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Don't Ask Chapter 3 Katherine looked at herself in the full-length mirror. The purple dress fit nicely. Purple's Howie's favorite color she thought. Why did he have to go off and suggest they date. What was wrong with being just friends? Katherine had known Howie for 3 years. Even at the beginning she knew Howie and her would only be friends. Sure there had been a physical attraction but that feeling had quickly been replaced with one of a brotherly love. Now he wanted to go and screw their friendship all up. Katherine looked at the picture on her desk. It was of her and Howie posing with Minnie Mouse in front of the Magic Kingdom. Howie had his arm draped around Katherine's lean shoulders. His tan fingers had been touching her shoulder ever so lightly. Could they date? No. Katherine answered herself firmly. No and that was it. The doorbell rang and Katherine peeked over the banister at the top of the stairs. It was Jessica. Howie had called at least 6 times and it was still only mid afternoon. Katherine descended the stairs gingerly acting as if Howie might just jump from behind a corner. "Girl, does Howie have any prior arrests for stalking?" Jennifer said as the door opened to let her in. "No. Why?" Katherine laughed for the first time in hours. A long spell for her. "A.J. and him were beside me in traffic and apparently he thinks I'm deaf because he kept yelling and asking me if I had seen you." "I don't know what to do!" Katherine complained. "You don't know what to do. I'll probably be the one with a dead cow's head on my doorstep because he can't find you." Jessica smiled hoping to get Katherine to smile also. She did. "More like a moose, then the moose might wink at you." Both girls laughed. "What's the problem then?" Jessica asked. "I think I love the boy." Katherine blurted and immediately turned red.Kaylan sat on the hospital bed looking at her hand then at Tyke. Then back at her hand. Brian had snuck Tyke in. "Dumb dog" Kaylan thought angrily. Tyke looked at Kaylan with eyes she had never seen before. Tyke looked weird. "Brian, when was the last time Tyke had shots" Kathy, Kaylan's sister asked. Brian became defensive. "What do you mean?...if you are implying he has rabies he doesn't." "No, I was just asking... chill...but..." "But what...?" Brian's face looked stormy. "You guys quit...I am sure Tyke doesn't have rabies." Kaylan said. She was very tired and the wait for the doctor made her hand throb even more. Kathy sat beside her sister and began to examine Kaylan's swollen hand. Kathy was angry at the dumb dog for causing her sister so much pain. Tears welled in Kaylan's eyes and Kathy could tell her hand was hurting again. Kathy press the nurse button. "Are you crazy?...I have Tyke in here." Brian said angrily. He jumped up and quickly deposited the small dog in the bathroom. He was closing the door just as a plump nurse walked in. "Well, Fido sure did take a heaping helping hunk out of you didn't he?" the nurse joked. "Yeah." Kaylan said through clenched teeth. "Is there anything else you can give her. The pain is awful." Kathy pleaded. "Look, I gave her what we had...but the doctor will be in shortly to stitch it up." the nurse said smartly, grabbed the charts at the end of the bed, and walked out of the room. "Kaylan, I am sorry." Brian apologized. "Not sorry enough. That dumb dog really hurt her." "Look, if sorry isn't good enough for you that's too bad but I am more worried about Kaylan's feelings now than yours." Both girls sat stunned. Brian had never said anything so harsh before. Kathy got off the bed and left the room, slamming the door behind her.The black short skirt fit nicely on Danielle. I am beautiful and a beautiful girl deserves a rich and famous boyfriend Danielle thought. A.J. was perfect and this skirt would definitely make his head turn her way. Bren is so ugly and so...and so...nice. How could anyone want that in a girl? Her beeper went off. It was Meg. 912---The number said. That dork can't even punch in 911 right thought Danielle bitterly. 