Kait and Kay's Story

[Monday]

"Damn it!" exclaimed Katrina as the door bell rang. She had been curled up on the sofa watching an old Cary Grant movie. It was the part where he had been standing on the screen his arms around the girl and just about to... Well now she would never know. Okay exaggeration she knew for a fact this movie came on every Saturday night. But the moment was lost. She pushed aside the quilt and box of tissues in her lap and went to answer the door.

LeeAnn was waiting impatiently for Katrina to open the door so she lifted her hand up to knock again and the door opened, "Katrina, we got a new neighbor! someone is fially moving into that house across the street." LeeAnn said excitedly. LeeAnn lived next door to Katrina and they had been best friends for as long as they had known each other.

Katrina smiled when she found that is was her best friend LeeAnn.
"Yeah, I know. Have you seen them yet?" she asked excitedly. This was a very, very small town. New neighbors was as about as exciting as it got.

"No I haven't, but I think they have a son our age. My mom was talking to them." LeeAnn said just as excited as Katrina was.

"Really?" asked Kat. Now she was interested.
"I think it's time for our alter-ego Charlie's Angels sides to take over. I'll get the binoculars, you get the cokes. I believe a little spying is in order." she proposed, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

LeeAnn bent down and picked up the 6-pack of cokes sitting at her feet, "I'm one step ahead of you." She laughed.

Kat grinned. It was just like LeeAnn to read her mind.
"Roof?" she asked. The best part of her house was the flat expanse of roof outside her bay window. Perfect for sunbathing...or spying on new neighbors.

"Well Duh." LeeAnn said starting to walk into Kat's house.

Together they raced up the stairs to Kat's room, giggling all the way. They climbed through the window and walked to the egde and flopped down on their bellies.

LeeAnn handed a coke to Kat and grabbed one for herself,"Do you see anything yet?" she asked.

Kat peered through the binoculars focusing through the green branches of the oak tree in her front yard to the house across the street.
"Nothing yet. But, a moving truck is there so someone has to come and unpack it soon.It's only a matter of time,"she said as she took a sip of her coke. The icy cold liquid really hit the spot on a hot summer day like this.

LeeAnn took a drink of her own coke and sighed. THis was her least favorit part, having to wait. "Well I hope it's soon, because it's kind of hot out here." She replied.

"Your telling me... Wait! I see some one!!" yelled Kat.

LeeAnn practacally pulled the binoculars out of Kat's hands as she squeeled,"Let me see, Let me see!"

Kat handed them over. She was in shock. The new guy was Hot!

LeeAnn looked through them and whistled. "Damn, he is hot." SHe said equally surprised. "I wonder why they moved to a place like this?"

Matt Thompson grunted in disgust and practically threw the box he was carrying to the ground. He ripped off his sweatshirt and wiped at the perspiration on his forehead. He was never going to get used to this Texas heat and he was never going to forgive his parents for moving him into suburbia hell. He peeled off his tee-shirt as well and turned around when he thought he heard someone giggle. He saw nothing and shrugged, picked up his box, and walked into the house.

LeeAnn gasped when he took off his shirt then whispered to Kat" DO you think he heard us? he looked like he was looking for something."

" God I hope not!" Kat rolled onto her back and sighed. Every girl in town was going to be vying for his attention.
"How long do you think it's going to be until Kristy Johnson is over here?" Kristy Johnson was the most popular girl in school. She was prom queen, cheerleader, you know. She could have any guy she wanted.

"I give it about 2 days," LeeAnn replied disgusted. She had never been fond of Kristy Johnson. LeeAnn put down the binoculars and took another drink of her coke.

" I hope he doesn't meet my parents. You know my mom will be over there with a pie or something when she gets home. I feel bad for the guy if he had to go through that. Maybe we should warn him." Kat's mom was notorious for being friendly and talked way too much.

"Well between your mom and mine he probably does need a warning." LeeAnn's mom was a lawyer and usually came across to people as being painfully blunt.

An idea was forming in Kat's mind.
"That's exactly what we should do!" She said excitedly. Maybe she would have a chance to give a good impression to this guy with out her mother telling him the story about how she cried in kindergarden when the teacher told her she liked her dress.

"We should, shouldn't we?" LeeAnn remarked. She go up sitting on her knees looking down at Kat.

"Absolutely! It's the least we can do. We have to be good neighbors, don't we?" said Kat.

"Yes, it would be wrong of us not to give him a proper warning." LeeAnn replied knowing very well niether one of them was really going over there to give him a warning. LeeAnn got up and grabbed the cokes and went back into Kat's room.

Kat walked over to her mrrior where LeeAnn was already primping. She surveyed herself in the mirror. Her black tank top and jean shorts made her feel a little taller than her actual 5 foot 1 and a half. Her long wavy red hair just hit her shoulder blades. She sighed this was as good as it gets, she thought. Her only good features were her eyes. One was sky blue and the other was half green and half brown, a color most people called hazel. She just called it a pain.

LeeAnn pulled her blonde, straight hair out of the ponytail it was in. Her hair was long coming down to the middle of her back. She was dressed similar to Kat, with blue jean shorts and a light blue shirt without sleeves. Her eyes were a dark brown with a black ring around the outside. Doe eyes is what her mother called her. "You ready?" LeeAnn asked.

Kat took a deep breath and as an afterthought put on the jade earrings her grandmother had given her for her birthday. She had always said they would bring good luck to the wearer. And she was going to need all she could get.

Matt had finally finished unpacking. His parents had jetted off to "check out the sights". Matt snorted. What there was to see in this tiny town couldn't be that interesting so he had declined their invite. He walked back outside just as two giggling girls came out of a house across the street. Matt raised his eyebrows when he saw that they were headed towards him. He quickly ran a hand through his longish brown hair. Great, he thought. I should have put my shirt back on. Even from the distance he could tell both of these girls were cute and about his age. He hoped he didn't smell bad. The last thing he needed was to be the boy next door with bad BO.

"God, why does he have to be so hot?" LeeAnn asked Kat giggling. Though LeeAnn didn't have problems talking with people she knew she wasn't usually very talkitive around people she didn't know. LeeAnn was determined this guy would be different though. sHe flipped her hair with her hand.

"I know! " Kat whispered breathlessly as the boy watched their approach. Coming up and talking to guys she didn't know definatley didn't fit her personality. But it was summer and she was determined to change that fact.

They were getting close to the guy now and LeeAnn was starting to get nervous like she always did. "Why are we doing this, again?" SHe whispered to Kat.

"Because we're letting him know what he's missing if he starts to go out with Kristy!" Kat replied even though she was just as nervous. The street as they crossed it felt like it was a mile wide. Finally they reached the boy. Kat gave her best friendly smile and stuck out her hand and said, "Hi, I'm Kat. I live over there," she said pointing to her house. LeeAnn remained silent so Kat elbowed her in the ribs.

"Ow," she said as she jumped then fianlly came to her senses, "Oh..umm... I'm LeeAnn, I live in the pink house next to Kat." LeeAnn was cursing herself, Geez, there I go again, she thought.

Matt smiled as the two girsl introduced themselves and he held out his hand to each of them. Life in this small town was about to get a bit more interesting.
Matt was aware of the affect he had on girls but it bothered him sometimes that these girls would throw them selves at him without even getting to know him. These girls seemed nice, but he was still totally in love with one Amy Reynolds his long term girlfriend from his old school in Chicago.

LeeAnn shook his hand still not quite over her shyness. "So you are...." she said.

"I'm Matt, "he said. Kat grinned.
"With an accent like that you have got to be from up north. Where're you from?" she inquired.
"Chicago."
Kat exchanged a glance with LeeAnn. They were both totally in love with that movie from Chicago.

"So why did you come here?" LeeAnn asked knowing most people did not like the heat in Texas. Especially those people from up north. LeeAnn loved the heat though. Some people thought she was related to reptiles and cold-blooded.

"My parents." Matt replied in a tone that meant the subject was closed.

LeeAnn glanced over at Kat and was not willing to approach that subject again. "So do you have any sibilings?" She asked kind of hoping he had a twin brother so there would be two of him.

"Just a 3-year old sister." he said with a smile. "She and parents are out exploring the town."
Kat snorted.
"There's not much to see." she said.
"Tell me about it,"replied Matt.

A black Lexis turned on to the street and LeeAnn groaned,"My mother's home, great." She rolled her eyes knowing her mother would be delighted that she had talked to a guy. LeeAnn's mother was always happy when she talked to a guy. She knew Kat would understand.

"Okay, Matt. We have to be honest." said Kat in a serious tone. Matt raised his eyebrows.
"We had a motive for coming over here." She lowered her voice and Matt and LeeAnn leaned in closer to hear what she said.
"Our mothers are crazy. And we came to warn you. You should probably run inside and lock the door, or LeeAnn's mom will be over here giving you the 3rd degree."
Matt laughed.
"I'll take your word for it. Nice meeting you two. I've got more unpacking to do anyway."
"Great, we'll try to head her off and give you a head start." said Kat as Matt walked inside shaking his head, as in "I guess I moved to the funny farm! Those girls are insane1"
Kat turned to LeeAnn.
"Well, that went well don't you think?" she asked LeeAnn.

LeeAnn laughed at Kat and smiled,"Yeah, sure." LeeAnn said rolling her eyes. "We are crazy, Kat! You know that, right?"

"Of course!" said Kat as she looped her arm through LeeAnn's. "That's what makes us so endearing."

