Look who's come back again with another chapter for you all! My Spring break in Mexico was the best and I got a nice dark tan too HOORAY! I'd love to tell you guys all about it but Instead I'll just leave you all to read my story. Now that I'm back in school, this is going to be the hardest semester of all and I'll be short on writing but I'll make some time for you girls when I can.

MICKEY, BREEZY, HAILEY, FARAH, CARRIE AND PENNY To quote my English Teacher "I love you all and have a blessed time!"

Jo POV

"Here I come beautiful" Nick began chasing me all over the place making me smile and laugh.

I began laughing hard "Nick stop chasing me!"

"Then stop running!"

"You haven't caught me yet!" I run at top speed feeling the wind sweep across me in a gentle swish.

I felt myself being tackled to the ground and then flipped over by my Nicky. He looked so handsome bathed in the golden yellow of the sun.

"And now I have" He smirks.

I let out a giggle as he lies on top of me in the burning sun. He leans to kiss me as our eyes met and I feel something sharp hit me upside the head.

"Ouch" I pick at peach pit from my hair looking at Holly with a scowl.

"What was that for?"

"To wake you up!" She Sasses.

It's been about a month now and me and Nick were really hitting it off with each other and everyone was starting to take notice.

"So Jo how have things been with you and Nick?" Willa asks.

"Really great he's like the most amazing boyfriend; He's sweet and caring. I just love him".

"Awe how sweet"

Joelle gags. "Sweet try sappy"

I smirk sipping from my milk carton "Jealous little sister?"

She scoffs hard "Not even"

"By the way it's your turn to mow the grass when we get home"

"Whatever!" She was acting pretty sour today.

"What's your problem?" I glare.

She eyed me with the same scowl "I don't have a problem. Leave me alone!" She picks up her tray and walks away from me in a huff.

"Wow Moody much" I grunt munching my fries.

I felt a shadow creep upon me and everything went dark. "Guess Who?"

I remove the hands and turn around smiling "Hey Nicky!"

"Hello Sweet thing" He grabs my waist and kiss me. I could hear the girls giggle behind me.

"Do you mind if I steal her away for a moment?" He looks to Holly and Willa

"Not at all"

Nick takes me out into the hall by the lockers. He looked nervous and at the same time happy.

"What's up?"

"OK I have good news and bad news"

"Can I hear the good news first"

"The good news is; The swim team is going to be in the finals"

"That's great Congratulations" I give him a hug.

"The bad news is that it's happen all day this Sunday"

"But, Sunday you're suppose to have dinner with my family".

"I know but this is really important to me and the team that we do this. I'm sorry" He cups my hands together with a sorrow look.

"That's OK I understand"

"But I'd really like if you would be there with me for support"

I look at him smiling "Of course I'll come be there".

he gave me a long hard kiss. "You're the best".

Sunday I was getting ready to go to the swim meet with Nick. It didn't start for hours but he wanted me there early to see him.

"I'm heading out!"

"Wait a second young lady!" Dad stops me at the door. "Where are you going?"

"Dad I really need to go meet the girls"

"Jo are you forgetting what you promise me?"

I honestly did and had no time to figure it out. "Maybe..."

"I need you to pick up the dry cleaning and take the mower to the mechanic, like you said you would."

My eyes went wide. If I did all that I'd miss seeing Nick "Dad can I take a rain-check on that stuff"

"No!"

"But-"

"Jo you promised and you're doing it, not tomorrow, Now!"

"But that'll take forever!"

He placed the keys in hands "Then you better get started shouldn't you?" He says walking away.

I roll my eyes hard "Fine!" Of all the days it had to be today. If I hurry up and do it all quickly I would still have plenty of time. I raced over to the cleaners and grabbed our clothes in seconds. At the mechanic, however, had dozens of others to work on before me and I was about to be seriously late.

"All done miss, mowers as good as new"

"Finally" I mumbled paying him "Thank you Sir"

"Anytime." I drove back as fast as I could so I wouldn't be late.

I ran up to my room and changed from my pants into my long flowing skirt. Joelle was on her bed reading a magazine but I was paying her little attention.

