Chapter 16:
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---Michael---
I was walking across the school campus when I heard a girl call my name.
The voice was slightly familiar and I scanned the crowd trying to work out who it was.
"Michael!" The girl I remembered as Mary-Kate's room mate jogged up to me "How's it going?"
"Good" I answered. Wondering why she was talking to me.
She must have read my mind "Oh.. you looked kind of lonely so I thought I'd come say hi" she laughed nervously.
I smiled "Thanks...um,... hows Mary-Kate?"
"She was kind of upset for awhile. But,.."
"Zac" I filled in for her.
"You know?"
"I saw them kissing at the park"
She looked shocked "Oh! I'm sorry"
"It's ok" I said "I'm over her"
"Sure you are. Listen, she really did care about you. She was brokenhearted when you kissed that girl"
"I was such a jerk"
"You were"
"Gee thanks for the argument"
She grinned "You're welcome!"
"Hey are you doing anything?"
"Nothing but talking to you"
I laughed "Wanna go get something to eat?"
She made a mock suspicous face "Would this be a... date?"
I grinned "Do you want it to be?"
"Maybe"
"Then I guess it is"
"Good"
Well, this was an interesting turn of events. I'd never really talked to Melanie when Mary-Kate and I were dating, but I discovered she was really nice. We talked about Mary-Kate a lot. I was surprised to hear she was moving out soon. And quiting school for 6 months! I didn't even know you could do that.
And you know what else I discovered?
I'm actually getting over Mary-Kate Olsen!
And I think I just might be falling for someone else...
Chapter 17:
---Zac---
"Have you seen my watch?" Isaac asked me worried. His hair was messy even though I know he'd just combed it. And there were bags under his eyes from lack of sleep. Dispite his rather haggard appearance, he truly glowed with joy.
I lazily looked up from the magazine I'd been reading and pointed at his wrist.
He glanced down to see his watch "oh... oops" He then raced to the door and disappeared with a bang.
I shook my head and smiled, then went back to reading.
Most people would find the idea of sharing an apartment with their 20 something brothers (20something referring to age not number. lol) A total nightmare. I don't get it! I love rooming with Ike and Tay. They're hilerious!!! Ike especially!
Oh Man! I hope I'm not like that when my wedding day approaches! Not that that's happening anytime soon... I think.
---Mary-Kate---
phew! I have now officially quit school! (For the time being) I have 2 things to do today
1) Find an affordable apartment
2) Get a well paying job
No sweat!!!
I think I'm in trouble..
---Ashley---
I'm not avoiding Josh!
No more then usual anyway
Yes, I did call in sick for Drama class. Don't ask me why...
I DON'T KNOW!!!
Ooh, boy I'm confused!
What is it with boys anyway?
Argh!. The Oreos and M&M's are calling me!
---Josh---
Ashley called in sick today. I'm feeling rather suspicious about that excuse.
Maybe I should make her some chicken soup.
Nah, if she isn't sick already something I cooked would definitely kill her.
Doesn't mean I can't by some...
---Ashley---
I'd just stuffed a handful of M&M's in my mouth when their was a knock at the door.
"Fweat" I mumbled through my mouthful (meant to be Great, just you know.. M&M's affect speech) .
I got up from the sofa and walked over to the door. I knew I looked hideous but didn't really care.
I opened it "Josh!" I quickly closed it again. And leaned against the door in shock.
"Ashley are you ok?" Josh asked concerned.
I wasn't actually. In my shock I'd kind of started to choke on the M&M's...
"F*Cough*-Fine" I choked. "Um, just a minute"
I ran to the mirror. Augh! I look hideous. Wait a minute! I don't care. Do I?
AUGH! That boy!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter 18:
I grabbed a blanket and threw it over my head so it would hide my hair then i went back to the door
--Marykate--
I have been walking around for 2 hours and heres what ive gotton......nothing absoultly nothing zippo!
No one is looking for a famous actor,weird huh?
I have marked off just about everything from the want adds i looked up as i rounded the corner hmmmm Tally's Toys theres athought there looking for workers, sell toys,now thats something i can do
I walked across the street over to the store
I walked inside and looked around for a store person to ask.
"Hi" I said walking over to a girl near my age wearing the uniform. "I'm here about the job?"
She smiled at me "Great! Come with me"
She led me to the managers office and introduced me.
We talked for awhile and he finally said he would get back to me
"Where should I contact you?" He asked.
I totally freaked for a second since I didn't have an apartment yet. Then I remembered. Thank God for cell phones! I gave him my number and we said good-bye.
Next for an apartment...
No sweat!
Gulp
I stepped outside and breathed in the wonderful New York air *Cough* ok *cough* make that just New York air
--Micheal--
I found out Melanie was i super nice girl we had loads in common
We walked out of the cafe arm in arm
"Hey im in a chocolete mood wanna go to basin robins?"i asked her
"Sure! I love that place!"melanie said
"Me too!"i told her well that was one thing different then mk she liked icecream but hated basken robins kind
We headed over to Baskins Robins and gave our orders..
***
We finished our ice creams and got seconds
"Ooh I'm feeling sick" Melanie said with a groan.
