Chapter Seven
School didn’t start again for another ten days. The longest ten days of my life.
A heavy depression had settled over me. All I wanted to do was sleep, get lost in books, or take long walks in the snow.
Mom would glance over at me with those concerned eyes of hers. As if she knew I was hurting, but couldn’t fix it.
Oh, how I wished she could. Anything to make this pain go away. Nick Parsons. All I could think about was that silly smirk. The way his arms felt when they were wrapped around me. The twinkle in his eye when he teased. All of it. Everything.
I wondered what he was doing. Who was he with? Was he all right? Did he think of me? Even for a small moment?
There was no one I could talk to about it. Mom? No way. Laura? First off, she wouldn’t have believed me. And, even then, once I’d convinced her that I had spent the night in a motel room with Nick Parsons, she would never believe me that nothing happened.
Nothing happened. I couldn’t get that thought out of my head.
She’d have never understood. In fact, I was pretty sure, she’d give me up as a lost cause and never talk to me again.
No, this was a pain I was going to have to learn to live with.
As New Year’s approached I wondered what party he would be attending. I even thought of asking around. I know I’d have sounded like a dozen other girls trying to get close to Nick for the night. But, that didn’t stop my mind from coming up with plans and dreams.
But, what then? I wondered. If by some miracle I found out where he would be for the night. What then?
Bump into him, pretend to look surprised and say, “Oh, imagine running into you here.”
He’d have known the truth in an instant. He’d have known I was nothing more than some desperate love sick girl.
The thought of pity in his eyes, as they looked down at me, was enough to stop me from even trying. No way was I going to do something that ever made Nick Parsons look at me with pity. Not if I could help it.
Thankfully, school finally started again.
My stomach was tighter than a ball of tape. Everything felt as if it was going to explode. My lungs seemed to have forgotten how to work and my legs were not far behind.
Of course, he wasn’t there. Not in the main hall. Not in the quad. I’d mapped out a dozen different scenarios. I needed to know where we stood.
Were we hallway nodding acquaintances? Were we casual friends? Someone you said hi to, maybe even an occasional quick conversation? Or, did we ignore each other and pretend that nothing happened over Christmas?
I knew I didn’t have to worry about anyone knowing. No way would Nick do that to me. No way would he tell his friends that we’d spent the night together. He wasn’t that kind of person. I couldn’t have felt this way towards him if he had been.
My stomach tightened again, as I passed the cafeteria. Still no Nick. Was he all right? He hadn’t dropped out had he?
Of course, we didn’t have any classes together. How is that possible?
Biting my lip, I sat down at my desk and tried to figure out what was going on. I had to know how he would treat me before I could move on.
I had to have him ignore me once, just so I knew the truth and could begin to forget him.
Sighing, I studied the cover on my AP Chemistry book and thought about what it felt like to be in Nick Parsons’ arms.
“Are you all right?” Laura hissed from the desk next to me.
“Yes, sure,” I answered, as I pulled myself back to the here and now.
She studied me for a moment as if she didn’t believe me.
“Are you still mad about me getting a ride with Billy?”
I almost laughed. No, I wasn’t upset. Of course not. Her ditching me had turned out to be the highlight of my life. Smiling, I shook my head. “No, I promise, everything is fine.”
She continued to look at me, but, before she could confront me about it, Mr. Gonzales began the class.
I sighed internally and tried to take my mind off Nick.
It was like that all morning. As I made my way from class to class, I would search the halls for him. Desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of that thick black hair and those wide shoulders.
My next thought would be sudden fear that I would find him surrounded by a dozen girls. His smile directed at them. His hands touching them.
It was official, I was going insane. There could be no other explanation. Either that, or I had a brain tumor.
Deciding that I was being ridiculous, I gave up all thought of Mr. Nick Parsons and hurried to meet Laura in the cafeteria for lunch.
The place was packed as always. Laura had our usual table staked out. She shot me a quick smile as I joined her.
“Did you hear about Bethany Carns?” she asked before I could even sit down.
I shook my head. Like I cared about Bethany Carns at the moment. Besides, I knew that she had been hanging all over Nick after the homecoming game. No way did I care what happened to Bethany Carns.
“She’s pregnant,” Laura said with that shocked, but gleeful smile of hers. Bethany had chased Billy last year, so she was dead to Laura.
“What?” I asked as my stomach dropped to my feet.
“Yes, Thompson Caldwell, I’m not surprised. He’s richer than the Pope. I bet her parents must be ecstatic.”
My stomach relaxed for the first time in forever.
Man, I had it bad. Was I going to react this way every time I heard a rumor? I wondered. Would my life ever be sane again?
“So, what did you do for New Years?” Laura asked, as she took a small bite from her sandwich.
“Nothing,” I said. “Just stayed at home.”
Laura shook her head. “You are hopeless. We really need to get you a life. Just think, there are a ton of boys in this school. Some of them are even cute. Some are even nice. A small few are both cute and nice. And, you’re sitting home on New Year’s Eve. Hopeless.”
I shrugged my shoulders. What could I say? She was right. I was hopeless.
Laura glanced over my shoulder and nodded.
“Take those Lakeland boys. The four of them rule this place, but they are still nice. Hotter than the sun in August. Not stuck up. Out of your league of course. They are out of all of our leagues. But, still. It proves there are some good ones around.”
My heart jumped, as I slowly turned to look where Laura had indicated.
There they were, the Lakeland boys. The four best friends since first grade. Inseparable. At least until Jason had gotten a girlfriend early that fall. Luke and Tank stood next to him. Laughing with Amber, Jason’s girlfriend.
