I own no credits or rights to this; only Phyllis Reynolds Naylor does!

I'm sorry I've taken so long to add another chapter, but I finally got over the writer's block!

Hope you enjoy it!


Eddie's POV:

The next morning, when I woke up, I couldn't stop smiling. All I could do, was think about Jake and our date.

I didn't even mind going on a quadruple date with my sisters and his brothers. It was so much fun, even with all of them.

I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. "Come in." I had a grin on my face.

The door opened and my two sisters stood in the doorway, staring at me with childlike grins on their faces. "Let me guess. You guys can't stop thinking about last night either, can you?"

"No, we can't. Just thinking about how close Wally and I were to kissing last night."

As those words came out of Caroline's mouth, I did a double take as Beth stared at her, mouth dropped. "Wait a minute. I didn't know you two almost kissed. When did this happen?" Beth exclaimed, grinning.

Caroline flushed scarlet and put her hands over her face. Her voice was muffled as she spoke. "What was that? I couldn't quite hear you."

Caroline removed her hands from her face and spoke in a clear tone. "I said that we almost kissed at the drive in. In the car, well, the backseat, but someone, namely Josh, interrupted."

"Oh, Caroline. I'm sorry that my boneheaded boyfriend interrupted your first kiss." Beth said, sounding sympathetic.

"It's ok. I want our first kiss to be romantic, not something we do in a car with his brothers and my sisters."

"I hear you." I said, grinning at her. My little sister was finally growing up. I never thought she'd date Wally Hatford, though. And honestly, I never thought I would date JAKE FREAKING HATFORD. Like I was dead set on the fact that I never would date him.

Well, that was certainly wrong, I thought, as I fought a grin. But apparently, I didn't hide it well enough. "What are you grinning about?" Beth smirked at me.

I blushed. "Nothing that concerns you." But I knew she wouldn't let it go.

"No, tell me why. Tell me why you were grinning."

I sighed. "Fine. I was grinning because I like Joseph Hatford, happy?"

"So, it's true, is it? You like Jake Hatford."

"Yes! It's true! I LOVE HIM! Happy?"

Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind us. "You love me, huh?" I gasped as I turned towards the voice.

Jake and his brothers stood in the doorway, grinning at me. "Answer me. Do you love me or not?"

I gulped, looking at my sisters for help, who only just smirked at me. "Yes, Jake. I do...love you."

"I knew that. I just wanted to get you to admit it." He smirked at me and I punched him in the shoulder. "Ouch!"

"Well, that's what you get. Don't tease me like that again." I glared at my sisters (who, by the way, were no help at all).

"Well, hey, we're going to play manhunt in the woods tonight. We invited the Bensons' to come with us. So, do ya'll want to come too?" Josh looked at Beth, smiling hopefully. "We're going to the woods around 4:50, because it gets dark early."

"Sounds like fun. We'd love to come, but just one question." Beth said.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Do we get to have flashlights?"

"Yes, everyone will have their own flashlights." Jake said, as Josh nodded.

"Ok, good. Just as long as I'm not walking around in the darkness, about to trip over something."

"Ok, we'll see you guys later. It's already 3 o'clock." Wally got up and went over to Caroline. "See you later, Caro."

"Bye." Caroline spoke in a dreamy tone.

After they left, I looked at my sisters, finally realizing what Wally had said. "Wait, did he say that its already 2 o'clock? Is it really that late?"

Caroline looked down at her watch, then nodded. "Yeah, it's 2:30, now. So, what are we going to wear when we go play manhunt?"

"Don't wear anything colorful. They'll be able to see you with the flashlight if you do. Wear black t-shirts and jeans." I said, as I pulled on my black and white Converse.

Then I started to put on my clothes, to go ahead and get ready. Caroline and Beth went into their own rooms to get ready.

I grabbed a long-sleeved black t-shirt and a pair of my favorite baggy blue jeans. I put on a short amount of light pink blush and a small amount clear gloss.

I walked into my bathroom and pulled my short hair into a ponytail, which it's the right length for me. I hate having my hair hang on my neck; I get so sweaty.

