A Chocolate Apple and a Rock (2024)

I figured there was worse things than reading this but there aren't really. This is pretty bad.

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CHAPTER 58
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Los Angeles:

“This is not good…” Katherine was pacing around her room. “You’re saying the photos are real.”

“They are…” Joel leaned against her black computer chair. “So I've never been blackmailed. I had to ask for advice”

“Who did you ask?” Katherine looked at him. “Joel, you can’t tell anyone about us at all. Now this is going to blow up in our faces and those girls will never look me in the eye.”

"What difference does it make?” He asked. “It’s finals. You’re done after this. It’s nothing illegal.” He explained after he thought about it. "Is it?"

Kat sighed as she sat down on her bed. “It doesn’t work like that,” She laid down on her bed picking up a baseball and throwing and catching it. “The sorority will be tarnished.”

“I don’t know, Daniela said…..”

“You told Daniela about us?” Katherine glared at Joel. “Whatever, I hope she can keep a secret otherwise we are both screwed. What we were we thinking, we shouldn’t have done this?” She groaned as she continued to throw the baseball up and down. “It’s like I’m a teacher and you’re a student or I’m married and I’m having an affair….We have to do something…”

“Well she said that I have to take the bait and go with Tina to her dinner.” He sat next to a lying down Katherine.

“Just don’t sleep with her.”

“Come on, Kat,” Joel chuckled. “Like I would do thing like that to you? She’s not half as beautiful as you.”

“Flattery, flattery, flattery,” Katherine smiled. “I love it…” She smiled as she and Joel looked at each. “So when’s dinner?”

"Around 8." He shrugged.

"That's pretty late. So what can we do to pass time?" Kat coyly remarked as she patted her bed.

"Well, I do have this idea...."

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Daniela was walking to the library to study for finals when she heard a voice that sent chills down her spine. “Dani, Dani, Dani….” The brunette teenager turned around only to see her former friend cum enemy, Jasmine. “Thank you for your help. You are such a great tutor."

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Daniela pulled out a floppy disk. “Everything that you need is there.”

“Why thank you Dani. You are such a good friend,” Jasmine smiled evilly. “I’m so happy and glad that we are friends.”

“Hand over the tape.” Daniela ordered with her hands on her hips. She was wearing a white blouse with ruffled sleeves and blue jeans. “You said if I helped you.”

“Oh Dani,” Jasmine laughed. “It’s just before finals. I need you to get me the answers. It’s not that hard, I just need your help.”

“You want me to cheat for you?” Daniela glared at her. “I don’t cheat.”

“Except on guys,” She corrected her. “I know your history. Think about it this way, Dani. Either you cheat or you lose your boyfriend.”

“I’m not going to do it.” Daniela stamped her authority. “I’m not going to cheat for you especially because I’ll get thrown out and no university will accept me. My future will be ruined.”

“If we get caught, Dani,” Jasmine smiled. “What choice do you have?”

“What choice do I have?” She asked rhetorical. “I’m going to say no. I’m going to take my chances. Go, I dare you to fly all the way to tell my boyfriend what he probably already knows. So bye bye Jazzy.” Daniela smirked smugly as she walked away from Jasmine.

“You can’t do this, Dani…” Jasmine yelled after her. “You can’t. Don’t do this to me. I’ll fail.”

“Well, you should have thought about that before you bribed me, bitch.” Daniela sneered at her. “Have fun at summer school and never talk to me again.”

“You’ll pay for this Daniela Harris.”

“Daniela Cooper. Remember the name, bitch." The brunette walked towards the library.

"Oh, you'll pay Cooper."

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Santa Monica:

Courtney was fiddling with her pencil as she sat in the living room of her house in Santa Monica. She was tapping away thinking about Chris. “I should call him, right?” She asked the blonde teenager in front of her.

“For like the last time….” Gisela slammed her book. “I don’t care. Just talk to him. I am totally sick of this drama. It’s so like Kyle all over again.”

“Fine, I’ll call him but only after my date with Carl.” She sighed as she went back to her studying. “Why is this so hard?”

