Chapter 9 Changing of the Heart
There was a pounding sensation in Nick's head as tried to stay up in class. Not only was he having a colossal headache but he started feeling a fire in his throat. His mother scolded him for walking home in the rain yesterday but he assured her that he was well enough to attend school. He also could not afford being absent because he knew Coach Finnegan would chastise him again if he missed another baseball practice especially since the game against Don Basco was drawing near. They even increased their training session to three times a week instead of the regular two. Horace Mantis was determined to beat their main rival school after a humiliating defeat against them last year.
However, despite all this what was really bothering the Lucas boy was the fact that Penny has been ignoring him since his performance at St. Augustine's. They were supposed to meet up for lunch that day but because he was stuck in the elevator with Macy he finished later than expected and ended up getting out well over their intended lunch date. He tried to explain that to his ex but when he inadvertently let it slip that he was with Macy, she got even more upset and hung up on him. That was the last he ever heard from her despite him trying to call and text almost every hour. He knew Macy was not at fault for causing the hold up at the nursing home, but he was becoming annoyed that the brunette girl always somehow seemed to be involved in all his recent mishaps.
Thankfully, that Monday lunch period the Misa girl did not tag along with him and his friends. Quite honestly, Nick did not know what he would say to Macy if he saw her because he was still quite peeved that he and Penny were once again fighting because of her. Nevertheless, he tried to enjoy the peace and quiet in the roof top of school as he laid down on the bench of the lone lunch table up there. He closed his eyes hoping that the Tylenol that he just took would suddenly work wonders. However, his moment of relaxation was abruptly interrupted by his loud friend.
"What's up with you?" DZ greeted Nick while Randolph took a seat next to the Lucas boy. "You look tired."
"Yeah, I stayed up late," Nick lied because even though he loved his friends, he did not need to always give them the nitty gritty details. There had to be some discretion between them.
"Well, I heard you had quite a busy weekend," DZ said with an impish smile. Both Randolph and Nick knew what DZ was trying to do but both were not taking the bait. "Well, aren't you going to ask what I mean?"
But however, instead of answering him, Nick turned to Randolph, "So how long do you think Finnegan is going to run practice for?"
"I heard he wants us to stay till 6 pm," Randolph answered also ignoring their other friend.
"Ugh, that sucks. I really don't know why he's adding an extra practice we could just stay later on –
"Nick, I guess if you aren't going to clear up the rumors then that hickey on your neck is just going to speak for itself," DZ interrupted now with a haughty expression as his two comrades looked at him with two different expressions- a shocked look on Nick's face and a confused one on Randolph's.
"Hickey? What hickey?" Randolph asked urgently but then when he stared at the Lucas' boy who sat next to him, he noticed a prominent red mark on his neck. "Oh that…"
"It's nothing," Nick dismissed quickly as he tried to prop his collar up to hide it.
"So are you saying you're mixing business with pleasure and that's from Macy or is it from someone else?"
"WHAT?!" exclaimed Randolph as he said in a mix of anger and surprise but because of the looks Nick and DZ were giving him for his loud response, he toned it down and said. "Ahem- I mean- that's preposterous. Right, Nick?"
"It's not a hickey," but the way he said it, both DZ and Randolph knew he was not being truthful.
"Whatever, Nick. Everyone is saying that you hooked up with Penny over the weekend."
Nick chose to stay silent as he concentrated on his lunch.
"Nick!" scolded his talkative friend. "I can't believe that you would go back to her."
"Yeah," Randolph now piped in. "And what about Macy? Does that mean you finally ended things with her?"
"Can we just talk about something else?" Nick said sounding annoyed. He cleared his throat as he started to feel an increasing soreness set in.
"Well, we can't ignore it because everyone is saying that Penny and Jimmy are back together."
"WHAT?!" and now it was the Lucas boy who exclaimed quite loudly.
"Yeah, someone saw them practically making out by her locker," revealed DZ. "And they didn't seem shy about hiding it either."
Nick was livid. He could not believe how quick Penny was on moving on and now, she had the nerve to go back to the very guy she cheated on him with.
"I hate to deliver the bad news but you know you're like my brother and I need to tell you the truth," explained DZ. "You need to break this cycle with Penny. She's just too toxic, bro. You have to move on. My plan was working until this slip up. Just stay the course and forget her."
