-make it alright-
-chapter sixteen-

�So is Brian still dating Samantha?� Melissa asked. It was early in the morning, and she lay with Nick on his bed. Jane had left to take BJ to school, and the other Carter kids to before-school day care. So the bedroom Nick and Aaron shared was uncharacteristically�peaceful.

�Almost two years and counting,� Nick replied. Though the morning air was already humid, Nick adjusted his green comforter to fully cover himself. Things had changed for Nick, physically, since Melissa had moved. He wasn�t as comfortable as he�d once been, dressed only in his underwear so early in the morning.

Melissa, however, hadn�t picked up on Nick�s uneasiness. She was sprawled across the bed, wearing a little girl�s white undershirt and a pair of Hello Kitty panties. It was an odd paradox- the vivacious Melissa on the brink of womanhood, dressed innocently like a little girl. Melissa�s complete na�vet� about how irresistible she really was only added to her sex appeal- and Nick�s discomfort.

�Why do you care if Brian and Sam are dating? I thought you liked AJ, anyway.� Nick asked. He was trying to keep his mind on the conversation, and not on the bare bronze thigh almost touching his own.

�Jorge wanted to know. He saw a picture of Brian, and thought he was cute. Jorge digs that All-American boy look.�

Nick couldn�t help but laugh. The idea of Brian and another guys was just too ridiculous. �Even if Brian wasn�t dating Sam, I can�t imagine him going for a guy.�

�I couldn�t either,� Melissa admitted. �But I promised Jorge I�d ask.�

Just then, Melissa let out a huge yawn. It was accompanied by a full-body stretch. She reached her body long across the length of the bed, arms raised overhead, forming an �I� shape. As the last bit of yawn was let out, Melissa contracted her body into a ball, attaching herself to Nick�s side.

�Oomph,� spat out Nick, once Melissa�s body took a hold of his own. He shifted his weight a bit. �Good morning to you, too.�

�You don�t mind, do you?� Melissa asked innocently, as she retracted her body away from Nick�s a tad.

�No, its okay�I guess.� Nick said quickly. He loved the feeling of a warm body pressed against his own, and didn�t want it to end.

�Good. Because I�ve gotten used to cuddling up with my dog back home.� Melissa explained. She linked her arms around Nick�s right arm and settled her head on his shoulder.

�Your mom let you get a dog?� Not only was Nick shocked, he was also interested. He loved animals, especially dogs.

�Not exactly. The dog belongs to my Grandfather Baras. He�s a very old dog, and isn�t really up to moving from one base to base. So he�s staying with us until my grandfather retires from the military, next year.�

�Well, that�s cool. I�m still surprised you mom even agreed to keep the dog, even if its just a loaner.� Said Nick.

�She doesn�t like to say �no� to the in-laws,� Melissa explained. Changing subjects, �So what are we going to do today?�

�Well, I have to go to Orlando, for Backstreet stuff, at-� Nick rolled over to look at his alarm clock. The digital numbers read seven-thirty. ��nine o�clock. That means we have a half an hour before we have to leave.�

�Should we go make something to eat?� Melissa suggested.

�Nah, Mom usually buys me road doughnuts on the way.� Nick explained. �Let�s go swimming instead.�

�Ooh, good idea!� Melissa wiggled her was out of Nick�s grasp. She climbed over his body until her bare feet touched the carpet. Collapsing onto her hands and knees, Melissa began to paw through her suitcase, located on the floor next to Nick�s bed.

�Here�s my swimsuit!� Melissa declared happily, as she held up a blue tie-dyed bikini top. Her hands reached for the bottom of her undershirt, as she started to pull it over her head.

�Lissie! Not in here!� Nick called out. He hid his head under the comforter, not wanting Melissa to see how red he�d turned at the thought of her changing.

�Ooops, sorry!� Melissa apologized. She pulled the bottom of her undershirt down to cover her belly. �I�m so used to changing in front of everyone at dance, I forget to be discreet.�

�You go change in the bathroom.� Nick ordered. �And I�ll change out here.�

�Yes, sir!� Melissa saluted. She did an about face and marched, swimsuit in hand, to the bathroom.

Once Melissa was out of eyesight. Nick leapt from his bed. Desperately, he seached around the room for his swim trunks. One thought ran through his mind, gotta get into that pool before Lissie�

The moment he found his boxers, Nick ripped off his underwear and climbed into the shorts. A few minutes later, he was running through the house into the backyard. �Last one in the pool is a rotten egg!�

Reaching the pool, Nick glanced over his shoulder. I made it. No Lissie�yet. With that thought, Nick took a running dive into the deep end.

