Author's note: This chapter was inspired by the especially eloquent Love's Crash Test Dummy who was my first review for the story and reminded me that people ARE out there reading what I
have to write… maybe. That being said, I really hope you enjoy this story and whetheryou review or not, I truly appreciate your time. (Please note that I do not own any of the characters or have interest in making a profit, I just REALLY like to write)

Hot water splashed down over her tense shoulders, helping to ease away the aches and pains as she slid the sudsy pink loofa over her tiny, well toned stomach. The thick scent of lavender surrounded her as she stood under the fiery water. She had hoped that her oatmeal and lavender body wash would help to calm her nerves, but knowing that Nicky was merely a room away had dashed those hopes entirely.

Letting out a long sigh she placed her palms against the tiled wall and let the water continue to cascade over her. The loofa slid sensually over her arms, shoulders, then neck as her eyes fluttered and closed. She could still feel him, arms wrapped around her as he hugged her close.

Her life was complicated enough as it was she thought, leaning in to rest her forehead against the tile. Nicky coming back, for however long and for whatever reason really was not helping her stress level any.

But then again, she wouldn't dare say she wasn't happy to see him. It was almost frightening to know that even after all these months, she still got those annoyingly active butterflies she wasn't supposed to have.

After holding her loofa under the water until it no longer produced bubbles, Kaylie reached over and turned the shower off. Obviously she needed to go home and get some rest. Everything she knew she needed to deal with would just have to wait until the morning.

She had been putting it off this long after all, what was another few hours going to hurt?

Maybe, she thought for the first time, Nicky wouldn't even be at the Rock in the morning. Ignoring the clench of her stomach at the realization that he was probably leaving again, Kaylie brushed open the shower stall curtain and reflexively reached to her left for the hook that always held her towel.

It was when her hand touched nothing but slick metal that panic began rising in her chest. Making a quick visual sweep of the locker room she stepped out into the cold air with just her shower shoes and loofa. This was certainly embarrassing.

Trying to remember what she had done with the soft baby blue towel she always brought with her, she walked towards her locker, her wet flip-flops squishing loudly as she went.

In a few short seconds Kaylie was standing dripping wet and without a towel in front of her locker in an absolute panic. Her whole gym bag was gone, and that meant no towel, no clean clothes, and no dress that she had half-hazardly laid in her gym bag without thinking.

If it wasn't here, there was only one logical conclusion to where her bag could be, and there was no way she could go get it in her current condition. Thinking quickly she walked to Lauren's locker and after a few attempts at her remembering her combination, swung it open. Keeping her fingers crossed, Kaylie hoped that Lauren had left something for her to borrow for the night.

Inside she found just one thing, a long red sweatshirt. Kaylie recognized it immediately as one of Carters and hesitated a few moments before slowly reaching in to grab it and yank it
over her head.

Resisting the urge to tear the sweatshirt back off her body and bathe again, she instead closed her loosely termed "friend's" locker and stood still a minute to take in the ridiculousness of the situation.

The sweatshirt was way too big for her, as his always had been, and fell at a decent length across her toned thighs.

It wasn't her ideal outfit but it covered what it needed to for the moment. Acutely aware that her hair was still dripping wet, she bent over quickly and combed her fingers through her now curling locks.

She would think of a convincing excuse for swiping the sweatshirt later she decided, knowing Lauren would tear the whole gym apart looking for it when she discovered it gone in the morning.

Completely self-conscious but knowing it was this or wearing her dirty, wet, leotard, she walked back towards her locker and shoved both her leotard and loofa inside.

Thinking of possible escape routes, she amused the idea of using the emergency exit for only a moment before realizing that using that door would set off the alarms and start a ruckus that she was sure she didn't want to be involved in.

Hence, her only other alternative was to sneak out into the gym un-noticed and grab her gym bag before Nicky could spot her. She tugged at the sweatshirt once more to make sure it was as far down as it would go and then pushed the door open just a crack.

Her music was still playing she realized, as the classical notes filled the locker room. She would need to grab her iPod too.

Peeking through the crack in the door Kaylie searched for any signs of movement around the gym, but found it completely deserted. Slightly less nervous knowing that Nicky was conveniently somewhere else, she pushed the door open the full way and stepped out into the open.

It was always cold in the gym, but as she walked quickly towards the hot pink and black bag that she spotted over on the far side by the beam, she realized she never wanted to be wet and without her clothes in the place again.

Goosebumps had broken out all over her body, and she shivered reflexively.

Making it almost all the way to her bag she stopped abruptly as she heard a cold voice sound from not far behind her.

"My mistake, I thought you and Carter were over."

Last minute notes: I wasn't certain about posting this chapter but I think it contains forward progress in the direction I want to take the story. I know it's short but my plan is to get the third chapter out by Sunday, so don't be too cross with me. Also, I know most people would assume Kaylie would just put her leo back on, but for the sake of the story let us assume she hates this idea more than walking around in just a sweatshirt... Anyway, thanks for reading!