�Kevin, I don�t think we�re ready for that,� Sunshine said.
�I just don�t want you to drive back to the motel,� Kevin stated. �It�s late and anything can happen.�
�We traveled cross country for crying out loud and nothing happened,� Sunshine said. �What could possibly happen the few miles from here to the motel? We can take care of ourselves and don�t need any man to do it for us.�
�He�s right ya know,� Nickolas agreed.
�You can camp out on the parlor floor,� Kevin said. �If anything happens we�ll be right upstairs.� Sunshine sighed disgustedly and shook her head.
�What do you guys think?� Sunshine asked the girls.
�I�m all for it,� Destiny replied, as long as Brian�s staying.
�Besides you,� they all said.
�It�s fine with me,� Danielle said. �V?�
�Same here,� Venus said. �Josie?�
�I guess,� Josephine said looking at Howard. �If you want to.�
�Sunshine?� Venus and Danielle said.
�You can stay,� Sunshine said. �But I�m not.�
�Why not?� Destiny asked.
�Because I�m a big girl and don�t need no man protecting me,� Sunshine replied. �Is that good enough for ya?�
�Sheesh calm down,� Destiny said, as Nickolas went inside and Sunshine watched him.
�Glad you�re staying,� Alexander said giving Josephine a kiss and Howard turned away.
�It�s starting to rain,� Venus replied interrupting everyone.
�The rain doesn�t stop me,� Sunshine said.
�Remember the last time we were in the rain, Sunn,� Danielle reminded her, as Sunshine nodded. �You got really sick. Pneumonia was it?� Sunshine glared at her.
�Fine I�ll go inside if it makes you feel better,� Sunshine replied walking to the door and opening it. �I have to pee anyway.� She went inside, as they laughed.
�Excuse me,� Josephine said going inside behind Sunshine.
�It�s probably just me,� Destiny began, �but they�ve been awfully quiet lately.�
�I haven�t noticed,� Danielle lied looking out through the rain.
�I did,� Kevin said, as Danielle looked at him. �Sunshine�s really moody too.�
�What do you make out of it?� Alexander asked.
�I don�t know,� Kevin replied. �I�m just hoping Sunn�s mood isn�t because of me.�
�Of course not,� Danielle assured him then making something up, �she�s just going through something personal right now.�
�She�s not sick or anything like that is she?� Kevin worried.
�No,� Danielle said. �She�s healthy�as far as we know.�
�Good,� Kevin said.
�What about Josie?� Alexander questioned.
�The same as Sunn,� Venus answered playing off Danielle�s lead. �Something happened back home and it�s followed them here.�
�Don�t worry about it, because they�re dealing with it in their own way,� Danielle replied going on with the story. �Don�t say anything about your knowing, because they didn�t want anyone to know.�
�Just be there for them when they decide they need ya,� Venus said.
�Definitely,� Alexander said, as the rain started to come down harder.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sunshine, Nickolas, and Josephine were inside by the fireplace roasting marshmallows for s�mores. Nickolas started the fire and the two girls got the marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers. They just sat there enjoying themselves and didn�t think about the others.
�This is great,� Josephine said. �Should we tell the others?�
They looked at each other then shook their heads and Sunshine said, �They�d rather stand outside in the rain so they can miss out on the fun.�
�So did you two ever finish your conversation?� Josephine asked, as the lights went out. She jumped up and said, �I�ll tell Kev.� She ran out of the room leaving Sunshine and Nickolas alone.
�Maybe I should�ve gone,� Sunshine said. �Not her.�
�I understand,� Nickolas replied. �But if you keep avoiding me they�ll get suspicious.�
�I�m not avoiding you,� Sunshine said starting to get up, but fell into Nickolas knocking him backwards and landing on top of him.
They looked at each other a moment then Nickolas asked, �Are you all right?�
�Yeah,� Sunshine replied. �Are you? You didn�t hit your head did ya?�
�I�m alright,� Nickolas assured her and wanting to kiss her.
�Good.� They just looked at each other and smiled, as they both remembered the kisses they shared. Wanting to share them again. Sunshine bit her bottom lip, as her heart pounded in her chest. She waited a second then engulfed Nickolas� mouth in a kiss. Nickolas kissed her in return and put his arms around her.
�Mmm�Sweets��
�Nick�I�we�this is wrong on so many levels.�
�Yeah, but who cares.�
�Not me.� They continued kissing, but stopped and looked when they heard voices. They continued looking and everyone else walked into the parlor and just looked at them on the floor in each others arms.
�Sunshine,� Kevin exclaimed.
�Oh my God,� Destiny said, as Nickolas and Sunshine just looked at everyone.
�It�s not what you think,� Nickolas lied.
Sunshine quickly got up and said, �I was getting up off the floor and I fell.�
�Into Nick?� Venus said.
�Yes into Nick,� Sunshine replied.
�With your dress hiked up in the back it looked like you were doing a little more than just falling into him,� Destiny smirked.
�Really nothing was going on,� Sunshine lied. �I mean nothing. I just fell that�s all.� Kevin just looked at her. �Even if it was more it wouldn�t really matter, because I don�t belong to anyone.� She and Kevin just looked at each other then he walked away and Sunshine went after him.
�Alright, Nick,� Howard began, �what happened here exactly?�
�Just what we told you,� Nickolas stated. �She was getting up and she fell into me. Nothing more.� He started picking the stuff up off the floor and Danielle helped him.
�I believe ya,� Danielle said.
�At least someone does,� Nickolas said. �Although it�s not the entire truth.�
�Excuse me?� Danielle said.
�She kissed me,� Nickolas whispered and Danielle just looked at him. �And I kissed her in return of course.�
�I don�t think Kevin bought it though.�
�He thinks they have a real relationship. Did you ever see them kiss?�
�Nope. She doesn�t belong to anyone.�
�Exactly.�
�What were you guys doing with this stuff?�
�Eating s�mores.�
�And you didn�t invite us. Thanks a lot.�
�The power won�t be back on until tomorrow,� Kevin said.
�So now what?� Josephine asked.
�We light candles nimrod,� Danielle replied and Josephine glared at her cousin.
�How romantic,� Destiny said, as Brian kissed her.
�Where�s Sunshine?� Venus asked not wanting to get into the Destiny and Brian thing.
�In the kitchen looking for more candles,� Kevin replied. �She�s all right.�
�I only found two candles,� Sunshine said shining the flashlight on everyone, as she walked into the parlor.
�I should have more upstairs,� Kevin stated handing Brian a candle. �We�ll be back.� He took Sunshine�s hand and left the parlor.
�He�s really got a problem,� Nickolas said shaking his head and Danielle looked at him. �He thinks Sunnie is his when she�s not.�
�And she�s not yours,� Danielle reminded him. �She just likes kissing you.� Nickolas smiled. �Let�s get rid of this stuff.�
�Why don�t we leave the girls have the bedrooms,� Alexander suggested.
�Well I�m going home,� Brian said.
�We can have a big co-ed slumber party,� Alexander snickered.
�Dork,� Josephine said.
�Idiots,� Danielle said, as her and Nickolas walked to the kitchen.
CHAPTER 17
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