“Oh like I’m sorry…” Gisela glared at her. “I didn’t realize having two guys like after you is totally a drag. Like why do you have a date with Carl like during finals?” She had several books on chemistry and biology in front of her. Her notebook was scribbled with words, diagrams and graphs. Not only that but there were several textbooks, pens, pencils and highlighters on her table, all over the place. “Study, Court. Study.”

“Easy for you to say,” She exclaimed as she shut her teaching book shut. “You’re smart and so is everybody. I get it, I’m not smart.”

“Courtney…”

“No, you’re right. I’m not smart enough for anyone except Carl. He makes me feel smart. He thinks I’m smart, intelligent and he cares for me.”

“The guy is a weirdo. What about Chris?” Gisela was now officially distracted. “He totally cares for you and treats you like a normal person. He’s nice to be around.”

“But Chris is your ex-boyfriend,” She tried to find an excuse. “And he sleeps around.”

“Like we broke up 4 years ago, that’s totally ancient history,” The blonde teenager explained. “And like he doesn’t when he’s in a relationship. He’s a sweet, caring guy. Give him a chance.”

“And what about you?” Courtney smiled changing the focus from herself to her roommate. “How come you don’t have any guy in your life?”

“Because…” Gisela smiled. “I’m too busy studying which is totally something you should be like doing.” She heard their phone ring. "Gisela speaking. Ah huh...ja ja ja....ja, sounds good." She hung up the phone and walked back to the couch.

"Who was that?" The red haired teen inquired.

“Joel, Chris and Dani are at a café. You interested?”

“Sure, I need a break from studying before my date with Carl.”

“Eugh…” Gisela rolled her eyes as she threw her pen onto her books. “Whatever…”

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Wilshire, LA:

The quintet was at a small café sitting down and talking. “So I have this political dinner thing tonight,” Joel remarked as he looked down at his cup of coffee. “Man, why are doing this friends thing in a coffee place. Couldn’t we go to somewhere better?”

“Well there’s a mall,” Chris pointed out “And a diner. There aren’t many hang out places until we turn 21 or we have better fake IDs…”

“Hey, the coffee is good.” Courtney smiled as she smiled at Gisela. The blonde teen rolled her eyes as she was drinking a nice cup of green tea. “Why are you drinking tea?”

“It helps me focus on studying,” Gisela muttered. “Maybe you should try some….”

“All the green tea in the world wouldn’t help her…” Daniela remarked as she looked at her watch. “And I have to study as well. Can’t believe I have to do math. Eugh it is worse than listening to Ricky Martin.”

“I like him…” Courtney pointed out with a smile.

“Figures…” Daniela stared at her coldly. “I should have gotten a tutor…” She slammed her head softly against the wooden table. “Worst…”

“Maybe someone like a cute college guy?” Gisela smiled as she poked Daniela with a sugar sachet. “Teaching like the ways of screwing him.”

“Shut it Blondie….”

“Anyway what’s the political gala?” Courtney asked Joel who was about to walk up to get something to eat. “Is it like super fancy like in those TV shows?”

“With finals? I doubt it.” Joel explained. “It’s just a quick dinner and bingo bango I am out of there. You guys want anything?”

“I’ll pass.” Daniela remarked with her head face first on the table. Gisela and Courtney shook their heads.

“Alright, so you want a muffin?” He looked at Chris who smiled. “Of course you do…” He groaned as he walked to the counter.

“How come Joel isn’t seeing someone?” Courtney asked as she watched Joel at the counter. “He seems happy but.....”

“He’s totally seeing someone,” Gisela smiled. Everyone but Daniela looked at her with shock and amazement. “What? It’s totally obvious. Right Easy Way?”

“Daniela is having a crisis.” The brunette woman mumbled in response even letting that insult fly by. “I feel like Daria.” The Daria theme song played in her head. “The world sucks.”

“Oookayyy then….” Gisela looked away. “It’s obvious like he’s totally dating someone. Like you haven’t noticed anything?” She looked at Chris. Chris on the other hand was staring at Courtney and vice versa. “Eugh…”

Joel was waiting at the counter for a muffin and a coffee when he heard a voice calling out his name. “Joel?” He sighed after hearing his name and by reflex he turned around. He didn’t recognize the voice until…

“Chloe?”

