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I begged off. I dodged him. For the first time in my life, I found myself not wanting to talk to AJ.

So I came up with the lamest excuses: I was either out, sleeping, headed for practice, or headed home. The guilt crushed me of courseā€”the last time AJ asked, he did seem upset. But the benefits of having a crease-free friendship with Nicole by not dipping into their affairs outweighed the guilt of leaving AJ in the lurch. Meanwhile, Nicole was carrying on like nothing happened, not in the least bit bothered that they had broken up. Except for the fact that she never seemed to want to talk about it, Nicole was a-okay.

“So what’s up with that? By the time I found out they’d gotten together, they’re over. And from what I hear, neither of them seems to have so much as flinched. Do you think it’s a third party?” Carlo asked me over chocolate ice cream on cones at the mall that weekend.

I shrugged, “No clue.”

“Gossip…” he said, dismissively. “Not all of it’s true, I guess. Except maybe that one about you going gaga over Drew Jimenez,” he said, making a face.

I swatted him on the arm and he roared with laughter. “I lost all respect for you after I heard that, Katie, I must say…” he joked.

“It’s not true, you have to help me clear my name,” I pleaded.

“Of course I know it’s not true. You don’t even have to think I’m cute! And I have it on g ood authority that I’m better looking than he is,” he winked at me.

“I never said you weren’t cute…” I protested, blushing to the roots of my hair as I did.

“Now, now, Katie. You don’t need to puff my head up just to wring a favor out of me. I’m trading the compliment in for,” he hesitated, “dinner and a movie, end of the week,” he finally said.

My heart fluttered in my chest, “Deal.” I said, holding my hand out so he could take it in his. While we sealed our agreement with a firm handshake, I couldn’t help but notice how unbelievably soft his hand was. “I’ll get right to it on Monday,” he promised. It was all I could do to let go.

All week long, I floated. I couldn’t get over how diving “Dinner and a movie, end of the week” sounded coming from our of Carlo’s lips. And I could kick myself, but it was sounding more like a date than payback for me. And out in the hall, the day some overeager sophomores put up the first posters for the February school dance, the deramy look about me was complete, knowing for sure whom I wanted to go with then. Jill pointed it out, asking me what was up.

“For starters? Dinner and a movie with Carlo on Friday,” I simply said, barely able to contain my excitement.

She thre her hands in the air, “Finally!” she said in mock exasperation. “You guys took long enough getting there.”

Friday afternoon and I had changed out of my uniform, feeling very confident in my low-rise bootleg jeans, flirty sandals, and ruched halter top. Carlo and I were going to the mall straight from school. I left the shower rooms and caught sight of him, striding purposely towards me, looking every bit as dreamy as I imagined he’d be, AJ in tow.

AJ?! It started to sink in. But what was he doing here?

Carlo came face to face with me. “Look,” he said stonily, his jaw clenched. “AJ here’s been asking for you. I think he wants to talk. Never mind tonight, I’m suddenly not feeling too good. I’ll see you Monday,” he said in a rush before he turned away and left.

“Thanks, man,” AJ called out for him.

I turned to AJ, “One minute.” I said.

“Carlo! Wait!” I ran after him. He was past the gate, by the vendors when I finally caught up with him. “But I want to do dinner and a movie!” I said, a knot in my throat.

He stopped walking, turned to look at me and took a deep breath. “Tell you what. Let’s skip the movie and I’ll have you treat me to dirty ice cream,” he said, as he placed an order for two cones with Manong and I paid for them. He quickly devoured his, never once looking me in the eye.

That agonizing afternoon, my favorite chocolate was leaving a very bitter taste in my mouth.