At lunch that day, a girl Michelle had never met before came up to her while she was headed to sit down.
"Hi! I'm Emma Nelson, I'm in grade 9."
"Oh, hey. I'm---"
"I know who you are. You're Michelle McCarthy. Just moved here from the U.S. Very cool."
"..you aren't a stalker or anything are you?" Michelle said jokingly.
"What? No! I'm good friend's with Craig, and he talks about you a lot. Says he's real glad you moved here. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and give you one of these."
It was a green flyer that talked about some junk about the rainforest or whatever.
"Are you an environmentalist?"
"Big time."
"That's cool. Somebody's gotta do it. Anyways, I'll talk to you later. Nice meeting you Emma Nelson from grade 9."
"You too!" Emma shouted as Michelle walked away to sit down with Paige and the rest. Emma went back to her table where Manny, Liberty, Toby, and JT were eating.
"Who's that?" Toby asked.
"She's a looker." JT said.
"That's Michelle McCarthy. She's in grade 10. She's new." Emma said.
"And Craig likes her." Manny said angrily as she glared.
"Come on Manny, you got to get over him some time!" Emma told her friend.
Liberty decided to pipe up. "Besides, I doubt Craig likes her. They don't eat at the same lunch table."
"So?!" Manny said. "They are always together, they even walk home together."
"Hellooooo earth to MANNY!" JT said, "Ever heard of friends? She's new, he's just trying to be nice."
"Whatever." Manny said as she shoved salad into her mouth.
At the end of the day, Michelle was just getting ready to leave when someone put their hands over her eyes. She reached behind her ant tickled whoever it was so they would let go. She heard a familiar laugh.
"Hey! That's not fair!"
"Life's not fair, Manning. Anyway, what can I do ya fer?" She said as a joke.
"Go to Hazel's party with me?"
"Pay me." "Bite me."
"Make me."
"Blow me."
Michelle dropped her draw and hit Craig in the shoulder.
"Craig!!! I am appalled!! Pfft. And yeas, I suppose I'll go. Pick me up at 7. No later. No earlier."
The day of Hazel's party came faster than anyone thought it would. Everyone who was anyone was going to be there. It was supposed to be the party of the year. Craig was too nervous to handle. Oh boy. Wait? Why am I nervous? We are just friends, Michelle has made sure of that, and I don't need to express my true feelings. I never have anyway. Just friends. Just. Friends. Craig grabbed his leather jacket and headed out the door.
"Bye Joey, be home by 12!"
It was already dark as drove to Michelle's house. It was snowing, too. He was being extra careful. He had just been given the privilege of driving by himself, and he certainly didn't want to screw it up. He parallel parked in front of Michelle's house and went up to the door. He knocked. No one came. He knocked again. Finally, he heard foot steps. Michelle opened the door. Craig's big eyes got even bigger. Wow, she looks gorgeous. Michelle was wearing a layered pink skirt with her black Ramones shirt and black low-top Converse All-Stars. Craig's favorite shoes, that he was also wearing.
"C'mon in, I just got to grab my coat."
She ran out of sight for a second, then came back very quickly holding her blue fluffy coat. She put it on.
"You know, Michelle, that coat makes you look like and Eskimo."
"Shut up! Let's go."
"Alright. Party here we come! Woohoo!"
"That was so lame."
When they got to the party, Craig had to park a block away there were already so many people there.
"Wow," Michelle said, " I hope Hazel has a big house, there are A LOT of freakin people here."
"She has…a sizeable house. Everyone will fit, don't worry."
"If you say so!"
When they walked in the door to the left of them they saw a huge pile of jackets, so they tossed their jackets on top.
"Did I tell you how amazing you look?"
"Craig, I'm touched. Right back at ya." She winked and walked away. Craig went to find his friends. He found Spinner and Marco in the basement playing the Playstation 2. Said hey quickly, but didn't want to interrupt them. He went back upstairs and found Jimmy at the bar.
"Hey, Jimmy. Hmm…alcohol at a party? Tsk Tsk Tsk!"
"Hey man, not my party, not my problem." He said as he handed Craig a beer.
