Set Free

Set Free Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

  Since Nick and I had pretty much reconciled the day before, he sat with me at lunch on Monday. We talked about normal things, nothing below the surface, even though I knew Nick didn't like that much. But what could I do? I just wasn't ready to talk about Justin again...

  It was September now, and not suprisingly it was just as cold as August had been. That same, unusal cold that Florida rarely sees. And of course there was that same sad state my heart was in. Though one thing was changing, in my heart, that not even I knew yet. My heart was thawing out. And Nick was the warmth that was bringing me back to life.

For the next week, the week of my school's homecoming, things went on normally.  As normal as my new normal could get. But I unhappily had to face the truth. I'd made a friend. And I'd decided to fully embrace it on September tenth by throwing Nick a surprise party at my house for his seventeenth birthday. I'd already okayed it with his parents and told all his friends, and everyone was coming.The party was on the coming Sunday, and I thought it was a wonder that everyone had already managed to keep it a secret this long.

Homecoming at my new high school, was, suprisingly, a whole lot of fun. The school week had passed with full, fun-filled dress-up days.

Now it was Friday morning, and the whole day was to be spent in activities, a parade, and a pep rally to get us ready for the game later that night. There was also a dance, which I wasn't sure whether or not I was going to.

"All students go to the gym for the beginning activities." I heard over the school intercomm.

I smiled, as I rose out of my desk and followed the other kids out into the hallway and towards the gym. Then moments later I heard my voice being called from behind me.

"Hey, Amber, wait up!" It was Nick.

I slowed to a stop and walked to the side of the hallway so I wouldn't be run over, and waited there  smiling for him to catch up to me.

"Hey, thanks for waiting for me." He said to me when he reached me. "Shall we?' He asked.

"We shall." I replied.

And with that we headed to the gym and took a seat high up in the bleachers.

As we were waiting for the games to begin, I noticed Nick started looking a bit nervous for some reason.

I reached over and touched his arm. "Hey, Nick. are you okay? You seem kinda nervous."

"No, no, I'm not nervous...." He said, only glancing at me while he spoke.

I gave him a look that said I didn't believe that one bit.

He sighed and licked his lips, before turning to me and saying, "Okay, I admit, there's something I've been trying to get the nerve up to say."

"What is it?" I asked bluntly. Beating around the bush when I wanted to know something was not my thing.

"Um, you how there's a Homecoming dance tonight?"

"Yeah...." I trailed off, waiting for him to continue.

"Well....to put it plainly....I wanted to know if you would go with me?"

"To the dance?" I squeaked, surprised.

"Yes."

"Like....a date?" I asked.

"Um....yeah."

"Nick...." I closed my eyes and laid my head back against the wall behind me. He just had to go and complicate things.

"Or!" He said enthusiastically, interrupting me. "If you being my date would be a no, can you at least agree that you will dance with me, at least once?"

I smiled, opening my eyes and turning back to him. "If it can be as friends, then yes."

He only smiled back, and then our attention was drawn to below.

The games were about to begin.