A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) (15 page)

They were at the mall when the doors opened the next morning. Leslie dropped Conner, Callie, Rylee and Karla off at the front at nine and Chase and Dominic met them just a few minutes later in the food court.

“Where to first?” Karla asked Rylee, she was the shopaholic.

“Just follow me. It’ll be easier that way. Oh, what’s everyone’s budget?”

“Mom gave us each $150.” Callie answered.

“I have $200.” Karla replied.

“I’m good. I have $125.” Dominic answered.

“$150” Was all Chase said.

“Okay, good. Mom told me not to spend over $75 on the costume, but she gave me $100 so I’m good too.” Rylee said with a grin. “Let’s go. Leslie will be back at five to get us and we have a lot to do between now and then.”

By noon the boys had their costumes and Karla had hers. Rylee had her Jean Grey pantsuit and was looking for the perfect accessories when Callie walked up holding a blue skin suit and blue face paint in the same shade. “I found it finally. It’s perfect.”

“Good.” Conner said from behind her. “We’re starving and ready for lunch. Can you pay for that so we can go eat please? There’s food court pizza calling my name.”

“Why don’t you, Dominic and Chase head over there and we’ll meet you there as soon as we pay for this. Fifteen minutes, maybe less.” Callie said as she walked toward the checkout counter.

“Fifteen minutes. I’ll be timing you.” Conner grinned and walked back to where the boys were waiting.

When they walked off Rylee looked at Callie. “You sure know how to handle him. Guess it’s a twin thing.”

Callie shrugged her shoulders as the cashier rang up her stuff. “I don’t know, maybe.”

After they had all paid for their stuff they walked to the food court to meet up with the boys.

****

“So.” Dominic said as he looked at Conner. “Do you come here with these three a lot?”

“A couple times a month. Callie’s my sister and Rylee and Karla are my two best friends. Why?”

“Just seems a little odd that you’d willingly go shopping all the time with three girls.”

“How is it odd to want to make sure they’re safe when they’re shopping?” Conner asked as his face started to turn red with anger.

“Whoa, chill man. I was just asking. Have you ever dated Rylee or Karla?”

“Rylee is like a little sister to me and Karla…well…she’s Karla. I would never do anything to hurt my friendship with her.”

“Sounds like you like her.” Chase grinned.

“I do, a lot actually, but I’ll never act on how I feel. Not unless she acts first.”

“I think you should ask her to the dance. I know we’re all going together, but if you don’t go with her then I know at least three guys who want to ask her.” Dominic told Conner.

“She can go with whomever she chooses and I won’t stand in her way.” Conner was worried that she’d go with someone else, but he wasn’t about to let them know it.

Before anyone could speak again the girls walked up. Conner looked at his watch and grinned “Fourteen minutes, forty-five seconds. Good job ladies.”

“Oh bite me, Con!” Callie said, causing the table to erupt in laughter.

“What’s for lunch?” Rylee asked. “I’m hungry.”

“Let’s see.” Karla started. “There’s Chinese, pizza, gyros, McDonald’s…hum…I think I want a veggie gyro.”

“That sounds great. Let’s go.” Callie said and grabbed Karla’s hand.

“Hey. Wait for me.” Rylee said as she followed behind them, “I want a chicken and peppers gyro.”

After they got their food they headed back to the boys and sat down. Rylee sat beside Dominic and Callie sat beside Chase, Karla took the last remaining seat beside Conner. As they ate they talked about the dance. Karla was quiet and listened to the conversation around her. She was a little worried about the dance, she’d never been to one before and wasn’t sure about herself.

“You’re awfully quiet Karla. Are you okay?” Rylee asked from across the table.

“No, not really. I’ll be right back.” She got up and walked to the bathroom.

When she was away from the table Rylee looked at Callie and nodded. “We’ll be right back.” Callie said and they followed Karla to the bathroom.

“Karla? You okay?” Callie asked as they walked into the bathroom.

“Yeah. I just needed a minute. I’ve never been to a school dance before. I don’t know how to dance.”

“I don’t either, but I’m going to have fun anyway.” Callie said with a grin. “We’ll act like crazy loons and have fun together.”

“I don’t have anyone to dance with. You both have dates and will be dancing with them, Conner will have girls flocking to him and he’ll be dancing so I’ll be alone.” Karla realized how selfish and jealous she sounded. “I’m sorry. I sound selfish and jealous. I want you guys to have fun.”

“You don’t sound selfish and you don’t sound jealous. You sound a little scared. You don’t have to worry though. You’ll have plenty of guys ask you to dance, Conner being one of them.”

“Thanks. I feel a little better, but I’m still scared.”

“We’ll be there with you. We’ll always be there with you.” Callie reassured her.

“Yeah. We love you Karla and we’ll never leave you alone.” Rylee agreed.

“Thank you both. I love you too.” Karla said and hugged them both. “Now let’s go back to the guys before they think we’re not coming back.”

