Chapter 2, The Taylor Shop

The following Monday after school, Angelica reluctantly went to the taylor shop to get started on her grueling punishment.

"Ever used one of these before?" Asked the taylor, as he handed Angelica a needle and some thread.

Angelica moaned, and reluctantly, got to work.

It took her a while to get things started, but by the end of her first day, she at least had one row of stitching done. She continued to do this each and every day after school, and on weekends, as the blue vest with gold buttons she was making, was starting to come along quite nicely. One day, Susie stopped by to see how Angelica was doing, since this particular quarter in school, they sadly, did not have lunch together, because of an extra coricular class that Susie was taking, that only met during first lunch.

"Wow! That vest is coming along nicely Angelica." Said Susie with a smile, admiring Angelica's work on the vest.

"Thanks Susie. I hope to give this vest to someone special." Said Angelica.

"Really? Who?" Susie asked.

"A boy." Angelica replied.

"It wouldn't be Harold, would it?" Susie asked.

"Now don't play dumb with me Carmichael, you know very well who the only boy in my life is that matters to me." Said Angelica.

"Well yeah, there is that, but do you also realize that you also screwed over another important boy in your life too? Someone who you've known even longer than Harold? Someone you've known since he was practically a day old? And someone, you're related to?" Susie asked.

"Yeah yeah yeah, I know, you're thinking of Tommy, don't worry, I've got him covered." Lied Angelica.

"Well ok then." Said Susie, as she left the taylor shop to head for home.

But deep down, Angelica didn't have anything for Tommy, or to make up for the fact that she had lost the one Christmas present he had his eye on, that aunt Didi and uncle Stu were counting on her to get on Black Friday. No matter, all Angelica could think about, was getting that vest finished in time to be finished with her days of volunteering at the taylor shop in time to attend Savanna's Christmas party, and give Harold the gift she was making for him, or otherwise, the vest she was working on, would be a complete bust, and waste of time.

It finally came to the Saturday of Savanna's party. Angelica was nearly done with the vest, she only had one more gold button to sew on to it, before it was complete. If only she had five more minutes, she'd have the vest finished, and be home free.

"It's quitting time, time to go." Barked the taylor from behind Angelica.

"But mister Taylor Manager sir, I'm almost done, just give me five more minutes, please?" Begged Angelica.

"Sorry, it's quitting time. You can finish up that vest on Monday and then I'll let you go." Said the Taylor.

Angelica was not impressed, but perhaps if she lied to her parents and told them she was finished, she could at least go to Savanna's party, and tell Harold that she'd mail him his gift in Connecticut when it was finished. But little did Angelica know, the taylor was giving Charlotte reports of how she was doing with her progress at the taylor shop each night on her cell phone.

While Angelica never got a new outfit, she pulled out a black dress she hadn't worn in a couple of months to wear, changed clothes, and covered herself up in makeup and perfume.

"What are you doing dressed up like that?" Charlotte asked, as she spotted Angelica, coming down the stairs.

"I think I'm off to Savanna's Christmas party. Car keys please?" Replied Angelica.

"I'm sorry Angelica, but you still have some work to do on the vest you're working on at the taylor shop, and we specifically told you, that your grounding would not be lifted, until your volunteer work there, was finished, and that also means, attending Savanna's party, is out." Said Charlotte.

"But… But… But…" Cried Angelica.

"You're grounded until your volunteer work is finished, I'm sorry, but you have to pay for the consiquences of your actions. Perhaps Savanna will hold a party next year, when she's home in between college semesters, and you can go to that one." Said Charlotte.

"But that's not fair!" Shouted Angelica, as she stormed off to her room, and slammed the door behind her, falling face down on to her bed, and sobbing into her pillow, causing her makeup to run everywhere.

Meanwhile, at Savanna's party, Harold attended, all by himself, very disappointed that Angelica, never showed up. He tried to call Angelica's cell, and texted her several times, only Angelica never answered. No matter, Harold finished off the assortments of dips that were served at the party, told everybody goodbye, and as soon as the party was over, he headed home, to find the movers, putting the final few boxes into the truck, and an hour later, Harold was in the car with his parents, the moving truck following behind them, as he headed out of town.

