At the end of the rehearsal, Laura was surprised to see John and her good friend Felicity in the stands, watching her practice. When she was done, she ran up the aisle and hugged John. �Hey! What are y�all doing here?!� she asked. She was surprised to see Felicity there, especially with John.
�When John told me what was happening, I made him come and pick me up so I could see it for myself! You�re really good, girl!� Felicity said, her brown curls bouncing all over the place. Her freckled face was all aglow.
�She called and wanted to get together with us today, and I told her where you were.� John said.
Laura was so happy to see the smiles on their faces. Just then, AJ came up behind her and told her goodbye. �Wait wait wait!� Laura said. �There�s someone I want to introduce you to.�
AJ was a little reluctant to go, because he figured that guy was John, but he went anyway.
�John, this is my friend AJ. He brought me home yesterday.� Laura said.
�Hey man, nice to meet you.� John said and extended his hand to AJ.
AJ looked at Laura. �Please don�t say anything,� her eyes pleaded with his.
�And this is my friend Felicity,� Laura said and pointed to her.
�Hi,� Felicity said, smiling. She was trying to flirt with him, but she wasn�t doing a very good job of it.
�Hi.� AJ said awkwardly. �Well, it was nice meeting you, but I gotta go,� he looked at Laura and said, �See ya tomorrow?�
�Yeah, tomorrow. Bye!� She called as he walked out to the parking lot. She was so relieved he didn�t say anything to John, and she wanted to thank him.
The rest of the night was a blur, she had so much fun. She, John and Felicity went out to dinner and she and Felicity talked forever. When they finally dropped Felicity off at her house, Laura was sad to see her go. She was leaving for the tour in about 5 days, and she wouldn�t see either of them for 3 months. She knew she was doing the best thing for her, and she didn�t regret it for a second, but she would miss them.
~*The Next Week*~
Laura was packing up her things, getting ready for the tour. John had gone to pick up Felicity so Laura could say goodbye to both of them at once. AJ was coming to pick her up in about 30 minutes. She had so much stuff he had to take : her journal which she never left home without, her pictures of her and John and her and Felicity, her CD player and CD case, and her blanket she�d had since she was a baby. She was taking all her things that reminded her of home, so she wouldn�t be too homesick.
�We�re back!!� John called up the stairs.
�OK, I�m coming down!� Laura called back. She grabbed her backpack and walked downstairs, where the rest of her luggage was. She had a suitcase and a duffel bag filled with all her dance clothes and costumes for the tour. She was insanely nervous, but so excited at the same time.
�Hey!!� Felicity said and hugged her. �I�m gonna miss you! You have fun, alright?�
�You bet I will!� Laura said and hugged Felicity again.
Laura and Felicity pulled away just as they heard a car pull up in the driveway.
�Well, that�s AJ,� Laura said. John opened the door and the three if them went out onto the driveway, where AJ was waiting with the trunk to his car open. The noontime sun bored down on the four.
�I�m gonna miss you,� she said to John as she kissed him goodbye.
AJ felt a pain in his heart when he saw Laura kissing John. �How could she still love him after what he did to her?� He thought.
�I�ll call you as often as I can,� John said.
�Call me when you have time, ok?� Felicity said. Laura hugged her again as John put her luggage in AJ�s trunk.
�Take care of her for me, ok?� John said to AJ.
�Alright, we�ll do,� AJ said as he shook John�s hand.
�Felicity, you�ll watch out for John while I�m gone, right?� Laura asked.
�You betcha,� Felicity said, and smiled wickedly.
AJ and John walked over to where Laura and Felicity were.
�Ok, don�t make me cry now!� Laura said. �I�ll see y�all in 3 months.�
Laura turned and walked to AJ�s car. She climbed in the passenger seat. She waved goodbye to John and Felicity as AJ started the car and pulled out of the driveway.
