"Hello?" I asked into the reciever.
"Amanda, it's me Nick." A chill ran up my spine as I heard his voice.
"I know. What do you want?" I asked coldly.
"I'm sorry about earlier today."
"Yeah, well..." I let my voice trail off.
"I didn't ask you to the dance because of your Mom."
"Yeah, sure."
"You're my best-friend Amanda! You don't have to treat me this way. It hurts. It's like I don't even know you."
"You wanna know what hurts? It hurts when someone asks you to a dance because you're a loser and no one wants to go with you because they really like you. That's what hurts."
"For the last time, I did not ask you to the dance because of that! The reason I asked you today was because I wanted you to be my date before anyone else could ask the most prettiest girl in highschool. And I don't know why you can't see that." As soon as I heard those words, my heart stopped beating completely. I couldnt breathe anymore. I felt so guilty about accusing him so many times about that! I was so stupid!
"And I hope you know how hard it was for me to say those very words I felt to you. But I did, and I hope you know how hard it is for me to say these words again. Would you like to go to the Spring formal with me?"
"Yes. Yes I would Nick," I said without thinking twice. I didn't need to. I had hoped all day he would call me, or talk to me in school, even after! And here I was, on the phone with Nickolas Carter. I smiled. "I'm sorry Nick. I was wrong today, I was wrong in more ways than one and I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?" I stood up and walked to my window. I looked outside, not looking at anything particular, as I waited for his answer.
"You're forgiven."
"Friends?" I asked.
"Friends."
"Best-friends?"
"Best-friends," he replied. "You know the dance is this Sunday right?"
"Yup. That's three days, twenty hours, eleven minutes, and two seconds exactly away...now!" I heard him laugh.
"And all this time I thought you forgot!"
"I did. But I can count quickly. My brain is actually a good one." I heard a car door shut and I looked towards the driveway from my window.
"Hey Nick, my Dad's home. I know he's gonna want to lecture me about going to school this morning. So I'm gonna go okay? Call me later."
"Can't. It's almost five now."
"Oh yeah. I forgot. Well, I'll see you tomorrow in school okay?"
"Alright. Bye bye," he said before we both hung up.
I heard my Dad call me from downstairs before I could even get excited about going to the dance with Nick.
"Yeah?" I asked as I bounded down the stairs happily.
"If you wanted to go to school all you had to do was ask."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"I woke up and went to your room to find you, you weren't there. I wouldn't have been mad Amanda."
"I've already missed enough school, and now I'm missing even more. It's hard to make up work Dad. And I thought what's the point of going the the hospital when I know they probably won't even let me see her. It's boring just sitting there."
"It is!" he laughed. "Your brother and I got to see her today. But it was only for a few minutes. We tried to trick the nurse into letting us see her again, but she wasn't fooled. Do you wanna go see her now? I've got time. If we hurry we can just make it."
I traced the design on the counter with my index finger.
"I have a lot of homework. And anyways there won't be enough time to hardly see her. I'll go see her this weekend is that alright?"
"Yes, that's perfectly fine."
"Thanks Dad." I went and kissed my father on the cheek and left the kitchen. The truth was that he didn't know if it was perfectly fine. Her Mother could pass away anytime soon. Everyone knew that. Everyone except Amanda.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Dad? Is there anyway I could have your atm card and just go with Courtney?" I asked.
"My atm card? And YOU? Are you crazy!?!" he exclaimed.
"Yes I am, but that's what you love about me. So...can I? Pweease and carrots?" he laughed and handed over my source for cash. It always worked!
"Be back before nine. If you don't find anything today, just go tomorrow. Oh, and don't get pulled over! It'll be my butt!"
"I won't Dad. See ya!" I practically ran full speed to my Dad and Mom's car so I could pick Courtney up to go shopping for our dresses.
When I got to her house, I didn't bother to get out of the car and knock, I just honked my horn a couple of times. I knew she would come running since she was just as excited as I was.
"Hey girl! Let's go shopping!" she shrieked. I squeeled with her and we pulled away.
"Sears Amanda, Sears, we have to go to Sears!"
"Okay, calm down. We have to get there first." I laughed. "So who's your date?"
"Drake Anderson."
"Ew really?"
"Ew? What do you mean ew? That boy is FINE!"
