Over the next few days I bit my nails raw, the events of the dance weighed heavily on my mind as did the eyes of everyone in school. They teased me about Ately saying I was his...his...his. When I saw Chuckie he looked uneasy. He'd glance at me and then look away. I don't know why but that bothered me the most.

One day when it was time for lunch, I grabbed his hand and pulled him aside. I made it clear "I...I don't belong to anyone,"

Chuckie just shifted his eyes at me and shrugged, "Okay...what do I care,"

My cheeks reddened as I suddenly felt foolish for doing this, at the same time I'd come this far. I rubbed my arm up and down and shifted my weight. For some reason I couldn't look at him as I said."I know...I just...I wanted you to know...Atley is my friend...just my friend, nothing more and stuff."

I could feel his eyes on me even thought, I couldn't look. I saw him shift his own weight. I dared to look and he looked away. I swear I saw him blushing as he scratched his head. He turned around and then said "Okay," before he walked off.

When I saw him later that day, he was smiling again and so was I. That night when Atley walked me home. I decided to make some changes...I asked him how much he paid my parents but he wouldn't tell me. I helped mother with the dishes that night and tired to ask her, how much the Kessle's paid us but she said it was rude to discuss such things.

I found it hard to focus on my homework that night. I don't know why but I felt...I owed Atley...I felt sick to my stomach when I thought of how he said he loved me...when I...I didn't feel like that...I felt somehow that it was wrong to take his money. Before...when I was little I figured I was doing something for it...I was reading, I was being forced to go somewhere scary I didn't want to but Atley and I were friends now…

I enjoyed his company for the most part and he...he was always doing stuff for me...more then I did for him. I felt heavily indebted...like I owed it to him to...feel...I don't know. I don't know what I was thinking I just I didn't like this crushing feeling...this sudden weight over my head. I decided to do something about it...I'd get a job so then maybe he wouldn't have to pay us as much.

Maybe in time I could even pay him back somehow thought I doubted it. I knew more about money now...a lot more and two dollars... was still a lot of money. If he was paying my parents any more then that, well I didn't want to think about it.

The next day at school I asked my teacher how I might get a job. She told me to looked at the main wall. At lunch I check it out, they had some paper routes and other jobs. I needed something I could do after school. Chukie walked by and was eating an apple. I almost didn't notice him I was so focused.

He stepped up to me and asked. "Whatcha doing?

"I'm looking for a job."

"Hmmm...well the diner has a spot...I think," he said.

"Really...what is it? Washing dishes?" I asked. I still didn't like doing them but I would. I would if it made this feeling go away. "I could do that."

Chucki studied me for a moment and chuckled, "That desperate for money huh,"

I bit my lip and he chuckled."No, that's my job but you I think you could work the counter make ice cream with my mom. We have been getting a lot of kids stopping by after school and we sometimes get slammed, let me talk to my mom,"

"Would you?" I asked

"Yeah." he said and he gave me a wink and then he...he reached out and touched my hair...He put it behind my ear and I found myself touching my ear all day.

The next day we ate lunch together, he told me he talked to my mom and I could start that afternoon. I was so happy I hugged him really tightly. I quickly realized what I was doing and pulled back. We both kind of stared at each other and smiled awkwardly. We couldn't say another word the rest of lunch and...he walked me to class. We were in the same class but like...he walked me to my desk. My heart was pounding in my chest all afternoon. When school let out I was so over the moon with joy for I was dancing around. I saw Atley waiting for me and rushed up to him.

Altey seemed to pick up on my excitement when I said "Hello Atley,"
"Hello Amina, did something nice happen today?"

"You can tell,"

"Always with you," he held his stick to his chest and smiled.

"Well guess what, something amazing did happen"

"What," he said. "What is it that is making you so happy?"

"I got a job!" I said and then twirled around him.

"A job," he said confused.

"Yeah, now you wont have to pay my family as much and maybe one day I can pay you back,"

He turned his body with my voice as I spun and said "I don't care about the money Amina, I have a lot of it, really. For you and your family it's nothing."

