Our pizza came and we had a decent early dinner together. We played a few more games of Uno while we ate and we decided to play a game of pick up before he had to head home. It was a nice ending to a pretty fucked up school day. Prince had taken some extra mozzarella sticks home with him since I knew I wasn't going to eat them after they got cold. As I walked him to the door I remembered to ask him the one question that I was as dying to know.

  "So how'd it go with Denise? Did you ask her to the fall formal?" I asked anxiously waiting for him to respond.

  "Well I got over my fear of talking to her so I guess that's progress." He said letting out a deep breath.

  "Yeah but what about the dance? Did you ask her?"

  "Weelllllll......."

  "I take that as a no. What the hell Skipper!"

  "I know I'm sorry it's just that...."

  "Oooh I get it. You don't want your teeny bopper summer suckface partner to find out!" I said in a teasing fashion.

  "Will you stop it! That's not what it was and you know it!"

  "And I thought you said Wilson was a loose one. Look at what you're doing! Keep it up and you'll be having babies before me."

  "Me and Wilson aren't even the same person. Hell we're not even in the same anything! Him? Loser! Me? Every woman's dream."

Prince popped his collar like he thought he was Joe Suave. I shook my head and pushed him over towards the back door.

  "Yeah every woman's scary dream. Probably a nightmare. No wait! A night terror!" I retorted still pushing him to the door.

  "Just you wait Mouse. One day when I make it big I can have my pick of the litter." He grinned as he pulled the door open.

  "Yup kitty litter. Now get home before Mrs. B blows a gasket on you again." I giggled.

  "You gotta get a date to the date mama. It won't be much fun if you don't go."

  "I'll think about it. Now get home and call me the moment you're there." I said finally shoving him out.

  "Alright! I'm going! Call you in a bit!" He said and he took off over the other side of the fence and into the sunset.

I went over to the kitchen window and looked out over to the Nelson house. It wasn't as happy as it used to be. It was dark and sad. There was very little lift coming from inside now that Mattie and Prince no longer lived there. The parties and the love that came from that home seemed like it would never end. However sadly it did. I went upstairs to my room to start my homework and get my studying done so I can watch a little tv before I had to call it a night and get ready for school tomorrow. Free period is going to be odd without Prince being there tomorrow. I'm mad that he has to spend the whole day in one classroom and not be with the rest of us. At least it's one day in school and not at home. While I was getting my books out of my bag my phone rang loudly breaking my train of thought. I went over to my nightstand and answered it quickly.

  "Regan's room! What it is?" I answered happily knowing that only a few people call my line.

  "Hey Regan baby! What's shakin'?" A high pitched feminine voice said over the phone.

  "I know that's you Skipper. What do you want in about to study?" I hissed playfully.

  "You told me to call don't be mad at me for something you told me to do."

  "I'm not mad asshole I'm kidding. So did Mrs. B give you a second helping of ass thrashing?"

  "Nope!"

  "No!?!?!? There's no way she let you off that easy! How'd you manage to pull that shit off?"

  "I didn't. She wasn't here when I got back and neither was Andre."

  "Probably went shopping and dragged her cry baby son with her I bet."

  "Leave Andre alone. He can't help it if he's sensitive."

  "Like hell he can! No offense or nothin' but your best friend needs to seriously grow a pair. No girl is gonna date him if he's gonna be a blubbering bitch all the time."

  "You know he's not gonna date anyone but you.......no offense or nothin'"

Judging my the giggle in his voice he was trying to be a smart ass.

  "Just for that I hope Denise stands you up at the fall formal." I shot at him

  "I got an idea Andre can be your date to the dance."

Prince laughed so hard at my silence that I could have swore he dropped the phone on the floor.

  "Get off my phone Prince!" I said angrily as I tugged hard on my phone cord.

  "Wait wait hey Mouse? Enjoy your blubbering bitch!" He said as he laughed even harder.

I was so mad and annoyed that I hung up the phone and stormed back over to my desk and dropped hard in my chair. The phone rang again and sure enough it was Prince calling back to tease me some more. I didn't answer right away but it made me laugh that he got a kick out of his own playfulness.

  "Asshole." I giggled as I went to answer the phone.

  "What Prince." I answered.

  "I'm sorry Regan. I didn't mean to make you mad. You gotta admit it was pretty hilarious." He said trying his best not to laugh again.

  "You're a real jerk sometimes but it's ok I forgive you." I smiled.

  "Good. Now go study. I'll see you tomorrow."

  "Bye clown."

  "Bye.....Mickey." He said with a chuckle before we hung up the phone.

Most of the time when we talk on the phone our conversations would last into the early hours of the next day. We'd be so tired we would never learn. I hope Denise knows what she's about to get herself into. Poor girl. She's not gonna be ready to deal with all of Skipper's antics. Hopefully she's three steps ahead of him when he shows her his true colors.