Gongshow

Audrey woke up the next morning to her phone ringing. She felt around her bed for it without opening her eyes. Hungover was an understatement. She felt her hand touch human skin but she knew it was just one of the girls. She finally found it and answered. Her eyes were still squeezed shut.

"Hello?" She groaned.

"Hey! Can I come over and get my shirt? And shoes, and pants?" A voice asked.

"Sure, who is this?"

"Nathan." He chuckled.

"Oh, yeah! I'll be waiting for you downstairs." She told him as she sat up.

She showered and got changed as quietly as possible. She walked down the stairs. She let out a breath when she saw the mess. There went her Saturday. She walked into the kitchen, stepping over things, and a sleeping Jacob. She held back a laugh as she opened the fridge and grabbed a water. She walked out back. She might as well clean out there first. She slid the back door open and growled.

"Oh, man." She sighed. "What a mess."

"I'll say." Her eldest little brother called from his bedroom window.

She looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun. "Shut up, Cooper."

She grabbed a garbage bag and started to clean the backyard. She made her rounds with the cans first. She stepped on something and let out a gasp. Puke. She stepped in puke. She let out a scream and ran hopped over to her hose. She nearly threw up herself as she cleaned it off.

"Audrey?" A voice called. She looked and saw Sam peeking over the fence. "Are you okay?

No! I stepped in puke and there's garbage ev,"

"Do you want me to come over and help you clean?" He cut her off.

She exhaled and nodded. "Please."

"I'll walk over." He told her before his head disappeared.

She threw her garbage bag down and rubbed off her hands before walking back into the house. She sat on the part of the couch that didn't have someone sleeping on it. She threw her head back. The doorbell rang and she shot up. She smiled as she pulled it open, but it wasn't her neighbour, it was Nathan. He grinned at her. She gave him a smaller smile and led him inside. She didn't really know where his clothes were.

"Uh, do you have any idea where it might be?" She scratched the back of her head. He shook his. "Okay, check upstairs and I'll look down here."

Nathan nodded and climbed up the stairs. Audrey just took a deep breath. She looked through the house. She found his shoes and shirt and set them on the stairs. She went to start looking for his pants when the doorbell rang. It had to be Sam this time. Nathan was on his own for his pants. She walked over and opened the door, smiling at Sam. He waved and followed her inside. She led him straight out to the backyard.

"Do you want me to hose off the puke?" He chuckled.

She frowned. "If you don't mind."m

He shook his head and walked over to the hose. "Pretty sure it's Griffin's anyway."

Audrey laughed as she threw some cans into the garbage bag she had. "He was so out of it. I can't believe we managed to throw him over the fence."

"You dragged him over and started screaming for anyone to help you." Sam told her.

"I thought he was dead!" She cried. "He's really heavy."

"He's giant, what did you expect?"

"Him to not get that drunk!" She exclaimed.

They laughed and continued talking about the night. Sam was nice. Audrey didn't mind hanging around him because he was probably one of the only guys that never made passes at her. She watched him hose down the puke. He looked over at her. He had sunglasses on so she couldn't see his eyes. She smiled and shook her head. Nathan watched the exchange from the door. Looks like Sam was going back on his word.

"Hey," Nathan called. Audrey spun around like she was doing something wrong. "Do you need another set of hands?"

"I think we're se,"

"I was asking Audrey." Nathan spat.

"Nate, relax." Audrey rolled her eyes walking over to him. "We'll manage. You can go home and sleep some more." She smiled and squeezed his arm.

"Auds, I was thinking, maybe we could go on a date sometime?" Nathan hesitated.

Dustin stepped onto his balcony. "Not happening. Get away from my daughter." His voice boomed.

Nathan jumped. He looked up and felt his stomach flip. His coach was staring down at him when he just tried to make a move on his daughter. Nathan backed away from Audrey. She held back a laugh. He cut for the gate, bumping Sam on the way. Sam put his hand up in surrender. Dustin gave a satisfied smile.

