The One She Needed. **complete**

Chapter 37**Good girl gets drunk

Kelsie marked her calendar Sunday morning. She had fourteen days until she officially became Scott's girlfriend. In that time she had five days of school. A date with Derrick and she had to spend Christmas with Darren.

She wasn't as worried about Christmas. Eric and Reynolds had promised to pick her up and take her. The worst part was, she had to tell the kids goodbye without ruining their Christmas.

She wasn't looking forward to the date with Derrick, but she knew it would be the last date with a guy who wasn't Scott. So she could get through it.

Kelsie got off early on Wednesday so she went to hang out at the parts store until Scott got off at nine. Willie, who owned the store, didn't mind Kelsie hanging out as long as she stayed in the back and Scott still did his job.
Kelsie was sitting on the beat up sofa in the back when Scott and Nate came out of the stock room, arguing.

"Scott!!! You can't do this to me!!" Nate said. "You promised! Months ago!"

"I did not!" Scott said shaking his head. "I told you it depended on what was going on." He cut his eyes at Kelsie with a guilty look.

"What's going on?" Kelsie ask with a knot in her stomach.

"Nate wants me to go out with some girl. Apparently, he's been waiting for her friend to turn sixteen so he could date her, but she will only go if they double." Scott looked at Nate, "get Myles."

"He has a girlfriend!" Nate said, then looked at Kelsie and stopped. "I mean...."

"No". Kelsie said, walking to Scott. "He's right Scott. You don't have a girlfriend yet and if you don't go because of me then I have to cancel too and Kelly will hate you. So go OK? It'll be your last, non-Kelsie date."

"You're sure you're OK with this Kels?" Scott ask.

"Yes." Kelsie said "in fact, I'll be mad if you don't go because I'll have to cancel on Kelly and she has a crazy, scary temper!!"

"OK Nate." He said, never look in away from Kelsie's eyes. "I'll go. This is it though. Never again. I'm not interested in any girl that's not Kels. So don't do this again."

Kelsie stood up on her toes and kissed Scott and Nate made a gagging noise as Scott and Kelsie laughed at him.

Friday night was Scott's big date. Kelsie had felt rather ill all day. She was really afraid that he would go on the date and remember why playing the field was fun and it would all be over. Somewhere inside, Kelsie felt like this was the big test. If she was going to get her heart busted, this was the night.

Luckily, she would be too busy to think about it. There was a huge order due the next day and she and Mrs. Jasper would be working long past closing drawing Christmas trees on cookies. Then when she finally did get home, her parents were having a party. Kelsie had jokingly ask for Zima when helping with the list and was surprised when her mom said, "oh. Yeah. That's ok I guess. As long as you stay home to drink it." So Kelsie planned to go home, drink a Zima and kick back waiting for Scott to call saying the date was over.

Scott came into the shop about 6:45. Kelsie came out of the back, removing her icing smeared apron to hug him.
"I'm fixin to go on this date." He said looking anxiously at Kelsie. "Are you sure about this Kels? I don't have to go. Just say the word and I'll not go!"

"No." Kelsie said kissing him firmly. "Go. Call me as soon as you get home OK? I'll stay in my room."

"When will you get off?" Scott ask looking miserable.

"Ummm maybe nine, but it could be as late as ten." Kelsie said, "we've got a lot of trees to do."

"OK". Scott said, holding the hem of Kelsie's shirt.
"I feel like I'm fixin to screw this up." He added sadly.