�Hey dad.� Wow, I actually said it.

�How was basketball camp?�

�It was great. I met so many new people.�

They walked into the house. The scent of the house reminded Mark about his mom. Just then, the phone rang.

�Mike, there�s something I need to talk to you about.� Justin said as he sat down on the couch in the living room.

�Ok, what is it?�

Just as Justin was about to tell Mark what he had to say, he was interrupted by Kelly.

�Mike, someone�s on the phone for you.�

�Alright, I�ll be back.� Mark walked up to Kelly and took the phone from her.

�Thanks.�

�Hello?�

�Mark? It�s Mike.�

�Hey man, what�s going on?�

�Look there�s some��

�Dude, dad�s great! He is so cool. I can�t believe I lived my whole life not knowing him.� Mark said, going on.

�Mark, will you shut up!� Mike exclaimed.

�Look Mark�something happened to mom.�

�What happened to her? Is she ok?� Mark asked panicking.

�She was in a car accident.� He sighed. �She�s doing fine though.�

�Thank god.�

�But hey, I just called to let you know. I got to go, Rob�s calling for me. Talk to you later.�

�Alright then, bye.� Mark said and hung up the phone.

�Who was that?� Justin asked from the living room.

�Oh, it was just a friend I met at camp. So, what did you want to tell me?� he asked as he walked back into the room. He looked over at his dad and what he saw made his jaw drop.

Sitting on his father�s lap, was a young woman, whom remarkably resembled his mother.

�Mike, this is Ashley. She�s my�very special friend.� Justin said smiling.

�Oh�hi.� Mark said, as Ashley stood up to shake his hand.

�Hey Mike, nice to meet you.�

Mark felt very awkward. How special was she? He had that feeling in his stomach again.

�I�m sure we�ll become the best of friends.� She said as she flashed him the cheesiest smile. He flashed her a fake one in return and turned to his dad.

�I�d love to stay and chat, but I got to go unpack.� Mark said and walked upstairs to his room. When he reached the room, he saw Kelly already unpacking his suitcases. He figured it�d be a good time to ask now.

�Kelly��

�Yeah sweetie?�

�Who�s that Ashley chick?�

�Chick? Since what have you been saying the word, �chick�?�

�Oh, umm�my friend kept on saying it and I guess it kind of stayed with me,� he paused. �But really, who is she?�

�Why are you asking me this? Shouldn�t you be asking your father about this?� she asked. In all honesty, she didn�t feel that she should be the one to tell him.

�Because she�s down there with him, that�s why I don�t want to ask.� He said and that�s when he heard it.

Giggling.

It came from downstairs. Mark walked out the room and over to the spiral stairs. He glanced down and he fell weak in the knees�not in a good way either.

�Oh this is making me sick.� He said under his breath as he watched his father and Ashley getting �extremely friendly�.

�I guess you know now.� Kelly said as she walked up behind him. Mark turned around quickly and looked up at her.

�I need to call somebody.�


Chapter 8