Resurfacing, Nick pushed his sun-streaked blond locks out of his eyes. Still no Lissie, Nick noted. Jesus, how long does it take for her to change?

Remembering why he�d dashed out of the house so quickly, Nick looked down to check his status. Thank glad for water shrinkage. I�m just glad this pool wasn�t heated, Nick thought with a smile. Let the party begin.

But before Nick got the chance to squeeze out another thought, he was hit by a gigantic splash of water. Melissa had cannonballed into the pool. For such a petite girl, she made quite a ruckus.

�Hey, look� Melissa called out, as her head peaked above water level. She displayed a shiny copper penny to Nick. �Find a penny, pick it up-�

A lightbulb went off in Nick�s head. �Want to pull a prank of my family?�

�Depends,� Melissa said skeptically. �What is it?�

�Let�s superglue quarters to the bottom of the pool. Aaron�ll go crazy trying to get �em!� Nick was clearly excited.

�Knowing Aaron, he�ll probably nearly drown while trying to pick �em up.� Melissa noted.

�You go get the quarters, I�ll get the superglue.� Nick directed. He swam over to the ladder.

�Wait, Nick!� Melissa called. She was treading water in the middle of the pool.

�What?� Nick asked over his shoulder.

�You can�t use superglue in a pool. It won�t stick.� Melissa explained sensibly.

�Oh yeah,� Nick realized. �I guess that�s why you�re the smart one. So what can we use?�

�Got any double-sided tape?� Melissa asked.

Nick thought for a moment. �Actually, I think we do. Want to come with me?�

�Sure,� Melissa agreed. She swam over to the edge of the pool and hoisted herself out of the water. Melissa padded her way over to Nick, who was wrapping a towel around his waist. He stared at his bikini-clad friend, as she approached him, dripping. Tugging on the bottom of her swimsuit, Melissa asked Nick, �You got one of them towels for me?�

�Oh. Sure,� said Nick. He handed Melissa a �Beauty and the Beast� beach towel. She looked at it skeptically before giving Nick a look. �It�s Leslie�s! I swear!�

�Sure,� Melissa said. She wrung her long hair out on the pavement before wrapping the towel around her body.

�Kay, come on.� Nick urged. �My mom will be home soon, and I don�t want her to find out about this.�

�Okay, okay. I�m ready,� said an annoyed Melissa. She slung her wet hair over her shoulder. It hung to the middle of her back.

Nick led Melissa into the kitchen. He directed her to one drawer, before pawing through another himself. �Look through that junk drawer and see what you can find.�

�Here�s the tape!� Melissa said triumphantly.

�Good,� said Nick. �Because I found some quarters.�

�Here, give them to me,� Melissa directed. Nick obliged, handing the pocket change to his best friend. Melissa carefully applied the double-sided tape to the backsides of all the quarters. �There- I think that should do the trick.�

Back to the pool Nick and Melissa scampered. While Nick dove underwater, Melissa sat on the pavement, dangling her feet in the pool, directing Nick in the placement of the quarters. �No, a little to the left. No, the other left. There. That�s it.�

Nick climbed out of the pool to get a better look at his latest prank. He grinned broadly. �I think we did good.�

�I think I agree,� Melissa responded.

�Nick! Melissa! You up?� Jane�s voice called out. Although they could not see Nick�s mother, the two teenagers could hear her car keys jingling.

�We�re out here, Mom!� Nick hollered out.

�Are you two ready?� Jane�s voice grew louder as she approached. �Because I just heard on the radio that the freeway�s backed up all the way to Orlando. We�ll be in for bumper-to-bumper traffic, so we better get a move on-�

Jane appeared at the back door. Met by two wet kids, Jane�s entire body seemed to sigh. �Nick! When I woke you up, I thought I made it clear. You were to be ready to leave when I got home.�

�Chill,� Nick got to his feet to reassure his mother. �All Lissie and I gotta do is throw some clothes on. No biggie.�

�No, that�s not all you�ve got to do. Don�t you remember what today is?� Jane asked.

�Photo shoots!� Nick realized. He slapped his head in stupidity.

�That�s right. Photo shoots. Run and take a shower. But be quick about it!� Jane ordered her son.

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