"Are you going to tell me why you are standing on my front porch or..." I cross my arms over my chest and stare at a smiling Charlie Barron.

He has been standing there with that dopey smile for five minutes amd it is starting to creep the hell out of me. I am very close to slamming the door in his face.

"Can I come in?" He asks then walks into my house.

"I hate it when people do that." I mutter.

"Do what? Come in then ask if they can come in? Yeah...those people are real jerks." He jokes and I glare at him.

"Why are you here?" I ask.

"We are going paintballing today." He announces with that damn smile again.

"We?" I ask pointing between the two of us.

"Oh. No. We as in our friends and us." He explains.

Our friends?

"Haha no. I am not going paintballing." I say shaking my head.

"Yes you are, Taylor Croft. You already agreed to it." He says.

When the hell did I agree to this?

"You look confused." He pouts. "Let me help. A few weeks ago we were all sitting around a table at the slopes talking when your little brother mentioned something about a paintball area. We all said it would be fun to go. Then we made plans to go after the holidays. Guess what; it is after the holidays." He informs in a tone that makes me want to punch him in the face.

I rack my brain for back when this conversation took place. Charlie was correct, I faintly remember Carter talking about his favorite outdoor activity: paintball. This conversation came right after Carter opened his big fat mouth about Lacey and I taking our yearly break from one another. After that was said I pretty much zoned out every other thing they talked about.

"I hate to tell you this but Carter isn't here, so we can't go. What a bummer." I say sarcastically.

Turns out my thirteen year old, shy brother finally worked up the nerve to ask his crush Penny out on a date. From my understanding they were going to the movies then to Waffle Cones. I asked Carter what gave him the kick in the ass to ask Penny out and all I got in return was a smirk and a none of my beeswax. If he didn't have his first date ahead of him I would have beaten him up so bad for giving me such an attitude.

"Don't care. We are still going. Now come on." Charlie shrugs.

I all of the sudden feel very scared. Charlie meant friends. Does this mean that Nick will be attending this paintball match? I still haven't talked to or seen him since I cried a river in his bedroom. And like I told Catherine yesterday, I was still trying to find the right way and words to say to him. Nick deserved the best explanation and apology. I was nowhere near ready to face him.

"Taylor, what's wrong?" Charlie asks when he notices my facial expression.

"Um...Charlie, me going isn't such a good idea. I still haven't spoken to Nick since...well...you know." I trail off.

"No worries. Look I will say that Nick is going to be there, however, you don't have to talk to him. You can be on my team and we will put Nick on Logan's team." Charlie says. I know he is trying to make this whole thing easier but it feels like I am running away from my problems again. I already promised myself and the grief counselor that I wouldn't do that anymore.

"I'll go." I exhale.

Charlie smiles in victory, "Awesome. Oh and before I forget, you need to change into this. I will wait down here." He says handing me a black ahopping bag.

"What is this?" I ask.

"Your team uniform. Catherine and I sort of went all out. Now get up there and change. Everyone including Lacey are waiting at the battlefield." He orders.

"I'm not even going to ask how you and your sister got my sizes." I mumble as I go up the stairs to my room.

Fifteen minutes later Charlie and I were on the road to the paintball zone. It was a quiet drive. I was mentally preparing myself for seeing Nick for the first time since everything. I had no idea how this was going to play out. Charlie mentioned Lacey was going to be there as well. I Facetimed her not too long ago and she didn't mention anything to me.

As we were walking to his car I noticed Charlie was texting on his phone. I wanted to ask who he was texting but I refused. I had a feeling he was texting all of his friends and letting them know that he succeeded in getting me out of my house and into the danger zone.

To say I was scared shitless would be an understatement.

- - - - - -

Thirty minutes later Charlie and I arrived to the paintball zone. As we parked I noticed a red four door Jeep Wrangler parked a couple of cars down. My heart sped up because I know that is the Bat-mobile. I was starting to regret my decision of coming.

All these theories and questions were swirling around in my head and had been for quite sometimw now. What if he hates me? What if he wants nothing to do with me? What if we somehow fix this yet later on it turns out horrible? What if he never wants to be my friend?

What if he plan out ignores my entire presence and forgets we were ever friends?

That was the one question I hated and the one I needed answered the most.

"Hey. You will be fine." Charlie reassures me.

I nod my head and get out of his car.

Charlie said they were waiting for us by the check-in cabin. So we walked that way. My heart pounded with every step I took. My palms were sweaty and my breathing was ragid. I honestly don't think I have ever been this scared in my entire life. I was impatiently waiting for that adrenaline to kick in like it always does when I'm about to play a round of paintball but it wasn't making its usual appearance.

Upon us nearing our friends, Lacey turns her gaze away from Catherine to us and squeals.

"Taylor!" She squeals causing everyone to turn their attention towards us.

Once we are with them Lacey squeals again and comes up to me and wraps me up in a big hug. Her grip is insanely tight but I do hug her back. I take this small chance to look at Nick who has his hands in his pockets and looking anywhere but at us. That hurts a little.

"About time you get here." Lacey giggles as she lets me go.

In that moment I notice every one is either in black or red clothing. Wow. Charlie wasn't kidding when he said they are taking their first time paintballing seriously.

