The Unexpected

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I was sitting in Freezie's, talking to Emma and enjoying my bowl of birthday cake ice cream.

That is, before I choked on it.

I stared at Emma in disbelief. "You did what?!"

"Calm down, Ric." She waved her hand at me like her ruining my life was no big deal.

"I will not calm down!" I shouted, and the couple sitting in the booth next to us looked over. I lowered my voice. "Explain to me why you thought it was okay to ask Zachary Freeman to the dance for me two days after I tell you nothing could get me to go to the said dance?" I had forgiven her for not believing me last night, but it seemed like Emm was determined to get on my bad side.

Emm grinned goofily at me, not seeming the least bit threatened by the death glare I was sending her way. "Okay, I'll explain." She started talking slowly- like someone would do to a child. "You like Zachary. Because he said 'yes', it is obvious Zach likes you." She started talking faster- getting excited. "You guys go to the dance, declare your undying love for one another, get married, and boom! I'm a godmother."

"You are impossible," I groaned.

"You know you lurve me."

I rolled my eyes. "You do realize that you'll have to cancel with Zachary. There is no way you can get me to waste my perfectly good Friday night with some guy who will probably ditch me and I'll be left alone, forced to watch everyone around me make out and dance."

Emma scrunched up her nose. "Have you ever even been to a dance?" When I shook my head she raised her eyebrows. "Really? Huh. Guess that explains why you don't know the making out comes after the dancing." She laughed at my horrified expression.

Emma's phone beeped and she reached for it. After reading the text she looked up at me. "I have to go. My dad is running to the store, leaving me to watch the mini devils."

"What about your mom?"

"She's out doing... something. I actually don't know where she is."

I got up and slipped on my purse. When Emma shot me a questioning look I shrugged. "You're my ride."

"Oh yeah. You really need a car."

"I need a license first." I replied.

"Well, in two weeks you'll have to stop mooching off of me." Emma said.

I grinned at her. "You know you lurve me."

.........................

I had just walked in the door when the phone rang. I dropped my bag and ran to the kitchen. I got to the phone on the second ring.

"Hello?" I said automatically.

The only greeting on the other end was a slight intake of breath.

"Hello," I repeated, a little annoyed.

Still nothing. I had just decided to hang up when a voice came in through the speaker.

"Hello, Ricki."

"Who is this?" I asked. I couldn't tell the gender of the caller; they sounded muffled, like they were speaking through something. Whoever it was obviously knew me, and they must be close to know my home number. It unnerved me that I couldn't tell who it was, though.

"You look nice today," the caller almost purred. "That blouse looks good on you."

"Excuse me?" I said, now thoroughly creeped out. "I'm going to have to hang up if you don't tell me who this is."