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Chapter nine- What the heck is a Chico?

My heart raced as I ran up a steep road. After grocery shopping I decide to go for a run. I had a lot of things to think about, but I didn't want to think about it all. At least not right now. Running was a distraction. I didn't need to think. I just need to control my breathing. I picked up my speed when my dad came into my mind. After about ten songs my throat was getting dry and felt like it was tightening up. I started pushing myself harder. My lungs felt on fire before I stopped. Hunching over placing my hands on my knees, taking deep breathes. After I got my breathing under control I stood straight and started walking again, wishing I had brought a water bottle. I walked the rest of the way to the park. When I got to the park I sat on the swings. I started swinging my legs back and forth when my thoughts crept up on me. Nick, my dad, my Grammy sickness, it was staring to build up and I needed deal with this before it become catastrophic.

As if God agreed with me, Nick was walking down the street. His jeans were dirty along with his white t-shirt. He saw me swing and started making his way over. I saw a small smile playing on his plump lips. My stomach started to twist in knots while my heart started racing, palms sweating. He stopped right in front of me. "Hey Scarlett." he said slowly. "Hey Nick." I said simply. I knew I had to fix this problem, these unwanted feelings, but I didn't know how. What could I say? Hey I like you a lot, you want to have two girlfriends? I think not.

"So how are...," he let his voice fade away, "So are you going to the party?" He asked. That was the second time someone asked me about the party. Kara was the first one. At the store she asked Germany and I if we wanted to go to a party. I declined and went home.

"Nope," I said. This seemed to make him relieved. "Are you going to the party?" I asked standing to my feet. "No I have to work tonight." He said looking at his old shoes. I started walking back to the road. "Well it was nice seeing you Nick." I said walking down the street. It took everything I had not to look back. I could feel him staring at me which only made my desire to turn and see his blue eyes once more. "Hey, wait up." Nick yelled from behind me. I stopped and turned. As I watched Nick jog over to me, I felt envious of him. He was so flawless to me.

"What's up?" I asked, looking at him in his eyes? That was a mistake on my part, when I looked into his eyes a tingling feeling shot through my body. I quickly averted my eyes when I felt it. "Why have you been avoiding me? Don't say you haven't, because you have." he stated, grabbing my arm. I looked at his hand that rested on my upper arm.

"Paige is my friend and at one point she was my best friend. I can't, I won't hurt her. I doubt she would appreciate her boyfriend hanging out with another girl." I said looking at him straight in his eyes. His cobalt eyes held so many secrets; they spoke a story of sorrow. I felt distressed as I looked away from his dejected eyes.  "I should get home now." I told him in a low voice.

Before I could take a step I heard, "Are you stupid?" I snapped my head in Nick's direction. He was smirking down at me. "Excuse me? How am I stupid?" I asked. I felt my hand clinch. Any sign of sorrow was gone from his eyes. It was replaced with displeasure. "Who on earth told you that?" He asked as if the idea was preposterous. Who had told me that? No one did, I just assumed. I didn't ask Paige and I didn't ask Nick. Okay I feel ignorant. "No one told me, but I think it was very clear when you were locking lips with her." I tried to say as calm as possible.

"Is Scarlett Evans jealous?" he asked, I could hear the teasing laced in his voice. "Why would I be jealous? I barely know you." I scoffed. He moved closer to me and smiled. "I barely know you yet I-" Nick was cut off but an agonizing small bark. I turned my head and saw a puppy, a Chihuahua. It was limping towards us. I scooped the puppy in my arms making sure not to hurt the puppy's leg. Nick moved closer to check out the puppy's leg. Every time Nick moved the pup's leg, it would wail in pain. "I don't think it's broken, I think he just hurt himself." Nick said as he took the puppy into his arms. I started petting its chocolate-brown fur.