~August’s point of view~*~
I went to Michelle and Cassie’s room. Carmen was already there.
“Hey, guys. Sorry I’m late.”
“What kept you?” Carmen asked.
“Um… I went to breakfast with Brian,” I said as I stepped into the room.
“Ooh lala! See, I’m telling ya!” Carmen cheered.
“What do you guys want to do for lunch?” Cassie asked.
“Let’s get room service. I don’t feel like going anywhere,” Michelle said from her spot on the bed, lying comfortably.
“Here’s the menu thing,” Cassie pulled it out of the drawer.
“Let’s skip the food… I want some chocolate!” Michelle said. “I need a sugar high!”
Carmen smiled. “You’re my kind of person… the Boston Crème pie looks good…”
So that’s what we did. The food didn't take long to get to the room.
“Mmm… this is what life’s all about!” Michelle took a bite of the dessert.
“I could not agree more,” Cassie responded.
“So, August. Back to your breakfast. Did Brian ask you to the beach party?”
I wasn’t going to say anything, but I had been hanging out with them a lot. And we were becoming friends. Besides, they’d been sharing information with the group. Why shouldn’t I? “Not exactly. He did mention it though.”
“What’d he say?” Carmen asked.
“He wanted to know if I was going. I said maybe, and he said I should.”
Carmen’s mouth dropped. “What’s wrong with this guy? He obviously likes you! I haven’t known him that long and even I can see that! He obviously wants you to go with him. And you said yesterday that you liked him. What’s his problem?”
“You like Brian, August?” Cassie asked.
“Well… sorta… I guess… yeah, pretty much.”
“You’re still going, right? Even if he keeps being too much of a wimp to ask you,” Carmen asked.
“Nah, I don’t think so. I don’t want to be the odd person out.”
“First off, yes you are! If I have to drag you myself! We are all gonna have a blast. Second, he still has time. I mean, he has to ask someone.”
“Actually… he asked me,” Cassie blurted. “Right before I got here.”
Michelle, who had been paying more attention to her food than the conversation until this point, gave an odd look to Cassie.
“He did?” Carmen’s eyes widened in surprise. “What did you say?”
“I told him I’d love to. I’m sorry August, if I had any idea you were interested in him I wouldn’t have accepted…”
“Oh, that’s okay. It’s not like I had said anything. I’m sure you two will have fun,” I managed a smile, though my stomach was churning and my head was swirling.
We talked a little while longer. Michelle stayed unusually quiet.
“Well, we’ll see you guys later!” Carmen said as we left the room. “I’m so sorry! I had no idea he would ask Cassie. I mean… I never saw that coming…” she looked confused.
“Don’t worry. Me neither. Especially since he invited me this morning to go to the movie with you, him, and Nick tonight. He said Nick had invited him, and he didn’t want to be a third wheel.”
Carmen paused. “Nick and I aren’t going to see a movie tonight.”
At first I had been wondering why he had invited me and not Cassie. Now I had no clue what to think.
~Brian’s point of view~
Where was Nick? I had told August that the three of us would meet her in front of the theater in 10 minutes! I’d been searching for him forever and still hadn’t had any luck! And I couldn’t show up without him!
I ran into our room one more time. Empty.
How long had he been out with Carmen? This was getting crazy!
What was I going to tell August?
Hmm… I could tell her the truth: I couldn’t find Nick and I don’t know what happened. I didn’t have to mention that he didn’t have any idea about the movie. And then we could just go by ourselves and talk some more.
Well, before and after the movie, anyway.
I liked that plan, so I went to the movie theateralone. “Hey,” I greeted.
“Um… hi. What movie is playing?” she asked, looking around.
“Umm…” I found a sing. “7:30 show is Princess Diaries.” I hadn’t heard of it.
Apparently she had. “Really? Awesome! I’ve been wanting to see that!”
“What’s it about?”
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see,” August smiled slightly, and we took our seats. I could sense that something was off.
The movie was okay. Mostly a chic flick.
“That was the greatest movie in the world!” she exclaimed as we left the theater. “How many movies have three hotties in them?”
I rolled my eyes.
“Come on. I saw you smile when Jerimiah, Michael, and Josh were on the screen.”
“Oh, yeah. I could hardly contain myself,” I said, sarcastically.
“So why’d you say Nick and Carmen couldn’t come again?” she asked suddenly.
We got onto the elevator. I pushed the button for the top deck.
“Oh… I just couldn’t find them. I don’t know where Nick went off to.”
“Funny, because when I talked to Carmen earlier, she had no idea what I was talking about.”
My heart started beating faster. “I didn’t know you were friends with Carmen.”
“Well, I am. Didn’t you say that Nick was the one that invited you?” she inquired.
“I might have said that.”
“So if I went to your room right now and asked him why he wasn’t at the movie, would he have any clue what I was talking about?”
I sighed. “Probably not.”
“Then why’d you lie to me? Especially about something that stupid!”
We reached the deck and stepped out. I put my hands in my pockets and looked at the ground. “I wanted to spend more time with you, alright? Because I wanted to talk to you.”
“About what?” she asked,softening.
“Umm…” I stammered. “Ya know the beach party thing tomorrow? On Castaway Cay? Well… I wanted to know if you wanted to go with me.”
I was hoping for a yes, and dreading a no, and I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it.
She looked mad. Like I had never seen her. And hurt at the same time.
“I can’t believe you!” she raised her voice.
“What?” I was totally confused.
“You get caught in a lie, and then make up another one! What a two-timer. I don’t understand it!” August gave me a look, and then disappeared around the corner.
"Huh?" I asked blankly, as I stood alone in the dark.
Chapter Seven
Chapter Nine
Drowning
Frick's Fairytale