Chloe Stewart, the Canadian teenager who happened to be his ex-girlfriend. She had short dark brown hair styled in a chignon, matching her green eyes. “Ummm yeah?” Chloe scoffed. She had a travel bag on her right shoulder as she wore a black seamless tube top.

“What are you doing here?” He asked her. He was entranced by her until he realized that there was a guy at the counter. “Oh sorry…umm just a normal coffee, two sugars and a blueberry muffin thanks.”

“That will be $7.” The guy at the counter said as he opened up the cash register.

“Ummm yeah sure…” He paid and waited for his coffee.

“Can I have an espresso please?” Chloe smiled. “Joely, Joely, Joely, it’s been a long time. You still look nice. I kind of missed you except for the sex.”

“We never slept together.” Joel looked at her confused why she would bring up sex early in a conversation.

Chloe rolled her eyes and smiled sarcastically. “I know, that’s what sucked.”

“Latte and blueberry muffin for the man and espresso for the lady.”

“So what are you doing here?” Joel asked her. “You’re still a high school senior right?”

“Officially? To see UCLA, Berkeley and Stanford but unofficially it’s a vacation,” Chloe smirked at him while holding her espresso to go. “You still hang out with your little group. That's cute.” She smiled while bobbling her head.

“Yeah they are right here. You’re gonna come?” He asked her.

“Like I have anything better to do,” Chloe was a firecracker, a strange one. “Oh wait I have to fly back home in a few hours but sure.”

Joel and Chloe walked to his table. “Guys, you remember….”

“Chloe?” Gisela looked shocked when they saw the Canadian right in front of them. “Seriously?”

“What?” Daniela looked up, turned around and looked at Chloe. “Hey Chloe..." She slammed her head back on the table making all the cups and holders bounce up. “Ow…”

“Hey you guys? Don't tell me you guys like all go the same university like those TV shows?” She asked the group. "That's pretty tacky."

“Oh Gisela, Joel and Dani go to UCLA, me and Chris go to USC. Joel, Gisela are on academic scholarships and Chris is on a sports scholarship.” Courtney explained.

Chloe looked around. She realized “Where’s the black guy, the Australian guy and the smart chick?” She remembered Alicia, Tony and Kyle. “Weren’t you in love with him?” She asked Courtney who sighed. “Okay details, people.”

Gisela sighed “Kyle and Alicia are at Madison and Tony is in Pittsburgh.”

“Madison? Like Madison, Wisconsin?” Chloe quibbled her bottom lip. “Well…” She smiled to herself. “Things just got interesting.” She said softly to herself still holding her espresso. “So they’re dating?”

“No…” Daniela put her hand up with her face still on the table. “He’s my boyfriend.”

“Wait, so you two are….huh...wouldn't see that coming,” Chloe smiled politely. “Well, I have a plane to catch to go home. I’ll see you guys sometime.”

“Wait!” Joel walked up to Chloe. “What happened to us?”

Chloe chuckled “I moved, we broke up. Oh about us now?” Chloe asked as Joel nodded. “Nothing, you’re cute but you’re Joel. Bye!” The Canadian left the café leaving a dumbfounded male in her wake.

“So in good news…” Joel sat back down. “Chloe is completely over me….like I meant nothing to her.”

“I like her but she's really weird,” Daniela got up. “I’m going to study before I get run over by math. At least half roadkill is better than I can imagine.” The brunette teen got up and left while mumbling incoherently to herself.

“Easy Way is totally right,” Gisela got up. “I have to totally hit the books.” She left as well.

"Shut it Kaiser Bitch."

“Well…I got that political party crap…” Joel looked at his watch. “See you guys.” This left Courtney and Chris alone. There was awkward silence between the pair.

“So…” until Courtney broke it. “Look, Gisela has been annoying be about this….I have a boyfriend.”

“Okay?” Chris nodded slowly. “I don’t but I might hold auditions for one.” He went back to his blueberry muffin.

“Chris…” She put her hand on top of his. “I….I don’t know…” She rubbed her hand.

