"Auugh!" yelled Trey, backing off as Alyson spun around to glare at him. "Shit, Alley! You tryin' to give me a heartattack?"

"You shouldn't have grabbed me like that!" protested Alyson, catching her breath. He'd scared the living daylights out of her.

"Well, sorry! I just wanted to see if you were okay. You were acting kinda weird back there," remarked Trey.

Alyson rolled her eyes. "Well, maybe I'm just acting kind of weird today!" she snapped at him.

Trey held up his hands. "Yo, Alley, calm down! You don't have to get all defensive!"

"Well, people tend to get defensive when other people keep telling them they're acting weird!"

Trey looked confused. "Erin told you you were acting weird too? Glad I'm not the only one that noticed. What's the matter with you anyway?"

Alyson looked away. "Nothing," she said, starting to turn back toward the others. Trey grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"It can't be nothing," he commented.

"Let go of me!" said Alyson, trying to shake free of Trey's grip. He let go.

"Did I do something?" asked Trey. "Are you mad at me?"

"No," replied Alyson. "I just . . ." she trailed off.

"You just what?" asked Trey. Alyson didn't answer so he sat down on the sand and made her sit next to him.

"What's wrong?" he asked quietly.

Alyson shook her head.

"Alley, it's me. Trey. Your best friend. You can tell me."

"That's just it," said Alyson.

"That's just what?" asked Trey, confused again.

"You're my best friend," said Alyson.

"So?" asked Trey. "What're you telling me? You don't want to best friends anymore?"

Alyson sighed again. "I . . . I don't know what I want."

Trey looked her straight in the eye. "Tell me the truth. Are you mad at me?"

"No!"

"Really?" asked Trey.

"Really," confirmed Alyson. "I'm not mad at you."

"Then what's wrong?" persisted Trey. He was really worried. Alyson never acted this distant from him.

"It's nothing."

"Alley, you keep saying it's nothing, but it's obviously something! Does it have to do with me?"

Alyson shrugged and then nodded.

"Okay, now we're getting somewhere," joked Trey. "You already said you're not mad at me. So what is it?"

Alyson looked down at the sand. "I don't wanna talk about it," was all she said. Then, before Trey could stop her, she jumped up suddenly, raced across the beach to grab her things, and then ran up the path back to the school. So much for getting that tan.

Trey stood up slowly, now completely bewildered. He stared at Alyson until he could no longer see her, then dove into the ocean. When he came up for air, Erin was standing next to him, her hands on her hips, and her chin sticking out. She looked very defiant.

"What'd you say?" she asked abruptly. Trey looked at her like she was deranged and smoothed his wet blond hair back.

"What're you talking about?" he asked wondrously. He glanced over Erin's shoulder to see Aaron and Christian lifting Alison and Courtney into the air, respectively. The girls were shrieking for the guys to put them down. Wasn't working. Trey turned his attention back to Erin, who sighed impatiently.

"What'd you say to Alyson?" she asked. Trey had the feeling that if there wasn't water blocking his view, he would've been able to see Erin tapping her foot.

"About what? She didn't want to talk," said Trey.

Erin's eyes opened wide. "You mean you guys were over there all that time and she didn't tell you?"

Trey narrowed his eyes at Erin suspiciously. "Tell me what?"

Erin's mouth dropped open in amazement, but she quickly closed it. "Um, nothing," she said hastily. Then she averted her eyes from Trey's.

"Erin," said Trey slowly, "what aren't you telling me?"

Erin turned around and glanced at Dave. She looked like she really wanted to go back over to him at that exact moment.

"Erin?!?"

Erin gave Trey a slight smile. "I'm not allowed to tell you."

"You're not allowed to tell me what?" asked Trey again. "Is something wrong with Alley?"

"No!" said Erin. "She's fine. Just fine." She let out a light laugh.

"Erin," said Trey, "if you don't tell me what's going on, I'm going to have to tickle you."

Erin's eyes flew open. "NO! Don't you dare!"

"Then tell me," said Trey, his hands ready to grab her.

Erin moaned. "Oh, all right! But you didn't hear this from me! You figured this out yourself."

Trey stared at her, ready. Erin muttered something indistinguishable.

"What?" asked Trey, cupping his ear. "I didn't hear you!"

Erin sighed. "Oh....Alley likes you!" she blurted out.

Trey looked perplexed. "What do you mean she likes me? Everybody likes me." He grinned.

"No, I mean she likes you as in more than a friend!" said Erin, exasperated.

Trey's grin disappeared. "What?" he whispered.

"You heard me!" said Erin. "I'm not saying it again!" Then she swam away towards Dave, leaving a stunned Trey behind.