"I hate it already," Erica said as she sat down next to Taylor and Rick. Everyone was hanging out at Rick's house after their first day back to school.
"Don't worry, it gets worse," Rick said, smiling.
Erica just glared at him as she heard Brad walk in the room. Erica turned her head, and she noticed what Brad was wearing. He was wearing a shirt that had 5 Seconds of Summer on it, with some dark jeans and hightops. Taylor and Erica laughed.
"Why are you wearing that?" Taylor asked him.
"I thought you said they were your favorite band."
"One Direction is, but they only have 4 people in the band now. I guess I understand how you would get those mixed up."
"Shit. Well, close enough," Brad said, sitting on the floor in front of Taylor. Taylor laughed and kissed his cheek.
Taylor and Brad have been dating for a week now since Taylor was ready. Taylor has decided that if she focused on Bradley forever, she would never get to date anyone else, so she has decided to give Brad a try.
"How was the first day of high school?" Brad asked as he ran his hand along Taylor's arms.
"It was absolutely horrible. Why didn't you warn me how bad it was?" Taylor said, looking at Brad.
"Sorry. I didn't think it was that bad."
"You were probably focusing on all the girls."
"I'm not going to lie. I was. That was long before I met you, though."
"Suck up," Rick coughed under his breath.
Erica and Taylor laughed. Taylor joined Brad on the floor as Rick wrapped his arm around Erica.
"They are a pretty good couple, aren't they?" Erica asked, looking at Brad and Taylor.
"I guess so."
Erica smiled and watched her best friend be happy for a whole week. "I'm so happy for you guys."
"Me too," Brad said, smiling at Taylor.
Taylor blushed slightly, and she crossed her legs to keep them from shaking. She still got a little nervous when she was around Brad, but she was getting better. "We should go on a double date," Taylor suggested.
Erica and Rick looked at each other with surprise in their face. "Really?"
"Yeah. Unless, you guys aren't down with that," Brad added.
Rick and Erica looked at each other again, and they both smiled.
"Oh yeah. We're down with that," Erica said, smiling while Rick laughed.
********************
"What's with that look?" Adam asked AJ.
"My best friends are going on double dates," AJ said, still a little weirded out.
"Oh," Adam said, laughing.
"What?"
"I thought that Taylor didn't have a boyfriend."
"She does now. I think you're a little late."
Adam smiled, and he shrugged as he turned back to the T.V.
"Wait. Why are they going on a double date?"
"I don't know, but there are pictures on Facebook with them on it," AJ said, giving Adam her phone to look at. Adam took it, and his expression changes from surprised to disturbed.
"Interesting."
"Yeah."
"I didn't think people went on those kinds of things anymore," Adam said.
"That's what I thought too, but I guess they brought it back in style."
"I wouldn't say that it's in style."
AJ laughed and took back her phone. "Thanks for your input."
"It's not my fault they went to Chuckie Cheese."
"They went to McDonald's."
"What's the difference?"
"There's lots."
"Whatever you say."
AJ rolled her eyes. Sometimes she didn't know whether punch Adam or hug him until he begged for mercy. Don't ask.
************************
"Yay, we're not babies anymore!" Ryan yelled at the top of his lungs.
Eleanor punched him in the stomach to quiet him down. "Ryan, shut up."
"Why? I'm excited."
"We just started our first day of 10th grade. I don't know why you're so excited."
"We're not freshmen anymore, so that means we get to pick on the next class of babies that walk through the doors."
"No, we don't."
"Why not? I just want to have a little fun?"
"You saw what happened to Briana right?"
"Who's that?"
"She committed suicide after she got embarrassed at one of the basketball games when we were in 8th grade."
"Oh yeah...Wasn't she the girl who was so upset about Ted Paisley breaking heart in front of everybody?"
"Yeah. There's a story to go along with that, but if you embarrass any of these freshmen, they could commit suicide, too."
"You're overreacting."
"I don't think so. Besides, I know a few freshman personally, so you better not touch them."
"Who are they?"
"Erica Blake, AJ..something, Taylor something...You what, that's not the point. Just don't embarrass anyone so bad that they will hurt themselves."
