I close my eyes and listen to the tide rolling in and out. I take a deep breath in and a deep breath out. I begin to feel a cloud of peace fall over me, and I begin to relax.

"Maya?" Alli's voice asks.

I sigh but keep my eyes closed. "Hmmm?"

"What happened in there?" she asks quietly.

I slowly open my eyes as she sits down beside me. "I don't know. I guess I couldn't take that my uncle thinks this town is full of amazing and loving people."

"You and I both know that there's more to that," Alli tells me.

I sigh again. "I wish you didn't know me so well."

Alli laughs. "But I do, so what's up?"

"He's clueless about how badly everyone really treats me. How can he not see that I literally have only two friends here? How does he not notice that I'm not invited to anything in this town? With a town so small, wouldn't he somehow learn about how the way people see me?" I say, letting some of my irritation out.

Alli gives me an amused smile. "You would think that he could, but he's a guy; guys stink at noticing things. Trust me, my dad does the same thing. But, don't forget that it's easy for you to cover up what you're really feeling. I did it when I was getting bullied."

"So, what are you telling me?" I ask.

"You can't blame it all on your uncle. Sure, he stinks at noticing things, but you're also a pretty good actress," Alli explains.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes again, facing the ocean again. "Why are you always right?" I groan.

She laughs as I hear Nick ask, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Alli replies.

I open my eyes, and Nick sits down on my other side. He gives me a look, asking me if I'm okay. I don't respond; I close my eyes and take another deep breath. I'm getting really good at taking these deep breaths now.

I tell him, "She beat you to it. She's helped me sort through it all. Though, I must tell you that she has quite a different tactic than you."

Nick lets out his deep, rich laugh, sending a feeling of warmth through me. He replies, "And what is the difference between our tactics?"

"You," I begin, pointing at him, "say the things I don't want to hear with more of a commanding voice. Alli tends to be gentler."

"Which do you prefer?" Nick asks me, staring at me.

I meet his eyes and notice that it seems like he's trying to say something through them, but I can't tell. I just softly say, "I don't know if I can choose. After all, I don't want either of you to become conceited."

Nick smiles and breaks his gaze away from me. He stares at the ocean, and I turn my attention to Alli because she's tapping me on the shoulder. When I turn to look at her, she raises her eyebrow.

"What?" I whisper to her.

Alli shakes her head. "Later," she whispers back.

It's my turn to raise my eyebrow, but Alli just smiles and also turns her attention to the ocean. I sigh and join Nick and Alli in staring at the ocean. We all sit for what seems like forever.

The only reason we finally move to go back to Nick's house is because Alli has to leave. I give her a hug goodbye once we get to his house. She hugs me back and even hugs Nick, Emma, and Mrs. Caldwell. She doesn't give one to my uncle because he left to get some more work done.

After Nick closes the door behind Alli, Emma turns to me and says, "I have to head back to the house, but Mrs. Caldwell and Nick kindly offered for you to stay here a little longer."

I nod, and Emma surprises me by giving me a quick hug before walking out of the house. Nick gives Emma a hug and opens the door for her. Emma smiles and waves goodbye. Nick, once again, closes the door.

"Well, I'm going to go to bed," Mrs. Caldwell says.

I turn to her and tell her, "Thanks so much for dinner."

She smiles at me. "Anytime. Don't stay up too late, now."

I nod, and Nick walks over to give her a hug. Not only does she give him a hug, she also gives him a kiss on the cheek and pinches his cheek. I keep myself from laughing until she's upstairs. Nick glares at me, then smiles, and walks into the living room.

He sits down in a chair, and I sit down on the couch. "What do you want to do?" he asks.

I shrug. "I don't really care. Anything is fine with me."

He sighs. "I was hoping you would tell me what you wanted to do. I hate making choices like this."

I laugh. "Aww, poor Nicholas. Do I need to give you a hug?"

He glares at me again and throws a pillow at me. I laugh again as I catch the pillow. He smiles at me, and I throw the pillow back at him. Instead of throwing it back at me, he walks over to me and hits me with it.

I laugh and then glare at him as I pick up the pillow next to me and whack him with it. He laughs and hits me back with his pillow. Then, he avoids my next attack and runs outside to his deck. I rush after him, and manage to hit him again with the pillow.

It turns into a full blown pillow fight. I squeal as he nails me in the head again. I whack him back, and it goes back and forth. When we finish, I'm hot and sweaty, but I'm also laughing and smiling like I've never done before. I undo my ponytail and move to put my hair back up, but Nick stops me.

"What?" I ask.

"Why do you always keep your hair up?" he asks as he reaches out to touch a strand of my hair.

I don't move to stop him, but I suddenly feel nervous and unable to fully form my words, so I take a deep breath and stammer, "I-I'm just used to putting it up, I guess."

He nods slowly and then retracts his hand. He moves past me to open the doors back into his living room, and he motions for me to pass by him. I do. Once we get inside, I sit down on the couch again, but this time Nick joins me.

"I like your hair down," he tells me.

"Thanks," I reply slowly.

For the first time since meeting him, the silence is awkward. Whenever we sit in silence, it's always peaceful and comforting, but it's different this time, and I don't know why.

"Do you have to get back?" his voice asks, breaking the silence.

"Why?" I ask as I turn my body slightly so I'm facing him.

"I was thinking we could watch a movie or something. After all, it's the weekend," he replies with a smile.

"Let me call Emma," I tell him as I pull my phone out of my pocket.

He nods. I stand up and press on Emma's contact. "Emma?" I ask as soon as she answers.

"Yes?" she asks.

"Would it be okay if I stayed at Nick's house to watch a movie?"

"I don't see a problem with it. Let me know when you're back home, though," Emma replies cheerfully.

