I was really excited to head over there and have some fun. Now that everything was better and Greg was with me, I felt extremely happy about everything. Mom and dad were still cuddling and Uncle Marcus was smiling while laughing at them like a true annoying brother does.

When we arrived, there were already a bunch of people there eating and having a good time. I smiled as I watched the younger kids get out as soon as the horses stopped. We picked a spot right by the basketball court and placed our belongings on the picnic table before I shed my top and shorts and ran to the lake. Greg, Andre, Charlotte, Donna, and Keithie all followed me shortly after.

“Remember sun tan lotion Kaylee!” My mother yelled.

“Sure mom, whatever you say!”

Greg had brought along a blow up mattress where it sat underneath the lifeguard station “Okay in positions,” Greg said.

Andre tapped him on the shoulder “I don’t know man. This thing looks crazy.”

“It’ll be fine. Come on, I spent all morning blowing that thing up!”

Donna and I were holding the bottom of the mattress before I climbed up the lifeguard chair with Greg “You should be alright,” Donna told him as we both reached the top.

“Should be?”

“Don’t be a wuss Andre!” I taunted before we counted down. Greg and I held hands as we jumped on the blow up mattress. Andre shot up into the air and dived into the water. Greg and I sank under the water before swimming back up. All of a sudden Andre’s head popped out of the water.

“Let’s do that again!”

Later I ended up being hungry so I sat down beside Charlotte and ate some watermelon with everyone else.

Dickie Bailey came up to us talking smack about the rematch “You really want to do this Bailey?” Mr. Feder asked.

“My five against your five,” Bailey stated and his other four posse members approached our table.

“Oh boy,” Mr. Feder muttered “I see the boys stayed in shape,” Someone burped loudly “Robado good to see you.”

“Lenny,” the guy replied.

“If you’re looking at me, I don’t know.”

Uncle Marcus and Mr. Lamonsoff chuckled and the guy Mr. Feder was talking to laughed but it sounded super creepy. Like evil madman creepy.

“Look fellas,” Mr. Feder said “We just wanna eat some watermelon and relax if you’re alright with that?”

“Oh no it’s not alright. You’re not gonna weasel your way out of this one Feder,” Bailey said “Wylie snuck out of intensive care to see you finally get some justice.”

I looked over and Charlotte and I giggled quietly “Yo! You best be getting to ballin Feder!” Wylie cried with his hands stuck in the air. Poor dude.

“Hey Wylie, was the field goal good?”

“Yeah first time I ever heard that one,” Wylie huffed and Mr. Feder chuckled.

“Okay sorry man,”

“Or you want me to get something off the top shelf? Heard that one a lot too!”

“Seriously Dickie, let us just hang out with our families alright? We just want to relax.”

One guy who was eating a hotdog said “Yeah they’re afraid of us.”

Uncle Marcus tapped his cup “We’re afraid you might eat the ball before we start the game,”

All of us laughed “Same old Higgins,” the guy said “he can talk the talk but he can’t,” the guy paused “I forget the rest.”

“Booya!”

“We got Rob here with the bad foot. You can’t do it, right buddy?”

Mr. Hillard stood up painfully out of his chair “I think if the Buzzard was here, he’d want me to try. I’d think he’d want us all to try.”

Mr. Feder looked at us “Was that William Shatner? Alright let’s do this then.”

Wylie shouted “It’s on!” Everyone cheered and I smiled as they left to go get changed into uniform. I moved so I was sitting next to Greg and Charlotte at the table to get a better view.

“Your dad has this,” I told him as we waited for them to come back out “It’s an easy win.”

“Don’t you also mean your Uncle too?”

“Him too,”

Keithie got our attention by pointing to the men walking up the hill in Water Wiz t-shirts. They all seemed so serious. I laughed a little when Mr. McKenzie stepped on Mr. Hillard’s injured foot but kept walking without noticing Mr. Hillard yelling in pain.

Greg took my hand and pulled me on the blanket “I wonder what they’re talking about?” he asked me as we watched Mr. McKenzie and the only other black guy talking to each other.

“I can only imagine its smack,” I said smiling while leaning my head on Greg’s shoulder.

The game started off well for our team as Mr. Feder scored the first points but then the other team scored. Mom gasped suddenly when she saw what was happening next.

“They’re doing the motion of ’78!”

Mr. Hillard faked the ball by going in another direction where he passed it to Uncle Marcus who motioned the ball in circles before throwing it to Mr. Lamonsoff before he passed it to Mr. McKenzie who ended up getting hit in the head with the basketball. Mr. Feder got a hold of the ball and took the bank shot. We cheered as it went in.

The guy Mr. Hillard was blocking looked around in confusion as the dog started barking. I laughed when he said “What the heck is that? It sounds like owls having sex.”

While he was distracted, Mr. Feder stole the ball while handing it to Uncle Marcus who took the shot “Go Uncle Marcus!” I cheered.

Soon it was like each team was taking turns scoring points before the other black guy on the opposing team tried to score but it went over the hoop and hit a woman who was drinking a beer, all while spilling it on the ground.

“You made me spill my freakin’ beer!” she yelled.

The game continued as Mr. Feder continued to score. Soon Mr. Lamonsoff and the other guy on the team yelped in pain as they made their way off the court.

“Hey this is ridiculous,” Uncle Marcus said “Somebody’s gonna have a heart attack.”

Most of the guys on the court started wheezing and went to go sit down.

“What do you say we bring our sons into this?” Mr. Feder called Greg over.

“Me?”

“Go! Go! Go! You can do it Greg!” I told him before he smiled and went to the court.

Mr. Feder passed the ball to Greg who passed it back and Mr. Feder took the shot “Let’s go Greg!”

Bailey’s kid was good at playing basketball, I’ll admit that. But Greg was definitely a good player too. As Bailey took the shot, he screamed “It’s raining three’s on Hollywood.”

Soon it was down to the last basket and whoever scored was the winner of the game. Mr. Feder had it wide open when I saw him pause then miss the shot. My mom kept muttering that he never missed the bank shot and the Bailey’s took the ball all while winning the game.

I went over to hug Greg even though he was sweating like a pig “You were really amazing out there Greg!”

“Thanks Kay!”

Later that night when it got dark, the fireworks started and I wondered what would happen when the summer was over. What would happen when Greg goes back to his famous Hollywood life and I end up being stuck in New England? Would we end up keeping our long distance relationship or should we just end it now and avoid the heartbreak. My feelings have grown into something more than just a crush over the couple of days we’ve been at the lake house.

Greg intertwined our hands and kissed my cheek “You okay?”

I nodded and smiled back at him “Yeah, just thinking.”

“About us, am I right?”

I nodded and continued to stare at the fireworks “Hey, we’ll make it through. You have my cell phone number and we can Skype every day. We’re gonna make it.”

“If you say so,”

“I do say so Kay.” Greg leaned in and kissed me softly before we heard my Uncle Marcus cry out drunk.

“Alright every one!” He shot the arrow into the air and I pulled Greg out of our seats and ran over to the tree area near the court.

“Was your Uncle dropped on his head as a baby?”

“Makes you wonder, huh?” I laughed.

AN: So all I have to do is the epilogue. Let me know if you want the sequel.