"Man...You make pranks sound horrible."
"Sometimes it is."
"Damn."
**********
"I have a lot of people blowing my phone up with comments on our double date," Taylor said to Erica.
"Same. I have comments like, 'Who does those anymore?' or 'You guys are crazy.'"
Taylor smiled and took a deep breath as they walked down the hall. "They need to give us more than 4 minutes to get back and forth from classes."
"I know right."
"Have you been missing Liam lately?"
Erica stopped dead in her tracks to look at Taylor. "Liam?"
"Yeah. You know the british fellow who left when we were in 8th grade."
Erica continued walking, but she wasn't done with this question. "No, I haven't."
"Wow, so you actually forgot about him?"
"I didn't forget about him...I just pushed him in the back of my mind."
"Until later?"
Taylor and Erica walked into their classroom, and surprisingly they weren't the last one's in the classroom. Taylor turned to Erica who was playing with her pencil case.
"Taylor?"
"Yes Erica?"
"Should I stay with Rick or go back to Liam if he comes back?"
"Honestly...? I think Liam, but you might fall in love with Rick before he comes back."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
"Sorry for bringing it up."
"It's okay. It needed brought up."
"Why?"
"If you didn't bring it up, I would've forgot about my best friend, and what kind of friend would I be if I forgot him?"
"You should talk to him, so you can make sure he didn't forget you, too."
"I don't know.."
"Give it a shot. What's the worst thing that could happen?"
He could have a girlfriend.
*******
"Is it too late to back out?" Erica asked AJ and Taylor.
Taylor and AJ shook their heads as they sat behind Erica. They were in Erica's living room, Erica had her computer on their coffee table, and Taylor and AJ were sitting behind her on the couch while Erica sat on the floor. Erica took a few breaths, and she looked at her friends.
"Are you sure I should do this? He probably doesn't want to talk to me."
"Erica. Just do it this once, and if you don't want to talk to him again, don't," AJ said, with her arms crossed.
"Does Rick know I'm doing this?" Erica asked.
"Don't worry about him."
Erica was all out of stalling skills. She took a deep breath and opened her computer. She got on her Skype account, but she looked at her friends one more time. "Erica, you can do this," they both said at the same time.
Erica nodded as she clicked 'sign in'. Her hands were sweaty, her hands and arms were shaking, and she felt butterflies in her stomach. I can do this. She checked her watch, and it said 10:28 a.m.
"We still have 2 minutes. I can get a drink of water," Erica said, jumping up.
"Erica..." her friends warned her.
"Don't worry. I'll be back," Erica said, running to the kitchen. She grabbed a small glass, filled it with water and she gulped it down in 5 gulps or less. She looked at her reflection. She had mascara on, her long golden blonde hair was down, she was wearing dark jeans, a light blue tank top. She took a deep breath, and she returned to the living room.
"Ready?" Taylor asked her.
"I think so," Erica said as she sat down in front of her computer. Then, someone's user name popped up under 'incoming call'. She looked at it, and it said: Liam'stoocool12. Erica smiled slightly, and she answered the call, still really nervous.
She saw herself on camera, but she wasn't the problem or thing she was worried about. It was the fact that Liam grew longer hair. He had the younger 'Bieber' style hair, and he somehow got lighter skin. He was really tan when he left, but now he was lighter.
"Hey Erica," Liam said. Oh my god. His voice deeper. His voice used to be a little higher and was cracking.
"Hi Liam," Erica said, noticing her shaky hands on the table shake some more.
"Hey Liam!" Taylor and AJ exclaimed as they got in the view.
Liam laughed and waved. "Hey guys, how have you guys been?"
"We've been great. I'm dating Adam, and Taylor is dating a guy named Brad."
Liam was a little surprised by that. "I knew you would go for Adam, but Taylor? Who's Brad? I thought you were dating Bradley."
"He broke up with me because he said he liked another girl 2 grades ahead of him," Taylor said, shrugging.
"Oh. I'm so sorry about that, but who's Brad?"
"He's a Junior who's friends with one of Erica's....friends named Rick. We met them at the park in July," Taylor said, looking down at Erica.
"He's just a friend?" Liam asked, looking at Erica.