I slightly cringe at the word 'home,' but I just nod and realize that she can't see me. "I will," I reply.

"Alright. I'll see you later. Have fun," she tells me before hanging up.

I turn my phone off and sit back down on the couch. "She's fine with it. What do you want to watch?"

Nick smiles at me and stands up. He walks over to the built in cabinets surrounding the TV and opens a few doors, showing me rows and piles of movies. My eyes widen. I go over and sit down in front of one of the cabinets.

He sits down next to me, and I ask, "How many movies do you own?"

He laughs. "I have more back in New York City and LA."

"How are we ever going to pick a movie?" I ask, still struggling to speak because I've never seen such a big movie selection.

"Well, are you in the mood for a mystery, action, comedy, romance, or chick flick?" he asks.

"You have romances and chick flicks?" I question with a raised eyebrow.

He laughs. "Not by choice. They're my aunt's movies."

"I'm sure they are," I tease him.

He smiles and replies, "It's true."

I give him a teasing smile before going back to look at the movie selection. It takes awhile, but we finally decide on Cars, a childish movie, because that's just how we are. I sit down on the couch and watch the previews while Nick makes some popcorn.

"Here's a water bottle and a bowl of popcorn," Nick says as he hands me the water bottle and sits down beside me.

"Thanks," I reply.

He smiles at me and picks up the remote. He presses play and places the bowl in between us. I take a few pieces of popcorn as the movie starts and focus on the movie. I'm so focused on watching that I don't notice Nick staring at me with an unreadable expression.

"Maya?" Nick asks, breaking my focus.

"Yeah?" I question as I turn to face Nick.

"What would you say if I asked you to help me out with the show?"

I raise an eyebrow. "What would you need me for? Don't you have a team of people that can help you?"

Nick laughs. "Sure, but they don't think that it's necessary to do such a small thing like this. Plus, I think you would be great at the job."

"What would I be doing?" I ask as I take a piece of popcorn out of the bowl.

"I don't know. I just don't think I'll be able to do it without the help of someone who seems to love this town," he teases.

I laugh and sigh. "I guess I can help."

"Okay, cool."

I nod and turn my attention back to the TV. I glance over at him a few minutes later and see him focused on the TV. He absentmindedly takes handful of popcorn out of the bowl. I smile and also take a handful of popcorn. I'm soon pulled back into the movie and put all my focus on it until the end.

The movie finishes, and Nick looks over at me as I'm about to fall asleep. "You okay?" he asks.

I yawn. "J-just fine."

He smiles. "I was going to ask if you wanted to watch something else, but I think we should call it a night."

I nod, barely comprehending what he's saying. I also grab a pillow and hug it. "Sounds okay."

I close my eyes and hear him laugh, and then a hand wraps around my arm and gently pulls me up from my spot on the couch. The hand takes the pillow out of my grasp and leads me to the front door and out the door. I feel myself being tugged along even more, and I groan.

"What's wrong?" Nick's voice asks.

I groan again as I open my eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Are you always this out of it and weird when you're tired?" Nick asks, ignoring my question.

I blink and pull my arm out of his gentle grasp. "What if I am?"

Nick turns and smiles at me. "Ah, there's the sassy Maya I know. So, will sassy Maya please explain to me why she goes a little delusional when she's tired?"

I glare at him. "I am not delusional."

He laughs. "Really?"

I scowl and sigh. "You really are annoying. Why did I ever agree to let you stay around?"

"You know you like me," Nick teases.

I try to glare at him, but I find myself smiling. "You've got me there."

Nick smiles and begins to walk again. As he walks, he asks, "So, why are you so wide awake again?"

"I heard you insulting me, and that made me awake again," I tell him.

"How did I insult you?" he asks slowly, trying to cover up the teasing tone he has.

"Called me delusional," I reply with mock seriousness.

He doesn't seem to catch the mock seriousness because he stops and quickly turns around with a concerned expression and asks, "Did you really take that as an insult? I'm sorry."

I stop as I burst out laughing, and he looks at me with confusion. It takes me awhile to recover, but I finally say, "I was just messing with you."

Instead of saying anything, he just smiles at me. I try to say something, but nothing manages to come out. Nick doesn't say anything, but he takes a step closer to me and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. He doesn't step back even though he should, and I don't step back even though I should. I feel my heart begin to beat faster. Then, he steps even closer and begins to lean in closer, his eyes not breaking away from mine. 

He probably would've kept leaning in if Emma didn't call out, "Maya? Nick?"

We both snap out of the daze we are in and quickly move away from each other. I call back out to Emma, "It's us. I'm about to come inside!"

"Alright!" she shouts back.

I smile nervously and turn my attention back to Nick. "Well, I guess that's my cue to leave. Thanks for a fun night. The pillow fight definitely was the best part."

He shifts uncomfortably and then gives me a small smile. "Definitely."

I awkwardly smile back and then begin to walk away. "See you later."

"Yeah," he replies.

I keep walking until I'm at the front door. I sigh and walk inside, closing the door behind me. I walk toward the stairs and pause when I hear voices from the direction of my uncle's office. Being the curious person I am, I walk over to the door and listen.

"You can't be serious?" Emma asks him with a hint of irritation in her tone.

"That's just what he said. I've tried to stop him, but my men can't seem to take control of the situation," my uncle replies calmly.

"But you're not going to let him? Do you know how disastrous that would be?" Emma demands.

"Darling, don't worry, I've got it handled. Just go to sleep," my uncle tells her.

"Darling?" I whisper.

Then, I hear footsteps coming toward the door, so I run away and hurry upstairs. I hurry to my room and close the door. I walk over to my bed and sit down.

Something is going on, and I have to figure it out.