“What do you want Courtney?” He was annoyed by her mixed messages. “I like you okay but we can’t do anything because we’re friends and you have a boyfriend. You dated Dundee who is really close to me and he's long moved on. So god dammit, Courtney. Stop it. Stop confusing yourself and me. I’m sick of it.” He got up and took his muffin. “I’ll see you later.” He walked out in frustration.

Courtney sulked and looked at her reflection through a tiny little teaspoon. “What do I do?”

"Pick the hot guy!" A waitress said to her.

"It's not like that."

"Oh..." The waitress awkwardly muttered. "So....you guys done with those cups?" She pointed at the couple of coffee cups and plates on their table.

"Yeah...."

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Later:

“You didn’t tell me this was a wedding. You said this was a political gala,” Joel sighed looking at his tuxedo through a metal table spoon. He looked around at the big banquet hall with circular tables draped in lovely white satin sheets. Each table had several chairs and with each chair, right in front were 3 white plates, 2 forks, 2 knives and a table spoon. There were pepper and salt shakers made out of marble with a lovely rose centerpiece right in the middle of the table. Each table had a jug of water and a glass to each person.

“I told you.” Tina wearing a simple yet chic night blue gown stated. Her black hair was tied up in a bun.

“You said wear a tuxedo.” Joel replied back.

“Okay, so I lied but you wouldn't have come if I said it was a wedding.”

“That's a lie,” He glared at her as he picked up a glass of water. Tina stared at him.“What? Alright fine. This place is pretty swanky.”

“My mother wants me to have a date in a place where you were a tuxedo. Blame my mother,” The reporter rebutted. “You are so thick. You honestly didn’t think I would follow you doing your deed with the sorority princess.”

“Aren’t you a regular Lois Lane…” He muttered. “So I have to meet your mother right?”

“Sadly…” Tina sighed. “She’s on this kick about why I haven’t met a guy in college. I’m too busy for that crap. I’m a sophom*ore about to be a junior. As you can imagine I don’t get many guys flocking to me..”

“Imagine that….” He muttered to himself as he sculled a glass of water. “Alright let’s get this done with. Dance a little dance, meet your mother.”

“Speak of the devil…” Tina sighed as her mother wearing a green dress ran up to her.

“Tina darling!”

“Hi mother…” Tina got up. “It’s nice to see you…” She frowned.

“And you brought a date. I was beginning to think you were a lesbian. He’s so cute.” She pinched Joel’s cheeks.

“Mother!” Tina exclaimed. “I’m really sorry but she gets excited.”

“Hi, I’m Joel Harris. I can see where Tina gets her good looks.” He said charming her with his trademark smile. “It’s a killer smile.” He whispered to Tina.

“Apparently so.” Tina was surprised as she looked around.

“You two should go to get your picture taken with the bride and groom…” Her mother was a bit too excited.

“Mother, I don’t think….”

“Oh nonsense!” Her mother shushed her. “Megan! Look what Tina brought with her. It's a boy!” She dragged Tina with her.

"Sometimes I do wish I was gay. My mother would stop harassing me."

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Elsewhere:

“What’s wrong?” Carl looked at Courtney as they sat at an art museum. It was a quiet museum except for the large groups of tourists from Germany and Japan. “This artist?”

“Oh no, I love the colors and stuff.” She lied. The red haired teen had no clue about art. “I’m just tired.” That was another lie. In her mind she was thinking about Chris. “Studying.”

“See that’s what I like about you,” Carl held her hand. “You’re a smart, amazing woman. You’re always are on the continued quest of knowledge unlike those friends of yours.”

“What’s wrong with my friends?” Courtney asked as she held his hand. “They are smart.”

“Not as smart as you. You need to be around more intellectual people like me.” Carl loved to toot his own horn. “What do you think about this sculpture?”

“It’s nice…” She was too preoccupied. Carl was sweet to her, made her feel that she was this amazing intelligent woman but that wasn’t her. Chris treated her like herself; he didn’t make her feel like she was a lie. “I don’t know.”

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Wedding Hall:

“I’m sorry about my mother. She can get a bit crazy.” Tina explained as she sat down next to Joel. They were watching the bride and the groom having their first dance. “I love how the wedding and the reception are just one thing.”

“Yeah, it was a lot shorter than I’m used to.” Joel remarked. “Look Tina, it’s okay. It’s a nice vibe around here.”

