Can't Make You Love Me - Chapter 5

"Justin Timberlake! *NSYNC! How did you know?!"

"I called you on Monday and your mom picked up while you were in the shower. She told me all about your obsession. So I asked her if I could take you, since you weren't planning on it."

"I wanted to come so bad! Thank you so much!" I finally gathered the courage to really kiss him. We pulled away and smiled at each other. Go me!

I was totally absorbed in the concert after that. I loved everything about it: the stage, the music, the dancing, and, of course, the band. The show was fantastic and I was sad it had to end, but I was about to fall asleep in my seat. The car stopped in my driveway and Greg got out to walk me to the door.

"Thank you so much," I yawned, giving him a hug.

"No problem. Call me anytime, even just to talk," he offered.

"Don't worry, I will," I smiled. We leaned in for one last kiss and I waved as he drove off, closing the door. I still had the Chris problem to figure out, but I was too sleepy to even think about it at the moment. I decided I would call him tomorrow since I would've fallen asleep trying to have a conversation now.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Thursday morning, I reluctantly picked up the phone and dialed Chris's number after I woke up. As it rang, everything from the night before flashed through my mind. I desperately hoped he wasn't mad at me.

"Chris here."

"Hi, it's Allie. What was up with you last night?" I knew it would be like pulling teeth to get him to open up, so I braced myself.

"Nothing." He immediately clammed up like I knew he would.

"I was wondering because you didn't seem all that happy." I tried coaxing him into telling me the deal. It's almost impossible to pry things out of a guy, so maybe softening him up would work.

"I wasn't," came the short reply.

"Well, I was hoping I didn't do something because I didn't mean to hurt you if I did."

"It wasn't you."

"Then I'm completely confused. Was it Greg?" I asked after a pause.

"Maybe." He hesitated before saying that, so I knew I had hit a soft spot.

"What's wrong?" Silence. Now I was positive Greg was the reason Chris had acted the way he did when he saw me with Greg at the concert.

"Are you going out with him?" Chris finally asked.

"No… why do you say that?"

"I was just wondering. Listen, I have to go, but I'll see you later, ok?"

"Yeah, ok."

"Kay, bye." The line went dead as I pondered the situation. I didn't want Chris to be mad at Greg. I just wanted to get to know both of them, and it happened to be at the same time! It was now clear to me that neither of them liked another girl, so that scratched double dating off the list, and I didn't know what else to do. This called for a girl's night out.

After a gazillion more phone calls to all my friends, I had plans to go to the teen club near my friend Erika's house and have a huge slumber party in her basement after.

The eight of us had a great time at the club. I danced my tension and worries away and my thoughts were drowned out by the music. After two and a half hours there, we trooped to Erika's to finish up our fun. We all ate ice cream and watched movies the whole night, communicating in our girl-talk in between. I desperately needed that night of fun and it felt good to party with my best friends - without any guys. When I arrived home late the next morning, Greg called.

"Hey! What's going on?" he greeted me cheerily.

"I just had a much-needed night devoted to chilling with my friends," I told him. "How about you?"

"Been with my friends, too. What are you doing tonight?"

"Nothing, but I want to stay home. I've got to finish redecorating my room before it drives me crazy."

"Want any help?" he offered.

"You have just answered my prayers. I would love some help," I replied gratefully. Greg came over and spent the afternoon with me, helping me with the messy job of painting. He did all the plain blue walls while I worked on the sky. He finished the four other walls as I finished my one, considering I had to use a smaller brush for the blending and he had used a roller.

"Great job!" I congratulated him as I stepped back to view our finished product.

"Thanks. It was your idea though, you should be the one congratulated." What a sweetheart! "When's the next night you're available?"

"Ummm… let me think… Monday I do believe," I replied after a moment of thinking.

"You up for some fun?" His eyes were sparkling with mystery and excitement. I was dying to know what he had up his sleeve.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I spent a mellow weekend at home with my comfy pajamas. I was half asleep on Monday morning, half aware that I was dreaming. In my dream, I saw Greg and his friends from Six Flags. Chris suddenly attacked Greg and tore him to pieces. I was zapped awake when the phone rang in my ear. I tripped over a table, a book, my backpack, and a pillow before finally reaching the phone.

"Hello?"

"Is this Allie?" a strange voice asked.

"Yeah… who's this?"

"Oh sorry, it's Jesse. Listen, Greg's in the hospital."