The sun shone brighty through the soft blue shades that hung from the window. Amanda got up out of bed and see the clock read 11:27. She slept longer than she had hoped. She took a shower and put on a pair of Adidas track pants and a loose black tank top. She brushed her soft brown hair and put it in a headband. She grabbed her purse and walked out of the room. She got in her car and put it in drive. Amanda pulled out of the parking lot slowly and nervously.
She decided on seeing Criss first. She knew she still lived there since she called her house from the hotel last night, not saying a word, just hearing her voice. Hesitantly, she pulled into the driveway to her house. Taking a deep breath she walked up to the door and knocked softly at first. Then she knocked a little harder so she'd be able to hear it. Then she wasn't sure she was doing the right thing. She was about to just run off back to her car and get out of there. Then the door opened.
Amanda looked up with tears glistening in her eyes. Her eyes met the familiar pair of eyes that belonged to Criss.
Tears fell from Criss's eyes as she embraced Amanda in a hug.
"Manders." she whispered almost inaudibly.
They hugged without letting go for almost 5 whole minutes. They separated and went inside.
"My gosh, I can't believe you are here." Criss said with tears still falling.
"Me either." Amanda whispered.
No words were passed for a little bit. Criss couldn't believe she was back. After a year of not hearing from her she would never have guessed she would be back.
"I waited for you everyday since you left, for you to come back. I've missed you Manders."
"I couldn't bring myself back here." Amanda said ,almost a whole minute after Criss's sentence, in a whisper.
"I understand that. But I wish you would've called to tell me you were ok."
"But that's it. I wasn't ok. I have never stopped thinking about the day I left here. An-and what a bad choice it was."
"Have you seen Nick yet?"
"No, I came here first."
"I'm glad you're here. How long are you staying?"
"I'm leaving Tuesday."
"A whole week here. We have to see each other the whole week then. Why don't you just stay here?"
"I'd love to but I already have a room at a hotel about 20 minutes from here."
"Oh, all right. You wanna stay here tonight, to catch up?"'
"Yeah, that'd be nice."
"Goody! It'll be just like old times."
"Yeah."
"Ok, I'm starving here, you want to go out for some pizza? My treat."
"Sure, I'm hungry too. I haven't ate since yesterday."
"Well, you must really be hungry then!!"
Amanda smiled and they went in Criss's car to Pizza Hut which was right down the block. They walked in and sat at a table in the far back. They sat there for a few minutes before the waiter came.
"What can I get for you today?" the waiter asked.
"We'll have one medium pizza with pepperoni and bacon. And 2 Pepsi's."
"Ok, your pops will be here in a minute."
"It feels weird to be back here." Amanda stated.
"I bet."
"I don't know how I'm going to see Nick tomorrow. I was going to go today but I'm still nervous so I'll go tomorrow."
"I don't know what to say. After you left and I gave Nick that letter he was constantly down. After about a week or so, he was a little happier but still at the mention of your name he gets tensed."
"I'll probably get to the door and freeze up."
The waiter came to our table to give us our drinks and to say the pizza would be ready in 15 minutes.
I took a sip out of the glass and set it back down.
"So what have you been up to this past year?" Amanda asked.
"Well, I'm the head manager at the store."
"Congrats."
"Thanks."
"So, what about you Amanda? What have you been up to?"
" Nothing. After I left all I do is sit around and mope. Chris has helped me a little bit but he can't take away my pain. I in my 2nd year of college at Denver State and that's about all."
"So are you and Chris an item yet?"she said half serious and half jokingly.
"No, I don't think I ever could date him Criss. That would be awkward."
"Yeah, dating your best friend would be kind of weird." she said slowly.
"What..? Did, ah, you and Nick go out, or, uh, something?"
"Uh, yeah we did about 2 months after you left. But it didn't last that long. It was too weird."
"Oh." was all Amanda could say.
The pizza arrived and both girls dug right in. They each had 2 pieces before they were full. Criss paid for the meal and they both left back for Criss's house.
"Could we go for a ride? "
"Yeah sure. Where to?"
Amanda didn't say anything so Criss got the hint.
"I just want to drive past there."
"Ok."
"My car or yours?" Criss asked.
"Um, mine. Just in case."
"Alrighty."
They got into Amanda's car with Criss behind the wheel. Criss pulled out of her driveway and went right to the freeway. It would get them there quicker. In about 10 minutes they came to the neighborhood that Nick lived in. His house was on the street in the far back. Criss stopped the car before going onto the street.
"I'm a little nervous. I mean, it's not like I'm going up to his door but just to be so near him is scaring me."
"Aw, I'm sorry."
"Ok, I'm ready."