"I know." I said I stopped spinning around him and said. "But I feel...well it isn't fair to take money from you...you are my friend,"

"It feels fair to me...you're family needs they money and I need you," said Atley.

"You don't need me Atley, you're amazing all on your own...look at everything you've accomplish...uh I mean… sorry its a phrase of speech."

"I understand," he said.

"What I meant was, you have accomplished a lot without me."

"For you."he said, "Don't you realize...I did it for you?"

"Atley." I said

"Amina," He said reaching out to me. "I meant what I said I lo-

I don't know why but the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I pulled away before he could finish I blurted out. "Well I got a job now soo...that is what I'm excited about today."

I opened and closed his mouth and then sighed….

He sighed but said "I am happy you are happy. What will you be doing?"

"I start today...I'm working at the diner,"

"Ice cream," he said with a smile.

"Yes, I'll be making it loads of it, for hours"

"I like ice cream...but I don't think I can eat that much,"

"You don't have to silly, I'll be making it for all sort of people,"

"No," he said. He reached out grabbing my hand. He spoke quietly,"I...I don't like that,"

"It's okay," I said. "It's just a job,"

"I don't want you to do it… now let's go home and listen to music. I've been working on a piece I think you'll like."
"I told you I start work today...I can't come over,"

"I definitely don't like it! It's enough, you go to school and home.

"It wont be everyday and it will only be a few more hours,"

"NO!" he said, "I don't want to be apart any longer then we already are"

"Ately," I said

"NO! How much money do you need?" he said tightening his grip on my arm, "I'll give you more."

"Ately...I don't want to take your money. I want to make my own…. I told you I don't like taking from you."
"But you are...you're taking from our time together,"

"We will still hand out together, I promise," I said. I put my hand on top of his. I could see how upset he was getting.

"No. No.I don't want you to work." he said moving his head about

"Atley-"I tried to reason with him.

"No Amina, I don't want to talk about this anymore...let us go home," He pulled on my arm to come with him.

"Atley," I said, I tried to pull away but he wouldn't let me go. He clutched my arm tighter...so tight it hurt.

"ATELY!" I cried, "YOU'RE HURTING ME!"

"YOU'RE HURTING ME," he cried back.

He was stronger then I thought, he managed to pull me forward a few steps. Suddenly out of now where, Chuck appeared. I was so focused on Atley that I hadn't see him watching us. He grabbed me around the waist and then, pried Atley's hand off my arm, he pushed him back and Atley lost his balance. He stumbled and fell to the ground, dropping his stick.

Dr. Neevis had been a few feet away. He usually hung back when we walked. He used his cane quickly limping up to Atley making sure he was okay.

"Are you okay, Ately"

"Yes..." said Atley, he sounded hurt.

Atley felt around for his stick and Dr. Neevis got it for him. Atley held it and then moved to get himself up. Once Dr. Neevis was sure he was okay, he limped up to Chuckie.

He was taller then Chuckie but Chuckie didn't back down. "Does it make you feel big to push a blind man."

The two stared each other down, Atley called out, "Ever...it's okay. She...she didn't mean to-"

"She didn't push you," said Dr. Neevis.

I realized then that Atley couldn't see Chuckie, he must have thought I'd done it.

Atley perked up, "W..Who then! Who's there?"

"Some kid," said Dr. Neevis. He looked Chuckie up and down and then said,"He was the one she was dancing with the other night," said Dr. Neevis.

"The one who was making her laugh," said Atley more to himself.

I realized Dr. Neevis must have told Atley what he had seen.

Dr. Neevis continued to glare at Chuckie "This doesn't concern you,"

"It does," said Chuckie, "She is my friend,"

"SHE IS MY FRIEND!" shouted Ately he stared moving his stick. Dr. Neevis moved aside. "AMINA, come to me... now," said Atley. He reached out his hand to me. I...I didn't know what to do...I didn't want him to get hurt or upset but I...I didn't want to go to him.

"Leave her be."said Chuckie. He slapped Atley's hand away.

