Chapter 13

The next day, I begged my dad not to go to school.
I hurt everywhere, and my under eyes were so red I
could see them when I looked down.

I invited A.J. over, and he, Ryan, and I talked
for a long time.

"So how is your record deal going?" I asked
A.J. as I sat down on the red leather loveseat.

"Not so well, but we're getting there…very
slowly," he said sitting on the leather recliner.

"Hey J, dad left you some chicken soup on the
counter, want some?" Ryan asked from the kitchen.

"No thanks, I'm not hungry!" I said closing my eyes.
I hadn't slept very well in weeks, and last night
I got no sleep.

"I'll eat it then!" Ryan said as I heard the
microwave start.

"Oh hey the price is right is on!" A.J. said turning on
the t.v. I laughed as he turned up the volume
and watched excitedly.

"Whoa? The price is right kick ass!" Ryan said
walking fast with the bowl of soup over to the floor in
front of the t.v.

"I bid 1000," A.J. said as I smiled.

"I bet 1200!" Ryan said as I thought about the poker
game. Why did I have to do that to him? I bet he's
mad cause I ruined his pride.

Girl beats guy, guys laugh at that guy…
God I'm so stupid…

"Hey Jess, you up to going out for lunch?" A.J. asked.

"Let me guess…McDonalds?" I asked smiling light.

"Gee…I don't know how you guessed!
But are you willing?"

"Yeah, just let me change," I said forcing myself up.
I walked downstairs slowly and changed in a gap
baby T-shirt and some faded Lei's. I put my hair up
in a messy ponytail and looked out the window as
the bus came to my house.

Nick came out soon after and stood in front of my
house noticing A.J.'s car there. As the bus sped
off Nick started walking home, he was so…so…lovable.

"Jess, come on I'm starved!" A.J. yelled from upstairs.

"I'm coming!" I yelled as I took one last look at
Nick before running up the stairs.

Maybe wallowing about this is not the answer.
Maybe I should just go to the prom with Eddie, he
does like me I'll give him that. And he's really sweet,
and caring, and everything Nick isn't…

"What are you thinking?" Ryan asked me as we
sat down at the booth.

"I'm not going to be miserable anymore," I said smiling.

If Nick likes me, he can tell me instead of messing
up my life thinking about all this…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Checkmate," Ryan said putting his pone on the
black square in front of me.

"I give up, I never win when I play you!" I said
as he smiled the smile of victory.

"If you say so…" he said putting up the pieces.
I sat down on the floor next to him as we
watched the Simpson's.

"So you're feeling better?" He asked quietly.

Dad and Vicki were sleeping; they were very
cranky if you woke them up.

"Yeah. I'm going to go to school tomorrow.
Think you could take me?" I asked.

I didn't want to see Nick on the bus at all.

"No problem," he said as I put my head on
his shoulder. I missed Ryan so much; he was
my problem solver.

"Thanks," I said closing my eyes and falling
asleep in Ryan's lap.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I awoke to the banging on my window. Ryan had
taken me downstairs when I fell asleep. I turned on my
desk light and opened the window; Nick was
on the other side.

"Can we talk?"

"Um…sure," I said as he walked into my room.
I closed the window so the cold air wouldn't get in
and sat on my bed nervously.

Nick looked too nervous for words.

"Um, about last night…" his voice trailed off.
"I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it," he
said sitting down next to me.

"You didn't?" I asked a little shocked.

"Not at all. I don't think you're an airhead
or a loser, scout's honor," he said holding up his hand.

"Why were you so mad?" I asked.

"I was actually saving that money for a car.
I didn't think I'd lose it all last night, but I did.
That's why I was so mad," he said looking
down ashamed.

"I'm sorry too, for what I said," I said
sighing. "I didn't mean what I said either,
I was just upset."

"I know," he said looking into my eyes. "Truce?"

"Yeah," I nodded. We didn't stop
looking at each other, we came closer together,
and closer…

That first time he kissed me was something I'll
never forget. It wasn't an 'I'm sorry' kiss at all, it
was a more 'I want you' kiss. He put his arms around
me as I put mine around his neck. As our tongues
touched everything in my body tingled. It started
getting more passionate, and sexier. I was going to
have sex with him right then and there…but he
stopped. Our breathing was hard and I
had this rush of happiness come over me.

"I…I'm sorry, I…I have to go," he said shaking
his head. He opened the window nervously.

"But…" I said as he jumped out.

"Just forget that happened," he said shutting
the window behind him.

I don't want to forget that happened…

Index

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