Mel, Gina Emma, Sarah and I sat in the tree house, just talking getting to know each other.
"Ok…ok, fine, I like Vern," Sarah said.
"O my god," Mel yelled, everyone in the town could hear her. We all laughed, at her outburst.
"Well I like Chris," Gina said trying to control her laughter.
"No you think," I laughed. "Everyone knows that, Chris does, I think."
"And I like Teddy," Emma said.
"I like Ace," Mel said, I looked at her and wondered how she could like him. They all looked at me, waiting for me to answer.
"I don't like anyone," I said
"Yes you do, Gordie," Mel said, and then there was a knock on the tree house door.
"That's not the secret knock," I laughed.
"Yes it is Ali, let us up," Teddy yelled.
"It is our tree house anyway; you guys shouldn't be up there." Chris yelled.
"Let them up," Gina said. I opened the door and all four of them climbed up.
"Finally…hey what are you all doing up here anyways," Vern asked as he sat next to Sarah. Maybe I was the only on who saw it, but her eyes lite up when he sat down next to her.
"We had nothing else to do," Mel said as she leaned against a box.
"Hey we found your stash of dirty magazines," Emma laughed, pulling one out and throwing it at Chris.
"Haha…very funny, stop looking threw our stuff," Chris yelled. I looked at Chris, and he looked back and nodded towards Gordie. I looked at Gordie, he wasn't looking at me, but I could tell he was sad…Ali…Ali
"Ali…snap out of it," Mel said. I looked at her.
"What," I asked.
"I asked you if you're going to the winter dance at school," Mel said.
"O I don't know, are you going," I asked. I could tell Goride was looking at me.
"Yea, with Ace," she said.
"Hey we should all go together, as a group," Vern suggested, as he said this he was looking right at Sarah.
"Yea, good idea Vern," Teddy joked.
"You think so…I have a lot of great ideas like, Teddy you like Emma, so you two should dance together and Chris you like…"
"Shut up Vern," Chris yelled smacking him.
"God sorry,"
The day of the dance had finally come. I sat in my room looking at the black spaghetti strap dress, that had glitter all over it. It came up to my knee and was cut in a "V" shape at the bottom. I looked at Gina and she had on a purple dress, the same as mine. Mel, Emma, and Sarah where also in the room. Sarah had on a baby blue dress, Emma had a white dress and Mel had on a dark blue dress.
"Are you ever getting ready, the boys are downstares." Mel said looking at me. I looked up at her.
"I am not going,"
"What," Gina yelled, looking at me.
"Ok I will say it again…I am not going," I said slowly, making sure they all heard me.
"Yes you are, get ready," Mel ordered.
Ten minutes later, I was dressed, Mel did my makeup and Gina did my hair.
"I can't believe I am going," I said looking at myself. "I am getting myself in trouble again."
"What," Emma asked sitting next to me. I looked at her and knew she didn't know about my pass, nor did Sarah.
'Nothing.."
"Don't worry, Gordie won't let anything happen to you," Mel said as we walked downstares.
"Shut up Mel…that's what Tyler said that night, and look what happened," I said.
"You ladies…look beautiful tonight," I heard Chris say as we walked down stress. I looked at Goride, and he looked…hot. He was wearing khaki pants, a sweater with a tie and his hair was slicked back. I looked at him quickly then looked away.
"Shall we go," Chris said as he gave his arm to Gina. We all walked out of the house, since the school was only two blocks away we decide to walk. Gina, was next to Chris and Mel was on the other side, then behind then Teddy and Emma, then Vern and Sarah. I walked next to Gordie but not speaking to him.
"Ali…can we talk," he said grabbing my arm lightly to make me stop. I looked at the group ahead and they didn't seem to notice we had stopped walking.
"Fine," I said.
"I am sorry, what I did a few days ago." He said looking into my eyes. I looked up at me; he was taller than me by a few feet. "I forgot what had happen."
"That's not it Gordie," I said starting to walk again.
"Then what is it," he asked his voice getting a little louder.
"You don't understand,' I said starting to walk a little faster but Gordie stopped me again.
"Then tell me, I might understand," he said.
"You don't forget those kinds of things, and I am scared of getting close to someone. Afraid that it might happen again and I won't be able to stop it." I explained.
"I would never hurt you, or anyone," Gordie said. I was about to say something else but was interrupted by Teddy.
"Come on you two…by the time we get here the dance will be over," he yelled. We hurried to the group, and didn't say another word to each other.
"Isn't this great,' Mel said as she leaned against the wall with me.
"O yes, so much fun," I said.
"O come on, go dance with Gordie," Mel laughed. I looked at her like she was nuts.
"No." Then a slow song started to play…I'll Be There , By Jackson Five.
"Well here he comes…"