The week went by fast. I mostly went to work and came home to find lots of messages on my answering machine. Nick had called a couple of times during the whole week. When friday finally came I was dying of exciment. I had purchased this really nice gray dress for the occasion. On friday though I spent most of my time relaxing watching tv. Alexis called me to invite me out to dinner with her but I told her I had something to take care of. She questioned me about it and I told her that I would tell her later.
In the afternoon I went to go get my hair done at the salon in town. Once I got home I checked my messages. Two were from my phone company telling me about how I could save money. Another was from the store where I bought my dress telling me how glad they were that I had picked there store and that they had made me a club member. The next was from Nick making sure that I was still going and saying that he missed seeing me. I laughed and moved on to the next message. It was from Oscar!!! He sounded serious and he was apologizing and saying that he still loved me. My eyes started to get watery and I deleted the message.
It was 6:50 and I felt like my world had been hurled at the ground and been stepped on. Still, I wasn't going to let him ruin my day like he had ruined my life. I stood up determined to erase the thought of him out of my mind. I raced up stairs seeing that it was 7:00 already. I had stood there and wasted ten minutes.
Upstairs I found my dress laying on the bed. I closed the curtain and undressed. Then I put it on and went to look in the mirror. The dress looked beautiful. I was amazed I didn't even look like myself. The phone rang and I raced downstairs to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me Alexis."
"Oh, hey Alexis listen I don't have time right now I was about to leave."
"Wow, this doesn't evens sound like you, where are you going exactly?"
"Girl, I have to take care of something from my job you know. So can I call you back later?"
"I don't believe you... you never have to leave town for your work. Plus you're leaving me and Belle. You don't spend time with us or anything. You don't answer our calls, you don't come over, I bet you don't even care about us anymore."
"It's not like that ok Alexis, I've just been busy, but I promise you that I'll spend time with you soon, just not right now."
"Yeah... sure... whatever," she said and hung up.
"I..." I started to say but she had alredy hung up on me.
I hung up the phone. It was 7:50, 10 minutes for Nick to show up. I felt really bad. I hadn't noticed that I had left out my two best friends. That I had hurt their feeling. Warm tears flowed down my face. I sat on the floor of the living room crying. The doorbell rang after a few minutes but I was still crying. I quickly cleaned my face and blew my nose. Then I went to answer the door.
I opened it. Nick stood there with a bouqet of carnations in his hands. He saw my eyes red and watery and he let go of the flowers and held me in his arms.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"My best friend is mad at me and lately I feel so bad," I answered.
His hand softly touched my chin and brought it up so that I could look in his eyes. His blue eyes intently looked in to mine. I felt lost in his eyes as he spoke.
"Never have I had a girl cry and tell me about her problems as deeply as you have, but to tell you the truth it feels good. It connects me to you as you are connected to me. I know.. right now things don't seem at their best, but I promise you that things will get better. You just have to give them some time, and tonight things will be at their best I promise," he put his pinky up for a pinky swear.
I laughed and embraced his pinky in mine.
He put his arm around me and walked me to his car. He drove to the restaurant where we were going to eat. The restaurant was out of town in a neighborhood full of important buildings and places. He finally stopped at an italian place. I had never been at this restaurant so I felt weird. He turned to me, smiled and said,"You look beautiful tonight. Don't worry about anything just be yourself."
He stepped out of the car and walked over to my side and led me out. Nick threw the keys to some guy who drove the car to the parking lot. We stepped inside where it was warm and bright. People turned to look at us. I felt weird as if I was of high class or something. I also felt like turning around and leaving, but Nick's hand in mine reassured me.
A man wearing a tuxedo walked over to us. He smiled at us while Nick told him we had reservations.
Ah of course, I remember now. Table of six right?"
Nick nodded and the man told us to follow him. Peole smiled and stared as we passed. Something inside me didn't feel like I belonged there. The people seated at the tables looked rich and classy.
Nick I don't belong in this kind of place," I whispered to him.
"Why not your better than them you have more class than them. You belong here more than they do."
We stopped at a table. Kevin already sat there with his a girl and Brian sat there with another. They were all laughing as Brian was say8ing something to them. Nick and I headed towards them.
When they saw us coming they stood up to greet us. Brian smiled at me and said,"Nice to see you again Sophie. This is my wife Leighanne he said pointing to the girl next to him. I was surprised at this. Brian looked so you and he was already married. Leighanne extended her hand out to me and I shook it.
Next Kevin introduced me to his wife which was the girl next to him. Her name was Kristin and she was beautiful and she seemed really shy.
We sat down after we were done introducing ourselves. We talked for a while and then the waiter came over to take our orders. Everybody ordered something different and I ordered a pasta with bread sticks. Then after ordering we went back to our conversations.
Briand told them about the game and he joked around about the part where Nick and I fell into the grass.
Nick hit him softly on the back of the head.
Then the waiter came back with our orders and placed them infront of everyone. Everyone started to eat so I did too. Brian and Nick joked around about being Italian and then they pretended to be Italian. It was hilarious and peole in other tables just stared at us, but for some reason it didn't matter we just laughed and played around. At one point Leighanne almost spit her drink out from laughing so hard.
After we finished the food, the waiter cleared the table and brought us a bottle of champagne. He served us all and then left the table.
"How about a toast?" Brian asked.
"Wait... I have an announcement to make," Nick said seriously. I looked at him surprised wondering what he had to say. Everyone quieted down while he spoke.
As you all know I brought a beautiful girl with me tonight. She is the shiniest of the stars and the most sweetest of them all. That is why I can't let this one go away, and tonight I have something to say to her. Sophie... I love you more than anything in this world and I would like to make this official and make you my girlfriend."
My heart raced and I said yes.
He leaned over and kissed me the girls awwed and smiled at us.
"You're a lucky girl," Kristin said.
We continued our dinner, but I felt different. I felt free like I could do anything. Nick's hand held mine and we just sat there talking to each other while the others laughed at Brian's silly things. After a while Nick suggested we leave because it was begin to get late. Nick told the others we were leaving and they waid that they were going to stay longer and celebrate.
Kevin looked at us and an idea seemed to form in his head. "Hey, I know I'll let you guys borrow my cabin for next weekend. I'll clean it up for you and you can spend the weekend there."
"Great idea Kevin, thank you guys I'll see you tomorrow."
We said goodbye and then we stepped outside. A guy was standing there with the keys to the car. Nick paid him and we got in the car. I felt happy for the drive home and Nick told me about what a great idea it was for Kevin to lend us his cabin.
We arrived late at my apartment. We sat in the car not saying anything or not knowing what to do. Nick turned to face me. He brushed his hand at mine. Then he leaned in to kiss me. His lips tasted sweet of wine and I didn't want the night to end. He pulled away and smiled at me,"I Love you." I smiled at him feeling important at what he had said,"I love you too." I kissed him this time, and it all felt so right, so I gave in to his kiss. We continued kissing for a while, but then I felt so tired. I guess he felt the same way because we stopped kissing and just sat there.
"Please promise you will come to the cabin with me?" he said.
I looked at him and answered,"Yeah, I'll go."
After that I said goodbye to Nick and kissed him. Then I stepped into my apartment and laid down on the sofa and fell asleep right there.
