"Sssh, get down" I told Lucy in a low voice, as she giggles. Chace just came out of his car walking to the front door. "NOW!" I yell out to Lucy and we started throwing water balloons at Chace.

"WHAT THE HELL!" He shouted, his hair and shirt gone wet.

"SURPRISE!" Lucy and I both said as we finish throwing water balloons at him.

"Funny! Really Funny!" He said wiping some dripping water off his face. Making us laugh harder.

"You look like an ugly duckling Chace." Lucy said with a hand on her mouth as she giggles.

"You think you two are funny?" We both nodded as an answer. He picked the water hose.

"No!" I said taking steps back holding Lucy's hand.

"Yes!" He has his evil smirk on and hosed as with water making Lucy and I run for our lives, in this case, to not get soaked. But eventually, we did after all.

**

"Where's Lucy?" I ask as he joined me in their backyard.

"With Mom, surely time for a nap" he answers handing me a juice pack.

"Is this Lucy's?" looking at the juice.

"Why would you tire yourself making juice when you can drink your sister's juice drink." he was modeling the juice.

"Hush! You're just lazy." rolling my eyes at him, sticking the straw onto the juice drink.

"This is wet" he took his shirt off, making me stare as he does so. "I know, I'm hot!" He noticed.

"What? Psh, No you're not!" Looking away continued to sip my drink.

"Really?" I felt his breath linger on my neck that made me swallowed in. He was now closer than before.

"Y-yeah" I moved a little away from him, making him smirk. "What are you smirking at?"

"I like it when you blush" I turn to look away from him "Let me see that red face of yours." he tries to make me face him.

"No!" I stood up but he got a hold of my hand "No!" yanking his hand away.

"Bear!" he called out in his annoyingly cute voice.

"No" I shook my head and quickly stick out my tongue at him.

"Okay then, how about a swim." He scooped me up and fastly run towards the pool, diving in.

"You're crazy!" I yelled at him, fixing my wet hair off my face.

"Only crazy for you" he pulled me closer to him, one hand on my waist and the other cupping my cheeks "I love you" he pulled me closer for a kiss but I suddenly pushed him a little.

"Wait, what?" my question made him laugh.

"Cassie, I said I love you" As I heard it clearly I pulled him towards me and kissed him all over his face making him chuckle.

"You said you love me right?" I paused to ask again.

"I did" he nodded.

"I (kiss) love (kiss) you (kiss) too (kiss)" as we were in the middle of it all. We heard Lucy.

"MOM! Chace and Cassie are kissing" she stands by the pool, yelling to her mom.

"Gosh" I pulled away embarrassed for what the little girl saw.

***

"Cassie!" Mom yelled out downstairs. "CASSIE!" Louder that I worry that something might have happened, I came rushing down the stairs with my hair wet and uncombed.

"What is it?" I spoke out of breath.

"Hi Cassie!" My eyes widen from the unexpected surprise.

"Michael?" He nodded as he grinned that familiar grin.

"Miss me, Princess?" He opens her arms wide.

"Yeah!" I leap to wrap my arms around him, he hugged me as well. "How's Australia? Hmp where's my Kangaroo?"

"The airport wouldn't let me bring him. Excess baggage they said" he shrugs his shoulder.

"What a total bummer!" I snap my finger in misfortune.

"Though I have this!" He hands me a gift.

"You didn't actually have to get me anything." I said taking the gift. "But where is it?" I exclaimed.

He hands me a small box. "Open it!" He said. I unwrapped the gift and a Pandora jewelry was revealed "Oh my Gosh!" I squeal in excitement. I opened it but my excitement turned to disappointment then dismay then annoyed making Michael laugh out loud. "What the hell!" I threw him the box. "A key chain?!"

"Y-eah, d-did you t-hink of any-thing else" laughing in between words.

"We haven't seen each other for 3 years and all I can get was a freaking key chain, a real classic! You're such a good best friend." I roll my eyes at him and enter the kitchen. I pour myself water, closing the fridge Michael standing beside me showing me his fist "What now?"

"Tap my fist" he said smiling.

"What if I don't want to?" Raising a brow at him.

"Arg! Just do it." he demanded. I did what he ask and tap his fist, his hands open revealing a bracelet with little kangaroo detailing.

"Wow." I spoke in amazement.

"I'm the world's greatest best friend!" he declares. "I know, I know!" He taps his own shoulder.

"You are." he helps me get the bracelet on, I was so excited. "it's beautiful" as I look at the bracelet now in my wrist.

"So happy you liked it" he pinches my cheek.

"Thanks, Michael!" Giving him another hug.

***

"Call the Wayne's tell them to join us for dinner." Mom said busy preparing the food as Dad and Michael help out.

