"So, what'd ya do today?" Nycto asked.

"Um, nothing, studying and stuff. Oh, we've got ice skating with the youth group tonight too," I answered, standing up aff my bed and going to look through my wardrobe for something suitable to wear. Every Friday night our youth group from church went somewhere, we were always encouraged to bring a friend along.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Who are you bringing?"

"I was thinking of bringing Mandi," I pulled my dark jeans off their hanger and studied them critically.

"Refresh my memory."

"She's the girl I met at the park a couple of weeks ago, you know the girl with JJ?" I held my jeans up against myself and studied my reflection in the mirror.

"Oh yeah, he's really cute, how old is he again?"

"Three. Who are you gonna bring?" I asked, I could picture her shrugging in response. "Dude, I can't hear you shrug," I laughed.

"Yeah, I know," She laughed, "I think I'll ask Christy if she wants to come."

"Do I know Christy?" I asked as I threw my jeans on my bed and went back to my wardrobe to see what else I could wear.

"Um... I don't think so, no," She replied.

"Man, where do you find all these friends?" I laughed, "I know noone, apart the snobby girls at school and the kids at church."

"You need to get out more."

"True. Talk to my parents for me, okay?"

"Whatever," She laughed, "What are you doing? I can hear noises."

"I'm choosing something to wear tonight."

"How about you brown cords?" She suggested. I yanked them off their hanger and looked them over.

"Cool, but what can I wear with them?"

"Um, your... light pink turtle neck?"

"Yeah, that could work, thanks. Hey! Did you hear that the Cunningham's are back in town?"

"Yeah, mum and dad said something about it last night. Apparantly they're the second richest family in town."

"Wow, behind who?"

"The Moffatt family."

"You know what's really weird? I've lived in this town my whole life and not once have I ever seen them around," I walked over to my mirror and studied my reflection. Big, dark green eyes, loopy blonde curls that sit just below my shoulders, perfectly straight teeth. Braces were hell. I tugged on one of my curls, turned away from the mirror and flopped down on my bed.

"Well, I think you will this Summer, they're taking some time off, so they'll be around for a while. Besides, Christy knows them, maybe I'll ask her to see if they wanna come?"

"Cool. You wanna hear something totally stupid?"

"Yep."

"My parents are trying to set me up with Bradley Cunningham," I rolled my eyes.

"Whoa," She breathed.

"Tell me about it. They've got it stuck their head that he is a living God, he's a Christian, good-looking, rich, what more could a girl want?"

"What does he think of all of this?"

"I dunno," I shrugged. Their was a light knock on my bedroom door. "Hang on Nycto. Come in!"
Mum poked her head into my room, "You do remember that you have to do your clarinet practice before you go out tonight?"

"Yes mum, I remember."

She smiled softly, "Good girl. Oh, we're giving Bradley a lift to the ice skating arena tonight, does Nycto want a lift too?"

"Let me check," I put the phone back up to my ear, "You want a lift tonight?"

"Yeah okay, I'll keep you and Braddy-boy company," She answered. I stifled a giggle and nodded at mum. She nodded and closed the door. "I better go, I've gotta do my clarinet practice."

"Have fun," She laughed.

"I'll try, 'cause you know scales are so fascinating," I rolled my eyes.

"Well, then don't let me keep you," She joked.

"See you tonight."

"Bye," She giggled.

"Bye," I hung up the phone and closed my eyes. I was so sick of playing the clarinet everyday for and hour and a half, but it made my parents proud, so I kept it up. I was doing my grade eight exam in a couple of weeks, so I did need to parctice, but still, I was so boring sometimes. I hung my discarded clothes back in my closet and left my cords and my turtle neck on my bed and got out my clarinet case.

*~*~*~*