Chapter 12

                                    

                                          

"Ooooh," Ashley said, leaning against her locker with her arms crossed and a big smile on her face. Chelsea beamed at her as though she had just figured out the secrets to life and was about to share more. "That sounds really adorable." 
"It went perfectly, thank you so much!" Chelsea said.
"Don't sweat it, man, I do this all the time for my friends."
"It literally was perfect. The moonlight and everything it just- Oh my god!" Chelsea was bouncing up and down with joy while squealing. 
"Yup, yup," Ashley said. "Glad you enjoyed it."
"Y-You know what she said afterward!? She said she wanted to go to my house today and practice cuddling! My god, it's so amazing!" Chelsea shouted. "This day couldn't get any better. It's all thanks to you!"
"Ehhh- I wouldn't say that."
"What do you mean? I would have never been able to ask her to do something like that on my own. I owe you a lot. So thank you so much."
"Then how about this?" Ashley said. "When you graduate this year and you two get together before then, include me in your speech. Then we'll be square."
"It's a deal," Chelsea said. "But you have to help me again when you can, okay?...Y-You don't mind, right?"
"Of course. I'm like the love guru of our group when it comes to people asking for advice, even though I've never liked anyone before nor have I dated anyone."
"Really?" Chelsea asked.
"I dunno why. If I ever do like anyone though, I'd-"
"BOO!" A voice from behind Chelsea shouted loudly.
"AHHH!" Cried Chelsea. She leaped from pure terror and fell from losing her footing. She groaned, putting her hand on her rapidly beating heart as she stood up. 
The perpetrator was a boy about her age- he had jet black dyed hair and brown eyes, just like Chelsea's. After briefly seeing his checkered, black and white buttoned shirt and blue jeans, and a hint of a just-shaven beard- she knew. She knew exactly who this person was.
This was Chelsea's cousin- Dustin.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Chelsea shouted. Dustin laughed loudly. 
 "Did I scare you? Heh," He said mockingly.
"You're such a jerk!" Chelsea shouted. Dustin started laughing as Chelsea flailed at him. He defended his face from Chelsea's frail and thin arms. "Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!" She shouted with every swing.
"Okay, Okay, I'm sorry!" Dustin shouted. "I couldn't help it, okay? I hadn't seen you in years. You would have totally done the same thing."
"No I wouldn't!" Chelsea shouted. "Why didn't your parents warn me you were coming!? It's not even close to my graduation day!"
"We decided to come early," Dustin said. "Sides',  it's like two months away anyway."
"My parents didn't' even tell me you were coming- did they want you to scare me?"
"We surprised them first. I got bored after we surprised them like that too, left your house for a minute, and then bang. Here I am."
"Don't do that again!" Chelsea said, pushing him a bit. Dustin laughed a little. Chelsea turned to Ashley for a moment.
"I'm sorry Ashl-"
Ashley looked like she saw a ghost. Her eyes were wide open. Her mouth was agape, and she looked like she was trembling- but there was one thing that she didn't expect at all, the thing that instantly made her understand what was going on: