It was a hot summer day and AJ and Juliette were talking inside. Since the AC was on, they were cool. But soon, they had to go outside to wait for Marisa Jackson, AJ's girlfriend at the time.

"I can't believe that you actually have a boyfriend now!" AJ was screaming excitedly. Juliette had just told him that Brandon Mapelli, the person that she could never stop talking about, had asked her out, and that they had plans for the night.

"Shut up, AJ. Did you think that I would never get one?" She looked at him with a sparkle in her eyes and a smile formed on her lips.

"I just never thought you would grow up, Jules!" He pretended to cry, and she slapped him playfully on the arm.

"I'm only three months and eight days younger than you, so don't act like I'm a baby!"

"If you are younger than me, then you are baby. You are younger than me, Jules, so that makes you a baby. You're my baby." AJ put his arm around her and walked her outside.

"Isn't Marisa coming soon?" She said, squinting because of the bright sunlight.

"Yeah. But you know that if she says 'I'll be here in ten minutes,' she really means 'I'll be here in an hour.' It hasn't even been five minutes, so you could stay a little longer if you want," he replied, also squinting to look at her.

"AJ, do you think that you're in love with Marisa?" Juliette asked, looking down at her feet.

"Yeah. I think that she's the most amazing thing that I've ever seen next to you and my mother. But I'm not totally washed out�yet." He smiled, and lifted up her chin. "What's wrong?"

"You think I'm amazing?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, I've known you since you were born, and we've been friends since forever�and you're always there for me whenever I need you. You're my best friend, you know? I love you so much!" He hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"You know you love me!" She said, looking at the car that had just pulled up in the driveway. Suddenly, the car door opened and a girl came out.

"What do you think you're doing, Alex?" She said with an attitude, looking Juliette up and down.

"I was just hugging Jules�" AJ looked at Juliette and then at Marisa with a confused expression on his face.

"Who's the slut?" Marisa asked, looking at Juliette again.

"Jules. I thought you guys met before�I know you've see her before, Jules, but Marisa? I thought you knew her," he replied.

"Oh, yeah, I did meet you before. Sorry, Juliette. No offense, but your dress is kind of short." Marisa smiled at AJ and looked at Juliette's dress.

"Don't tell me how to dress, all right? See ya later AJ." Juliette narrowed her eyes at Marisa and started to walk to her car. Once the car was out of sight, AJ looked at Marisa and grabbed her arm for her to look at him.

"Why did you just do that?" He asked, fury in his eyes.

"Don't be so aggressive, Alex. She looked like a ho that I've never seen before, and I reacted like a typical girlfriend," she replied, trying to loosen his grip.

"She's my best friend and I don't appreciate your talking to her like that, all right?" He said, letting go as he frowned at her.

"Why are you so protective? She was dressed like a slut, Alex. And she was in your arms�I guess I got a little-"

"Jealous. You are always jealous when I talk to a girl. I've known Juliette for longer than I've known you. I know her inside and out�and I just don't like people talking to her like that. Just-just don't do that again." He sighed and looked into her eyes.

"Sorry, Alex," she said, biting her lip.