Is This Our Second Chance

Chapter 15

Bed sounds like a wonderful idea; I decide as I pull up in front of my house. Maybe if I draw the curtains, put some music on low and will myself to relax, I could find the sleep that I lost the night before.

Zach had kept me out until well after midnight the night before, and now I'm sourly paying for it today. It had been a struggle all day moving about my responsibilities and running errands for my mom. Its not even four in the afternoon and I'm ready to fall face first on my pillow.

I roll my shoulders to ease some of the tension and grab the shopping bags from the truck of my car. I lock up and round the hood to the sidewalk. When I hear my name called, I turn to see who it is.

Carly waves to her as she climbs out of her friend's car. I smile as she walks towards me.

"Hey there! How was shopping with Stacey?"

Only a little out of breath, Carly gives me a smile.

"It was so much fun!"

With a laugh, I move the shopping bags to my other arm so I can give her a hug.

"Help me get these bags inside, I can't wait to hear all about it."

The front door was already unlocked so all she had to do was maneuver the door to get inside. Carly breezes past me with her arms full and marches towards the kitchen to set everything down. I strain my ears to listen for my mother in the house. The faint sound of water running tells me shes in the shower upstairs.

"Alright Carly, we've got about ten minutes before mom is out of the shower. So, spill all the details. Tell me everything."

Carly starts putting the groceries away with a cheery laugh.

"It was great! Stacey's mom let us each pick out a couple makeup items at the mall and we stopped for chocolate ice cream cones on our way home." She exclaims full of excitement.

"Is that all you guys did all day?" I smirk knowing that there must be more.

"Well, we did meet up with a few other friends." She says slyly.

"My lips are sealed Carly." I motion locking my lips closed and throwing away the key.

"Thanks Stella."

That night after dinner, Kayla and I sat on video chat while watching a movie. Neither of us have any plans so this is the best we could manage. I take another handful of popcorn and shove most of it in my mouth.

"Hey, question." Kayla asks me through the phone.

"What's up?" I continue to chew my popcorn.

"Have you seen the announcement for the Prom theme?" Kayla asks me, waving the flyer in front of her screen.

"No," I struggle to say while trying not to choke. "What is the theme this year?"

"It says the theme is masquerade." She groans.

"That should make this interesting."

"It's like the worst theme the student council could choose." She tosses the flyer aside.

"I'm sure there were worse ideas that could have been picked."

"Stop looking on the bright side of this and get mad with me." I look down at my screen to see her glaring at me.

"Well, I still plan on wearing my killer dress and having fun," I inform her, shoving more popcorn in my mouth. "You will too."

"I suppose you are right." She sighs back at me.

"Uh oh, what's wrong now?" I pause the movie and give her my undivided attention.

"Brandon still hasn't asked me to Prom yet." She gives me a sad smile.