"I agree," Randolph piped in. "You need to stop going back to her and move on. Take time for yourself. Date other girls that you can honestly consider and truly like. Penny is not the only girl out there. I mean you are Nick Lucas for Chrissakes! It really shouldn't be that hard for you."
Nick knew his friends meant well but he was still seething in anger by the revelation that Penny just happened to two-time him again. But he knew he only had himself to blame because he should have known better. They were right though that he needed to break away from this toxicity. He needed a distraction.
Throughout the day, Nick tried to ignore the chatter as he became more aware that people were indeed whispering around him. He hated being the center of any gossip especially if that attention was garnered by his private life.
Baseball practice was brutal. The headache and sore throat intensified throughout the day and it affected his game immensely. At the end of the practice, not only did he play poorly but he got his second earful from Coach Finnegan.
"Yo, Nick, you don't look too good," said Randolph with concern. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Just a little cold," he said dismissively.
However, when he headed home, the "little cold" turned into a fever to the point he could no longer talk without experiencing extreme pain. This time he heeded to his mom's advice and stayed home for the rest of the week.
Meanwhile, Macy was upset because she hardly got to see Nick in school. It didn't help that she was now hearing rumors again that Nick and Penny hooked up over the weekend. Macy tried not to let it get to her because the last time rumors circulated about the popular twosome, Nick denied it and Macy felt silly doubting him. But then...that weird mark on his neck made him uneasy...Macy shook her head because her paranoia was getting to her. Besides he said it was a mosquito bite so that's that.
Then, she heard from Randolph that he had laryngitis and had to stay home the rest of the week. She really was not going to have any time with him this week. Even though she knew it was not her fault, Macy felt partly responsible that the Lucas boy fell ill. If it was not for the rain that Sunday afternoon, he probably would have been fine. She wished there was something she could do to make it up to him. However, any free time after school was filled not only with her tennis practice but rehearsals for the fashion show which was coming up next Friday. Macy was hoping to ditch practice one day but Abby happened to find her and dragged her to the auditorium because it was the day of their dress fitting.
Mrs. Snark was waiting for everyone in the auditorium and there was a rack full of different gowns. Mrs. Madison was standing next to them and invited the girls to pick a dress. They had a seamstress on site to help with their measurements.
"Macy, I think you will look absolutely darling in this one," Abby said excitedly as she grabbed a strapless light blue gown. "The blue compliments your complexion perfectly."
"Oh, -um-I don't know about that one," Macy replied as she look apprehensively at the dress. "I don't really wear anything strapless."
"What? Why?" Abby asked.
"I have nothing to really hold it up," Macy said truthfully as she folded her arms over her chest. She looked around at the other girls and notice that she seemed to be the only one suffering from this small problem.
However, Abby started laughing loudly because she thought the brunette was trying to be funny.
"Macy, you're so silly," Abby said as she urged Macy to try it on.
"Um…I don't know," Macy said as she continued to peruse through the dresses. Then she found one that was more in line with her physique- a long sleeved dark green dress. "This looks more like my style."
"In what century? You will look like one of those Victorian prudes," retorted Abby. "Trust me this dress works the best for you."
Macy was learning that Abby had quite the pushy personality and soon found herself ushered into a bathroom stall to change into the blue strapless gown. However, on her way to the stall she found Penny and her group of friends already dressed in their chosen gowns and as much as Macy hated her, she could not help but think that the blonde girl and her posse looked like they all just stepped out of a fashion magazine. They all did not need to get their dresses tailored fit at all. Unfortunately for Macy, once she tried on the gown, she had to use her hands to hold it up since it was too large in the bust area. It looked like a loose silky blanket on her twig of a body. Macy never thought much about her looks but moments like this, she could not help feel like puberty failed to grant her the necessary body parts to "fit in" in this chapter of her life. Sigh.
"Everything okay in there?" Abby called from across the door.
"Um…yeah but it's a bit big on me," Macy answered. "It won't hold up."
"That's what the seamstress is for," Abby replied. "Let me at least see how it looks."
Reluctantly, the Misa girl showed what she could only describe as a young girl trying to play dress up in her older sister's clothes.
"It's laughable," she said miserably.
