“Oh, well, hello there, Liam. What a surprise!” His face got more and more pale as I talked. He looked down at his hands, and his eyes grew large. He quickly hid them behind his back.

“Yeah, uh, hi Carlie.” He stammered. He was obviously very anxious about something.

“Well, I’d love to stay and chat, but my kid sister is waiting in the car, so I’d probably better go.” This Liam kid really freaked me out. I wanted to get away as soon as possible.

“Don’t you have to mail something?” he asked.

“Oh yeah, that. Um, I’ll just drop it in a mailbox somewhere. Bye!” I stepped out of line and made a beeline towards the door.

“Bye,” I heard him call back after me. As soon as I was out of the door, I broke into a run towards my car. When I finally reached it, I swung open the door and jammed the keys in the ignition. I flew out of the parking lot as fast as the speed limit would let me.

“Hey, Sissy?” Sandy’s timid voice asked, “are you okay?” I looked briefly over at her and put on my most convincing smile.

“Yeah Chika, I’m fine. We’re fine. I just don’t want to, er, miss the next showing!” I reassured her.

“Oh, okay then!” She chirped. “What are we gonna see?” She inquired.

“Well, I don’t know what’s playing. You pick.” I didn’t really care what we watched. I just needed the time and the dark theater to think. Sandy spent the next few minutes babbling about the pros and cons of each movie. She finally decided on one, just as I was pulling into the theater parking lot.

We spent a good deal of the evening laughing, and I know I felt better about the whole Cassie and Chandler situation. When we got back in my car, Sandy sighed loudly.

“What was that for?” I asked her.

“What was what for?” She yawned loudly.

“The big huff.” I said in my best ‘older sister’ voice.

“Oh, I guess I’m just tired. Plus I have to go to school tomorrow, and you have the party tomorrow night so we can’t do this again.” I felt immediately bad.

“Well, from now on, once a month we’ll have a fieldtrip. Okay?” Her face brightened considerably.

“Sweet!” she yawned again.

She was asleep before we got home. I carried her out of the car and upstairs into her room. I had to wake her up and help her get pajamas on. She mumbled thanks, and was fast asleep once more. I trudged off to my room, wishing I could fall asleep as quickly. Once inside my room, I checked my cell phone. I had a text from Chandler. It said:

Askin Cass 2morrow.

Party

Wish me luck!

I quickly typed back;

Sweet! So happy 4 u both!

Goooood luck!

And niiihgt!

I shut my phone and turned all the lights. I felt unusually sleepy. As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the coming day. I had laid out my school clothes and my party clothes. I wanted to be prepared.

The mean and bitter part of my heart wanted Chandler not to do it; not to risk ruining the trio. The good friend part wished the opposite. I stopped thinking about it when my head began to throb. I thought about Sandy and Neveah as I finally fell into a shallow and restless sleep.

I am so so so so so so so sorry that this is so late! And I know it's short, but I promise to update more often! Thanks so much for being such awesome, patient readers! I love you all!