AJ comes in and sees Summer asleep. He takes a moment to just look at her. He can't help but notice how much she's changed. She's not the kid she was anymore. He never had any siblings; Summer was the closet thing he ever had to a sister. That must be why he doesn't like the way that Nick was looking at her. He thinks back to the day that she moved from Orlando to Miami.

Summer had walked to his house crying almost the whole way. His mom answers the door.

Denise - "Summer what's wrong?"

Summer - "Everything. Is Lexy home?"

Denise - "Yeah he's up in his room. Is your family okay?"

Summer - "Yeah. My dad got a job in Miami and we have to move." She starts crying again.

Denise - "Oh sweetie." She hugs her. "Maybe it won't be so bad."

Summer - "No it's going to be worse then that."

Denise - "Why don't you go upstairs and talk to Alex. I'll make some cookies."

Summer - "Okay." She goes down the little hall to AJ's room. He's in there singing along to a tape. Summer knocks and opens the door.

AJ - "Oh Lily I'm so glad you're here. Did my mom tell you? I'm in a band. I mean a really band not just a bunch of kids calling themselves a band. We've got a manger and a producer we're going to record an album." He was so excited that he didn't notice that anything was wrong right away.

Summer - "That's great Lexy." She sits on his bed.

AJ - "Hey what's wrong?"

Summer - "We're moving." He sits next to her.

AJ - "Moving where?"

Summer - "Miami. My dad got a job as a curator there. We're moving in two weeks."

AJ - "That sucks."

Summer - "Yeah."

AJ - "Well Miami's not that far. I'll have my license soon I'll just come down and get you. Or maybe I'll be rich and famous by then and just fly you everywhere I am."

She sniffs back her tears. "You are enough of a retard to do that."

AJ - "Hey I have to have my best cheerleader there."

Summer - "You'll forget about me."

AJ - "No way you're my best friend. All my other friends make fun of me for wanting to sing."

Summer - "They're just jealous. You are going to be so famous."

AJ - "I just can't believe some one besides you and my mom think I have talent."

Summer - "tell me about this band. Who all's in it?"

AJ - "You remember that guy from the showcase last month. Howie Dorough."

Summer - "yeah that other Latin kid."

AJ --"Well right now it's just me and him and this other kid named Nick. Lou wants to find two more guys and then we'll start rehearsing together and stuff."

Summer - "I'm so excited for you. I wish I could be here to see it."

AJ - "Well you will be in a way. I'll write you every chance I get and tell you what's going on."

Summer - "Promise."

AJ - "Yeah. I'm never going to be too busy for you."

He comes back to the present as Summer starts to stretch. She opens her eyes and sees him watching her.

Summer - "Why are you staring at me like that?"

AJ - "I was just remembering a promise I broke."

Summer - "It's okay Lexy you got really busy I understand."

AJ - "Yeah well it was still a shitty thing to do. I'm sorry."

Summer - "You're forgiven."

AJ - "You're still too nice."

Summer - "If that's my only fault I'm doing good." She sits up. "What time is it?"

AJ - "It's almost seven. We're getting ready to get something to eat, hungry?"

Summer - "Yes. Let me find my shoes." She looks under the bed.

AJ - "Hey can I ask you something?"

Summer - "Sure shoot."

AJ - "How serious are you and this Brett guy?"

Summer - "AJ are you thinking about asking me out?"

AJ - "No not me. I was just curious."

Summer - "Well we've been dating since junior year. He's the first real boyfriend I've ever had. So I guess it's kind of serious. We're not talking about marriage or anything but I haven't really had the desire to date anyone else. Much to Ginger's disappointment."

AJ - "She doesn't like him."

Summer - "To say she doesn't like him would be nice. She's just being over protective like dad. Just don't tell her that. She says I need to date more."

AJ - "Maybe you do. I mean come on you're only 19 you should be dating more then one guy."

