Searching For The Swan
Chapter One: Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Okay, this is a story I wrote back in 1990. For anyone who loves Simon and Jeanette stories this one's for you. Only three chapters. I hope you enjoy this first chapter.
"Hey, wait!" Jeanette Miller shouted, while running for the bus. But it was too late. The bus had already left, so she just started walking. The sidewalk was wet because of the rain the night before. She didn't get half a block when a truck came by and splashed her from head to toe. She screamed out in frustration, feeling as if this was going to be a rotten day. She finally made it to school, although she was ten minutes late. She walked into homeroom feeling pretty embarrassed.
"You're late," Miss Crawley said. "School starts promptly at 8am."
"Sorry," she said and took her regular seat next to her two sisters.
She noticed two of the cheerleaders laughing and snickering, but was sure they were laughing at her. They abruptly stopped when Brittany turned and gave them a dirty look.
Soon the bell rang and everyone got up. "Jeanette, what happened to you?" Brittany asked as they were walking to their first class.
"I realized I forgot my science book and went back for it, but by the time I got back the bus had pulled away. I tried to catch it, but it was too late.
"I know that," Brittany said. "I meant your clothes."
"Oh, I got splashed by the truck," she said with a groan as they walked down the hall together.
"Don't worry," Eleanor said. "You don't look that bad."
"It doesn't make any less humiliating."
Jeanette went off to her first class. Science, her favorite subject. It was one of the few classes she didn't have with her sisters, but Simon, her best friend for the last eight years was in the class with her.
"Hi, Simon," she said. "What happened?"
"Oh, nothing," Jeanette said, not really wanting to tell him. "I just forgot my science book, and by the time I got back to the bus stop, it was pulling away. Then I get splashed by a truck."
"So sorry," Simon said. "I hate it when that happens."
If there was anyone in the world that would understand her it was Simon. They were both branded as nerds years ago, but it never seemed to bother Jeanette. That was until they all entered high school.
Soon their teacher entered the room and the class settled down.
Jeanette could hear the snickers from more popular kids in class. She tried to not let it bother her, but lately it had. Science class went by fast, as all the classes that Jeanette enjoyed the most did. When the bell rang she gathered her books and was preparing to leave for her next class. She noticed that her teacher Miss Falcon was speaking to one of the football players. She recognized him as Jack Harris. He was a good-looking boy who excelled at sports, but he wasn't the most focused student.
As Jeanette was preparing to leave, Miss Falcon called her over to her desk. "Jeanette, may I speak to you for a moment?"
"Yes, Miss Falcon?" Jeanette asked, coming back towards her desk.
"This is Jack Harris," Miss Falcon said.
"Yes, I know," Jeanette said, trying to act cool, but she felt like she was just coming off as awkward.
"Well, it seems that Jack needs some extra tutoring, or he won't be able to play football at this weekend's game."
"So, you want me to tutor him?" Jeanette asked.
"Yes, that's about it," Miss Falcon said.
"Alright," Jeanette said. "How about four 'o clock. School library?"
"I think that would be perfect," Miss Falcon said. Then she looked over at Jack and said, "Right, Mister Harris?"
"Yes, Ma'am," he groaned.
"I'll see you then," Jeanette said. "Don't be late." She slowly back out of the classroom, not really watching where she was going and bumped into the door. She gathered herself quickly and went off to her math class. She sat down in her regular seat next to Brittany. She thought about how nervous she was. How could she have agreed to tutor Jack Harris? He was one of the most popular boys in school. What was she thinking agreeing to tutor him? She wished she was clever enough to get out of it somehow.
"Jeanette," Brittany whispered over to her. "What's wrong?"
The bell just rang and Jeanette quickly whispered over to Brittany. "I'll tell you later," she said as class was about to begin.
"Okay," Brittany said. She groaned at the thought of the next forty-five minutes. "This class is so boring."
Jeanette only giggled to herself. Leave it to Brittany to lighten the mood, even when she didn't know she was doing it.
Morning classes buzzed by, and Brittany had been hounding Jeanette to tell the secret. "You're keeping something from me."
"Brittany, do you really have to know everything?"
"Yes," Brittany said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "We're sisters, and we shouldn't have secrets."
"Who has a secret?" Eleanor called out, while catching up with them as they entered the lunch room.
"Something big is going on," Brittany said, as the three got in line. "And Jeanette won't tell me."
"It's nothing," Jeanette insisted. "I'm just tutoring Jack Harris is all."
"Jack Harris?!" Brittany shouted. "He's only the best-looking guy in school."
"Oh, really," Alvin said, sneaking up behind her. "And what am I?"
"Oh, hi, Alvin," Brittany said. "I meant to say second best-looking." She smiled at him and took his arm.
