“Hi guys!” Gwen yelled and waved as her friends exited the airplane. Amy ran up to her and hugged her. “Oh Gwen, I missed you so much!” “Me too. But, where’s Cass?” Before Amy could answer, Gwen was knocked to the ground and looked up to see Cassidy hovering over her. “Hey Gwen! Miss me?” “What would happen if I said no?” Gwen asked, standing up. Cassidy immediately hugged her and lifted her off her feet. “Geez girl! You’re as skinny as a bean pole.” “Funny!” Gwen yelled. “Oh, where’s Bridget?” Amy and Cass immediately looked at each other and sighed. “She’s not coming. She said she was real sorry but family problems came up and she chose to stay home. I’m so sorry Gwen!” Cass said.
Gwen looked upset but replied, “Well…That’s okay. We’ll still have a great summer.” They all walked to Denise’s van where Gwen’s mom waited for them. As they were driving home Gwen asked “Are you guys sure you don’t want to change clothes or fix your hair before we get home?” The girls looked puzzled and asked “Why?” “Oh, no reason!” Gwen said with a sly smile. When they got to Gwen’s house, they all got out and the girls admired the house. “Oh, leave your bags in the van for right now.” Gwen yelled from the front door.
Before they stepped into her house Gwen said, “Now I only have one rule. You have to have fun on this vacation. That means no fighting, no arguing, no shed of blood. I don’t care if it is over a guy, Cass!” Her head shot up quickly and Gwen continued. “And please keep the sugar level down!” Gwen added before stepping into the house. They walked into the living room where they found music blasting, 50 to 60 kids all crammed into it and the kitchen, and lights flashing all over the place. “What’s going on?” Amy asked. “I’m having a party in honor of your guys being here. Look!” Gwen said pointing to a banner overhead. It read Welcome to Tulsa Cass, Amy, and Bridget. They looked so excited. Gwen spoke again. “Come on guys. I have a bigger surprise for you!” Amy shook her head nervously. “You know I don’t like surprises Gwen.” “Don’t worry Ames, its all good!” Gwen reassured while Cass jumped up and down out of her excitement.
Gwen dragged the girls into the kitchen to the kitchen table. And what do ya know, Isaac was sitting there! Small world! “Hi there Ikey!” Gwen said hugging him. “Nice to see you too Gwen babe.” “Umm, Ike, these are my friends Amy and Cassidy.” He extended his hand and they reluctantly shook it. “Nice to meet you both. I’ve heard a lot of nice things about you.” Amy smiled while Cass stared at him like a zombie. Gwen began talking again. “I’m just taking them around and introducing them to the whole gang!” Ike nodded. “Well, I’ll see you guys later and maybe a dance?” Amy nodded while Cass was still in her daze. Ike smiled and got up and left the kitchen. Amy’s weak smile turned into a frown and Cass was really hyper now. Gwen looked at them and started to giggle. “Harmony Gwendolyn Williams!” Amy yelled. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew Isaac Hanson!?!” “Did I mention that I know the other two and that they live next door?” Gwen asked. “I don’t care! You kept it from me!!!” Amy yelled really starting to get excited. “I just love seeing you guys surprised!” Gwen said smiling. “Can we meet Tay and Zac too?” Cass asked now seeming to be the only sane one. “Sure! Come on!” Gwen said pulling Cass out of the room by her arm with Amy following. “Geez, next thing you’ll tell me is that you’re dating Ozzy!” Amy laughed. (I put that in there just for you Bridget!) “Ha Ha!” Gwen replied. Gwen led the girls through the swarm of teenagers to the foot of the stairs where Zac sat. “Hey there Zac! What’s up?” Gwen asked leaning over, hugging him. “Nothing much!” he said eyeing the two girls behind her. She got the hint. “Oh yeah. Zac, these are my best friends in the world, Cass and Amy.” He cleared his throat and gave her a guilty look. “Best FEMALE friends Zac!” he laughed and shook their hands. “Nice to meet you ladies. Um, Gwen do you have any clue where your brothers are?”
“I believe that they are either in the basement playing Playstation or somewhere playing lip wrestling with their girlfriends.” He giggled a little and replied “Thanks Gwen.” Then he took off. “12-year-olds. They’re all the same.” Gwen commented. “Follow me.” she said pulling the two stragglers across the room again. She brought them to her couch where she had spotted the magnificent Taylor earlier. He was flirting with some red head as usual. Gwen rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. Taylor turned away from his prey and smiled. She was totally clueless and left. Gwen sat down close to him and got in his face. “Hi!” she said quickly but enthusiastically. “Hey. Sup!” he said his grin widening. “This must be the famous Cassidy and Amber Lyn that I have heard so much about!” Amy whispered in Gwen’s ear, “You told him my real name?” Gwen shrugged her shoulders looking all innocent. “Yeah. I’ve just taken the responsibility of showing them around to everyone.” He reached out for their hands (haha! I knew I would relate back to one of their songs!!!). “I’m Tay. Its nice to meet you girls.” The girls said the same, shook his hand and sat on the couch next to Gwen. “So, what have you been up to Tay?” Gwen asked trying to make small talk. “Same old, same old. You?” “Just hanging out with my buds and going to your concerts and smoking weed and…” “You just have to remind me don’t you?” he interjected. “Hey! You did it on your own will Taylor! I am just gonna remind you of it until you find something on me.” He sighed and laid his head back. Cass and Amy eyed each other and giggled. Taylor spoke. “Well, would you ladies like to dance?” “Of course!” Cass and Amy said in unison. They all got off the couch and went to the dance floor (living room floor). They all grooved to “You Got It” by *NSYNC.