"I know, I was just teasing you. He's in my Latin class. He's pretty smart. Not usually your style."
"Hey! Just because I haven't gotten too many guys that have a brain doesn't mean anything."
"I know, I know," I said. We blasted music as we drove the rest of the way to the mall, a.k.a. our second home.
I parked in the Sears lot and hopped out.
"Okay Courtney, do you want something short, or something long?"
"Long. You?" she asked.
"Same. Preferably something baby blue."
"Baby blue and long? Ha, doubt you'll find it."
"I know, but we can still look."
We searched the racks, trying on a few things, but nothing we definitly were interested in. That's when I saw it. It wasn't a dress, but a skirt and top. The shirt was a baby blue tee, nice and plain, and the skirt was baby blue as well, with a see through material overtop that had purple flowers and black spiral designs on it. It went to my knees, showing off my legs, and had little slits about a centimeter each on the sides. It was so cute!
"C'mon Amanda. There's nothing here."
"No wait. I think I found something," I told her. I searched the rack and pulled out my size for both garments and held them up to show her. "What do ya think? It's me right?"
"Tres chic! Hey! I actually said something in French! That means...I've learned it! Oh my gosh! My teacher is gonna be so proud!" I laughed at her and headed toward the dressing room to try it on. I came out once I had it on turned around for her.
"Perfect! You're buying it."
"Yes sir!" I did a little salute and an about face before I headed back to the dressing room.
I counted the money I had gotten out of the atm and it came to a couple of dollars more than what the total price was. I sighed in relief and paid the cashier.
"Thank you," I said and we headed out of the store to JCPenny's. I didn't want to shop anymore, but we had to find Courtney an outift, and any accessories.
We finally got done shopping at seven, and we headed home smiling from ear to ear.
"Bye Courtney! I'll see you in school tomorrow!"
"See ya chica!" I smiled and drove off. I passed Nick's house and wondered about whether or not I should stop by. I checked the time and found it to be seven thirty.
"Still early enough I guess." I pulled up in his driveway and got out. I felt my stomach turn in guilt as I saw the car that had once had the keys locked in it. I knocked on the door a couple of times and waited.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Nick asked. He was standing there in jean shorts and a white shirt. No socks and no shoes. I figured he had been upstairs playing video games, the junkee he was.
"I just came back from shopping with Courtney, felt like stopping by."
"Cool," he calmly said. "Come in." He held the door open and I walked in.
"Where's your parents?"
"I don't know. In their room I guess. Don't worry, you're allowed over." A wave of relief flowed through me.
"Just making sure. You never know."
"It's hot in here. You wanna go sit outside by the pool?"
"Sure!" I said brightly. He was right, it was hot in his house.
"You know it's neat," I said as we headed through the sliding glass door downstairs.
"What is?"
"That you have a pool in your backyard, and you have a lake behind that."
"It is. I guess I take it for granted sometimes."
"That's not good!" I flicked his leg as he sat down next to me on the concrete and placed his feet in the warm pool water.
"Hey!" he stuck the tip of his fingers in the water and flicked it at me.
"Don't start Nick. I don't feel like going swimming right now."
"Why? It's nice out."
"Number 1 I don't have my suit, and number 2, you'll probably get in troublel," I pointed out.
"You've got stuff on under what you're wearing, and no, I can go swimming whenever I want as long as I ask." I have stuff on under what I'm wearing? I know he did not want us to go swimming in our underwear.
"Well, then I just don't want to." He laid back and rested his body on the concrete. I took my feet out of the water and did the same and looked up.
"Have you ever watched the sun set?" he asked.
"Yup. Plenty of times. I used to go outside and sit on the top of my parents' van with a friend of mine. That was until we got rid of it. I haven't watched it like that since."
"How long ago was that?"
"About seven years," I estimated. "Yup, seven."
"Wow, I have to watch it at least once a week. I don't feel the same if I don't." I sighed and looked straight up. The sun was just beginning to set. The sky was filled with purple, pink, blue, and white streaks everywhere. It took my breath away. It obviously took Nick's away as well because he just sat there with me, not saying a word as we both stared off into the sky with our own thoughts. Pretty soon staring at the sun setting turned into staring at the stars. It was the perfect ending to a day.
