Amanda

"Kyle Adams?" I asked in a voice a bit too nervous for my liking.

"Amanda Mitchell?" he asked with a wicked grin on his face.
"Hi! How are you?" I asked in a high voice. I was loosing it. I had to get a grip.
"Im ok," Kyle said, then looked at Anne,"Hey, Annie?"
Annie wasn't exactly right but at least he remembered her. That was some skill considering she now had braces and super short hair. Kyle was smiling at us and my knees were beginning to feel weak when somebody called Kyle's name. He frowned and said something like See you later. Then he turned and left me and Anne standing alone with confused looks on our faces.

I spent the rest of the week trying to 1.block out Kyle thoughts and 2. pay attention to Simon. It was hard. And Crystal wasn't making things any easier. She kept glaring at me, or flirting with Simon. Simon was totally oblivious. It was just like him to have two girls strangleing eachother over him, and he didn't notice. Eric did notice. He had a notebook with him at all times, noteing little comments Crystal and I made. Did I mention how I HATE Eric? Yeah? Well I really HATE Eric. I think he would have videotaped the whole week if the school had let him. Lucky me, Simon didn't seem to care about the nasty things Eric had recorded. But he cared so little, I was suspicous. Simon wasn't stupid, he had to notice something was up. Maybe he was just too modest to acknowledge. Or maybe he was kidding himself. Whatever it was, I knew Simon wasn't entirely cluesless. As for Kyle, well, I thought of him less and less. But it didnt make me happy. I was sad that I was looseing his image in my mind. Sad that I couldn't remember exactly what he had said to me. Sad I was looseing him. He was a baloon floating away from me, and I couldn't catch him no matter how far I stretched. But I hid my sadness from my friends. I fooled them all, but Anne. It made me feel even more sad. They didn't care enough to pay attention to whether I was depressed or not. Well, Anne noticed at least. I figured I would talk to her about Kyle over email. I couldn't do it in person. Over email was safer, she couldn't see me crying that way.

Our conversation went something like this.

 

Anne: We have got to talk about Kyle.

Me: Yeah I know, I was just going to email you.

Anne: Good. So let's talk.

Me: Ok. I'll start.

Anne: Ok.

Me: ok. I am really missing him and part of me wants him to find me, and part of me wants him to stay away from me. And I've got problems with Simon.

Anne: Poor Amanda.

Me: puh-lease i deserve it

Anne: Oh no you dong.

Anne: Don't 

Me: Ok Ok. I dont. Do remember what Kyle called you?

Anne: lol, yeah it was like, Annie or something. I usually hate that name, but KYLE can call me anything he wants!

Me: Lol, I'm telling Eric.

Anne: Oh no!

Me: Lol. Oh yes.

Anne: Dang. Now he'll know how bad I am. PLEASE dont ruin my angel image.

Me: ok fine.

Anne: Yay!

Me: thanks for talking, I better go.....

Anne: Ok. Bye

Me: Bye.

 

END OF CHAT.

End of Kyle talk, for now.

Now it was exactly one week since I'd seen Kyle. All my freinds and I went to a pool party. We sat around wishing the wind would stop blowing so it would be bearable to get in the pool. Actually, only me and Anne sat around. Everybody else sat in the hot tub. We couldn't because we weren't 14 yet. Everybody else was. Well, Eric wasn't. He is actually younger than me. But he lies a lot. Did I tell you that he goes by his middle name, Peter? Probably not. I call him Eric because he hates the name. But my point is, when he introduces himself as Peter, that is kinda a form of lying too. He ALWAYS lies. That's probably why I hate him so much. I don't know what Anne sees in him. Did I tell you? Anne and Eric are an "Item". That's right. Almost Best Friend and total enemy are going out together. Weird huh? Yeah, I think so too. Anyway. I realised just how much I missed Kyle that Saturday. And I told Anne.

"Every freakin guy who is taller then 5 foot is a possible Kyle to me now." I told her.

"Yeah. Those guys over there must REALLY bug you. They are all like, 6 foot." Anne said back. I just nodded and tried to keep myself together. I was so relieved when it was finally time for us all to leave the pool. I just wanted to get home.

