They Hung Out With Some Friends

"Good morning grandpa." I said as I entered the kitchen. My grandpa looked up from his newspaper. He was already in bed by the time I got home last night.

"Where were you yesterday?" he asked. "I didn't see you all day."

"Brady and I were just hanging out." I said nonchalantly.

"Oh. I see." He said, winking. I elbowed him as I walked by to grab some cereal.

"We are NOT going out grandpa!"

"OK, I believe you" he said, turning back to his newspaper, but the smirk on his face told me otherwise. I elbowed him harder. Then I heard someone clear their throat.

I turned and saw Brady standing in the doorway. Oops. I turned bright red and turned towards my grandpa, who was clearly amused.

"So…" Brady began, clearly feeling as awkward as I was. "I promised some friends to meet me at the beach so we could go surfing. And I was kind of wondering if…you might want to join us?" He looked at me hopefully.

"I'd love to." My grandpa snorted and I elbowed him so hard I wouldn't be surprised if I broke his arm. I grabbed a banana, abandoning my cereal and practically raced up the stairs to get changed. Once I was changed, I headed downstairs. That's when I hear my grandpa.

"So are you and Mack…"

"Leaving!" I shouted, interrupting my grandpa. Brady jumped up in surprise. I grabbed his wrist and dragged him out the door before grandpa could further embarrass me.

We walked to beach in awkward silence.

"So, um, Mack..." Brady began, clearing trying to start a conversation. "Do you have, um, a boyfriend?"

I nearly snorted at the look on Brady's face once he registered what he had said. I could practically see him mentally slapping himself.

"Well…" I began, but before I could finish I heard someone shout Brady's name.

A girl with light blonde curls bounced towards us.

"Hey Giggles!" Brady said, clearly relieved for the distraction.

"Giggles?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Yeah." She said. "My real name's Mollee, but everyone's called me Giggles since…" she started giggling just thinking about it.

"See?" Brady said with a smirk. That just made her giggle harder. I laughed.

"So…" I said nonchalantly as we walked slowly down the beach, "…how long have you guys known each other?"

"Ever since he moved here." Giggles said with a smile. "We met at the beach. Same place we met Tanner and his cousin, Lela."

"Those are the other friends we're going to meet." Brady explained. "They live further down the beach."

"Wait a second." I said, halting in my tracks. "Aren't those all names from Wet Side Story?"

Brady laughed. "I told you she would notice!" Giggles sighed.

"Wait, notice what?" I asked, confused.

"Almost everyone in our group of friends has a nickname from the movie. Giggles, because of, well…" he cracked up just thinking about it. "I'm sure you'll hear the story. Lela and Tanner's real names are Grace and Garrett, but we call them that because Grace loves to mountain bike and Garrett loves the beach."

"What's your nickname?" I asked, smiling.

"I said almost everyone." He responded, smirking. "I only started hanging out with them about a year ago and they haven't found me a nickname yet."

Our conversation was interrupted when a tall, brunette girl ran up to us. "Hey Giggles, Brady, and…you must be Mack! I'm Grace, but you can call me Lela." She held out her hand for a shake.

I took it somewhat awkwardly. "How do you know my name?" I asked, confused.

"Brady called me this morning. He told me all about you." She responded, winking at Brady, who began blushing furiously. I was instantly confused. Brady called her in the morning? I must have been asleep. Was he trying to keep me from finding out?

Before I could say anything though, a tall sandy blonde guy (who I assumed to be Tanner) ran up to us.

"Are we going to surf or what?" he shouted, grinning.

...

I sat, leaning against the tall tree. We had been surfing for a while, but eventually Tanner complained of hunger and we stopped for lunch. Brady and Lela went into town to grab us some lunch, and Tanner had to go to the washroom. I sat, happy to watch the waves in peace for a moment.

Why did Brady call her? Was my first thought. What are they, dating?

No that's ridiculous. He would have told you if they were dating.

It's never come up. Besides what are you, jealous?

Me? Jealous? As if!

You're in denial.

Shut up!

Why are you so defensive if you don't like him, then, huh?

…I…

My train of thought was interrupted (thankfully) by a voice from behind me. "So, Mack, what do you think?" I turned my head to see Giggles standing, casually leaning against a large rock.

"Of what?" I asked, still thinking about the conversation I had just had with myself.

"Brady, of course." She said, like she was stating the obvious. I blushed.

"He's…uh…he's… OK, I guess." I was blushing even harder. Curse my stupid genes!

Her eyes widened. "You like him, don't you?"

"Uh…no…" I stammered, finally coming up with "No, no, of course not."

She smirked. "Mack, you know, denial isn't just a river in Egypt." I colored even more.

"Hey Mack!" I heard a voice call. I turned and saw Brady and Lela, returning from the town with their arms filled with bags.

"Saved by the bell" I murmured. Giggles turned to me and I could tell she had heard what I just said. I blushed even more.

"Don't worry." She said, with a theatrical wink. "You're secret's safe with me." She turned to help them with the bags.

"Hey." I heard Tanner say, and I jumped. I turned around and saw him come out from the bushes behind me.

"What took you so long?" Lela asked, plopping down on the ground to begin eating.

"I took a little detour." He said, his face expressionless. He went to sit next to his sister, and he glanced at me.

And I couldn't help but feel like he had heard the whole conversation.

Author's Note: I'm SO sorry for not updating in weeks! You guys probably hate me by now. There's been a lot of stuff going on, plus I had some nasty writer's block. :(

I took the names of the actors for Giggles, Tanner and Lela's real names, because I thought it would be weird for all of Brady's friends to be named after his favorite movie. :P I put them in there because I needed some friends for Brady and I don't like sticking a lot of OCs in a story.

The story is beginning to come to a climax (!) and there will be a huge cliffhanger up ahead. So stay tuned!