Nic still didn't look like he got it, but he hugged her back.

Laurel yelped as James came up from underneath and grabbed her around the waist. She started laughing and tried to wiggle free.

Nic started glaring at James again, but didn't interfere. He was starting to look really ticked off.

Laurel laughed as she finally got free... and then she saw Nic's face. Her smile fell away as she reached out and stroked his cheek, "Hey..." she murmured, not liking how ticked off he looked.

James spit some water at Nic's face.

Nic closed his eyes and wiped the water off his face again. When he opened his eyes it looked like he wanted to punch James' lights out. But instead, he started to get out of the pool.

Laurel looked between James and Nic for a moment and then something seemed to don on her... and she started to panic. She followed Nic right out of the pool, leaving James floating by himself.

Nic kept walking. It looked like he might be heading for his room.

Laurel followed right behind him.

Nic kept walking, either ignoring Laurel or not realizing she was there. When he got to his room, he tried to close the door behind him.

Laurel wedged herself inside after him.

Nic refused to look at Laurel as he grabbed a towel and started drying himself off.

Laurel paused for a moment before her panic welled up and words gushed out, "I'm sorry I was just playing because it's fun and I know you don't normally play but I thought it might help you relax a little and James was just messing around he didn't mean anything and we weren't laughing at you we were laughing because we were playing we weren't making fun of you or splashing you to be mean or anything like that and you've got to believe me!" she took a deep breath, getting more upset the more she talked, "And I'm sorry it made you upset that was the last thing I wanted to do I thought it would be fun but I guess it's not fun for you so we won't do it again, okay?"

Nic didn't say anything as she started to change into his regular clothes.

"Please don't be upset, I really don't want you to be upset!" Laurel pleaded, "I didn't mean anything, what made you upset? Because I was playing with James? Are you jealous?"

Nic kept changing. As soon as he finished and slipped some shoes on he started out the door again.

So Laurel slowly sat on his bed, watching Nic leave with tired eyes.