I walked into Caroline's room and saw that she'd followed my directions by putting on a black t-shirt. If you wear anything colorful, they'll spot you so much easier and you get found so quick.

I learned my lesson the first time I played this with them. We played it back when we first moved here, after we all became somewhat friends. We weren't enemies, but we weren't exactly friends either.

"So, are you almost ready to go over to their house? It's already 2:50." As I said that, Beth walked in, also wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, with a pair of purple Converse.

"I'm ready, we can go ring their doorbell to see if we can wait there until the Bensons' come." Beth said.

"Ok, sounds good. Let's go." I walked out of Beth's room door and down the stairs.

Then we grabbed our coats then headed next door.


Caroline's POV:

As soon as the boys left, I quickly ran to my room to get dressed. I didn't need to do much of anything, other than put on my clothes.

I put on a black t-shirt, just as Eddie had said to do, and my blue jeans. I put on my new army green Converse.

After I had gotten finished dressing, Eddie came in and sat down on my bed. "So, are you ready to go over to their house? It's already 2:50."

Beth walked in, also wearing a black t-shirt and her new pair of Converse, the new purple ones that came out a month ago. "I'm ready, we can go ring their doorbell to see if we can wait there until the Bensons' come."

"Ok, sounds good. Let's go." We all walked out of my bedroom and descended down the stairs into the hallway.

We grabbed our coats before walking out the front door. We walked outside, the wind going a hundred miles per hour.

By the time we got to their front door, our hair was all over the place. I rang the doorbell and Wally answered the door. He opened the door and let us come in. "Hi, you guys are early."

"Yeah, we just decided to go ahead and come over while we wait for the Besons'. How much longer do you think they'll be?" Beth asked, as we stepped in the foyer.

"Well, considering how Bill just called to say that they're coming over soon, soon I'd say." Wally grinned at us. "He said that he was bringing as few more people."

That confused me; there was no mention of other people coming. "Did he say who was coming?"

"No, not really. But Tony, Steve, and someone else were giggling in the background. I just assumed it was Danny or Dougie."

The doorbell rang and we ran to answer it. "Only one way to find out." I opened the door.

There in front of us stood Bill, Danny, Dougie, Steve, and Tony. But there were a few people that I didn't exactly expect to be there.

For one, Blake was there and so was Melanie (the girl who almost wrecked Eddie and Jake's relationship).

"Hey, everyone, Melanie, my girlfriend decided to come. She also wanted her brother, Blake to come. So, they'll be playing manhunt with us." Steve said.

Wally and I shared a knowing glance, indicating how we felt about Blake being there. Two words: Not happy. That's exactly how I felt.

"Ok, so how about we do girls against boys? Two groups of girls and guys on each team."

I started to talk, but someone from behind cut me off, yelling. "Wait! Don't start yet! I'm here!" She shrieked.

I turned around to see a girl with blonde hair running up to us. She stopped beside Beth. "Sorry, I'm late, Beth. But on the way my chain broke, so I had to go back to let my brother, Adam, fix it. But I'm here now."

"That's ok, at least we can divide into teams." She said, smiling at her new friend. "Ok, divide us up, Steve."

"Ok, Beth and Melanie. Tony and me. Caroline and what's your name, blondie?" He looked at Beth's friend.

"It's Amber, not blondie. Amber Green."

"Ok, Amber Green." Steve spoke in a girly falsetto voice.

"This is going to be so much fun." I said to Beth's friend.

"It is fun. My brothers and I always play this game with my friends and their friends."

"How many brothers do you have?"

"I have eight brothers, no sisters. I have a twin brother who is on the football team at the high school."

"Eight brothers?" I whistled. "That's a lot of messes ain't it?"

She guffawed. "My brothers are the messiest creatures I've ever met. Their rooms are so messy and there are very smells that you can't even tell what it is."

"That's why I'm thankful I only have three sisters. Our rooms get messy, sometimes, but they don't have unrecognizable smells." I laughed, which caused her to giggle.

