The Art of Life by Sarah Carter Page B

someone around.”
                    “Then
why not have a serious girlfriend?” I ask.
                    Jeremy
stares at me almost blankly.   “I haven’t
found someone to be serious with.”
                    “Well,
you are a great guy, so I don’t think it would be hard for you to find
someone.”
                    He
looks at me and then smiles.   “You are
sweet.”
                    “I
am just stating the truth,” I reply.
                    “You
are going to be an awesome friend.   Oh!   We should go over our friend
creed!”
                      With a scoff, I say, “Seriously, a friend
creed?”
                    “Yes,”
he replies, placing his hands on the table.   “One, we will never lie to each other.”
                    Nodding
my head, I respond, “That seems like a good idea.”
                    “Two,
we are allowed to pick on each other and it’s encouraged, but hell hath no fury
if someone else picks on you.”
                    A
smirk crosses my face.   “Thanks, that’s
appreciated.”
                    “Three,
you must deal with my constant flirtation with girls.   It just comes with the territory.”
                    “Oh
geez,” I groan.   “Fine.”
                    With
a raised eyebrow, Jeremy asks, “Well, are you going to flirt with me to satisfy
my flirting needs?”
                    “Jeremy,
I couldn’t flirt if my life depended on it,” I retort.
                    Frowning,
Jeremy counters, “We will need to work on that.”
                    “Oh
okay,” I sarcastically reply.
                      “Four, you will learn to drive in my car!”
                    Now that I can argue about.   “No!   I will kill someone or total
your very pretty car.”
                    “I
swear that you will do fine,” he retorts, obviously ignoring me.   “Five, I am going to trust you to be my
friend.   I haven’t had a real one in a
long time.”
                    “Why?”
I ask, probing for some hint of his past.
                    Immediately,
he says, “Six, we don’t talk about my past.   Someone’s past is their past and should be left alone.”
                    “Okay,”
I whisper slowly.
                    Looking
with his beautiful, but sad eyes, he says, “Seven, and the most important.   I want us to trust each other.   I don’t trust people, but I feel as though I
can trust you.”   
                    “Deal.   Eight, I trust
you with my personal life.   I hide it, so
you need to hide it.”
                    Jeremy
thrusts out his hand.   “ Deal, that is our creed.”
                    “Sounds
good to me,” I reply, shaking his hand.
                    “So,
tell me what you and Eric talked about.”
                    I
shrug my shoulders.   “Ugh, he mentioned
he never talked to me before.   I told him
that was true.   He mentioned his sister
was pregnant and they come here every other week.   It was a really short conversation Jeremy.”
                    Jeremy
taps his chin with his finger.   “Well, he
talked about his family.   That is a good
sign.   Eric was actually forthcoming with
personal info.”
                    “Can
you not say his name, please?” I quietly growl.
                    Rolling
his eyes, Jeremy says, “Fine.   ANYWAY, at
least he is talking to you.   That is a
step in the right direction.”
                    Suddenly,
Vicky is beside us.   I look up.   She smiles at Jeremy.   “How is your