Brian and Nick pulled up to a small coffee shop. As they were getting out of the jeep, Nick got a page. "Who is it?" asked Brian.
Nick looked down onto his pager. "It's Misty," he replied.
Brian rolled his eyes and said, "You just talked to her."
"I know," said Nick. They stepped into the coffee shop and a tall young man popped his head up from behind the counter.
"Hey guys," he said.
"Hey cuz," said Brian.
"I'll be done in a bit. Just give me a few minutes," said Kevin.
"Hey Kevin, can I use your phone?" asked Nick.
"Sure," said Kevin, pulling out a phone from behind the counter.
Nick got his pager back out and dialed the number. He listened for a while, then he asked "Misty? Hey, it's Nick. I'm sorry about before." He paused. He was listening. Kevin continued to finish up his work. Brian, getting rather tired with Misty, started to make silly faces at Nick. He then started to mimic the actions of a ditzy girl(implying Misty). Nick gave Brian a dirty look, but Brian continued. "Uh huh," Nick said, trying to concentrate on their conversation. Brian continued to joke around.
"Oh Nicky, teehee," giggled Brian.
Nick picked up a muffin-in a package- and threw it at Brian, hitting him in the head. "Ow..." mumbled Brian, picking up the muffin, taking it out of it's wrapper and he started to eat it.
"One of you are paying for that," said Kevin.
"That would be you," said Brian, refering to Kevin.
"I said one of you, not one of US," said Kevin.
"Alright," said Brian, taking another bite, "Then Nick's paying."
"Okay, I'll talk to you later. I love you too. Bye," said Nick, hanging up the phone.
"So what did the wife have to say?" asked Brian.
"She apoligized. And by the way, I'm not paying for that," said Nick.
"You threw it," said Brian.
"You ate it,' said Nick.
"Alright, alright, I'll pay for it. But you owe me," said Kevin, "Come on." Behind Kevin's back, Brian and Nick smiled and gave each other a five.
The three walked out and climbed into Brian's jeep, then drove off to the park. Once they got there, AJ was leaning against his car smoking a cigarette while Tomi and Howie were already going at it on the basketball court. AJ noticed the three and said, "What took you so long?"
Kevin was finishing up. You know, that'll kill you someday," said Brian.
"Really?" said AJ, taking another puff, "Then I guess I'll be dying someday."
"Okay, how bout I tell you it'll mess up your game and you won't be singing for long?" asked Brian.
AJ put out the cigarette and said, "Alrighty, lets hit it."
As AJ walked toward the court, Kevin asked Brian, "Think that worked?"
"Well it made him put it out for now didn't it?" asked Brian. "And now... lets get ready to RUM~~~~BLE~!!!"
So the game finally started. They divided up into teams: Nick, Brian and Kevin, versus AJ, Howie, and Tomi. On the court, they went solely by their nicknames. When Brian and Nick were a duo, they would be called Frick and Frack, but when Kevin was on their team, Nick went by Kaos and Brian went by B-Rok. AJ went by Bone, Kevin by Train, Howie by Sweet D(given to him by the boys), and Tomi, just went by Tomi.
Brian and AJ always did the coin flip. "Ready to rumble Boner?" asked Brian.
"Anytime, Beaver," replied AJ.
"That's Seaver," said Brian.
"And it's Bone," said Aj, flipping the coin up high. "Call it."
"Heads," said Brian.
The coin landed in AJ's hand and he revealed it, it was heads. And the game started. Brian dashed by AJ getting his team a quick two points. "The game's just begun. Don't get your hopes up yet," said Tomi, who had the ball. She bounced the ball to Nick for him to check it.
"We can already see the end of it...Anne," he said, passing the ball back.
"You have a death wish don't you?" asked Tomi. She ran right by him and scored 2 points for her side. She stuck her tounge out at Nick. Nick did the same thing back and they both giggled.
"Come on you two, we got a game goin' on," said AJ, trying to guard Brian, who passed the ball to Kevin.
Kevin caught the ball and said, "Better get out of the way, the train's comin' through." He dashed by all of them and slam dunked the ball.
AJ now had the ball and passed it to Howie successfully. He dribbled the ball until he got to the three point line. "Here it comes," said AJ. Howie shot the ball up and it made it's way through the hoop with a swish. Tomi and AJ came up to Howie and gave him a high five each.
"Someone better be keeping score!" said Brian.
"As always," said Howie.
The game went on for a hour and when it finally ended, AJ's team was once again defeated. "Good game you guys," said Howie, congradulating both teams, one for it's victory and the other for it's effort.