LeeAnn laughed at Kat then said jokingly and very dramatic,"I think I'm in love. Will you marry me?"

Kat threw back her head and laughed...until she saw LeeAnn's mother.
"Uh oh! Your mother looks like shes on the warpath! What did you do this time?"

LeeAnn was equally surprised to see her mother, and that Kat's discription was accurate,"Nothing that I know of, I even cleaned my room." she said confused.

"I think that's my cue! Good Luck!" said Kat ignoring the death stare from her friend and ran into her house.

"Kat!" she yelled after her friend standing there staring at her.

LeeAnn's mother walked up to her and she said in a firm voice,"LeeAnn Rene Parker!"
LeeAnn winced when she heard her mother use her full name,"Yes?" she voiced timidly.
"Why on earth did you not introduce to me to your new friend. I saw you two talking, you can't deny it."
LeeAnn sighed grateful that that was it,"Oh..umm..he had to go unpack, otherwise I would've." she improvised quickly.
"Well next time you talk to him you need to introduce me."
LeeAnn nodded and thought, fat chance of that happrning.

LeeAnn went to her room as soon as her mom let her and grabbed her phone hitting redial. She was calling Kat.

Kat answered her phone knowing who it was, said in a creepy voice,"I want to play a game, LeeAnn!" in a sad imitation of her favorite horror movie, Saw.

"Why did you leave me?!" she shreeked into the phone pretending to be mad.She sat down on her bed and pulled apart the blinds of her window that faced the street. She looked across the street wistfully at Matt's house.

" Why do we even bother with the phone when we live next door to each other?" Her mind was reeling with the events of the day.

"I have no idea," LeeAnn said bluntly, then she got up and walked to her other window that faced Kat's house. There was tree in between the houses with strong sturdy brances conveintly stretch across the gap between their houses. "Open your window I'm to lazy to walk all the way downstairs to get to your house." she said the hung up and opened her window. Jumping on to the branch outside.

Kat opened her window and crawled onto the roof and saw her friend swinging from the branches of the oak tree like a monkey. She laughed.
"How's it hanging, LeeAnn?"

"Aww, shut up Kat" LeeAnn said as she pulled herself up onto the roof. "So what did you make out of Matt?"

"Dreamy." she said sighing.

LeeAnn nodded her head agreeing with her,"School's going to be hell for him." she said.

"If Hell is full of screaming girls. Thankfully no school for 2 months. What are we going to do with all that free time?"

"Get to know him." LeeAnn suggested then added mischeiviously,"and lock him away so no one else can find him."

"Yeah, I'm sure you want to chain him up on your wall with all your other victims!'' replied Kat laughing.
"But, seriously, There's something about him. I just can't put my finger on it."

"Actually I was thinking about upgrading to the UPS guy, but Matt might work," LeeAnn joked back.
"I know what you're talking about though, there is something different about him."

"Maybe it's just because he's new," said Kat staring up at the sky as the first twinklings of stars began to appear in the not totally dark yet sky.


"Who knows?" LeeAnn said as she shrugged her shoulders also looking a the sky.

"All I know is, I don't want us to fight over him." said Kat seriously.

"Neither do I. No guy, no matter how hot he is, is worth losing you," LeeAnn replied just as serious.

"Aww, tear!"said Kat as she pretended to wipe away a tear.
"Let's make a pack. Except as a friend, Matt is off-limits romantically."

"Deal," LeeAnn agreed hugging Kat tightly.

Kat hugged her friend back just as the final rays of the sun disappeared over the horizon plunging the two girls into semidarkness.

"LeeAnn Rene, if you don't get down here this second I'm going to ground you." LeeAnn's mother called.
LeeAnn heard her mother through her still open window and she started making her way across the tree. "I'll see you tomorrow, Kat," she yelled over her shoulder as she waved. Seeing Kat wave back, LeeAnn slipped inside her room and closed the window, heading downstairs.

Meanwhile across the street. Matt was faced with a dilema. E-mail Amy or wait and seem more mysterious. Make her come to him. Matt gave in and e-mailed her. He missed her too much.
Dear Amy, he wrote.
This new town is nothing like Chicago. First of all it's tiny and everyone is actually friendly. Some of my new neighbors came over today and they were...interesting.
Matt smiled remembering the red-head and the blond. Kat and LeeAnn. He hesitated to state that they were girls because Amy was known to get insanely jealous over nothing.
"...Everything in this new place just makes me miss you more. Maybe I'll be able to come up for a visit over spring break. Write soon. I love you, Matt."
Matt hit send, feeling relieved that probably hundreds of miles away, Amy was opening the letter and smiling. Little did he know it would be weeks before he got a reply.

LeeAnn ran down the stairs two at a time and slipped into her chair where her food was ready. Sandy, LeeAnn's mom was already sitting at the table. It was just the two of them. Ever since her dad left 4 years ago and never made any contact. Then Ryan, her older brother, left for collage and was a juinor now. LeeAnn bowed her head and prayed. She was a Christain and was proud of it.
"LeeAnn, honey," Sandy said when she had finished praying,"I invited the Thompsons, the bew neighbors over for dinner tomorrow."
LeeAnn nearly choked on her spaghetti when her mom said that. She quickly recovered and said fast," But Kat is coming over tomorrow for dinner." Kat hadn't been planing for coming over at all but LeeAnn knew she would want to if Matt was going to be coming over.
"Well I wasn't planning on her coming but that will be fine"
LeeAnn chated idely with her mom as they ate dinner but wasn't really paying attention. He's coming over here? Here?, she thought.

Kat headed down to the kitchen to find domething to eat for dinner. In her house it wasn't what's for dinner, but if we are having dinner. Her parents both worked late and her sister, Laura was 2 years older than her and almost never at home. She sighed and pulled a couple of frozen burritos out of the freezer. She couldn't wait until tommorow night when she would get to have a real dinner with LeeAnn and her mother.

LeeAnn finished eating and cleared the table while her mother straightened up the kitchen. They always kept a clean house.
"LeeAnn I'm going to finish up some cases then I'm going to bed. Don't stay up to long." Sandy warned her daughter dissappearing into her study.
LeeAnn went up to her room and started playing mindsweeper on her computer, still thinking about Matt and his family coming over for dinner.

Kat heard drunken giggles as her sister and probably her latest boyfriend came stumbling in the house. Silence filled the house even with the TV and radio on. She considered calling LeeAnn but her mother had a strict no-phoning after 9 policy. Instead she changed into an old tee-shirt and cotton shorts and her jogging bra and headed out into the night to run away from the silence.

After a couple of hours of messing around online it was a 10:30 and LeeAnn decided she wanted to go to bed. She changed into her pajamas which were glow-in-the-dark, smiley faced boxers and a white tank top. SHe crawled under her blue comforter which was spread across her queen-size bed and fell asleep, dreaming about the boyfriend she wanted.

Kat had forgotten her Cd player and was cursing herself silently when she came upon her half-mile marker, a small bridge over a creek. In the dark it was hard to tell but it looked like someone was standing on the bridge.

Kat neared the bridge, her guard up. This was a small town but bad things happened sometimes. She breathed a sigh of relief when she it was none other than the new neighbor Matt.

"Hey," he said when she approached.
"Hey, yourself. Guess we had the same idea."
"Yeah. How was everything with LeeAnn's mom?" he asked.
"Fine, but you should expect a visit from her anyday."
He laughed.
"Looking forward to it. Is she really strict or something?"
"Well, not really. It's just been really hard on her and LeeAnn these past couple years. Her dad left them when we were 12."
Matt winced.
"That's tough."
"Yeah, but I try to be there for her when ever I can and share my dad with her once and a while." said Kat with a smile.
Matt smiled back politely but seemed distant.
"Something wrong?"asked Kat.
"No...well I'm just thinking about my girlfriend."
Ah, crud. Thought Kat. She had to tell LeeAnn.
"From Chicago?"
"Yeah, she was kind of upset about me leaving. She's paranoid I'm going to find someone else. The long distance thing is hard."
"Yeah, but doesn't it go both ways? Shouldn't you be worried about her finding someone else?"
"I guess I should but I trust her."
"That's good. I'd better be on my way. Curfew." she said rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, me too. It was nice talking to someone about this."
They waved good bye and each headed in opposite directions. Kat with s sinking heart knowing Matt was off the market.

The next morning Kat waiting impatiently for LeeANn's mom to leave t5he house for work. The second that black Lexis pulled out of the driveway Kat raced over to LeeAnn's house and banged loudly on the door.

LeeAnn had been watching TV in the living room sitting on the couch. Her mom had just left when she heard the knock. She knew at once that it had to be Kat. No one else would come over this early. She jumped up from the couch and ran over to the door pulling it up,"What's Up, Kat?"
"Oh my God!! Matt has a girlfriend!" exclaimed Kat as she proceded to explain the encounter by the bridge the previous night.

"What!" LeeAnn said looking at Kat incrediously. "How do you pull off a long distance relationship like that?"

"I don't know, but it seems like he's going to find a way. I think he really loves her. When I said she might be cheating on him but kind of seemed like he was in denial over that little fact."replied Kat breathlessly.

"So he's in love, and he's how old? 16? I haven't even had a boyfriend yet!" LeeAnn exclaimed shaking her head in disbelief.

"Tell me about it. I wish Alex would get back from visiting his mom in freaking California already. I miss him. Besides you he is my best friend." Said Kat wistfully. Alex had been her friend since kindergarden when he had fended off the nefarious Jake as he had tried to make Kat eat a worm.

