Chapter 23: Night Out
“Aki!” Mom called from downstairs. “Are you up? Nick’s here to see you!”
“I’m up.” I answered from my bed where I was finishing off my homework.
Nick’s smiling face appeared at my doorway and before long, I was engulfed in a bear hug. “Aki! How are you today? Does your head still hurt?” He gushed all at once.
“Nick, calm down! I’m fine.” I moved out of his embrace. “I’m fine, okay. Don’t worry.”
“You know I care about you, Aki. You matter to me.”
Because you matter. Ethan’s words reverberated through my mind. Why did I just compare them anyway?
“Alright, no more stressful thoughts.” Nick smiled that innocent smile—the smile I grew up seeing—of his that has the entire female population of our school, except me, falling at his feet. “Hey, want to go out for dinne