"Jo I was wondering if..."

"Sorry Joelle can't right now I'm late for something important" I grab my purse and jump down the steps to the door and place the keys to the mower on the hook and the dry cleaning in the closet. Dad was in the kitchen with Juliet so I was good.

"Mowers all fixed Dad and the clothes are in the closet so I'm leaving now!"

"Jo wait" he called.

"No time Dad I really gotta go!" I bolt away before he could get at me.

If I got a ride now I could just barely make it.

"Taxi" I take the taxi downtown to the pool house barely making it.

"Made me cut it pretty close Dad" I say getting out and walking inside.

There was nothing like the small of pool water and chlorine on a day like today. The place was getting packed already and I needed to find Nick.

I burst through the locker room door looking for where the guys were standing on the benches. Nick looked so hot in his swim shorts and complimented nicely by fully packed tan chest.

"I'm here!"

He jumped up when he saw me and grabbed me for a hug "I didn't think you'd make it"

"I wouldn't have missed this" I kiss him.

"Hey Jo" My friend Sammy walked up to us.

"Hey Sam"

"Nick we're up we gotta go"

Nick lets go of me and rubs my cheek with his thumbs "I'll be watching you from the stands" I tell him.

"Wish me luck"

I call back. "You don't need it!"

I found a nice seat high up where I could see everything that was going on. Some of the teams were very impressive, But Nick was by far the fastest on out there. He made my heart melt and I loved him dearly.

When he came up on the stands I raced down to meet him, jumping into his chest "Wow Nicky you were amazing!".

"Thanks".

"You guys were all amazing" I compliment them all. We hug it out for a few minuets, he was still wet but I wasn't bothered.

"Nick come here for a team photo".

"Well that ends another season of swimming".

"Too bad you guys are good".

"But now I can get ready for baseball season".

"Meanwhile I'll be preparing for track season" I grin.

"So what do you want to do for the rest of the evening?".

"What do you want to do?"

"We could go to the arcade".

"OK" I take his arm.

For the past few hours we spent together in the dark arcade room. Sometimes we were playing, other times we just stood in the open to talk and listen to the others around us.

The manager came about, with his keys.

"Arcade is closing everyone out"

Everyone cleared out. It was night and the air was cool. A car honked and pulled up beside us.

"There's my Dad. Would you like a ride?"

"Of course" We got in and Artie was there.

"How was it son?"

" We got second place and I won first for the quickest laps" Nick holds out his medal.

"Oh your mother and I sure would've liked to see it"

" I wish you had"

"So Jo where too?"

"My house please"

"You got it" He pulls away.

"I was suppose to go there for dinner tonight. Not anymore"

"You know son we are having that big barbecue Friday, maybe Jo would like to come with her family"

I grinned wide "I would love too. A nice way to know your family and mine"

"Great its being held at the big picnic park not too far away"

"I bet my family will be so excited"

"Thanks for the ride Mr. Waterfront, bye Nicky"

"Have a good night Jo"

"I'll call you" Nick calks as they drove away.

I skip inside the greenhouse and the rest of my family was finishing up a movie they were watching. I hoped they would be as excited about the news as I was.

(Friday)

I was so excited for my family to see Nicholas and his family. If this went well then we would be so happy together. The sun was burning bright as Dad drove us to the picnic field.

"What a gorgeous day for a picnic" Juliet says.

"You said it!"

"Nick said that his family was very happy to meet us all" I say.

"There you are!" Nick ran up to me twirling me in his arms and smiling.

"You guys remember Nick"

"Come on Jo-Jo I'll show you around" Nick shows me all the places and activities we could do today. Then I meet his family for the first time.

"And this is the whole family" He tells me.

"This is my mum Katherine, my big sister Saundra, my uncle Paul and my older cousins Mike and Ally"

"Everyone may I introduce my lady, Jo"

"Hello there!" I wave.

His mother approaches me.

"Nice to meet you finally Jo" She reaches out her hand to me.

