"Lauren...when are you coming over? I'm so excited to see you again!" screeched Brittany.
"Dude, chill...I'm on my way...my mom is talking to me about school and I need directions anyway," explained Lauren.
"Oh, right...let me ask my dad...I still know nothing about this house...and I've lived here for two weeks!"
Brittany Shannon, 17, had just moved from a small town of Wadsworth, OH to Ruskin, FL. Her dad had been transferred, along with Lauren's dad. Lauren Leone was also 17, and lived across town from Britt.
Britt had brown eyes, long brown wavy hair, and was 5'8". Lauren was 5'9", had brown hair to her shoulders, and hazel eyes.
"Okay...Dad says to go to Holmesbrook Street and take it to Lyman...and then make a right onto Pleasant Run Road and I'm the 3rd house on the right...the big red one," Britt stated.
"Got it...I'll be over in 15." Britt hung up the phone.
"Brittany Leigh! Come down and eat lunch please!" shouted Terri, Britt's mom.
"Coming!" replied Britt.
She hungrily scarfed her peanut butter & jelly sandwich and an apple. As soon as she finished, a knock was heard on the door.
"I GOT IT!" Brittany jumped out of her chair and ran to the door. As she opened it, Lauren exclaimed:
"Daaaaaamn! This house is bigger than mine!"
Britt smiled. "Yeah, it is nice. Let's go shoot some hoops at the park down the street."
Lauren and Britt headed to Claybourne Park, smiling, giggling, and talking all the way. Each were excited to be with one another; they had been best friends for over a year and a half.
"RUFF! RUFF!" Brittany and Lauren turned around.
"GOD DAMMIT! Corey, you stupid dog!" Brittany yelled.
Brittany's dog Corey had followed them to the park. They figured they'd just bring him along and play fetch or let him watch while they played basketball.
As they arrived, the parking lot was completely empty...except for a green Dodge Durango.
"I want one of those...buy me one Britt!"
"Yeah right. Does it look like I have that kind of money?"
"Your parents do!"
Just as they were arguing about her parents' money, they heard a bloodcurdling scream. Brittany whirled around, to see her golden retriever and another dog in a fight.
"OH MY GOD!" Brittany rushed over to the dogs.
"Stop! Corey Jakob, come here baby! Come on!" But to no avail; the dogs kept squabbling.
Lauren came running from behind, just as Brittany pushed her way in to stop the fight. The big black dog suddenly bit at Britt's arm, leaving a deep gash. Brittany screamed and backed away, holding her arm. The pitch of her yell frightened the dogs, and they both ran off.
"Britt, you okay? Oh my God.."
Brittany's arm was bleeding badly...Lauren didn't really have anything to stop the bleeding...would they get to a hospital in time? Could they get home in time? What should she do?
Just then, two cute guys appeared from behind. One had blond hair, to his eyes, and was tall. The other had brown hair, sunglasses, and was medium height.
"Shit..I'm sorry...that's my dog Dakota...oh God...you're bleeding! Come on Nick, let's get her to the hospital!" The guy with brown hair was in hysterics. Brittany was calm...too calm. She appeared to be in shock. She began to stumble.
"Whoa...easy there." Nick caught Brittany in his arms just as she passed out. "Here...AJ, hold her."
AJ laid Brittany on the ground. Lauren was crying and praying silently. Nick removed his white t-shirt, revealing a strong body with a dark tan.
"I'm going to use this to stop the bleeding...AJ, help me get her into the Durango. You come with us," Nick commanded.
"It's Lauren...my name's Lauren..." she murmured. She hoped Brittany would be all right...she wished she would wake up. Her unconsciousness scared her the most.
Brittany was put in the back of the Durango with Lauren holding her hand. Nick took driver's seat, while AJ was in the passenger side.
"We'll come back for Dakota and your golden retriever later...let's get her to the hospital," AJ said to Lauren.
Lauren nodded, and began to cry. Brittany's eyes fluttered and she looked to Lauren.
