Chapter 1

"God, will you just stay out of my face?" I said walking into my room.

My mother had the revenge-look etched upon her face. "Do NOT talk to me that way, Lynn."

She kept talking on and on. I finally climbed out my window. That's what I always did when my mother ragged on me. It was usually about my grades or something to that affect. But, this time it was about my friends.

My friends. They were a great bunch of people, but not the kind my mother wanted me hanging with. They weren't, to get corny, "high-society".

There was Linda and Jesse. And the guys, Brian, Kevin, and Nick. i loved 'em all. But mom didn't. She liked the cheerleaders and the football players and the honor students.

Climbing out my window, I weighed my options. I could walk around all nigh, get robbed and abducted:(. I think not. I could go to Linda's. Ahaa!! Perfect idea, that's what I'll do.

"Hey, what's up?" Linda answered the door.

She ushered me into the livingroom. "Oh, it's my mom, again. She's driving me nuts!" I said.

"Well," Linda said, "Jesse's coming over later. We can go over to Brian's."

"Okay, that sounds cool," I sat down and watched some tv.

About 15 minutes later Jesse arrived and we headed over to Brian's. Brian's place was one of our favorite places to hang out. He lived way out in the sticks. It was actually a loft above the garage his dad had built.

I didn't fell real cheery, so I didn't wnat to hang around with the guys in the garage. I entered the apartment and plopped myself down in a worn out chair.

The surroundings were sort of rustic looking. It had hardwood floors and a collection of cacti linning the window sill.. It was all very comfortable, comfortable enough to make me a little drowsy.

I was shocked out of my dreamy state by a strong hand placed upon my shoulder. I turned my heavy head to spot Nick, my best friend in the whole galaxy.

He sat down beside me and put his arm around my shoulders. He looked me over, noting my heady state. "What's wrong?"

I sighed heavily, "It's mom. She won't ever leave me alone. It's the same old bit about my friends. It really frustrates me."

"I'm always here if you need to talk," he comforted me.

"Thank you."

"Whatcha doin' tonight?" He asked out of the blue.

"Not much," then I thought I'd probably be grounded when I got home, "Hell, I'm not doing anything!"

"Oh, good," he said excited, "let's rent some movies and eat some popcorn.'

We went downstairs to say goodbye to everyone, "We'll see ya later."

At Krogers, we (Nick) picked out the movie Booty Call. It wasn't that bad, actually.

When we got to Nick's apartment I looked around and said, "Something's different."

"Yeah, it is," he said patronizing me.

"Well, what is it?" I asked.

"Guess," he said.

"I don't want to," I've always been stubborn like a goat.

"Okay, fine then. It's a new couch. One that folds out into a bed and evrything," he pitched like a door-to-door salesman.

After the movie we stayed up and talked.

"I think that movie might've been oscar-worthy," I laughed.

After a while Nick asked me what my mother said to upset me so.

I was really cautious to talk about that subjest, "It was nothing."

"Now," he said, "don't dismiss my concerns like that. You looked pretty upset."

"Well..." I said breaking down.

"Yes," he urged me on.

"She 'told' me not to hang around with you anymore. Can you belive the nerve? Do you know what she said?"

I took a deep breath to push back the sudden wave of nausea. "She wanted to put me on birth control. Can you imagine?"

Nick got what I was implying and smiled awkwardly, "I think she's a little ahead of herself."

"I'll say... way ahead!" I laughed.

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The next morning I didn't get up untill eleven o'clock. Nick was already awake watching Johnny Bravo and Dexter's Labratory.

"Having fun?" I asked groggily.

"Do you want some coffee?" He asked still concentrating on the cartoon.

"No, thanks."

"Whatcha doin' today?" I asked him.

"I thought we could go to Kalamazoo tonight with everyone."

"Good idea," I stretched loudly, "I think I'm gonna go take ashower."

I gave hima peck on the cheek and went into the bathroom. When I came out Nick had put the couch in its normal position and cleaned up a bit.

"You didn;t have to. I would have cleaned up."

"I know but you would have needed my big, strong arms to help," I threw a pillow at him.