“A deal is a deal.” She sighed. “I promise that I’ll destroy the pictures. You lived up to your end of your bargain but there’s one thing I want to know.”

“Off the record?” He replied while his foot was tapping away to the rhythm.

“Yes.” She didn’t. She didn’t really have a sense of humor. “Are you and that sorority head dating?”

“No, no…” He shook his head. “We’re not. We’re just sleeping together. Why?”

“Well…I can help your campaign…” Tina moved her foot towards his. “I know politics in the paper. I scratch your back if you scratch my back.”

“That wouldn’t be honest, Tina.”

Tina chuckled. “When are politics honest? We live in a country where the NRA pays off senators and where senators get special bribes and payoffs. It’s naive to think that these things don’t happen, so you can be preachy about being honest and moral but you have to think about the end result,” She explained to him as she placed her hand on top of his. “So think about it this way. I and the paper support your party’s campaign. No payoffs and stuff just one thing.”

“What is it?” He whispered.

“I want the same deal as the sorority head, Katherine Russell. You’re not cheating on her because you’re not dating and she’s leaving after finals, so what’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is that it is seedy.”

“Joel, it’s your choice. Do you want to further your career or want to be moralistic and honest? One will get you far and the other? Well you just have to think about it.” Tina got up. “Think about it.”

Joel sat there and pondering about everything that Tina said. “Hmmm….”

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Later:
Location: Santa Monica:

Courtney finished from her date with Carl, plonked herself on to a couch. She wasn’t in the mood to study. Gisela was in her room studying. The red haired teen went to the fridge. She yawned as she opened the freezer. The teenager pulled out a tub of chocolate ice cream and took out two scoops which she slid right into a blue plastic bowl.

She heard a knock on the door as she sat down. “Coming.” She placed her bowl on the kitchen table as she walked to the door. The red hair teen opened the door revealing a blonde male. “Chris?”

“Courtney, I thought about what you said and we have great chemistry, we are friends and we both like each other and…” He stood outside their house wearing a tight white t-shirt that showed off his muscles and a pair of chinos.

"And…”

“And this…” He moved closer to her and kissed her. She was only happy to oblige. She felt like she was in bliss, in heaven until she realized she had to make a choice. “So…” He licked his lips. “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye?” Courtney stood there stunned and perplexed as she slowly closed to the door. “Who am I going to pick. I can’t string both along…” She realized she just caused herself a dilemma.

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Outside the Wedding Hall:

“Oh Joel…” Tina moaned in the back seat of Joel’s Miata. She felt his soft lips caressing her neck. “Stop for a second.” She pushed away. “Are you sure about this?”

“You said it yourself…” Joel remarked as he pushed back his hair. “It’s naïve to think that I can get far just being moral and honest. I mean I’m sleeping with my cousin’s sorority head who’s my ex-girlfriend’s older sister. I kind of let my friend making out with another woman when he was dating a friend of mine, so let’s be honest. I’m as corrupt as everyone.”

“Are you okay with this?” Tina asked him as she slowly slid off her dress.

“Yeah, yeah I am. It’s just sex. I'm all clear and you're not going to get knocked up. You better live up to your bargain.” He said as he kicked a little electronic tape recorder on.

“Of course,” Tina agreed. “Just sex and I’ll play nice.”

“You know the car is bugged.” He smirked. “I’m learning…” He whispered into her ear.

“So if you get caught…”

“You’re going down with me…” He smirked with a slight nod.

“Well played. Now for you to live up to your bargain.” She wrapped her arms around his body.

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Next Morning:
Location: Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Kyle and Will were out at the campus grounds kick a football (soccer ball) around. “I’m telling you, you should tell the university to f*ck off, leave and go pro. You’re good to be here.”

Kyle laughed as he picked up the ball. “Nah man. I’m not ready mentally for that stuff yet. This is just something I feel is right for me.” They were walking back from the grounds until he felt someone covering his eyes.

“Guess who?”

“Errr….” He knew it was a woman because of her feminine voice but that's where it ended. “Will? Any help?”

“Have no idea, bro.” He looked at the girl. “She’s not my type.” He chuckled.