It was Monday. Time for school again. I walked towards my classroom all gloomy, and then I saw her. Natalie. I was so caught up in Kyle I'd forgotten all about her. She had her back to me so I ran up and gave her a hug from behind. She froze up and turned around. When she saw it was just me she hugged me back. Natalie is the youngest of all of us, but she seems the oldest. She has had 3 boyfriends this year. Anne is the only other one with a boyfriend and she's had two this year. Crystal obviously had Simon, but not anymore. Anyway, Natalie had been in Nebraska all week last week and now she was back. We were both lauf=ging by the time we broke apart. Anne was the one I did the most stuff with but it was Natalie that I could really talk to. I couldn't believe I had forgotten her! That just shows you how fast an eighth grader's life moves. We talked for awhile, then I told her about Kyle. She laughed and said " Oh god, I haven't seen him in awhile! But I will see him soon, because he is going to MY highschool!"

I smiled and yelled "You suck!" as I slapped her arm. She slapped me harder. But I didn't mind. Little wheels in my head were turning. Natalie could help me. She was bold and out there. She was a wild rebel, and THAT could really help me. As long as she didn't refuse to help because she wanted Kyle too.

The rest of the week was just like any other. I really ticked off Eric by takeing his spot next to Anne, I was in a hugging contest with Natalie, I wrote my graduation speech, and I grew closer to Simon. So when our class took a random trip to the beach, I was delighted. It was really cool because the beach was next to a college. We saw scores of hot guys with there shirts off. Natalie and me hollard at them and Anne just laughed. Kitty, my nature loving, boy hating, also almost best friend frowned at us, and got soaking wet. But I was paying so much attention to guys, I nearly forgot Crystal and Rachel. I just happened to see them when I was flicking my hair at Natalie to get her wet. Crystal was in a tiny bathing suit and was squeeling and giggling all over Simon. My mouth fell open a little as she totally snuggled with him. This was wrong. She had her shot at Simon. He dumped her. She should back off. But of course she thought she was SO cute, she just kept on flirting. I kept watching to see Simon's reaction. He was laughing like crazy. Dang. Maybe she did have a chance. I could never get him to laugh like that. I bit my lip and continued splashing around for the rest of the day, but I kept an eye out for Crystal offenses.

So now it has almost been two weeks. It's Friday, the day after we all went ot the beach. School was just as boring as before, but after school something big happened. I was down at the library again, when I saw Kyle's grey eyed blond friend. Do you remember her? She was wearing almost no shirt, way too much makeup and jeans tight enough to cut off the circulation in her legs.

Yeah that perfect girl. She walks into the library yelling on her cell phone at somebody on the other end. I pretended to read a book as I listened.

"What the [censored] are you saying?" She yells and pauses.

"[censored] I'm agry! Yesterday you said you were going to give me a surprise today! Don't break your word honey. Just give me...... WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS THE SURPRISE! You [this chick has a dirty mouth]! I have given all I have to you! Oh yeah, sure. I got jewlery from you....and yes it was expensive but.......NO! You can't do this to me! I was just getting......No I don't mean it like that! I'M NOT A [censored]! God! You know what YOU can't break up with ME because I am breaking up with YOU! Go [censored] yourself!"

And then she hung up. And then she looked at me. And then I realised I was stairing at her with my mouth open. She glared at me then left the library.

 

Here is what I was thinking about that call.

1: The blond got dumped

2: She glared at me. That is some form of recognition.

3: Kyle had seemed kinda close to her, only annoyed

4: Kyle could potentially be the guy who dumped the girl

5: I had no idea how to contact Kyle

So, needless to say, I was thinking really hard as I walked home. The fact that I had no way to reach Kyle was really bugging me. I kept beating myself up, why didn't I get a number? Why didn't I ask what school he was from? WHY didn't I at least ask what school he was going too? I had just assumed he was going to quartz hill, and now I was clueless. And then I was crying  again. Stupid tears. They always gave me away. I sniffed and wiped my eyes in an attemt to stop the waterfall. I had just stopped crying when my phone vibrated. I jumped and scrambled through my purse to find it. I opened my phone and shecked out the new text. It was from Simon.

"What's poppin?" He said.

It was the starter to a great conversation.

I wish I had saved that conversation. All I can remember now is that we talked about Europe, Highschool, and that Thursday on the beach. This is the only part I wrote down on a napkin.

 

Simon: Why were you all sulky on the bus on the way home from the beach?

Me: Idk, I'm really srry. I wz kinda sad i gess.

Simon: It's k... did you have a good day overall?

(I took forever to answer this quetion, I thought it was really considerate)

Me: Yeah, it was good, Why? Did you have a good day?

Simon: Lol, yeah I had a great day.

(Great, we know why that is! Crystal :P)

Me: Yeah

Simon: Huh, well I just wanted to say......

Me: Spit it out Simon, you can do it!