"Yeah, okay, Brittany," he said as he took his tray. "It's nice to know that my own girlfriend thinks I'm a dog."
"I didn't say that, Alvin!" Brittany shouted, and took her tray and went down the line, barely even looking at him.
It made Jeanette and Eleanor giggle. It seemed like Brittany and Alvin were always going at each other, and even more so since they started dating.
"Will you two ever stop fighting?" Jeanette said, with a laugh.
"This isn't fighting," Alvin said. "It's just Brittany's taste in man is..."
"I picked you, didn't I?" Brittany said sarcastically.
"She's got you there," Simon said, sneaking up behind Alvin.
"Hi, Simon," Jeanette said sweetly. "They're fighting as usual."
"We are not!" Brittany fired at her sister. She took her tray and walked off.
Her sisters followed, then soon after so did Alvin and Simon. Theodore had just walked in. He had been late, which was unusual for him. The one thing he usually wasn't late for was lunch. After he got through the line he joined his brothers and the Chipettes at their regular table.
"Over here, Theodore," Eleanor said. "So why were you so late?"
"Mrs. Crumbly wanted my chocolate mousse recipe."
"Oh, really," Eleanor said. "Should I be jealous?"
"No one holds a candle to you," Theodore said, which made Eleanor smile.
"Good answer, Theodore," Alvin said. Brittany nudged him a little. "What?"
Brittany didn't say anything, just took a sip of her drink.
"So, tell us," Eleanor started. "How did you manage to land a study date with Jack Harris?"
"Jack Harris?" Simon said in a shocked tune. "That guy is such a jerk."
"It's not a date," Jeanette corrected. "I'm only tutoring him, so he can play in Saturday's game."
"Oh, sure," Brittany said. "You can't tell me you're not excited."
"Brittany," Jeanette scolded. "I can think of better things to do with my time than tutor some jock." Jeanette got up and left the table.
The rest of the school day Jeanette heard the whispers from the other students, especially the popular girls. She didn't have to wonder what they were talking about. Soon four o' clock came and she was oddly nervous, although she wasn't sure why. It wasn't like it was a real date. Then she thought that a guy like that would never go for someone like her.
She entered the library to see Jack waiting for her. "Okay, he said. "Let's get this over with."
She could tell that this was not going to be a fun time. "Alright, let's get started," she said. "We'll start with the Theory of Relativity. So tell me, what don't you understand?"
"Oh, just about everything," he said. "Why don't we make this easy. You write my paper for me, and I'll recopy it. Then you won't have to spend all this time tutoring me."
"But you won't learn anything," Jeanette said.
"Who needs science?" he said, sitting back in his chair.
"Everything is science," Jeanette said, angrily. She got up out of her chair. It wasn't too often that Jeanette lost her temper, but this was one of those times. In her rage she flipped his chair over, and he fell over onto the floor. "That was the theory of gravity." He just looked on her in horror. "When you're ready to be serious about your studies I'll be waiting."
She was preparing to walk away, when she heard his voice. "Hey," he said. "No girl has ever talked to me like that."
"Well, I didn't want to be harsh, but you left me no choice," she said. "Now, do you want me to tutor you or what?"
"Okay," he said "Where do we start?"
She set her books back down on the desk. "Now, again, what don't you understand?"
"Just about everything," he said. "Except for the theory of gravity."
She laughed at that and sat back down.
They studied for the next hour, until the library was officially closed. "Okay," Jeanette said. "Same time tomorrow?"
"Sure," Jack said. "I was just wondering. There's this party Saturday night after the game. I was wondering if you'd like to be my date."
"Party?" Jeanette asked, caught a little off guard. "I-I don't know."
"Well, just think about it," Jack said, collecting his books.
Jeanette heard a sound coming from the health book section that was right behind them. She looked over and was startled when Simon shot out in front of her.
"Simon," Jeanette said. "What are you doing?"
"You're not seriously considering going out with that guy?"
"What business is it of yours?" Jeanette fired at him.
"I'm your friend," he said. "I'm just looking out for you, besides he's not good enough for you."
"What!" Jeanette said, trying not to raise her voice. "That's none of your business. You give me one reason why I shouldn't go out with him."
"Well, because... because...." He kept hesitating and fidgeted with his glasses. "You just shouldn't. That's all."
"Oh, yea," she said. Simon had never seen her this mad. "Jack!" she called, right when he was about to leave the library. She ran over to him. "I thought about it, and I'd love to go to the party with you."
Simon was shocked, thinking to himself. Is she really going out with him? And why did it make him so angry?
Well, this is the first chapter. If you like it, I'll post the next chapter. So please read and review.