CH 2 - Attraction

I've never been the type of guy to stay in a relationship for more then three weeks – four at the most. I'm not sure why, but I often use the excuse of my parents. They got divorced when I was nine-years-old. You could say that I got real traumatized by it. I even started to smoke at that age. I didn't do drugs, get high or get drunk or anything; I just smoked.

Anyway, I sort of didn't believe in that whole love story my parents used to tell me before I went to bed. About finding the one person you truly love. And yes, I know this sounds incredibly girly, but they did tell me stories like that. And I was glad cause back then, a lot of my friend's parents were splitting apart and I felt lucky. But in the end, they broke up. So I lost all my hope and faith. So at 16-years-old, I didn't care about a long-term relationship. I just wanted to be with someone. To kiss, to hold, it really didn't matter who as long as I wasn't alone.

Which was why I found it so odd that Katie's brother who knows that I don't have long-term relationships with girls, would ask me to do this. Surely he couldn't have expected me to stick with her. I know she's my friend and all, but that's all she is. She doesn't even have a figure; or at least I thought she didn't.

So it was the strange day, Mid-December, at Larry's pool party that I found out I was incredibly attracted to her. Now don't ask me why Larry, keyboardist of School of Rock, would hold a pool party in the middle of winter, but it was indoors and it was heated, so why the hell not?

There had been two months since the bet was made and I still had made no attempt to ask her out. If I was going to do this, I had to do it correctly. And I would have to do it right the first time even though I know I'd get more money the other way, but it wasn't about the money. It was about my pride. My stupid, stupid pride.

As usual, I was the last to arrive. Everybody was in the pool throwing around the beach ball, except for Dewey and Tomika who decided to sit down and eat some barbeque. And of course; there was one other person missing; Katie.

Already in my trunks, I walked toward Dewey who was putting CD's in the radio. "Hey Dew," I called out to him.

"Hey Fredy," he said looking over his CD collection. "About time. We were worried."

"You know me," I said and set my bags aside. "I'm never on time. Well sometimes."

"Well what are you waiting for buddy? Jump in the pool!" Dewey ordered in a voice that wanted you to have fun, yet it was still being bossy at the same time.

Without a response, I did a cannonball into the pool where everybody looked at me for a minute. The next second, they lunged at me.

"Freddy!" Summer whined. "You ruined our beach ball record!"

"So just start where you left off. They'll never know," I shrug and give her a nuggy on the head.

"About time you came man," Larry said swimming towards me to give me a hug. He looked a lot different then when I first met him. I guess you could say he was more 'cool' like he always wanted to be. He dressed baggier, had spikier hair, and he ditched the glasses. Not to mention, lotsa asian girls were after the guy. All thanks to me.

"Yeah," I said wiping my face. I looked around. "Where's Katie?"

"I think she's still getting dressed," he said. At that moment, I heard footsteps emerge from the dressing room and there's Katie looking hot as ever. Her hair tied into a high ponytail as usual, only it was messy in this sexy looking kind of way. Her skin was smooth with not one scar or scratch. Sure she had a few moles on her arms and a zit here and there, but to me, all that went unnoticed. Her two piece suit, had revealed a figure that can very well match J. Lo's. Boy was I wrong about that.

I cat-whistled her and she looked straight at me. That was the first time I noticed how pretty her honey brown eyes were. How easily I could stare into them all day without getting bored. "Shut up, Freddy!" She joked at me and jumped in the water. "Summer I'm going to kill you for making me wear this!" She swam after Summer who screamed and laughed.

"Relax," I said. "For once in your life, you look hot." Everybody turned to look at me like I was insane. Did I just say that out loud? From the looks on everybody's faces, especially Katie's disgusted look that she gives to perverts, yes I did just say that out loud.

I felt myself get a little pink, but no way in hell was I going to let anybody know I was embarrassed. I shrugged casually, "Oh like all of you weren't thinking it either."

"Shut up Freddy!" she splashed water at me. Then she got out of the pool, "That's it. I'm changing."

I grabbed her ankle and pulled her in the water so she fell in with a big splash. "Come on, we're just kidding around," I smiled at her. "Besides I was only saying it to get on your nerves. You know me. I could never like you or Summer or Marta or Tomika in that way."

"Yeah, you're right," she said softly and then hit me in the arm. "Don't do that again!" Then she swam off to shout at Summer who I assumed, made her wear the suit in the first place. Truth was, I really did mean what I say and I wanted to see her stay a bit longer in that suit. I knew I wasn't going to get to see her in it for a long time.

A/N: Short chapter I know, but thank you to everyone who reviewed! I know it took a while, but I was having trouble coming up with a follow up. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. XD Oh and can anybody please tell me if this chapter seemed a bit too corny? It was the best I could do, so I apologize.

A/N 2: Yes, I have changed my pen name to nissanchild. Apparantly missbrightside was already taken. Oh well.

Shout Outs:

32SBLJ

len2len

sofea

angeLgurL91

brooke

wyverna

D/HR Shippier

Nanners-77

Springfieldcutie045

Autumnsunlight

IluvRockN'Roll

x-comeonhome

ashley09

xxxAznShrimpxxx

dracosbabe41

Swimmerkitti: Yeah, I was a bit worried it'd be too much like Draco and Hermione type of fics, but I'm trying not to let it go near anywhere like that. If you can, please give me advice. I know this sounds weird, but I always look up to you as a very professional writer. I don't know why, but I just do. You always have great advice and you seem like a tough critic so I'm glad when I get good reviews from you.

Ameila Bedelia: You know, I haven't actually thought of that, but thanks for telling me! If I use it, I'll give you credit.

luv 4 jon 4 evr: I'm very flattered that you're reading both of my stories! Thanks so much! I will update Don't Ever Let Me Go. It's just taking me a while. I need to think of something that will make you and others satisfied. Don't worry; I won't quit on it. I love it too much to do that. :P