Sheridan sat quietly Indian-style across from her best friend and his, uh, girlfriend. In all the years she'd known Nick, he'd never called anyone his girlfriend! They were always "the girl I'm seeing" aka "the girl I'm fucking for the week". Well asides from Mandy... That catastrophe lasted a good 3 months! But now, here he was, with a radiant smile on his face as they smoothly cruised the ocean on his boat. The 3 of them! Sheridan shuddered at the thought of having another girl on this trip. She forced a grin on her face when Eli turned to her, but rolled her eyes when she turned away.
"This is wonderful" I beamed, giving Nick a small peck, the wind blowing wildly through my hair. He wrapped his free arm (the one that wasn't steering the boat) around me and returned the embrace. Nick had decided he wanted to spend the day in his favorite element: water. So he suggested we go for a boat ride, and I thought it would be nice to ask this Sheridan girl to come along. I could tell she hated me! It made me laugh, because she didn't even know me. She probably just felt threatened or something. Why? I hadn't the faintest idea... So I chose to undertake the task of becoming friends with her. Ok, so maybe not friends, but at least not enemies.
"Nick tells me you're quite the surfer" I began "You'll have to teach me some day!"
Sheridan's upper lip curled and she gave Nick a spiteful glare. 'What a ditz' she thought. Grinding her teeth, she forced a broad grin "Oh, sure" She then stood up, wrapping a towel around her waist "I'm gonna go get some sun"
I watched her walk away and felt some regret. Maybe I was trying too hard. As the thought crossed my mind, I heard the motor slow down, and with 3 short skids, we came to a halt.
"This should do" Nick announced, uncrossing his legs and getting up from his sticky seat to stretch. He inhaled the fresh air, making sure it filled his lungs to capacity. This was the life! A clear blue sky, the ocean and the woman he loved more than life itself at his side. It almost felt a little- too perfect. Did that make sense?
He glanced over at Eli, sitting on the edge of the boat, gazing out into the endless blue. God how he loved her. Life had been so chaotic recently that all his hopes of the two ever being together had vanquished. With Brian and all... Oh shit! Brian. Any chance of salvaging their friendship would not be possible if he was to date Eli. But he wasn't about to give her up so easily! They'd just have to figure out a way to keep it under wraps for now.
"Watch out for sharks!"
To Nick's warning, I took a prudent step back from the deck and clutched on to my towel "Sharks?" I croaked.
Nick laughed and scooted passed her to get the sun tan lotion; which was conveniently located next to Sheridan's foot.
"Nice naive one ya got there Carter" Sheridan murmured as he reached down to pick up the bottle.
"What do you mean?" Nick asked cluelessly as he smothered his arms with lotion.
Sheridan rolled her eyes "Sharks?!" she mimicked in a high pitched squeal.
"Oh" he chuckled "Well she hasn't been raised beach side like you and I Sher- this is all new territory for her"
"Whatever" Sheridan grumbled.
"Now you listen" Nick finally snapped, losing patience with his friend's attitude and seizing her arm "I don't know what you're problem with Eli is, but I suggest you deal with it cuz I love her and I won't just sit by and watch you make her feel unwelcome on my own boat! And don't you think that I haven't noticed the way you've been treating her since yesterday either... You watch your mouth, or I'll throw you out! And that's a very long swim back home"
Sheridan looked at him in shock. This was the first time he'd ever threatened her in anything more than a playful manner. She gulped. He loved Eli? She tried to pull herself away, but his grip only strengthened with her resistance. "Alright! Alright! I'll be good"
"Promise?" he assured, giving her a skeptical glare.
"Yes!' she yelled, finally freeing herself from his grasp. She rubbed her arm and wrenched the sun cream from his hand; stomping her feet as she walked away.
Nick shook his head. This was going to be one looong day!
**Meanwhile**
"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts, here...uh... there?.... Yo Brit, is it here or there? I forget"
"Do I look like I care?" Britney asked, her legs crossed poshly as she filed her overly manicured nails.
Chris made a face and left their suite.
"Again, why is that retard in your group?" she asked Justin snottily.
Justin shrugged and went on reading an article about himself in the latest YM. Most celebrity's claimed to not understand why thousands, or rather millions of girls considered them as Gods. But not Justin! He was hot, and he knew it. And until that heartthrob image would wear off, he'd be exploiting it till the very last drop. His philosophy: "If you have it, flaunt it".
