A/N: sorry that it took so long to update, but I lost my notebook for those of you who didn't read that much on my bio. So sorry. But I have it now, and I doubt that'll happen again, so the rest of the story should be up soon. Sorry again!
DEAN
Day 4, 4:45 pm
"But Dean Talon is gonna get a medal, mark my words."
I smiled. I was back in the hotel room with Kori watching a replay of her performance.
"You didn't have to say that," I told her. "I'll be lucky if I finish 8th."
"That's OK," she replied, cheerfulness in her voice. "It's optimism."
Since she won, I'd never yet seen her frown. She changed a lot in that instant, I think. In that golden moment that she soared over the bar, she changed for the better.
"Do you wanna go out with me and Andy tonight?" she asked, going into the bathroom to put on some makeup.
"What's tonight?" I asked.
"Nothing special. Just a date."
"And you want me there?"
"No, but Andie does."
"Andy? Why the heck would he-"
"No, no. Andrea."
"She's going, too?"
Kori walked back out to the main room where I was. "No, but you could ask her."
"She wants me to?"
"Quit playing dumb, Dean!" She laughed. I expected her to hit me, but she didn't. Why was she laughing? I'd never seen her laugh before. "Of course she does. She's a girl. Any girl would wanna go out with you."
I'm pretty sure that's the first time she's ever given me a compliment.
"Excuse me?" I demanded. "Are you OK?"
She shrugged. "Sure I'm OK. Now get up and ask her out. We can double."
"Why are you acting so fruity?"
"Oh, it's just something Clowers told me. He said that all the guys here hate me because I'm such a witch. He told me to shut up and smile."
"I've told you that a million times."
"Yeah, but I don't listen to you." She laughed again. "Now get up, c'mon."
I sighed and stood. "Fine. What do you want me to do?"
"Change, then come with me to their hotel."
"Fine."
~*~
I knocked on the Carson's hotel room door and Jason opened it.
"Hey," he said. "What's up?"
"We're here for your brother and sister," I replied. "They here?"
"Andrew is, Andrea's not."
"Where is she?"
"Down by the pool. I'll get Andy."
Jason turned and walked over to get Andy, where his big brother ruffled his hair and gently pushed him away, then came up to Kori and me.
"Hey, guys," he said.
"Dean's coming with Andie," Kori informed him. "Once he asks her."
Andy smiled and left the room, shutting the door behind him. "That's cool," he said as we started walking towards the elevators. "I think she'd like that."
"Of course she would," Kori agreed. I shot her a look that said "Give it a rest" and she smiled smugly at me.
Andy looked at us for a minute while the elevator doors closed, then said, "OK… what's going on?"
"Dean doesn't think Andie wants to go out with him," Kori answered.
"I never said that. I just want you to quit smiling is all. Andy, I hope you realize that you're going out with oddest cookie in the jar."
Andy laughed. "She's just intimidating."
"Not anymore, she ain't. Ever since Clowers talked to her she's been having this superblond valley-girl thing going."
"Clowers? What'd he say?"
Kori shrugged as she stepped out of the elevator. "Told me to shut up."
Andy laughed. "I have a hard time believing that's the first time someone told you that."
"Hey! Bring it on!"
He laughed again as we entered the pool area. I saw Andrea sitting in the spa, her head tipped back facing the ceiling but her eyes closed, relaxed. I found myself surprised at her hair once again. Maybe I'd never get used to her having it shoulder-length after all that time of it being so short.
"Hey, Andrea," I said. Her eyes opened and her head lifted.
"Oh- hi, Dean. What are you guys doing here?"
"I was just wondering if you wanted to go to a movie or something."
"A movie?" she asked. "With my brother and your cousin?"
I glanced at them. I didn't know what they had planned.
"We're going to a coffee house," Kori said. "You guys could go see a movie or whatever alone."
I looked to Andie. "Or we could go out to eat."
She looked thoughtful as she got out and grabbed a towel. "OK… sure."
"Cool."