*~The Dream Of A Lifetime~*

That night at dinner the girls were sitting at the dining room table talking and laughing. It’s been a long time since it was just the seven of them and they were going to make the most of it before Hannah moved out.

They were eating their supper and talking about the upcoming wedding. No one noticed Valondra picking at her food instead of eating it. They continued talking about the wedding while Valondra continued thinking about Nickolas.

Antoinette looked at Valondra and finally noticed her in her own little world. She took a drink of her wine then asked, “Lon, what’s wrong?”

“Hmm?” Valondra asked startled and sitting up straight.

“What’s wrong?” Antoinette asked again, as the other girls looked at her.

“Nothing,” Valondra lied. “Why?”

“You barely touched your food,” Antoinette pointed out.

“I’m really not hungry,” Valondra said. “I’m not felling well.”

“Is it because you kissed Trace?” Alyssa questioned.

“Excuse me?” Valondra said.

“Are you feeling sick because you kissed Trace and are feeling guilty about it?” Alyssa asked.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Valondra lied. “Where’d this come from?”

“I have my sources,” Alyssa said. “So you deny kissing Trace?”

“You kissed Trace?” Charisma said. “When?’

“I never kissed Trace,” Valondra denied becoming uncomfortable. “We’re just friends.”

“Even though you’re mad at Nick,” Rachel began, “you wouldn’t kiss anyone else?”

“Is this why you wanted to have supper with me?” Valondra questioned. “To accuse me of kissing someone and betraying Nick? You got it all backwards, girls; Nick betrayed me.” She got up.

“Lon, wait,” Lillie said.

“That’s not why…” Storm began, but couldn’t finish.

“Can it!” Valondra snapped. “Even if I did kiss someone that wasn’t Nicky, it’s none of your business. What I do with my personal life is none of your business so stay out of it.” She grabbed her wine glass and the wine bottle and ran out of the room. The girls waited then heard a door slam.

“That went well,” Antoinette said.

“So much for a nice girl’s night,” Storm added.

“You had to say something to upset her,” Charisma said. “Why?”

“It was bothering me,” Alyssa said.

“Who told you anyway?” Hannah asked.

“Bridgett of all people,” Alyssa replied. “Plus Kevin wanted me to ask.”

“It does make you wonder though,” Lillie stated, as the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Antoinette said getting up and walking out.

Lillie continued, “Just by the tone in her voice and the way she was acting. It’s like she knows she did something horrible and regrets it.”

“I’m not jumping to any conclusions,” Storm said, as Antoinette walked back in. “Who was that?”

“Justin,” Antoinette replied sitting down. “He wanted to talk to Loni. It seemed like he knew something, but he didn’t say."

“That’s weird,” Charisma said, as they all just looked at each other.

Valondra stood in the middle of her room just looking. It was the first time she was in her room since she got home and totally shocked when she opened her door to a room filled with red roses; her favorite. She knew right away who they were from and had to give him very much credit. He never did anything so romantic since they got together. She was amazed at how hard he was trying to get her back.

She put the glass and bottle on the nightstand then smelled the roses and went to take one from the vase when there was a knock on her door. She looked at the door then walked over hoping it wasn’t one of the girls. As there was another knock, she opened the door and saw Justin.

“What brings you here?” Justin just looked at her. “Come in.”

Justin walked in and closed the door. “Someone’s in love. Who is it?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Nick?” Valondra just nodded, as she noticed something shiny on the bed. She walked over, as Justin said, “He’s really trying to get you back. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.” She picked up the rose on the bed. The rose had a ring tied to it and as she looked at the ring, she realized it was her engagement ring and started to untie it. “I know you’re not here to talk about me and Nick so what brings you by?”

“Trace told me what happened.”

Valondra dropped the flower and ring to the floor and just looked at Justin. Justin looked at her, as she bent down to pick up the rose and ring. She looked up at him and said, “I’m not going to deny what happened whatever you’re thinking. But do guys always kiss and tell?”

“That’s not how it was. Trace feels really bad about it.” Valondra just looked at him, as she got up. “Considering he knows how you feel about Nick and how Nick feels about you.”

“He can’t feel as bad as I do.” She opened the balcony doors.

“How come?”

She walked out into the night. “I feel like I used Trace in some way, because I’m mad at Nickolas.”

“Trace is not going to think that.” He joined her on the balcony.

“That’s not the only thing though. Nicky is trying so hard for me to go back to him and I end up kissing someone else; someone else he considers a friend. I betrayed him knowing he never did kiss that little slut. What am I supposed to do? I feel horrible.”

“Tell him.” She looked at him. “Tell Nick you kissed Trace. If he loves you as much as he says and is showing he won’t get upset that much and he’ll understand.”

“You don’t really understand. To Nick we’re not broken up. This will probably hurt him more than anything. He’s so in love with me, Justin.”

“Just like you’re in love with him. In your heart you and Nick aren’t broken up, because of the way you’re feeling about kissing my best friend. You want to be with Nick more than anything.” Valondra just continued looking at him. “You should tell him yourself, because if he hears it from someone else it’ll hurt him worse, because you kept it from him. Take it from a guy’s point of view.”

“Why do you care about me and Nick getting back together?”

“You two are dear friends to me and you belong together. Plus, Toni’s my girlfriend, you’re her best friend, and when you’re not happy she not happy.”

Valondra stayed silent. “You’ll feel better if you tell Nick what happened today.”

“It’ll hurt him.”

“Not if it comes from you. Trust me, I’m a guy. I know these things.”

“I don’t want to hurt him.” She went back inside and Justin followed.

“Just think about it at least. Your heart will tell you what to do and lead you in the right direction.” He hugged her.

Valondra just looked at Justin, as he walked out closing the door behind him. She stood there in her room alone and thought about what Justin had just said. She looked at the ring in her hand then put it back on her finger; still thinking.