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Chapter 25
I sat there for a second and let everything sink in. I wasn't prepared to say this, but I knew I could trust everyone who was there. I had been hanging out with everyone at this party for a while. I glanced at Nick who looked intrigued and then I looked at AJ who seemed almost giddy. "Alright...I have a tattoo." I can't believe I said that. Only Derrick and Jane knew. I promised to tell my mother, but it never happened. I heard everyone gasp.
"Wow Linds. Quite the rebel aren't we?" AJ asked smiling. I half smiled and glanced towards Nick who looked shocked. "Alright, pick someone Linds." All eyes were on me again. I could never think of something good to ask.
"OK, Jessica, truth or dare?" I asked knowing she was quite rebellious.
"HAHAHAHA, dare." She said almost cackling like a witch. I looked surprised and thought of something.
"Hmmmm..." I couldn't think of anything. "A-HA. I dare you to run outside, pull down your pants, and rub your...bum across the neighbors bay window." I said laughing. Everyone began to laugh. Then Jessica smiled.
"Alright, c'mon. Let's get this over with. Everyone stood up and followed Jessica to the front door except me. Kevin noticed I didn't get up and sat back down.
"I had no idea you had a tattoo." Kevin said in a low voice.
"I didn't either until I woke up the next morning." I said shamefully. Kevin raised an eyebrow.
"Was it that night Nick found you on the beach?" He asked. I nodded. "Be sure to tell me the story later." Kevin said just as everyone walked back into the living room. Jessica sat down and smiled while everyone laughed. Everyone took at least one turn except Nick. It was on AJ again.
"Nicky Nick hasn't gone yet. What'll it be man, truth or dare?" He asked.
"Umm ... truth." Nick said in a low voice.
"C'mon be a man!" AJ said. Nick just looked at the ground. "Alright. What happened on your date with Lindsay?" He asked. What nerve! He doesn't need to know! Nick glanced towards me.
"Well..." AJ pretended to yawn. "We went to the movies and had a really short dinner." Nick said simply.
"And? Details, little man. No kissie, kissie??" I swear if I was sitting next to AJ I'd smack him in the head. Instead I hit myself lightly in the forehead.
"C'mon. We're just friends. I think that's the way it's gonna stay, right Linds?" Nick said looking to me.
"Yuppers. AJ, man, you need to get your mind outta the gutter." AJ laughed and shrugged. Everyone decided we should take bathroom breaks and get something to drink. I brought some ice out of the kitchen to cool the soda in the living room. Brian helped me.
"So, are you over Nick?" He asked quietly as I got ice cubes out of the freezer. I turned around to look at him.
"Not over him, but I realized we'd be better as friends. It'd be great to have a first boyfriend like Nick and to have my first kiss with someone like Nick, but just not be Nick. I may sound retarded, but I dunno..." I said trailing off. Brian helped me with the ice.
"I know what you mean." I nodded. "So, you got a tattoo." I nodded and rolled my eyes. "So, where is it?" Just as Brian asked that the phone rang. I looked at Brian and ran to pick up the phone.
"Hello? Hey Dad. Yeah, I miss you too. Not really, just having a party." Just then I saw Brian leave the kitchen with some ice. I walked over to the patio doors and looked outside as my dad spoke. "Just a bunch of friends. Yeah, I'll call you tomorrow. Love ya too. Bye." I said hanging up the phone and turning around to see Nick right in front of me. I jumped back shaken up.
"I hope you're not mad I told everyone what happened." Nick said sincerely.
"Of course not. You didn't tell them exactly what happened. It's all good. No worries, OK?" I said grabbing his chin and shaking his head from side to side. I let go and began to leave the room. I felt Nick touch my arm. I felt something hard. It was the promise ring. He still wore it. That makes me happy. I turned around. "Yes?"
"Why didn't you tell me you had a tattoo?" He asked.
"Because I'm ashamed of how I got it." Why must everyone talk about the tattoo. It's not such a big thing. He raised an eyebrow. "I'll tell you another time."
"Linds, Nick, we're ready!" Tony yelled from the living room. I turned to walk into the room when he touched my arm again.