"SHE'S AWAKE!" Both AJ and Nick jumped a mile.
Lauren leaned her head in about two inches away from Brittany's nose. "Britt, can you hear me?" Lauren shouted.
"Lauren, I'm not in a coma. I'm fine. Just a little queasy...I hate blood," Brittany shuddered.
"Oh...well...don't look at your shirt."
As curious as Brittany is, she looked. Bad idea. Brittany began to gag.
"She's gonna hurl! STOP THE CAR!" Lauren screamed.
Nick screeched to a halt, and Brittany slid open the door and began to throw up. Lauren held her hair back and patted her on the back.
"Ugh...That does not look fun," AJ noted. "I just might join her if I keep watching."
"I just want her to get in here so we can get to the hospital. She needs stitches. Definitely." Nick looked awfully worried about a girl he had never met before.
Lauren and Britt climbed back in. "Okay, she's good. Let's get going."
Nick sped off before Lauren shut the door. Britt leaned her head against Lauren's shoulder and tried not to look at her arm. The blood was showing through Nick's shirt.
They arrived at the hospital in no time. AJ and Nick rushed Brittany to the ER, and Lauren called Britt's parents, but no one was home.
30 minutes later, Britt emerged with the boys and 20 stitches. She was smiling.
"You look great! How do you feel?" asked Lauren.
"I feel much better. Although this is kinda awkward," she waved her arm. "Let's just get the hell out of here!" Brittany exclaimed.
Nick and AJ laughed. They talked the entire way back to the park, and learned about one another. Nick and AJ were aspiring to be singers, just as Lauren and Brittany were. Each had just finished high school, and were looking for careers.
"Thanks so much for all of your help, guys. I really appreciate it," Britt commented, coaxing Dakota into the very back of the Durango.
"Yeah....I don't know what I would've done. You guys were lifesavers," said Lauren.
"Awww...it was nothing..." Nick said with a smile.
"Yeah...he just likes to take his shirt off!!" yelled AJ.
"You bastard!" Nick chased after AJ and tackled him to the ground. Lauren and Brittany chuckled as they watched the boys wrestle in the grass.
"AJ's mine," Lauren whispered to Brittany.
"Fine with me," Brittany smiled. "Guys? We should probably get going. Thanks for the all the help today!"
Both boys stopped in mid punch. They got up quickly and ran back over to the girls.
"Do you guys want a lift?" Nick asked.
"Nah...we're just down the road," said Britt.
"So are we; it's not a problem; we can do it."
"Oh...okay, thanks." Britt called Corey to the car and put him in the front.
Britt and Lauren once again climbed into the Durango, except this time, Brittany took shotgun. AJ seemed surprised, but pleasantly surprised, because he thought this Lauren chick was pretty cute.
Nick was taken aback too, but he didn't mind. Britt was sweet, and he was more than willing to help her out.
"Okay if I sit here?" said Britt.
"Fine by me," said AJ from the back.
"Good," said Nick under his breath.
Brittany heard him and laughed. Nick grinned and started up the car and headed out of the parking lot.
"Okay...where to?" Nick asked.
"2838 Pleasant Run Road," said Brittany.
"No shit! I'm 2789! That's like across the street!" Nick exclaimed.
"Whoa...that's freaky!" Brittany and Nick were both content with their uncanny good luck.
While Britt and Nick were talking about her recent move-in, AJ and Lauren were cuddling in the back and had traded phone numbers. When Nick pulled in to Brittany's driveway, AJ gave Lauren a kiss on the cheek and promised to call the next day.
Britt gave Nick a hug. "Thanks for your help. Maybe I'll catch you tomorrow or something...?"
"Yeah, I'll stop by. See ya Brittany."
"Bye Nick. Hey wait, here's my number. Give me yours too." Nick scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to Brittany."
"Thanks. Bye AJ."
"See ya babe."
Brittany and Lauren opened the door and went inside, grinning and giggling like idiots.
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