"A trip? A trip to where?" I asked. I held the phone to my ear with my shoulder while I searched through my closet for something to wear. Cassy and I were going out to eat but Ted called with an announcement.

"The destination is a secret. I already bought you a suitcase so pick out two weeks worth of clothing." Ted's voice sounded distant over the phone so I assumed he put me on speaker phone.

"Two weeks?" I asked in surprise. I settled on a red Avengers shirt that Ted got me a month back. I switched the phone to my other ear and then sifted through my jeans for a specific black pair.

"Yes? Is that too long?" Ted's voice came closer and he immediately sounded worried.

"Well I can't really say without knowing where it is we are going."

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise."

I was about to respond when I heard shuffling and muffled voices on his end. A second later, Ted came back. "I gotta go, babe. I'll call you later."

"Sure." I said and hung up the phone. The second before I dropped it on my bed it rang again. The caller ID said "Your Worst Nightmare." I rolled my eyes and answered. "Hey Cass."

I could hear her frustration. "How did you know?"

"Hmm... let's see. You're the only one who uses my phone, I recognized your number, only you would do something like that..."

"Alright, alright." Cassidy sounded like she was pouting. "I'm walking up to your door now."

"Okay. Someone will let you in. I'm getting dressed."

Cassidy paused. "Man and they say girls take a long time to get ready."

I snorted and hung up the phone, dropping it on my bed. I quickly tugged on my jeans and pulled my shirt over my head. I checked to make sure I had my keys and my wallet and left my room. Before I could even get downstairs I was bombarded.

"Where you going Jojo?" Tina asked.

"Out."

"Out where?"

"Places."

"Johan!"

"I'm going out to eat."

"Can I come?"

"No."

"No fair!" Tina pouted. I finished my descent of the staircase, hopping over the loose step on the way and making a mental note to get that fixed one day.

"Let's go Cass." I said. She was sitting on my couch playing a hand game with Leanne. She finished off the game and hopped up off my couch, picking up her purse in the process.

"Aww." Leanne pouted.

"Don't worry precious. I'll be back later." Cassidy hooked her arm through mine and we made our way toward my beloved Camaro. On the way to the restaurant Cass seemed fidgety. She picked at some nonexistent lint on her halter top and ran her hands along her light blue jeans. After she pretended to finger comb her hair for the 4th time I asked her what was up. She sighed in defeat. "My dad is home. He's stayed home for 2 weeks now which is a record for him but he's been extremely temperamental. He doesn't know I left home so I'm waiting for him to call and chew me out."

I was silent for a minute. "If he does, we'll face the music together okay? But for right now, just relax.

Cassidy breathed in deep. "Okay."

We got to the restaurant and I ordered Chicken Parmesan while Cass went with a Shrimp Alfredo. We ate in silence for a bit and then I remembered something.

"Cass?"

"Hmm?"

"When we were at the zoo in Cali you said 'so beautiful' while looking at the pandas. I'm sure you were talking about something else though."

Cassidy smiled a bit. "It may sound weird but I was talking about the scenery, and our friendship at the same time."

I put down my fork. "Explain."

"Before I was friends with you, I may have been that popular girl in school but outside of school I was always alone. With no place to really go I was always home staring at my ceiling. I was afraid of someone getting too close to me, I didn't want anyone to know my life story. But then I met you. After that my evenings and weekends were full of activity. I even got to go to California with you! Before that I had never left New York. So as I was looking out at the sunset that say and all the animals, I was overwhelmed by the beautiful scene, and that I finally had someone to really call a best friend."

I wanted to lunge across the table and hug her but I managed to restrain myself. Cassidy laughed. After that heartfelt moment... "What's been going on with Ted recently? He's been totally distracted."

"He told me he's taking me on a trip for two weeks but won't tell me where."

"Oh my gosh!" Cass gasped. "That's so romantic!"

"You think so? I just thought it was frustrating."

Cassidy rolled her eyes and took another bite of her food. "What-"

"Cassidy!" Someone yelled and then dropped down onto her side of the booth. "Oh my God it's been so long!"

The girl was short with long brown hair and dramatic makeup. She was smiling wide showing a mouthful of pearly whites and wrapped her arms around my best friend. I remembered her from school. Mary Main.

"Oh. Hi Mary." Cassidy said, giving her a small hug. "Yeah. It has been awhile."

"What have you been up to?"

"Ah...Mary, I'm kind of in the middle of something. We can talk later."

Mary pouted. "But we never talk!" Then she seemed to realize the surroundings. "Omg are you on a date?!" She looked at me. "I thought you were gay."

I was taken aback by her bluntness but I responded. "I am."

"Then why are you on a date with Cassidy?"

Cassidy sighed. "This isn't a date."

"Oh good, so you don't have a problem if I join in right?"

As Cassidy tried to think of an excuse, my phone buzzed.

Ted: Hey, do you have a passport?

I didn't even pay attention to the context of the text, but decided to use that as an excuse.

"Oh, Cass. It's Ted. I almost forgot we were supposed to meet up with him"

Cassidy grasped on to the lie. "Oh right!" She shoved the last bite of food in her mouth and grabbed her bag. I gave the money for the meal to a passing waiter and hopped up.

"Keep the change!" I called over my shoulder as I headed toward the door.

"Some other time Mary!" Cass said.

"Christ, she's clingy. That's why I stopped hanging out with her." Cassidy muttered. "What did that text you got actually say?"

"Ted asked if I have a passport.

"There's your first clue. It's out of the country."

"Oh God now I'm worried."

"Whatever. If I was you, I would be excited."

I gave Cass a look. "Well if I'm excited I need to start packing don't I? Wanna help?"

"Sure thing."
**************************
An hour later I was sitting on the floor of my room with a suitcase wide open, clothes everywhere, with Cassidy sitting across from me and Ted on speaker phone. The suitcase was waiting for me at home and for some reason Amie couldn't stop smiling. When I asked Ted if he told my foster mother about the trip he snorted.

"How am I going to take my boyfriend away for two weeks and not tell his parents?"

So now I was trying to get any info out of him as to what I should pack.

"Is it going to be cold?" I asked.

"Yes." He said.

"Oh God, you're taking me to Antarctica aren't you."

"Bring me back a penguin." Cass said.

"Not helping." I scolded.

Ted laughed. "No, we aren't going to Antarctica.

"Can I at least have a hint?"

Ted sighed. "I should have went ahead and packed your bags to keep it a secret."

"You should have. It would have relieved me of some of this pressure."

Cassidy laughed this time. "You're such a cry baby."

I stuck my tongue out at her. "So when do we leave."

"Tomorrow. So get your stuff together tonight."

I almost fell backward. "Tomorrow?!"

Ted snickered. "Yup."

"Johan!" Amie called the same time as Cassidy's phone rang. I said goodbye to Ted and headed toward the stairs, Cassidy walking behind me talking on her phone.

"I have to head home Johan." She said when she hung up. She gave me a tight hug and I wrapped my arms around her. "Have fun on your trip and text me when you know where you're going."

I squeezed her tighter then let go. "I will." When Cass left I turned to Amie who was grabbing her bag.

"I'm going shopping with the girls. Would you like to come?"

Usually shopping with Amie and the girls sucked. I was stuck carrying the bags and I was bored and my feet would hurt from walking so long but this time was different. Amie and I talked the whole way, and I think I got a new understanding for her.

Before I knew it I was saying goodbye to the girls and my parents and getting in a car with Ted toward a destination unknown.