Michelle felt something heavy land on her stomach. She screamed and opened her eyes to see Olivia sitting on her.
"What are you doing silly?" Michelle laughed, pushing the little girl off her stomach.
"They telled me to!" Olivia giggled ad Michelle tickled her. Michelle looked up to see Brian and Nick in the door of her room laughing. Michelle sat up and looked over at Marie, who was still sound asleep.
"Hey Brian, could you grab the toothpaste from my bag?" She asked, getting up and stretching. He got it and tossed it to her. Michelle crept to the side of Marie's bed. Slowly and carefully, Michelle put the toothpaste over Marie's face. Silently, she walked to the door where Brian and Nick were still standing.
"Liv," she said to the mischievous little girl, "do you want to wake Marie up too?" She grinned and nodded. Olivia took off, running to Marie's bed full speed and leaping onto her stomach. Marie, like Michelle, screamed.
"Run Liv!" Michelle yelled, as Marie touched her face and screamed again. Olivia jumped into Michelle arms and the four ran down the hall and down the stairs. Marie jumped out of bed to chase after them. Mrs. McLean, Aj, Kevin, and Howie were all sitting in the living room when the heard the screaming. They made their way to the hall just as Michelle, carrying Olivia, followed by Brian and Nick, flew down the stairs.
"What's going on!" Mrs. McLean called after them. Then they all saw Marie, who they were running from. They all cracked up at Marie, who had toothpaste smeared over her face and cloths. Marie was too fast for Nick, she caught up to him and jumped onto his back. He fell to the floor.
"Help me!" he cried out as Michelle and Brian stopped running, a good distance a head.
"No way!" Michelle called back. They all laughed as Marie went to work removing the toothpaste from her face and placing it in Nick's hair. Finally Nick managed to get away from Marie, not laughing anymore.
"Don't think I'm not going to get you two back, I will in time," she threatened, then she saw what she had done to Nick's hair. "Oh my gosh!" She said, joining the others laughing. Michelle had to wipe tears from her eyes and struggled to breath normally.
"Hey Nick, Marie, turn around," Aj told them. As soon as they had both turned around, he snapped a picture of them.
"I'll kill you if you ever show that to anyone!" Nick threatened. Aj just waved the camera in his face.
"Okay everyone, why don't we let Nick and Marie go get cleaned up," Mrs. McLean suggested. Aj walked over to give Brian, Michelle, and Olivia high fives.
"Can we do that again?" Olivia asked innocently.
"No, I don't think so," Michelle told her, "but how about we go get dressed then get some breakfast?" The little girl nodded and climbed down from her arms. Olivia ran back up the stairs, Michelle followed after her slowly.
"By the way, love the pajamas," Brian commented as she started up the stairs. Michelle looked down at her long, baby blue pants that had clouds all over them. The matching shirt had a big rainbow in the middle of it. How embarrassing, she thought, coving her face. Michelle got dressed in a pair of white tennis shorts and a sleeveless blue shirt. Olivia tried to dress herself, but it didn't work out too well, she ended up with a skirt on her head.
"Come here Liv," she said. After putting Olivia in a purple dress with butterflies on it, they walked out into the hall. Marie was coming out of the bathroom.
"You're not mad at me, are you?" Michelle asked quietly.
"No, it was actually pretty funny. I'm sad I can't stay with you longer," Marie said, hugging her. They walked down the stairs, having no idea Aj was watching them. He stood there and thought for a little while. An hour later, when everyone, was done eating breakfast, Mrs. McLean told everyone the plans for the day.
"Marie and Michelle, do you guys mind if you are here alone for a couple hours? The boys have some things to do, and I have to go with them," she started. She waited until the girls had said yes before she continued. "When we get back around one, we have a party to go to. Don't worry Michelle, Olivia can come. Then we have dinner reservations at Jaspers."
"What time am I going back to adoption center?" Marie asked, hearing nowhere in the plans where there would be a chance to take her back.
"We'll work it out, don't worry. You just stay here for now and have fun with Michelle and Olivia," she assured Marie. The guys all went off to get ready to leave. Michelle put in a movie for Olivia and sat down on the couch with Marie. They all watched the movie in surround sound, on the big screen TV.
"This is so cool," Marie said. A few minutes later Aj came down and tapped Michelle on the shoulder. He handed her a CD that said Backstreet Boys on it.
"Where is the CD case?" she laughed as she took the CD.
"I lost it," he lied, grinning, and putting on a pair of sunglasses.
"Okay, thanks Aj,"
"Welcome, c-ya later," he said, joining the others at the front door. Everyone said good-bye before leaving.
"Well be back in about two hours, behave," Mrs. McLean called before heading out the door.
"She sounds like my mom did," Michelle half-laughed. Michelle missed her mom so much after the accident. Why did it have to happen to my parents? she wondered bitterly. Michelle settled in to watch the movie. After it was over they made a quick lunch before putting Olivia down for a nap.
Marie put in the CD Aj had handed to Michelle earlier. Michelle and Marie sat on the couch and listened to the music. A few minutes later the phone rang.
"Hello?" Michelle answered, turning off the CD.
"Michelle?" a male voice asked.
"Yes."
"Hey, this is Zack."
