Chapter 28 *

At the Beach;

Content with sitting dormant and letting Nicole attempt to build a sand castle, Amy and Kirsten silently concentrated on their tans. Amy broke the stillness between them and asked, "So what is up with you and Matt?"

Kirsten replied, "There is no me and Matt, and if he keeps it up, I don't know if I want a me and Matt." then she paused, "Who am I kidding, of course I would still want a me and Matt."

"You really like him don't you?"

With a drawn out sigh, Kirsten simply stated, "Yes"

"He was really shocked by the way your last call went. I think that was the first time anyone ever hung up on him before."

Kirsten smirked, "Good. Someone has to keep him on his toes."

Interrupting their seriousness, a sand covered Nicole ran over and jumped into Kirsten's lap. "Play now?"

Kirsten looked at Amy and in her best toddler imitation asked "pay now ames?"

Amy laughed, "No thanks, you two go play, I'm going to keep being lazy and soak in some more rays."

"OK, your loss." Kirsten hopped up, grabbing Nic by the ankles and threatening to throw her into the ocean. "Didn't I warn you about getting me all sandy?"

Nicole tried to apologize between laughing and squealing, "I sawy...I sawy."

"I don't think that's gonna cut it missy." Nicole, knowing what power she held at such a young age gave her aunt the puppy dog eyes.

"Oh no that ain't going to work. You're going in, one....two..."

Kirsten pretended to throw Nic into the water. "Got ya."

"Dat, wasn't funny." Nicole protested.

"I'll give you a 5 second head start."

"Nu uh, no chasy."

"Yes chasy"

"NOOOOOOO" yelled Nicole and proceeded to run around behind Amy. "Hide me."

"Ok" Amy gave in smiling and started to play along.

Kirsten called to Amy, pretending she didn't see where Nic went "Hey Amy, have you seen Nic? I can't find her anywhere."

"Nic? Nope, haven't seen her." The sound of a small giggle gives her away.

"Well, I hear some giggling, she must be close." Before Kirsten gets the chance, Nic hopped out from behind Amy with a teasing BOO! and shot off like a rocket.

Unbeknownst to the three beach bums they were about to be joined by the one and only infamous as of late, party pooper, Matt Hardy. Matt stood back and watched as the toddler tried valiantly to give her aunt a run for her money. Kirsten launched after Nic threatening, "I'm going to get you."

"Uh Uh!"

Since Nicole was headed in his direction, Matt inwardly went for it and stepped into the little girl's path. "Hey Nic, whatcha runnin from?"

Nicole momentarily swung around and pointed "Auntie Kirsten chase me!" and ran threw Matt's legs. Looking up Matt saw Kirsten overtake the little girl, sling her up like a sack of potatoes over her shoulder and triumphantly rub it in "Got ya!!!!"

Noticing Matt's look, Kirsten threw a greeting over her empty shoulder, "Hey Matt."

"Hey, um, can we talk?"

"Yeah sure, hang on a minute. Hey Nic, You hungry?"

"Uh huh."

"Let me go drop her off with Amy and get her something to eat."

"Ok."

Matt followed along like a lost dog. Amy glanced up from her book to see the three standing over her, "Hey you're blocking my sun! So, you caught her?"

"Yup, she's not so tough!" Kirsten put Nic down so she could set up a plate for her.

"I am too tough." Nicole retorted.

Kirsten laughed, "Oh yea, well how did I catch you if you are so tough?"

"He got in my way." Was the reply as she belligerently pointed to Matt.

Matt innocently threw his hands in the air "Don't look at me, she just ran threw my legs."

"You two get goin. I'll feed Nic."

Amy was aware of Matt's anxiousness to say something to Kirsten, however in a more private setting. Kirsten shot a side glance at Amy, "How did...forget it...I don't want to know."

Turning to Matt, she gestured towards the water, "Shall we walk?"

"Sure."