"Jace, do ya think I look better as a blonde or brunette..." he queried as he flipped his magazine around, observing himself from every possible angle.
J.C just let out a moan, continuing his channel surfing routine.
Britney stood up and blew on her nails to help them dry faster "What's the matter J Bear?" she pouted "You haven't been acting like yourself lately?"
Pretending not to hear, he went on with his business.
"It's that Alyssa chick" Justin finally said, throwing his magazine to the floor and bobbing his head back on the chair "Ever since she left the party he's been acting all, what's the word I'm looking for?... Oh shit, c'mon, help me out here..." he droned, covering his face with his hand and snapping his fingers to help jog his memory.
Britney smacked him over the head and took a seat next to J.C "Don't mind Justy" she assured "When ever his brain has to think about anything but himself, he tends to drift"
She smiled and placed a hand on his leg "Why don't you just call her?"
Finally acknowledging a person's comments, he rotated his head to look at Britney. Should he?
"I'm just gonna page her" he announced, taking his cell from his pocket and dialing the number, that regretfully, he already knew by heart. He left her a short message and resumed his couch potato status until he'd be forced to do otherwise.
**Earlier That Day**
The doctor examined Alyssa's ankle attentively. It didn't take him long to reach a conclusion
"Well it's definitely sprained" he said, jotting something down in his notebook.
"Badly?" she squinted. They were scheduled to go back on tour tomorrow; the last thing she wanted was to sit out a show on her first day back.
"No, but I'd recommend staying off it for a while. It might worsen"
"Thanks doc" A.J said as the man left the room in search of his next patient. Gently caressing her back, A.J gave Alyssa a supportive smile. "Awww, my poor baby"
Alyssa whimpered and stuck out her bottom lip "It's not fair" she pouted.
"Now how can I resist that lip?..." A.J teased, tilting his head to give her a short, yet sensual kiss.
"This is gonna be a royal pain in the ass" Alyssa complained, jumping off the table, making sure not to land on her left side "I hate it! I feel so... restricted". She wasn't too sure if that was correct adjective to express how she felt, but she was in too much pain to worry about minor details.
To those words, A.J swooped her up in his arms, planting small pecks all over her soft face. "Never fear; A.J's here!"
Alyssa giggled and nuzzled into the crick of his neck "My hero" she laughed.
During the drive back home, A.J and Alyssa bandied a bit; neither one paying full attention to the other. The truth was that they were both preoccupied with thinking about their relationship. Of course it did seem fitting for them to be together. After all the tension between the two- it was to be expected! But now that it was really happening, and that their feelings for one another were out in the open, it just made the whole ambiance sort of- gauche No need to worry though. With two people as perfectly matched, all that was needed was some slight getting used to.
**The Previous Day**
"Okay" said the paramedic "Wheel em' in"
Howie watched in a daze as Eric's dead body was rolled into the ambulance; the doors closing behind it.
Everything just seemed like a blur and all he wanted to do was sit down.
"Mr. Dorough" one of the medics called.
The man came up to Howie and introduced himself as Officer Masson "I'm certain that you are eager to get out of here, but I thought it would be a relief for you to know that no charges will be pressed either on Miss. Miller or yourself"
Although Howie didn't think much of it at the time, considering they hadn't done anything wrong, he was still fortunate because the legal system often had a way of turning the knife on the innocent. "Thank you" he said, forcing a smile on his face.
Masson nodded and went to his car.
In the midst of the whole hectic process of removing the corps and speaking to the police, Howie had nearly forgotten about his own wound. Grant it, it didn't seem as severe now that he didn't have a mad man pointing a gun to his head...
Before he knew it, a young woman came up behind him and gently lead him into one of the ambulances.
"We're bringing you to the hospital" was all she said.
'She read my mind' Howie laughed weakly. Not even a minute later, he heard some voices and then Dawn came to join him- taking a seat across from him.
"How are you?" he asked sweetly.
Dawn looked at him; her eyes were red, but not puffy or anything. She hadn't cried- but for some unknown reason, they were red. But that beside the point. "I'm so sorry" she whispered.
Howie's brow hooked and he gave her an odd look. "Why? Baby, this isn't your fault"
Dawn's features remained motionless; so still infact, that she appeared to be trembling.
"I'm so sorry" she said again.
