�What?� Dakota asked moaning disgustedly.
�Suntan lotion could�ve prevented that sunburn.�
�Shut up, bitch.�
�Just saying.�
�What do you want?�
�You�ve been kind of quiet since you talked to Nick on the phone.� Dakota turned her heard to look at MyKenna. �I was just wondering why? I f you want to share.� Dakota sighed and sat up.
�He said �I love you� to me.� MyKenna just looked at her shocked. �How do I react to that?� MyKenna shook her head and shrugged. �Did he know he said it? Or did he not know he said? When I saw him it�s what I�ve dreamed of him saying to me. Now that he actually said it I don�t know what to say. I don�t know what to think. I don�t know what to do. I don�t know how to react. It�s only been four days and he says �I love you.� What do I do? Do I say it in return, because I feel the same way? Or what do I do?�
�I think the most you can do right now is not mention it to him or in front of him. If he does know that he said it then wait to see if he mentions it again. You don�t want to scare him off if he doesn�t know that he said it.�
�What if he does mention it?�
�You�ll just have to take it from there.�
�What if I chicken out?�
�I highly doubt you will. You decided not to let his sister come between you guys so I doubt that him saying �I love you� will come between you.� She smiled. �You love him in return don�t you?�
�Yeah, with all my heart, body, and soul.�
�Alright then. You have nothing to worry about. People say they love each other everyday. It�s nothing new to the world.�
�I guess not. It just took me by surprise.�
�Everything does.� There was a knock. �That could be them.� Dakota nodded and MyKenna got up to answer the door. She walked over to the door and opened it up to see Aaron and Nickolas standing there. �Hey guys, come in.�
�Thanks,� Nickolas said, as him and Aaron walked in.
�Shit,� Dakota said and they looked, as she dumped everything out of her bag.
�What�s wrong?� MyKenna asked.
�I can�t find my money,� Dakota stated. �My plane ticket�s gone also.�
�What?� they all asked.
�I just had it earlier when we got lunch and went to the beach,� Dakota stated. �This is not happening.�
�Are ya sure?� Nickolas asked. �Did you put them someplace else when you got back?�
�Like where?� Dakota questioned. �I had them in here. I had my money in my wallet and my ticket in here so I knew where it was.� She sat on the bed again. �I knew this was too good to be true. I was robbed.� Nickolas sat beside her and put his arms around her. �Don�t touch me.� She looked at him.
�Sorry,� Nickolas said leaving her go.
�She�s got a sunburn,� MyKenna replied and Nickolas nodded.
�Call the cops,� Aaron suggested.
�What good would that do?� Dakota wanted to know. �They only took my money and plane
ticket. They left everything else.� She left out a disgusted sigh. �It�s not like I had my name on my money or the ticket.� She looked at MyKenna. �Maybe you should check to see if you still have your stuff.�
�Right,� MyKenna said picking up her bag and dumping everything out. She picked up her wallet and opened it, looking inside. �Son of a bitch, no money.�
�What about your ticket home?� Aaron asked.
�Gone,� MyKenna replied and her and Dakota looked at each other.
�The girl,� Dakota said.
�Of course,� MyKenna agreed. �That was the only time we looked away. She had an accomplice. The little bitch. That was just a setup.�
�What girl?� Nickolas and Aaron asked.
�The girl on the beach,� Dakota replied. She asked us for the time.�
�They were good,� MyKenna said.
�Did you get a good look at her?� Nickolas asked.
�Not really,� MyKenna said. �The sun was kind of in the way.�
�What good would it do anyway?� Dakota said. �They�re probably long gone. They probably traded our tickets in for someplace tropical.�
�Anyway,� MyKenna agreed.
�How am I going to explain this to my parents?� Dakota wanted to know. �My dad will yell at me for being careless and make me feel like shit.�
�Well ya need money to get back home,� Aaron said.
�No shit,� Dakota said.
�Here call them,� Nickolas said handing Dakota his phone. She just looked at him then took the phone.
�I�m going to call also,� MyKenna said picking up the hotel room phone. They both dialed numbers and left it ring.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Alright mom,� MyKenna said. �I�ll get it first thing in the morning�I will�no, I�m staying in the rest of the night�I love you too�I will�bye.� MyKenna hung up the phone and looked at Aaron.
�What�d she say?� Aaron asked.
�She�s going to send it western union first thing in the morning. She�s also going to call in a ticket for me.�
�That�s good.�
�What about DJ?�
�She�s still on the phone,� Nickolas said. �I don�t think it�s going to well.� They looked at Dakota, who had a disgusted look.
