Let's Try it Again

[5]

When they arrived at Des Moines, Caite Lynn decided to run some errands for the guys, while Amelia stayed in the hotel. After the feuds with Donnie in the bus, she became moody and depressed and she hardly said a word to anyone. Knowing Amelia needed some time to herself, Caite Lynn offered to do the shopping for the guys.

She was lying on her stomach flipping through the channels when a knock sounded on the door. She laid there, not caring to answer it. Scattered around her, were wrappers from chips, candy bars and peanuts. She had raided the mini bar, not caring at the charge.

After the fourth knock, a voice came from the other side of the door. "Shorty. I know you are in there.. Open up. "Joe said.

"Go away McIntyre. I'm not in the mood." She rolled her eyes and turned up the volume on the TV, drowning out the knocks.

"Come on Shorty.. Open up please. I will stand here all night if I have to."

She knew he wasn't going away. Joe was a presistant bastard. She threw the remote on the bed and sighed. She opened the door to see Joe, Jordan, Danny and Jon. She crossed her arms. "What is this?"

Joe smiled and took her arm. "This is an ambush. You've been so moody lately. We want to go swimming and Dick wanted us to bring someone along. So, here we are."

She looked at them. "I think he meant your body guards."

Joe smiled at her. All he wanted to do was make her smile again. He hated seeing her so sad. "Yeah but they don't look good in a bikini." He got down on his knees and clasped his hands together. "Please?"

Despite herself and her crummy mood, Amelia laughed. The site of Joe on his knees, pleading with her made her laugh. 'Joe get up."

"Not till you agree."

She sighed and looked down at him. "Alright fine. Let me go get changed." She put her hand on Joe's chest as he started to come in. "Oh, no! You stay out here. I'll be right back."

***
Donnie sighed and flipped through the channels, nothing was on. He got up from the bed, deciding that he would take the guys up on their offer and join them in the pool area. He quickly changed into a pair of swim trunks, grabbed a towel and headed to the elevators. The door dinged opened and Caite stepped out, holding a several bags in her hand. "Hey," he said with a smile. "Need some help?"

Caite offered him some bags. "Sure." They walked to her hotel room. "So, what's up?"

Donnie sat the bags on the bed. "Just about to head down to the pool with the guys, wanna join me?"

Caite smiled. "Sure give me a sec."

When they entered the elevator, Donnie turned to Caite. "What's her deal anyway?"

Caite looked from the numbers to Donnie. "Who?"

"Amelia, why is she so bitter."

Caite sighed. "It's a long story. But not to go into any details, she was really hurt by a guy she liked and every since then she's been hostile towards guys, putting up a wall around her. Her pushing your buttons like she does, that's her way of making you back off." She smiled. "But you two are so damn alike it's war."

Donnie sighed. "I think I went to far on the bus, but damn that woman has me so crazy."

Caite smiled and stepped out onto the eighth floor where the pool was located and walked down to the double doors. "My advice? Kill her with kindness. She's so used to guys like you, that she'll put up a fight before she gives in. Throw her for a loop, then you will start to see the true person she really is. She's not like this, trust me. She is a kind, considerate girl who has been hurt so many times that she put a wall up."

The sounds of laughter greeted them as they entered the pool area. Amelia, Jordan, Jon, Joe and Danny were in a game of chicken.

Amelia was up on Joe's shoulders and he gave Jordan a wink, grabbed her legs and tossed her into the water. She came sputtering to the surface. "McIntyre, you're dead."

He smiled. "Gotta catch me first."

Donnie laughed. "Nice one."

Amelia noticed Donnie and Caite Lynn and she swam over to the ladder and got out of the pool, she grabbed a towel and began to dry off. She slid her cut off shorts over her bikini bottoms and began to walk out of the pool area.

Donnie noticed this and started to follow her. "Ellis, wait."

She turned to him. "Stay away from me." She held up a hand. She opened up the double doors and walked down the hall. She frantically pushed the elevator doors when she saw Donnie walking up to her. "Wahlberg, I mean it. Stay away."

He stepped up to her causing her to take a step back, where she hit the wall. Fear was evident in her eyes as she realized that she was trapped. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk to you."

She looked at him. "I have nothing to say to you."

He reached up to stroke her cheek and noticed how she flinched. "What happened to you to make you like this?"

She turned her head away from him, she crossed her arms,closing herself off, tears filled her green eyes. "Something you will never understand."

He took his finger and turned her chin, making her look at him. "How do you know unless you tell me?"

She searched his hazel eyes, feeling her resolve soften. "I can't she whispered."

Donnie swallowed and put his hands on either side of her face, bending his head to her. For one heart stopping moment, she thought he was going to kiss her, instead he whispered into her ear. "Stop shutting me out. I can see you want me. Let me in." He looked into her eyes, then turned and walked back to the direction of the pool.

Her body shook at the closeness of his body and watched as he began to walk away, her body shaking with sobs.