"Have you ever thought about Alex as boyfriend material?" LeeAnn asked, now hooked on the sublect of boyfriends. She also knew that Alex had liked Kat as more than a friend for a while now, but she had promised Alex that she wouldn't tell. LeeAnn had kept her promise. Kat didn't have a clue.

Kat stared thoughtfully into the distance. Alex as a boyfriend? Maybe. But it would just be too weird considering Alex was such a good friend and the fact that he had often seen her in her Pj's with no bra and no makeup and with her hair an uncontrollable frizzball. She told LeeAnn as much. Except she had never told LeeAnn about the huge crush she had had on Alex in the 8th grade when they had both hit puberty big time and suddenly Alex was hot. But she had fully gotten over it when Kristy had asked him out.

LeeAnn shrugged her shoulders at Kat then suddenly remembered that Matt was coming over for dinner that night. "Kat come you come to dinner tonight? Matt is coming over and I don't want to be alone," She said excitedly, all ready knowing the answer.

LeeAnn grinned broadly,"I knew you would say yes."

"Cause I'm just so predictable,"said Kat rolling her eyes.

"Did you all ready eat breakfast? I didn't and you can join me in having a gourmet bowl of fruit loops if you would like." LeeAnn said laughing.

"Hmm...I don't know. I really rather prefer the delectable dish that is Fruity Pebbles."said Kat with a grin.

"I don't know, that would be difficult. I haven't even opened that box yet." LeeAnn siad throwing her arms up. Then she smiled and closed the door behind Kat as she walked in.

Matt stared at his computer. Amy still hadn't emailed him back. Everytime he had tried to call her the voicemail had picked it up. He was frustrated beyond belief. Kat's words kept repeating over and over in his head.
"Shouldn't you be worrying about her finding someone else?"

"sO what are we going to do today?" LeeAnn asked pulling out cereal boxes and the milk. She poured herself a bowl of Fruit Loops then she poured Kat a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. She took both bowls to the table and sat down taking a bite of her cereal

"I don't know. Alex e-mailed me last night and said he was flying in today so my mom's going to take me to meet his plane. His dad's working. Again."said Kat through a mouthful of Fruity Pebbles. Alex's dad was notorious for being a work-oholic.

"I didn't think Alex was getting back til next week." LeeAnn said knowing how Alex's dad was.

"So did I, but apparently his mom and stepdad decided to take a second honeymoon."

"I don't see how he stands even going to see them," LeeAnn said shaking her head.

Alex sat on the plane supposedly reading a book. Instead he was looking at a picture of Kat and all he letters she had written him. He had liked Kat for a long time but he wasn't willing to ruin their friendship. He had gotten the message from his dad that he would be at work. That meant that Kat would probably be picking him. He just had to wait a few more hours and he would see her again.

"He loves his mom, that's why. And at least while he's there he has parents who are actually around. I can't wait to see him!" Kat said excitedly.

"Chill Kat" LeeAnn said laughing,"So when is his flight getting in?"

"Three, I think.We should make a Welome home sign for him!"

"We should. I have a poster we could use." LeeAnn saidfinishing off her cereal.

"Great! It should cheer him up. He's always depressed when his dad blows him off. Do you want to come with us?"

"I don't know if I can, my mom said I needed to stay at home and she'll be home by the time we drive to the airport and back. I'll help with the sign though. You're still coming over for dinner right?" LeeAnn asked winking at Kat.

[Monday]

"Actually...I'm going to have to take a raincheck. I mean, it's Alex's first night back and he really wants to hang out and I haven't seen him in weeks.I really missed him."said Kat hoping her friend wouldn't murder her.

"Kat! You're going to leave me alone with Matt!!!" LeeAnn cried mouth hanging open.

Kat laughed.
"You'll survive. Besides your mom will be there to break the ice."Kat said with a smile.

"MY mom? Come on, look at who your talking about." LeeAnn said shaking her head,"Let's do the poster at least." LeeAnn got up and took her bowl to the sink. She started to head up the stairs going to get the things they would need.

Kat followed suit and put her bowl in the sink and headed upstairs with LeeAnn where poster boards and glitter awaited them.

LeeAn pulled the poster board out of her closet while Kat pulled the glitter and other stuff out of the drawer in her desk. "What are we going to put on it?" LeeAnn asked sitting down on the fllor the poster in front of her.

"How about,"Kat said putting her hands in the air as if she was visualizing it,"Welcome Home Alex!"

"Ok," LeeAnn laughed,"Do you want me to write?" LeeAnn asked knowing that Kat would want her to write it. LeeAnn was really good at writing in those cool looking letters.

"Yes, please. You know my handwriting is hopeless. I will stick to what I do best."said Kat.

"Ok," LeeAnn said all ready starting to write the words in big, thick letters.

Kat picked up the glitter and began to decorate the poster. Art was something she loved and was good at. Her stomach had butterflies. She was so excited to see Alex.

"Matt, honey!" called his mom. Matt groaned. She had her bargaining voice. It meant she wanted him to do something. He trudged downstairs and found his mother in the kitchen in the process of baking an apple pie. Her specialty.
"Yes, mom?" he asked.
"Oh, there you are." she said over the cutting board where she was slicing huge green apples.
"The neighbors across the street invited us over for dinner."
Matt raised his eyebrows.
"Which one?"asked Matt.

LeeAnn finished writng the words and she drew a heart in the corner and started putting red glitter around it before Kat could say anything. "I want a boyfriend," LeeAnn sigh wistfully.

"Join the club,"snorted Kat.

"And Matt's taken," LeeAnn pouted,"and everyone else around here are idoits if they aren't taken."

"I know it. But soon our day will come when we both have boyfriends. I hope."said Kat looking at her watch.

"But I want a boyfriend now,"LeeAnn complained laughing, getting glitter everywhere.

"Good things come to those who wait."said Kat.

LeeAnn rolled her eyes at Kat then put the finishinf touches on the poster,"So what do you think?" she asked.

"Perfect!"exclaimed Kat.

"I think their name is Parker. Yes,that's it. Sandy Parker and her daughter, LeeAnn."said Matt's mom as she sprinkled cinnimon over the apples.
Matt smiled remebering the shy, pretty blond.
"Sure, mom. I'll be there."
"Great, and can you at least try to be presentable?"
Matt rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, sure, whatever."he replied as he walked out the door.

LeeAnn grinned, proud of herself. She looked up at the clock on her wall and said,"If his flight gets in at 2, shouldn't you be leaving now?"

"It's 3, but yeah, we should leave now,so we can get through security."said Kat picking up the poster.

"Be pretty," LeeAnn said covering her head with her hands expecting a pillow to come flying at her. She always said that, and Kat was always throwing pilows at her for it.

LeeAnn wasn't disappointed.Kat picked up the nearest pillow and hurled it at LeeAnn but checked herself in the mirror anyway.

The pillow hit her and LeeAnn laughed. "Come on, I know you spent plenty of time in front of the mirror this morning." She grabbed Kat's arm and pulled her out of the room,"Besides, you look great."

"You have to say that because you're my friend."said Kat as they reached the front door.
"I'll see you later. Have fun tonight."Kat said with a wink and ran off before LeeAnn could do anything to her.

"Fine, you're ugly!" LeeAnn yelled after her just kidding, "Bye Kat."

Kat waved over her shoulder at LeeAnn and ran into her house to get her mom. In no time they were in the car heading down I-55 to the airport.

LeeAnn watched them drive off and she sighed,"I'm so looking foreward t a few hours at home by myself," she said sarcastically. She turned around and went inside. She sat down on the coach and started filliping through channels trying to find something to watch.

Alex walked off the plane Kat's letters and picture tucked safely into his carry-on. He couldn't wait to see Kat. LeeAnn would probably be there with her but that would be ok. He got along fine with LeeAnn.Alex walked over to the baggage claim and watched for Kat. He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. Alex was no weakling. He turned around and saw a bright sign. Taking a closer look at the words he read 'Welcome Home Alex'. He saw Kat holding the sign and he smiled. Leave it to Kat to make his day a little brighter.

The moment she saw Alex, Kat dropped the sign and ran towards him and threw her arms around him.

Alex dropped his bag and hugged Kat back so glad to see her again. "Kat!" He said excitedly,"I missed you a lot."

"I missed you, too."She said as she let go of him. "How was the flight?"

Alex reluctantly let go of Kat and picked up his bag again. "It was boring. You weren't there." He said grinning at her.

"Ha, ha."Kat said as she hit him playfully.
"My mom left me the car, do you want to go get something to eat?"

"Are you kdding, I'm famished. That stuff they serve on the plane just isn't filling." Alex said still grinning.

"Oh, I know. Where to? The usual?"asked Kat grinning back.

"Of course," Alex replied.

"Great, c'mon." said Kat and lead the way to the parking garage where her mom's Nissan Altima sat waiting for them.

Alex walked beside her carraying his bag. "Havier hasn't changed anything on the menu since I've been gone has he?" Alex asked refering to the owner of the small pizza place they went to. They had become friends with the owner of Havier's Pizza since they went there so often.

"Oh, No! You haven't heard? He took Pineapple-Pepperoni-Reeses from the menu."teased Kat refering to Alex's favorite and bizarre pizza.

Alex looked at Kat with wide eyes actually believing her,"Are you serious? He wouldn't do that!" he said alarmed.

"I'm kidding. Chill. I thought California was supposed to relax people." Kat said laughing as she rummaged in the glove compartment for her sunglasses.

