On the next day Mack and I were waiting for Brady in front of Big Momma's. After a few minutes we saw him coming towards us, dressed in a typical surfer outfit.

"What's up, Elvis?", he said mocking us.

"Hey, frat boy", I replied laughing.

"How'd last night go?", Mack asked cutting straight to the point.

"So cool being one of those guys, even for a night, ya know? They look out for each other", he said dreamily.

"Well, we couldn't get Lela to talk about Tanner"

"I don't think we're any closer than we we're before", I said worried.

"Not really, no"

"What if we can't get them together? We could be stuck here forever"

"Would it be so bad?", Brady and I asked her.

"Yes! Every minute that I'm here, is another minute that I'm not doing what my mom wanted", Mack tried to explain.

"Every minute that we're here, we're together", Brady replied.

I decided to give them a moment and went into Big Momma's. Inside I went to the counter and waited for a waiter to notice me.

"Hey Lily, do ya want to sit with us?", Chee Chee asked when she noticed me.

"Sure, I'll just grab something to drink first, ok?"

"Okay, we'll be waiting over there", she said while pointing at the booth in the right corner.

After that she turned around and walked away. Not long after a waitress came and I ordered a Chocolate Shake. I asked if she could bring it to our booth and when she nodded, I went to the others.

"Hey, guys", I said and waved at everybody.

There were sitting quiet a few people in the booth. I recognized Butchy, Lugnut, Chee Chee, Struts and a few people from the campfire yesterday. But the other people must be more unimportant members of the Rodents.

"Hey Lily, come sit here", Butchy said and gestured at the seat next to him. I blushed a bit but sat next to him, nevertheless.

A few moments later my Milkshake arrived and we began to talk with each other.

"So Lily, do ya want to go on that ride now?", Butchy asked after a while.

"Sure, let's go", I said and got up. I waved goodbye to everybody and after that Butchy led me outside to his motorbike.

He lent me his helmet and got on his bike. I sat behind him and held onto his leather jacket.

"Okay, hold on tight", he said before he drove off.

We were driving for nearly an hour before we arrived at a deserted part of the beach. Butchy stopped and we walked together to the shore. The sun was slightly starting to set, and the sunbeams were being reflected on the surface. There was a breeze, which made me shiver a bit.
"Are you cold?", Butchy asked as he noticed me shivering.
"Yeah, a bit"

The next thing I knew was that Butchy took off his jacket and put it around my shoulders.
"Thank you", I said blushing.
From then on we talked for a few hours about everything. Butchy told me about his family, his gang and even told me a few stories about his childhood. In return I told him about my childhood and my friendship with Mack and Brady. When we noticed that it was getting darker Butchy took me back to his and Lela's house. When we arrived I got up and was about to take off his jacket when Butchy stopped me.

"No, keep it. It looks better on you anyways", he said grinning.
"Thank you Butchy, I really had fun with you today"
I was about to say goodbye to him, when I suddenly felt his lips on mine. My eyes fell open in surprise before I closed them again to enjoy the wonderful feeling of his lips pressed on mine. After a few minutes we broke apart to take a breath.

"Wow", I heard Butchy whisper.
"Yeah", I chuckled breathily.
"Ya know, I really does like ya Lily"
"I like you too Butchy, very much", I said smiling up at him.
"So, I should go upstairs now. Lela and Mack are probably already asking themselves were I am", I said sadly. I really didn't want to leave Butchy but I knew I had to.
"Yeah yous right"
"Good night, Lily"
"Good night, Butchy", I said before kissing him one last time. After that I turned around and hastily went upstairs. When I arrived at Lela's bedroom she and Mack were sitting on her bed and Lela was brushing Mack's hair.
"Hey guys, so what did I miss?", I asked and hoped that my cheeks weren't as red as I thought they were.
"Oh nothin' I'm just trying to make Mack a new hairstyle"
"Are you ok, Mack?" I said, when I noticed her sad expression.
"Yeah, I'm just... homesick"

I glanced sadly at her because I knew how much she wanted to go back home. I didn't say anything because to tell the truth I kind of liked it here. And with Butchy around it was even better.
"Oh, no, is it the decor?", Lela asked concerned.
"Oh, no, no, I'm not sick of your home, I'm just..."

"How are things with you and Brady?", I asked Lela to change the subject.

"Good"

"I guess", she added on second thought.

"How are things with you and Tanner?", Lela asked Mack.

"Good, I guess"

"You know, sometimes... I think that boys don't tell us what they're thinking just because telling us would involve more thinking", Lela asked seriously.

"But they make up for it by being cute", Lela said giggling.

"And boys", I added giggling

"Hey, that's a really pretty necklace", Mack said and turned around to face Lela.

"It's Hawaiian"

"It means friendship forever", Lela explained smiling.

"Like us now", she realized happily and Mack and I chuckled a bit.

"You're not at all what I'd thought you'd be", Mack said.

"Yeah. I'm not as much like me as people think", Lela replied.

"You know, it's funny. I feel like I could tell you two anything", Lela said and turned to me.

"Yeah, I know, it does feel like that, doesn't it?", I said.

"I have a secret I've never told anybody", Lela suddenly said.

"Well, you can tell us if you want. I mean, friendship forever, right?", Mack resurred her while I nodded.

"Okay. Okay", Lela decided and pulled Mack to the bed were I was sitting.

"Ready?", she asked us and we both nodded.

"I wanna surf", she said after taking deep breaths.
"Surf?", I asked to make sure.
"Cool", Mack replied after Lela nodded.
"I mean, like a pro. It's absolutely insane, I know"
"And if my brother ever found out, he would blow a gasket", she added while looking directly at me. She was probably asking me to not tell Butchy. After I nodded at her she gave me a relieved smile.
"Plus, no girls ever surfed like a boy before. I mean, until you, but that'..."
"That's what I wanna do. It's crazy, huh?"
"Lela. Never let anyone tell you what you can and can't do in life", I said when I noticed how unsure she was about herself.
"But... How do I do that?"
"It's not always easy, believe me, but...", Mack explained.
"So... You think I should surf?", Lela asked us again.
"You definitely should surf", I answered smiling.
"Know what? Brady would even teach you", I said.
"I mean, he taught me everything I know, and I'm a pretty good surfer, right?", Mack added.
"You really think he would do that?", Lela asked excited.
"Yeah. It's a perfect plan. I'll set it up", Mack decided.
"Okay! Woo!", Lela exclaimed and hugged Mack and me.