When it Happens

Chapter 11

Thanksgiving passed, and soon enough, Winter break was here. Still, no communication passed between Nate and me. Sure, we'd see each other at parties and events like that, but we never really went back to normal.

Our football team had lost 35-6 in the first round of playoffs, which was confusing because the least amount of points we scored in a game this season was 27. Nobody could go because it was so damn far away. Looked like I didn't miss much, though. Mikey told me Nate had an awful game and that he got pulled at halftime. Our back-up, Chris Flanta, didn't do much better though.

The less Nate and I talked, the more Mikey and I did. I felt kinda bad that the only reason we were romantically involved in any way was that of my sudden "friendship break-up" with Nate. But still, the times I would cry from frustration because of Nate, he was there for me. Sure, he didn't know it was because of Nate, but it was still nice to have someone to lean on.

Rumors started that Nate and I had stopped being friends was because I refused to sleep with him. As if! The nerve some people had to pass on rumors like that.

Oh! Speaking of sex, once Shannon's virginity card became a thing of the past, she began constantly talking about Mason, and always wanting to call Mason... I once read in a Cosmo! magazine that once you have sex, some girls become attached to their boyfriends, and I soon realized that that was happening to Shan. I decided I would be there for her, but also slightly distance myself from her, because as nice as Mason was, I was getting tired of hearing about him.

Guess that only left one virgin in the group.

Each party or hang out we'd see each other at, Nate sported a new girl each time. One time, when Mikey and I found this one party dank and were heading out the door, Nate's drunken self and his girl toy walked up to us and said, "Goodbye, you two! Have a great time!" Then proceeds to smash his lips onto hers and picks her up into a straddle.

Talk about awkward!

I couldn't help the fact that I wanted to be the girl that was in his arms right then, probably cuddling, going for second base... but we were no longer on speaking terms. That was in late November, though, and we haven't had an encounter since.

But now, it was December 18th, Day two of our twenty-two-day winter break. I could tell you that the day was sunny and clear, but I'd be lying. Winter in Massachusetts wasn't fun. It was the first seven years of my life, but once I got old enough to help shovel the snow out of the driveway, it became hell.

In winter, no parties were thrown because of the fear that someone on their way there would get into a wreck, and add the intoxicated teenagers into the equation... it just wasn't a good mix. Nobody wanted to take that risk. I wasn't too upset though. It meant I no longer had to avoid Nate like the plague.

But on that Saturday, I remember being so upset after watching a new episode of Beverly Hills: 90210. I wanted to have their life, living in sunny LA, not having a care in the world. It made my life look like a total piece of shit.

Then, as if it was on cue, the doorbell rang. Expecting Shannon with a movie we could watch, or Mikey, with the mittens I had left at his house so we could play in the snow, I opened the door.

But it wasn't. Guess who?

Dave.

Expecting smiles from him, it was a frown with a sigh. "Viv, we need you. Nate's outta control. Get in your car."

I give him a confused glance. "What's happening? Nate wouldn't want me. We're in a fight. And besides, he's a big boy. I'm sure he can handle it on his own." I started to shut the door but Dave abruptly kept it open by sticking his foot in quickly, causing me to jump a little.