Alex sighed in relief and leaned back in his seat,"I can't believe you did that to me. I can't believe I actually believed you," he said wiping fake sweat of his foreead.

"You're just so gullible." Kat said sarcastically with a smile. She pulled up to the toll booth and paid the cashier and pulled out onto the highway.
"So how was Cali?"

"Boring, you weren't there," Alex said again, then grinned sheepishly when Kat glared at him, but couldn't do anything else since she was driving. Then he said seriously,"Cali was ok. there wasn't really any good surfing this time though. And there was too many girls that wanted my number."

"I'm so sure,"kat said sarcastically, but didn't doubt it. Alex was extremely good looking.

"I had a guy ask for my number too. Let me tell you, that was weird." Alex said moving his hands as he talked.

Kat laughed.
"Did you take him up on it?" she asked teasingly. The exit for Havier's was coming up so she switched lanes and turned off towards it.

"No," Alex snorted,"Are you kidding he was like some geeky computer nerd. Definatly not my type." Alex said shaking his head, now remebering why he had missed Kat so much.

Kat took her eyes off the road for a second and smiled at him. It was so good to have him back. He could always make her smile. She pulled into the driveway of Havier's and parked in what had become their unofficial parking spot.

Alex got out of the car quickly and ran around to the other side to open Kat's door. He opened it and held out his hand to help her get up and said,"My Lady."

"Why, thank you, my lord."replied Kat as she put her hand in his.

Alex help her out and they walked to the door and Alex held that one open for her to. They walked inside and Alex said,"Home, sweet, home."

Kat breathed in deeply. The air was saturated with the spicy aroma of pizza and the old leather from the blue and green booths.It was good to be back. LeeAnn didn't like the place very much so she hadn't been since Alex left. Behind the counter, singing old italian love songs was the one and only, Havier.
"Oh, it is my best customers!"he exclaimed when he saw them.

"Hey Havi, how you doing?" Alex said slipping into a booth. Then he said to Kat,"So where is LeeAnn anyways? You two are usually attacthed at the hip."

"LeeAnn,"she informed him as she slid into the booth across from him ,"has got a hot date!"

Alex leaned foreward looking at Kat curiously, "You just used 'LeeAnn' and 'hot date' in the same sentence. We're both talking about LeeAnn Parker right?"

"Okay, it's not really a date. We got new neighbors and one of them is an extemely hot guy. Sandy invited his whole family over for dinner. You should be grateful. I ditched LeeAnn to hang out with you."

"Wiat you guys have a new neighbor? I've missed a lot." He said leaning back in the seat only to lean foreward again,"And he's hot. I don't have any competetion over your affections do I?" he said jokingly but being serious at the same time.

"I don't know. I know nothing about him, but I'm definately interested." said Kat. Thats the kind of friends Kat and Alex were. She could tell him anything. Even about the guys she liked.

"And let me guess," he said shifting his position,"you and LeeAnn made him off limits."

[Monday]

Kat smiled. He knew her well.
"Yeah, we did. LeeAnn's worth more than any guy." she said. How was the dinner going, she wondered.

"I bet," Alex said,"Look here comes our pizza." then pointed to Havier who was bringing their pizza to them.

LeeAnn was in her room appling the last finishing touches to her ensamble. She was wearing a blue jean skirt and a light pink top. She had on a pink and green choker necklace and the one with the heart that she always wore. She had her hair up in a ponytail and had tied it with a green ribbon.
"LeeAnn are you ready yet? They will be here any minute!" Sandy called up the stairs.
"Coming!" LeeAnn said as she closed the lid of her mascara and started down the stairs.

Meanwhile, across the street, Matt was rummaging through his closet for a clean shirt. He didn't know why he was bothering. He had a girlfriend for goodness sakes! But his still empty inbox made him less worried about his faithfulness to Amy. He pulled out a blue shirt that matched his eyes and ran his hand through his hair.
"Matt, honey! Come on! We're leaving!"called his mom.
"Coming!" he said and started down the stairs.

LeeAnn walked into the kitchen grabbed the plates that were sitting beside the sink and started to place them around the table.
Seeing herdaughter walk in, Sandy looked up from the spaghetti and said,"LeeAnn you look cute."
"Thanks,"LeeAnn replied starting to put out the silverware.
"When they come will you get the door, honey?"
"Sure mom."

Kat smiled as Havier set down their pizza. Half Pineapple-Pepperoni-Reeses and half Pepperoni-Green pepper-Mushroom. The usual. She helped herself to a slice and asked,"Did you meet any cute girls in California?"

"There was one," ALex said through a bite of pizza,"but she was too clingy. It's like she didn't want to leave me and she wasn't even my girlfriend."

"Really?" Kat smiled. "Did you set her straight or are you two planning a hot affair during December?"

"Haha very funny, Kat" Alex smirked still eating his pizza,"I conviently 'lost' her number. So tell me more about 'LeeAnn's hot date'."

"There's not really much to tell. He's got this girlfriend back in Chicago, but you know how long distance relationships are." Kat said. She smiled at Alex over her pizza.
"I really missed you Alex."

"I missed you too, Kat." Alex said looking at her with a strange expression on his face. For a moment he stopped eating his third slice of pizza, just looking at Kat.

LeeAnn heard a knock on the door as she finished setting the table. She yelled "Coming," and practically ran to the door. She smothed out her skirt and opened the door smiling sweetly.
"Hello, come on in."

Matt stood slightly behind his parents as the door opened. He walked in and found LeeAnn at the door.
He smiled at her.
"Hi," he said. He was so distracted by looking at her that he tripped over the door jam and fell flat on his face.

LeeAnn saw him fall and almost laughed but then put a concerned expression an her face and knelt down beside him,"Oh my gosh! Are you ok?" she asked.

Kat squirmed a little under his gaze. She had never seen that look on his face before. So, she did what she did best when she was uncomfortable. She changed the subject.
"So, where are your mom and stepdad going for their second honeymoon?"

Matt blushed at his own stupidity. He laughed.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Only my pride's a little bruised." He couldn't believe he was acting like an idiot in front of this pretty girl.

Alex looked crestfallen for a moment when Kat changed the subject but put a smile across his face again. "They were thinking about going to Hawii," he said continuing to eat his pizza. "I'm not sure where they're actually going though."

LeeAnn smiled then stood up and held a hand out to help Matt up," I wouldn't feel too bad. I think the door jam moves because you're not the only one that has tripped over it." LeeAnn giggled.

"You don't know where they're going?" Kat asked in disbelief.

Matt laughed along with LeeAnn as they walked into the living room where Matt's family and LeeAnn's mom were introducing themselves to each other.

"No," Alex said shrugging his shoulders,"I really don't care. I'll get sent pictures from where ever they go."

LeeAnn walked in the room feeling more at ease with Matt than she had earlier. It was still weird to be with a guy, but after the incident with the door jam the ice had been broken. Sandy saw LeeAnn enter the room and turned to her and asked,"Where is Kat? I thought she was coming over, too."
"She was going to but Alex got back today so she is hanging out with him." LeeAnn explained as her mother nodded knowingly.

"Who's Alex?"asked Matt.

"Alex is one of my and Kat's friends. He's been in Cali with his mom for visitation. I would've gone with them but you were coming over," LeeAnn explained.

"Are they like a couple or something?" asked Matt in an amused voice

"No, but they should be." LeeAnn said following her mom into the dinning room.

"What do you mean?" Now Matt was defiantely interested. Maybe this small town was more exciting than he thought.

LeeAnn sat down and motioned for Matt to sit besides her. "Well, Alex has liked Kat for I don't know how long. They've known each other longer than I've known Kat." LeeAnn said starting to fill her plate,"I'm pretty sure Kat likes ALex too, but I don't know for sure. And Alex doesn't want to ruin their friend ship if she doesn't like him."

"Interesting. So as their mutual friend you haven't tried to play match-maker?"

"Not yet, right now I'm more like an informant."

"How so?"

"I tell Alex everything he wants to know. Like Today Kat and I were talking about guys and I brought up the subject of Alex. I asked Kat if she liked him and she gave me the usual 'I don't know'." LeeAnn sighed now that she was thinking about guys and boyfriends. LeeAnn wanted a boyfriend.

"I understand completely. Does it ever bother you to see two people you know should be together but for whatever reason they're not?" For a second Matt couldn't believe what he'd said. It just popped out of his mouth.

"Yes, All the time." LeeAnn replied imediatly. "I kind of wish Alex and Kat would get together all ready, but then there is theis other part of me that doesn't want them to. I'm enough of a third wheel as it is." LeeAnn cwas suprised she was telling this to Matt, who she had known for two days. While Kat and Alex had no idea.

"They're your friends. They would never make you feel like a 3rd wheel intentionally. Besides you can always hang out with me." he said as he smiled at LeeAnn.

"Yeah not intentionally, but you know how it is when you're with a couple. It's just really akward." she said then looked over at Matt and smiled back,"If I start hanging out with you though, that wouldn't be a problem."

Matt smiled back.
"We should. I don't know anybody here yet."

"Well now you do." LeeAnn said finishing up her food. She pushed back her plate and looked over to Matt seeing he was finished too.
"Hey mom, can Matt and I be excused?"
Sandy nooded her head to wrapped up in her conversation to care. LeeAnn stood up and grabbed her plate jerking her head to the side telling Matt to come.

