-make it alright-
-chapter thirteen-

�You can�t possible be going to the party wearing that,� Teresa scoffed at her young daughter�s outfit. Melissa had recently attached herself onto what she called �the Lollapalooza tour look.� Today, she wore cut-off jean shorts over black tights and Dr. Marten boots.

�What�s wrong with my clothes?� Melissa protested. �All the girls at dance camp dressed like this.�

�What�s wrong with it is that you look like a homeless bum. You�re a civilized young lady. You should dress like it,� Teresa state. She reached over and fingered her daughter�s t-shirt. Originally, it had been black. But the shirt had been washed so many times that it had faded to a dark gray. Across the front, orange lettering read, �Official Halloween Costume.� �Where�d you get this shirt?�

�I got it at a thrift store. Isn�t it great?� Melissa said enthusiastically.

�Hardly,� Teresa scoffed. �When did you go to a thrift store?�

�Last weekend, with AJ. You wouldn�t believe how much that boy likes to shop.� Melissa smiled as she remembered how crazy AJ got with a little bit of cash burning a whole in his pocket.

�Who�s AJ?�

�Mama! Don�t you pay attention to anything I say?� Melissa demanded. �AJ is in Nick�s band.�

�That�s right. The Backstreet Boys.� Teresa remembered. �Sorry, I forgot for a second.�

Melissa shook her head. �Well, I�m going to go inside. Do you want to come with me?�

�What for?�

Melissa shrugged. �I don�t know. Maybe you want to talk to Brent�s Mama. Or maybe you want to congratulate Jane and Bob on their new house.�

�No thank you,� Teresa shook her head insistently.

�But they�re my best friends� parents!� Melissa pointed out.

�I know that,� Teresa commented. �But just because you�re best friends with Nick and Brent does not mean that I have to be all chummy with their parents.�

�But why not?� Melissa asked.

�Because we just don�t mesh well together.� Teresa explained. �Listen, its nothing against Brent or Nick. You know I love those boys.�

�Whatever.� Melissa rolled her eyes. She reached for her Jansport backpack, and slung it over her shoulder. Opening the passenger side door, she said, �I�ll see you tomorrow, Mama.�

Melissa climbed out of her mother�s car and slammed the door shut. Waving goodbye, Melissa watched as the car disappeared down the street. She let out a sigh of relief as her mother slowly faded away- temporarily, at least.

Someone�s arms wrapped around Melissa�s waist. Before she could figure out what was happening, Melissa was flipped upside-down and thrown over a shoulder. Kicking her legs, Melissa yelled out in protest. �Brenty! Let me down!�

Happy to oblige, Brent set Melissa down on her feet. �How�d you know it was me?�

�I saw your reflection standing behind me in Mama�s car window.� Melissa explained. She knocked her fist against his head. �It doesn�t take a rocket scientist, you know.�

�You�re such a smart girl. That�s why I come to you with help on my homework,� said Brent. He motioned Melissa with his hand. �Come on- follow me. Everyone else is out back.�

Melissa followed Brent as he led her around the Carter�s new house. While the property was completely foreign to Melissa, Brent had already acquainted himself rather comfortably with the new surroundings. Melissa tried as best she could to take in the sights amidst the whirlwind tour.

Soon, Brent and Melissa had arrived in the backyard. For the first time, Melissa was really able to stop and take things in. It was the backyard of the Carter�s dreams. A basketball court, a giant trampoline, ping-pong table and swimming pool- all on waterfront property.

�This must have cost a fortune,� Melissa breathed.

�I think Lou helped with the mortgage or something,� Brent explained to the best of his knowledge.

�That makes sense,� Melissa agreed. �That Lou, he seems like a really cool guy.�

Looking around the backyard, Melissa was surprised to see how many people were at the Carter�s house-warming party. A lot of adults, Melissa observed. Standing in a clump beneath the shade of the house, Melissa recognized only Jane and Bob, Brent and AJ�s mothers, Lou and Johnny and Donna Wright. The rest of these adults are probably from the record company, Melissa observed. Geez, I still can�t believe that my best friend has a record company.

Meanwhile, the kids were enjoying one of the first nice days of spring. Aaron and Angel had invited one friend each, while Leslie and BJ had their own group of girls. But the oldest and largest group was lounging poolside around Nick.

�Hey everyone- look who�s here!� Brent said as he and Melissa approached the group.

A scattered �Hey Melissa!� was shouted out from various party guests. AJ was there with his girlfriend Marisa, Brian and his girlfriend Samantha, as well as Kevin and his girlfriend Kristen. Everyone was here, except� �Wait, where�s Howie?�

�He�ll be here in about an hour,� Nick supplied his best friend with an answer.

Brent has settled into a lawn chair next to Nick. Seeing no other empty loungers, Melissa took a seat on top of Brent�s lap. �Nick, this house is amazing.�

The classic Carter grin broke through. �I know, isn�t it? I wanted my parents to buy a house in Apollo Beach, but this ain�t a bad second choice. I�m just happy it�s on the water.�

�Give her a tour, Nicky boy.� Egged on Kristen, as she elbowed Nick in the side.

�But that requires getting up!� Nick whined.

�You�re so lazy,� Kevin criticized.

�Nah, its okay.� Melissa interrupted. �I�m spending the night tonight, so there�s plenty of time to go on a tour later.�

�How�s dance going, Melissa?� Kristen asked. Melissa couldn�t help but grin. She adored Kevin�s girlfriend, and delighted in the fact that Kristen was sincerely interested in her dance career.

�Dance is really good,� Melissa replied. �But how about you? When do you leave for New York?�

Kristen had recently been hired as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall. �I leave in two weeks. But you know what? After I get settled in, you should come stay with me for a while. I could take you to classes at the Broadway Dance Center or something.�

�Really? I�d love that!� Melissa said eagerly. But her face soon fell. �But I don�t think I have time.�

�You don�t?� Asked a surprised Kristen. �Oh, that�s right. You�re leaving soon to go to dance camp. Well, maybe in the fall.�

Melissa shook her head. �I don�t think so. Because after I leave for dance camp in June, I�m not coming back here. I�m moving back to Texas in August.�

�You�re what?� Nick practically shouted. He wore a shocked expression and a dropped chin.

Melissa nodded slowly. This wasn�t the way she�d wanted to tell her friends, but now she had not other choice. �My mom had me apply to the High School of Performing Arts in Houston. I just got my acceptance letter.�

�Congratulations!� Kristen said. She pulled Melissa off Brent�s lap and into a hug. The group gathered around to congratulate Melissa.

Elsewhere, Nick wasn�t quite so ecstatic. He sat silently, watching his giddy best friend. I can�t believe she�s leaving me.

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