The next day, which was Angelica's day off, she saw that she missed several calls and texts from Harold, so tried to call him back, only to get no answer, as a result of the lack of cell phone service that Harold was getting while on route from California to Connecticut. No matter, Angelica did send him a text, apologizing for not showing up at the Christmas party, that because she was still grounded, her parents, forbid her to go.

Harold received Angelica's text, and didn't reply right away, as he was contemplating a lot of things, one of which, was if he could continue to date Angelica, and hold on to their romantic relationship, from a long distance. The more he thought about it, the more stressed out he became, and so Harold, had to do the hardest thing he ever had to do. He tried to call Angelica, to break up with her, only to have no cell phone service, so he began composing his break up text message.

Monday finally came around. After school, Angelica went to the taylor shop for the final time, to put the finishing touches on the vest. When the taylor came by to admire her finished product, he was impressed with what he saw.

"My my Angelica, you did a lovely job on this! So, are you going to give it to someone special?" The Taylor asked.

"Yes, I am." Angelica said, holding the vest up in front of her face, admiring the work she had done.

"Well, that's it, you've proven yourself worthy, and shown that you know how much work goes into making clothes, so, you can go." Said the Taylor, as Angelica gathered up her things, and left the shop.

She was hoping that Harold hadn't left for Connecticut yet, and went by his house, to give him the vest, only when she got there, she looked in the windows, to see the rooms, completely deserted of furniture.

"Oh no!" Angelica cried, just as Susie was passing by in her mom's car. She pulled over, and got out of the car, walking up behind Angelica, and laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Hi Angelica." Susie said with a frown, as Angelica spun around to face her.

"What happened? I thought Harold wasn't leaving until tonight." Said Angelica.

"Oh, that's right, you didn't make it to Savanna's party on Saturday." Said Susie.

"Go figure, all because the stupid man at the taylors wouldn't give me just, five more minutes to finish my project, I was grounded, and didn't get to go. Now, what happened?" Snapped Angelica.

"Well, as soon as Savanna's party was over, Harold's family left for Connecticut. He tried to call you and text you several times, but you never answered." Said Susie.

"I didn't feel like talking to anybody." Muttered Angelica to herself, as she kicked a pebble she found on the ground, and got into the passenger side of Susie's car, while Susie went around to the driver's side of the car, and drove Angelica home.

"So, did you finish the vest?" Susie asked.

"Yep, now I'm finished, two days later than I wanted to be, only now, I'll have to text Harold for his new address, since I never saw him Saturday night to get it from him." Said Angelica with a sigh, as she turned and looked out the window, tears, coming to the corner of her eyes.

"Why don't you text him right now?" Susie suggested.

"Great idea! I'll do just that then." Said Angelica, as she got her cell phone out, only to open it up, to see the worst text message she has ever received.

"Dear Angelica, It pains me to have to say this, but while I enjoyed our time together since preschool, and our time together as a couple since the ninth grade, I am sorry to say, that with me being clear across the country from you, I cannot continue our relationship. Just the fact that I'm far away from you, stresses me out, and so, this is it. We're breaking up. I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas, and that you will continue to find love, and, just know this. I'll never forget our time together, and I'll always treasure the memories. Harold." Read the text message.

"No!" Screamed Angelica.

"What! What is it?" Susie asked.

Angelica went on to explain to her of the breakup text she had received from Harold, and how he wasn't interested in having a long distance relationship with her.

"Awe, I'm so sorry Angelica." Said Susie apologetically, as she put the car into park and tried to put a comforting arm around Angelica's shoulder.

"No! Just leave me alone!" Shouted Angelica, as she grabbed the vest, her school things, and raced out of Susie's car, into her house, up the stairs to her room, and throwing herself, face down on her bed, crying non-stop at the top of her lungs, for several hours.

And this, ends chapter 2. What will happen next? Will she find someone to give the vest to? Will she find a new boyfriend? We'll find out, in chapter 3, and the final chapter, of this story.