I shake. "You too Mrs. Waterfront"

"Please sweetie you can call me Katherine"

"So what's an attractive, decent smelling girl doing with my brother?" Saundra asks.

I kinda started laughing for a while. "Well he did save me from a bad situation, that's how we met"

"Oh a hero in the family" Ally jokes.

"And we hang out a lot in school. I don't know, I guess I just kind of started liking him"

"What do you like to do?"

"You seem fine for my nephew little Missy" Paul says. I smiled at how well I was getting along with his family.

"We'll leave you two alone then" We started taking a walk.

"Your family's nice"

"That's what they all say, until you get to know them" He made me laugh.

Nick started to show me all around the place again and there was so much to do and see there. We walked over to the big open field and I saw a bunch of Nick's cousin's playing Kickball.

"Want to play Kickball?"

"Sure I brought my cleats in our Picnic basket" I run over to the car and grab my sport shoes and run back, But not before I noticed Joelle was sitting by the big fountain all alone,she looked a little dishearten. I walked over to her as she saw my reflection in the pond.

"Sis want to play kickball with me?"

She shakes her head "No"

"But you love kickball"

"I'm not in the mood for sports" She turns the other way from me.

I look over her shoulder and see her reading her texts messages she'd been receiving from Spencer. That's when I figured it out.

I pull her in for a hug "I know you're upset Spencer broke up with you, but moping about it won't do you any good."

"Neither will having fun." She sighed.

"Just for a little while, it'll cheer you up, I promise." I grab her wrist and pull her towards the baseball diamond where the rest of the group was.

Me, Nick and Joelle and Nick's Cousins were all on the same team. Nick was up first for us. "You can do it Nicky!" I shout for support.

The guy on the opposite team rolls the ball hard and Nick kicks it hard as it flies right into center field. Everyone scrambled for it but Nick had made it to second base by the time the grabbed it.

Next was my turn. I step up with a very confident look. I watch Nick at the base he looked ready to make a break for it. The ball came right for me, I kicked it hard, fro rubber it was very painful. I made a breaking run for it to first base. Nick had made it back to home by the time I got to second base. The other team was still in the outfield getting the ball, I could make it all the way home it I sprint. I made a break for third and tried to get all the way home, the girl with the ball came after me I had to make it home. I felt a hard press against my back shoulder, she got me.

"You're out!" The other team cheered as I walked myself back to the bench. Nick came to me smiling.

"You were so close." He whispers.

Joelle went up next for us. "You can do this Sis, show 'em what you got!"

She kicked the ball out of the park. Home run she ran all the way scoring us ahead of the game. "I RULE!" She cheered and started to do a victory dance.

We laughed at her "Bragging much!" Nick whispers.

I smiled "At least she's feeling better."

The game lasted for a while and I was really exhausted "That was a fun game" Joelle smiled all sweaty. "But I'm getting hungry."

"Really? cause I want to do something else."

Nick says; "We have all sorts of fun games to play today and then the big barbecue at the end of the day"

"I can't wait"

For the rest of the day we played all sorts of sports games and having a great time. When we were done we found Dad and Juliet sitting underneath the big shady tree, talking.

"Having fun?" I asked.

"Yes it is very nice today" Juliet smiles. "We've just been here talking"

"Have you guys met my Parents, they're really nice!" He point over to the bench where his parents were. "You four might have a lot in common"

"You know I was a close friend of your parents back in High school" Dad said.

"This could be your chance to catch up with them" I say.

"Come on Gnomeo let's go talk to them" Juliet takes his hand and they walk over to his parents and start a long conversation.

Nick offers me a seat beside the tree with him. I leaned over his shoulder and he wraps his arms to my shoulders. We sat there in silence just watching everything else in sight.

"You know what I love best about today?" He asks. I look up to him with a smile.

"I got to spend it with you."

"Me too" We lean in for a kiss. I loved him so much and I knew he loved me back.

"Do you think we'll always be like this"

"I know we will, I love you"

"I love you more!" We kissed again.

At the end of the day we had a big picnic with all sorts of tasty food and sodas and wine for the adults, Nick and I spent most of it talking and just enjoying each others company.