Nick, Logan, Catherine and Lacey were in red. Where as Charlie, Micah, Jay and I were in black. So two teams of four.

"Did we get signed in?" Charlie asks the group.

"Yep. Our game starts in five minutes." Logan says glancing at the big time clock hanging on the cabin wall.

"Great! And we all have paintball guns and ammo?" He asks next.

"Right here." Nick replies holding up several containers of paintballs.

While we are waiting, Lacey takes this chance to pull me off to the side. "You okay?"

"Yeah." I answer quietly.

"Tay, it will be fine." She says with a smile and I return one as well.

"How badass are these outfits." I comment looking at my all black attire.

Lacey laughs at my mood change, "Pretty badass."

Pretty soon we hear the buzzer go off and from all my prior times here I know that buzzer means it is time for a new team to have their rounds. Since Logan said we were up in five minutes I knew it was our turn.

Lacey and I walk back over to where every one else is to collect our paintball guns and ammo. I also notice that Nick is the one handing out the ammo. I take a deep breath and walk up to him. Nick notices me coming over to him and by the look on his face he is trying to prepare himself. When he hands me my ammo I can't ignore the slight graze between our hands during the exchange and then those damn tingles start again.

I take a deep breath and hold it until I get far enough away from his to release it. This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.

"Okay now anyone have a strategy?" Jay asks once we get away from the red team.

"Yeah. How about we just shoot them before they shoot us." Micah suggests.

"I like the idea but I don't think it will happen that easily." Charlie points out. "Taylor. You've done this before, any ideas?"

"Um...yeah. I say we go deeper into the woods, that is where are the good shields and barriers are. You have a better chance of staying protected." I say.

"Alright. Let's move out." Charlie says.

I'm about to walk away when Micah stops me, "Do these things hurt?"

I sigh, "The first few shots sting like a mother fucker but eventually your body will get numb."

Micah gasps in horror, "Why did I agree to this."

I laugh lightly, "Don't worry, Micah. You can handle it."

Micah gives me a grateful smile, "I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you and Lacey. You two aren't that bad."

"Thanks. We gotta go before we get hit." I say.

Logan signed us up for five rounds and we were now on our last and final round of the game. Both teams have won two each and now we were in for a tie breaker.

I was in one of the sheds hiding out when I heard the door open. Hoping it was one of my teammates but I had a feeling it wasn't. And when the scent of mint hit my nostrils, I knew exactly who had just walked into the shed. Shit.

Nick stood there cover in splattered paintballs all over his clothing. Even with the mess he still looked good. He surveyed the area and his eyes landed right on me standing there in a corner with my paintball gun lowered. I haven't shot him yet and I wasn't planning on starting now.

He knew I was the one standing there, the tension in this room was so freaking thick. We were both just staring at one another, not saying a single word. All that could be heard was our steady breathing and I'm pretty sure he could hear my heart hammering in my chest.

I was about to open my mouth to say something when Nick turns and walks out of the shed. I stood there stunned and confused as hell. Why didn't he shoot me?

I don't know how long I stayed in that shed but I heard the buzzer go off a little while later. This game was finally over and I felt myself breathe. I was starting to think this was a mistake, coming here and being in the same area as Nick. I hated myself for not at least trying to talk to him. All I wanted to do now was go home.

I exited the shed and walked back to the front of the range. I saw the others standing there talking. Lacey spotted me and ran over to me, putting her arm around my shoulders.

"Congrats, Tay. Black team won." She smiles. Lacey looks at me, "What's wrong?" She asks with concern written all over her face.

"Nothing." I shrug, glancing over at Nick who is laughing at something Jay said.

"Oh." Lacey whispers and hugs me.

We reach the others and I hear Catherine mention how we should all go to Tyson's and get some dinner. Everyone else agrees except for me. There was no way I was going to endure another hour with Nick. Those few moments in the shed have done me in for the day. I pulled out my phone and texted my mom to pick me up at the paintball range, she texted back saying she would be there in ten.

"Hey guys. I think I'm going to pass on Tyson's." I speak up so they all hear me.

"Really?" Catherine pouts.

"You came here with me though." Charlie says.

"I texted my mom, she is coming to pick me up." I tell him. Charlie gives me a sad look but then changes to an understanding look.

I glance over at Nick who has his face all scrunched up in confusion. I know he is trying to figure out why I'm bailing out.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Lacey says giving me another hug.

"Do you want us to wait here until your mom comes?" Logan asks.

"No it's okay. She will be here soon. Go you guys, you all worked up an appetite." I give them the green light to leave.

"Hey, text me when your mom picks you up." Lacey says and I give her a nod.

They all start to walk toward the parking lot, Jay was talking about all the food he was going to order because he was starving. I look up from my phone to see Nick still standing there looking at me. Crap, not this again. We stand there once again stuck in that weird trance before Logan calls out for Nick to come on. Nick mutters something under his breath that I don't quite catch and leaves to catch up with his friends

As my mom promised she arrived ten minutes later. When we pulled out of the parking lot I noticed that a certain car was still parked where it was when I first got here. A smile appeared on my face, Nick waited in the parking lot to make sure I was going to be okay.

Then I knew in that moment I had made up my mind. I had to talk to him.