On the night of the dance Leslie dropped Karla, Conner, Callie and Rylee off at the dance. As they waited outside for Chase and Dominic, Conner noticed that several of the guys who passed them looked at Karla with interest. He didn’t like this feeling that was building up inside him. It was something he’d never experienced before and it confused him. Yes, he liked Karla, but he’d decided when they’d first met that being friends with her was all he’d ever have. He wasn’t going back on that now.

Chase and Dominic finally arrived and they walked in together. People stopped and looked at them as they walked past. “Well at least we’re getting people’s attention.” Callie said with a laugh. The smart kids were always overlooked, but this year it’d be different,

“Yes, but do we want their attention?” Karla asked, unsure of herself again.

“Yes we do. These are the kids who have always teased us for being smart. Now we’re smart and cool.” Rylee responded with a smile. This was going to be epic.

They found a table and sat down. As soon as the music started Chase and Callie got up to dance, followed by Rylee and Dominic. “Would you like some punch?” Conner asked Karla.

“Ummm… Yeah, sure. Want me to come with you?”

“Nah. I’ll be right back.”

Conner was only gone a minute when a tall, blond haired boy sat down beside Karla. “Hi, I’m Bradley. What’s your name?”

“I’m Karla. It’s nice to meet you Bradley.”

“Are you new at school? I thought I knew all the beautiful girls.”

“I’m a freshman so I guess you can say I’m new.”

“Well you are definitely the hottest freshman I’ve ever seen.”

Conner walked back to the table just then and cast Bradley a look that would kill if looks could kill. Bradley is Kevin’s best friend. “Bradley, how’s Hailey? Are you two still dating?”

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t little Conner Newberry. How are you and the smart kid’s society doing in high school? Still making all A’s and making the rest of us feel stupid?”

“You know it. Karla, here’s your punch.”

“Whoa, you’re here with Conner Newberry, Karla? You can do so much better than a smart kid.”

“Well Bradley, seeing as I’m a member of the smart kid’s society, as you called it, I feel right at home with Conner.”

“You’re a smart kid? WOW! I didn’t know anyone as beautiful as you could be smart.”

Just then Kevin walked up. “Brad, man, you’re wasting your time with this one. She shot me down weeks ago. She’d rather hang out with my little brother and sister than with anyone like us.”

“Well if she shut you down I ain’t got a chance. See ya around Karla.”

When Kevin and Bradley walked off Karla looked at Conner. “What a jerk. Women can be both smart and beautiful, although I’m far from beautiful.”

Conner looked at her, but didn’t say anything. She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, but she didn’t see it. “I’m going to get something to eat. Want anything?”

“No thanks, I’m good.” Karla answered with a smile.

“Okay. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Take your time. I’ll be here.”

Conner was only gone a minute when a boy from their Lit class named Evan came over to the table. “Hey, Karla. Would you like to dance?”

“Umm… yeah…sure. I’m not very good though.”

“That’s okay. I’m not either.”

They walked out on the dance floor and the music changed from a fast rock song to a slow song. Evan pulled Karla a little closer and they started moving together to the soft beat of the music.

Conner saw them from the food table and was instantly struck by a feeling of intense jealousy. “Why didn’t I ask her to dance when I had the chance?” He asked himself out loud.

“I told you this would happen if you waited too long.” Callie said as she appeared at his side. “She’s a beautiful girl Con and she’s going to attract other guys. You either need to act on how you feel or back off completely. I don’t want to see her get hurt by anyone, especially you.”

“I don’t want to see her get hurt either. That’s why I haven’t acted upon how I feel.”

“She likes you too you know.” Rylee said from his other side.

“How can you be sure about that?” He asked, curious.

“I asked her and she told me. I’ve known since the morning of her mother’s funeral.”

“So have I Con. She likes you, but she’s scared too.”

The music shifted to a fast song, but Karla stayed out on the dance floor with Evan. “It doesn’t seem like it. Maybe I should just find someone to dance with and distract myself.”

“Sounds like a plan Con, but don’t doubt that she likes you too. Maybe she’s just doing the same thing.”

Callie and Rylee walked back to the table where Chase and Dominic were and Conner started looking for someone to ask to dance. When he spotted Jasmine sitting by herself he walked over to her. “Hey Jasmine. Would you like to dance?”

“I would love to dance Conner. Thank you.”

When they walked onto the dance floor Karla’s eyes met Conner’s, but she looked away quickly and focused on Evan again.

After the song ended Karla left the dance floor and headed to the bathroom. Seeing Conner with Jasmine sent a feeling through her that she couldn’t understand. She was angry, and hurt, and jealous all at the same time. She had been waiting for him to ask her to dance, that’s what she really wanted, but he hadn’t so when Evan asked her she’d accepted because she didn’t want to sit at the table alone anymore.

