IN THE FULL MOON

chapter 18

I was buzzing when I returned to school

after winter break. Hoping to get to English early,

I raced to my locker, where I found a single pink

rose sticking through the metal handle.

I was so truly touched, I tingled all over.

"Isn't that sweet?" Ivy said. "Nash is saying

he's sorry."

"Nash?" I asked, bewildered.

It hadn't occurred to me that it was from

Nash.

"Uh... yes, it is, I guess." I was grateful to

receive a flower from anyone - but I was

disappointed that it wasn't from Brandon.

"You guess?" she asked. "He's apologizing.

Maybe you should accept it already."

I held the rose in my hand and leaned

against the locker.

It would be so easy and I knew I should

consider myself lucky to go out with Nash. He

was gorgeous by anyone's standards, and a

gifted athlete. It would be so simple for the "six

clique" to hang out together. But something

happened to me when I saw Brandon that day in

English class and our eyes met. The unbelievable

heroism that he displayed in the woods was hard

to dismiss. And even more so was the most

passionate kiss of my life. My life had been pretty

easy - or rather ordinary. Go to school, study,

hang with my friends, volunteer. Now I was

putting everything on the line for a guy who I

barely knew - who might indeed have some kind

of paranormal powers. But I felt this

misunderstood new student filled in so many

places that had been empty in my heart.

"Nash could date any cheerleader he wants,"

Ivy said. "But he likes you because you aren't

that typical girl. It's you he keeps coming back

to."

"Well, now I'm not so sure that's a good

idea."

"I don't want to hear it," Ivy said. She liked

the status quo - everything as it should be -

Abby and Dylan, Ivy and Jake, and Nash and me.

Six best friends who would hang out together, go

to the same colleges, and eventually get married.

I didn't want to be the one who broke up my

best friend's plans. But I wasn't sure if Ivy's

dream should come at the expense of my

happiness.