Dr. Neevis moved quickly then, quicker then I'd ever seen him move. He lifted his cane and slammed it into Chuckie shoulder.

Chuckie cried out in pain as Dr. Neevis insisted, "You lay hands on him again and I'll end you,"

"Chuckie," I cried out as Chuckie painfully clutched his shoulder. "Please...I don't want this...please don't fight!"

Atley hissed, "Chuckie…this is Chuckie."

He breathed heavily before he spat She...she doesn't like you...she thinks you are stupid,"

"I do not," I said.

"DO TO... you said...you said, Chuckie is so stupid, always flirting with girls,"

I went red...really red. Did I say that out loud. I thought it a few times but I didn't realize I'd said to Atley... Atley who remembered everything and had just said it to Chuckie. He wasn't suppose to know that I was jealous. I saw Chuckie turning red as he held his shoulder. He couldn't look at me, he seemed flustered as he spoke "Whatever...I...I don't want any trouble with you Mister...I…I'm sorry I pushed you and all but…you...you can't be hurting people."

"I would never hurt my Amina," said Atley

"You just did," said Chuckie.

"I didn't...I didn't mean to." said Atley

"Well you did," said Chuckie.

I grasped on to Chuckie arm, "Can we just go."

"Yes," said Atley, thinking I was talking to him. He offered out his hand.

"No," I said, "I meant Chuckie," He frowned but didn't pull back his hand. "I'll talk to you later Atley but I have to get to work."

"Yeah...we shouldn't be late," said Chuckie stepping back

"We….he works at the diner"

"Yeah I work at the diner," said Chuckie

"OH….OH...this...is..." said Atley. He moved his head about upset and then he yelled "AMINA IS MINE"

"Atley..." I said. We'd talked about this.

"Let's just go." said Chuckie. He grasped hold of my hand and I don't know why but it made my heart feel like it was going to leap out of my chest.

"NO! SHE'S MINE...I...I LOVE HER! SHE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITH YOU," said Atley upset. He frantically waved his hand, trying to get to me "AMINA….AMINA,"

"Come on," said Chuckie. We turned.

"AMINA," Atley desperately cried, moving his stick around. "DON'T GO WITH HIM...STAY...STAY WITH ME!"

"Come on," said Chukie pulling my hand. I went with him but called out, "I'll talk to you later Atley."

Chuckie started to run and I had to move to keep up with him. After a few feet Atley screamed at the top of his lungs, "AMMMMINA!"

I froze then, I looked back worried Atley had tried to follow us and gotten hurt. I saw Dr. Neevis holding onto him tightly as she struggled to break free. Dr. Neevis was having a hard time holding him now that Atley was bigger. He hugging him tightly and Atley froze as he whispered something in his ear and I knew he'd calm him down. Things would be okay...right...

Chukie didn't let go of my hand as we ran the entire way to the diner. By the time we got there we were both out of breath. We took a moment to rest and then Chuckie asked, "

"You okay,"

He looked at my arm it was slightly red but it didn't hurt "Yes, I said...I don't think he meant to hurt me" I said, "He just gets upset sometimes,"

"I...I didn't mean to push him down," said Chuckie. "I just," Chuckie turned away.

"You shouldn't let him hurt you...its not okay."

"He doesn't, I swear,"

Chuckie licked his lips then and smiled as he thought of something, "Soooo, you don't like me flirting with other girls."

"What, no I don't care!" I said blushing.

"Well you know I just do it to make you jealous right," he said.

"What," I said.

"Come on, can't be late for your first day,"he said running inside the diner.

I chased after him and we met with his mom. She got me an apron..then she took a few minutes and taught me the basics. We only had a few minutes after that before the rush hit. For my first few hours she had me write down orders and she would make them. If we had a few minutes she'd let me try but for the most part I just took order after order. Soon enough it became a blur of noise, ice cream, soda, fries and burgers. When we were done I was soo tired.

Chuckie got off at the same time as me and he walked me home. At one point while we were walking out hands brushed and we intertwined our fingers. When we got to my house I teased, "You must sure like me... to want me to be jealous,"

"Always have," he winked

"Wait what," I said.

