Chapter Eight

When the movie was over, Aidan turned to Ally and said, “So, how’d you like it this time?”

Ally shrugged and said, “I think it’s a good movie. I still wouldn’t say it’s one of my favorites, though.” 

Aidan shook his head, like he was disappointed in her. 

“Alright, can’t say I didn’t try.”

Ally rolled her eyes and said, “So, it’s getting pretty late. My dad is probably going to ask you to leave soon, but is there anything you’d like to talk about?”

Aidan sighed and said, “I got all my college applications in. I sent in my first choice. I should hopefully hear back soon.”

“Are you still set on going to Stanford?”

“Absolutely. I’ve had scouts watch me play all season. I just don’t know what kind of scholarships I’ll get. I think they’re still deliberating.”

Ally gave Aidan a side hug. “I’m sure it’ll fine. You’re a great student and athlete. You just have to have hope. If it makes you feel better, I have faith in you.” 

Aidan looked over at Ally and smiled. “I know you do,” he said as he put his arms around her. “You’re one of the best people I know. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you.”

Ally hugged Aidan back tightly. “I think you’d be fine without me but I am pretty awesome so by extension you’d lose some of your awesomeness.” 

“Geez. Is that how it works now?”

Ally shrugged but couldn’t help smiling. Aidan was smiling too and leaned down to give Ally a kiss which she happily accepted. 

They had only been kissing for all of two seconds when they both heard someone’s throat being cleared. 

Ally looked up and saw her dad standing in her doorway. 

“Time to wrap it up guys,” he stated.

“Sure thing, Mr. Averson,” Aidan said as he stood up from her bed and made sure he had all of his stuff. “I’ll see you tomorrow, babe.”

“Okay,” Ally said and tried not to feel too awkward as Aidan kissed her one last time while her dad still stood in her doorway. “Bye, babe.”

Aidan walked passed her dad and headed to the door. Ally could hear her mom saying bye to him and gushing about how nice it was to have him over.

Ally couldn’t help but stare at her dad. “You could be a little nicer to him. He’s always nice to you and mom and he hasn’t tried anything with me.”

“Not yet,” her dad said. “I’d like to keep it that way.”

“So would I,” Ally said. “Maybe not forever but for right now I’m not in any rush. I’m not going to be a kid for the rest of my life, dad. You’re going to have a little more faith in me.”

“I do. It’s him I’m worried about.”

Ally sighed and said, “I think I’m going to go to bed now. Goodnight, dad.”

Ally immersed herself under the covers of her bed but noticed her dad hadn’t left her doorway. “What is it?”

“Did you and Frank have a good day?”

Ally couldn’t help but smile. “It was an amazing day. We haven’t hung out like that for a while now.”

“He’s a good kid. I’m glad you two had fun. Anyway, I’ll leave you be. Goodnight, sweetie.”

Ally closed her eyes and smiled. She and Aidan seemed to be back on track. He wasn’t mad at her. And she and Frank were good again too. There wasn’t much she could think of that wasn’t good in her life. 

With a yawn, Ally let sleep overtake her.

…

Ally walked down the hallways with Aidan’s arm around her. He said hi to people he knew and gave them high fives.

Ally was again reminded about how well liked he was. 

Aidan really was an amazing guy. He was sweet, confident, good looking, and willing to help anyone he knew. 

She was sometimes still surprised that he had chosen her and wanted her but it was a great feeling. 

Almost every time she looked at him she couldn’t help but smile. Maybe it was his carefree nature or maybe it was his personality. He was magnetic. 

Aidan kissed her cheek as they neared their lockers and Ally could feel her cheeks heating up. 

“Just two more weeks until winter vacation. Are you excited?” Aidan asked her curiously.

“I’m glad this semester will almost be over. I’m upset I’m not going to get to see you for nearly a month though. Why can’t you just stay here while they leave?”

“It’s a family vacation to Colorado that they just kind of sprung on me. We’re going to see my sister and my parents are really excited to see their grandkids. I’ll miss you too but I am looking forward to it. The mountains are beautiful and I’m looking forward to the snowboarding that I’ll be doing.”

Ally sighed as she closed her locker. “I am going to miss you. So much.”

“I know,” Aidan said as he caressed her cheek. “I’ll be back before you know it though. That’ll give you and Frank more time to hang which I’m sure he’ll be happy about. And I will be back to turn that frown upside down and kiss you silly.”

Ally couldn’t help but smile. “How silly?”

Aidan smiled his heart-stopping smile and leaned in to give Ally a long, heated kiss. 

Ally couldn’t help but smile and eagerly welcome his lips against her own. As Aidan gently pulled away he caressed her cheeks once more.

“Come on. I’ll walk you to class.”

Ally walked with her fingers entwined with Aidan’s and felt giddy to the point of dizziness. She was falling for Aidan and though things had seemed a little awkward between them a couple days ago, they were back on track now and Ally was happy. 

Aidan gave her a kiss goodbye and Ally went to her seat.

Frank was already in class and was smiling when she sat down next to him.

“Did you have a good rest of your weekend?” he asked curiously.

Ally nodded. “Overall amazing. How was the rest of yours?”