“Kyle Thorpe.” The woman ran right in front of him.

The shock and the surprise caused Kyle’s eyes to widen. “Chloe Stewart?”

“Ya,” She smiled. The guys noticed how wide her smile was. “My actually name is Marissa.”

“Really?”

“No,” She smiled right at Kyle. “So hey” She hugged him tightly. “How have you been? I'm really touched you remember me.”

“Well, it's not hard to forget you but I’ve been great,” Kyle nodded slowly still confused and surprised. He heard Will cough. “Oh right this is William, Will, Bill or whatever. He’s my roommate.”

“Nice to meet you, Chloe.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” She smiled. “So…” She stared at him kind of hoping that he would leave.

“I’ll leave you two alone; I’ll be at the car.” Will took the cue. He knew the situation as he walked away from the pair.

“So I heard from a bunch of random people that you study here and shock of shocks they were right.” Chloe giggled. “So what are you doing tomorrow night?”

“Holidays, finished finals.” Kyle replied as he started to walk with her through campus, pass several flowers, trees, buildings and people. “So maybe chillaxing”

“No, you’re not.” She jumped in front of him. “You’re taking me to prom.”

“Ummm….no.” Kyle chuckled. "It ain't happening."

“Oh why not? It’ll be fun like a catch up or something,” Chloe swayed like a little schoolgirl with a heavy crush. “Look…” She sighed knowing that he wouldn’t budge. “I need a date. My last one fell sick. He tried to eat as much non-toxic Playdough and he ate too much. I guess non toxic is an advertising lie or his stomach didn’t like it. I dunno but I’m popular.” The teenager stated her case. “And a college guy will make me be like Prom Queen. I know you have a girlfriend.”

“How?” Kyle looked at her with a raised eyebrow. It was like she knew he would be here and dating Daniela Cooper. “How did you know that?”

“I was in LA this morning and I bumped into Joel and he was like Kyle’s in Madison and shock of shocks that’s where I live. What a coincidence!” She tried to persuade him by fluttering her eyelashes and gazing at him. “Please?”

“No.”

“Please? I promise it’ll be G rated. We dance, we laugh, I’m Prom Queen and we go home....unless you're into more than going into home.....nope?” She explained as she fluttered her eyebrows. “Oh come on, you’ll be like a celebrity.”

“Chloe…”

“Eugh what’s the problem? I told you,” She exclaimed. “We’ll dance, show off and go home. Please like I’ll waste my time in a school prom.”

Kyle sighed. He gave up “Fine…just let me get it by Dani, I want to make sure it’s okay.”

“Okay…call her now?” She stood right in front of him.

“Now? C’mon Chloe…”

“Oh come on like you would tell her anyway. If she finds out, she’ll get angry. So just be honest.”

“Whatever…” He hated the position he was in and he showed it. He picked up his phone and speed dialed his girlfriend’s number. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“So guess who I bumped into today?”

“Ray Allen?”

“Huh…” Kyle started to day dream about meeting Ray Allen and the Bucks. “Huh…no, oh no.” That ended when he saw Chloe staring at him. “You remember Chloe right?”

“Yeah, she’s there?”

“She lives in Madison…”

“Wow, she was just here.”

“Yeah anyway…she wants me to escort her to her prom.”

“I’ll pay her.”

“She’ll pay you…?” Kyle looked at Chloe like she was crazy. “That’s what she says.”

“Ummm okay? How much?”

“You’re selling me? Really Dani? I wouldn't sell you....for this,” He saw Chloe hold up a 5 then a 0. “50! 50?”

“You kiss her, I’ll kill you. Anything more and I’ll kill you several times and burn your body.”

“Morbid yet fair. I’ll talk to you later, hun.”

“Bye dear. Love you.”

Kyle hung up the phone. “She’s surprisingly alright with it as long as we don’t kiss lips or do anything more.”

“Deal and now I have to go home. So what car do you drive?” She asked.

“A Ferrari Testarossa.”

“I’m totally going to be Prom Queen” She squealed as wrote down her number on a piece of paper and slip it in his pocket. “You're packing!” She blew him a kiss as she walked away. "Ciao!"

“She’s still f*cking weird….”

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Das it.