~Chapter 9~ "Hey."  I said surprised to see A.J. "Hey."  I moved so that he could come inside.  "I came to see if you wanted to come to the mall with me."  he said with his hands in his pockets.  I noticed that he had died his hair yet again.  Last night it was his normal color brown but then he died it blue.  It looked really cool. "Yeah I'll come.  Just let me get my shoes." ---------- We were at the mall for about three hours.  A.J. got a lot of clothes and about six pairs of sunglasses.  I was surprised that he could actually find some that he didn't have.  I didn't get anything.  I am very picky when it comes to clothes.  Even though A.J. kept saying that anything I got would look good on me, I still couldn't find anything.  He's such a flirt anyway.  I knew he was looking for us to have a relationship.  I just hoped that I wouldn't have to explain why I didn't want one at the moment. It got to be 9:00 and the mall was starting to close so we started for A.J.'s car.  We weren't really talking on the way.  If he was talking to me I wouldn't have noticed.  I was just spaced out.  I didn't really know why.  We finally got into his car heading towards my house.  "Do you want to come in?"  I asked when we pulled into my driveway. "Sure."  he answered.  We walked to the door and I fumbled with my keys to unlock the door.  We walked in and sat down in the living room. "I think we should be more than friends."  he started to say.  I just stared at him.  I was hoping that he wasn't really saying what I thought he said. "Well," he continued.  "it kind of seems like you feel the same way too...."  he trailed off.  I just sat there in silence.  I wasn't sure how I was going to explain to him with out telling him too much. "So.....what do you think?"  he asked with a lot of hope in his eyes. "A.J."  I started to say.  "As much as I want to.....I just can't" "Why?" "I'd rather not tell you.  I just don't want to talk about it right now." "You can tell me."  he erged. "No I can't."  I said getting angry.  "If something is bothering you."  he said softly.  "You can tell me." "A.J. all I am going to say is that my past relationships have been bad.  The last three lied and cheated on me.  I just don't want to get hurt again." "I would never hurt you."  he said. "That's what they all say.  Then they go and break my heart.  I just can't do that again.  I don't think I could take the pain.  It hurts too much." "I know how you feel.  Believe me.  Not knowing if someone loves you because of you or because of your money and fame.  Please just give me a chance I....." "A.J. I told you I can't.  I would but something is holding me back.  I'm sorry." A.J. knew he needed to back off. "Ok I'm sorry.  But if you feel ready to take this to another level let me know.  I have to go now anyway.  I'll talk to you later.  Bye."  He walked to the door with me following behind him.  He turned to face me before he walked out.  He kissed my forehead and walked out the outside got into his car and went home.  I walked back into the living room and laid down on the couch.  I sighed thinking about A.J.  I knew he wasn't going to give up.  He was going to try and get as close to me as possible. ~Chapter 10~ The next day went by pretty fast.  Carrie and I went to a movie just to kill some time. "So how is it going with you and Nick?"  I asked as we walked out of the movie theater.  "Nick?  Oh we are just friends."  She answered.  "I don't think I would really want to get involved with him.  We are too different." We got into my mustang heading towards my house where we could hang out for awhile.  We drove in silence most of the time. "So how about you and A.J.?  Let me guess.  You are just friends because of your past relationships were bad and you just don't want to date anyone." My mouth dropped open.  "Wow how did you know that?"  I asked. "Because I know you Tracy.  That's just the way you are." "You know me too well." "But can I tell you something?"  she asked. "Yeah sure." "I think you're stupid for not dating him.  He really likes you.  And I know you really like him too."  We pulled into the driveway and got out. "I know Carrie."  I started.  "There is just something that is holding me back.  I just don't know what." "I know what's holding you back."  She said.  "It's yourself.  You know damn well it is.  Well we got back later than I thought.  I have to get going."  She got into her yellow bug and left.  Was she right?  She could be.  She does know me better than I even know myself.  She is right.  I am the reason I won't let anyone near me.  I didn't know how to fix it. ---------- It was five days until Christmas.  We all had school off.  Since Kevin and Brian were going back home to Lexington for the holidays we decided to have and early Christmas party which was tonight at Brian's house.  I was the last one there as usual.  I was always late.  Brian greeted me at the door and I saw that everyone else was in the living room. "Hey guys."  I said walking into the room. "Hey."  they all said.  Of course I knew everyone there since it was only my friends and the guys.  Then I saw a girl that I didn't know, and she was sitting next to A.J.  They were so deep in conversation that they didn't notice I was there. ~Who is that?~  I thought.  ~Well it shouldn't matter 'cause I don't like him right?~  I sat down watching Tara and Howie looking for a few good CD's to play.  I think they were laughing at Brian's taste in music. "Tracy do you have anything worth listening to?"  Tara asked. "Yeah in my car."  I answered. "I'll go get it then."  she said. "Hey Howie can I talk to you for a sec.?"  I asked. "Yeah sure."  he answered.  We went into the kitchen so that no one could hear what we were talking about. "So what's up?"  he asked leaning on the counter. "Who is that girl A.J. is with?"  I asked.  I really didn't want him to say girlfriend.  Anyone but girlfriend would be good news to me. "Oh Stephanie?  She's a friend of A.J.'s.  They've been friends since they were little."  he said.  I sighed with relief. "Don't worry Tracy.  He wouldn't date her.  They are too different." I seemed to lighten up a little bit.  We went back to join the others.  After awhile we exchanged gifts.  