Face To Call Home (Love Came In #1) ??

"I'm telling you, this ones much better man."

"No way, dude. Cookie dough till the end, always and forever."

I frowned at Nate as he quoted one tree hill in the lamest possible way, shoving another spoon of the lemon sorbet ice cream in my mouth.

Nate, Jack and I were sitting at an old ice cream parlour close to my house which was our routine meet up location. The three of us had discovered it together when we were 14 and still came here every odd saturday, promising to always stay together no matter what. We were an odd trio, but the bond between us never broke and never would. April calls us the 'three cuss-keteers' because we're always swearing at each other.

"Are you serious? Nate I have lost hope in you, man, cookie dough? Really? Its not even meant to be an ice cream flavour, and its such a childish one at that." Jack said, narrowing his eyes on Nate in a condescending way.

Nate stuck his tongue out at him. "Call it what you want dude, its amazing. And by the way, its not the ice cream that's childish, its that stupid hat." Nate replied, shooting a disgusted look to the beanie perched on top of Jack's head.

I snorted in amusement, covering it up with a loud cough when Jack shot me a condescending look. He clutched the hat on his head defensively, a beanie in the shape of a hot dog and stroked it as if it had been hurt.

"Anyway, are you guys coming to my place this weekend? Its gonna be a rad party, my parents are out of town." He smirked at the brilliance of his plan.

"Definitely, count me in, 100%." Nate said, licking off all the ice cream on his spoon.

I continued to eat my ice cream, looking down while scrapping the cup clean. Raising the spoon, I was about to eat it when I saw the way Nate and Jack looked at me with eyes narrowed.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You are coming right, Brooke?"

I sighed in annoyance. "Jack you know I never come for these things, why do you even bother asking?"

"I know, but this ones different, okay? Its going to be really amazing, the biggest I've ever thrown..please Brooke?" Jack pleaded with large eyes, leaning across the table.

"Fine." I exhaled dramatically as Nate cheered. "But," they stopped grinning. "Only because its your birthday and no drinks for me, okay? Not even one."

By the time I finished my sentence, Jack was already grinning enthusiastically. "Awww, you remembered?"

"Of course I did doof, its your 18th birthday," I smiled at him, pulling his cheeks. "Besides, what kind of best friend would I be if I wasn't there to smother cake on your face?"

****

I hadn't admitted to Jake and Nate (quite obviously, they would rag me forever for it) that the real reason behind me agreeing to go was the fact that Cole was going to be there.

The thought of the last time I had seen him, just 2 days ago, brought a blush to my checks and an immediate tightening in my stomach. I had known for sure that Cole was going to attend the party because I had casually and subtly asked Jack who was going to be there.

"Dad, I'm leaving!" I shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

Footsteps could be heard on the floor as my Dad peeked his head from the top landing of the stairs just as I was turning to leave.

"Don't forget to use protection, don't do drugs but please try drinking for once." My dad said as I blushed and threw a pillow from the nearby couch at him.