"See you at practice, Nathan!" He called. He looked at Sam. "You're not gonna try anything, are you?"

"Strictly friends." Sam saluted Dustin.

Audrey rolled her eyes and went back to cleaning. About an hour later, they finished the backyard and had moved inside. They woke everyone up so they could clean. She got lazy and sat on the floor. She'd throw things at Sam so he could put them in the trash. If she couldn't reach something, she'd crawl to it and throw it to him.

Cooper, Mason, and Jake came downstairs. They made a game out of cleaning up. They'd toss things to Sam and he'd have to catch them with the garbage bag he had. There were only a few things left to be thrown out. Audrey reached for one and Jake tackled her for it. He sat on her and threw it to Sam. She wrapped her arms around her brother and sat him between her legs. She blew a raspberry on his cheek and he laughed. Sam smiled at them and hopped on the counter.

Nicole Brown walked into the kitchen and cocked a brow at Sam before looking at Audrey. "Who is this?"

"Our weird neighbour." Audrey explained, letting to of her brother and standing up.

"Her boyfriend." Mason sang.

"Not my boyfriend." She argued, walking over to her mom.

"Was the other boy that daddy yelled at your boyfriend?" Jake asked.

"Nathan?"

"No, he just wishes he was." Sam laughed.

"Explain." Nicole turned, crossing her arms.

Audrey took a deep breath. "This kid, Nathan, has a crush on me, I guess, and he won't get the hint that I don't date dad's teams and dad scared him today." She told her mom.

"That's such a ridiculous rule. You know if you really had feelings for someone he coaches, you could go for them. Don't listen to him." Nicole shook her head. "Even if he's mad, who cares. He's just your dad." Audrey smiled at her mom. "Now take Sam up to your room so I can start dinner. Are you staying?"

He shook his head. "I don't want to be a nuseance."

"Hey, you just cleaned my house, you can move in if you want." Nicole chuckled.

Audrey led Sam upstairs. She looked in her room before opening the door. Holiday, Danielle, and Taylor were all sitting up in her bed. She walked over to her couch and sat with one leg under her. Sam sat beside her. Danielle watched them. Sam was looking around her room. It wasn't what he expected. There was hockey memrobilia everywhere.

Her room was a grey colour with team flags lining the top of the walls. She had more LA stuff than anything, but there was a collection of Penguins things to the side. Probably Crosby. She had a shelf made of two hockey sticks as the sides. Wayne Gretzky's famous 'You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.' was painted on her wall. He saw a frame in the shape of 'LA' with pictures of her with the cup multiple times. He shook his head.

"You're a hockey fan, huh?" He asked, looking at her.

She nodded. "I grew up around it. I didn't have a choice." She explained, staring at everything. "Not that I was like forced into it. I really just love the sport as well."

"Do you play?"

"No. I just follow it religiously." She laughed.

"Why is Sam here? I'm still confused." Holiday piped up.

"Are you dating?" Taylor gasped.

Sam and Audrey both laughed. "Just friends."

Danielle let out a chuckle before lookin down at her phone. In the few weeks she had known Audrey, she spent nearly every day with her. She never saw Audrey act like this towards any other friends. Nicole called up for everyone to come to dinner. They all got up and walked to the door. Danielle grabbed Audrey's arm. Audrey cocked a brow at her.

"What's up?"

"What's up with you and Sam?" Danielle crossed her arms.

"Nothing. He's my neighbour and offered to h,"

"And the smile you can't keep off your face around him?" Danielle cut her off.

Audrey rolled her eyes. "I mean he's really cute," She sighed and sat on her bed. "And really sweet, and funny, and actually treats me like a friend and not just because I'm the coach's daughter and he wants to stay on his good side."

"Auds, all the guys genuinely like your company. It's not just because of Dustin." Danielle shook her head. "So, what? You like Sam?"

"A little bit? I don't really know!" Audrey growled.

"Let's go eat dinner." Danielle laughed, walking out of the room.

Notes