Note: Words in [ ] are thoughts.

B&C

Bradin opened the front door of the gigantic blue beach house and peered in.

"Aunt Ava? Johnny? Is anyone here?" Bradin called up the stairs.

"Bradin? Is that you? I'm up here!" Ava shouted down.

Ava pounded down the stairs still in her pajamas and slippers. Her hair was in a greasy ponytail.

"BRADIN WESTERLY!! You didn't tell me we had company!! And here I am, unshowered and dirty and just...AH!" Ava chased Bradin around the living room as Callie laughed, watching the scene in front of her.

Breathing hard, Bradin stopped running and addressed his aunt.

"Aunt...Ava...This is my friend Callie. Is it ok if I go to Dilly's with her?"

"Of course that's ok, but go change first please. Don't worry, I'll entertain Callie," Ava said, winking at Callie.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Bradin replied, starting up the stairs.

"So, Callie, tell me about yourself..."

C&N

Nikki sat on the front steps, careful to keep her legs crossed so that her underwear didn't show. She knew that she had a big goofy smile on her face and looked like an idiot, but she couldn't help it. She felt happier than she had in a while.

Nikki closed her eyes for a second thinking about how lucky she was, and she opened them to find Cameron standing in front of her, a big grin on his face. Cameron and a beautiful blond girl. A blond girl who's clothing covered up less than Nikki's swim suit.

Nikki looked at Cameron's face, confused at the stranger. His eyes pleaded with her saying, "Please Nikki, she wasn't supposed to be here, I'm so sorry."

The girl stepped forward and waved at Nikki, a friendly smile on her face.

"Hi! I'm Amber, Cameron's girlfriend. You must be Nikki. It's really great that Cameron is trying to make new friends, he doesn't have hardly any. I'm always telling him to put himself out there," Amber shoved Cameron playfully.

[Obviously she doesn't feel at competition with me. I knew it was too good to be true, damn]

"Hi Amber, yeah I'm Nikki. Well, um, I guess it's good to make new friends...I don't have too many myself since I just moved here," Nikki tried being friendly, but her words came out a little cold. She couldn't help how jealous and unhappy she suddenly felt.

Seeing how the conversation was going, Cameron moved to stand between the two girls and spoke to Nikki, "Nikki, are you ready to go?"

"Um, actually...Cameron I'm not feeling too good all of a sudden. You and Amber better go on without me. Call me later though...Maybe we can hang out tomorrow," Nikki flashed Cameron a flirtatious smile, waved at Amber and went back inside.

Nikki ran up to her room, through herself onto her bed and cried about every problem in her life. And because she's a teenager, you know there were tons. Her parents' death, her lack of friends, school starting soon...Nikki felt so overwhelmed...

B&C

Bradin spritzed himself with his favorite cologne and took the stairs two at a time. He'd already left Callie with Aunt Ava for too long...Who know what she could have said?

"Oh hi Bradin! Are ya ready to go?" Callie smiled at him, her face flushed.

[She's probably so red from laughing...I knew I shouldn't have left her with Aunt Ava for so long...She probably knows my entire life story now, down to the part where I pooped my pants in church when I was 8]

"Yeah Callie, I am. Let's get outta here," Bradin grabbed Callie's arm and dragged her out the door. She looked bewildered at first then started to giggle.

"Oh! I know what this is all about. Don't worry your secrets are safe with me," Callie laughed, and winked at Bradin.

Bradin couldn't watch her laugh and not laugh with her. Arm in arm they walked to Dilly's, both happier than they'd been in a long time.