"That doesn't matter. I called you to check up. I didn't call to talk about if we're dating other people," Erica said.
"I know," he said, sighing. "Things have been fine here. My parents say they are loving it in California, but I'm not a big fan of it."
"Why not? You have to be interested in those California girls," Erica said, trying to play it as cool as possible.
Liam shrugged. "They're all right."
"Are you dating one?" Erica asked, afraid of the answer.
"I was, but not anymore. I found out that she was using me to get her ex-boyfriend back and everything," Liam said.
"Aw. I'm sorry Liam. Have you dated anyone else before her or now?"
"I dated another girl before her, yes. I dated a girl a year older than me for a few months, but there wasn't a good connection. I didn't feel happy with her, so you know.."
Erica nodded. "Sounds like you haven't had much luck in dating."
"It's true."
"Don't worry. I haven't had any fun either. I dated Luke, the quiet Luke..."
"Wow, really?"
"Yeah. He just walked up to me because I was going through...some stuff. Then, in June or whatever, I agreed to date him. Worst mistake ever. He cheated on me with Leanna."
"Wow. Not only does he talk, he's a total jerk who didn't realize how lucky he was."
Erica smiled. "Yeah, I guess. I'm dating this guy named Rick for a couple months now, but I don't know if I'll ever find pure happiness with anyone."
"You will, don't worry about that."
Erica nodded and smiled. "I hope you have a good time in California, Liam. Don't get too messed up."
"Trust me, I won't. Thanks."
"Yep. Tell your parents I said I hope they're happy where they are."
"Thanks. I think they're calling me down to go for a walk now. I swear, ever since they moved here, they are all about fitness. I'll see ya. I don't know if we'll be able to talk again anytime soon, but take care of yourself."
"I will. Bye Liam," Erica said, trying to get hold of herself.
"Bye Erica. Bye Taylor and AJ!" Liam said before ending the call.
Erica sighed and closed her computer. "That's that," Erica said, standing up.
"How do you feel?" Taylor asked.
"I have no idea. He changed, I know that."
"You probably changed through his eyes, too."
"Maybe, but he really changed. He talks different, he looks different..."
"He went through puberty like we did. Nothing big," AJ said.
Erica shrugged. "I hope Rick isn't mad that I talked to Liam without telling him," Erica said, grabbing her computer.
"He has no reason to be mad. You were just talking to your best friend."
"Yeah I was, but..."
"If he is mad, have him talk to me," AJ said.
"I won't do that. You're crazy," Erica said, laughing.
AJ smiled and shrugged. "It is what it is."
Erica rolled her eyes. "Hey guys, after I put my computer upstairs..."
"Ice cream!" Taylor exclaimed.
"How does she always read my mind?" Erica asked, laughing before disappearing upstairs.
***********
"She talked to another guy on Skype?" Brad asked. "Yeah she did. I heard Taylor and another girl talking about it in the background when I called her earlier." "You don't think she was trying to get back with an ex-boyfriend, right?" "I honestly don't know. I hope not." "Don't worry. She wouldn't do that." Rick nodded. "Lighten the fuck up, dude. Don't get all girly on me." "I'm not getting all girly." "Yes you are. You are whimpering like a little puppy." "I am not," Rick said, shoving Brad hard. Brad laughed and looked at him. "Dude...You got it bad. Real damn bad." "I do not. I can leave Erica whenever I want to, and I will be just fine." "Sure you can." "I can. Do you want me to prove it to you?" "Go ahead, dude. I know you can't do it." "Watch me," Rick said, grabbing his phone. "You fucker. Give me that phone! You are NOT breaking my girlfriend's best friend's heart!" Brad yelled, attempting to snatch the phone away. Rick pulled away and looked at him. "I'm telling you, I can break up with her." All of a sudden, they heard a door slam, and they both snapped their heads to the window. Erica was running away from Rick's house. She was standing in his doorway the whole time, and they never noticed it. Then, Rick got a message. Erica: Don't worry, I'm gone. "Shit," Rick and Brad both said at the same time. "I messed up bad, didn't I?" Rick asked, even though he already knew the answer. All Brad did was nod.