How Do You Say Goodbye? by AJzkitten69

1. Chapter One by AJzkitten69

2. Chapter Two by AJzkitten69

Chapter One by AJzkitten69
之之之Chapter 1坐坐坐

“Hey, what’s up?” Alex asked Nick as he watched Heather on the monkey bars from across the playground. She got no response, so she whacked him upside the head.

“Ow! What was that for?” he asked, rubbing his head.

“Gee wiz, I’ve only been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes.” She looked to where he had been looking. “You like her, don’t you?”

“No, I do NOT. I CAN’T like her. You guys are my best friends, and have been since kindergarten. Plus, I mean, we’re only in sixth grade here. We’re way too young for that stuff. And it’s the end of the year. We’re about to graduate and go to this big jr. high with so many more people that she and I could go for. And how would it make you feel. We’ve ALL been best friends all this time, so how would it make you feel if I liked her?” Nick rambled on and on.

“Nick, no offense, but I couldn’t care less. And we’re all going to the same jr. high. So I don’t care. And you so like her. It’s, like, duh,” Alex said, smiling. Just then Heather came running up.

“Hey guys, what’s up?” She gave both of them a hug and looked at them, waiting for an answer.

“We were just talking about what we were wearing to graduation,” Alex lied. “I’m wearing a simple medium length black dress. And you?”

“Tight, sparkly, purple dress, purple tights, and purple platforms,” Heather replied. Nick smiled slightly, thinking of the fact that they were all best friends even though they were complete opposites. He also silently thanked Alex for not telling his secret.

“Normal, everyday, dress shirt and dress pants,” he said.

“Heather, what are you doing to your hair?” Alex asked.

“Dying it to match my dress. Purple.” Nick raised his eyebrows. Heather laughed. “Anyway, just came over here for a sec from basketball to invite ya’ll over to my house tomorrow night to sleep over. Can ya be there?” she asked them both. Since they had been best friends for so long, all of their parents had long since gotten used to their closeness and simply accepted the sleeping over and the sudden arrangements, and trusted them to not do anything that they wouldn’t approve of, even if they were of different sexes.

Nick and Alex nodded and Heather ran back to the tall dark haired boy clad in a leather jacket and jeans. Nick felt jealousy rise in him as he continued to watch her play one on one with him. He turned back to Alex.

“Thanks for not telling. That would have been so embarrassing.” Alex smiled.

“You know me. I don’t tell secrets. You gotta work it out for yourself.” She looked toward the dude playing basketball with Heather. “Wow, he’s hot,” she said.

“Oh thanks,” Nick said sarcastically, “make me feel like I have a chance.”

She looked back toward him. “Well, that’s only from my point of view. I go for the bad boy types. Maybe she doesn’t.”

“Yeah right. I’m willing to bet you twenty bucks that when she grows up she’ll fall in love with some tattoo-covered, hair-dying, horny freak.” Alex laughed and shook his outstretched hand.

“The first guy she admits to loving, then. Then if that person fits your description, I’ll give up the twenty. But, I’m gonna want my money when I win the bet.” The bell rang and they walked together to graduation practice.

之之之之The next night坐坐坐坐

They all sat in Heather’s room in their pajamas playing Parcheesi. Heather was wearing some silky drawstring pants with an old New Kids On The Block t-shirt. Alex was in similar attire, except she was wearing a Nirvana shirt. Nick was in his tank top and baggy pants. Alex had a block on the spot both Heather and Nick needed to pass, and she wasn’t giving it up.

Heather looked up from the board. “Oh my God! I just remembered! You would not believe what my mom said!”

Alex sighed. “Well, we probably couldn’t, but I’m sure you’ll tell us anyway.”

“My mom said that I could have a boyfriend next year. She says that jr. high is just fine an age for that kind of stuff. She wanted me to wait till then, and now I’m free to have a boyfriend. Well, after a week. Isn’t that cool?”

Alex watched as Nick’s eyes lit up. Lucky him, Heather didn’t notice. “Got anyone in mind?” she asked. Heather shook her head. “Anyone you think is cute?”