"So, I saw you come in with Michelle."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Don't even, man. There's nothing there. Trust me, I tried. She makes a great friend, anyway. I guess it would really suck to lose that just to have the chance to date her."
"Whatever man."
Michelle was out in the living room where the music was playing, the current song was "Yeah" by Usher. She was dancing with Paige. Spinner pushed his way through the crowd.
"My fair maiden, take my hand and I will bring you to a magical land."
"Spin! Stop being weird!"
"Dance with me then!"
"Alright, see ya Michelle!"
"Bye!"
Michelle continued to dance by herself. She heard someone yell her name and she turned around. It was Craig.
"Hey! Enjoying yourself?"
"Yeah I guess so."
"Did you come out here to talk with me or to dance with me!"
"I can't dance! Not to this music!"
"Let me show you!"
Michelle put her hand on the back of Craig's neck as she dance with him. And he definitely enjoyed himself. Every time her face got close to his though, he thought he smelt something. Something strong. And she was acting very peculiar. A slow song came on, "Every time" by Britney Spears, so as Michelle put her arms around Craig's neck, he took this chance to talk to her as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He was just about to question her, but he realized that she felt different. Smaller. Since the last time he had given her a hug, which wasn't that long ago, only a couple days. He was worried. I hope she isn't doing anything stupid. He thought.
"Michelle?"
"Yeah?" She said. Her head was resting on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?
"I'm fine!"
"Can we go talk somewhere?"
"But I'll miss all the fun!" She said childishly.
"C'mon."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the crowd, looking for somewhere they could go talk without interruptions. He saw an empty bathroom. Strange place to talk, but at least it was empty. He pulled her in there, turned around, shut the door and locked it.
"Craig, I knew you liked me, but I didn't think you were the kind of guy to do some romping in the bathroom. At a public party no less!" Michelle was tiliting back and forth as she talked.
"Sit down." He pushed her gently so she sat on the toilet. He got down on one knee so he could look at her when he spoke.
"You aren't going to propose, are you?"
"Michelle."
"What!"
"How much have you had to drink?"
"How much have YOU had to drink, Craig Manning."
"I'm serious."
"You're no fun anymore."
"Michelle!"
"Okay okay, jeez. Uhh…..Spinner and I had a contest…we wanted…uh..we wanted…to…to…oh! We wanted to see who drink the most shots of Bacaradidididi….Bacuradei…Baaacaaarrrdiii….Bacardi! Bacardi 151!"
Oh shit. That stuff is hard liquor. I hope she didn't drink too much.
"How many?"
"How many what?"
"How many did you drink?"
"Five? Six? Seven…? I don't know. All I know is I beat Spinner by three shots!!! Isn't that great?"
Craig stood up. He paced around. Michelle stood up.
"Craig, did you bring me in here to talk about dumb stuff like that?"
"yes!"
"Are you suuuure?" Michelle said, slurring and smiling. She walked towards him and pushed him up against the door. She planted her hands on the door, one side next to the left side of his face, the other on the right. He really couldn't go anywhere, without hurting her.
"Michelle, stop it. You're drunk."
"So?"
"You don't want this."
"But you do, Craig. I know you do. I've seen you stare at me. It's cute."
"Michelle, stop. Let's go back to the party and talk to our friends."
"Tell me you don't want me, first."
She pushed herself up against him and whispered in his ear.
"Obviously some part of you wants me, I can feel that. But if you say it , I'll go back out to the party."
"Michelle, I don't--"
And that's the last thing Michelle remembers from the party, because at that moment, she fainted. Luckily, Craig caught her in his arms. He laid her down and ran to get Marco.
"Marco, I need your help. Michelle fell asleep or fainted. But I need you to help me carry her to my car. Don't panic or anything, she's fine."
"Alright, where is she?"
Marco followed Craig into the bathroom. They picked her up and carried her through the house, out the door, and to Craig's car.
"Thanks, Marco."
"Yeah. See ya."
As Craig drove with Michelle passed out in the back seat, he wondered what he was going to do with her now. Why do I get the responsibility put on my shoulders? I have to make a decision, and I have to make a good one. This could take a lot of thinking.