"Okay!" I responded "You'll love the Waynes." I told Michael. I ran quickly to the other door and knock. Chace opened the door. "Hi!" I peck on his cheeks.

"Hi! You seem to be so excited. Did you miss me that much?" He and his cockiness.

"Maybe just a little." showing the little space between my thumb and index finger.

"Huh! Really?" He pulled me closer as he tucks a loose hair behind my ear.

"Oops! Not the time" I said putting a finger over his lips as he tries to kiss me. "Mom wanted me to tell you all to join us for dinner." I inform him.

"Is it a little bit too early, we've been only been dating for almost 2 weeks" he wasn't ready to uncuff me from his arms.

"What are you talking about?"

"I love you but I'm still too young to get married." he said making me burst out of laughter.

"Shut up." as I laugh at his words "It's not about that."

"Psh, Thank God!" He wipes his imaginary sweat on his forehead.

"Tell your parents about the dinner and I'll see you around 7, okay?"

"Okay" he nodded.

***

"Glad you can make it" Dad let the Wayne's in.

"Why wouldn't we miss out good cooking." Mr. Wayne jokingly said.

"We brought some wine in exchange" Mrs. Wayne said as Lucy gave the bottle to my Dad.

"Thank you, please just a few more touch and dinner will be ready" he let the Wayne comfortable in the living room.

Another knock was heard at the door "I'll get it" I said as for I know it was Chace. I opened the door, a neatly dressed Chace shows. "Hi again! Come in."

"Is it Chace already?" Dad asks.

"Yup!"

"Good Evening Mr. Rickards!" He waved politely to my dad.

"Good Evening!" He patted Chace shoulder, I tried to hide my smile as Chace's posture tense as he talks to my dad. "Cassie, ask your mom if dinner is ready." I nodded and went to the dining area.

"Mom, Dad's asking if it's ready." I ask my mother.

"Just this- okay It's done!" She announces.

"Oh time to eat!" Dad leading the rest at the table.

"I forgot the juice!" Mom said for the last minute.

"I'll get it." Michael offered to put the salad down the table before getting the juice.

"Who was that?" Chace muttered to me.

"That was Michael, my best friend since I was in Preschool." I told him.

"I thought Maggie, Pheobe, and Amy are your best friends" sounding confused as we proceed to our seats.

"Yeah but Michael was one of them originally but he moved to Australia 3 years back, he just came in earlier today." I explained to him "I didn't even know he'll be visiting."

"Here it is!" Michael taking his place next to me on the other side of the table.

"Oh we forgot to introduce to all, This is Michael." Mom said gesturing towards Michael. "He just got back from Australia for a visit."

"Hello!" Michael politely said to everyone.

"They are our neighbor, The Waynes." Mom continued, they all greeted as well and we began to eat.

I hated celery so I'm used to putting it aside from my plate.

"As always." Micheal taking the celeries off my plate to his "3 years and still not eating celery, aye?"

"You know that I never liked the taste of it." I chuckled.

"You don't like celeries, how come I didn't know?" Chace whispered to my ear.

"It's no big deal." I gave him a smile after the delicious meal came the dessert.

"Australian made." Michael announces as he presents the dessert "Creme Brulee"

"Wow!" Lucy clapping in amazement, everyone tasting the dessert with praises for the chef.

"Oh my God! SO GOOD!" I said in the first taste.

"Thanks, been practicing for a while." he said.

"I remember you used to burn eggs while cooking, now you bake. Like Australia did you good!" Giving him a thumbs up.

"I agree with that." Dad said. "Right Chace?" waiting for Chace's agreement "Right?"

"Oh, y-eah" he took a little second to answer.

"You okay?" I ask him.

"I'm fine" he put on a grin.

"Sure?" He nodded, squeezing my hand.

****

"That was the best dinner yet, Thank you" Mr. Wayne picking the sleepy Lucy in his arms.

"You are all Welcome" Mom said

"You better put that little girl in bed now, must be tired cause of tonight"

"She really must be." Mrs. Wayne checking on the little girl "Again, Thank you for the lovely dinner" then they went on their way.

"I should follow them back home" Chace said putting his wine down.

"Stay, I haven't introduced you officially to Michael." not wanting him to leave.

"Can we do it next time? I'm already feeling sleepy must be the wine."

"Your alcohol tolerance won't even be half reached by that wine." I laughed at my own words.

"Maybe just tired." he somehow looked weak.

"Are you okay though?" I put my palm on his forehead to check his temperature.

"I'm fine, just tired. Maybe I just need some sleep" he takes my hand and holds it together.

"Okay, then I guess I'll just see you tomorrow"

"Yeah" he kissed my forehead for goodnight. "Bye"

"Bye"

He was acting strange.