A few minutes later, AJ was sitting in his room, mentally processing what had happened that night. He could hardly bare to think about how Nick would feel when he found out. After a few moments, AJ got up and found his notebook. He tore out the lyrics he wrote earlier. He ripped them into tiny pieces then ran down the hall and threw them in the toilet. Relief swelled through him as he watched them being flushed down and away forever. He then sat back down and tried to think of a way to tell Nick without hurting him too much. It wasn't going to be easy he quickly realized and finally threw himself down on his bed in frustration and exhaustion. He quickly fell asleep.

The next thing he knew, he heard the phone ringing. He rolled over and saw that it was light outside. Why isn't anyone answering that? AJ wondered to himself. Then he realized his mom was probably already at work. He dragged himself out of bed and grabbed the reciever.

"Hello?" AJ said slowly.

"Alex! This is Nick, guess what!" Nick said excitedly.

"This better be good. What?"

"Cassie's going to go with me to the next school dance!"

"What?!" AJ exclaimed then caught himself. "Oh, that's great, Nick."

"Yeah, I just got off the phone with her...I'm so excited!"

"Wait. You just called her? If I were her, I would have said no just for calling so early."

"Fortunately, you're not her, and it's not early. Alex, it's 2 o'clock."

"Are you serious? Wow, I slept well."

"So will you please come to the dance? I'm so nervous and it will make me feel better if you were there."

"This Friday, right?"

"Yeah."

"I'll be there!"

"Okay, see you then."

"Bye."

AJ hung up and thought to himself, I wouldn't miss this for the world.