"Ok, all the teams have been picked! Eddie is the hunting us. Let's go!"

We all ran in different directions as Eddie started to count.


??? POV:

Now's my chance. Caroline won't expect it. I've got it all planned out.

When they start to hide, I'll find her and I'll surprise her by kissing her.

I think she likes Wallace, but I've got this plan and I'm not going to let her get out of this.

I can't wait until the play. I know that she'll get the main role and I'll, of course, beat Wally out for the role opposite her.

This is really going to shock her. I thought, grinning evilly as we ran into the woods to go hide.


Wally POV:

Bill and I ran straight into the woods, ducking under a bush, so that way Eddie wouldn't be able to find us.

She ran right pass us. "How are they hiding so good? I haven't even found Peter or Dougie yet."

We snickered as we heard her run off deeper into the woods.

We got out of our hiding spot and ran to the closest tree. I begin to hear voices from the other side of the woods. "Found you, Peter! Is that Dougie behind you?" Came Eddie's voice.

"Aw, man!" Peter grumbled. "How'd you find us?"

"It wasn't that hard, you know? Besides, I could see your neon green shoes sticking out from behind the tree."

"Well, now we can help you find the others!" A flash of blonde hair ran by the tree I was hiding behind. So I knew that it was Dougie, running by.

Out of literally nowhere, a scream sounded in the woods. I ran out of my hiding spot, looking around to make sure that Eddie wouldn't jump out of nowhere.

Then I came upon the screamer and the reason why she did. Caroline was the one who screamed. And Blake was the cause of it.

He was kissing her...and it made me so angry. I pounded on his back, pushing him down in the process. "Get off her! Man, c'mon! Get off her!"

With one final push, he fell into a mud puddle. He got up, glaring and his face as red as a tomato. "You're really going to regret doing that, Hatford. I'll get you back for that."

He stalked off into the woods, whistling as he walked on. I looked over at Caroline, who had tears running down her cheeks. "Are you ok?"

She just shook her head no. I pulled her closer to me and finally, for the first time... I kissed her. And she kissed me back. And...it felt amazing.

I feel like my life is complete. I've had my first kiss, and in a few days, my first kiss might turn into my first girlfriend.

I couldn't wait until the day it comes true. I LOVE CAROLINE LENORE MALLOY!!!!!!! Dreams do come true, at least sometimes they do...


Caroline POV:

After Eddie started to count, Amber and I took position behind an old, rusty car. Amber raised her head, as though she was looking to see if Eddie was near.

She turned to me. "Hey, I'm going to go hide in that tree over there. Stay hidden and make sure Eddie doesn't find you." She got up and I stayed in the same spot as she hid in the tree.

I heard footsteps coming closer and closer. I looked at the person's feet. A pair of gray Converse high tops stood in front of me.

I looked up into the face of Blake Jones, grinning down at me. "What do you want?" I hissed, glaring up at him.

He held out his hand to me. "Wally told me to come and get you. He has something to ask you."

That made my heart skip several beats. "Where is he?"

"He's just over here. Just behind those trees over there. I'll take you to him." He pulled me to a small, enclosed area, with a few trees surrounding us.

"Where is he?" I looked all around, but didn't see Wally anywhere. Something surprised me and I screamed. A pair of lips where smashing up against my own.

Suddenly someone pulled Blake off of me and started pounding him on the back. "Get off her! C'mon, man! Get off her!"

He pushed Blake, one last time, which caused him to fall in a big mud puddle. I fell to the ground, tears seeping out of my eyes.

Blake's face was red and caked with mud. He got up off the ground and got in Wally's face. "You're really going to regret doing that, Hatford! I'll get you back for that!"

He walked out of the woods, whistling. Wally looked down at me, in my teary eyed glory. "Are you ok?"

All I could do was shake my head. Because no, I wasn't. Wally pulled me up and closer to him. He pulled me into a kiss. A kiss I've been waiting for forever.

I kissed him back and it felt... glorious. I won something real in life and I can't wait to see what comes next.