Matt followed her into the kitchen where LeeAnn was rinsing her plate in the sink.
"Do you want to go for a walk or something?"asked Matt lokking at her.

"Ok," LeeAnn said as she put her plate in the dishwasher. She walked into the entry way and waited for Matt to follow.

Matt followeed LeeAnn to the entry way and together they walked out into the last rays of the setting sun.

"So what was it like in Chicago?" LeeAnn looked out into the sky turned pink by the sun's last rays.

"Very different from here. If it had been the other way around and I'd moved Chicago, the only reason my neighbors would come over would be to complain about something."Matt said staring at the ground. LeeAnn probably knew about Amy and would ask about her. She and Kat were best friends after all.

"That's funny, everyone is really nice around here." LeeAnn said kicking a rock as they walked along. She was curious about his girlfriend but didn't want to pry to deeply. "I bet you're going to miss your friends. I would die if I ever had to leave Kat."

"yeah, I guess,but I still talk to them all the time. The long distance thing is knid of hard on my girlfriend."

"I can understand that being hard on friends, especially someone that is a girlfriend or boyfriend," LeeAnn said mentally cursing herself for her stupidity. She didn't want to talk about his girlfriend. Him having a girlfriend made it easier to stay away from them though like her and Kat had agreed to do.

"Yeah, but I think she's avoiding me."

"Why?" LeeAnn blurted out before she thought about it. She couldn't see why any girl would want to avoid Matt.

"I have no idea." said Matt sighing.

"That bites," LeeAnn said thinking it probably foretold the end of their relationship. "I've never had a boyfriend so I don't really have any advice. Just give her time though. I'm sure she's just upset that you are gone." LeeAnn said that, but she didn't want that to actually happen.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." said Matt.

"So how old are you anyways?" LeeAnn asked knowing she was changing the subject but she hinestly wanted to know.

"17," said Matt. "But I still don't have my driver's license."

"Yeah they have alot of public transportation in Chicago, right? I have my liscence but Kat usually drives us everywhere. She has acsess to a car, which for me is limited." LeeAnn said laughing.

"Yeah, the subway was my mode of locamotion."

"That's good. So do you want to, do anything tommorow?" asked Kat finishing off her soda. It was a perfect oppurtunity for Alex to meet Matt.

"Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to go swimming. LeeAnn can come, too." ALex said still eating his pizza. Alex always ate alot, LeeAnn had frequently told him that he had a hollow leg. "That way I'll get to see her, and it will be just like old times."

LeeAnn was running out of things to say and knew she should probably be getting home but she didn't really want to go home yet. "So are you doing anything tomorrow? I'm almost positive we, meaning Alex, Kat, and I, will be getting together and you are welcome to come." LeeAnn said trying to be friendly. This was the most she had ever talked to a guy besides Alex and it was kind of making her tounge tied.

"Yeah, that sounds good," said Kat smiling."But do you mind if Matt joins us. I'm sure LeeAnn wants him to come and then she won't feel like a 3rd wheel."

"No I don't mind," Alex said grinning mischeviously,"That way I'll be able to meet my competition. Like they say keep your friends close, and your enimies closer."

"Ha, ha." said Kat grinning.
"Are you up to me kicking your ass at bowling?"

"Sure that sounds great,"Matt replied smiling."I'm dying to meet this Alex dude."

Alex threw some money on the table and stood up,"No, I think I'll kick your ass." he corrected.

LeeAnn laughed at Matt, "Ohh, Does Alex have some competition?" LeeAnn asked backing out of reach of him.

Kat laughed."Yeah, right."

"No! I have a girlfriend, remember?"

LeeAnn stopped smiling, "I'm sorry, I was just kidding though." LeeAnn said looking at Matt carefully, not wanting to offend him.

"Right, I will kick your ass." ALex said to Kat nodding his head in agreement. He started walking out of the pizza place and he waved to Havier.

Kat followed him out and kicked him hard in the shin.
"I don't know Alex? Can you bowl handicapped?" asked Kat laughing.

"I know LeeAnn. It's okay." He looked at his watch.
"We'd better get home."

Alex grabbed his shin and started yelling,"That hurt Kat! Geez, what was that for?" Just because I'm a better bowler does not mean you should resort to violence." ALex fake limped over to the other side of the car putting it between him and her.

LeeAnn sighed, "You're right, we should." she agreed. She hadn't meant any harm. She started walking home and she withdrew into herself. Which she knew she shouldn't do but sometimes she couldn't help it.

"Hey, I'm your ride. I wouldn't offend me if I were you."

Alex winced and climbed into the pasenger seat,"That hurts Kat, that really hurts," he said shaking his head.

"You know you love me," Kat replied with a grin.

"Oh, yes," Alex said grinning at her.

Kat climbed into the car and pulled her keys from her purse.
"I didn't really hurt you did I?" asked Kat in a concerned voice.

Alex looked down at his shin and said,"Nah, it'll bruise but it won't be bad."

Kat drove the short distance to the bowling alley and asked Alex, " Are you okay? You seem kind of weirded out or something."

"What? oh," Alex stammered inturrupted from his thoughts,"No, I'm fine really I am." he said seeing that KAt didn't believe him. He wasn't going to say anything about he had liked Kat for a long time, and that every new guy she talked about bugged him. The only person who knew that was LeeAnn and he hoped to keep it that way, for now at least.

Kat shrugged her shoulders. She could tell something was up but she knew not to pry. He would tell her if he wanted to.

"So are you ready to get beat?" Alex asked climbing out of the car. Taking his mind off that Matt guy.

LeeAnn didn't say much as they walked back to their house. She was thinking about Matt, and how she shouldn't like him. That he had a girlfriend, and liking him would make things rough between her and Kat.
She still liked him.

"You wish!" exclaimed Kat as she ran into the bowling alley.

Matt didn't notice LeeAnn's silence he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts. He knew he was developing a major crush on this girl, but what about Amy? He hadn't heard from her in over a week. Every time he called her he got either a busy signal or voice mail and his other friends seemed to be avoiding the subject. At their houses Matt said a hasty goodbye to LeeAnn and marched straight up to his computer.
"You've Got Mail!" his computer announced happily. Could it be from Amy?

Alex followed laughing and happy that he was back and with Kat again. "So, have you been practicing? I have friends in Cali that go everyday, and I went about once a week with them. We all know LeeAnn's a hopeless bowler so I highly doubt you improved playing against her."

LeeAnn went up tp her own room when Matt had left and grabbed her cell phone off her desk. She climbed out her window and out onto the tree and dialed Alex's number. She wanted to see how things were going with them.

"You might be surprised, Alex," she said mysteriously.

Matt opened his inbox only to find to his regret that it was not from Amy but from his friend David.
"Het Dude," read the email.
"I think you should see this.
See attachment."
"See attachment?" Matt muttered. What could this be?
Matt opened the attachment to find a photo. Of Amy. And another guy. K-i-s-s-i-n-g.

Alex was about to respond when his cell phone vibrated in his back pocket making him jump. He took it out looking to see who it was. When he saw it was LeeAnn he answered the phone and said,"Hello LeeAnn," he put her on speaker phone so Kat could talk too.
"Hey guys, hows it going?" LeeAnn asked knowing that Alex would put her on speaker phone.
"We're pretty good. I'm about to kick Kat's ass in bowling."

"He is not!" shouted Kat as she kicked off her flip flops in exchange for her bowling shoes.

"You guys are losers." LeeAnn said over the phone.
Alex took off his tennis shoes and pulled on his own bowling shoes," Come on LeeAnn, you know you love us."
"Sure you can think that. What are we doing tomorrow? I hope you guys don't mind. but I invited Matt."
"We are going swimming. Anyways how was your 'date'?" Alex asked knowing that if LeeAnn had been there in person he would have been hit.

Matt stared at his computer screen even though it had long switched over to his screensaver.
He just couldn't believe it. All the preaching Amy had given him about cheating on her and here she was being a total hypocrite.
"Thanks David. Look can you tell me how to get in touch with Amy?" He hit send and walked outside to get some fresh air.

LeeAnn saw Matt walk outside and wondered what he was doing. She was sitting on one of the lower branches on the tree and was swinging her legs off the side. It was fun to get to talk to alex and Kat. She ignored Matt and continued talking with them. "It wasn't a date," she defended, knowing that Matt could probably hear her.

Matt walked slowly down the street. He saw LeeAnn sitting on a tree branch outside her house talking to someone on the phone. He definitely didn't want to talk to her right now so he took off jogging down the street.

LeeAnn didn't mind when Matt didn't come by. She was content to talk to Alex. Who was still teasing her about her so called 'date'. She interuppted him and asked," What alley are guys at?"
Alex was surprised when she asked but didn't say anything about just answered her question,"We're at the south one."
"I'm going to try to borrow my mom's car and come over there. I need to talk to you in person."
"Ok, see you then." Alex said the hung up.
"Hey Kat, LeeAnn is going to try to come down here."

Kat smiled but inwardly she was a little miffed. She thought she was going to have Alex all to herself for one night but LeeAnn was her best friend so she couldn't stay mad at her for long.

Alex walked around to the bowling balls and picked out a bright red one. He walked over to lane thieteen and started setting up the score keeper. "I'm not going to put LeeAnn's name on here, she won't want to play even if she does get to come," said typing in his name as 'big winner'.

