Carrie hurried Nick in to Melanie's art room and she shut the door and she leaned up against it.
"Have you told Marcus?"

"No."

"Carrie, why not?"

"Because..... I don't know how I feel."

"You told me a couple days ago that you didn't like him anymore."

"Yeah, I don't."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Yes it does."

"No, it really doesn't."

"You know what Nick? You don't understand. You just don't get it."

"What is there to get?"

She sighed and opened the door and walked out.

What could Carrie have meant?

He sighed and followed her out of the room. When he arrived, Marcus gave him the "I need to talk to you" look, he motioned to the kitchen and Marcus spoke up.

"Melanie we are going to go get those beverages."
Melanie nodded and kept talking to Alison. Carrie pouted and looked at the ceiling, Ryan and Ashley looked at the two of them with curious questionable eyes.

When they got into the kitchen Marcus made his way over to the cupboard and Nick went to the fridge with the koolade. They knew where everything was in Melanie's, they had church get-togethers here all the time.

"Can I ask you why you and MY girlfriend keep exchanging looks?"

"Look Marcus I don't know how to tell you this.. but-"

Before he could say anything Carrie arrived there. "Melanie wondered if you two were alright?"

"Yeah we're fine." Marcus said as he hugged Carrie.

Nick could see the anger and annoyance on her face. She obviously didn't like Marcus anymore and was ticked that Nick was going to tell him.

"I love you." Marcus whispered.

She smiled and grabbed a cup and raised it. "A toast- to us."

Was she serious? She was playing his best friend.

They delivered the drinks and finished their game of monopoly which Melanie won.

Nick caught a ride with Marcus.

"Marcus I have to tell you something."

"Whats that?"

"Carrie told me that -" he gulped. " She isn't in love with you any more."

"What?" Marcus slammed on the brakes.

Nick swung forward and hit his head on the windshield.

"Ouch!"

"She told you what?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about my head." He said as he rubbed his forehead.

As they pulled into Nicks drive way they both got out and walked into the Krest's hallway.

He headed straight to the kitchen to grab a ice pack for his head.

"Oh honey!" Mrs. Krest yelled as she saw Nick's face.

"It's okay mom, I'm fine."

"Marcus. I let you drive my baby around town and be with him 24/7 and he comes home looking like this! What did you do, punch him?"

"I should have." Marcus mumbled.
My mom stumbled backwards and scowled at him as she walked to the freezer.

"Mom, I'm very capable of getting the ice pack myself."

"Shush." She said as she handed me it.

Marcus sat at the table and stared at my mom as she gave him her all time famous "death stare". My mom's eyes were as dark as coal and she always seemed to intimidate everyone with her death stare.

"Behave. Both of you." She said as she pointed at both of us. She walked up the carpeted spiral staircase.

"You better thank Jesus tonight."

"For what? I mean I have plenty to thank him for but do you have something specific in mind?" Marcus asked.

"Yes. That my mom didn't strangle you. For this." I said as I pointed at my forehead. It had already started to bruise.

"That was your own fault."

"How was it my fault?"

"I always tell you to put on your seatbelt."

He was right. I hated seatbelts. Hated them. Okay so maybe hate is to strong a word. I guess it's more like a very strong dislike.

"Okay, so half and half."

"I guess if you say so."

I grabbed a cookie and a glass of milk.

It was ten-fifteen when Marcus finally spoke up, "Have your parents gone to bed?"

"No."

"It sounds awfully quiet."

"Yeah, movie night. They were going to watch 'Do you believe?'"

"Oh. So their at the other end of the hall?"

"Yes?" He asked skeptically.

"Good cause we need to talk. In your room."

"Cant you see I'm eating?"

"This is more important."

"Fine." He said as they trudged up the tiring twenty-four stairs.

He walked into his room and jumped on his bed.

His mom had gotten tired of telling him to stop jumping on his bed that she bought him a trampoline bed.

"Whats this about Carrie?"

"She told me she doesn't love you anymore."

He laughed and then grabbed a baseball from off my dresser and threw it at the door.

The thud was so loud I knew for sure my mother would be done in seconds to see who was killing someone.

He was right with in seconds his mom, dad and Kelsey were at the door

"What on earth?" Mom asked.

"Boys." Kelsey muttered