Prayer: Things are going to get better, I just know it. Please God, let things get better.

Things are sort of looking up for me. I haven’t found my dream man yet, but career wise, things are going great. Apparently the head people at Kiss & Tell love my teen version idea. They love it so much that they are going to actually create one. What’s the catch? I’m going to be the editor in charge. I get to create it from top to bottom, with their approval of course. The writer’s that write for Kiss & Tell will also write things for the teen version, as well as bringing in some teen writers. It’ll be more celebrity based, because that’s what teens love.

My dreams are starting to come true.

After Sandra told me everything when it was final, I was so excited. I went out to dinner with Diana and several other friends from the newspaper that night to celebrate. To make things even worse, Diana happened to invite this guy that she knows to set me up with.

His name is Austin and he’s in his last year of medical school here at Emory University. She met him through her sister who happens to teach there. He is her star student and introduced him to Diana one day at her office. Diana met him and instantly thought of me. He’s actually pretty nice. He comes from a huge family. His father is a lawyer and his mother is your everyday, normal housewife.

I know two weeks ago I was sitting there in my apartment, crying over my ex-boyfriend who moved on. I know I was upset, thinking that I would be die a virgin. Now, I’ve moved on. I’m still upset about Joe Don, but I’ll get over it. I don’t think I will die a virgin. I don’t think I’m the prettiest girl in the world, I know I’m not, but Austin seems interested in me.

I’ve gone out with him twice since we met that night at dinner. He’s been busy with school lately because he’s been interning at a hospital and it’s near mid-term, but he always makes time to call me and see how I’m doing. I love it. It makes me smile. For once, Diana hooked me up with a guy that I really do like. It feels weird to say that I’ve gone out with a guy who is still in college, but I guess when you think about it, it’s not strange. His career calls for more education than mine did. Plus, I graduated earlier than I should have, so it all equals out.

I’m actually going out with him tonight. He told me to meet him in Centennial Olympic Park at 7:30, so I am. Diana is coming over to baby-sit Nichole and I have a date. Austin told me to dress up really nice, so it makes me nervous. I’m not that used to going out on fancy dates. I guess he really does like me. That’s what Diana says anyway.

“Savannah,” Sandra said, walking up to my desk. “This is a preliminary list of names for the new magazine.” I took the paper from her and looked at the list. None of the names caught my attention. “If you don’t like any of them, make a list of your own suggestions and we’ll fax them back to New York.”

”Okay,” I replied, watching her as she walked away. Teen Confessions? I don’t think so. It sounds too cheesy. It sounds like some teenybopper magazine. I definitely do not want it called Sweet Kisses. Who thought these names up? Nichole could think up better names than this. I sighed, pulling a piece of paper out of my purse. It was a list of names that I had been toying with.

1. Extraordinary
2. Imagination

It’s not that big of a list, but, I did like Confessions, or Confession. Confession, the magazine. I like that. I really really do.

“Savannah,” Sarah said on my speaker phone. I jumped, coming out of my thoughts and looked at it. “You have a phone call on line 17.”

”Thanks,” I replied, picking up the headset, “Savannah Shiver, can I help you?”

”Hey, how are you today?” a voice asked. I smiled in return, looking at my computer screen. It was Austin. I loved his voice. He had a small, Southern twang and the best smile in the world. Why a guy like him has liking a girl like me, I’ll never know.

“I’m fine, ready for tonight?” I asked, seeing one of the girls walk by my office and look in. Nosey ass people.

“Yeah of course I am,” Austin whispered. I looked at a picture of me and Nichole on my desk and smiled. “I got Nichole a present today. I bought her this type of Barbie. She likes them right?”

”Yeah, of course, she’s a girl.” I replied, laughing. “And what exactly do you know about Barbies?” Austin laughed at me and I smiled again. “Maybe I don’t want to know the answer to that.”

”Probably not,” he replied, laughing too. “But there is a problem about tonight thought. It’s supposed to rain so I thought maybe I could come pick you up and we could come back to my place and have dinner?” I froze. No guy, lately, has ever asked me back to their place. I never got to see where Joe Don lived and now Austin was asking me to his home? “Is that fine?”

”Sounds great to me,” I replied, smiling more. I couldn’t wait for tonight. I knew that it was going to be nice, and that maybe; just maybe, I could give him more than just a kiss on the cheek. I’m not talking about sex, but a kiss. The type of kiss that they have in the movies – that’s what I want.

It’s what I need.
- - - - - - -

“Mommy, why are you pacing around?” Nichole asked early that evening, as I rushed out of my bedroom, putting on my heels. I had on a short white spaghetti strapped dress with a high waistline. I wasn’t sure why I was dressed up since we were just going to his apartment but still. “Mommy!”