"Hi! I'm Emma Nelson, I'm in grade 9."
"Oh, hey. I'm---"
"I know who you are. You're Michelle McCarthy. Just moved here from the U.S. Very cool."
"..you aren't a stalker or anything are you?" Michelle said jokingly.
"What? No! I'm good friend's with Craig, and he talks about you a lot. Says he's real glad you moved here. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and give you one of these."
It was a green flyer that talked about some junk about the rainforest or whatever.
"Are you an environmentalist?"
"Big time."
"That's cool. Somebody's gotta do it. Anyways, I'll talk to you later. Nice meeting you Emma Nelson from grade 9."
"You too!" Emma shouted as Michelle walked away to sit down with Paige and the rest. Emma went back to her table where Manny, Liberty, Toby, and JT were eating.
"Who's that?" Toby asked.
"She's a looker." JT said.
"That's Michelle McCarthy. She's in grade 10. She's new." Emma said.
"And Craig likes her." Manny said angrily as she glared.
"Come on Manny, you got to get over him some time!" Emma told her friend.
Liberty decided to pipe up. "Besides, I doubt Craig likes her. They don't eat at the same lunch table."
"So?!" Manny said. "They are always together, they even walk home together."
"Hellooooo earth to MANNY!" JT said, "Ever heard of friends? She's new, he's just trying to be nice."
"Whatever." Manny said as she shoved salad into her mouth.
At the end of the day, Michelle was just getting ready to leave when someone put their hands over her eyes. She reached behind her ant tickled whoever it was so they would let go. She heard a familiar laugh.
"Hey! That's not fair!"
"Life's not fair, Manning. Anyway, what can I do ya fer?" She said as a joke.
"Go to Hazel's party with me?"
"Pay me." "Bite me."
"Make me."
"Blow me."
Michelle dropped her draw and hit Craig in the shoulder.
"Craig!!! I am appalled!! Pfft. And yeas, I suppose I'll go. Pick me up at 7. No later. No earlier."
The day of Hazel's party came faster than anyone thought it would. Everyone who was anyone was going to be there. It was supposed to be the party of the year. Craig was too nervous to handle. Oh boy. Wait? Why am I nervous? We are just friends, Michelle has made sure of that, and I don't need to express my true feelings. I never have anyway. Just friends. Just. Friends. Craig grabbed his leather jacket and headed out the door.
"Bye Joey, be home by 12!"
It was already dark as drove to Michelle's house. It was snowing, too. He was being extra careful. He had just been given the privilege of driving by himself, and he certainly didn't want to screw it up. He parallel parked in front of Michelle's house and went up to the door. He knocked. No one came. He knocked again. Finally, he heard foot steps. Michelle opened the door. Craig's big eyes got even bigger. Wow, she looks gorgeous. Michelle was wearing a layered pink skirt with her black Ramones shirt and black low-top Converse All-Stars. Craig's favorite shoes, that he was also wearing.
"C'mon in, I just got to grab my coat."
She ran out of sight for a second, then came back very quickly holding her blue fluffy coat. She put it on.
"You know, Michelle, that coat makes you look like and Eskimo."
"Shut up! Let's go."
"Alright. Party here we come! Woohoo!"
"That was so lame."
When they got to the party, Craig had to park a block away there were already so many people there.
"Wow," Michelle said, " I hope Hazel has a big house, there are A LOT of freakin people here."
"She has…a sizeable house. Everyone will fit, don't worry."
"If you say so!"
When they walked in the door to the left of them they saw a huge pile of jackets, so they tossed their jackets on top.
"Did I tell you how amazing you look?"
"Craig, I'm touched. Right back at ya." She winked and walked away. Craig went to find his friends. He found Spinner and Marco in the basement playing the Playstation 2. Said hey quickly, but didn't want to interrupt them. He went back upstairs and found Jimmy at the bar.
"Hey, Jimmy. Hmm…alcohol at a party? Tsk Tsk Tsk!"
"Hey man, not my party, not my problem." He said as he handed Craig a beer.
