Second Chances, Kimberly Berryhill [best short novels of all time .TXT] 📗

reaction. She seemed shocked slightly, but pleased. She gave him a good once-over look.
“Absolutely.” Cassie stalked out of the classroom with Nicole beside her. Nicki, however, stayed behind. She stepped closer so no one could hear what she would say.
“She trusts you. Please, don’t give her a reason not too. She’s been through enough, and if you hurt her you won’t have to worry about school for a long time. You just better hope they give homeschooling in the hospital.” She threatened. Derek could tell she cared a lot about her friends, and she didn’t like seeing them hurt. A brilliant smile replaced her serious expression. “Now with that done, what day is this special evening happening?” Without giving him time to answer she continued. “I’m thinking tonight at nine-ish. Since it is a Friday ‘n all. Oh, and the room is 24C.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He confirmed. “I like that you care so much for your friends. I assure you, if I ever hurt her I will not fight against you.” He promised. Nicki gave him a respectful smile, and turned to follow her roommates out the door.
Chapter 6

“Never, in a million years, have I seen such a skimpy closet! I mean…” Nicole rambled on and on about how Cassie’s closet was so lowly stocked that she was surprised Cassie had made it this far without her help. The three of them were gathered in their dorm room; Nicole raiding Cassie’s closet, Nicki heating up a curling iron for Cassie’s hair, and, finally, Cassie trying to stand out of the way while her roommates bombard all around her. It was seven thirty and they were making a fit of how Cassie was not even close to ready. “You’ll just have to borrow some more stuff from me, but I am so taking you shopping tomorrow!” Nicole took a look at Cassie’s reaction and added, “No buts!”.
“Finally, it’s ready! Get your butt over here, Cass!” Nicki shouted from her desk that appeared to be transfigured into a hair parlor. Cassie sighed and strolled over towards her. Nicki pushed her down into a seat and started pinning up hair that she wasn’t curling that minute. Cassie watched Nicole in her mirror seeing what she was picking out to see what looked best for tonight.
“Not a dress! We are going to the theater not a fancy dinner!” Cassie reminded Nicole just as she was about to lay a prom worthy dress out. She gave her a look, but did not argue and went to get her cute black skirt that went a couple of inches above her knees. Cassie relaxed into her chair as Nicki let another layer of hair fall to be curled. She couldn’t believe she had a date. After everything that happened to her, she didn’t think she could be happy with someone else. She admitted she didn’t want to be at first, but now she thought she could finally let herself be truly happy and fall in love again. She couldn’t help but to think of Derek as she waited. Maybe he won’t be the one, but I’m willing to dive in and see for myself, she thought. She found herself ready for what was to come.
* * * *
By the time Nicki had finished Cassie hair, Nicole had an outfit out that Cassie immediately fell in love with. She had just locked her eyes on it when Nicole swung around the corner of their small bathroom (technically, it’s not considered one since there is only a sink and mirror and toilet in it).
“No, you can’t keep it. I was just feeling generous, and you totally deserve props for catching the new guy before any of the other girls here could even blink.” Nicole winked and took hold of Cassie’s wrist. “Come on, it’s make-up time and we’re not going halfway with it like you usually do with just mascara and lip gloss. You’re going to have it all and you’re not going to argue at all with us, because you’ll look so pretty afterwards you won’t even have time to thank us before Derek takes a look and sweeps you off your feet.” Nicki and Nicole sat Cassie down in the revolving chair in their bathroom and got to work. It took several minutes before her lashes would curl exactly the way her roommates thought they should be, then they went back and forth about what shade of blush and eye shadow would be best for Cassie’s skin tone.
“A light peach is the perfect color for her cheeks, and of course, a ravishing red on her eyes!” Nicole stated holding a blush container like a weapon at Nicki.
“No offense, but I think I know her a little better than you. A pink with a light bronzer would look way better than peach. It’s like it was made for her and that red is too bright it’ll drown out her natural features.” Nicki argued pointing Cassie’s mascara bottle at Nicole. This debate lasted about fifteen tense minutes. Eventually, they both agreed on a light red eye shadow with black eyeliner to add a smoky affect and a darkish peach color for Cassie’s cheekbones. They, then, proceeded onto jewelry. When Cassie was finally ready she had a pair of dangle red and black earrings, a decent necklace that rested on her chest above the flattering red silk shirt that hugged Cassie’s hips and loosened at the top, Nicole’s black skirt, and black stilettos that seemed to be miles high to Cassie who was balancing unsteadily on them. By then it was eight forty five.
