"Well, now that you two are home, I've got to run to the store. I've decided that we're going to have a little cook out before you guys head back to Philly." Bailey's mom informed while standing up from the couch. "Don't make a mess while I'm gone."

"Sure, Mrs. Baker. I'll keep 'em in line." Jake stated with a cocky smile as her mom left. Bailey thought she was going to gag. It was silent in the room for a moment before Jake spoke again. "So I see you went from me to this punk, eh?" he asked, getting up from the couch. A tiny smirk played on his face.

There were so many things Bailey wanted to scream at him, but she didn't. Seeing him again and hearing him speak to her like that made her want to walk away without a word. She knew that if she fueled his fire, someone was going to get hurt.

"Why are you even here?" Bailey asked boldly. She didn't want to sound weak and make him think he intimidated her, because that was the exact opposite of how she felt.

"Actually, I came to apologize." he replied, taking a step towards her. "But I see you -"

"Apologize for what, Jake?" she snapped, interrupting him. "For cheating on me and fucking one of my close friends, only because I wouldn't let you get any from me? Yeah, I think you're going to need a bit more than an apology for that, buddy."

Once Joe comprehended the words that flew out of her mouth, his heart sank. He hadn't known that it was that serious of an issue. Hell, he didn't know anything at all about this guy except the fact that he wanted to embed his fist into his pretty little face.

"Aw, c'mon Bailey. You know it's not even like that." Jake responded.

"Ok, then what's it like, Jake?" she questioned. Her blood pressure started to rise as her eyes shot flames at him. All he could do was look back at her.

"Just give me one more chance." he stated pathetically, the anger inside of him slowly rose with every word she said back to him.

"Are you kidding me? Are you fucking serious?" Bailey yelled. "Why in the world would I want to be with you? Jake, you really hurt me." she kept her voice up loud and strong.

"Obviously not enough if you were able to move onto this guy." Jake spit out, motioning towards Joe who let go of Bailey's hand to cross his arms in front of him in amusement.

"Don't even go there." Bailey warned.

"Go where?" Jake smirked. "He's nothing compared to me." Joe couldn't help but laugh. "You think something's funny?" he glared at him.

"Apparently, that's why I laughed. Usually people to that kind of thing when they hear something unbelievably hilarious." Joe grinned a little, standing his ground. "It's kind of obvious why she won't take you back." he said simply. "You're sense of humor is horrendous."

"Oh really, have you seen your hair?" Jake came back poorly.

"Have you seen your face? Make you should think about buying a mirror." Joe replied. Bailey could hear the amusement in his voice. He knew he sounded cheesy, but he didn't care. He knew it'd set him off.

Jake became flustered looking at Bailey. "You're leaving me for this guy? This is crazy." he exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

"'This guy' is more amazing than you were or ever will be." Bailey informed. "He's been more of a man in these past three days than you were in the past 3 months. If you're going to be angry, be angry at yourself." she stood proudly. "And no, I'm not leaving you. You left me when you decided to take your pants off for Lori." she didn't even wait for a response. "Jake, just get out."

Jake just stood there, clenching his fists. Bailey's glare dared him to do something but instead, Kevin shot up form the couch behind them.

"Do you not understand English? She said get out." Kevin looked Jake straight in the eyes.

"This is fucking ridiculous." Jake shook his head. "You're just going to throw away everything we had? All the time that we spent together, it was all a waste.

"Yeah, tell me about it." Bailey hollered. "Do you not hear yourself right now? Jake, YOU threw this away. YOU ruined everything." she lowered her voice a little. "Just leave. I'm done with this."

"But -" Jake started.

"For fuck's sake, GET OUT!" she screamed, pointing to the door. If he hadn't took a few steps towards the door, she would've charged at him herself. He took one last look at her before walking out the door. Bailey could've sworn she saw a tear roll down his cheek.

Bailey turned around to Joe. She shot him a look of apology.

"That was probably the craziest thing I've ever witnessed." Nick stated, bringing everything back down to normal.

"I'm really sorry, Bailey." Joe stared into her eyes. "I didn't know it was like that."

"Shut up, don't be sorry." she smiled weakly. "I didn't tell you about it. . .but that was only because I just wanted to forget about it myself. I didn't think the situation was worth mentioning because it was already done with." she shrugged. "I was losing feelings for him before it happened anyway, so it would've ended sooner or later."

"But what about Lori?" Kevin asked, making Bailey laugh.

"Lori had been sweating Jake for the longest time. That was bond to happen too. She always get what she wants. . . Which is why we didn't really get along in the first place. She was more of a family friend anyway, since she lives next door and all. She's kinda always been there." she shook her head to herself. "But it's over with, let's just forget it."

