“Okay.”

I watched as Hannah paced back and forth across her bedroom.

“So I’ve spent a whole hour wracking my brain about this, and I have a plan.”

“We already have a plan,” I reminded her.

“No, you have a lame excuse, and I am willingly going along with it because I am your best friend and must support you no matter what, ” Hannah corrected.  “But after considering how in the hell we’re going to throw a party at this short notice without looking like rejects, I have come up with a way out.”  Abruptly, she stopped her walking, and gazed pointedly at me.  “You are going to call Nick.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Hannah held her hand up and shushed me.

“You are going to tell him that my party fell through because my parents are back in town unexpectedly.”

My mouth opened again, but Hannah glared, so I quickly shut it.

“But because I was so crushed about the,” Hannah paused and stuttered.  “Brent thing,” she spit out, before shuddering.  “You were hoping he could help you out.”

“How exactly?”  I questioned, finally able to get a word in edgewise.

“What is two days from now Lana?” 

“Saturday?” 

Hannah rolled her eyes at me.  “The barbeque!”  She waved her hands in emphasis as I just sat there not really understanding.  “You know the barbeque.”

Oh.  No.

“You mean the Carter barbeque?” I elucidated, flinching slightly.  “The family thing my parents always drag me to?”  I grimaced as the words set in.

Hannah raised an eyebrow.  “Drag you my ass!” she chortled.  “You know your whole summer revolves around the Carter’s barbeque!  You go early to help setup for God’s sakes.”

“Because of my parents,” I protested.

“Because of Nick.”

Couldn’t argue with that one…

“Default,” I compromised.

“Whatever,” Hannah blurted.  “So anyhow.  The barbeque,” Hannah began again.  “Tell Nick that you thought that maybe if it was alright with him, I could go with you to the barbeque this weekend, so I’d have that as an excuse to see-” Hannah trailed off again, “Brent,” she swallowed.  “Same social setting, right?  Still works.  More casual, more time for me to have some one on one because it’s a family thing right?  No distractions?”

“Technically…”

“See, its perfect?”  Hannah clasped her hands together,  “And not only that, but I get to tag along to this thing so we don’t have another ‘Hannah’s having a party because she thinks Brent is a hottie’ situation happening again.  Plus, I can make sure you finally make a move on Carter, and…” Hannah smiled knowingly.  “Now you have an excuse to call up Nick.”

I bit my lip.  “I have to call Nick?”  As in speak to him?  Oh crap.   “I don’t know Hannah…”

“Would you rather we go to his concert and do it there?”

My nose scrunched up at the thought of him playing guitar.  Making myself crush out even more than necessary?   Let me think…  “No,” I said decidedly.

“Well there you go.”  Hannah picked up my cell phone.  “We call.”

I hesitated.

“As Nick says, now or never, Lana.”

I shot Hannah a look.  “Cute,” I mumbled grasping a hold of that phone.

I could do this…

I took a deep breath, and dialed the digits I knew by heart. 

It rang.

Once.  Twice.  I was this close to voice mail when someone picked up.

My someone.

Why couldn't I do this…

I swallowed, feeling my heart settling back into my stomach. 

“Hey, it’s Lana,” I greeted, nervously twirling a strand of my hair, listening to him on the other side of the receiver.

Hannah shook her head at me when I unconsciously smiled at the sound of that voice saying my name, and even more so when I let out a little giggle.

“I do not!”

Was that me pseudo flirting?  Mavbe I could do this…

“Whatever Nick!  You’ve just been hanging out with my brother too long…”

I giggled again, and Hannah silently motioned at me.  Right…plan…  I nodded at her, and just went for it. 

“So anyway, the reason I’m calling is because I’ve got a favor to ask…”

I could definitely do this.  However, my problem now was… How to deal with the after?

8.  Don't Sweat The Small Stuff
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