Where was Nick? The fourth of the quartet. Usually they were tighter than peas in a pod.
“That Amber girl,” Laura said, “she did it right. Comes to a new school and picks out the best of them.”
I wasn’t really listening to Laura. My mind had tuned her out as I searched for Nick. My mind had sort of become a one way street. Nothing was allowed to happen until I found Nick.
Then. From behind Amber, I got a glimpse of him. Nick. That thick black hair and that silly smirk was there.
My heart jumped and my lungs fought for air.
I have to admit it, I stared, I became lost to the rest of the world. I stared and willed him to look at me. I had to know.
Laura was going on about Billy and how cool it was to have an almost boyfriend. She was sure they were a couple. Well sort of. They did go to a party together on New Year’s. That made them a couple in her book.
Nick caught my eye and froze. He actually stopped talking in mid-sentence as his eyes found mine.
My heart stopped beating.
He smiled at me, then said something to Amber.
He smiled at me, I realized. At least there was that. He hadn’t ignored me. He hadn’t pretended I didn’t exist. It would have to be enough, I told myself.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I know I was probably creeping him out. But, I just couldn’t.
He smiled at Amber, then shot me another look. His brow furrowed for a moment, then he reached over and took something from her lunch bag.
Standing, he maneuvered his way around his friends and started walking in my direction.
Oh, no. What now? My brain jumped into overdrive, as I tried to figure out what was going on. Suddenly, I couldn’t look at him. Where moments before, I could do nothing but stare. Now, No way.
What? Was he coming over to tell me to back off? To stop acting like a stalker.
Or worse. Was he coming over to tell Laura about our night together?
“Hey, Cupcake,” he said, as he scooted in next to Laura.
My best friend’s mouth dropped open. I promise, if they hadn’t been attached, her eyes would have popped out and dropped onto the cafeteria table.
“Hello, Nick,” I managed to say.
Laura’s face whipped back and forth, as she tried to figure out what was going on. Her mousy best friend was talking to Nick Parsons. I know Laura, her mind had just shut down. Her world was no longer the reality she had thought it was.
I couldn’t worry about Laura. She was on her own for this one. All I could focus on was the boy across from me. That confident grin that said he was letting you in on the joke. As if you were special.
Those square, wide shoulders that looked like they could take on the weight of the world just for you. Those heart melting blue eyes that hid a hint of sadness.
Everything.
My heart burst with love. It wasn’t just his looks. Although, I’ve got to admit, they sure helped. No, it was the confidence he exuded in everything. He knew who he was and liked himself in a non-self-centered way.
It was the sensitive anger he carried deep down. A burden he carried alone.
It was things like the fact he had given my father his word and then kept it. Nick was an honorable man, I realized. And, when you get right down to it. You can’t really ask for more.
I loved Nick Parsons. There was no doubt in my mind. And, he had come all the way over to talk to me. We weren’t going to be just hallway acquaintances.
“Where have you been all day?” I asked before I could stop myself. Again, mouth before brain.
Nick chuckled, then handed me the big red apple in his hand.
“I heard you’re collecting apples,” he said.
Now it was my turn to laugh. “No, that was refrigerator magnets.”
Laura started to stammer. I was afraid she was about to have an epileptic fit. Her world had been unwired.
Nick smiled at me. Just me.
“Really, where have you been?” I asked again. This time I knew I was saying the wrong thing. Too personal. Nick Parsons did not answer to any woman. Especially not me.
“I had to speak to your dad. It took me a bit to track him down.”
“What?” I squeaked.
“What?” Laura exclaimed.
No, Nick, my Dad? Why? No this could not be happening.
“Yeah,” he said. “I figured if we were going to the movies this Friday. I might want to clear it with your dad first.”
“What?” I asked. It seemed to have become my go to word. I could hear him just fine. I just didn’t understand.
“What?” Laura said. More demanding this time.
“If you want to of course?” Nick said with that silly grin. “We can figure out which one over dinner. I’ll pick you up at six. Again. If you want to.”
“What?” I mumbled.
“What ... NO, Not you,” Laura said to me. “You,” she said, pointing at Nick. “Tell me what is going on.”
Nick smiled. “I thought it was sort of obvious. I’m asking Jenny out on Friday night. Dinner and a movie.”
Laura stammered, unable to believe what she was hearing. My best friend was not being exactly supper supportive here.
My mind tried to shut down. This was really happening. Then, a huge red stop sign flashed in my mind. Sort of like the red apple in my hand.
“You really talked to my dad?” I asked, still unable to believe it. “Before talking to me?” I added, as the thought occurred to me.
Nick shrugged those wide shoulders of his and what little anger I might have had, disappeared.
“I’m sort of new to this whole courtship, dating thing,” he said with a serious look. “I figured I should do it right.”
My world began to spin. This could not be happening.
“I thought you don’t do formal dates,” I whispered, as I tried to ground myself.
He smiled and said, “Didn’t. Not don’t. There’s a difference. Besides. When a guy finds his forever girl. What choice does he have?”
My heart crashed into my ribs, as my mind flew away. But, I never lost focus of that handsome face across from me. My world might be tipping over on its side. But, that face kept me grounded.
A faint hesitancy flashed behind his eyes, as if his declaration might be rejected. Silly boy.
“Will someone please tell me what is going on?” Laura demanded.
“Not much,” I said to her, without taking my eyes off of Nick. “The boy I love just asked me out for Friday night.”
Nick smiled. Life was good and it was going to get better.