"No, it isn't," encouraged Abby. "The blue really suits you. And you have such a slim figure it falls really nicely. But yeah, we probably have to take out some material from the top. Seriously, Macy if you took time to spruce up your appearance, you'd look really pretty."
"Er…Thanks I think?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to say you aren't pretty," the curly haired girl said quickly. "I'm just saying you have such an adorable face and don't even know it."
Adorable. Macy knew she meant it as a compliment but adorable were for things like puppies, penguins and babies- not for an almost eighteen year old. Is that how people saw her? A cutie pie? She could imagine it now. At the fashion show, people would view her as the adorable, cutie pie Macy Misa playing dress up in her big girl outfit. She might as well wear pigtails. It did not help that at that moment Penny passed by her to look at her reflection in the mirror. No one would describe Penny as being adorable. She was beautiful and had curves that Macy had yet to develop. However, her thoughts were interrupted when the seamstress who was adjusting her gown accidentally poked her with a pin.
She was so not looking forward to this fashion show at all.
Throughout the week, Nick Lucas spent every waking moment laying in bed. His cold was taking a toll on his body. Thankfully, the fever died down but he still had body aches. His mother kept checking in on him every hour of the day when she was at home. Even though, he hated being bed-bound, Nick was happy to be stuck at home. It gave him time to work on his music especially since Malcolm Meckle gave him a deadline by the end of next month. Despite his dad telling him to take it easy, Nick felt pressure to write more songs. However, each one were more melancholy than the last. He sighed as he thought about his roller coaster of a relationship with Penny. His friends were right. He needed to break this cycle especially since he was always the one getting sucked into it and getting burned at the end.
Was he really that weak? Penny could not be his downfall. There was a time before she coexisted in his life. He did not need her. Nick kept telling himself that. In fact, it was always drama with her from the beginning as he remembered a time long ago, when Penny initially liked his other friend but he did not want to dwell on that drama because karma was now turning its head on him. Sigh. It was time he paid his dues. Thankfully, his friends visited him after school to keep him company and updated him about everything at school. Randolph, always the responsible one, kept him up to date with the schoolwork whereas, DZ gave him the latest piece of gossip. According to him, Penny and Jimmy were definitely back together and were not shy about showing it. Great. Of course, Nick was upset but an overpowering feeling of being tired of Penny's manipulative ways swept over him. He had enough. He had to move on.
Thus, Nick took this time to rest and reflect. Saturday rolled in and he was expecting a quiet and restful day at home. Frankie's little league game was today and his parents were going to go support him but the thought of having the house all to himself was interrupted when he heard a knock on his bedroom door.
"Nick?" his mother called through the door. "I have a visitor for you."
Expecting DZ or Randolph, Nick sat up straight in his bed and was surprised to see another familiar face behind his mom.
"Macy?" Nick said in a perplexed voice.
"Hey," she said shyly with a small wave.
"Macy came over to keep you company," his mother said in a very happy voice. His mom once again was playing matchmaker. Great.
"Oh, wow…um…thanks?" Nick said it more like a question because he was confused by it all.
"I hope that's okay?" the brunette girl now asked hesitantly.
"Of course, it's okay," his mother answered for him. "You'll be in good hands."
And with that, she practically pushed Macy inside and closed the door behind her. It was now obvious that his mother had a very different opinion of leaving the two of them together in his room alone.
"This is a surprise," Nick finally said as he looked over at Macy who was still standing by the doorway.
"Yeah. I haven't seen you all week and then I heard from Randolph that you got sick…so I thought to…um pay you a visit. If that's okay?"
"Ahem, sure. But I'm really not doing much," Nick said as he tried to get out of bed.
"Oh! You should stay in bed!" Macy said quickly as she hurried to his bed to make sure he did not get up. "I'll get whatever you need."
However, when she tried to rush to his bed she accidentally tripped over his rug and face planted on Nick's chest, causing Macy to turn beet red.
"So sorry," Macy said as she got up quickly from this embarrassing fall. Get a grip, Macy. Don't act like such a klutz.
"It's okay," assured Nick as he tried to shrug off this awkward interaction. "But, Macy, you really don't need to stay with me."