Heather smiled. “Yes…”

“Who?”

“Nick!”

Nick blushed. That she did notice. She smiled again, mischievously, and proceeded to tackle him and coat his face in kisses. He moved his head slightly so that her lips landed on his. Both of them froze in shock. They pulled away and looked at each other, then to Alex. She raised her hands and backed away with an expression on her face that meant ‘Don’t look at me. I’m not the one that kissed my best friend.’
Chapter Two by AJzkitten69
之之之Chapter 2坐坐坐

Heather and Nick looked at each other again. There was a full five minutes of silence before Nick said “Um.”

“That’s probably the best way to describe the situation. What are we going to do?” Heather asked.

“Well, we could just wait until you can have a boyfriend until we talk about it,” Nick said.

“That wouldn’t work. It’d be on our minds the entire time and that would just suck because it would influence our friendship.”

“Um, guys, I’m just gonna go in the other room for a few minutes because I really don’t even wanna influence you guys’ decisions and you totally have to figure this one out for yourselves,” Alex said, walking into the connecting bathroom. They heard the door lock.

“I’m still wondering what to do,” Heather said. “This might help. Why did you move your head like that?”

“I wasn’t comfortable in that position and I really didn’t know where you were gonna kiss next so I took my chances and moved my head. Obviously the wrong way,” he lied.

“So there’s no problem, right? It was just an accident?”

“Yeah. No problem at all. Let’s get Alex back out here and continue our game.” Heather knocked on the bathroom door. Alex peeked her head out. “Solved,” Nick said. She took one look at his face and knew instantly that he hadn’t told her the truth. But she had told him that she wouldn’t tell his secret and intended to keep that promise, as much as she thought it should be said. They continued with their game of Parcheesi and then went to sleep.

之之之Graduation Day坐坐坐

“Joshua Bomberger,” the teacher announced. The kid they all knew as Josh went and took his diploma from the smiling principal. He shook her hand and went in front of the audience of all the families of the graduating students. He stood there for a second and allowed all the cameras to flash, then moved back to the end of the row.

“Nickolas Carter,” came over the speakers. Nick sucked in his breath and walked toward the principal, who he had always found somewhat annoying. She had thought him the same, considering he was always in trouble.

When he went to shake her hand and take his diploma, she held onto his hand for a second longer. “Well, Nickolas, you actually graduated. Congratulations,” she said.

“Well, gee, Mrs. Smith, I really don’t know to take that as a compliment or an insult,” he said, smiling.

Her smile faltered for a second, then regained its confidence. “Why, a compliment of course.” She let go of his hand and he continued on his way.

之之之Later that afternoon坐坐坐

“So what ya’ll doin’ this summer?” Alex piped up.

“Absolutely nothing, besides shopping for a new wardrobe. I need new clothes for jr. high. But besides that, this will officially be the most boring summer of my life,” Heather complained. Then her face brightened a little. “But at least I get to shop.”

“I’m doing pretty much the same,” Nick said.

“So I guess we’re gonna be hanging out all summer?” Alex asked.

Heather and Nick smiled and Alex couldn’t help but think of what a cute couple they’d make. “Has it ever been different?” she responded. They were still in their graduation clothes, sitting around in Nick’s living room. Heather’s purple hair stood out among everything else. She seemed to like it that way.

“Look, I gotta go home and change outta this dress. Meet me at the park around five?” Alex asked.

Nick nodded. Heather looked at her watch. “You wanna ride home? My mom will be here in about fifteen minutes, and I’m sure she’ll be glad to give you a ride,” she said.

“Sure,” Alex said.

之之之In The Car坐坐坐

“I have a crush,” Heather whispered in Alex’s ear.

“Really? Who?”

Heather blushed and studied her hands. “Nick,” she said shyly. “But you can’t tell anybody.”

“Promise,” Alex responded, thinking of how they had a crush on each other but didn’t know it. What could she do to help them? She had promised both of them not to tell their secrets, but they liked each other, so would it really be a bad thing to tell one of them what was going on? Alex decided not to tell and just let time do that for them.


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