"Ayzzie!" Nick cried, and ran over to where she was standing. He wrapped her in a huge bear hug. She returned the hug.
"Hey, Ayzlin," Drew said.
"Hey," Ayzlin replied. She walked over and hugged him, and he hugged her back half-heartedly. She shot Nick a worried glance, and shook his head, indicating that he would tell her later. She nodded. "So what're we doin' tonight?" she asked.
"How 'bout pizza," Nick suggested.
"Sounds good to me," Ayzlin said. "Is Justin and Jeff here too?"
"Yeah, Justin is in our guest room, and Jeff is in yours."
"Oh. Okay," Ayzlin said. "Nick. do you wanna go shoot some hoops out front?"
"Sure. You joinin' Drew?" Nick offered.
"Nope. I'll stay here."
Ayzlin continued her worried look. "Well, let me go change, and I'll meet you out there, Bubby."
Ayzlin walked back across the street where her car was parked. She walked inside and changed into a t-shirt and swishies. She put on her tennis shoes and met Nick out front of his house.
"All right, are we just shooting hoops?" Ayzlin asked.
"Yeah. I'm not up for a game yet."
They shot hoops for awhile. "So what's wrong with Drew?" Ayzlin asked, not being able to stand it any longer.
Nick sighed. "Well, he talked to Kylee right before we decided to fly out here. She wanted him to go out to Kentucky with her, but he wanted to come here and see you and the family. They got into a really big fight about it. They are on the verge of breakup," Nick explained.
"But they can't break up! They are supposed to be together forever and get married and everything!" Ayzlin exclaimed.
" I know. But there isn't really anything Drew can do about it. He loves her so much, but he's got priorities. She's either going to have to deal or leave." He shot the ball and made it.
"If she leaves him, I will be so upset. He doesn't deserve for her to put him through this crap." She shot the ball and made it.
"I know, I'll be mad too. But it's out of our control."
Ayzlin sighed. Nick took her inside to get a drink. Ayzlin looked in on Drew and saw him still idle in front of the TV.
"Well, it's friday night, and uh, I have nothing to do. Do you wanna do something? Maybe we can get the other guys in on it, and Drew too."
Nick nodded. "Well, besides pizza...... maybe we could do karaoke. I know the four of us sing all the time, but karaoke is just fun."
"Yeah, that sounds good. Is it okay if I talk to Drew?"
"Go for it."
Ayzlin turned around to see that Drew had gotten up. She wandered down the hall and found him face up on his bed.
"Hey buddy. What's up?" Ayzlin asked, leaning in the doorway of the room.
"Nothing." Drew replied. He turned to look at her and she was suprised to see tears streaming down his face. Ayzlin ran to him and sat him up, then hugged.
"Don't cry, Drew. Kylee loves you. She'd never leave you."
"I don't know about that anymore, Ayzlin. She doesn't show it anymore, ya know?" He wiped the tears from his eyes. "So what are we planning tonight?"
Ayzlin smiled. "That's the Drew I know. Pizza and karaoke."
"Count me in. I need a break from this stress!" he sighed. They both laughed. She went home to wait for pizza and karaoke.
Chapter One-Part Two