LeeAnn climbed back into her house and started down stairs to ask if she could drive the lexis over to the bowling alley. Her mom usually said yes but it was starting to cloud over outside and she wasn't sure if her mom would let her. "Hey mom," she called into the kitchen, "can I take the lexis down to the alley with Kat and Alex?"
"Sure, but when you get back tell me all about this Matt kid. Don't stay out too late, it looks like a storm is coming in."
"Bye mom," LeeAnn called, grabbing the keys off the counter. She walked out into the garage and climbed into the lexis just as the first drops of ran started to fall.

Kat leaned in over Alex and read the score screen
" 'Big Winner'? Conceited much?" she asked with a raised eyebrow as she selected a hot pink ball from the shelf.

Matt arrived back home to find LeeAnn missing from the tree and their car gone from the drive way. He headed up to his room and checked his e-mail. David, he saw had written him back, giving him Amy's new cell phone number.
He took a deep breath, picked up the phone and started to dial.

"I'm sorry you are going to lose." Alex said shking his head. He was acting all dramatic and he put his hand over his heart," I really, truely am."

LeeAnn pulled into a parking space at the ally and turned off the car. She climbed out and walking into the alley. She politely explained to the employee collecting money and handing out shoes that she wasn't actually going to bowl. She walked over to the lanes and started looking for Kat and Alex.

"LeeAnn over here!" yelled Kat as she waved her friend over but stepped to close to the lane and started to slip on the waxy surface.

Alex reached out and grabbed Kat on instinct catching her before she could fall. He looked at her and smiled," You okay?" he asked.

LeeAnn started heading over to them. She didn't even see Kat start to fall.

"Yeah," she said and for some odd reason she was tingling where Alex was touching her. She pulled away quick and walked to meet her friend.

Alex looked hurt when she pulled away but didn't say anything.

"Hey Kat!" LeeAnn said happily sitting down in a chair

"Hey! How was dinner?" she asked raising her eyebrows suggestively.

"It was really good, my mom made speghetti," LeeAnn answered smiling. She knew that that was not what Kat wanted to hear.

Kat waited until Alex went to get sodas then asked LeeAnn," Really? How was it?"

"It was ok, I completly made an idiot out of myself." LeeAnn groaned laying her head on her arms.

"Spill! What happened? Be quick! Alex is almost back!"

Alex saw the girls talking and satyed back giving them a little more time. He probably wouldn't want to know anyway.

LeeAnn sighed and took a deep breath,"He tripped over the doorstep, just like Alex did at your house, adn that sort of broke the ice but it was still really weird. Then we started talking about Chicago and the differences here and there. Then we started talking about our friends and his girlfriend came up," LeeAnn left out the part where they had talked about Kat and Alex,"I started teasing him and I think he got mad at me, but I'm not sure. Then I felt embaressed so I stopped talking but he didn't talk either. We got back to my house and he ran home, he didn't really even say goodbye. Then later I was talking on the phone to Alex and he ran out of his house and he looked like something was bothering him." LeeAnn finished in a rushed exhaling deeply.

"Hmmm," said Kat thoughtfully.
"I think you should talk to him."

"I wouldn't know what to say though," LeeAnn argued knowing Kat was probably right.

"Hello?" asked Amy when she answered.
Matt took a deep breath. Her voice brought back so many memories of them together.
"Hey Amy. It's me, Matt." His voice was cold.
"Oh, sweetie... Hi!" She sounded flustered.
"It's been awhile." Matt said.
"Yeah.. Um.. I've been really busy with cheerleading and everything and..."
"Save it Amy. I know all about you and that guy." She didn't even try to deny it.
"Wha-? How did you find out?" Her voice was suddenly calm.
"A friend. It's over Amy. I really can't believe you. You lecture me and act like your pure as the driven snow and the whole time your two timing me. Have a heart would ya'? Goodbye."
Matt slammed down the reciever and took a ragged breath.
It was over. So why did he feel so relieved?

Alex came over with their drinks as soon as he thought that the girls were done talking. "So I want to know all about this Matt guy." he said giving them their drinks.
"Thanks." LeeAnn said as she grabbed her drink,"But there really isn't that much to tell. He has a girlfriend."
Alex smiled apolagetically at her,"I'm sorry, at least I don't have to worry about anyone stealing the afeections of Kat."
LeeAnn hit him.

"You know LeeAnn? Wouldn't Alex and Matt make the perfect couple?"

Leeann looked back taking a close look at Alex, then nodding her head thoughfully she said,"I think you're right." she smiled.
"I hate you guys too," Alex said. He grabbed his bowling ball and walked up to the lane.

"Gutterball!" yelled Kat.

LeeAnn laughed.
Alex rolled his eyes at Kat and said,"Watch the Pro." He swung his arm back and sent the ball roling down the lane and into the gutter.
"You threw off my concetration."

"Was my beauty that distracting?" asked Kat jokingly fluttering her eyelashes.

"Well of course," ALex said joking right back at her.

"My turn," said Kat walking up to the lane. She picked up her ball and spun around in her shoes to face the lane. She rolled and the bowl went right down the middle of the lane to give Kat a strike.
"Yes!" she exclaimed jumping in the air.
"What did I tell you Alex?"

Matt knew why he wasn't hurting. It was LeeAnn.

Alex looked at the fallen pins and then back at Kat not believing what he was seeing. He rubbed his then grinned sheepishly and shrugged,"You're just lucky."
Leeann had fallen out of her seat she was laughing so hard.

"You know it!" Kat said as she strutted back to her seat.

LeeAnn went into fits of more laughter as Kat strutted back, She was so glad they were all together again.
Alex stuck his tongue out at her and grabbed his ball as it came around on the ball machine. He took it and he bowled managing to knock down 9 pins with his two rolls. "See, if you keep quiet I do better."

"You, know that just makes me want to do it more."

"Shut Up!" Alex said as he walked over and sat down by LeeAnn. "I'm glad you find us amusing," he told Leeann.
"You guys are full of yourselves," LeeAnn said shaking her head.

Matt shook his head and sighed. He couldn't believe how fast he had fallen for LeeAnn. He had barely known her for two days! It was just the way she smiled at him and she was so easy to talk to. Still he guessed he should wait for a couple days. since he just broke up with Amy.

"It's Alex's fault," said Kat nudging Alex with her shoulder.

Alex stumbled away from Kat, letting her think she was strong. "It's just as much your fault as it is mine," he retorted.

"I can't help it if I'm a natural," said Kat as she rolled this time only knocking down 8 pins.

"I don't know how much more I can take of you two," LeeAnn said,"You guys are worse than a couple!"

[Monday]

Kat blushed as she headed back to her seat. Everyone was always making cracks like that to her and Alex. It just made her uncomfortable.

Alex saw that Kat was uncomfortable and didn't add on to LeeAnn's remark like he had been going too. He walked up and took his bowl getting a spare.
LeeAnn stood up and said," I'm going to go get some candy, anybody want anything?"
Alex shook his head no, and looked over to Kat.

"Sour watermelons, please."

"Got it," LeeAnn said smiling then she turned and ran off to get the candy.

"LeeAnn seems different," Alex said running his hand through his hair.

"Yeah, I think it's name is Matt." said Kat looking at him.

Alex laughed, "It'll be good for her to have a guy around. By the way it's your bowl." Alex said nodding toward the lane.

"Oh,"said Kat distractly and she went to bowl getting another strike. Beside her Alex groaned.

Alex took his bowl, managing to knock down a pitaful 5 pins. "You ok?" He asked. Kat had started to act weird when he had brought up the fact that Matt would be good for LeeAnn.

"Yeah, I'm just tired. We should get home soon." she said looking at the ground.

"We can go if you want to," ALex told her kind of sad.
Leeann came up and threw the sour watermelons at Kat as she was eating her M&M's. "Wow, Kat's still beating you Alex," she said not realizing that the two were out of their earlier good mood.

"Are you ready to head home LeeAnn?" asked Kat ripping open her watermelons. She just wanted to get home and take a hot shower. For some odd reason she felt all weird out. Like something was wrong.

"I'm leaving when you guys are...or if you want me to leave now I will." LeeAnn said kind of confused as to why Kat was acting like that. She looked over to Alex and he just shrugged his shoulders just as baffled as LeeAnn was.

"Well..." aid Kat staring at her bowling shoes. "We'll have to get up early if we want to go swimming tommorow. Alex, do you just want to take my car and I'll ride home with LeeAnn? You can give it back tommorow."

LeeAnn and Alex stared at each other both very confused. "I guess I can take your car." Alex stammered.
LeeAnn shook her head," I can take you with me."

"Great," said Kat." I"m wiped. Can we leave now?"

Alex cancled the game and said,"Umm..Kat I need your keys."

"Oh, yeah." She pulled them out of her back pocket and handed them to Alex as they all walked out to the parking lot. Kat quickly gave Alex a hug, trying to igore the feeling as Alex slipped his arms around her.
"I'll see you tommorow?" she asked as she pulled away.

"Of course. I'll bring your car back tomorrow and we can leave to go swimming from there," Alex said climbing into Kat's car.
LeeAnn was waiting in her mom's car for Kat, wondering what had come over her friend.

Kat climbed into her friend's car and sighed a sigh of relief.

"Ok, Kat, spill. What's wrong?" LeeAnn asked turning to her friend, not taking the car out of park.

"I don't know," said Kat sighing and looking out the window.

LeeAnn sighed in a frustrated way and put the car in reverse, pulling out of the parking lot. "I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong." She said.

"I really just don't know. I feel all awkward around Alex for some reason. Does that mean something?" asked Kat quietly.