"It was pretty close this time though," said Kevin, "Only a one point difference."
"Yeah Brian's final three pointer is what killed us," said Tomi, "Great game."
"Let's go get something to eat," said Nick.
"I like that idea. How bout McDonalds?" asked AJ.
"You need to start eating other places AJ..." said Howie.
"What?" asked AJ.
"If the cigarettes don't kill you, that food will," said Brian.
"Well do you have anywhere else we could go?" asked AJ.
The boys thought for a moment. "Okay, fine we'll go to McDonalds," said Brian.
"Who's payin?" asked Nick.
"Now that's another story," said Howie.
"I'm not paying," said Kevin.
"Sure you won't Kev.. Come on, let's go," said Brian.
At about 9PM, Brian dropped Nick off at his house and Brian and Kevin headed toward Kevin's house. Brian's parents died a while back and he was living with Kevin in an apartment. Nick walked in and his mom was there to greet him. "Hi Mom," he said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Hi hun. Misty called for you earlier," said Nick's Mom.
"Again?" asked Nick, "Alright thanks." He headed upstairs to his room and the phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hello hunny teehee," said the voice on the other end.
"Brian!!" said Nick.
"Haha, hey what's up? Let me guess, Misty already called for you. You know I think someone should tell her that you're a big boy now and that you can take care of yourself," said Brian.
"Yeah I know," admitted Nick, "It is getting a bit annoying lately."
"Well, it's nice to see we agree on something," said Brian.
"Well I'm gonna let you go because I gotta call Misty back," said Nick.
"You didn't listen to a word I just said did you?" asked Brian.
"Of course not," said Nick sarcastically, "Tell Kev 'hi' for me. Talk to you later."
"Alright, nitey nite," said Brian, hanging up. Nick then dialed Misty's number.
A girl's voice answered, "Hello?"
"Misty? This is Nick again," said Nick.
"Hi sweety. How was the baseball game?" asked Misty.
"...Basketball game you mean. It was fine," replied Nick.
"Well that's good, I'm glad you had a good time. What are you doing now?" asked Misty.
"I'm going to do my homework and get some sleep," said Nick.
"Can I join you?" asked Misty.
"For homework? Sure. But it's late so if you need help, just ask me on the phone," said Nick.
"...Nevermind. I'll talk to you tomorrow," said Misty, hanging up the phone.
Nick stared at the phone and he finally hung it up and sighed. He took out his books and started his homework. Aaron popped into the room. Nick turned around and asked, "Aaron, what are you doing up this late?"
"I couldn't sleep," replied Aaron, "can I sleep here tonight?"
Nick sighed but smiled sweetly and said, "Yeah. Go ahead and sleep on my bed. I promise I won't let anything get you." Aaron walked sleepily over to Nick's bed and fell asleep in a second. Nick went back to his homework. About a hour later, right as he finished up his homework, he got a page. He looked down and it was Tomi's number. He picked up his phone and quickly dialed her number.
"Hello?" asked a man's voice.
"Hi, is Tomi there?" asked Nick.
"Yeah hold on Nicky," said the man. Away from the phone, the man yelled, "Hey Tomi! Nick's on the phone!"
A few seconds later, Tomi answered the phone and the man hung up, "Hello?"
"Hey what's up?" asked Nick.
"Hey Nick. Sorry for paging you this late. I was just wondering if you could help me with my homework a little bit," asked Tomi.
"Sure, I owe you for last night, by the way I am sorry about that," said Nick.
"About not calling me back? Don't worry about it. I know you have alot on your mind," replied Tomi.
"So what do you need help in?" asked Nick.
"Algebra, again," said Tomi.
"Hey it's not that hard. Here's what you do," he said as he started a whole explanation. In about fifteen minutes, Tomi finally understood.
"Alright, I got it now. Thanks Nick," said Tomi.
"Hey it's no problem, what are friends for?" asked Nick.
Tomi smiled, although Nick couldn't see it. "Anyways, I'll let you go to sleep now. Thanks alot Nick, see ya tomorrow at school," said Tomi.
"Alright, good night Tomi. If you need any help, remember I'll be happy to answer your questions anytime," said Nick.
"If you remember to that is," teased Tomi.
"Yeah I know.." said Nick.
"Don't apoligize again. I know you're sorry," said Tomi.
"Alright, anyways, nitey nite," said Nick.
"Nite," said Tomi. Tomi laid on her bed looking up at the ceiling. She knew how to do the homework-well, most of it-... "What am I doing?" Tomi asked herself, confused more than ever... confused about if she liked Nick as a friend or something more...