“My mom and I took a drive out to an old outdoor drive-in theater Friday night. She loves old movies and there was popcorn and snacks involved. It made her really happy and it wasn’t too corny for me.”

Ally couldn’t help but smile. “Even though you were with your mom?”

Frank frowned. “My mom is awesome.”

“I’m not saying she isn’t. I know she’s awesome. We get along better than me and my mom do,” Ally replied. “I think it’s great you guys are close. You’re such a sweet guy for being cool with it. Most guys our age wouldn’t me.” 

Frank shrugged. “You’ve probably already figured this out, but I’m not most guys.”

“I’ve known that most of my life, Frank Anderson.”

Ally turned to face the front of the class as the teacher started welcoming them all back from their small Thanksgiving break.

She could see Frank was still gazing at her from her peripheral vision but he soon just smiled and shook his head and started writing down notes. 

…

At lunch, Frank noticed that Ally wasn’t at their usual spot and looked around a little bit before he saw a few girls from the senior class talking to her. 

Ally was smiling and chatting with them and Frank noticed them because they hung out with the other guys in Aidan’s circle. 

Ally then nodded to them and started walking in his direction. 

When she noticed him she smiled and asked, “Don’t worry. I didn’t abandon you. They just wanted to talk to me and ask me to hang out over break. Apparently, Hailey is having a sleepover. I said sure. Sounds like fun.”

Frank nodded, not saying anything more since Ally seemed genuinely happy.

“I know I’m branching out but I just want to try it. You and I will still have plenty of hang time over break since Aidan won’t be here.”

Frank hoped the news of Aidan not being in town didn’t betray his feelings of joy.

“If you’re wondering why, he’s going out of town with his family.”

Frank nodded and asked, “Who’s Hailey exactly?”

“She’s a senior who’s dating Tad Fletcher. He’s on the football team with Aidan. Charlotte and Tammy are her friends and dating guys on the basketball team. They’re boyfriends are also friends with Aidan.”

“Are they nice?”

“Of course. They’ve always been nice to me. If they weren’t I wouldn’t even consider going to the sleepover.”

“Alright. Let me know how it goes. If you haven’t noticed I’m a bit protective of you.” 

“I know, but I’ll be fine. Besides, you can’t get into it with girls. It wouldn’t be right.”

“I know that.” Frank frowned, feeling like the school year had so far flown by and he’d missed so much. “Can you believe that once this year is over we’ll be seniors? Then it’s just a year before graduation and adulthood sinks in.”

Ally ended up frowning then. “Scary. I’m not sure I’m ready to grown up that fast. I mean, bills, responsibility, a job, taxes. Who needs the added stress? Not to mention getting into a good college.”

“Tell me about it.”

Ally raised up her hands almost as if she’d had an epiphany. “It’s decided then. We’ll reverse time and go back to being kids and this time really enjoy not having any responsibility.”

Frank smiled widely. “Not sure that’s possible. Besides, it isn’t that bad. We have more freedom now. We get to make our own choices. Life would really just be beginning for us. We have our futures to look forward to.”

Ally and Frank had reached their tree and sat down. Ally looked pensive for a moment and asked, “What kind of future do you picture for yourself, Frank?”

Frank was a little surprised by Ally’s question. “Um, you know, be rich someday, have a hot wife, and big house. Living the American dream.”

“Seriously.” 

Frank shrugged. “I don’t even know what I want to do for the rest of my life. I guess I can be a mechanic. I’m good at taking things apart and putting them back together. I’m not applying for colleges. I don’t want to be stuck in debt most of my life. I can get a decent job and get promoted over time and be happy.”

“Okay but what then?”

“I don’t know, Ally. I want my own house someday. I’d like to have a wife someday. I haven’t thought far ahead yet. Have you?”

“I’m going to go to a community college first. Maybe apply to Stanford like Aidan. That’s his dream school. I want to study engineering since I’m good at math. I don’t know what kind yet but I’m leaning toward computer engineering since I’ve always liked computers. I don’t know what the future holds either, I’ve been taught to look ahead though.”

“So you see yourself more as a career woman than a family one?”

Ally shrugged. “I do want a family someday. Just anytime soon but I think I could see myself married one day. That’s about it.”

“So we both seem to have a good idea of where we’ll be in a little over a year and a half from now. I’m just wondering where the future will leave us. We’ll stay friends, right?”

“Of course, Frank!” Ally exclaimed. “What makes you assume we wouldn’t?”

“If you go to Stanford or any college hundreds or even thousands of miles away, I don’t think we’d see each other all that often. Have you and Aidan even talked about what’ll happen when he graduates in a few months?”

Ally frowned. “No but we’re staying together.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Of course I am.”

“Okay. Forget I asked.”

Frank looked away and felt a nauseating feeling in the pit of his stomach. Ally had been a huge part of his life for almost half of it. He couldn’t picture losing her. If he did, who would be there to help him get over her? 

Frank gazed back at Ally as she began eating her lunch and wondered if maybe he should take her advice and try to make other friends. Sure, he wasn’t too fond of the idea, but he could try. 

So much to lose if I don’t.