”Diana should be here now,” I replied, looking at the clock. “Sweetie, did Diana call while I was in the shower?” Nichole nodded her head. I sighed, wondering where she was. I walked over, picking up the phone just as it began to ring. “Good god.” I muttered, hearing Nichole start to laugh. “Hello?”

”Savannah, sweetie, I’m so sorry,” Diana said, out of breath. “I can’t babysit tonight. Charlie was in a wreck, and I’m on my way to the hospital.”

”Oh my God,” I replied, putting my hand over my mouth. “No, no it’s fine,” I said, looking at Nichole. “It’s fine. You call me to let me know how everything is okay?”

”Will do. I’m so sorry Savannah –“

”No, it’s not your fault. Go take take of your husband,” I replied, telling her goodbye. I sighed, looking at Nichole who had a sad look on her face. “Uncle Charlie was in a car wreck so Aunt Diana is going to go see him.”

”Are you going to go out with Mr. Austin again?” Nichole asked. I shrugged my shoulders, looking at her when someone knocked on the door. “Mommy, I’m going to go color in my room.”

”Okay baby,” I replied, watching her as she walked to her room. I walked over to the door, suspecting that it was Austin. I hated to tell him that I couldn’t go out with him tonight and go over to his place. I didn’t want to take Nichole with me, but still. “Austin –“ I paused, seeing that it wasn’t Austin.

It was Nick Carter.

“Uh, what the hell are you doing here?” I asked. He stared back at me with a confused look on his face. “Nick? Right?”

”Georgia right?” Nick asked, looking down at the paper. “Hm, is there a Savannah here?”

”Uh yeah why?”

”I need to talk to her.”

”Why?”

”What the hell are you doing here?”

”Well, this is my apartment. What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, staring back at him. I looked up to see Austin walking down the hallway. “Hey Austin.”

”Hey babe,” Austin whispered, moving past Nick to kiss me on the cheek. He looked at Nick and stuck his hand out. “I’m Austin, and you are?”

”Nick,” Nick replied, looking back at me. “I need to see –“

”Austin, can I have a moment with him for a minute?” I asked, pulling Nick into the apartment. Austin smiled and I shut my door, turning around to see Nick. Just why was he at my apartment? I never expected to see him again. “I think you owe me a huge favor.”

”Listen Georgia, I need to see Savannah –“

”Okay, listen – I need a babysitter, right now.” I replied, looking at him. “Are you capable of doing that?”

”Uh, yeah, but –“

”I’ll give you whatever you want –“

”Give me the reason why you’re at Savannah’s apartment.”

”If you baby sit for a few hours.” I replied, crossing my arms. “This is really important and I think you owe me after how you treated me at that date of ours.”

”Fine, I don’t have anything else to do.” Nick said, shrugging his arms. “Where’s the kid at?”

”Nichole!” I yelled, looking towards her bedroom. “I have a date out there and I really like this guy and the lady that set me up on the date with you is usually my sitter but her husband was in a wreck –“

“Yeah, I was in a wreck not long ago –“

”What mommy?” Nichole asked, walking into the living room. “Mommy, that’s not Austin.”

”I know it’s not sweetie. This is Nick. He’s a friend of mine and he’s going to watch you for a little while okay?”

“He’s cute mommy,” Nichole whispered. I heard Nick laugh a little and then looked away. “I’ll stay and be a good girl.”

”Sweet, thanks baby.” I replied, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. I stood back up, looking at Nick who was staring at me questionably. “I’ll tell you why I’m at Savannah’s place when I come back. Are you sure you’re good with kids?”

”I have a younger brother and three younger sisters, of course I’m good with kids,” Nick replied, reaching over to shake my hand. “I’ll give you two and a half hours and you come back.”

”Okay, and if you do anything to her, remember you’re famous and I can hunt you down and kill you.” I said, warning him as I walked closer to the door, “My cell phone number and everything is on the fridge incase of an emergency.”

”Go on, it’ll be cool.” Nick replied as I turned around, “And you look really beautiful.” I froze, looking over my shoulder at him. I look really beautiful? I opened the door, seeing Austin standing there and smiled.

“Who was that guy?” Austin asked as we began to walk down the hallway, “A friend of yours?”

”The sitter,” I replied, with a smile. I didn’t understand why Nick needed to see me, Savannah, so bad for. Maybe he wanted to talk to me about the new magazine, but I doubt it. It’s a top secret thing. Maybe it had something to do with Kiss & Tell. I know for a fact they are writing a huge music article about upcoming music. If that’s so then why the hell did he come to my home?

“You look beautiful,” Austin replied as we stepped onto the elevator. I smiled at him, looking up at the numbers when I felt his lips against mine. They were so soft and I began to kiss him back. I couldn’t help but get lost in it somehow. I was totally ignoring the fact that I had just left my daughter with a almost total stranger.

He is a total stranger to her.