Ch.23
"Oh," Pat sat staring at his girlfriend. "And you did?"
"Yes, I used to love him--or so I thought, hell maybe I still do, but I talked to him today and I got this feeling of a best friend, not anything more--I was his fucking rebound!" She declared smiling happily.
"You are extremely crazy," Pat took her hand. "But I still love you."
I guess you were lost when I met you
Still there were tears in your eyes
So out of trust and I knew
No more than mysteries and lies
There you were, wild and free
Reaching out like you needed me
A helping hand to make it right
I am holding you all through the night
"Hey Mandy!" Candice smiled waving.
"Candice Ohmigod how are you," Amanda asked embracing her.
"Better," Candice smiled. Amanda looked at the still pale and rail thin person in front of her, but pushed any doubts away.
"Well, come on in, Nick should be up," Amanda opened the door. "Nick?"
"A note," Candice picked up a folded piece of paper with their names on it....
Hey babes went to a meeting be back soon
Love,
Nick :)
"Well, now that was short and sweet," Candice whispered.
"And it gives us some girl time!" Amanda grinned pulling Candice into the den; they sat on the sofa.
"Ok so who is the hot blonde you're with now," Amanda raised an eyebrow.
"Where do I begin?"
"We've got almost all day," Amanda grinned.
"Ok well I knew I recognized him when I first saw him in my drama course and it turns out we went to the same high school, but I never really hung with him cuz we were in different groups--you know."
"Oh."
"His name is Patrick, or Pat."
"That's great, but I've heard about your web page," Amanda raised her eyebrows and grinned.
"Oh yeah," Candice rubbed her elbow. "Really whatcha hear?" Candice and Mandy went on with their conversation talking about everything from web sites to the latest music and everything in between.
"Hey Mandy I'm home," Nick called opening the door.
"Nick," she hugged him.
"Hey Candice," he hugged her as well. "I'll be right back," Nick snuck out of the room.
"One thing we haven't talked about is Nick and yourself," Candice grinned.
"Well," Amanda hesitated. "It's a long story."
"We've got almost all day," Candice beamed.
"You're evil you know that," Mandy smirked.
"Yeah I know, so what's up with you and Nick?"
"Hey ladies," Nick sat in between them ending the conversation. Thank you Nick, Mandy thought smiling at Candice. Damn you Nick damn you! Candice smiled back.
"Nick I've gotta be going, Pat must be getting bored all by himself," Candice stood up.
"I'll walk you to the door," Amanda stood up.
"You're the evil one Mandy," Candice opened the door.
"Hey, call me tonight and I'll tell you ok but you can't put this one your site ok?" Amanda hugged her.
"Fine I won't, but you've gotta fill me in on the Nick-n-Mandy thing ok?"
"Will do babe," Amanda shut the door. She ran to her computer and typed in the address Candice had given her. "Ohmigod Nick come look at this," she called.
"What? What's wrong?" Nick came running into her room.
"Look at this," she pointed to the screen.
"What is that," he asked pulling a chair up next to hers.
"It's Candi's site," Amanda grinned.
"Oh really," Nick rubbed his chin.
"Hey Howie," she wrapped her arms around him. "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too," he pulled away and looked at her.
"I can't believe how much I missed you guys," she smiled.
"We didn't miss you that much, we were busy," Howie snickered.
"Ha," she hit his stomach.
"Yeah, you're not violent," Howie teased.
"Shut up!"
"You know I'm just playin, so what have you been up to?"
"I got a boyfriend, and I'm actually doing good in school, I only got one C," Candice smiled.
"Great," Howie opened the front door.
"No, I don't wanna intrude, I'll just be going. We just wanted to stop by O-Town for a day, we're in a hotel near Universal."
"Oh that's silly you could have stayed here."
"Naw, that's ok--well I've gotta go Pat is at the hotel and I don't want to keep him waiting alone forever."
"Bye girl--it was nice seeing you again, give me a ring anytime," Howie waved.
"Sure, bye D," Candice waved walking back to her car.
"Pat that's dumb, just ride with me and James," Candice pleaded with her boyfriend, who was loading up his truck.
"No, I can't just leave my truck in a totally different state," he insisted.
"Yeah, I'll send Max down to get it," she begged.
"No! Gosh, why don't you want me to drive my truck home?"
"Pat, I just really think it would be best if we all ride home together," Candice sighed knowing he wasn't going to give in.
"It's ok really, don't feel bad," Pat picked up the last bag and placed it into her car. "You and James take your car and I'll hang back here and go back to your house and get the rest of your stuff."
"No!" She grabbed his arm, "Pat you can't I have a horrible feeling!"
"Candice gosh, I just wanna go get the rest of the stuff you left, it's fine, chill."
"No. I'll hang back with you and James can drive my car back," Candice pleaded with him.
"End of discussion. Oh here's J now," Pat turned her to her car and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you in three days."
"Bye," she waved blowing him a kiss, as James pulled out of the parking lot. "James, we can't leave him," Candice begged him to turn back. "I can't shake this horrible feeling."
"Maybe you are hungry," James suggested.
"No, whatever just lets get home!"
"Geeze sorry we'll be home soon enough."
"It's great to be home," Candice collapsed on her bed. "Now, to check my mail," she got up and went into the next room and turned on her computer.
"Candice," her mother called stomping up the stairs. "Honey can I come in?"
"Yeah sure," Candice put down her game boy.
"Well, dear, it happened this afternoon," Candice looked over at the clock. Damn it's 6 O'clock, I was playin this game almost all day.
"What happened?"
"Dear, I'm so sorry," her mother pulled her into a bear hug and whispered in her ear. "It's Pat he's in the hospital."
"Why?" Candice pulled away from her mother, tears filled her eyes.
"I'm so sorry," was all her mother could say as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"MOM!"
© A Candi Idea