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Chapter 3

I laid my dishes in the sink just as I felt someone tap my shoulder. Whirling around I saw Cole standing there smiling down at me.

"Hey, what cha need?" I asked turning back around to tend to the dirty dishes.

"I -since I'm finished- wanted to help with the dishes." He started simply.

"Jase didn't put you up to this did he?" Squeezing the soap into the scrubbie I looked at him for his answer.

"Nope, all me" he said, popping the 'p'.

"Alright, I wash you dry." I compromised, handing him a clean dry towel. He nodded and started his job while I did mine.

"So, how you likin us so far?" He asked, keeping his eyes on the China plate I handed him.

"You guys are awesome, that's all I can say."

"Well I'm glad you feel that way." He stated, a small smirk coming across his lips. I was already smiling as bright as can be. "Did Uncle Willie tell you about the picnic?"

"No actually, I haven't spent time with him... I was helping Miss Kay with dinner. Sadie was with us to." He nodded as I picked up a mug and washed it.

"Hey Uncle Willie?" Cole called. "Didn't you want to tell little miss Hannah here bout the picnic?" He asked.

"Oh yes, thank you Cole. Hannah," He paused to swallow his food. "There's a family picnic that we wanted to invite you to. It's tomorrow night."

"Umm I'm flattered but... I don't want to intrude..." I said looking at him and Korie unsurely.

"Oh don't be silly babe! We'd love to have you there!" Korie gushed. "Please come."

"I don't know-" Sadie interrupted me.

"There will be swimming!" She yelled over everyone.

"Oh alright!" They all cheered and Cole and I finished washing the dishes.

"Hannah, let's go see what kinda bathing suits you have!" She said coming towards me. "John Luke, Cole, Reed... come help us decide!" Oh no...

"Sadie, I don't think that's a good idea..." I whispered to her. I don't want those boys seeing me!

"Alright!" They said in excitement...

What's so exciting about seeing me in a bathing suit? Beats me...

I grabbed my suit case, and followed Sadie up the stairs. The boys trailing closely behind. Turning a few corners here and there were finally made it to her room.

"So, how many do yo have to try on?" Cole asked.

"you'll have to wait and see." I replied after Sadie pointed me to the direction of the bathroom.

Grabbing my bathing suit and walking into the room of bathing. Shutting the door and smiling to myself I put my polka dotted blue and green bikini and walked out of the room.

"What do y'all think?" I asked, spinning in my spot then posing. They chuckled to themselves.

"I don't like how the green goes with your skin tone... I like it though." Sadie smiled.

"I agree." The others said in unison.

I nodded and walked back to the changing room. I grabbed my purple strapless bikini and changed into that. They thought the color was to deep... Ok? Finally I changed into my camo bikini -my favorite out of them all- and walked out. It had faded gold gems on the top piece.

"I really like this one! It's suits your personality..." John Luke said. We all looked his way and have him a confused look.

My face however, was as red as Paul's skin when he is in the sun for three hours... and that's red.

"Dude, where did that come from?" Reed asked. John Luke simply shrugged and looked at his shoes.

"That's the one Hannah." Sadie said smiling while the others looked me up and down.

"Do you need a glass of water?" I asked the guys.

"N-no" Cole stuttered. Sadie and I just laughed. All of the guys' cheeks turned fire truck red. Oh how I enjoy their embarrassment.

"I'm gonna go get changed, then we can all hang out?" I suggested over my shoulder cause I was already in the direction of the bathroom.

"Yeah sounds good to me!" Sadie laughed. I nodded and shut the door, changing into my cut jean shorts and camo crop top. Yeah, I'm awesome.

°°°°°°°

"No, it's not funny!" Sadie yelled. "He embarrassed me in that store!"

We were all laughing about how Willie was over protective when he took her dress shopping... I had seen the episode but, the way she explained it... made my side's ache cause of laughter.

"You explain that way better than the episode was put out to be!" I laughed.

"Yeah well, that's show business." Cole said, sobering up a little.

We all ate our ice cream in silence with smiles on our faces. The moon was shining brightly as if it were introducing us to a new day to come. The stars were perfectly aligned, their glimmering lights shining off of the waters edge.

I wonder how warm that water was.

The pond before us was no larger than a backyard in ground pool. The ducks or geese laying sleepily around it were all cozy in their nests. The sounds of bull frogs croaking rang through the nights cool air. Trees swaying along with the chilly breeze as if dancing to a slow song.

"You know," I started, interrupting the silence that was engulfing us. "You guys are just like my friends back home." Looking at the ground, smiling like an idiot I rethought all of the memories we had together through out the years.

°Flashback to second grade°

"We have to be friends forever!" Carrie giggled, throwing her hands up to show us how big forever was.

"Best friends forever." Paul corrected her with a serious expression on his face, his index finger pointing her way.

We all nodded in agreement, enjoying our ice cream. We were sitting under the ole weeping willow in my backyard. If you've ever thought sitting in the shadows of one was magical, you were spot on.

The sun was gone, no stars in the sky. It was a cloudy night in June, heat was very limited. However, it wasn't dark for us. We had those little candles with fake flames hung on the branches all around us. In some spots in the canopy it was dark, giving the fire flies their time to shine. Dancing along to the music the crickets were providing.

We heard a clap of thunder in the distance and the sky lit up.

"I'm not goin out in that if y'all aren't." Ian said, still slowly eating his ice cream.

"Let's camp out!" I cheered with a big smile on my face.

They all nodded their heads in agreement and we got comfy in the short, green, soft grass.

"Goodnight!" Sadie yelled.

°End of flashback°

"Hannah, what's wrong? Why are you crying and smiling?" Reed asked. I looked at him and shook my head.

"Spittin' image. You are a Spittin' image of my other friends." I replied while wiping my tears away.