Simon: Fine. I hope you have a great time at Paraclete and I hope you find some friends that are just as cool to you as you were to me......

Simon:There I said it....

(What I looked like =O)

Me: Wow, thanks. Oh man, I g2g, Bye!

 

I know that was a really sad retreat, but I had to go. As soon as I turned off my phone I screamed. It was a high pitched, loud, happy scream. I ran the rest of the way home and called Natalie and Anne. They thought I was totally crazy. Maybe I was, but I didn't care. Our call lasted about 2 minutes and then they both had chores they just HAD to do. They were just blowing me off, but I didn't care. I called Kathy, my other friend. She picked up with a really bored "What?" I just screamed into the phone. I knew Kathy was rolling her eyes on the other end. She sighed and said "Jeeze. If you are this happy BEFORE I give you the news, then maybe I shouldn't tell you!"

News? I sobered up real quick. Kathy knows everything. But it all comes at a price.

"Kathy," I whined, "Please tell me! I'm broke right now, but I'll make it up to you some how..."

"I'm sure you would," Kathy interupted, "But I am actually going to give you this one free." She went quiet, then asked me a REALLY shocking question.

"Do you know Kyle Adams?"

I felt my jaw drop, and I had to force myself to stammer, "Yes!"

"Ok, good. He wasn't some crazy stalker then." Kathy paused, enjoying the power she held over me at this moment. "Well, Kyle says 'Hi'." She laughed after what felt like forever.

I stood there for a while, then yelled " I am coming to your house right now and you are going to give me details." I hung up on Kathy and then started for her house. It wasn't that far away, and I was there in moments. Kathy saluted me from her bedroom window. Se was so weird sometimes. I ran in without knocking. This house was my second home. I guess you could say that Kathy was my other best friend, even though we never really hung out at school. I ran to Kathy and then sat right in front of her.

"What kind of details?" Kathy asked. I rolled my eyes then pulled out a piece of paper. At the top, I wrote Girl Talk.

 (Notice the Girl talk is Part 17!)

 

I couldn't contain myself. "HIS NUMBER!" I screamed. It is amazing that Kathy actually understood me.

"Yep. And not just any number, his CELL number." Kathy smirked. Then she bit her lip, "I am a little disapointed though, he only gave me the number because I told him I was your best friend. He gave it to me with clear instructions to give it to you."

I gaped at her. Kyle wanted me to have he number. ME! I blinked. I blinked again. I pinched myself. This was weird, I wasn't waking up. Kathy slapped me in the face. Trust Kathy to kick you when you are down.

"Why were you happy before?" She asked. Oops! I had completely forgot all about Simon.

"That isn't important now!" I said, "Just GIVE ME THE NUMBER KATHY!"

Kathy sighed, thne gave me a rolled up piece of paper. I still have that paper somewhere, and I still have his number, but for safety reason's I can't give you the number. Sorry, he's all mine. Anyway, I read the number out loud over and over again. It felt like my baloon was drifting back to earth. Finally Kathy kicked me out of her house with the charge of "Being a lazy lump." I walked home slowly, and by the time I got home, I had decided to test Simon and Kyle.

 

So now we have come full circle. You've met Kyle and Simon, and now I have decided to test them both. I am going to need Natalie, Kitty, and Anne for this. Kathy wouldn't really understand. She is just a little too harsh. Actually, Kathy doesn't even know I like Simon.....neither do Rachel or Crystal. Well, Crystal isn't a complete idiot. Just a tiny one. But she has to know I like him. I mean, we go neck to neck ALL the time. I have only really told my three best friends that I like him. Everybody knows about Kyle, even my principal knows, thanks to Natalie (Grr Natalie!). My mom knows, my sister knows, my dad doesn't know..... But what does it matter anyway? Everyone knows that I like Kyle. They don't know anything about him, and they don't know I have his number. A small part of me doesn't want to share Kyle's number with anyone, I want to keep him all to myself. Another part says, he isn't mine to keep. Another part says, his number isn't mine to give away, especially since this is his CELL number. Yet another part says, go ahead, give other girls his number, and watch him reject them, then call yourself and get a new bf! My mind was split into too many parts, I couldn't think straight. I decided to memorize the number and tuck away the piece of paper Kathy gave me. (That is why I lost it. I didn't REALLY lose his number, I just hid it really well. And I just happened to be hiding it from me...)  I went to bed way early and had horrible nightmares. Actually, you might want to see these nightmares for yourself......

I woke up drenched with sweat.

