Everything got back to normal a couple of days after the prom -if 'normal' is the right word for how things were going right now.
My mom and dad knew nothing about the night I had spent with Lucas, and neither did Nick. It's not that I wouldn't have told my parents, but they've never asked -about that specific subject- and I had decided that there was actually nothing to tell. I was in bed before they woke up -so that they didn't worry- and that was all that mattered. Nick, on the other hand, paid me a visit the following morning requesting for details and apologizing for being too drunk to take proper care of me -that's what he said anyway. I knew that he was actually trying to make sure that nothing happened between me and Lucas and after I assured him that I had been brought straight home,the look of relief on his face confirmed my suspicion.
Now, three days later, I was on my way home from school after four awful hours of being in an exam -Thank God it was the last one!-thinking of nothing else but my applying letters to Columbia, Harvard and Yale -given the fact that I was supposed to receive some answers soon enough.
I also had to think about applying for an internship over the summer somewhere, but I would do that later. I had my head wrapped around too much already.
Tossing my bag on the floor and taking my shoes off, I strolled to the kitchen. Nick and mom were both sitting at the table laughing at something. I cleared my throat trying to catch their attention.
"Hi, darling!" My mom said grinning.
"Hi! What's going on in here?"
Nick stood up and made his way to me. He scooped me up in his arms and started spinning us around.
"I'm in, Kate! I've been accepted to Columbia."
I started clapping my hands and jumping around like a little child.
"That's great, Nick! Congratulations!"
"Here!" He said handing me an envelope. "Your turn, princess!" He added taking a bow.
"The other two are here as well, darling, but he insisted on opening that one first." My mom pointed to the two letters on the table.
I opened the envelope Nick gave to me with trembling hands and stared at the word 'accepted'. I was in...
"So?" Nick asked me.
"I'm in too..." My voice was barely a whisper. Nick's smile widened and he scooped me up into his arms again.
"That's great! We'll be at the same College."
"Here, darling!" Mom said handing me the other letters. "Open them up!"
I opened both letters at once and took a deep breath before looking them over. Crap!
"What do they say, dear?"
"I'm... in."
Mom let out a sigh of relief and nodded proudly. "I'm so happy for you, sweetie!"
"Thanks, mom!"
"I have a nerdy best friend. That's so cool! But you're still coming to Columbia with me, right?"
I was struck speechless by Nick's words. I knew that he was thinking of me as more than a friend and the only person I could think that way of was Lucas -hard as it is to admit.
"Kate?" The confusion in his tone was obvious as he tried to catch my attention.
"I... I need to think about it for a while, Nick. I'm sorry!"
"What do you mean? I thought..."
"I know, but you must admit that this is a huge opportunity for me. Nick, we're talking about Harvard and Yale. You know how much I wanted to be accepted there."
"Yes, of course I know, but you also applied to Columbia. Why would you do that if you don't even consider going there?"
"I do consider it, Nick, but I also consider the other two. God! I just need some time to think about it."
"Nick, Kate, that's enough! You have a whole summer to make up your mind, so stop it! This discussion ends here!"
I looked at my mother's angry face and realised that I might have crossed the line.
"I just need some time, ok?" I turned my attention back to Nick and spoke softly. "Please, Nick! I just need some time."
His eyes softened as well and he hugged me tightly.
"Yeah. Sorry for yelling at you, princess. I didn't mean to be an ass."
"I know. And just so you know, I don't think you're an ass." He chuckled a little and burried his face in my hair.
"Thanks." He whispered softly in my ear. "As an apology, let me take you out for dinner. You can scream at me all you want then and call me however you want."
I knew I shouldn't accept given that I would never be able to see him as more than a friend, but something deep inside me didn't allow me the power to say 'no' to him.
"That would be great. Name the place and time."
"I'd rather not, since it's gonna be a surprise."
I couldn't help but giggle. He finally let go of me and after a swift kiss on both mine and mom's cheeks, he left.
I sat next to mom and sniffled a couple of times.
"Don't play games with his heart, Kate." I sighed and turned to face mom.
"I don't want to mom. I swear I don't." A tear slipped down my cheek.
"He's in love with you, dear. Now, the question is, are you in love with him?"
"I love Nick, mom, and you know it."
"That's not what I asked you, darling."
"I don't know. I've never thought of him that way."
"Falling in love is quite an easy concept, darling and it only has two options. You either fall for a person or not. It's that easy..."
"I haven't fallen in love with him yet, mom and I don't even know if I can, but I feel like I must try. Like I owe it to him..."
Mom's smile was strained but her voice was soft. "You do what you have to do, kiddo, but remember that you can't give him your heart if it already belongs to someone else." My mouth dropped open in shock, but I quickly collected myself. "I'm your mother, Kate. I can tell when my daughter is in love."
"I don't know what to do..." My voice cracked before I could say anything else.
"Yes, you do. You're right! You owe him a chance and maybe you can even fall in love with him. But if you can't, you need to stop before you break him."
I nodded my head in agreement.
"Now, what about the man you've actually fallen for? Why aren't you with him?"
"Because I'm scared, mom."
"You're scared he doesn't feel the same, huh?"
"No. As a matter of fact, I know he does, but I'm afraid I'm not good enough for him."
Mom's eyes widened and she let out an angry breath.
"I'll never understand why you underestimate yourself like this."
"I'm not underestimating myself, mom. I'm just keeping it real. He's too good for me."
"Well, appearently, he swept you off your feet."
"Yes, he did. What am I gonna do, mom?"
"You're gonna relax and go with it. What's meant to happen will happen anyway no matter how much you try to change it."
"I wish I could fall for Nick, mom. He's a good man and he'd take care of me."
"Yeah, well, try to reason with your heart, and tell me if it worked." She sighed again and stood up. "Meanwhile, let's get you ready for dinner." I gave her my hand and stood as well.
God! Reading between the lines, my mother could name my feelings better than I could. Maybe it was the time I learned to do that too...