Chapter Nine

I woke up in the morning to the smell of pancakes. So I grabbed my stuff for a shower and went into the bathroom. When I was done I got dressed in a baby blue spaghetti strap tank top, white short shorts and white flip flops. I blow dried my hair. Then I brushed my teeth and washed my face. Then I headed downstairs.

"Morning babe. I made pancakes. I hope you like them." Mike said handing me a plate with two pancakes on them.

"Thanks and morning." I said putting syrup on my pancakes. I then took a bite.

"These are really good."

"Why thank you." He smiled.

"Welcome. I hope today goes by fast. I honestly can't wait to graduate. But if everyone leaves I'm gonna miss them so much." I said.

"I know same here. But we might eventually see them after we all graduate. You never know. There's also the high school reunion thing."

"Good point there." I said putting my plate in the sink. I then grabbed my bag and keys.

"Ready?"

"Yep. Let's go."

We got into my car and I started it. On the radio this time was Arms by Christina Perri. I started to sing along out of habit.

"You're a good singer. I don't know why you were ever scared to sing in front of me." He said.

"Awe shit! I can't believe that you actually heard me." I said kind of panicking.

"It's okay right? I mean you sound good." He said trying to comfort me.

"No I don't. I suck." I said.

"Well that's your opinion. Not mine." He said sticking his tongue out at me.

"Fine. But I'm always stinking to mine. No matter what." I said sticking my tongue back out at him as I pulled up to a red light.

"Whatever. Be that way." He said looking out the window.

That made me laugh a little.

He's a goof. I thought.

As we entered the parking lot at school I noticed that Jenna and Samantha looked lost without their leader. When I stepped out of my car they came over to me.

"I don't know what game you're playing at. But it's about to get a whole lot harder." Samantha said.

"Well I'm not trying to play any hard ball. I just wanna get through 'til graduation." I said.

"Yeah sure. Whatever bitch. But just remember. Anything could happen. Anywhere. At anytime. Keep that in mind." Jenna said.

They walked away. I didn't even notice that Mike had gotten out of the car.

"They're just upset that you are better than them. Don't worry about them babe." He said hugging me.

"It's so hard not to. I'm always real nervous that they're gonna do something to me when I'm not looking. But I can deal. It's fine. I'm just stressing myself out." I said hugging him back.

"And we all know that you don't need stress. It's the very last thing that you need." He said as we walked to our lockers.

"I know. I know. But sometimes I just do and I don't know. I'm just really confused right now." I said.

"It's okay. If you need to rant or vent I'm here for you." He sounded like a therapist.

"Haha okay. Thanks Dr. Ash." I said making a joke out of it.

"Funny." He said opening his locker.

"I know I am." I said smiling as I opened my locker.

I grabbed all my morning books. Mike was waiting for me this time. We headed to class. I had a feeling that today was going to be a really good day.

No Mickenzie. No worries. I hope. I thought as we walked into history.

After history everything went smoothly. Until lunch. We had our usual table and seating arrangement until Mason came and sat next to Mariah.

"I miss you Mariah. Will you please go back out with me? I'm begging you. Please." He said looking at her with a sad look.

"No. No. No. That will always be my answer. I know that you don't miss me. I know that you will end up dumping me." She said not even looking at him.

"Come on." He said grabbing her shoulder.

"Don't. Touch. Me." She said punching him in the face then taking her nails and scratching him along his cheek.

"You don't gotta be so mean." Mason said putting his hand to his cheek getting up.

"Well you didn't have to touch me." Mariah said with a proud grin on her face.

"Whatever. I'm out. And by the way Mariah. I'm never gonna ask you out again no matter how bad it kills me." He said walking away.

"Yay! I hope it does kill you!" Mariah said.

"I wouldn't take him back either Mia. You can find someone way better." I said looking at Mikey and smiling.

"Yeah. But I don't wanna find someone. And I never would have gone out with him but Samantha forced me. When she actually did hang out with us instead of Jenna and Mickenzie." She said.

"Yeah. And she probably wanted you to be just like her. Having a boyfriend every second of every minute of every hour of everyday of every week of every month of every year." I said.

"Yep. She'll never learn that I don't wanna be like that." She said.

"Yeah. Have you picked a song yet Freddie?" Ashley asked.

"Nope not yet. I'm still trying to find a good up beat song." He said.

"Okay. That's cool." I said.

After lunch the day was really boring. We didn't really do anything. So when me and Mike got back to my house. It was a really nice day to waste sitting inside.

"Do you wanna go do something? It's to nice to just sit inside." I said.

"Yeah. What you wanna do?" He asked.

"Umm I don't know. Wanna find a place to go horseback riding?" I asked. "It's been forever since I've been riding."

"Okay. I'm cool with that. Let's go." He said grabbing my hand.

"Wait! I'm gonna changed into pants and grab my boots."

"Okay. I'll be waiting down here for you." He said.

I went into my room and grabbed the only pair of pants that I owned that weren't skinny jeans. I put them on and grabbed my boots.

"Ready!" I said coming from my room grabbing his hand.

We got in my car. I knew the perfect place where we could go riding. When I started the car I Wanna Go by Britney Spears was playing on the radio. We weren't on the road that long. He didn't ask any questions about where we were either. Once I pulled in the driveway I recognized everything. I stepped out of the car.

"Doug? Deb?" I said.

"Yeah? We're out back." A voice said. It sounded like Deb.

We walked behind the house towards the horses.

"Hey, long time no see. Sorry I haven't been out in a while. I've been pretty busy. But this is my boyfriend Mike. Mike this is Deb and her husband Doug." I said.

"Nice to meet you Mike." Deb said.

"You too."

"Precious misses you. I think you better go visit her." Deb said.

"I've missed her too." I said walking down towards the horses.

Precious came up to the fence to greet me.

"Hey there. I've missed you." I said petting her muzzle.

I looked at her beautiful ice blue eyes. Precious was a light brown and white paint horse. She had a blond mane and tail with a black streak through them.

"She's really pretty." Mike said.

"I know. I love her." I said.

"You can ride her. And Mike you can ride Magic." Deb said grabbing the tack.

"Do you know how to tack up?" I asked Mike.

"Nope."

"Oh…well I'll do it for you." I said.

It's good to be back. I thought.