Chapter Seven - Hit Me Baby, One More Time

Bags were packed, and everyone was in full swing for the trip to the lake. Klaus' driver, Mr. Morty, was dressed casually in his green Hawaiian shirt and black jean shirts with trainers. His sunglasses made him look like an undercover CIA agent when he was quiet. However, when he talked, no one knew how to get him to stop.

"Are you ready kids?" said Mr. Morty.

"Yeah, sure, Mr. Krabs," Nicole replied sarcastically.

"Great!" Mr. Morty said, unaware of the sarcasm.

Everyone was seated as Samantha gave her parents a hug. She looked more calm even though she was leaving her home for a weekend away with classmates she recently started talking to.

"Okay bye, guys. I'll call you when we lodge," said Samantha.

"You're sure you have everything you need?" Her father asked.

"Yes, dad. I even carried pepper spray and the hand-to-hand combat advanced book you bought me." She replied as she rolled her eyes.

"Great. Make sure you don't panic and kick too much ass," said Doctor Diaz, smiling.

Being a daughter of a semi-overprotective father, Samantha has been training in hand-to-hand combat with her father until two years ago when he got satisfied with her combat ability. Her father taught her Muay Tai taught in the military and forbid her from competing in any competitions because she may accidentally injure or even kill them. Hence, she joined the swimming team as her extracurricular activity.

Klaus stood outside, leaning on the black SUV that will serve as their transportation to Lake Erie. Doctor Diaz gave Klaus a murderous smile as Samantha walked towards the car and Klaus replied with a nervous smile.

The journey to Erie county is about three and a half hours and the only entertainment was Jeffery, Nicole, and Mr. Morty's karaoke of NSYNC and Britney Spears. Paul carried ear plugs as if expecting the karaoke and was fast asleep while Klaus and Samantha tried to sing along to songs they barely listened to.

"Do you have any songs that Samantha and I can at least sing along to?" Klaus asked, slightly irritated.

"Depends? What do you want?" Jeffery replied, searching through the CDs in the glove compartment.

"I don't know. Maybe Spice Girls or Robbie Williams?" Said Klaus.

"Nope. I only see Andrea Bocelli, Mark Anthony, NWA, Run DMC, and George Michael." Said Jeffery.

Everyone looked at Mr. Morty, wondering why his music was so diverse with some artists they had never heard of. Who listens to Andrea Bocelli?

Mr. Morty shrugged his shoulders. "I grew up in a foster home and it was a racially diverse household and our foster parents were Italians from Staten Island," said Mr. Morty.

They arrived at the inn quarter pasted six o'clock and the karaoke exhausted the most vocal, Jeffery. The inn was by the lakeside and had a woody theme to its design and framework. Mr. Morty quickly went to the lobby to check us in while Paul and Klaus unpacked their luggage.

"There's a buffet in the dining and their special is the beef stew." Said Mr. Morty as he gave the teenagers their room keys.

They all collected their keys, and the girls were to share a room whereas Paul was to share a room with Klaus, in the opposite wing of the inn. Klaus looked displeased, but before he could try to get a change of rooms, Mr. Morty and Jeffery were off to their room, humming 'Baby One More Time' by Britney Spears.

"Come on Klaus," Paul called to Klaus as he walked towards their room.

Samantha and Nicole entered their room, and the floor was polished oak wood with tan peach walls. The bathroom was cream white with a shower and a bathtub next to the toilet and granite sink, respectively. The lights gave the room a warm colour tone and Nicole loved it. Nicole fell face first into her bed and huffed into the pillow.

"This feels so good." Said Nicole.

"Yeah, it does," Samantha replied sheepishly. She felt nervous talking to Nicole because this was the first time they were talking one on one.

"Hey. Do you mind if I shower first?" Said Nicole.

"Not at all," Samantha replied.

As Nicole took her shower, Samantha went into mental DEFCON 1 playing scenarios of how she can have a proper, active, and girly conversation. The simulation conversations ranged from talking about magazine fashion to nuclear power plants. This was because Samantha couldn't discern Nicole's personality. She couldn't do what her father does with only a few minutes with an individual.

Nicole exited the shower, and she found Samantha standing looking at her in awe.

"What? I've got soap on my face?" Said Nicole.

It shocked Samantha to see how beautiful she was without the ripped baggy jeans, faded rock t-shirts, and black make-up she loved. Nicole's long brunette hair was let down and her hourglass figure was more pronounced in a towel.

"Nothing. It's just that you look so different without the -uh make-up." Samantha replied.

"Well yeah. I am a girl." Nicole laughed and continued to get dressed.

Samantha took her shower, and now Nicole was in awe of Samantha's figure.

"I know puberty hits everyone different, but damn girl you're smoking." Said Nicole.

Samantha blushed. "Okay, Sam, how have you warded off the jocks? I can't imagine myself pulling off the 'Ice Queen' persona like you." Nicole said nonchalantly.

Samantha stopped dressing and stared.at Nicole. "Oh shoot! I'm so sorry. I know you probably hate that nickname." Said Nicole.

"It's fine. It's just hearing someone other than my parents or my best friend, Bridge, calling me. Sam was nice. And I don't mind the 'Ice Queen' thing. I actually kind of like now." Said Samantha as she gave Nicole a small smile. She slowly started liking the title of 'Ice Queen' because Klaus would call her that sometimes as they talked and she would call him 'Bloody Brit'.

"That's good. Was a little worried there." Nicole snorted a laugh.

Soon after, they talked, and they lost track of time and missed their dinner. They seemed not to care as their conversations got deeper and deeper.