Cupid, XOXO

Disclaimer: I do not own HSM.

Prologue

Be Introduced

~XOXO~

Her fingers flitted over the pile of notes and envelopes. Her deep red nail polish suited her task and the gold ring with the large black stone glinted in the glow of her bedside lamp and the television. In front of her were two growing piles, labelled by heart shaped post-it notes. One was for guys, the other for girls. A purple notebook lay opened in her lap, the red East High pen pilfered from the secretaries desk one afternoon was gripped in her left hand. Tapping out the beat being played by the commercial on TV, she read over another letter.

Cupid,

I promised my friends I would try and be more social. I'm always so shy at parties and dances. Maybe I just need to jump in, you know? I hope you can help. I just want someone who I can have fun with and won't expect anything serious that first night. Thanks, Catriona Petrova.

Cat's name was written into a slot on her chart, the space beside her name remained empty but she already had an idea of where to send them on their first meeting. The Bookstore Cafe was on the outskirts of East High's boundary lines. Few students went there but it was usually crowded with university students or seniors from North High. Cat would feel comfortable starting there and it would be an easy start to any date. Searching through the pile of boys, she found who she was looking for.

Cupid,

I need to get back in the game. Everyone at school seems to think I need space and time. The guys are always dragging me to guys' nights while emphasizing that she won't be there. The girls all flirt but even they think I'm broken and untouchable. I just want to jump back in. Start off easy. See how it goes. Focus on someone else. Who knows? It could work. Cam Parks.

Cam could work, she decided. Writing his name beside Cat's on the chart, she picked up another letter. This one was in a red envelope, the kind you would find in a flower arrangement. She flicked open the flap and pulled it out, turning it around to read the message. It was scrawled in perfect calligraphy on a backdrop of sunflowers. She grinned to herself as she read the thank you note. She didn't really need a note to tell her that her schemes had worked but it was always nice to get them. It reminded her why she did what she did. Sorting through the remainder of her mail, she finalized her list for the week. As she cleaned up the pile of notes, dumping them inside a giant manila envelope—another item from the secretary's desk—she noticed the letter that had slipped to the floor.

It was written on a yellow recipe card, the kind used by many students to make cue cards for presentations or for study guides for exams. It was blank on one side, but the other side held familiar handwriting that was a mix between illegible and distinctive. Her eyes read it quickly the first time, and only slightly slower the second time. Groaning, she tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling. Where many of her matches were easy to please, some people were not. Looking back to the card in her hand, she decided that she had no options for him this time around. Maybe a couple weeks of waiting would give him some perspective. Reading the letter one more time, she shrugged her shoulders before dropping it in the envelope with the rest.

Cupid,

You will have to try better the next time. Maybe you're starting to lose your touch?

She didn't need his name to know who had written it.

A/N: I am finishing Cupid. It is all written except for the final two chapters and the epilogue. I am also putting it up unbetaed so I really want to know your thoughts. The early chapters have been rewritten to fit with how I reworked the storyline to to suit my burst of inspiration. Someone pointed out that there are some similarities between Cupid and a story on The Matchmaker. That was not my intention. I will be putting up the entire story during this month. Thanks, ~Van