"I'm so glad I came today"

"Not as glad as I am!" He kissed my cheek and left a big sauce stain on it. I laughed and wipe it off.

As the sun vanished behind the thicket of trees and the picnic ground was getting cleaned up and all the balls were put away, everyone packed their things and said their final goodbyes.

"It was really nice meeting you Jo and your family too" Katherine says.

"The pleasure was ours" Juliet smiles "You have such beautiful daughters"

"And you're family is delightful too"

"Well we best be going home now"

"As should we let's go girls"

"Goodbye everyone" Joelle waves.

"Glad to see you again Gnomeo "

"You too Artie we should meet up again soon. So long."

We got in the car and drove off with everyone else. The nighttime air was blowing harder in the woods but it was still a nice night to be out.

"Today was wonderful" I speak up and Joelle follows.

"Incredible! It totally took my mind off Spencer...Thanks for bringing me here Sis." I give her a hug.

"Nick was such a gentleman. He's everything I always wanted in a man"

"He's great Jo! Isn't he love?"

Dad smiled. "He's great Jo" That made me smile.

"I'm so glad you think so"

"Too bad you'll never see him again"

"And I'm so happy you...wait, WHAT?!"

"Gnomeo what are you talking about?"

"Jo you can't be with Nick anymore"

"Are you kidding?!"

"No I'm not."

"But, But why? I thought you liked him"

"I do like him, its his parents I don't"

"What do you mean?"

"His Parents happen to be nothing but trouble"

"What are you talking about? Katharine and Artie are very nice."

"Believe me they're not!"

Juliet eyed him "How do you know?"

"Cause I use to be one of them. Long before we meet Benny and I use to hang with them all the time, they were nothing but trouble in every possible way. They never did anything right, they gambled, stole, were heavy drinkers and were arrested for multiple amounts of drug overdose. Benny and I ended up splitting apart from them for good and they were never able to accept that. We became distant enemies after that."

"But that was years ago, I bet they forgot all about it."

Dad scoffed. "Or were too high on drugs to remember"

"Well they look like they changed now for the better"

"Trust me Juliet, I know what I am taking about."

"People can change."

"Juliet you don't know how bad it was with them. They got it from their parents who got it from their parents and no doubt their kids are going to be the same way. That's and Jo is not having anything to do with their son"

I got upset. "Stop it Dad you don't know what you're talking about!"

"I do! And you're not being involved with that boy anymore"

"Nick is a perfectly charming boy!"

"And possibly a trouble maker too"

"He is not. Just because his parents were trouble doesn't mean he's the same"

"I don't care. I don't want you near him ever again"

"You can't tell me what to do, who do you think you are?!"

Dad slammed the breaks hard and looked back at me. "I'm your father and you do what I say!"

"Not!"

"Don't get an attitude with me!" There began an intense starting contest between us that was going to boil over soon.

"Jo, Dad, please calm down." Joelle buts in.

"We are not having this discussion again, Jo. You are not seeing him and that's final"

"You're not the boss of me!"

"I'm your father"

"That doesn't mean you own me!"

"You listen to what I say and that's it!" He put his foot down on that one.

"Oh I can't be around you right now!" I jumped out of the car and run in the dim nightlight against the pavement.

"Where are you going Jo?"

"I'm walking home!"

Dad honked the horn at me and began to slowly drive alongside the curb "Get back in this car right now!"

"You can't make me do that, I'm outside and you don't control the outside" I ran down the block and made a sharp turn for the alley so they couldn't follow me.

I kicked trash along the ground harshly mumbling and groaning to myself. Dad was not going to keep me away from Nick, no one was. I don't care what he said Nick and I belong together and that's the way it was going to stay.

And thus ends that chapter and the next will be along again soon. I hope you all enjoyed it, and like I said earlier, if you want to hear about my trip you know where to PM me *wink*

Now I have to finish all this stupid homework there making me do UGH! SOMEBODY HIT ME OVER THE HEAD, PLEASE!

Until next time, Jazz-star is signing off xoxox