Howie was about to speak again, but just as he opened his mouth, the door to the ambulance slammed shut and the sirens started wailing. There was no sense in carrying on the conversation seeing as how he couldn't even hear himself think.
So he just lay back and observed Dawn. He figured she must be in some sort of shock because all she did was stare inanely into space. 'Nothing to worry about' he convinced himself 'It will pass'.
Little did he know how wrong he was.
**That Evening**
Popping a Diet Soda open, Nick plopped down on the deck next to Eli and took a sip "Breath taking, isn't it?" he grinned.
Nodding, I continued to marvel at the multi-colored pastel sky. It was just beautiful! Snuggling up against him, I let out a content sigh. This felt so right. It even gave me goosebumps.
"You cold?" Nick asked, giving me a small squeeze.
I turned to face him and grinned for the millionth time that day "Just a little chilly"
Rubbing my arms in an attempt to warm me up, he placed a soft kiss on the tip of my nose "There's a blanket in the underdock; want me to get it for you?"
I shook my head and stood up "Nah, you just stay here. I'll get it myself"
Sheridan watched as Eli trotted by her and disappeared in the cabin under the deck. The girl had been ultra-friendly to her all day, and it was getting on her very last nerve. Nick could be so naive at times. It really boggled her mind how he could possibly think of dating Eli after all the hoopla that happened with the N.Y Times article. Was he blind?
"Would ya stop looking so damn pissed?" Nick demanded in a loud whisper "I thought you'd be happy out here? You love the water"
Giving Nick a bitter glare, Sheridan got up "I'm having a fucking blast!" she spat, brushing herself off.
"Why are you acting like this Sher?" he queried, joining her at the railing where she stood with her elbows resting on it. Nick leaned in and looked her in the face "Well?"
No answer.
"Sher?"
No answer.
"Sheridan!" he finally yelled, "What the hell is wrong? We're best friends- you can tell me"
Those last words provoked a reaction! She huffed and turned to him "If you were really my best friend" she said in painfully cool composure "You'd know what my problem is"
"That's not fair!" Nick protested angrily "I didn't do anything wrong, and you're making me out as the bad guy"
Sheridan pretended not to hear, and began to climb the railing.
Nick's mood rapidly changed when he saw what she was doing. Sheridan always acted the same way when confronted; she'd do something distracting to remove the tension from the situation. This time, she chose to balance herself on the tip of the boat like some circus act "Would you get down from there?" he said, trying not to act alarmed.
"Nope"
"Don't be stupid Sher"
Sheridan stuck her tongue out at him "Quit being such a chicken..."
Nick trailed close behind as she balanced herself on the narrow metal bar. "Sher... please"
Stopping, Sheridan smiled at him "Nicky" she said, before taking another step, not noticing the drop of water an inch infront of her. "Relaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah"
"SPLASH!"
"Sher!" Nick yelled, pouncing forward, leaning over the railing. His eyes scanned the water for her, but the sun had set and it was difficult to make anything out "Sher!!!!" he hollered. Still nothing. "Shit-shit-shit" he cursed under his breath, quickly proceeding to remove his sneakers and socks. Stepping up on the ledge, he dove in headfirst.
Searching underwater for any signs of her, his lungs gave in and he was forced to come up for air. He stuck his head out of the water, and was hit by a current. "Sher!" he coughed "Sheridan".
"Looking for someone?"
Threading water, Nick raised his head, his fright immediately converting to rage.
"Did anyone ever tell you how funny you look when you're panicked" Sheridan laughed from the deck.
Nick gathered himself and climbed back on the boat.
Sheridan giggled, "You look like a wet dog"
Nick eyed her; his hair sleeked back, water dripping on the hardwood. He was soaked to the bone and so was she. He breathed in sharply and marched by her, wringing out the bottom of his shirt; the water from it making loud splattering noises as it hit the floor.
"Oh come on Carter" Sheridan called out "I was only fooling"
Nick spun around; his finger extended with a very stern expression on his face "Don't talk to me"
"But Nick..."
"Don't!" he warned harshly through gritted teeth.
As he turned in to go downstairs, Eli came strolling out with the blanket she went to fetch hung around her arm. Nick just walked by her, and she looked up at Sheridan "What happened?" she asked.
Both girls flinched when they heard the door slam violently.
Sheridan's breath became ragged as she tried to fight back tears. She looked at Eli's caring face and felt her stomach churn. "Just leave me alone" she demanded before storming off in either direction.
