Sunshine sat beside her and said, �I heard what you said to Nick and I must say I�m not too happy either.�
�Nick tell ya?� Venus asked, neither of them looking at the other.
�Actually Howie did,� Sunshine replied. �I just ran into him. He also told me what Nick said to you. He was just speaking his mind yesterday.�
�So you decided to come find me and yell at me,� Venus said.
�No, I wasn�t even looking for you,� Sunshine stated. �I was walking by and saw the guys then I saw you. There�s truth to want Nick said.� Venus stayed silent. �If you guys were my true friends you�d appreciate Nick being in my life.�
�Sunn, I am your friend,� Venus said.
�Hello, Ladies,� Alexander said, as the guys joined them and Alexander kissed Venus. Alexander gave Sunshine a hug and said, �Welcome home.�
�Thanks,� Sunshine said returning the hug. �You stink by the way.�
�Thanks for the compliment,� Alexander said, as they all laughed. �Are you ready, V?�
�Fine don�t stay and talk to me,� Sunshine said acting disappointed. �You haven�t seen me for 6 months.�
�I�d love to, but mom�s expecting us,� Alexander replied. �Can I have a rain check though?�
�I guess,� Sunshine said smiling.
�Then we�ll see ya later,� Alexander said.
�Later,� they all said. Venus and Alexander walked away and the other three boys sat down.
�What brings you by?� Brian asked. �Want information on Nick?�
�No,� Sunshine said. �I was with him last night and we talked. So hopefully we understand each other better now.� She spied the ice cream cart. �Hey, Fischetti, you�re buying me some ice cream right?� Bradley looked at her and she smiled. �On second thought maybe I�ll buy you some. Mmm mmm mmm mmm good.� She got up and they looked at her, as she walked over to the ice cream cart. �Do you kids want anything?�
�Since she�s buying,� Bradley said getting his things and walking over, as Brian and Harold followed him.
�What can I get you?� the guy asked Sunshine.
�I�ll have a small chocolate cone,� Sunshine replied looking at the guys, mainly Bradley, and smiling. The guy got her ice cream and handed it to her. �I�m not sure about these kids.�
�I�ll have an ice cream bar,� Brian replied.
�I�ll have the same,� Harold said and the guy got out two ice cream bars and handed them to the guys.
�What about you Bradley?� Sunshine asked.
�I�ll have a vanilla cone,� Bradley replied.
�Ya know,� Sunshine started, �your personality is based on the kind of ice cream you eat.� The three guys looked at her. �Well, according to me anyway. If you choose vanilla then that means you�re plain.�
�Then what do you suggest?� Bradley asked.
�Um�peanut butter cup,� Sunshine stated.
�Then a small peanut butter cup cone,� Bradley said to the vendor, as he and Sunshine looked at each other closely.
�Hey, we have to go,� Brian said and Sunshine looked at him. �We have to pick mom and dad up at the airport then go out to dinner.�
�Alright,� Sunshine said. �I got the ice cream so see ya�s later.�
�Later,� Brian and Harold said walking away, as the vendor handed Bradley his ice cream. Sunshine handed him some money and when she got her change she and Bradley started walking.
�So, Bradley,� Sunshine began, �did you hear about yesterday at Alex�s bar-b-que?�
�Nope,� Bradley said. �I didn�t get in until last night. What happened?�
�Besides Nickolas blurting out to anyone in ear shot that he�s in love with me; nothing too exciting.� Bradley looked her. �I�m being serious. I just get back to town the night before and want to forget why I left without telling anyone and one of the first things I hear is from Nick saying �Sunnie, I love you�.�
�I bet that took you by surprise.�
�Totally; I mean, it�s Nick, ya know, he has problems just showing he cares for a girl and in front of everyone he tells me he loves me.�
�What�d you do?�
�I didn�t know what to do. I just told him I was afraid of falling in love and I walked away.� She sighed. �I was kind of glad I heard it so I know how he truly feels, but I wasn�t ready to hear it.�
�Are you in love with him?�
�Honestly I don�t know. I don�t even know what I want anymore. Everything�s just so complicated and confusing and by Nick saying he loves me just made it all worse. I mean, I went to Australia to sort everything out and to figure out what I wanted and who I wanted, but I couldn�t. A part of me knew what I wanted, but it doesn�t anymore. At times I hate where I am today, but then I�m thankful because I have cool friends like you.�
�You�re cool too.� She looked at him and smiled. �But you talked to Nick.�
�Yeah, but I don�t know�he really wants me back and shit, but I just�I really care about him, but he really hurt me when he pushed me away, ya know. I was already hurting and he just hurts me more.�
�Did you tell him this?�
�Well he asked why I was breaking his heart and I told him because he broke mine by pushing me away when I needed him.�
�Nick�s a good guy.�
�Yeah, I know.� She sighed. �He just seems to try too hard to please me, ya know.� Bradley nodded. �When we were first together he was trying so hard to please me and keep me happy when he knew he didn�t have to. He still knows he doesn�t have to, but he does it anyway.�
�Like saying he loves you.�
�Exactly.�
�I honestly think you�re a hard girl to please.�
�Why do you say that?�
�You just seem hard to please, ya know.� She looked at him. �I mean if Nick saying he loves you didn�t please you then you�re a hard girl to please.�
�I ain�t that hard to please.� She smiled. �If ya want you can ask Nickolas how to please me.� He looked at her and she continued smiling.
�I think I have an idea.� They laughed.
�I just don�t know what I want at times.�
�No one ever does.�
�Do you know what you want?�
�I do right now.�
�And what�s that?� He just looked at her with his mysterious eyes. �Ooh you got that mysterious look going on, Bradley. What�s going through that mind?�
�If ya want to know then have dinner with me tonight.� She just looked at him. �I�ll cook unless ya want to go out.�
�You�re going to cook?� He nodded. �Hmm? I think I�ll take you up on your offer.�
�Great.� They smiled.
�What time?�
�Whenever you show up.�
�Okie dokie.�
�Just promise me you won�t leave again without saying something.�
�I promise, but I did tell you. We kept in touch.� He smiled. �I�m not going to unless I have to, like, if I get a movie deal that requires me to leave the country or I feel like going on vacation. Other than that I promise I won�t leave you again, Dear.�
�Thank you, Honey.� They both laughed and continued to walk enjoying each others company.
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Nickolas was walking on the other side of the street and noticed Sunshine and Bradley. He watched as they stopped and took a bite of the others ice cream and smiled at each other. He was ready to walk over to them when Kevin�s words shot through his ears, �Just give her the space she needs and she�ll come back�.
Those words rang loud in Nickolas� head over and over and over again and giving him a headache. He took one last look at Sunshine, as she and Bradley began walking again. He watched as they turned a corner and when they were out of sight, he began walking again himself with Kevin�s words still going through his head.
CHAPTER 8
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