"No, I want to," the brunette girl insisted with a little more gusto than she intended it to sound so she said in a calmer voice. "Really I don't mind. I cleared this day anyway since your mom invited me to watch Frankie's game so I really had no plans…"
"Oh, okay, then…"
There was an uncomfortable silence that followed but Macy took the time to appreciate her surroundings since she did not get to last time. Nick noticed her looking around. His room was really tidy, which was not surprising since this was Nick Lucas and all. She noticed his guitar stand was empty and saw the instrument leaning against his bed and noted now scraps of paper littered his bed and side table.
"Ooh, are you writing more songs?" Macy finally broke the ice as she picked up a scrap of paper.
"Trying to," Nick replied as he put his pen down. "It's hard thinking with this headache and cold."
"Oh I have a solution for you!" Macy said quickly as she rummaged through her bag. "My mom swears by this and honestly, it does work wonders."
And she handed him a small container of…
"Vicks Vaporub?" Nick asked perplexed as he looked at it.
Macy could not help but laugh and explained, "Growing up with a Filipino mom, meant you always had this in stock. You just have to basically lather it on your chest and under your nose. Here, let me show you."
And the Misa was girl was really about to apply it on him directly before Nick backed away and reacted, "It's okay, Macy. I think I got this."
"Oh yeah sorry," she said sheepishly.
Nick did as he was told and applied it on his chest and under his nose. He started feeling a tingly sensation and then replied, "Now I smell strongly of menthol."
Macy laughed and answered, "You sure do. But hey, it reminds me of home."
This time Nick could not help but chuckle. This helped ease some of the tension. Macy felt more comfortable now as she sat by his desk, which was next to his bed.
"Ahem, anyway-um- I wasn't expecting company," Nick started off saying as he sat more up on his bed. "We could, maybe watch a movie?"
"If you want," Macy said excitedly. "But really, just wanted to take care…um… I mean just hang out and do whatever it is you were doing."
She continued looking at the scraps of paper occupying his desk and bed.
"So are these new songs for your next album?" Macy asked as she looked at each piece carefully. She was getting excited because will she finally see the genius of Nick Lucas's writing skills at work first hand? However, her joy was short-lived when she realized that she no longer had her website to give her JONAS heads this inside scoop.
"Yeah," he sighed because he was having major writer's block. "They were."
"Were?"
"Yeah, I just can't seem to find any inspiration," he admitted. Besides the song he sang in the nursing home, nothing else was coming to mind. However, he knew his company and thought better than to reveal that he was losing his writing steam because his writing "muse" decided to go back with Johnny, or was it Jimmy? Whatever his name was, Nick was still very bitter about it.
Macy studied his face while he looked down at all his papers. Despite him not saying anything directly, she knew exactly who it was that was causing him this much pain. She wanted to wash away all of that by giving him a hug and she leaned forward about to do just that but then stopped herself short because she was nervous to touch him. Even though she still counted it truly a blessing that she was giving the opportunity to spend time alone with him like this, she did not want to seem too forward. She couldn't revert back to her overzealous fan persona.
"Nick, it's okay," she said and did the next best thing which was put a hand over his. The contact alone caused Macy to blush. His skin was so soft. "Even a writing genius like yourself is bound to have some roadblocks."
"I don't know about genius," Nick said solemnly. "But I think I'm just losing my talent."
"What are you talking about?! You basically wrote JONAS's first two albums single-handedly," Macy boasted and got up and started pacing next to his bed. Her JONAS fan fervor started showing. "I mean I love your brothers, but come on now, the band wouldn't be where it is today without you. You are the heart of the band. If someone needs to write a song, you are that person. You can turn anything to a hit because you are Nick -frickin- Lucas. So don't give me that crap about losing talent."
"Wow," was all Nick could say after her rather impassioned speech. If he ever needed a hype man, he knew exactly who to call.
Macy was breathing heavily now to catch her breath because she just finished speaking 100 words per minute as was her custom when she spoke about anything and everything JONAS related.
"Sorry, I got carried away," she said sheepishly as she took her seat again.
At any other time, Macy's excessive fan mode would overwhelm him, but maybe it was because he was inhaling so much menthol now, Nick smiled at her and said, "Thank you, Macy for being such a big fan."
Her face turned a deep shade of red. Did Nick Lucas actually thank her? A tingly sensation started at the pit of her stomach.
