1.6

Kaylee had just walked outside to get the paper when she heard Ty call her name. Squinting against the setting sun she let out a low whistle when she saw him.
"Well, what are you all dressed up for?" The Ty she knew wore hoodies and baggy pants every chance he got even though his family was rolling in money.
He laughed then leaned in to give her a quick hug. Instead of stiffening as she had done the first few times he had given her a hug she gave him a squeeze back. Over the past two months she and Ty had formed a friendship of sorts. He hadn't really given her a choice, she thought with a small smile. She raised an eyebrow when he shuffled his feet.
"What?"
"I got in."
She blinked. "What?"
"I had an interview today at Le Tour and I got in! I start a few weeks after school is over. To get ahead of the game and all that. I can't believe..."
Whatever else he saying was lost amid the buzzing in her ears. She had known that Ty was going to go to University eventually but she hadn't thought in a few short months she would never see him again.
"Hey, are you okay?" Ty asked placing a large, warm hand on her arm.
Nodding, she slapped a grin on her face. Reaching up she gave his hand a squeeze. "I'm so happy for you Ty. I know how badly you want to go to school."
"Yeah, and to my mom's old school no less. Speaking of which, I better get home and tell them the good news. "

What kind of friend was she, she asked herself as she watched him walk away, that on one hand she was so happy for him but on the other she was insanely jealous? Ty worked hard in school. He just wasn't all about football. He had goals in life, things that he wanted to accomplish. He wanted so badly to make a difference in the world. He deserved to get into whatever school he wanted. Sighing she walked back into the house, the newspaper laying forgotten on the sidewalk. Grabbing her clipboard she walked around back.

And all she had to looked forward to was restocking shelves. Gritting her teeth, she swallowed against the tightness in her throat and did just that.

A few days later she was restocking again, now that she had started to make vases and different flower arrangements it seemed as if she couldn't keep her shelves stocked, when she heard a car pull up around front. Peeping around the corner she saw an elderly man get out of the passenger side of the car and walk up the sidewalk. Tapping the pen against her lips she debated on if she should see who it was or not. Curiosity getting the best of her she put the clipboard down and walked back into the house.

"Hello," she said with a smile standing in the open doorway.

"Are you Ms. Ravensworth?" the man asked in a creaky voice.

Kaylee noticed the emblem on his jacket. It was the same emblem on Ty's school uniform. "I am," she said in reply to his question. Moving aside she gestured him in.

"Would you like something to eat? Drink?"

"No, thank you. I'm Mr. Garrett."

"Please, have a seat Mr. Garrett," she said gesturing to the couch. Once again he refused.

"My driver is waiting out front. I don't want to keep him waiting. I have heard about you Ms. Ravensworth."
Kaylee's heart began to pound. Oh my god! What if he was a social worker or something and he was coming to take her away? Her eyes darted around the house, taking in all the changes she had made in the last six months. She couldn't leave. She wouldn't let them take her. She...

"Mrs. Jameson has nothing but great things to say about your work."

Her eyes snapped back to his to see a small smile on his lips. "M-Mrs. Jameson?"

"Yes, her son Tyrese attends Pleasantview Prep of which I am the headmaster. We have a school function coming up and the company that usually handles our flower arrangements and the like is already double booked. When Mrs. Jameson heard about our troubles your name came up."

Kaylee was stunned. When she had been researching what kind of business she should open she had come across articles in the paper about Pleasantview Prep's annual gala. She had seen the amazing pictures as well.

"Uhh..."

"Is this your work?" He had walked over and touched the lip of a vase she had just recently finished.

"Yes sir," she croaked then cleared her throat.

"It's lovely. Three thousand dollars is usually our budget but if you-"

"Good Lord! Three thousand should be plenty."

"Fabulous! Of course if you can keep it under three thousand you receive that plus the usual five thousand dollar stipend."

"Y-you...I-I..." Kaylee was flabbergasted. He was throwing around those figures as if they meant nothing to him. Five thousand dollars, coupled with the three she had saved from the business, would be enough for her to not have to take Rachael's offer. Giving it a moments thought she stuck out her hand.

"You have a deal Mr. Garrett. Thank you for the offer."

After escorting Mr. Garrett to his car Kaylee went back inside and started to make a list of everything she would need. It would have to be simple, yet elegant. Expensive but at the same time not reeking of money. After making her list she yanked her journal out from under her pillow and wrote down all the thoughts bubbling up inside of her.

The weeks seemed to fly by. On occasion she had to call in sick to her after school job so she could finish up on the Pleasantview Prep project. Her schooling was riding on it.