Summer - "Do you have any suggestion as to who?"

AJ - "Well Nick was asking about you."

Summer - "Really? What did you tell him?"

AJ - "That you are an annoying pain in the ass."

Summer - "So only the good stuff right."

AJ - "Come on we're going to be late."

Dinner was pretty much uneventful. Summer sat between Brian and AJ. Brian was being so funny, even if he did play with his food like he was a seven-year-old. Every now and then some one would come up for an autograph which they would sign before getting back to eating. Summer would catch Nick looking at her every now and then. She didn't mind, she was used to people looking at her. Not to be vain but she was a combination of both of her parents' best traits. She had her mom's pale coloring and her dad's deep blue eyes. Her hair was kind of a dark auburn and it was really thick.

After they got done eating everyone all piled in to the car to go to a club. When they got out she was at the back of the line with Nick while AJ was at the front. They all got ushered in without getting carded, Summer wasn't as lucky.

DM - "ID?"

Summer - "Sure." She handed it to him.

DM - "I don't think so."

Summer - "What come on it's real. I'm 22."

DM - "Nice try will you step aside." Nick noticed Summer wasn't right behind him and came back.

Nick - "What's the problem?"

DM - "No problem she's not 21."

Nick - "yes she is look it says right here on her ID" He takes it out of the guy's hand and shows it to him.

DM - "It's a fake. Come to think of it can I see your ID."

Nick - "You already let me by why do you want to see it now."

DM - "I changed my mind."

Nick - "Well I forgot it."

DM - "That's what I thought. Come kids it's time to go home."

Nick - "Do you know who I am?"

Summer - "Yeah do you know who he is!"

DM - "Yeap you're two kids that aren't getting in this club." He turns his back on them.

Summer - "Now what?"

Nick - "We'll just find something else to do I guess. Let me call AJ." He dials AJ's number.

Inside AJ looks at his phone and sees Nick's number. He looks around the club quick and notices that neither he nor Summer is there.

AJ - "Hello."

Nick - "Hey me and Summer are outside. The dick doorman wouldn't let us in."

AJ - "You're kidding me."

Nick - "No. He said her ID was fake so then I tried to stick up for her and got myself kicked out too."

AJ - "Really slick. Well I guess we could just try another club. I'll try to make me way back out."

Nick - "Nah man it's cool I think the two of us could find something to do."

AJ - "Yeah I'm sure you could let me talk to her." Nick hands her the phone.

Summer - "Hey."

AJ - "Couldn't Josh get you a good fake ID."

Summer - "hey this thing gets me in every where in Florida."

AJ - "Well do you want me to come out and we can all go somewhere else."

Summer - "No that's alright Nick and I can manage."

AJ - "You sure. I mean your dad would not like the thought of you running around New York with a boy you just met. Hell I'm not sure I like the idea."

Summer - "I was thinking more of what Ginger would say."

AJ - "You're thinking about taking her advice."

Summer - "Maybe."

AJ - "Oh god please just think okay. I mean you are like my little sister and he's like a little brother to me. I don't even want to think about the two of you together."

Summer - "Incestuous isn't it."

AJ makes this gagging sound. "Oh god please stop!!! That's it I'm coming out."

Summer - "Don't bother we'll be gone by then."

AJ - "Please be good."

Summer - "I plan on it. Bye Lexy."

AJ - "I'll call you tomorrow. Oh wait did you give me your number? Never mind I'm sure Nick will have it before the end of the night. Be good I'm gone. Bye." He hangs up. Summer hands Nick his phone back.

Summer - "So now what?"

Nick - "Want to go for a walk in Central Park?"

Summer - "At night?!? Are you crazy! It's full of muggers and murders. That's like the only place my uncle Rupie told me not to go. It's not even really safe during the day."

Nick - "Okay Central Park's out. How about we hop in a cab and see where it takes us."

Summer - "That sounds nice."

Chapter Fourty-Four