 

Monday I tested Simon to see if he payed attention. I was geuinly cold, but I exagerated a bit. I shivered and rubbed my arms and constantly complained to Anne. She tried hard not to laugh, she knew I was faking. Simon glanced at me once, and then again a few minutes later. He finally came up and asked me,

"Are you cold? Do you want my jacket?" I tried not to smile as a nodded and accepted his sweater. Test 1, passed.

Natalie and I set up Test 2. Natalie ran up and hugged her boyfriend. I laughed at her from afar and yelled "Bet you couldn't get any hugs if he wasn't your BF!" Natalie laughed back, "Oh ya? I bet I can get WAY more hugs than YOU can suck up!" I screamed in "outrage" and we ran to the nearest group of guys, begging for hugs. It was actually kind of strange. I ended up getting ahead for awhile, and we were actually getting competative, we were head to head and Natalie tied it up real quick. I screamed again. "Natalie! You HAVE to let me get Tye (her bf)! PLEASE! I have no one else and you are two ahead!" I winked, we both knew it was a tie.

"No way girl! I am ahead finaly, I am not letting you touch my boyfriend!" She yelled. I sighed and chased her right up to our little group of friends.

"Hey Natalie, I'll give you a hug." Eric smirked. What a snake. I really HATE him. Natalie got a quick hug then ran laughing as she went, "Three ahead! Three ahead!" I grumbled and slowed down next to Anne, "This is no fun, she is ahead by too much." I whined. Simon was standing across from me. I looked at him innocently, as if I had just realised I hadn't hugged him yet. He looked at me, then glanced over at Eric. The idiot was stairing after Natalie with a huge grin on his face. I wanted to slap him and shout "YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND YOU JERK!" But I stood still and watched Simon turn back to me with a scared expression on his face.

I stepped up to Simon. I tried hard not to bite my lip. I looked into his eyes and asked "Simon, will you give me a hug?" I wanted to turn around and hide behind Anne, but I kept standing there. "Please?" I am not really sure what happened to me after that. I kind of blanked out. I felt like I was standing next to myself watching the scene play out. Somehow, I saw Eric give Simon a big thumbs up. I saw Anne turn to look at himwith pain in her eyes. I heard Natalie laughing somewhere. I saw Kitty fold her arms and step back with a worried expression on her face. I barely noticed that I was saying "please" over and over again. Most important of all, I saw Simon turn away slowly. I slammed back into my body with a sharp pain that unbalanced me. I tripped on nothing and almost did a header. Instead I fell on Simon. I was pressed up against his back, with my hands on his shoulders. He froze up. I freaked out. I laughed and stepped back.

"I stole a hug anyways!" I laughed nervously, then hugged the smiling buffoon Eric from behind, running away to chase Natalie and finish the compitition. She ended up winning. All I could think about was that I had lost in two ways.

Test 2, failed.

 

I sat on the edge of my bed. My phone was in my hand, and Natalie's number was all dialed in. All I would have to do was press one button and I could talk to her. I didn't want to. Inside, I knew I just wanted to talk to Simon. I wanted to straighten this mess out. I wanted to tell him how I felt. I wanted, no, I needed to get back to being me. Minus all the drama of Simon and Kyle. I sighed and closed my phone. I lay down staring up at the plain white ceiling. I started to whisper to myself. I imagined how I would tell Simon I liked him, what I would say if a) Simon liked me b) He liked me as a friend ONLY or c) He hated my guts (which wouldn't have surprised me all that much, many people seemed to hate me). I sat thinking about how other people (like Crystal) would react. I must have sat there for hours, because I turned down two offers of food from my mother. I was still whispering when my phone vibrated. I jumped with a squeek. I really don't like vibrating phones. They are just too scary for my liking, and make a funny noise. BZZZZZ! Yeah, annoying. So I snatched it up quickly, forgetting to check the number as I hurried to pick up and make the stupid phone stop.

"Hello?" I asked, a hint of annoyance tinting my voice.

"Amanda Mitchell?" A friendly, uh, male, voice asked. I didn't respond for a second. His voice sounded so familiar, like a dream. Who was it? I flipped through my mental voicebook. It wasn't any of the boys I knew from school. Maybe it was.... My mind hit a wall. No, it couldn't be that one. Not that boy. The boy! Nope no way no how. Unless..... I smacked my forhead painfully hard. KATHY! I wanted to scream. How could she? She knew she wasn't supposed to give my cell number to anyone. Not anyone.

But especially not Kyle Adams.