"Well, for one thing it might help if you talk to him instead of me," LeeAnn said pulling on to the highway.

"Maybe," Kat said and with a mischievous grin at LeeAnn added," Maybe tomorrow when you're distracted by Matt!"

"I thought we were talking about you here!" LeeAnn said laughing at Kat.

"Because the world revolves around me right?" asked Kat jokingly.

"No, but it happens to be right now." LeeAnn said joking right back. "I doubt I would be distracted by Matt anyway."

"Yeah, sure." said Kat doubtfully.

"We agreed he was off limits and its probably a good thing we agreed before I actually met him." LeeAnn said shaking her head.

"Why is that?"

"Well it's just that....that." LeeAnn sighed in exasperation, switching lanes to hit the exit ramp.

"Oh yes of course. That." Kat said with mock seriousness.

"I kind of like him."

Kat turned to her friend in shock.
"Doesn't he have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah, I know," LeeAnn said rubbing the back of her head.

"You barely even know him!"

"But he was really nice and he's cute. Geez, Kat, I'm hopeless."

"No, not hopeless. Just hopeful and there's nothing wrong with that." Kat told her. She wasn’t really worried about LeeAnn flirting with Matt. LeeAnn had never been able to talk to guys. She highly doubted that she would flirt with him.

"Yeah but I might as well be hopeless. He has girlfriend, remember."

"Long distance relationships never last. We both know that. For all we know, he could be breaking up with her right now!" Little did Kat know how right she was.

"Oh, well. It doesn't matter." They were already at their neighborhood and LeeAnn pulled into her driveway and stopped the car before pulling into the garage so Kat could get out.

"Thanks for the ride. I'll see you tommorow. Are you going to wear that bikini your mom picked out for you?"

"I don't know yet. Should I wear that one?" LeeAnn asked.

"If you really want to grab Matt's attention..." she said with a grin.

"Get out, Get out!" LeeAnn screamed pushing Kat playfully. LeeAnn laughed at Kat.

Kat laughed along with LeeAnn and walked inside her house where her parents were having a major argument about something insignificant she was sure. She rolled her eyes and went upstairs to call Alex.

LeeAnn pulled the car into the garage and headed inside. HEr mom had fallen asleep on the couch watching tv so LeeAnn turned it off and went upstairs. Throwing heself on the bed sighing in frustration. She knew that it was hopeless between her and Matt.

Matt looked out his window and saw LeeAnn and Kat arrive home. He'd hoped he'd catch a glimpse of the infamous Alex but no such luck. He wasn't with the girls.

LeeAnn got up off her bed when she saw a piece of paper taped to her door. She walked over to it and pulled it down, and read what was written on it.
Neighbors number is in your cell phone, I put it there for you. I thougt you might want it
Love
Mom
LeeAnn smiled and grabbed her cell phone off her desk and scrolled down to Matt's number. She hit talk before really even thinking about it.

The telephone in Matt's room started to ring.
"I got it!" he yelled to his family downstairs.
"Hello?" he asked.

"Hey," LeeAnn said glad that it was Matt that had answered the phone and not someone else. "What's up?"

Matt didn't recongnize the voice so he asked," Who is this?"

"Oh, sorry. It's LeeAnn."

"Oh, hey. What's going on?" Matt couldn't believe his ears.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to come to the pool with me tomorrow," LeeAnn realized her mistake and winced the tried to fix it," I mean..uh..Kat and Alex will be there to." She was glad she wasn't actually with Matt. Her face was bright red.

"Yeah, sure. I'd love to."

"Ok, were going to be going kind of early. Alex has to bring Kat's car back, so we have to wait on him. But we will probably take mine and Kat's car. That way if someone has to leave, it won't be a problem for everyone else."LeeAnn said practically jumping up and done she was so happy.

"Sounds good. I'll see you tommorow." Matt hung up and smiled.

"Bye, Matt" LeeAnn said as she hung up her phone.
"Yes!" she said jumping in the air and dancing around the room. she was happy that Matt was going to come with her. Well...them.

Kat raced to her room where she quickly changed into her pj's and picked up her phone. She took a deep breath and dialed Alex's number.

Alex heard his phone ring and looked down seeing it was Kat, He answered it. "Hey you."

"Hey," said Kat back.

"What do you need?" he asked cheerfully, not in the least disturbed by Kat's unusual behavior.

"Just wanted to talk. I mean we really haven't gotten a chance yet."

"Yeah LeeAnn kind of interuppted us. I feel sorry for her sometimes."

"Why?" asked Kat curiously.

"Well just because....Well LeeAnn doesn't really have a friend that's a guy of her own. I mean yes I'm her friend but, I'm not the same thing to her as I am to you." Alex said trying to explain to Kat with making her feel akward again.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. At least she'll have Matt tommorow."

Kat and Alex chatted a little more and then said their goodbyes. As Kat snuggled down in her quilt her last conscience thought was something along the lines of," Gee, I wonder what Alex looks like in his swim suit now?"

Alex himself went to sleep looking forward to the next day.

LeeAnn woke with a start as her mother slammed the front door shut on her way to work. She sighed wistfully, she had been having a good dream too. She had been with Matt, and that was all she could seem to think about. Then she sighed in frustration, it was no ggod to wish for something you couldn't have.

Matt woke as his sister came prancing into his room and jumped on top of him, yelling,"Wakey upy Matty! The pretty girls from across the street are here!"
Matt grabbed his alarm clock from the bedside table and found that it was already 10 o'clock! He shooed Amanda out of his room and pulled a pair of swim trunks over his boxers and grabbed a tee-shirt from his dresser. His brushed his teeth at lightening speed and headed downstairs to meet LeeAnn. And of course probably Kat.

[Monday]

LeeAnn was waiting with Kat for Matt. She was wearing her blue and green bikini that she knew looked good on her. She had put on a white tank top and some blue shorts on over it till they got to the pool.
Alex was on his way to Kat's house. Hopefully the girls and Matt would be ready when he got there.

Matt raced downstairs and said a hasty goodbye to his mom who was flipping pancakes in a skillet. He found Amanda jumping up and down on the sofa in a fairy costume. He kissed her on the cheek and headed outside where Kat and LeeAnn were sitting in the grass, waiting.
"Hey guys. Sorry it took so long. My alarm didn't go off."He stumbeled slightly over the words,distracted by LeeAnn.

"No worries," LeeAnn said smiling at Matt," ALex isn't even here yet."

"That's a relief." He sat down beside LeeAnn and ran a hand through his bed head.

No sooner than Matt and sat down, Alex turned onto their street. "That's Alex," she said pointing to Kat's car that Alex was driving. She stood up trying to brush off all the grass that was all over her.

Kat also stood up and adjusted her basic black bikini that made her seem more tan than she really was. Alex waved and pulled into Kat's driveway.

Alex turned off the car and got out. He threw the keys to Kat who caught them easily, then walked over to Matt," You must be Matt," he said holding out is hand, and smiling at him, "LeeAnn told me about you."

"Good things I hope!" said Matt easily as he shook his hand. Now he understood what LeeAnn meant. He could tell he was in love with Kat just by the way he looked at her.

"All of it was good," Alex said, then turned to the girls,"So are we going in two cars or what?" Alex asked.
"I think we should take two cars. We can take My mom's car, she said it was ok," LeeAnn said pulling th keys out of her pocket.

"Okay, who's riding with who?" asked Kat putting her hands on her hips.

"Well, Matt can come with me and you ould go with Alex." LeeAnn said then continued,"Or the guys could go together and you could come with me." LeeAnn purposely left out the option of Matt going with Kat and Alex going with her.

"Why you boys ride together so you can get to know each other better?" suggested Kat.

LeeAnn just shrugged her shoulders, at this point not really caring as long as Kat wasn't with Matt.
"That's fine, but I'll have to take your car again." Alex said moving to take the keys back. "Unless you want to drive, Matt?"

"I don't have a car. Didn't need one in Chicago. Public transportation." Matt replied.
"You guys can take my car but you'd better not eat in it!" Kat warned. She was notorious for being overprotective about her car. Well she should be considering the hours she'd worked at the local Starbucks catering from her fellow high school caffenine addicts to snobby business men and women to dirt poor writers who paid in quarters, to earn the money to pay for it.

"Well do you want to drive or do you want me to drive?" Alex asked walking back to Kat's car with Matt.
"Come on, Kat." LeeAnn said,"We'll beat them there."

"You drive man. I don't know my way around this town yet." Matt replied to Alex's question.
"See you boys at the pool!" called Kat with a wave as she climbed into LeeAnn's car. The boys waved back and hopped intheir own vehicle.
"So," Matt asked as he and Alex got settled in the car and started out of the neighborhood." What is deal with you and Kat?"

"Nothing regretfully," Alex said backing out letting LeeAnn pull out first. He saw no reason why he couldn't tell Matt how he felt about Kat. He waved at LeeAnn, who just rolled her eyes and blew a kiss at them.
Leeann turned to Kat and said," I'm glad you rode with me. I wasn't really looking foreward to riding alone with Matt. I need to get over him."

"Oh just go for it!" encouraged Kat. She still didn’t think LeeAnn would actually get the courage to flirt with him. LeeAnn had a problem with talking to guys.
"That's pathetic dude. It's totally obvious you're into her. LeeAnn was right about you two." Matt said shaking his head.

"LeeAnn knows all," Alex agreed.
"We said we wouldn't," LeeAnn said not looking at Kat," Remember, he has a girlfriend, It doesn't matter anyway."