"But I meant what I said," Macy said thoughtfully as she looked at him straight in the eye. "Your songs are so good because you put so much thought and effort into it. You can't rush it otherwise, it won't feel genuine. So don't think about it as you losing talent but rather, like you needing to find inspiration. Because once you do, that genius of yours is going to come back in full force and you can bet I'll be the first one in line to buy your album."
This time Nick felt a weird feeling inside of him brewing. Maybe it was because Macy was saying so many nice things about him or again it could be the menthol from the Vicks, that he leaned forward and gave a quick kiss on her cheek, surprising both of them with this quick action.
It's definitely the menthol, Nick thought.
"Thanks, Macy," he said and noticed the blush deepening in her face.
Finally, the brunette girl was at a loss for words. NICK LUCAS KISSED HER ON THE CHEEK. She brought a hand up to her left cheek as an act of preservation because she did not want anything to wipe away the contact his lips made. She always dreamt what a kiss with Nick felt like. Albeit it was a kiss on the cheek, it was a kiss nonetheless. How many girls can say they received that? Her heart was beating so loudly as she felt the heat emanating to her face. She closed her mouth which was hanging open from shock.
However, the sincerity of the moment was interrupted by a loud growl coming from the boy's stomach.
"Erm…sorry, I haven't eaten," Nick said sheepishly as he put his hand over his stomach. "I'm starved. Maybe we can order some pizza?"
"No!" Macy said quickly as she got up. "I made some soup for you."
"You did?" Nick said now surprised but then felt apprehensive because he remembered the last time Macy cooked for him, it landed him a trip to the school's infirmary.
However, Macy was quick to sense his uneasiness and reassured him, "Don't worry. Your mother helped me make it. I just have to reheat it. Just wait here."
"Thanks, Macy," Nick said relieved his mother supervised. Again that weird feeling returned because it was really touching how much she was doing all for him. "I can go downstairs and help."
"No, you wait here," she insisted. "I got this. Just relax and stay here."
She hurried down the stairs and took this time to take a deep breath. Macy felt so happy. Things were going really great and she scored a kiss from Nick. What a happy bonus. This day could not get any better. All feelings of trepidation she felt regarding Nick dissipated. She quickly made her way to the kitchen and put his mom's apron on to reheat the soup that was on the stovetop. When she deemed it warm enough, she turned off the fire and was about to transfer some to a bowl when the doorbell rang.
She knew his whole family was at Frankie's game so she went over to the door to see who it was and was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar face.
"RANDY!" she greeted him happily.
"M-macy?" the boy returned her greeting with a puzzled look. He was under the impression that she and Nick were over especially since the Lucas boy hooked up with Penny last weekend. To say he was utterly confused would be an understatement. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I had the day free and decided to keep Nick company since you know, he hasn't been feeling well," Macy explained. She felt like a housewife taking care of her sick husband. She even had an apron on and everything. Ahh, to be Nick Lucas' wife, she daydreamed.
"Oh I see," Randolph said uneasily when he noticed her starting to blush but then added. "I was actually thinking of doing the same thing. Maybe we can—
"Randy, I know you guys are best friends and everything," she started off saying because she knew she was requesting something selfish but Randolph was cool so he should understand. "But I haven't spent much time with Nick this whole week, and I was hoping I could use this time to be with him…alone."
This caught the blonde-haired boy off guard. He wanted to protest but saw the pleading look on the brunette girl's face.
"Um…yeah sure," he finally said uneasily because what did spending time alone mean for Macy and Nick?
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" the brunette girl squealed excitedly and gave him a big hug.
"But maybe—
"I'll see you in school."
"Ok yeah but—
However, he could not finish what he had to say because Macy abruptly closed the front door on him and resumed her task. After all, Macy had 'housewife duties' to accomplish.
Nick was now sitting at his desk with the bowl of soup in front of him. The soup looked normal. He filled a spoonful of the broth and let it fall back into the bowl. Consistency seemed right. It had all the necessary components: chicken, elbow macaroni, celery, carrots, onions. Looked normal enough. The only thing bothering him was that Macy made it and she did not have the best track record when it came to food.
"Macy," Nick said.
"Yes, Nick?" she answered eagerly.
"Can you stop watching me?" he asked because ever since she brought him the soup the brunette girl was hovering over him seeking his feedback.
"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I just want to make sure it was good."
"Okay, but you don't need to stand so close," he said because she was practically invading his personal space.