"How can you just forget that?" Joe asked, not understanding how that was even possible. From the sound of it, it seemed to be a serious relationship. How could you just push it aside?

'Because of you.' Bailey wanted to tell him, but all she could do was shrug her shoulders and look away. "What do you guys want to do?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Well, that pool is looking very lonely back there. . ." Nick trailed off, looking into the backyard.

Bailey chuckled, "You're lucky we have a lot of swim trunks."

- - - - -

Joe and Bailey were the first two outside as Kevin and Nick fought for the bathroom.

"Are you going to be ok?" Joe asked, looking over at her as she sat her towel on a chair. She nodded her head before looking back into his eyes. "Are you sure?" she nodded again as she approached him. "Really really?" he started to smirk.

"Yes, Joe. I'm fine. I promise." she smiled back at him. "So, how's the water?" she asked as he looked over the edge. He turned back to respond, but she shoved him from behind. He quickly turned around and grabbed her as he fell backwards into the pool, pulling her on top of him as he hit the water. When they surfaced, she playfully smacked his bare chest.

"That was not cool!" she laughed, knowing what his response was going to be.

"You pushed me in in the first place." he replied. "I just figured you wanted to know how was the water was as well." he grinned.

"CANNON BALL!" Kevin shouted, followed by an enormous splash.

Nick made a funny screeching noise before jumping up in the air and flipping before smacking down into the water after him. Bailey and Joe laughed.

"Ah, this is so nice." Kevin cooed as he kicked off the wall of the pool sending him backwards.

"Anyone up for a game of 'chicken'?" Nick asked, flickering his eyebrows at Joe. Bailey didn't notice.

"Bring it!" Joe challenged, then automatically moved behind Bailey. "We're kicking some 'Nevin' ass." she laughed at the nick-name he gave his brothers as Nick struggled to get on Kevin's shoulders. "Ok, you ready? I'll go under, then you just go on my shoulders and I'll stand up. Then BOOM, it's showtime!"

"Ha ha, ok." Bailey replied before Joe went under water. She wrapped her legs around the back of his neck as he grabbed her legs. He stood up and they were ready to go.

Bailey was glad that things were normal between the four of them. She thought the Jake issue was going to make things awkward, but the guys took it very well. She was surprised but extremely relieved at the same time.

"Grrr." Joe growled as he stepped towards 'Nevin' in the middle of the pool. It wasn't too shallow, but it wasn't all that deep either. The water came up a little past Joe's belly button.

Bailey grabbed Nick's hands as he leaned towards her. Kevin and Joe were inches apart as the two on top pushed and pulled each other.

"Ah, I'm slipping. Joe!" Bailey exclaimed, feeling herself sliding backwards as Nick gripped her forearms.

"Your legs are slippery! I can't get a good grip." he replied, a little frustrated.

"Well, I'm sorry for shaving! I don't like having hairy legs." she stated, distracting Nick and making Kevin laugh. Kevin lost his balance and Nick was dropped back into the water.

"Yes!" Joe cheered as Bailey rested her hands on his wet and shaggy head.

"Best two out of three." Nick hollered before smacking Kevin in the arm.

Nick and Kevin resituated themselves and it was on again.

Nick groaned as Bailey pushed back at him with the same force he was; it wasn't going anywhere. After realizing he wasn't progressing, he left go of her arms and leaned for her stomach. She swatted at him for a few then screamed.

"Oh my God, Joe, put me down!" she squirmed as she covered her bare chest. Nick's hand accidentally got caught on her bathing suit top causing it to come off as his pulled his hand back. A split second later, Joe let go of Bailey in the water and grabbed her top.

"Turn around guys." Joe said after tossing Bailey her top, he turned his back to her and motioned Nick and Kevin to do the same. She heard them snickering.

"Shut up! It's not funny." she said, hoping no one really saw anything. She knew her face was red because she could feel it heating up. "Joe, come tie this."

Instantly, he turned around to see her bare, tan back and her hand holding up her bikini top strings behind her.

"Got it." he said once he got a hold of the strings. Bailey held the front part in place over her chest as she felt his fingers slowly fiddling around with the strings on her skin. Even in the 97 degree weather, goosebumps started to form on her body. "There." he said as he tied the bow. He smiled as he saw the little bumps form on her back; he tied it slowly on purpose and he was happy with the outcome.

"Thanks." Bailey replied, turning around to face him. "Alright, it's cool guys." she said to Nick and Kevin who still had their backs to her.

"Sorry, Bailey." Nick snickered as he turned around. "Looks like we're tied now. Nevin: 1. Boe: 1."

"That counts as a point?!" she exclaimed, ignoring the new nickname.

