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Chapter 18
A Few Days Later
Danielle's View
"Hey Colleen," I said as I boarded the bus and set my backpack down.
"Oh hey," she said looking up from her magazine and then looking back down.
"What's up? I haven't talked to you in a while," I said sitting next to her.
"Yeah, I've been busy," she said still looking at the magazine.
"Like what?" I asked. She just shrugged.
"Is something wrong?" I asked. She shrugged again.
"Colleen, we've been friends for how long? You tell me everything no matter what! Now what's bothering you?" I asked. She just looked at the magazine. I looked at her for a moment and then sighed frustrated grabbing the magazine out of her hands and throwing it across the room.
"Hey, what did you do that for!?" she exclaimed looking at me. I just gave her a stern look.
"Is it Nick?" I asked.
"Is it what?" she asked.
"Nick...is it Nick?" I repeated. She sighed and then slapped her legs.
"God Danielle, why do you wanna know so bad?" she asked.
"It is isn't it?" I said. "What did he do to you Colleen?"
"What...no," she began.
"Did he hurt you? What did he do?" I asked.
"Danielle! Stop! He didn't do anything!"
"Then what is it?" I asked trying to be patient. "I'm assuming he hurt you if you won't tell me what it is. Did he take advantage of you?"
"No! You're acting like my mother Dani, so stop," she said getting frustrated.
"You know I always do this when you don't tell me things. Now tell me before I go beat the crap out of Nick for no reason," I said. She laughed lightly and then looked at me.
"Pweety pwease with sugar on top," I said sticking out my bottom lip.
"All right, all right."
"OK, good! Now spill," I said.
"It is about Nick..."
"So he did hurt you?" I interrupted.
"No! He didn't do anything to me!"
"You got me confused."
"What else is new?" she joked. I smacked her arm and said, "Keep going."
"OK, you know we had a date and everything the other night right? You know how we went to dinner?" she asked.
"Yeah, how was it?" I asked.
"It was great! He looked soooo good and he was the sweetest guy. I felt so comfortable with him...it felt so...so..."
"Right?"
"Yes! It felt so right! You know what I mean?" she asked. I nodded my head slowly. I did know what she meant. I totally knew what she meant. That's how it was when I was with Brian.
"It was just like the greatest night of my life and you know what?"
"What?" I asked.
"He even kissed me!" she gushed. I smiled and said, "He did?"
"Yeah and oh my gosh girl, I swear I felt something. It was just...I can't even describe it!"
"I'm very happy for you two," I smiled. "So what, are you two together now?"
Her smiled slowly faded away and she shook her head.
"You aren't? Why not? You like him, he obviously likes you..."
"His ex..."
"His ex? Meaning Ex-girlfriend?" I asked. She nodded her head slowly.
"What does she have to do with anything?"
"She's kinda..."
"Hey girlies!" I heard a familiar voice greet us as he entered the bus. Colleen and I both turned our heads and looked over. I smiled when I saw Nick but then my smile vanished when I saw a blonde haired girl walk on after him. That blonde haired girl being Manduh.
"Here," Colleen said softly. I looked at her quickly and then looked back at Nick.
"Um, Hi Nick," I said.
"Yeah, Hi!" Colleen smiled. I knew that wasn't a real smile...that was totally fake.
"I would like you girls to meet Manduh," he said taking Manduh's hand and pulling her in front of him. I stood up and extended my hand. She smiled at me and then looked back at Nick completely ignoring my hand.
"Nicky, lets go in the back," she said. Nick looked at me and then down at Colleen and slightly smiled.
"Sure, I'll catch you girls later," he said walking past us with Manduh pulling him. I looked after him shocked.
"That's Manduh..." I said pointing toward the back of the bus.
"No shit," Colleen mumbled.
"Are they back together?" I asked. She just shrugged.
"I can't believe this! Want me to go beat both of them up? I'll get Darlene and I'm sure Brian will help! I'll even get AJ!" I said. She just shook her head.
"Dani, don't do anything..."
"But..."
"Promise me!" she said looking at me sternly. I crossed my arms over my chest and mumbled, "I promise."
"I can't hear you," she said standing up. I looked at her in the eyes and told her, "I promise."
"Thank you Dani," she said.
"But, Colleen why not? He just like totally blew you off! He led you on and now he's with that...that...that...THING!" I said motioning toward the back of the bus.
"Because what's the point? He could never love me. We could never work out. I'm a 17 year old girl who comes from Colorado. Nothing ever happens to girls like us Danielle. You should know that! This is all a dream! This shouldn't even have happened to us! You know nothing would and will never happen between any of us with any of them. It's nice to think that something could happen, but when it all comes down to it, there's only the facts and the facts are that nothing will happen. To think that something will is just a fantasy...that's it! Just a fantasy, I've come to except that OK?" she said. Her eyes were moist and it looked like she wanted to cry.
"No, that's not true..."
"That's bull Danielle and you know it! None of them could ever love us! It's not possible!"
"Anything's possible," I said. She shook her head and said, "You may be right but what I want to happen and what you want to happen is all a dream. It's a fantasy and it's nice to think about but you know, Darlene knows, and I know that nothing could ever happen. I'm accepting that...you should too."
I just looked at her as she walked to the bunk area and hopped into her bunk. I looked down and then plopped down on the couch. I slumped down and rubbed my face with my hands.
"Hey girl, what's up?" Darlene said happily as she boarded the bus and dropped her bags on the floor.
"Oh hey," I said looking at her.
"Oh my gosh, you gotta look at what Chris sent me!" she squealed as she unzipped her backpack and pulled out a red velvet box. She then came over and sat next to me. I sat up and turned to her as she opened it up and took out a shiny bracelet.
"Wow," I said looking at it.
"That's what I said! Isn't it gorgeous?" she said giving it to me. I looked at it closely and said, "It's beautiful."
"I know! I just got it last night, I didn't want to bug you or anything so I figured I'd show you today! I'm so excited!"
"Did he ask you out?" I asked. She nodded her head vigorously.
"I'm so happy for you two!" I said wrapping her in a hug.
"Thanks girl, I'm gonna go show Colleen. I'll catch ya later," she smiled and then got up rushing to the back. I smiled and sighed after her. I ran my hands through my hair and then leaned back on the couch.
What Colleen said started to really get to me. What if she was right? Deep down I knew she was. I was only 16. I would be 17 in February, which was only a couple weeks away but come on, Brian's 25...turning 26. Nothing could ever happen! Plus I have Jason and he has Elizabeth.
I groaned and put my head in my hands. I hated how she always had to be right. I really thought something could happen, I thought something was already happening but I guess not all things can come true. Right then and there I decided to try and get over Brian...to stop loving him. Who was I kidding? That wasn't going to happen. When you start to love someone you can't stop it and it won't go away. I didn't know what to do. I would talk to one of the girls or Brian about this but I knew the girls wouldn't understand and I couldn't really talk to Brian because he was pretty much the problem! I don't know...am I just living a life that has dreams and wants them to come true and never does or am I the one with a life that the dreams actually come true? It would be stupid of me to think that I had the life where all of my dreams would come true...so...I guess I'm pretty stupid.
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