“Yo Kaos!” AJ called. “Your cell phone’s ringing!” The guys were back in Europe, preparing to go on yet another promotional tour. They had been hard at work, practicing but tonight they let loose. It was Nick’s seventeenth birthday and they were throwing a party for them. His parents and brother and sisters had all flown over for the occasion, surprising him. Nick excused himself from talking to his father and went to answer his phone. “Hello?” The other end was silent. “Hello?” he asked again, impatiently.
“Happy Birthday,” he heard a soft voice wish him on the other end.
His eyes widened. “Kayles?”
“Yeah, it’s me. I was just calling to wish you a happy birthday.”
“Thanks,” Nick replied, unsurely. He couldn’t tell if she was still mad at him and trying to be nice or genuinely missed him.
“I’m sorry, Nick,” she said, causing him to sigh in relief as she continued. “I’ve been acting like a complete and total bitch.”
“No you haven’t,” he told her.
“Yes, I have. I never should’ve asked you to pick between me and Jessica—“
"You didn’t,” he interrupted her.
“Yes, I did. Not in so many words but I did and that was wrong. I’m sorry.”
“It’s cool, Kayles. An anyway, you were right. Jessica was a bitch.”
“What?!” Kayleigh exclaimed, surprised. “What happened?”
“She tried to get on AJ. He told me about it and I broke up with her. She had an attitude problem anyway. I should’ve noticed it last summer with everything that happened with you, but you know how it is.”
“Blinded by love,” she teased.
“So, uh, how’s Tyler?” he asked, tentatively. He still didn’t like him and still didn’t think that he was right for her but he didn’t want to fight with her anymore, either, so he kept his mouth shut.
“He’s good,” Kayleigh answered. “He got accepted to FSU with me.”
“Really, Kayles? That’s great!”
“Thanks. I got offered a full ride to play soccer.”
“Wow! Are you going to take it?”
“Yeah. I’d be stupid not to. I really have no interest in leaving Florida. Except maybe to go to Penn State with Melissa but, I don’t know.”
“Who’s Melissa?” Nick asked confused.
Kayleigh giggled. “My friend from Connecticut, Nick. You’ve met her I don’t know how many times before.”
“Oh yeah,” Nick answered, sheepishly. “Anyway, you can’t go all the way to Penn State, Kayles. That’s way too far away.”
“Oh and you being in Europe makes us any closer to each other?”
Nick sighed. “I know, Kayles. But you know I can’t help that. You have a choice here.”
Kayleigh giggled. “Calm down, Nick. I was just kidding. I know you can’t help it. Don’t worry. I’m ninety percent sure I’m going to go to FSU. Tyler will be there. You’ll be close. When you’re home, anyway. My mom is down here. I wouldn’t want to leave her down here by herself while I go back up North. And Brooke is going there, too. We were thinking about getting an apartment together.”
“That’ll be fun,” Nick told her, relieved that she wouldn’t be leaving him. He knew that they had a friendship that could withstand anything. The fact that they were talking again after so long just proved that. But he didn’t know how he would deal with her being all the way in Pennsylvania. At least when he’s over in Europe, he knows that there’s someone, outside of his family, that is, that is waiting for him at home.
“Well, Nicky,” she laughed. Everyone knew how much he hated being called that.
“Shut up,” he graoned.
“Anyway. I gotta get going. I need to get started on my studying. I’ve got a history test tomorrow. Brooke will be here any minute.”
“Alright, Kayles. I’m glad you called.”
“Me too,” she said, after a brief pause. “And I’m really sorry, Nick."
“So am I,” Nick told her.
“Well, have a happy birthday. Don’t get in too much trouble over there.”
Nick laughed. “I won’t. You don’t need to worry. The family is here, anyway.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye Kayles.”
“Bye Nick.”