"Of course it does!" Kevin informed with a grin. "Now let's go. And try to keep your top on this time." Bailey's jaw dropped.

"Kevin!!" Joe exclaimed, followed by Bailey punching Kevin in his arm.

"I was joking!" he laughed. "Now let's go."

"No, not yet. Hold on." Bailey said, then grabbed Joe's hand and pulled him over to the shallow end of the pool, out of earshot. "We have to strategize." she said softly, leaning into Joe.

He laughed at her seriousness. "And how do you want to go about this?"

"Well, we seemed to do better when we talked. We distracted them a bit." Bailey looked into his eyes. "Maybe we could just. . .talk and junk. Or just like, charge at him."

"Ok, ok. Let's do that." Joe replied, a little excited. "You put some thought into that." he stated as they swam back to the middle of the pool to see 'Nevin' in a mini huddle.

"I put a lot of thought into everything." she replied, looking over at him. "I just don't always voice it."

Moments later Nick and Bailey were back up into the air. She narrowed her eyes at him, causing him to laugh at her lame attempt of intimidation.

"CHARGE!" Joe yelled, then rushed forward at 'Nevin'. Bailey hunched over and put her palms out to Nick's chest. With her arms locked and Joe's strength pushing her forward, Nick and Kevin went down instantly. "Woo!" he exclaimed as Bailey slid down off his shoulders.

"Mad skills." she said with a smile as she gave him a double high five.

"Cheat! You cheated!" Kevin exclaimed jokingly.

"Rematch!" Nick yelled.

"I wouldn't go all that far. My shoulders are killing me." Kevin chuckled, then started making his way out of the pool. "Bathroom time." he informed everyone.

"Hey Kev, can you grab my phone while you're in there?" Nick called after him as he made his way to the door.

"Where is it?" he called back.

"It's in my pants."

"Where are your pants?"

"Forget it." Nick replied in defeat and got out himself. "I'll be back." Then with that, Bailey and Joe were alone in the pool.

"That was fun." she stated with a smile as she floated on her back like the night before. Joe stayed silent as he stared at her. "What?" she asked, looking over at him. Little did she know, his mind had been racing ever since they saw Jake.

"Did you really mean what you said in there earlier?" he asked. Bailey said up at the seriousness in his voice.

"I'm not sure exactly what you're asking about, but I meant every word that came out of my mouth." she stated. "Why?" she asked, even though she knew why he was asking. If someone had said she was the most amazing person ever, she'd have few questions as well.

"Oh, I don't know." Joe said quietly as he slowly moved closer to her. "I guess it just kind of got me thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Bailey played stupid. As he got closer and closer, her heart beat faster and faster. There was something in the air that was screaming that this was it.

Joe didn't say another word as his face was only inches away from hers. The butterflies magically came alive in her stomach as he moved in for a kiss.

"I'm back!!" Bailey's mom called out the backdoor, completely killing the moment and making Joe slowly sink under the water.

Joe felt like shooting himself as the sound of her mothers voice. He had finally had the guts to make a move, but then it was murdered. Shoot straight in the back of the head, just like that. He couldn't help but letting himself slowly sink underwater.

There were millions of different curse words running through Bailey's mind. She couldn't believe that the moment was ruined by her mother. She'd rather it have been Kevin or Nick, even Jake! Because even then, it still could've happened. She would've done it right in front of them.

Bailey reached underwater for Joe's hand. He shot up and looked at her. She could see the disappointment in his eyes. She motioned her head to the house and started to pull him with her.

"You know, we can leave whenever we want." Bailey stated after letting go of Joe and retrieving her towel. "Only 40 minutes and we'll be back in Philly. Just say the magic words." she pleaded. She was ready to get away, without her mom and Jake. Knowing him, he'd probably return soon.

Joe chuckled. "I guess we could leave after this cook-out thing, if that's cool with you."

"Absolutely." Bailey replied, wrapping her towel around her body.

- - - - -

"What happened out there?" Kevin asked quietly as Joe walked out of the bathroom after changing back into his clothes. Bailey was upstairs changing and her mom wasn't anywhere to be found.

Joe shook his head and defeat and fell down onto the couch, sinking back into the poofy cushion.

"Well, did you make your move?" Nick asked, sounding a little more interested than he should've.

"I started to, but then her mom killed it." he mumbled, still a little upset.

"Well, everything happens for a reason. . " Kevin trailed off, then received a look of disbelief from Joe. "I mean, maybe it just wasn't the right time. Maybe there will be a better opportunity another day."

"-But did she go for it?" Nick added, Joe looked up at him, trying not to smile as he nodded his head. "See? At least you know she's interested."