911 was the code to let Danielle know A.J. was in her vicinity. Danielle thought he was in the mall with Bren of course and her dopey friend Kimi. It was showtime. Danielle quickly walked out of the fitting room up to the salesclerk and paid for the skirt she still had on. Once outside she ripped the tags off, tossed her hair, checked herself in the mirror and walked out confidently to find her man A.J.. Bren looked at A.J.. For what she didn't know. Signs of his screaming guilty conscious saying "OH YES, BREN I DID CHEAT ON WITH YOU WITH DANIELLE." but Bren saw nothing but his cute face eagerly trying to figure out why his girlfriend's face was so cloudy. "Babe, is there something wrong?" A.J. asked. "No, nothing." Bren stated. "Hey, look ice cream!" Kimi could say some dumb things sometimes but the change in topics provided Bren with the opportunity to get away from Howie and A.J. Howie looked at Bren as the girls separated without saying goodbye to the boys. Bren looked back and knew Howie knew something was up. "I can't do it." Bren said. "You have to or you will never know."Kimi said between mouthfulls of chocolate-chip cookie dough ice cream. Bren had gotten a bland vanilla scoop to match her mood. Dull, bland , and no real purpose. Bren shared her thoughts with Kimi. "Vanilla has a purpose." Kimi said. "Not really, all people ever do is just add something new to it and change it so people will like it better." an idea began to form in Bren's head. Kimi didn't have to ask. "So are you going to get your tongue pierced 12 times or dye your hair orange." Kimi asked. "Neither, but I am going shopping."Bren stated. "Good idea...seeing as we are in a mall with stores full of clothes." Kimi joked as Bren pulled her into a store.Kevin looked at the dark brown eyes below him. She is beautiful he thought to himself. Kate Rouse looked back at him. Wow.. She made a silent vow of no more dumb comments but felt she could only keep it if she kept her mouth shut. "In order for you to cook me spaghetti I will have to know where you live and a phone number is always nice." Kevin joked. Kate opened her mouth slowly. "Sure." Wow she thought again. It may have only been one word but it was one word spoken without any blunders. Kate gave him her phone number and smiled. Kevin smiled back. "Thanks. Will you be home later this afternoon?" "Well, I have a gyno---a gym workout." Damn...Kate thought. Did he really care she had a gynecologist appointment---I think not Kate thought. "Well, how about I call you tonight around 6 then." "Okay. sounds good." Kate replied. Kevin smiled once more, said goodbye, and pushed his cart to the check-out line. He is going to call me, he is going to call me. Kate looked down and realized she had been holding the box of tampons the entire time."Don't go towards the light!" a fake crying voice said. It was Erin---again. Jennifer opened her eyes expecting to see the hot sun, bleachers, and people she didn't know but instead she saw the ceiling of a cabin full of cool air. Jennifer raised slowly off the bed and looked around. Angel, she-devil, sat in a corner along with the blonde guy. "Let me guess... I passed out again." Jennifer said. "Yep..."he smiled. Angel giggled--what was up with that girl and laughing? Erin made the introductions. "You know Angel, this is her brother Nick." Her brother? What in the world. Her brother? Was this some sort of cruel joke. "Hey." Nick said. "The nurse just left to call your parents to come get you." Oh great, my parents--what an embarrassment Jennifer thought. Maybe she could get him out of here before then. "Well, since they are on their way you can go ahead and go home.. Erin and I will be fine." Jennifer touched the bandages on her head gingerly. It still hurt a heck of alot. "No I'll stay. I told the nurse I would." Nick got up and came closer to Jennifer. She didn't exactly smell like roses but she wanted him near her just the same. Nick touched the bandages and looked at Jennifer closely. "Really, I am fine." His cool hands felt good on her hot forehead. His eyes darted over her face and Jennifer smiled and Angel giggled. Erin could be a great help to Jennifer about once every 4 years and apparently the time had come to help again. "Come on Angel, I want some hotdogs." Erin said. Both girls bolted out of the cabin. "I am glad you're okay and might I add that you are very pretty." Nick said. "Thanks but I look pretty-awful right now." "Should we call anybody else to tell them you're here---like a boyfriend?" Nick asked. "I don't have one." "Well, then maybe you should." Nick smiled and took her hand. Then from the outside the cabin door opened. |