"So, I saw you come in with Michelle."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Don't even, man. There's nothing there. Trust me, I tried. She makes a great friend, anyway. I guess it would really suck to lose that just to have the chance to date her."
"Whatever man."
Michelle was out in the living room where the music was playing, the current song was "Yeah" by Usher. She was dancing with Paige. Spinner pushed his way through the crowd.
"My fair maiden, take my hand and I will bring you to a magical land."
"Spin! Stop being weird!"
"Dance with me then!"
"Alright, see ya Michelle!"
"Bye!"
Michelle continued to dance by herself. She heard someone yell her name and she turned around. It was Craig.
"Hey! Enjoying yourself?"
"Yeah I guess so."
"Did you come out here to talk with me or to dance with me!"
"I can't dance! Not to this music!"
"Let me show you!"
Michelle put her hand on the back of Craig's neck as she dance with him. And he definitely enjoyed himself. Every time her face got close to his though, he thought he smelt something. Something strong. And she was acting very peculiar. A slow song came on, "Every time" by Britney Spears, so as Michelle put her arms around Craig's neck, he took this chance to talk to her as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He was just about to question her, but he realized that she felt different. Smaller. Since the last time he had given her a hug, which wasn't that long ago, only a couple days. He was worried. I hope she isn't doing anything stupid. He thought.
"Michelle?"
"Yeah?" She said. Her head was resting on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?
"I'm fine!"
"Can we go talk somewhere?"
"But I'll miss all the fun!" She said childishly.
"C'mon."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the crowd, looking for somewhere they could go talk without interruptions. He saw an empty bathroom. Strange place to talk, but at least it was empty. He pulled her in there, turned around, shut the door and locked it.
"Craig, I knew you liked me, but I didn't think you were the kind of guy to do some romping in the bathroom. At a public party no less!" Michelle was tiliting back and forth as she talked.
"Sit down." He pushed her gently so she sat on the toilet. He got down on one knee so he could look at her when he spoke.
"You aren't going to propose, are you?"
"Michelle."
"What!"
"How much have you had to drink?"
"How much have YOU had to drink, Craig Manning."
"I'm serious."
"You're no fun anymore."
"Michelle!"
"Okay okay, jeez. Uhh…..Spinner and I had a contest…we wanted…uh..we wanted…to…to…oh! We wanted to see who drink the most shots of Bacaradidididi….Bacuradei…Baaacaaarrrdiii….Bacardi! Bacardi 151!"
Oh shit. That stuff is hard liquor. I hope she didn't drink too much.
"How many?"
"How many what?"
"How many did you drink?"
"Five? Six? Seven…? I don't know. All I know is I beat Spinner by three shots!!! Isn't that great?"
Craig stood up. He paced around. Michelle stood up.
"Craig, did you bring me in here to talk about dumb stuff like that?"
"yes!"
"Are you suuuure?" Michelle said, slurring and smiling. She walked towards him and pushed him up against the door. She planted her hands on the door, one side next to the left side of his face, the other on the right. He really couldn't go anywhere, without hurting her.
"Michelle, stop it. You're drunk."
"So?"
"You don't want this."
"But you do, Craig. I know you do. I've seen you stare at me. It's cute."
"Michelle, stop. Let's go back to the party and talk to our friends."
"Tell me you don't want me, first."
She pushed herself up against him and whispered in his ear.
"Obviously some part of you wants me, I can feel that. But if you say it , I'll go back out to the party."
"Michelle, I don't--"
And that's the last thing Michelle remembers from the party, because at that moment, she fainted. Luckily, Craig caught her in his arms. He laid her down and ran to get Marco.
"Marco, I need your help. Michelle fell asleep or fainted. But I need you to help me carry her to my car. Don't panic or anything, she's fine."
"Alright, where is she?"
Marco followed Craig into the bathroom. They picked her up and carried her through the house, out the door, and to Craig's car.
"Thanks, Marco."
"Yeah. See ya."
As Craig drove with Michelle passed out in the back seat, he wondered what he was going to do with her now. Why do I get the responsibility put on my shoulders? I have to make a decision, and I have to make a good one. This could take a lot of thinking.