"Can I see it?" He asked as I turned around to face him. I nodded 'yes' and turned around. I lifted up a little of my shirt and pulled my jeans down just a little. "WOW!" He said. I fixed myself and looked at him. He was smiling. "It looks like the star I gave you." We both smiled as I touched the star hanging on my neck. I never took it off. I grabbed his hand and we walked back into the living room. Everyone had resumed their positions except I was now in between Brian and Kev. I sat down and looked from side to side. They were both smiling. I had no idea what was going on. Then I looked at everyone else who seemed to be smiling too. This was trippy! It was like children of the corn or something. We started the game all over again. AJ wanted to start again.
"Let's see. Nick, here's another one for ya." AJ said
"OK, dare." Nick said cutting AJ off.
"Ohhh...Nick is getting bold." Nick just rolled his eyes. AJ looked around and Brian nodded towards him. What was going on? Was I missing something? Brian just smiled at me. I raised an eyebrow. "Alright, Nick. I dare you to...kiss Lindsay." A look of shock creeped onto my face. "But, not some little peck, kiss her, kiss her." I looked at AJ almost ready to hit him and then I figured it out. This was rigged. Everyone was smiling 'cuz no matter who asked Nick a question it would wind up with him kissing me. I knew Brian had ratted me out. He thought I wanted to kiss Nick. Nick looked at me. "Oh, c'mon. Just kiss already." AJ said. I looked at Nick and just shrugged my shoulders. He stood up as did I. Damn! Why were they making me do this. They knew this was my first kiss. I looked at Brian befor Nick approached me and he was smiling widely. That pissed me off.
"Brian, if you're so happy about me doing this, then why don't you get up here and do it yourself?!" I said turning to face him.
"Sooooorry." He said sounding like a little kid. Then all of a sudden I became chicken.
"Must we do it here?" I said almost whiney. I knew I sounded like a 12 year old, but oh well. Everyone nodded. I sighed and turned to face Nick. He looked unsure knowing he'd be my first kiss. Hell, he'd be my first choice for the kiss. My next step surprised me. We were standing a little too far apart to kiss so I grabbed Nick by his shirt collar and pulled his down to mine. I felt something when our lips touched. I think it was like a spark. When I pulled Nick towards me I heard people gasp and I could tell they weren't expecting that. For a few second Nick was in total shock and then I felt him kiss me back. We kissed deeply for a few seconds, but we never tongued, to say it bluntly. We both backed off at the same time and opened our eyes slowly. We looked at eachother and began to laugh. Everyone looked at eachother amused. They had no idea why we were laughing. "Well, I need something to drink." I said walking into the kitchen. "Resume your game." I said walking into the kitchen. Nick sat back down a little flustered.
"OK, Brian, truth or dare?" Nick asked. That's all I heard as I sat down and drank my glass of soda. I sat and thought for a little while, but I was interrupted when Nick walked into the kitchen. I looked into his eyes as he pulled out a chair across from me at the table.
"Well, wasn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever done?" I said smiling a little.
"Damn, Lindsay. I didn't know you were such an animal." Nick said growling. We began to laugh. Then it got serious. "I'm sorry I was your first kiss." He said sympathetically. What's wrong with this boy? I touched his hand across the table.
"Nick, honestly, I'm glad my first kiss was with you. I actually told Brian earlier that if I had to get involved with someone...I'd like that person to be like you." I said. I can't believe that just came out of my mouth. "I mean, you're a great guy! You're sweet, caring, considerate, understanding, loving, talented, and not to mention very good looking." He smiled. "C'mon. Let's get back in there and finish this childish game." I said laughing. We walked into the room to see AJ and Jessica in a serious game of tonsil hockey. My eyes bugged out of my head. "Holy crap!" was all I said as I took my spot between Brian and Kevin. Brian smiled at me and mouthed the word 'sorry'. I just nudged him slightly. We smiled and I leaned my head on his shoulder as he whispered.
"Can I see the tattoo?" I looked at him.
"In due time, Bri. In due time." I said laughing lightly.
Finally the party is over! The last people to leave were Jessica and Tony.
"Well, this has been an interesting night. We'll see ya later, Linds." Jessica
said. I quickly hugged her before she left. Tony quickly hugged me and jogged
towards his car. I closed the door and slid to the floor. That was a long
night. I walked up the steps slowly after I cleaned up the mess in the living
room. I quickly changed into a pair of boxers and a T-shirt and hopped into
bed. I reached over to turn out my lamp when I noticed the framed picture
of Nick and I. I smiled at it and turned my lamp off. I sighed deeply and
drifted off to sleep.
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