“I should have just asked him to dance. It’s not the 1800’s anymore and it’s perfectly acceptable for a girl to ask a guy to dance.” She was ranting at herself when Rylee and Callie stepped into the bathroom.

“Why didn’t you ask him?” Rylee asked. “He likes you and you like him, but you’re both too scared to say or do anything about it. I can understand why neither of you have, but this is hurting you both.”

“Karla, he’s only dancing with Jasmine because you were dancing with Evan. He likes you, not her. Maybe you should go back in there and ask him to dance. What’s it going to hurt if you two share one dance?”

“You’re both right, I know you are, but what’s going to happen to our group if Conner and I go out then break up? I can’t lose any of you. I need you all in my life.”

“One dance Karla. Dance with him and see where it leads you. That’s all I’m asking.”

Karla took a deep breath and Callie handed her a tissue to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “How’s my makeup?” She asked after she was done.

“It’s a little smudged, here.” Rylee pulled a compact from her purse and took out the black mascara she’d brought. “Fix your mascara and your powder and you’ll be fine.”

Karla pulled her own compact from her pocket and fixed her makeup quickly. With Callie on one side and Rylee on the other she walked back into the dance. Her eyes immediately found Conner. He was back at their table talking to Chase and Dominic. When they reached the table Callie pulled Chase to his feet and Rylee did the same with Dominic. They went to dance and left Conner and Karla alone again.

“Conner….ummm….” Karla cleared her throat.

“Karla, would you like to dance?” Conner blurted out before Karla had the chance to start again.

“Yes. I would love to dance.”

Conner’s face lit up in a huge smile. He grabbed her hand and they walked out on the dance floor just as
Never Stop
by SafetySuit started playing. Conner smiled down at Karla as they started to move together on the dance floor. He loved this song and thought it was perfect for how he felt about Karla. She is the only one he’s never been able to stop thinking about. His only fear was that she didn’t feel the same.

“I love this song. Andrew plays it for Leslie all the time on his guitar. He’s very talented and has promised to teach me to play when he gets time. They’re a great couple.”

“I love this song too. It’s a favorite of mine.”

They danced quietly until the song ended and shifted to fast rock again. They danced through that song and the next before they left the dance floor and got some punch. When they sat at the table together Conner grabbed Karla’s hand for a minute and looked into her eyes. “Thank you for dancing with me Karla.”

“Thank you for asking me Conner.” Karla smiled and released Conner’s hand when Callie, Chase, Rylee and Dominic approached the table.

“It’s almost nine Karla. Leslie will be here any minute to get us. Are you two ready to go?” Rylee said with a smile on her face.

“Umm.. yeah. I didn’t realize it was so late.” Karla answered as she grabbed her purse and stood up.

They walked out the school doors as Leslie pulled to a stop in front of them. Callie hugged Chase and Rylee hugged Dominic before they all loaded into the SUV. After they dropped Rylee, Conner and Callie at their houses and were almost home Leslie glanced over at Karla. “Did you have a good time?”

“I had the best time. I danced with a guy from my Algebra and Lit classes named Evan and I danced with Conner.”

“Oh really? Is Conner a good dancer?”

“He’s an excellent dancer. We danced to
Never Stop
and during the song he was looking at me like he was trying to silently tell me something. Leslie I really like Conner, but I am so scared that something will happen and our group will fall apart if we ever become more than friends.”

“That’s a valid fear honey.” Leslie responded as she stopped the SUV in the garage and shut the garage door. “The only advice I can give you is take it slow and see what happens.”

“Thanks Leslie.” Karla said as they walked in the house through the kitchen. “I’m going to go shower this makeup and hair spray out then go to bed. Thank you for taking us all tonight. Good night. I love you.”

“You’re welcome honey. Good night and I love you too.”

After she had showered and was in her pajamas she checked her cell phone. There was a text from Rylee, one from Callie and one from Conner. She opened Rylee’s first.

OMG!! Dominic just texted me and asked me to be his girlfriend.

Karla smiled and texted back;
That is AWESOME!! I’m happy for you. We’ll talk tomorrow at the Newberry’s Halloween party. Good night Rylee.

Rylee’s response came within seconds;
We definitely will. I saw you and Conner holding hands ;) ;) Way To Go!!

Karla rolled her eyes and opened Callie’s text.
Are you and Con going out?? I saw you holding hands.

She rolled her eyes again and chucked a little. Those two didn’t miss anything.
He was just thanking me for the dances. No big deal! We’ll talk tomorrow at your party. I’m beat and already in bed. Good night Cal.

She hesitated a minute before she opened Conner’s text. When she did she smiled.
Thank you for the dances. You made an AMAZING Storm. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night Karla.

You made a pretty good Wolverine yourself. I had fun dancing with you. I’ll see you tomorrow. Night Conner.

After she hit send she got up, put her phone to charge and crawled back into bed. She lay there for a few minutes remembering how Conner’s hand had felt in hers. When she fell asleep she dreamed of them dancing together again.