Alex glanced at the clock, it said 8:06, and she gave up hope that Nick was coming to pick her up. She tried to be positive about it. Why does this have me so bummed?, she thought, I don't get bummed over stuff like that. The phone rang and she picked it up and half heartily said "Hello?"
"Is this Alex?"
"Yes," she said not sure on who she was talking to.
"Hi, this is Brian. I called to tell you that Nick is on his way over, he came in just a little late."
"Oh, okay."
"He just wanted me to let you know."
"Thanks."
"No problem, bye."
Alex held the phone after she heard the dial tone, "He's coming." she said almost to reassure herself. She stood there for a minute before snapping out of her dream world, she grabbed her jean jacket and headed downstairs to wait for Nick outside. She walked out the front door and sat down on the curb in front of her house. She picked up a flower and pulled the pedals off one by one, "He luvs me, he luvs me not, he luvs me!" She had done this ever since she could remember but had never thought about the "he" she was talking about until now. She sat there for 5 minutes before Nicks green truck pulled around the corner. Alex stood up and brushed the grass off of rear. Nick pulled up into the driveway, and got out. "Hey, sorry, I know I was suppose to be here earlier but I got caught up."
"That's okay."
"Have you eaten?"
"Yeah."
"So have I.." He let the last trail off because he had no idea what to say. He had missed her and now she stood there in front of him holding a little flower and looking beautiful
"Do you want to take a walk? There’s a park down the street..."
"Um, sure I guess." He turned and locked the door of his truck and fell in step with Alex as she started to walk down the street.
"It's a pretty night, I luv all the stars."
"they are pretty aren't they?"
"Yes, they are."
"Well, not as pretty as you."
Alex laughed and playfully punched Nick in the arm, "I wish. So, did you have a good time with your family?"
"Yeah, until they started bugging me, then I was ready to get away again."
Alex laughed again, "At least you can get away from yours."
"I got your letter." Nick said totally changing the subject.
Alex's laughter died and she looked at him trying to read his face, "Is it just me or is this whole thing completely craazy?!?"
Nick watched her, "It's crazy, but I don't mind crazy."
"Oh you don't? Well, guess what."
"What?"
"You are...IT!!" She yelled and took off running down the street.
Nick stood there for a minute before he took off running after her. He saw her run over to the playground and then disappear. He walked around trying to find her,
"Nick, can't you find me?"
Nick spun around to see were the voice had come from, he couldn't tell, "Alex, where in the world are you?"
"I'm over hear."
Nick spun around again trying to figure out where her voice was coming from.
Alex sat up in the wooded fort and didn't say a word. She watched Nick look around for her and then he disappeared, Where did he go? she thought to herself She quietly climbed down and looked around the playground, Nick wasn't there. If he left me out her I'll kill him! she thought looking around. All of a sudden someone grabbed her from behind, Alex tried to scream but they had their hand over her mouth.
Alex struggled, "Be quiet little girl!" a strange voice said in her ear.
Alex heard a thud, and a groan and she was let go of. She turned to find Chad standing there. He had is hardback math book in his hand, and Nick was lying on the ground holding his head.
"CHAD!!WHAT DID YOU DO??" Alex screamed at him
"WHAT WAS I DOING?!? I WAS GETTING THIS CREEP OFF OF YOU!!"
"THAT'S NOT A GREEP, THAT'S NICK!! WE WERE PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK!!!"
"I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE PLAY HIDE AND SEEK LIKE THAT!!" Chad yelled back in his defense
Alex got down on the ground were Nick was sitting holding his head, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think so." He answered shaking his head.
Alex stood back up, "What were you doing out here anyways Chad?"
"I was going down to ask you to help me with this math problem."
"What is it?" Alex asked helping Nick up off the ground.
Chad opened the book, "You can't see it in the dark."
"Well, come over here under the street light." Alex said
"Chad opened the book and pointed at a problem, Alex showed him how to work it. "So, if you are done beating my boyfriend up you can go home now."
"Sorry man, I didn't know."
Nick rubbed the back of his head, "That's okay, I never knew a math book could do that though."
Chad looked at Alex, "I guess I'll be leaving now." with that he turned and walked off.
"Well, that was fun." Nick said
Alex turned and glared at Nick.
"Hey!! What did I do?!?"
"You scared the crap out of me that's what!!" Alex said beating on him
"I'm sorry!! I'm sorry!!" Nick yelled as she hit on him. He caught both of her wrists and held them down, "Alex, I'm sorry I scared you, it was just a joke."
Alex looked at him, "that's okay, I'll live. Can you let go now?"
"Oh yeah, sorry."
Alex glanced at her watch, "We'd better be getting back, it's getting late."
"Okay."
They started to walk back, "Am I still going with you guys tomorrow?"
"I had planned on it, you still want to?"
"I dunno, what if I make an idiot of myself in front of your friends?"
Nick tried not laugh, "Alex, I can't see you making a fool of yourself in front of everyone."
Alex laughed, "I've made a fool of myself several times!!"
"Oh yeah, name once."
"Okay, one time we were TPing the football captains house and I was trying to get it up in the tree but it wasn't staying, then someone whispered and asked if they could help me, I said yeah and turned to find the captain of the football team looking at me. All my friends had seen him walk up and ran off, but I was left holding the evidence."
Nick looked at her and then burst out laughing, "Who's the captain of the football team?"
Alex looked at him, "Chad."
"That guy back their?!?"
"Yeah, and he's never let me forget it either!!"
"I can promise you that you won't make a fool of yourself tomorrow." Nick said putting his arm around her.
"Oh yeah? You'll say that and I will."
"Nahh, you won't."
They had arrived back at Alex's house, Nick looked at Alex, "You're not going to make a fool of yourself, I won't let you."
"Okay."
Nick opened his truck and picked up a package that was lying on the seat. He turned around and held it for a minute. "I found this, and thought about you." He handed it to her, "Wait and open it later."
"Okay, thank you."
Nick smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow morning." With that he climbed in his truck and backed out of the driveway but stopped. He got out and ran over where Alex was still standing and gave her a quick kiss. "You thought I forgot didn't you?" Alex just looked at him. He smiled, kissed her again, and ran back to the truck.
Alex watched him and laughed, Nick smiled, waved, and left. Alex was still laughing when she walked in the house. She walked up the stairs and turned the package over in her hands before opening it up. She pulled out a glass figure, it was a unicorn with a little butterfly resting on its back. It was just like the picture, and it was pretty. She smiled and sat it down on her dresser. Tomorrow was going to be a great day.