"Oh, sorry!" she quickly apologized and sat down on his bed. "I'll just sit over here…uh…minding my own business…hehehe."
He took a spoonful and even though, she said his mother helped her make it, he once again examined it thoroughly. He took a deep breath. To hell with it, he took a bite and was pleasantly surprised that it tasted almost exactly how his mother makes it.
"SO HOW WAS IT?" Macy inquired loudly because she obviously was still keeping a close eye on him.
"It's good," he answered truthfully as he took another bite.
"Oh, thank god," she said as she finally took a breath as she put a hand to her chest.
After that, she finally relaxed as the conversation with Nick flowed naturally. They talked about baseball, favorite shows, and music. Nick was pleasantly surprised that Macy was becoming very easy to talk to and he could tell that she was no longer trying to impress him because she shared her opinions even if it meant disagreeing with him about certain things especially their love for opposing teams in baseball. They watched a new episode of the sci-fi anime they both were into and after that, Macy helped him brainstorm some song ideas. The hours seemed to pass when they suddenly heard the front door open and heard his mother's sing-song voice say, "We're home!"
Nick found himself wishing they came home a bit later because he was truly enjoying spending his time with Macy. He thought the day would drag on but any awkwardness between them only lasted the first thirty minutes she was there. He honestly had a good time with her.
"So how was it?" his mother finally asked him when Macy finally left his room.
"It was fine," Nick answered as he tried to avoid her gaze. His mother can be so nosy about his personal life.
"You know Macy was here since this morning," his mother revealed. "Good thing I was already awake because I barely heard her knocking at the door."
"How early was she here?" asked Nick surprised because he had no idea.
"Like around 8," his mother smiled. "She knocked because she didn't want to ring the doorbell in case we were still asleep."
"Really?" said Nick surprised.
"And she asked me to help her make you chicken noodle soup," said his mother with a chuckle. "Of course, I was already planning on making it for you but she brought her own ingredients."
"Did she really?" replied Nick as a small smile crept on his face.
"Yes, she did," his mother laughed. "She was so worried that you wouldn't eat it. But good thing I helped because she was going to add asparagus."
"Thank you for stopping her," answered Nick gratefully.
His mother smiled as she continued, "But it was nice. She cut up all the stuff and I just told her what to add and she cooked it herself. And she wrote everything down in a piece of paper because she said just in case she needed to make it again, she didn't want to mess it up. She wanted to make sure you would like it so she had me and Frankie try it. And I have to say it tasted even better than mine."
"It tasted great," the Lucas boy agreed in a lower tone as he thought about how much effort Macy put into it.
"That Macy… she's different alright but in a good way," continued his mother. "Initially, I was doubtful about your relationship with her because I thought it was too soon after your breakup with Penny. But she is really something special. She asked to stay with you since she knew we were going out for Frankie's game."
"Did she?"
"Yeah, she didn't want you to be by yourself," his mother continued and then paused when she said thoughtfully. "She really cares about you, Nick."
"I know," said Nick as that weird feeling returned. It felt like someone lit a match inside of him and this warmth overtook his whole body.
"A girl like that who takes care of you in that way- that's someone you don't take lightly. You know what I mean, Nick?" his mother emphasized. "I really like her for you."
"I know, mom," acknowledged Nick and then repeated quietly but more to himself. "I know."
"Anyways, we ordered some pizza so come down when you're ready to eat. But hmm….what is that smell? Is that menthol?"
However, Nick was not listening anymore to his mother because that tingling feeling in his heart intensified and it was at that moment he peered out the window and saw Macy talking to his little brother on their front porch. That feeling he felt throughout the day started to overcome him now as he smiled at the brunette girl from afar. She really was something else.
Closing remarks:
Finally Nick is starting to show a change of heart. Seriously, I was getting a bit angsty that there was still no love connection between the two main characters even though I technically have control of it. Lol. Although this is a start of something for Nick, the romance between him and Macy is still going to develop slowly but once it does, expect some drama.
Also, in other news, I updated chapter 3 for my other story Secret Liaisons. The rating for that story changed to M, so please read at your discretion. The Nick and Macy relationship there is -ahem- much different from the one here. It is similar to my other story a Brother's Betrayal.
Please review. Thank you!
-Penelope36