Kaylee stood across the street from Pleasantview Hall, the building that would be housing the gala, and eyed it critically. She wanted it to be simple enough where the seniors could feel comfortable, yet elegant enough where Mr. Garrett and other family members wouldn't feel as if they were getting their money's worth. Satisfied that everything looked great she turned and headed home.

Hours later she was outside, once again filling a hole that a dog had dug last night when she heard the ringing of the phone. She rushed inside hoping that nothing had went wrong at the party.

"Hello?" she asked breathlessly.

"And what's this I hear about you not going to the dance?"

"Mrs. Jameson?"

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me-"

"Frances. Sorry," she said with laugh then shook her head. "Wait! What? Why would I go?"

"Uh, maybe because you helped with the event? Or maybe because you're an eighteen year old girl who needs to have fun? Or perhaps, and most importantly to me, you should go because my son has been moping around the house because you turned him down when he asked to escort you."

Kaylee rolled her eyes at that. "Ty is one of the most popular guys at his school. I'm sure he found someone else to-"

"No, he decided to go alone. But that's not the point. Go dig around in your closet, put on one of those dark outfits that you prefer and go to that dance."

The phone was slammed down in her ear. Wincing she stared at it thoughtfully for a moment before she shrugged and decided to go.

A harried hour later she walked into the Pleasantview Hall. Glancing around she was pleased to see the multitude of people dancing and laughing. She frowned when she saw Ty leaning against the wall. His friends were all around him but he was staring off into space. Working her way toward him and ignoring the sneers of his friend she grabbed his hand and pulled him out on the floor.

"Kaylee?"

"Were you expecting Cinderella?" she asked as she started to move to the beat. He blinked at her for a few more moments before a grin spread across his face. Throwing his hands in the air he started to dance as well.

"You look beautiful," he said after they had been dancing in companionable silence.

She felt her cheeks grow hot. Instead of responding she rolled her eyes.

"No, I'm serious. The last few months you weren't the girl I first met. It was like you were trying to hide or something. But now...I see you dyed your hair back and you're wearing make-up again. You're you again. And I find that beautiful."

Kaylee was at lost for words. So, instead of speaking she stepped closer to Ty and slipped her arms around his waist.

"Hey you two! You're dancing entirely too close!" Startled Kaylee stepped away from Ty and looked over his shoulder. A woman wearing a stern expression on her face was wagging a finger back and forth.

She heard Ty laugh before he grabbed her hand and pulled her outside. Breathing deep Kaylee relished the bite of cold air. She hadn't realized how hot it was in there. She turned back and looked at Ty who was staring up at the stars. He suddenly pointed.

"There's a shooting star. Make a wish Kaylee."

Reaching over she cupped his cheek. "I don't have to. In this moment everything I could possibly want is right in front of me."

Once again they heard a throat being cleared and once again Ty grabbed her hand and pulled her back into the Hall where they proceeded to dance let into the morning. When they couldn't dance anymore Ty drove her home. He walked her to her front door.

"Where is this going Kaylee?" he asked as he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.

Closing her eyes she leaned her forehead against his chest. "Nowhere Ty. You're my closest friend. Maybe if I was different it could go somewhere but...you're going to school in a two months and I...I still don't know where I'm heading."

"Kaylee-"

She pressed a finger to his lips. "No. Don't say anything that will ruin this evening Ty. It's something that I'll always remember."

They stared at each other in the darkness then pressing a kiss to the finger she still had pressed against his mouth he turned and getting back into car, drove away.

Kaylee showered then taking her money from where it was hidden underneath of a floorboard she counted it out. Eight thousand five hundred and fifty six dollars. It might sound like alot but once she started thinking about it she realized it wasn't. Not really. Maybe enough for one year but what about the next three or possibly more? She couldn't keep staying up and throwing clay and making flower arrangements once she was in college. She would have to focus on her school work. Putting the money back Kaylee padded over to the phone.

She hung up the phone after speaking with Rachael and prayed that she had made the right decision.

Soon school was out and Ty was getting ready to head to Le Tour. He stopped by the day before he left just to hang out. There was no awkwardness between them and even though each wanted to be more to the other they knew that, at this present time, it just wasn't in the cards for them. College was going to be hard enough without having the stress of a relationship. And while Ty understood that he hated it at the same time. But, because he knew Kaylee would clam up and push him away, he didn't push it.

Kaylee was content with all the decisions she had made up until now. And while she might wish for things to be different between Ty and herself she also knew good things never lasted. So, it was best that Ty was going off. This way their friendship would always be something she could remember with a smile. She had so few memories she could say that about.