“You’re gorgeous!” Nicki exclaimed.
“Completely!” Nicole agreed. They were walking circles around Cassie trying to see if they missed anything important. Cassie was twisting the ring on her index finger nervously, it was the same ring Michael had given to her on their fourth year anniversary. It was the last gift she had received from him, and it was a few months before her whole world shifted upside down. She hasn’t tooken it off since the night she opened the huge box with tons of wrapping paper around inside. The moment she saw, on that gigantic bear, that beautiful ring on a necklace that rested right over where the stuffed animal’s heart would be she couldn’t dare part with it. It was the only thing she had left of her past, and she couldn’t tear herself away from it no matter how much she wished she could. Every times she saw it, it brought along the same painful soul deep heartbreak as the day he left her had. No matter how hard remembering the past was, it was somehow worth the memory of her old dream. A dream which amazed, enchanted, and finally, shattered her world.
A knock at their door, with two squeals coming for her roommates, sent Cassie back to reality. She pushed back the past, and focused on what hopefully, would be her future. Nicki pointed to the bathroom, a silent gesture that Cassie should hide before Nicole let our guest in. Cassie hurried as fast as her skyscraper heels would allow to the bathroom. She could still hear Nicole give one last squeal before she calmed herself down enough to turn the knob, and open the door slowly allowing Derek to nervously shuffle into the room.
* * * *
I have a date with Cassie..I am going out tonight with Cassie.. Derek kept turning these thoughts over in his head. It was thirty minutes until nine. He could not decide what to wear for the life of him. He had several clothes thrown across his bed, but none seemed right. His hair didn’t want to go the right way either. He was starting to feel like a chick.
“Tonight you decide to do this, really?!” he scolded his locks as the swayed up once more. He squeezed out more hair gel out of its bottle, and tried to manage his horrible cowlick. It lay flat for a second, but immediately shot up when he thought it was finally going to behave. “Ugh!” he exclaimed. Exasperated, he threw the bottle down. He gave up on his hair, and he turned to see the massive pile of clothes on his bed. He slowly went through them for the third time and decided on simple pair of jeans with a plaid long-sleeved shirt. It was casual, but not too casual, he thought. He rounded on the small mirror that was attached to the sliding door of his closet. “Now, if you will just do right!” he said, talking to his hair yet again.
* * * *
Derek looked into the mirror one last time. His hair had, finally, swayed and looked the way he wanted it, his clothes had some creases, but his jeans, surprisingly, had no holes torn in them, his black sneakers almost shined. Satisfied, he walked out of his dorm to walk over to Cassie’s. He thought of what he planned to say to her once they were alone. Does she like jokes? What does she like? Well, isn’t that the point of this first date? To find out more about each other and become closer? Why was he so nervous? It was just a date. A date with Cassie. His stomach did a flip. Calm down, he told himself.
He had reached the girl’s dorm. He walked up the steps and, with one last deep breath, swung open the door. Oh god, he thought. Every girl in the lobby seemed to stop and stare at him. He looked around, and when his eyes fell upon them they looked down and giggled with hushed voices. He could hear their whispers all the way up the hall. He was glad to reach the elevator. The dorms only had 5 floors, but it was still convenient. He pressed the button for the third floor.
As the doors closed Derek leaned heavily against the back and let a huge breath out. It seemed within seconds the elevator doors slid open again. He walked down to room 24. This is it echoed through his mind as he knocked lightly on the door.
He heard bumps and quiet squeals before the door finally opened. Nicole’s face popped in front of him quickly followed by Nicki’s.
“Hi!” they chimed together making them giggle.
“Hey.” He greeted them and looked around the room. It looked as if a closet threw up. Well, at least I wasn’t the only one struggling for the right clothes to wear, he thought. “I see you girls had some trouble.” He said, gesturing toward the piles and piles of outfits and shoes.
“Oh, it was nothing.” Nicole waved it off, “So, I’m guessing your wondering where your blushing brunette is, am I right?”
“Well, yeah.” Derek admitted, smiling at her. His eyes scanned the room once more. Cassie wasn’t in sight. They must have forced her into the bathroom. His thoughts seemed to be correct, because at that moment, he heard the door of their rest room