That was fun but it took a long time.  We did a Secret Santa things.  No one wanted to get everybody something since there were 10 of us.  That's a little too much.  I don't really remember who had who, or what they got, but what I found funny was that A.J. got this thing full of hair die.  It had every color you could think of in it.  I think it was from Carrie but I'm not sure.  I had Kim so it was easy for me to get her something.  I got her the new Will Smith CD that she wanted. I was that last person to get my gift.  It was of course from A.J.  It must have been fixed so that he would get me.  I know it was, it had to be.  It was a small velvet box.  I opened it and saw that it was a promise ring.  There was a note stuck inside the box that said: This is a promise to you that I will always be there when you need me. Love A.J. ~Chapter 11~ The party ended at about 12:00.  I said goodbye to everyone and headed towards my car. "Hey Tracy wait up."  A.J. called out. "Hey."  I said. "I didn't go too far with that ring did I?"  he asked. "No not at all."  I answered and held up my hand to show him that I was wearing it. "Good.  I'm glad."  We stood there for awhile.  I don't know what came over me but the next thing I knew I pulled his face to mine and kissed him.  I don't think he really cared that I did that.  I finally pulled away because I knew he wasn't going to. "Wow."  he said.  "I thought you only wanted to be friends." "Yeah well I changed my mind."  I answered. His eyes lit up and he smiled.  I smiled back and got into my car. "Call me." I said and left. When I got home I saw the most unexpected thing in my life.  My eyes went wide, I started breathing faster and faster.  I was so scared and upset.  I backed out of the house and got into my car heading towards the first place I could think of, and that was A.J.'s house. ---------- A.J. wasn't home when I got there.  I sat down on the front steps to wait for him.  All I knew was that I didn't want to go home.  What would my parents say?  They would freak out.  They never understand anything, nor do they believe me.  I stood up and started pacing back and forth.  I was really on edge. ~A.J. please come back soon.~  I thought. I sat there for 20 minutes.  Finally an expedition pulled into the driveway and A.J. got out. "Hey what are you doing here?"  he asked as he walked up to the door.  When he got close enough he saw the look on my face.  "What's wrong?" "Oh my god A.J."  I said.  "Someone broke into my house.  It's trashed.  I'm so scared what if they were still there?  My parents are going to kill me.  They never believe me, and they are going to think I did it."  A.J. wrapped his arms around me.  Finally I felt safe.  I just wanted him to hold on to me forever.  That seamed to be the only way I felt safe. "Let's go call the police."  he said and led me into his house. ---------- I sat at the kitchen table and watched A.J. while he was on the phone.  I wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying.  I just sat and stared at him. "Well,"  he said as he hung up the phone.  "They are going to send someone over there tomorrow morning.  I don't know why they can't just get over there tonight."  he sa down at the opposite end of me.  "You can stay here tonight if you want to." "Yeah well I don't want to go home so I'll stay here." We got up and went into the living room to watch TV.  I didn't really want to sleep.  I laid down on the couch resting my head on A.J.'s lap.  We watched some lame movie for awhile and Finally I drifted off to sleep. ~Chapter 12~ I woke up the next morning in the same position as I had fallen asleep.  I look at A.J. to see that he was still asleep.  I got up to stretch and went to the bathroom.  When I came out I saw that he was awake. "Well we should get going to your house."  he said.  "They should be there soon.  I'm going to change first."  He ran upstairs while I returned to the couch and watched TV. Five minutes later A.J. came downstairs and we left for my house. ---------- *At my house* The police got to my house about the same time A.J. and I got there.  They were there for a while asking me millions of questions.  All of the stereos, TV's, phones, anything electoronicle were gone.  Everything else was just trashed.  The police finally left after about an hour the left.  A.J. and I stayed to try and clean up.  I was really mad that my computer was gone.  I was in my room cleaning some things up and then I realized something.  My parents are coming home today. "Oh my god!"  I yelled. "What?"  A.J. asked running into the room. "My parents are supposed to come home today.  They are never going to leave me with the house ever again." "Well when are they supposed to be home?"  I heard a car door slam.  I jumped a little bit and ran to the door saying, "That couldn't be."  I looked out and saw that it was only Kim, Tara, and Kevin.  The door was open so they walked inside. "Tracy!  Where are.......you?"  Tara said.  "Oh my god what happened?  Tracy!  Are you ok?"  I ran downstairs with A.J. close behind me. "Oh my god you're ok."  Kevin said.  "What happened in here?" "You guys have got to help me clean up!"  I said. "What were you two doing in here?"  Kevin asked with a big grin.  I knew he was thinking dirty thoughts and I just rolled my eyes. "Someone broke in last night.  My parents are going to kill me." "But none of this is your fault."  Kim said. "Kim you know my parents never believe me.  They are going to think I did it no matter what anyone says."  I said. "Well do the police know about this?"  Kevin asked. "Yeah they were just here."  A.J. answered. "Well let's start cleaning."  Tara said. Just then the door flew open and in came my parents and saw all of us standing there. "Oh my god what happened in here?"  My dad, Dan, said looking very mad.  My mom, Jane, just stood there looking around with her mouth wide open and her eyes bugging out. "Someone broke in."  I said. "How could this have happened?"  he asked. "I was at a party and when I got back I found it like this." He didn't say anything and started picking things up.  We all worked on cleaning up for awhile.  I was surprised that my dad didn't kill me. Chapters 13-16 Chapters 5-8 Back to Fanfic Back to Main Page