"Why not?" Kat demanded.

"He has a girlfriend." LeeAnn said putting emphasis on each word.

"So what? Flirt with him enough and he'll drop her like yesterday's trash."
"That she does," replied Matt.

Alex glanced over at Matt then asked," So what's the deal with you and LeeAnn?"
LeeAnn laughed at KAt and shook her head.

"I don't know. I just broke what with my girlfriend last night. I don't think she wants to be my rebound."

Alex glanced at him quickly but didn't say anything at first. Then finally took a deep breath and said,"I wouldn't be so sure about that."

"What do you mean?" Matt asked.

"Listen, there's this dance coming up, you should ask LeeAnn to go with you," Alex suggested.

"Do you really think she'd even consider me?" asked Matt seriously.
Meanwhile in the girls' car Kat cranked up the radio and sang loudly along with it. Which wouldn't be a problem if she had any talent. Which she didn't.

"Yeah. why not?" ALex said, looking at Matt like he was crazy.

"I don't know," said Matt staring out the window. Could LeeAnn even possibly be interested in him?

"Look, we're here," Alex said as he pulled in a parking spoy next to LeeAnn. The girls were all ready out of the car and making their way to the entrance gate. Alex stopped the car and said to Matt before he opened the door,"Just ask her. You'll never know if you never ask."

"I'll think about it," Matt said as they walked in.
"Come on guys! Last one in's a rotten egg!" yelled Kat as she dropped her shorts and tee-shirt and jumped into the pool.

LeeAnn laughed and pulled off her own clothes, throwing them towards a lounge chair and jumped in after Kat.
Alex smiled pulled off his shirt and jumped in after them,"Come on, Matt." He called from the pool.

Matt shook his head at his crazy new friends and pulled off his own tee-shirt to the delight of LeeAnn and Kat.

LeeAnn glanced over at Kat and started giggling. Then without warning she splashed Matt before he had a chance to jump into the pool.

Matt looked at LeeAnn in astinisment and then with a mischevious grin cannonballed right in front of her caused a mini tidal wave.
Alex and Kat swam a few feet back as LeeAnn and Matt had their splash fight and Kat asked," So what did you boys talk about?"

LeeAnn squeeled and splashed him again, smiling.
Alex grinned and replied, "Girls."

"Really?" asked Kat and then she jumped him and dunked him underwater.

Alex pulled Kat under water after he been dunked then he surfaced and dunked LeeAnn.

"Okay," said Kat as she resurfaced. "This means war!"

"That's not fair, you need to give warning!" LeeAnn said glaring at Alex.
Alex just laughed,"Ok I'll pick for my team and I pick Kat, So LeeAnn gets Matt." he said spliting them up into teams.

"You're going down LeeAnn!" warned Kat.
Matt laughed. "Like this is even a competition!" he said to LeeAnn.

"Bring it on!" LeeAnn challanged.
Alex lunged for Matt, trusting that Kat would take care of LeeAnn.

Kat winked at LeeAnn signaling that a change of team was nessecary.

LeeAnn winked back and dunked Matt before Alex could get to him.

Kat threw herself on top of Alex, dunking him before he had a chance to object.

Alex resurfaced and looked at the the two girls,"Traitors!" he said, looking over to Matt who was recovering from LeeAnn's attack.

"This means payback, Alex!" Matt yelled and then dived underwater.

LeeAnn glanced at Alex and started backing away from where Matt was.
Alex just laughed. He had known all along the girls would end up together.

Underwater Matt made a grab for LeeAnn's ankle and pulled her under.

LeeAnn looked at Matt through the water and stuck her tongue out. She grabbed his wrist and tried to pull his hand off her ankle to no avail.

Matt let go of LeeAnn, lest he drown her and they both surfaced.

LeeAnn resurfaced with her wet hair all over her face. She blushed when she realized she still had a hold of Matt's wrist. She dropped it like it was hot and moved away from Matt, face still red.

Matt noticed LeeAnn's blush and smiled. Maybe Alex was right.

Alex noticed the exchange between LeeAnn and Matt and he laughed to himself. LeeAnn had it bad. Alex had never seen LeeAnn act like this around a guy. "Hey Kat," Alex shouted then splashed her when she looked over at him.
LeeAnn smiled tenativly back at Matt, face still a little pink.

Kat chased Alex to the other end of the pool leaving Matt and LeeAnn alone. Matt wasted no time. Kat and LeeAnn could be back at any moment.
"So LeeAnn. I hear there's this dance coming up?"

LeeAnn looked at Matt and said," Yeah, it's the big Summer Dance. Kat, Alex and I go every year."
Alex knew what Kat was doing so he followed her and as soon as they were out of earshot of the other two he said,"LeeAnn's got it bad."

"You think?" Kat said back saracastically. She was a little pissed off at LeeAnn. Didn't they make an agreement that Matt was off-limits? LeeAnn would never break their promise. Or would she?

"Well...um... Would you want to go with me?" Matt asked.

"Give her a break. This is the first guy she has really liked, he;s something new and different. She'll be over him soon," Alex said as if he had read her thoughts.

LeeAnn's stomach did a flip-flop when Matt asked her that. She wanted desperatly to say yes but she wasn't going to back out on her deal with LeeAnn. So she avoided answering the question," Don't you have a girlfriend?"

"Oh..yeah... Well we broke up."

"Maybe," Kat said watching the two from across the pool.

Alex rolled his eyes and changed the subject," So are the trhee of us going to go to the dance again this year?"

"Probably," Kat responded. Treading water was tiring her out so she swam over to the wall and rested her elbows on the side, tilting her face towards the sun. You got to love summer she thought.

"I'm sorry," LeeAnn said patheticlly, still avoiding the question.

"It's no big deal. Her loss right? So anyway.... Do you want to or not? Is it too soon I know I just met you a coulpe days ago and-" Matt stopped knowing he was babbling.

LeeAnn was at a loss for words, "I-I can't go with you," she blurted out her loyalty to Kat winning out. She felt really bad for turning him down like that but she had promised she wouldn't. "I'm sorry." she felt like she needed a better explanation so she added,"I don't know you good enough yet." She knew it was lame but it was all she could think of.

Matt looked down at the water.
"Oh... That's okay. I understand."

LeeAnn looked everywhere but at him, for some reason she didn't feel good anymore.
Alex looked at Kat and sighed,"MAybe this year we can get Matt to come with us. That way we will have an even number."

"Maybe," Kat answered.

"Am I going to get more than one word at a time out of?" Alex asked sarcastically.

"No,"Kat shot back and then dived under water.

[Friday]

Alex sighed in exasperation and followed Kat, heading towards LeeAnn and Alex.

Matt was relieved when he saw Kat and Alex coming toward him. The tension between them was awkward.

LeeAnn turned to Alex and Kat and said to everyone,"I'm going to go home, I don't feel good." She got out of the pool before anyone could say anything.

Kat glanced at Alex then said,"I'd better go with her, LeeAnn never gets sick." She got out of the pool, dried off, and pulled her clothes on, following LeeAnn to her car.

"LeeAnn are you ok?" Kat asked coming up to LeeAnn.

"Yeah, I'm ok." LeeAnn said getting into the car with Kat and pulling out on the highway.

"What happened?" Alex asked as soon as the girls left.

"I asked LeeAnn to the dance. And she kind of...uh..rejected me." Matt said akwardly.

"Why?" LeeAnn is like crazy about you." Alex blurted out before thinking about what he said.

"Are you sure? We don't need a ticket," Kat said as she wartched the spedometer climb higher.

LeeAnn stared guiltly at the gaues and slowed down. She hadn't realized she had been speeding. "Yeah, I just have a headache." She didn't feel like twlling Kat what had happened between her and Matt.

((I feel really bad for deleting it. So we lost a few posts, I'm going to try to recreate it but I highly doubt it will be the same. I feel really bad about it. It was an accident. I'm really sorry Kaitlin.))

[Friday]

"Plain cheese," Matt replied to Alex's dismay.

Kat finished her shower and feeling clean and fresh she pulled on her favorite pj's, a tee-shirt and boxer shorts. She turned on one of her favorite old movies, Casablanca and was lulled to sleep with the sounds of the germans marching in and Ilsa and Rick's reminiscing.

You and LeeAnn are weird," ALex replied. He pulled into his parking spot and got out of the car walking into the resturaunt.

"Huh? Why?" asked Matt as they walked in where a large italian man was arranging pies in a glass case and swaying from side to side with the beat of some old italian song.

[Friday]

"Oh, LeeAnn likes cheese pizza too," Alex said sitting in the booth he always sat in. He waved to Havier.

[Thursday]

"Really. Interesting. Let me guess. You're a pepperoni kind of guy.

[Friday]

"Actually, I like Pineapple-Pepperoni-Reeses," Alex said scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, I know. Weird."

[Thursday]

Matt rolled his eyes and played with the italian chef salt and pepper shakers.
"So do you think I should give it another shot?" he asked cutting right to the chase.

[Friday]

"Well I say yes," Alex said watching Matt carefully. Then he added quietly,"LeeAnn really does like you a lot."

[Thursday]

"Then why did she say no?"

[Friday]

Alex debated if he should tell Matt about the deal or not. Finally he opted not to. "I don't know," he said shrugging his shoulders. He hoped it wasn't obvious he wasn't telling the truth.

[Thursday]

Matt sighed and stared into his Dr.Pepper. One of his mom's favorite proverbs flew into his mind. If at first you don't succeed...