into the pool.

Later, after Niles and CC had just finished changing back into their clothes, CC asked Niles, "You want to know about my scar?"

He nodded, "Yes, but only if you feel comfortable."

She sat down next to him on the bed and sighed. "The only person I've ever told this story to was Sara." She warned him.

"CC..... if you're uncomfortable...." He was interrupted.

"-No! I want to tell you," She told him honestly, tears forming in her eyes, "It was just really horrible."

"Take your time." He told her.

"I was twelve, and was staying with my Nana for the weekend. I loved my Nana. She was so much more.......normal than the rest of my family. She had money, but lived like a normal, middle-class person."

He nodded.

"I remember she took me to the store to get a new bike, because I had out grown my old one. When we came home, it was raining. I asked her if I could still ride my bike, and I remember she told me 'Your mother will be so upset with me, but ride your bike.' So, I did. I was only allowed to ride around the block, that was the rule." The tears were streaming down her face, both from the memory of her Nana, and the memory of what had happened next.

Niles listened intently.

"I went down to the end of Nana's block, and then down to the next corner, so I was about halfway. As I rode down the third block, I noticed a man on his bike. He was about 40, I'd say. He had a black beard, and was a little scruffy looking. I figured he was just another homeless person picking up cans and such in the rode. I politely nodded as I went by, as anyone would, and continued on my way." CC told the story.

"Then......" She stopped to catch her breath from crying, "I felt someone push me off of my bike."

Niles' eyes widened. "He picked me up off of the ground, covered my mouth, and told me not to scream, but I didn't listen........... " She was crying uncontrollably now. "I screamed and screamed, the whole time he kept hitting me,trying to stop me....... I thought for sure I was going to die, but finally a woman came out of her house and yelled at the guy.........." She took a deep breath, "I figured he'd go away, but he pulled out a pocket knife, and stabbed me, then he dragged the knife down my stomach, pulled it out, and ran off."

"He just stabbed you for no reason?" Niles asked.

CC shrugged. "I guess. I'd never seen the guy before. I got taken to the emergency room, and they stitched me up. It was a shock I was still alive after all of the blood I'd lost. The scar is just a small price to pay for still being alive."

Niles reached out, and brushed the tears from her cheeks. "I'm sorry that happened to you." He told her.

She smiled, "Me too."

He laughed lightly, and reached forward to hug her.

She sighed in his arms. "No one knows, by the way," She told him, "And I'd like to keep it that way."

He pulled away, "I think I can do that."

"Thank you." She smiled.

Knock, Knock!

"Come in!" Niles yelled.

Jackie appeared in the doorway. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, but Bob made spaghetti for dinner. Everyone's down stairs, if you'd like to join us."

"We'll be right down." CC told the her.

Jackie closed the door and left.

After everyone finished their dinner, Niles leaned over and whispered in CCs ear, "Would you like to talk to Kenny and Janet now?"

CC nodded.

So, Niles got up, and helped clear the table, and as everyone dispersed, he and CC walked down the hall to Janet and Kenny's room.

Niles knocked on the door.

"Come in!" They heard.

"Hi." CC told Janet.

Kenny came out of the bathroom. "Hey, guys."

"Hello." Niles told them.

"We just wanted to see where your heads were for nominations Tuesday." CC told the couple.

Janet nodded, "You want to know if you're going up."

CC sheepishly told her, "Yeah."

"You're most definitely safe." Kenny told them.

"Yeah?" Niles asked.

"Oh yeah," Janet nodded, "We like you guys. No way are you going up."

CC smiled, "Okay, then, we'll see you tomorrow." And she headed out the door.

"Thank you." Niles told them, and he followed CC to their room.

"Arrgghhh!" CC groaned from the bathroom.

"What is it?" Niles asked through the door.

CC came out. "I think they're playing with us." CC told him, and she spun around.

"Oh!" Niles exclaimed.

It didn't take long for Niles to figure out what CC was refferring to. Her nightgown had once again gotten shorter, because now Niles could see her whole entire leg.

"Yeah." CC said, "Why can't they just give me sweat pants?"

"I don't know." He told her honestly. "But, you aren't the only one who's wardrobe has been cut down."

CC got a confused look on her face for a moment, and then, looking at him again, realized he was shirtless.

CC smiled a little, thinking of a sarcastic comment.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing." She replied, knowing her zinger would just be setting herself up for one.

"No, come on. I know you've got a good one, so just say it."

"I don't know why they assume I want to see you shirtless." She burst out, then quickly mocked him just as he was responding, "'At least someone wants to see me shirtless.'"

They both laughed.

"How'd you..." He began to ask.

"It's a pretty old one, Niles. You really do need some new material." She told him as she sat down on the bed.

He laid next to her. "I'll try to work on that." He said, getting a smile from CC.

CC opened her mouth to respond, but Anna's voice came over the loud speaker. "House guests, please come to the living room I have a special announcement."

CC looked at Niles questioningly.

He shrugged.

CC slipped on a robe, there was no way she was going down stairs in what she had on, and she and Niles went to the living room.

"Hello, house guests." Anna appeared on the screen.

"Hi, Anna." They all replied.

"Below me on the table are 10 catalogs. One for each couple. Go ahead and take one." She instructed.

All of the couple's grabbed a catalog. "These catalogs are full of baby stuff. You may have noticed your catalog has a pen attached. What we need you to do, is in your catalog, pick a crib, a changing station, and any clothes you want. Girl or Boy. Circle the items with your pen, and put your catalog back on the table. You have 10 minutes. Hurry."

CC and Niles flipped through their catalog. "What color crib do you want?" Niles asked her.

"I don't know, but it should match the changing station." CC answered.

"What about white?" Niles supplied, "It would match our room."

CC nodded, "Good point."

"Alright, house guests. Time's up. Put your catalogs on the table." Anna stopped them.

They all got up and placed their catalogs back on the table. After they were all seated again, Anna announced, "I'm sure you are all wondering what this is for. The only thing I can tell you is it has to do with the Truth or Dare Competition tomorrow. Go and get some sleep. Good night, house guests." And then, she was gone.

Niles and CC headed up to bed along with the other couples. All wondering what was in store for them tomorrow.