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�Road To Nowhere� Chapter 9: Never Say Never �So did you talk to Dan?� Chelsea asked. Courtney cradled the phone. �Yeah, I told him all about Mike.� �What did he say?� Chelsea questioned Courtney. �He didn�t understand at first, but when I told him about the scar�� Courtney paused. �Did anything else happen?� Chelsea asked earnestly. �I cried and he comforted me,� Courtney wanted to wrap up the conversation. �That�s sweet, Court. You guys should hook up,� Chelsea said cheerfully. �Chels, I gotta go. I�ll see you tomorrow,� Courtney waited for Chelsea�s goodbye before she hung up. Courtney got up off her bed and walked to her French doors. She stood looking out over the pool. Rain had started falling. �I want him,� Courtney muttered to herself. She began to cry softly as the rain fell harder. She opened the door and stood on the balcony. The rain washed away her tears. She was soaked from head to toe and freezing, but it felt so right. She needed to be washed of her fears and sorrow. She needed to get over the past so she could look forward to the future. * * * * �What�s wrong with Dan?� Matt asked nobody in particular. Ashley, Josh, Chelsea, Dan and Matt stood in a group before school waiting for Courtney. Dan looked as if he hadn�t slept a wink last night. He was staring off into space. �Yo, man. You okay?� Ashley asked him. �Huh? What?� Dan snapped back into the conversation. �Yeah, dude, I�m fine.� �Right,� Chelsea mumbled under her breath. She didn�t like the way Dan looked at Courtney. She hated that he liked her. �Dan, homecoming is this week,� Matt said. Dan looked at him with a blank look on his face. �So?� �You know what that means, don�t you?� Matt asked him laughing. �Big football game on Friday?� Dan asked as Matt shook his head. �Spirit week?� �No! The dance on Saturday! And do you know who doesn�t have a date?� Matt couldn�t believe Dan didn�t know what he was getting at. �You?� Dan asked understanding and playing along. �Sorry, man. I would go with you, but I�m really not like that.� The group erupted in laughter as Matt turned a deep shade of crimson. Josh smacked Matt on the back. �You got told!� �Do I have to spell it out for you? Courtney doesn�t have a date to the dance! Just ask her before you give me a heart attack,� Matt practically screamed at Dan. He didn�t like being shown up, especially by the new guy. �Okay, okay. Don�t have a heart attack. I�ll ask her, but I doubt she�d want to go with me,� Dan said as the bell rang. Courtney came running up to the group. �Was that the late bell?� she asked frantically. �Nah. It was the first bell, Court. Where were you?� Ashley asked as they walked to their homerooms with Matt, Dan, and Josh. �I was late,� Courtney bit her lip. �Just forget about it.� �Okay, Court. See you in art,� Ashley opened the door to his homeroom. �Court, you okay?� Josh asked her as they sat in their seats. �I�m fine. Hi Dan,� Courtney winked at him. Dan shot Matt a puzzled look. �Hey Court.� �Courtney, please take a seat,� the teacher said as she opened her role book. Courtney sat and turned toward Matt. �Who are you taking to homecoming?� �I dunno yet. I was thinking I�d ask Kelly Atkins,� Matt shot Dan a look. �Who are you going with, Courtney?� Dan asked. �I don�t have a date yet. That�s why I asked Matt. I only ask Matt when I�m desperate,� Courtney turned back to Matt. �How about you Josh?� Courtney asked. Dan looked hurt. �I�d love to take you, Courtney.� Courtney was stunned. �Um� okay� I mean yes, I�d love to go with you, Dan.� Matt and Josh high-fived behind her head. Courtney sat back in her seat pleased with herself. Her plan had worked. She knew Dan wouldn�t just come out and ask her; she had to give him a reason to. Everything seemed perfect. Too bad happy endings only happen in fairy tales. * * * *
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