*****
The party went on into the night. By the time everyone had left it was 1:30 a.m. About that time, Amy had wandered to the basement and was now playing Playstation with Zac and the twins. After all that dancing, mountain dew, and sugar, Cass and Taylor were so hyper that they couldn’t be controlled. They had been acting stupid for a long time and now were trying to walk around Gwen’s yard without falling. Unfortunately they weren’t making a whole lot of success. And now Gwen and Ike were sitting on her living room couch, Ike sitting one end with Gwen laying out at the other end with her feet stretched out across Ike’s lap.
“What’s the whole deal with you guys anyway?” Ike looked at Gwen. “What do you mean?” “How come you guys go around saying that you are not ready for a girlfriend and that your brothers are your own best friends and then you go and act like that.” She said gesturing with her hands toward Cass and Tay who were now outside wrestling. Ike chuckled a little. “I guess they are getting a little…um…rowdy.” He said before breaking into a fit of laughter. Gwen looked over at him and then glanced outside again. She sighed and shook her head. “Hey Gwen where were all your friends from the highschool that you said were coming tonight?” “Oh. I forgot to tell you. They were having a surprise party for one of their teachers. They said we could all meet up this summer some time.” He nodded and sighed.
“Well Gwenie. It’s late and I think I should head home.” She nodded back and he got up to leave. Before he left he turned and faced Gwen’s direction. “I thought you had 3 friends that were coming down for the summer?” Gwen’s frowned and then smiled and said, “Oh something came up and she couldn’t come.” He nodded and hugged her before leaving next door to his house.
*****
Gwen checked her watch again. 5:30. She was sitting in her room on her bed. She hadn’t been able to sleep so she stayed up and watched the others sleep. Cass and Tay finally passed out at about 3:30 a.m. on the living room floor. Amy wandered up the Gwen’s room at 4 a.m. and Gwen checked on the boys shortly after downstairs. Sure enough, Zac and the twins had fallen asleep in front of the television in the basement. Now, Gwen was just watching and waiting for the sun to come up. “Hey Gwen.” Amy said, startling Gwen. “why are you still up?” “I’m just doing some thinking.” She replied. There was some silence until Amy spoke again. “I can’t lie to you anymore Gwen.” Gwen looked confused. “You see, Bridget wasn’t having family problems. That guy, Brian that she’s been dating dumped her and she was too busy feeling sorry for herself so she decided not to come. Cass thought we shouldn’t tell you because she thought Bridget was being a selfish bitch and she didn’t want her problems to ruin you summer.”
Gwen looked sad and confused. She couldn’t believe what she had heard. This didn’t sound like the Bridget she had once known. A boy would have never come between their friendship. But Gwen just replied, “Forget her! We can still have the greatest summer ever without her.” Amy nodded her head in agreement. “Well Amy dear. You may go back to sleep. I am going to go make everyone an early breakfast. And later, we’ll give you and Cass a tour of the town.” “Awesome! Night Gwen.” Amy said, laying down again and quickly dosing off.
From there, Gwen retreated down to the living room to find Cass and Tay sleeping and snoring away on the floor. She put a blanket over Tay and took a pillow and put it over Cass’s head to block the noise. Gwen then got to work on breakfast. By seven a.m. she had made eggs, French toast, sausage, toast, pancakes, coffee and orange juice for everyone. Everyone was still asleep though. So, Gwen went to the big stereo in the living room and set the volume to full blast. Then, she turned it on. Luckily her Metallica CD was in there so it was really loud. Once the loud music filled the room, Taylor shot up like a rocket and bumped his head on the coffee table. Cassidy threw the pillow off her head and started to groan loudly. Gwen could not stop laughing. She stopped long enough to shut off the stereo. Taylor just looked up at her, holding his head. “Why?” Gwen still was laughing her ass off. “Good morning sleepy heads.” Cass got up and stumbled to the bathroom and Amy came down the stairs, stretching. “What time is it Gwen?” “Seven.” “Cool.” From the basement came Zac and the twins. “Do I smell breakfast?” Zac asked. Gwen, still giggling replied, “Yes you do! Now everyone go eat your breakfast.” Everyone crowded into the kitchen hungry for food, except Taylor who pouted into the kitchen.
Chapter 12
I Will Remember You
