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anyway?
               
“Okay,Georgia, you ready?”
               
She scooted farther down the seat and nodded.  “Yep. 
Let’s go.”  Her little legs began to pump the
peddles. 
               
I watched fascinated, as Chase kept speed with her.  In no time
at all we were gently moving across the water.  After a few
seconds of nervousness I began to enjoy the sensation.  It was
unexpectedly wonderful.  I had forgotten how much I loved the
feel of a boat skimming beneath me.
               
And then after a few more minutes, I got brave enough to ask, “Are
you going to need help Georgia?  I feel bad that you’re
doing all the work.”
      Georgia looked up at me and
smiled.  “No way!  This is my favorite part. 
It’s fun.”
               
“It’s true,” Chase said.  “She loves
this.  It’s one of the reasons I had to get it fixed so
quickly.  She was so impatient.  –So, are you okay?”
He asked me.  “You’re hangin in there?”
               
“Yeah, actually.  It’s nice.  Thanks.”
               
“Would you ever do it again?”
               
“What, ride in a paddleboat?”  I grinned and gently
leaned back in the seat.  “As long as my knight is there.”
               
“Girls.  You’re all demanding, aren’t you?” 
He chuckled and glanced out across the lake toward a cluster of trees
on the other side.  “You know, I would believe you, if
you’d actually let go of the seat.”  He turned back
and smiled.  “As it is, I’m not sure I’ll ever
be able to get you back out here again.”
               
I rolled my eyes. 
Whatever.
  I decided to answer
him truthfully.  “Okay, so I love it out here, but yeah, I
can’t imagine coming back any time soon.”  I looked
down at my hands as they clung on for dear life.
               
“Why’s that?”
               
Chase’s quiet voice near my ear caused me to jolt my head up. 
Concerned blue eyes glittered into mine.  “I—uh,
well, there’s—I mean, first I’ll have to see if I
have any nightmares.”
           
“Nightmares?”  I thought that he would laugh at me,
but instead he asked, “Are they really bad, then?  Do you
still have them?”
               
I looked down and nodded.  “Look, let’s not talk
about it, okay?  That’s all I need to think about right
now.”
           
He chuckled.  “I’ll bet.  Okay, so let’s
change the subject.”  He leaned back and I watched his
legs move a moment before he asked, “Oh!  So how is your
hunt for a new best friend going?  Any luck?”
               
Any luck?  Are you kidding?
  “You didn’t
think I’d find a friend very fast, did you?”
               
“Well, no—”
               
“Of course I found a friend.  She’s awesome too. 
You’d be surprised at how many things we have in common.”
               
“Really?”  He looked skeptical.  “This is
the girl you’ve decided to make popular?  I mean, you’re
talking about the same one?”
               
“Of course I am.  Her name’s Hannah Smith.  You
would really like her.  She’s normal and funny, you know? 
Like, she’s not hung up on the newest and latest thing. 
And, she has no idea that she’s pretty!  Like, none at
all.  I can’t wait to show her how to enhance her beauty.”
               
“Wait.”  Chase sat up.  “So you’re
going to take a nice normal girl and turn her into your little
clone?”
               
“What does that mean?  My little clone?”
               
“You don’t know what this could—”
    “Yes, okay, I want to improve
her life.  Is that some major crime?  She’s great and
people should get to know her.”
               
“I’m not saying—”
               
“You