It’s been about four days since Kevin’s Party, and I’ve seen Brandon about every day since. It has not been weird between us; I just can’t stop thinking about him. My mind has been going through a shitload of “what ifs”. For example, “What if… he feels the same about Diana, and then we get together? What will happen then?” or of course there is the “What if… his feelings toward Diana increase?” I just need to stop worrying about all this. I think I’m over analyzing the situation. I’ll just sit down and think about the obvious.

So I did. I sat down at the foot of my bed and thought. Yes, I am strange. But I know I am confusing, and I’ve never been so crazy about a guy before. I thought for about five minutes. Five minutes was just long enough for me to admit to myself that I liked Brandon James Colburn. But, if he does go for me, then will he ask me out, and will I actually say yes? Or run away again? Ugh I’m so stupid.

I just need to clear my head. So after another five minutes of pondering what I could do, I decided to do exactly what Keira does when she needs to freshen up; and even though I’ve only gotten my nails done like twice in my life, I decided to do just that.

I ran downstairs, grabbed my coat and opened the door. When I did, I didn’t even notice I was about to step right on Diana, “Oh Shit! I’m sorry; I didn’t even see you there!” How could I have missed her? She looked gorgeous as always. She easily pulled off her knit hat, scarf and white coat. Meanwhile, I couldn’t pull off any form of winter accessories.

She chuckled and shook her head, “its okay. Are you on your way out?”

“Yeah, but that’s okay. What do you need?”

“To talk to you.”

Fuck. I was caught. “Umm, about what?”

“Brandon.” She said simply.

“Well, do you want to come in?” I asked gesturing towards the house. She nodded and I opened the door wider. She stepped in the house and took off her hat, while I wanted to rip the door knob off hit it against my head repeated times.

It felt like forever before she spoke, and when she did, it seemed slow when it really wasn’t.

“I just wanted to tell you that Brandon broke up with me,” She announced and I just looked at her, studying her face, not knowing what to say in return, “I know you’re probably wondering why I’m tell you this. But, the thing is I know he likes you.”

“Uhmmauhmm, why do think that?” I sounded like a major dumbass… as usual.

“Because, when I first met him he looked like a wreck. I asked him what was wrong and he told me everything except your name and what you look like and so on. When I first saw all of you sitting there at the table, I immediately knew that that girl was you.”

“How?”

“When he introduced us I noticed the way he gestured and even looked at you. It was obvious. Before I engaged in this, I guess, ‘relationship’ with him I was given warning signs but I went with him anyway, which was pretty stupid of me.”

“That wasn’t stupid,” I said in a serious tone.

She continued, “But I guess I wasn’t good enough.”

“What do you mean?! You are gorgeous! You’ve got like everything a guy would want.”

She smiled, “I just mean for Brandon. The only one good enough for him is standing right in front of me, and not me or any girl could ever live up to what you are in Brandon’s eyes.” I was speechless, again. But thankfully she saved me by continuing, “What I’m saying is, you already know he likes you and now I’m telling you to accept next time he asks you out.”

I was silent for awhile taking all of this in, but finally I said, “Diana, I’m really sorry about all of this. I didn’t even know about you, but when I did I told him to give you a chance. But, I guess he didn’t listen…”

“Everything happens for a reason,” She said simply, “Just give him a chance.”

I nodded as she turned to leave, and with one last hug I realized this was one person that I’d never see again.

As I was getting a pedicure I realized something. I know I should be happy about this, but, Brandon broke his promise. He didn’t give Diana a full chance. I told him about a day after the party to give it a full week, well at least until she leaves. But he didn’t.

“I didn’t want to lie anymore!” He exclaimed when I brought it up with him later on, “I realized that was nothing, nothing could ever come out of it. So I figured that I shouldn’t even bother. Jesus Carly, I thought you’d be a little bit happy. I feel don’t know what you’re thinking and I really don’t think you even know.”

To make a long story short: it ended it a fight. I don’t know why I do that every time, I like him a lot and everything but I’m still not sure about it. I’m just crazy, and everyone is probably annoyed with me.

Even though my love life might not be the best right now, the good news is a rep from a university in Pennsylvania is going to visit me about information on the school and talk about the courses offered there. I was pretty excited about that.

