Vanilla Girl

C h o c o l a t e - C h i p

"WHAT'S WRONG?"
I ask Wyona as soon as I meet her on the parking lot after school.

Even though we are both seniors, I am taking some AP classes to raise my GPA so there are just a few periods we share together. As for today, the last time I saw her was for lunch break and she'd been laughing and joking as always.

I don't know what could have happened to put her in such a bad mood. Sure Ms Jhones class wasn't that bad. Was it?

Wyona shakes her head, her brownish curls swinging in every direction, "You wouldn't believe it-" She begins as we start walking. "My mother just called me to give me 'the best' news."

I can't help a snort from coming out of my mouth, "Judging on your face they sure were the best news ever."

She rolls her eyes, "Yes. Couldn't she wait at least until I reach home? I'm already on my way there. Why did she have to call me? It's like she's determined to ruin my day."

I smile, that was Mrs Walker always impatient and enthusiastic about everything.

"And...what could she have said to ruin your day so bad?" I prod.

Wyona sighs. What came out of her mouth next stops me on my tracks.

"Chris is coming home for thanksgiving break."

"Oh." Is all I manage to say.

Christian was Wyona's best childhood friend. They were neighbours and even their bedroom windows faced each other. At first Chris dropped by at her house to play with Michael who was his same age, but then as years went by he started spending time with Wyona too. She told me she might have had a teeny tiny bit of a crush on him when they were kids, but there was nothing whatsoever on Chris end.

When He and Michael graduated and left for college any hope she had left was totalled. That same night they moved into the UNC campus, she came home and cried on my shoulder until exhaustion won her over. I knew it wasn't just because her brother was leaving, which brought me a lot of pain too, but the fact that they were both leaving her.

That was two years ago, but looking at her face now it tells me she isn't really over it yet. No mater how much she confessed to me and affirmed she was.

The gears on my head keep spinning with thoughts that derive from that one sentence that came out of her mouth.

If Chris is coming to Sun Valley for thanksgiving break then that means-that means Michael is coming too.

My heart gives a jolt inside my chest.

Michael with his bright smile and kind gestures is coming home.

I won't deny it. I missed him.

Last time I saw him was on holidays and even then it was just a few days before they all left to their grandparents cabin in Colorado. I couldn't just pack up and leave with them because my parents had booked us a stay at a hotel in California that same week and I knew how much it all cost them.

They had managed to clear their busy schedule for a few days and I couldn't deny them some quality time. Plus, I really missed going on vacation together.

I try to not let it show how much the thought of seeing Michael is affecting me, but I surely am failing miserably.

Probably I have a goofy grin while my best friend on the other hand is mopping around with a frown marring her pretty features.

Toning down the eagerness that consumed me from the moment Wyona opened her mouth, I wrap all the mixed feelings, stuffing them into a box and sealing it with tape. I plan to leave them there until I have time to sort them out in bed at night.

Now it isn't about me.

It's about my best friend and her complicated crush on a guy who likes her, but just not the way she would have liked. A guy who's coming here in less than two weeks. A guy who would surely spend a lot of time at her house.

Yep, she needs help all right.

"Hey," I bump her shoulder trying to lighten the mood. "You're always welcome at home."

She gives me a slight smile that doesn't reach her eyes.

My brows furrow, I don't like seeing her like this. In a way I hate Chris for coming home, I hate him for leaving my friend like this on the first place. But then if Chris, who's the owner of the old rusted truck, isn't coming then Michael-

I stop my thoughts right there.

My gaze swings back to Wyona and my eyes widen when a sudden brain wave hits me.

"I know," I say, clapping my hands excitedly. "We can do a slept over! We'll paint our nails, style our hair, put on make-up, watch films-but not romantic ones because we have enough drama and tears as it is-and stuff our stomachs with sweets. How does that sound?"

Wyona laughs at my blubbering, "Sounds great, but I don't know if it's the right thing to do." She sighs, "I feel like I've been avoiding this long enough and it's time I put on my big girl pants on and face it."

I stare at her not quite believing what just came out of her mouth.

"Are you saying no to a more than great slept over at my house?" I ask astonished.

She bites her lip in contemplation, "I'm not saying no. Maybe a day or two, but I'll have to face him eventually to assure myself there are no underlying feelings-" She trails off. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

I quickly drop my raised brow, "No reason."

"I don't have feelings for him." She defends.

I rise my hands in the air, "I didn't say a thing!"

Her brown eyes narrow in on mine before her jaw clenches, "fine."

I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at her. If I do I'll end up in the hospital, I'm positive.

One of the first things I learned about Wyona is that she knows how to throw a right hook.

We walk quietly for a moment, side by side, deep in thought before I blurt out the first thing that crosses my mind wich could help Wyona forget about all the drama with Chris for a moment.

"Hey, did you know Justin is writing Lynn Owens love letters?"

It takes a second, but it happens.

Wyona smiles, then snorts, and finally busts out laughing.

"Wha-what!?" She gasps between laughs, "Justin Cliffs? Are you for real?"

My eyes widen at the pitch of her voice and my head immediately turns to take a look around, "Yeah, but don't say a thing. I kinda promised I wouldn't." I whisper, worried that someone could hear us. Still, a smile is etched into my face.

It still hasn't drowned on me.

Justin. My friend Justin who peed his pants in kindergarten so many times I lost count was a softie. A romantic. A modern Shakespeare.

Or at least that's what I thought. I had yet to read his letters.

And I'm not sure that would happen anytime soon.

Wyona snorts like a pig beside me, "There goes his anonimity. You are terrible at keeping secrets Ada."

Yeah, I know.

But apparently Justin doesn't.

******

A/N: Chris and Michael are coming home! Will they bring problems to the girls lives? What do you think?

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