"Me too" I agreed.
"Ooooh lets go before i eat anymore"melanie told me
We got up and walked back to the school
I was kind of sad. I didn't want our date to end.
Chapter 19:
"We should do this again" I said to her
"We should"
"How about tomorrow?" I asked surprising her and myself.
"Sure" she smiled.
--Mary-Kate--
After looking at pretty much every place up for rental I could find I had to admit defeat. All the buildings were either too expensive or too disgusting to stay at. I decided to get up early and try tomorrow.
"What are you smiling about?" I asked Melanie as I hung up my coat back at our dorm.
"Nothing" she said banishing the smile.
I shook my head. "I'm gonna miss you" I said sadly
"I'm gonna miss you too!"
She helped me pack and by the midnight that night all my stuff was packed. Now I just needed somewhere to take it.
--Ashley--
"What on earth happened? Are you ok?" Josh asked concerned. He peered at me "Why are you wearing a blanket over your head"
I wracked my brain for an excuse "I felt like it" I said lamely.
He gave me a weirdo look "I, uh, brought you some chicken soup"
Chicken soup? Oh! I'm sick "how sweet" I said sorta smiling. Ok. What's up with this?
"You don't look sick"
"I don't?... Must have been a 3 hour flu or something"
"Do those even exist?"
Gulp.
I faked a cough. "It isn't totally gone" I said and proceed to cough heaps "Hope it isn't contagious"
That worked "Oh, well I've got tons of studying to do. Later" and with that he was gone.
'Wimp' I couldn't help but say under my breath as I closed the door. I was going to go back to my movie when I remembered I had a big date with David that night.
--Josh--
Hmmm that was weird. I kind of got the impression Ashley was faking that cough. Why'd I leave then? Well, to be on the safe side! I don't like getting sick!
And I am not a wimp thank-you very much!
hhhhmppppppppppphhh!
---Ashley---
"It's over Ashley" David got straight to the point.
"What?" I looked up at him from the thickshake I'd been drinking.
"I've found somebody else"
"You're dumping me?" I asked incredulously.
"Yes"
"You're pathetic!" I said dumping the thickshake on him and storming out the door of the McDonalds.
I was going to hail a taxi when I realized I'd left my wallet at home "STUPID!" I told myself and started walking. Trying to forget that I was on one of the not so nice New York Streets at 10pm at night.
I fumed all the way down the street. 'I can't believe he did that!'
"Ashley!" I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't hear the person calilng my name.
'A year! And it's over just like that! A whole year!'
"Aaaaaashley!" I sort of heard the voice that time but thought it must be my imagination.
'Boys are too pathetic for words! They're lower then ants! Lower then germs on ants! Lower then... then... germs on germs!'
"AAAAAAAAASHLEY!" Ok this time I was certain. And in my scared and angry state I started to run...
Chapter 20:
--Josh--
Needless to say I was rather surprised to see Ashley at the same McDonalds I'd gone to for dinner. After all she was 'sick' and I didn't think she'd exactly be up to dates. I was even more surprised when she dumped her thickshake in the guys lap and stormed out the door. So I followed her...
I called out to her like 3 times and then she started running. Man is that girl a fast runner! It took me forever to catch up with her.
"Ashley it's me!" I said grabbing her arm.
"Josh?" She asked turning to me. Looking near tears she threw herself into my arms. "He dumped me" she sobbed. She hugged me (for about a milisecond) then as if remembering who I was pulled back and started walking again.
"Wait! Come on Ash let me walk with you"
"I'm fine on my own"
"I'm not leaving you on your own out here"
Her independent streak ran out again and she started to cry.
"Come on Ashley" I said gently taking her arm and hailing a taxi "I'll take you home"
She didn't argue anymore and just sobbed into my shoulder all the way back to her dorm.
--Ashley--
Just great! I just had to cry to Josh! He must think I'm a total cry baby now.
And I am...
I can't believe David dumped me.
I can't believe Josh was such a friend.
I can't believe I'm thinking about Josh the way I am.
I can't believe I have to kiss him in just over a month.
I can't believe he just brought me a hot chocolate.
I can't believe we're sitting in my dorms lounge talking about what happened. As if we were friends...
I can't believe we've talked for an hour.
Ok. Most of all I can't believe, as we said good-night at the door... he kissed me. And I kissed him back. So many times I lost count.
Wait a minute?..
Oh boy!
I KISSED Josh!
***
After what must have been our fifth or sixth.. or maybe our seventh? kiss we finally parted. I closed the door and leaned against it shocked.
"Well that was interesting" The ever bored voice of Nikola said.
For the first time I noticed her standing in the half light at the door to her room.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Since you guys walked to the door so he could 'leave'" she made quotation marks in the air.
I groaned. Great! A witness!
--Josh--
"Oops! Sorry" I said to like the fifth person I had walked into since I left Ashley's dorm. Walking around in a daze it was quite dangerous. I have a ton of bruises!
I can't believe it!
That was our first kiss. Well, the first kiss where we both kissed each other and neither one of us ran away...
This is big!