He didn't repeat himself he just smiled and ran off. I was mad he'd gotten the best of me again. I needed to pick up on my game put him on his toes... If I was gonna be any match for him. I beamed thinking about what he said and repeated it to myself, "Always have….Always have."

I squealed with delight as I walked through my front door. I thought of how he used to teased me...did he like me then too. I smiled with glee but it quickly faded when I saw my parents sitting at the table. They didn't look happy.

"What is it?" I said

"Sit down young lady," said my father.

I pulled out a chair and sat down.

"When did you get a job?" my father asked.

"Today," I said. "It was my first day."

"You didn't ask us," said my mother.

"Well I didn't think, I needed too... more money is more money right?"
"You will quit your job tomorrow," said my father.

"But dad I was just...I'm trying to help out,"

"I work don't I" said my father.

"Yeah but I also know the Kessle's give us money, I just...I thought maybe its time...I got a job so that maybe we...we could repay them."

My parents looked at each other and sighed. After a moment my father said "What the Kessle's have done for this family can...can never be repaid no matter how much you or any of us work,"

"How much did they give us," I said, realizing it had to be a lot, if it couldn't be worked off.

"You….you don't need to worry about that." said my father.

"You're never going to need to worry about money again," said my mother. "Just enjoy school, enjoy being young,"

She reached out to me, grasped my hand. I thought it was strange...they were both acting so strange."What's going on?"

My mother looked at my father, "We have to tell her."

"I know," he said.

"Tell me what?" I said weakly.

"Mrs. Kessle came to see us," said my father.

"Is everything alright," I worried something had happened to Atley. "Is Atley okay?"

"Yes," said my mother, "He's fine, he came as well,"

"Well, what is it? What did they want?"

"When you're eighteen-" my father began

"After you finish school." my mother interrupted.

"We've agreed to let you marry the Kessle boy" said my father.

It took a moment to sink in. I was confused. "WHAT," I said."Marry who?"

"Atley dear," said my mother squeezing my arm.

"Atley," I stammered, "Atley...like I don't...I don't see him like that... like he's my friend and I care about him a lot I just wouldn't...well marry him...and its not cause he's blind or anything...I just...I never really thought of him like that….cause...well…I like Chuckie."

"Oh dear," said my mother pulling back her hand.

My father suddenly got angry. "No...you don't! You are too young to know who you like and do not like! From now on you do not go near Charles Alby, you are no longer friends. I don't want you to even talking to the boy. Do understand me!"

"What…no," I said. It was like my father had snapped. He was crazy...crazy to think I'd ever stop talking to Chuckie."NO...NO WAY," I shouted "I am old enough to know who I like and don't like and I LIKE CHUCKIE! AND YOU! YOU can't tell me who to be friends with,"

"I AM YOUR FATHER!" said my father, "I WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO AND YOU WILL DO IT!"

"NO I WONT!" I screamed.

My mother tried to calm things down, "Amina….the Kessle's have always been good to us..they...they have offered to pay us for your hand in marriage...and we we've accepted."

"You can't accept!" I said "You didn't ask me...YOU DIDN'T ASK HOW I FEEL! YOU CAN'T JUST SELL MY HEART,"

"Honey we're not trying to do that. But you like Atley don't you," She said it like that would make this okay.

"I told you I do but not like that!" I said. I needed to make them understand. What weren't they understanding?

"Well maybe in time," my mother said

"NOOOOO," I said.

"YES," my father said. He pounded his fists on the table, making it shake "It has been decided! Tomorrow night... WE WILL GO TO THE KESSLE'S! YOU WILL ACCEPT HIS RING AND YOU WILL MARRY THE KESSLE BOY AND THAT IS FINAL!," said my father.

"NO," I said getting up from the table. "NO I WILL NOT! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"

Before either of them could respond I tore away from the table and stormed up to my room. They couldn't make me. They could force me to do this THEY COULDN'T! THEY COULDN'T

Could they?