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 <>        The Stick        <> 

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"Amy, could you come help me?" Nick's voice rang through the walkie talkie that was on my desk. Cleaver idea huh? No intercoms.

    "Sure. Be there in a minute. I'm getting dressed." I said before putting it back down and slipping the shirt over my head and a pair of shorts on. I ran down the steps and into the office. "Whacha need Tiny?" I was rewarded with a weird look.

    "Tiny? Have you looked at me lately?" He asked as he scooted the chair back some. To tell you the truth, I had looked at that boy a little too much.

    "It's an oxymoron. It is an opposite name. It is funny, so, laugh and go on!" He laughed like a fool for, like, two seconds. "That was genuine."

    "I know. Now, can you tell me what is wrong with my computer?"

    "I guess. What is going on with it?"

    "It won't dial up to the internet."

    "Okay. Move back a little so that I can get under the desk." He did as he was told and I sat under the desk. I flipped the CPU over and looked for the phone line. No phone cord. "Nick?"

    "Yeah?"

    "How long have you had this computer?"

    "Two weeks. Why?"

    "How long have you been trying to go online?"

    "Since the night that I put it up. Why?" He was starting to get frustrated with my line of questioning.

    "I think that you have and id10t problem."

    "What is that?" He was now completely confused. It was all I could do to keep from laughing. "You know, I know nothing about computers. Much less the jargon."

    "Just write it down and then read it." he did as he was told. Still nothing. "Look again but don't try to read what it says. See what it looks like." This time the light bulb went off.

    "That is soo wrong. I am going to get you." I took off running before he could get me. All through the living room and out to the patio he chased me. Finally, I was cornered next to the pool. "Nowhere to run now." He kept backing me up until I fell in the pool; but not without taking him with me. 

    We both came up sputtering and laughing. I loved living here. Nick was so cool. Jaime had lost interest in me after the first few days, but me and Nick were becoming better friends all the time. I looked up from trying to push Nick back in the water to see Jaime standing beside the pool watching us.

    "Aren't you guys just great? Now you are gonna get water all in the house." She trudged into the house, leaving us looking after her.

    "What has been wrong with her?" I asked. We got out of the pool and went up the outside steps to my attic apartment. She couldn't say anything about that. I paid rent to do whatever I wanted to up there.

    "Don't worry. She has been mad because we have been spending time together when she is at work. She really wanted off the first week that you got here."

    "Oh." Jaime's voice called Nick to her. "You better get down there, so you don't get grounded, Tiny."

    "Whatever, Dolby." I loved when he called me that. It was different and Jamie didn't know that it meant Doll Baby. Whatever. She had a stick in her ass that need to be removed. She was driving me crazy. For some reason she was acting like I was trying to steal Nick away from her. You would think that she would know that I would never do anything like that. I was a friend. Not a little hoochee.

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That Night

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        "Ames, what are you doing tonight?" Nick asked entering the office. 

    I looked up from the computer. "I'm just finishing the website that you asked me to make for your record company. Why?" Odd situation. I was never asked to go anywhere with Nick and Jamie. Even though I had only been there a week.

    "All the guys are coming over tonight and I wanted you to meet them." I gave him a look that say 'leave me alone.' "Oh, come on. It will be fun. Who knows maybe you can get the hook up with AJ or Howie." I knew what was coming next. I turned around just in time to see it. The puppy eyes were on full. Who could resist? I couldn't.

    "Okay. Let me finish this last line and then I will stop for the night. But that doesn't mean that I am not going to work on my homework while they are here. Okay?"

    "Okay. Now go change. They are going to be here soon!" He pulled me up and shoved me out the door.

    "I going. I'm going. Now leave me alone."  He was still pushing me. "I'm warning you. Stay away!" I ran up the stairs and into my apartment before he could get to me. He came in the door behind me and sat down on my couch.  

    Five minutes later I came out to see him looking at my CDs. "Find anything interesting?"

    "Nope just a really sucky boy band. I think their name is the Backstreet Boys."

    "Yeah and the tall blonde one looks soo gay! Can you believe him?" I looked to see if I went too far. Nope. He was laughing! "How is this?' I did a turn for him. I was just wearing a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt that said, 'I smile because you've all driven me insane.'

    "Perfect. I can tell which one of the single guys is going to go after you."

    "AJ?" 

    "How did you guess?"

    "I..." I started but was interrupted by a knock on the door. I walked to the door and opened it.  Jamie was standing there looking at me. 

    "Can I borrow some make-up?"

    "Sure. Come on in." I let her by and closed the door behind her. "It's in my bathroom."

    "What is Nick doing here?"

    "Hanging out." She was being way too jealous.

    "Amy, can I talk to you alone?" She looked at Nick, basically telling him that he was not wanted. "Sit down." I did as I was told. "I'm sure you are wondering what the stick in my ass is. I'll just come right out and tell you. I don't like you spending so much time with Nick. He is mine and it is going to stay that way. I thought that you were my friend but apparently I was wrong. You can either stop doing as much stuff with Nick or you can just leave."

    "I am not trying to steal your boyfriend. I cannot help it if he is the only person that I know in town. I wouldn't have to spend so much time with him if you would just spend some with me." I stood up and walked over to the CD player that Nick had turned on. I turned it off and looked back at Jamie. "I thought we were friends too. Looks like I was wrong."

    "Maybe you were." She opened the door and turned back to me. "Maybe you should move out if you don't want to be my friend."

    "Like hell she is moving out." Nick answered from behind her. "She may not be your friend anymore but she is mine now and if I remember correctly this is me house."

    "Whatever. I'm going to stay with my sister for a while. See ya." she stormed down the steps and minutes later I heard the door slam.

    "I'm sorry Nick. I'll find somewhere else to live. I didn't mean for Jamie to get mad." I sat down. I lost my best friend within living a week with her. If this is what it is like to live with her when Nick was there, what was it going to be like when he was gone?

    "No you are going to stay. If she has such a problem with it she can leave."

    "But she is your girlfriend."

    "I know but I cannot stand people that act the way that she is now. She had changed a lot in the past week. Maybe she is on her period." I laughed slightly, but still felt bad for making Jamie feel the way that she did. "See. Now come on downstairs. The guys will be here any minute." As if on cue the door bell rang. "Let's go." We raced down the stairs with Nick winning of course. What else is his long legs good for? He opened the door and the rest of the group stood on the porch along with Brian's and Kevin's wives Leighanne and Kristen. Nick ushered them into the living room where I stood to great them. "Everybody this is Amy. Amy, this is everybody." Everyone said their own hellos with AJ last.

   "He is such a jerk. That is no way to introduce a lady as nice as you." He took my hand and kissed it. "I am AJ and I am your humble slave."

   "Is that true? I would love to have my own little slave boy to cater to my every need and desire." I stressed the last word, to his amazement. I take it that no one has ever responded to him that way.

   "Anything you like baby. Anything.