Brandon and I avoided each other until the day when a ‘meeting’ was called. We (meaning Chelsea, Matt, Keira, Brandon, Kevin and I) gathered into the huge living room in the first week of February. Mr. and Mrs. Colburn came in shortly afterward.

Mr. Colburn laughed before he spoke, “Look at all of you! You’re all so serious. This isn’t bad news. We just wanted to say that because of a business trip to Russia that I have to go on in March, we have to bump the ski trip to Sunday.”

“Awww, Mr. C! Why do you have to rub it in?” Kevin asked, “I’m not invited. Neither is Carly or Chelsea.”

“Kevin,” He began, “You are. And so are Carly and Chelsea.”

He smiled and ran and gave him a hug, “You just made my day!”

“Are we driving again this year?” Matt asked.

“Eww, please no.” Keira complained, “I hated the Chunnel.”

“I always wanted to go through that,” I added, “I never had.”

“I don’t care,” Kevin said still smiling, “I got invited!”

“How long does it take to drive?” Chelsea asked

“About 12 hours,” Matt said. Chelsea scrunched her face at that thought.

“We could take the plane,” suggested Mrs. Colburn. Yes, they even had a private jet.

Keira smiled, “Yeah!! We leave Sunday? ”

Mr. Colburn nodded as Kevin said, “Good thing I quit my job in time.”

Then I realized, “Um, guys, I can’t go on Sunday.” Everyone stopped and looked at me, waiting for me to continue, “A woman from Susquehanna University is coming to talk to me about their school and the business majors on Monday.”

Keira frowned, “We you could join us later. That’s the day Al is coming from Germany and I’m picking him up from the train station.”

“Yeah you could take a plane in too,” Kevin suggested and I nodded.

“Wait,” Mrs. Colburn said, “I’m not letting Carly travel alone. She’s a pretty young girl and traveling all by herself is not safe these days.”

“Mom.” Matt said flatly, “Five year olds talk planes to visit their grandparents all by themselves.”

“Parents a different, Matthew, and I would never let you do that when you were five. I’m saying that someone has to go with her.”

“I’ll do it if someone else can pick Al up from the train station.” Keria volunteered, “Can you pick him up, Kevin?”

“Does it look like I know where the train station is?”

“Keira,” Brandon finally spoke up, “Just go down with everyone else. I’ll drive Carly.”

I glanced at him, shocked at this. We haven’t even spoke for about a week and I thought he was mad at me. Now I’ll spend 12 hours with him on our way to Switzerland. Everyone, knowing that we’ve been avoiding each other, looked around not knowing what to say. Mr. Colburn cleared his throat, “Carly, is that fine for you?” I nodded, “Ok. Since that’s settled. You are free to go…except Carly and Brandon.”

Everyone got up as we glanced at each other really quickly. As Keira was leaving she turned around and screamed, “OH MY GOODNESS CARLY! MONDAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY!!”

“Haha,” Matt laughed as they exited the room, “You’ll be old like the rest of us and Keira will still be three.”

When everyone was gone turned around to us and said, “Well I guess we’ll have to celebrate, now won’t we?”

“Nahh,” I shook my head, “it’s not necessary. I won’t join you all until Tuesday anyway.”

“Then, Brandon you will have to take her out.” We said nothing, “Ok. Well to make it less awkward between you two I’ll say what I wanted to say to you. Carly, tell me about this university. Like what major are you planning on? And Brandon, I know you’re probably wondering why you’re in here but it’s most likely you are going to be her boss, so here you are.”

“Well I obviously planned on the business major where I could learn how to do marketing and communications all at once. I already applied, I just have to take a few tests first and I want to apply for a scholarship. That’s all I really know for now, I’ll know the rest when she comes on Monday.”

“When is she coming?” Brandon asked.

“She’ll be at my house at noon and it will probably take at least an hour to talk about everything that I want to know.”

“So we’ll leave shortly after that, I guess.” Brandon said and I nodded. Then he smiled and said, “Just make sure you are already packed because I’m not helping.”

Reason 19: Sometimes it just goes through one ear and out the other

Author’s Note: So I tried to have this out about two weeks ago before I left for Ireland, but it didn’t happen. So I just got back and the first thing I started doing was working on this chapter! It’s really short but I got big ideas coming up.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed!!