�Yeah, ok, whatever,� Dakota said angrily into the phone. �It�s all my fault like everything else is�if it was your other daughter or your sun you would�ve had the money sent already�I don�t care anymore�yeah I will, but don�t expect me home when I do�no I won�t�if you�re going to treat me like this then you don�t deserve to see me�yeah whatever�I won�t be�goodbye.� She turned the phone off and just stood there, as they looked at her. �They say the three of us are treated the same, but we�re not. I don�t ask for anything from them and when I do they totally flip out. I don�t have to put up with this shit.�
�They�re not sending it?� Nickolas said.
�No,� Dakota replied. �I�m supposed to work for it.�
�I�m sorry,� Aaron and MyKenna said.
�So am I,� Nickolas said.
�I had, like, over 300 and now I have nothing,� Dakota said. �Except for a few cents.� No one said anything for a few minutes and just sat there in silence.
Nickolas broke the silence though by saying, �Why don�t we go and enjoy our date.� Dakota looked at him. �We can figure out what you�re going to do.�
�This is my problem and no one else�s,� Dakota said.
�I just want to help,� Nickolas said smiling and she grinned.
�Go on,� MyKenna said. �It�s supposed to be a fun night.�
�Yeah,� Aaron said. �Ken and I have plans.�
�Of course,� Dakota said and she put all her stuff back in her bag. �This is crazy whack shhhhh�poop. I can�t say that last word.� MyKenna laughed and Dakota looked at her.
�What�s so funny?� Nickolas and Aaron asked.
�Nothing,� MyKenna said. �Inside joke.�
�Come on, Nicky,� Dakota said. �I want to eat before its midnight.�
�Right,� Nickolas said, as they walked to the door. �You two behave.�
�We always do,� Aaron said.
�Whatever,� Nickolas said walking out the door behind Dakota.
�Finally they�re gone,� MyKenna said.
�I feel so bad for you girls,� Aaron said. �Some people just don�t care.�
�No they don�t.�
�Are you guys paid in full?�
�Yeah, we check out Sunday morning. My mom�s sending me money in the morning so�I can
help Kota out if she needs any since her parents ain�t helping.�
�That just sucks.�
�She said they treat her sister like a queen and her brother�s a spoiled brat.� Aaron shook his head. �I always thought it wasn�t right.�
�Well Nick can make her part of the Carter Clan.� He laughed and MyKenna just grinned. �I know he wants to. Did she tell you what he said to her earlier?� She just looked at him. �When they were on the phone?� MyKenna just continued looking at him interested. �He said �I love you� to her.� MyKenna smiled.
�I know. She mentioned it to me right before you guys showed up. She has no idea what to do.� Aaron didn�t say anything. �Does he remember saying it?�
�Oh yeah. After he said it he looked at me and smiled. I asked him repeatedly if I heard him correctly and each time was a yes. I was completely surprised that he said it. He only says �I love you� to family and friends and the fans. Never said it to a girlfriend before.�
�She he�s head over heels in love.�
�Totally, but not to make my brother sound like a bad guy or anything like that, but I think a part of him will be happy by this whole mess, because DJ will be staying longer.� MyKenna shook her head. �I mean if I was in love and the girl was in DJ�s situation, a part of me would be happy, because she�ll be staying longer than planned.�
�I understand. I think DJ�s happy in a way also. She did say she ain�t going back and she always wanted to move here to Florida.�
�So then in a way it�s a good thing I guess.�
�I guess so.� She sighed. �I�m going to move here then when I�m 18. DJ and I got it all planned out.�
�You got two years left.�
�Yes I do. I can�t wait either.�
�Neither can I.� She looked at him.
�You�ll be 16 and I�ll be 18.�
�So, love has no age.�
�I know that.� She smiled and kissed him.
�What was that whole thing about?�
�What thing?�
�Of what DJ said and you laughed.�
�Oh that. Well on the BSB 100 hour tour thingy Nick said it at the one place they were at. DJ found it cute.�
�I�m sure she did.� Aaron just shook his head. �What do you find cute about me?�
�You�re eyes.� She smiled.
�What else?�
�Your tooshie.� Aaron gave her a weird look. �Your strong muscular self.� She smiled.
�You�re funny.�
�I try.�
�Anything else.�
�You�re sweet, generous, caring, lovable, handsome, smart, romantic�I think that�s it.�
�Really?�
�Yeah.� She gave him a kiss. �Did I mention your lips are great for kissing also?�
�No. You managed to let that one out.�
�Oh, well your lips are great for kissing.�
�And so are yours.� They kissed again. �You�re also gorgeous, sweet, caring, smart, beautiful, romantic, generous, nice, kissable, huggable, and everything else.�
�Of course I am.� They laughed and continued kissing.
CHAPTER 28