Criss put her foot on the gas and slowly made her way down the street. Amanda could see her old house down the street. No one was outside. Then she seen Nick's house. Criss picked up the pace a little bit, but still was driving slowly. Amanda turned her head to look out the window when they passed Nick's house. No one was outside and it looked as if no one was there. A few tears fell from Amanda's face as she passed the house. She wasn't sure how she would stay strong enough to actually walk up to the house tomorrow. Criss seen how upset she was so she tried to comfort her.
"Manders, it'll be all right."
"I can't even drive by his house without crying, how am I supposed to walk up to the door and see him?"
"You're a strong person. You'll make it."
"I hope so Criss, I really hope so."
They drove back to Criss's house in silence. The only noise that was made was from the radio they had playing quietly. Criss parked the car in the driveway and got out. She seen Amanda wasn't going to budge so she told her she'd be inside. The only response was a little nod from Amanda. Amanda stared out the window at nothing. Useless thoughts went through her head. The only thing that made sense was the one saying she loved Nick. She had to get him back or her world would be nothing. It didn't make any sense without him nor did she want to live without him. The past year had been nothing but misery. Amanda climbed out of the car and inside to join Criss.
"You all right? " Criss asked sympathetically.
"Yeah, I'm ok." she said wiping the tears that fell from her eyes.
"Good." Criss said with a smile, but she knew inside Amanda was dying.
Both girls spent a couple of house talking about nothing in particular, but never mentioning Nick at all. It was nearing 4 o clock when Amanda told Criss she was going back to the hotel to grab some things.
"Ok, how long do you think you'll be?"
"Um, about an hour seeing it takes 20 minutes to get there and get back here."
"Okees! I'll see you in an hour then."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Amanda got in her car and started the engine. She drove off back to her hotel. Amanda pressed play on her CD Player not paying much attention to what was in there. After a few moments nothing was coming out and so she reached for the volume. All of a sudden, 'And if I wasn't such a fool, right now I'd be holding you' came Nick's heavenly voice through the speakers. Trying not to cry, Amanda held back some tears. She listened to the rest of the song, just thinking back to all the events that had happened last year. I Need You Tonight came on next which caused Amanda to break down sobbing. She pulled over to the side of the road. Grabbing kleenex she dabbed her tears and continued on. About 15 minutes later she arrived. It was quicker than usual since there wasn't that much traffic on the freeway. She checked her face in the mirror and noticed some of her mascara was running so she started to wipe it off. She fixed herself up just a little bit before walking inside. She went up to the room and shut the door behind her. Amanda grabbed her backpack she had brought with her and threw in her pajamas and pair of overalls with her red tank top. She added her toothbrush and makeup. Lastly she put her brush in there and zipped it up. Amanda went into the bathroom to clean up and then walked back downstairs to her car to go back to Criss's.
It was 5:06 when Criss answered her door to see Nick standing there. It was a little shocking to see him there when she was expecting Amanda back there any second.
"Uh, Hi Nick!" Criss said half excitedly.
"Hi, can I come in?" he asked her.
"Uh yeah, sure but I'm expecting someone in a few minutes."
"Oh all right. Who?"
She wasn't about to tell him Amanda was back in town for a week considering what might happen if she did.
"Oh, you don't know him. Just a friend."
"Oh. I'm just going to grab a coke and I'll leave you to your 'friend'."
"OK then."
Nick walked to her refrigerator and took out a Coke.
"I'll see ya later Criss."
"Yeah, bye Nick."
Nick noticed she wanted him to leave so he wasn't going to ask her if something was going on or not.
Nick walked to his car and drove off. Criss closed the door with relief. Amanda would be back anytime and she didn't want her to see Nick or him to see her.
*Ding*
Criss ran to the door to see Amanda with a backpack slung over her shoulder.
"Hey, come in."
Amanda smiled and walked inside. She dropped her bag next to the couch and plopped down on it.
"Uh, Manders, Nick was here just a minute ago."
She gave Criss a frightened look.
"I kicked him out saying I had a friend coming over in a few. I didn't tell him you are back in town."
Amanda sighed.
"I'm going to have to see him tomorrow. I'm just glad I was stuck in traffic because otherwise I would've been here when Nick came. "
"Yeah. Do you want me to come with you tomorrow, you know, for support?" Criss asked sweetly.
"No, that's ok. It would be better if I went by myself."
"All right."
"Thanks though."
Criss smiled.
Amanda and Criss had a girls night. They painted each others nails, did their hair, and gossiped about every hot guy to walk this planet, just leaving one certain male out. Criss was glad to see Amanda. She missed her like crazy the past year and it was nice to talk to her again. Amanda was also glad to see Criss again. She regretted not calling or visiting but she knew Criss understood why she did that. Tomorrow would be another story. Would Nick be happy to see her again and would Amanda be happy to see him again? Amanda wasn't sure but she doesn't expect it to be like seeing Criss again. There probably wouldn't be hugs and happy tears flowing rather there would be cold stares and sad tears. She was just hoping she wouldn't chicken out and high tail it back to the hotel or back to Criss.
