By Martyr of the xsorbit4 rebelfic board.
Disclaimer: I take no credit in this story it was created by Martyr, who does not own Roswell.
Mr. Hogward's 4th period History class was boring, not to mention Mr. Hogward himself. He was going on and on about the non existent Soviet Union, as if anyone cared, but Tess took careful notes of it, knowing he would ask questions; considering everyone-well almost everyone was asleep or getting there.
Tess takes a quick peak at Max-who
was sitting in the far corner, doodling..most likely Liz or how
perfect her name fit with his: Elizabeth Evans or Liz Evans.
Biting
her lower lip, trying to ignore the pang in her heart, she glances at
Kyle, who was indeed sleeping and snoring. Tess couldn't help but
smile at how cute he looked.
Buddha boy wasn't bad-considering
he's human.
Sighing, she steals a quick glance at her watch. Fifteen minutes more to go, I can do this, she thinks to herself.
Tess looks out the door and in the halls, where everything is red and pink: pink and red hearts and balloons. Big posters announcing the Valentine's Dance on Saturday at six in the evening.
She wonders who Max is going to take, but of course. She checks herself, knowing full well he would never ask her. He would ask Liz. Not a doubt in her mind.
"Miss Harding. Earth to Miss Harding. Would you like to join us in the present, please?"
Tess quickly looks at Mr. Hogward, snapping out of her thoughts, and blushing slightly.
Mr. Hogward was fat and almost jolly looking..who would have known a teacher with a fa?de like that, could fool a student when it came to tests that were almost impossible to pass, and a class almost unbearable to be in?
Tess gave him a tenative smile, and wondering why he called on her.
As if reading her mind, Mr. Hogward said, "As all of you know." He began, looking at the people who were coming out of their daydreams and naps. "The Valentine's Dance is going to be held this Saturday, but I believe I can almost bet that none of you..maybe one or two of you, know the true signifance of Valentine's Day."
He raised his eyebrows, as of no
show of hands.
Clearing his throat and running a steady hand
through his thick mane of blonde hair that was combed ridicuasly like
Travolti's hair style in the 80s, he looks at Tess and says, "Miss
Harding. I've heard many things that your father is in the army, and
how you've traveled almost everywhere. I was wondering, have you been
to Rome, by any chance?"
Tess wasn't about to let this golden oppurtunity of showing Mr. Hogward that she truly did know the meaning of Valentine's Day. She wasn't an idiot. Being raised by Nasedo wasn't completely worthless. Learning how to control her powers had been an advantage, but also being able to see and learn many things.
Clearing her throat quickly, she nods her
head.
"Yes, Mr. Hogward. I stayed in Italy for a few
years.
The tradition of Valentine's Day comes from a Saint named
Valentine: It was a time of Claudius II, who's nickname was Claudius
the Cruel. Claudius was trying to raise an army, but not a lot of men
were joining in so he outlawed marriages, but there was a man, named
Valentine, who was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He
and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married
couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and
dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to
death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom
on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was
the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in
the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honor of a heathen
god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the
names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn
by the men as chance directed.
Valentine's Day started in the
time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a
holiday to honor Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and
Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and
marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of
Lupercalia."
Mr.
Hogward's eyebrows raised and gave her a very rare smile. "Very
good, Miss Harding. Could you continue?" Tess nodded her head,
blushing. She saw that she had everyone's attention-including
Max.
"On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of
Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each
young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be
partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he
chose."
Mr. Hogward gave a broad smile. "Yes, and that is what we are going to do. Starting tomorrow, everyone in this class, and I mean everyone...Mr. Guerin." said Mr. Hogward, giving Michael a stern look. Michael gave him one of his charming smiles-The Guerin smirk. Mr. Hogward ignore it and clapped his hands together, obviously enjoying whatever had planned for them.
Not good.
"I want everyone to get a sheet of paper and write
your name and fold it nice and neat and drop it in this bowl,
please."
Mr. Hogward went to his file cabinet and held out a
very large bowl that was glass made with little red hearts all over
it. Placing the bowl on top of his desk, he looked at everyone, his
piggy like brown eyes almost twinkling..could it
be..mischief?
Everyone stood up slowly, and placed their piece of
paper in the bowl..including Michael.
The bell rang and everyone
filed out, talking excitingly about what Mr. Hogward was going to do.
Would he really give a project about Valentine's Day? Tess went to
her locker and spinned it quickly, getting her books for next period.
Advanced Placement French.
Tess' eyes nearly popped out, as to
what she saw in her locker: Made out hearts of the words, "I
love you" in different languages written out, and a very large
Hershey kisses bar, and a little poem taped on her mirror:
Good morning to you, my valentine;
Let my gaze linger in your eyes--
Two before and three behind.
Good morning to you, my valentine.
A smile formed around Tess' lips, as she
read the four lines all over again. She looked around, wondering who
could have possibly given it to her. Everyone was busy getting to
their next class. Tess grabbed her French book, and shut her locker,
feeling all of the sudden giddy.
No one could get to her locker,
only a person who had the power too..and she knew of only one
person.
Max Evans. Tess wondered if he really did. He was being
nicer to her, and occassionally smiled at her, but she knew Max was
into Liz. Everyone knew that.
Sighing, feeling slightly depressed,
Tess was about to turn the corner, when she sees Isabel, Liz, and
Maria laughing together. They were standing at Liz's locker, sharing
something.
A small ache began to form again in her
stomach.
Afterall, she and Isabel had been through..why couldn't
Isabel be friends with her? Tess understood why she, Liz, and Maria
weren't.
It was and would always be impossible. Maria called her
a shank behind her back, while Liz didn't say anything, but supported
it, nontheless. Pressing her back against the wall, Tess hears
in..using her ears, as Nasedo had taught her to do.
"Alex,
gave me a dozen of sterling roses, saying "we're friends"
deal, said Isabel flipping her blonde hair behind her shoulder. "But
I don't believe it."
Liz and Maria giggled.
"Yeah
right. Alex has the hots for you, Issy. No doubt about it."
Exclaimed Maria, rolling her eyes.
Isabel smiled, pleased.
Liz
shook her head, as she took out her Astronomy book and closed her
locker shut. "Max sent me the sweetest card ever, and two dozen
white roses," gushed Liz, leaning her head back against her
locker, her eyes giving a faraway look.
Maria shook her head,
looking almost jealous.
"Michael hasn't sent me anything,
but I'll wait. Spaceboy is mine."
Liz grinned. "Yeah,
considering Michael did put his name in Mr. Hogward's bowl."
Maria
laughed. "I know..and can you believe Tess? I mean..God! That
girl thinks she's so high and mighty, because she knows all sorts of
stuff, and because she's been everywhere." Maria rolls her eyes
dramatically.
Liz nods her head, agreeing with her, when she
notices Isabel getting uncomfortable. Feeling the barb, Liz says
softly, "Maria..."
Maria throws her hands up in the air,
exasperated.
"Come on Liz. You know the girl is snob."
Liz
doesn't say anything.
Isabel's eyes are downcast and her jaw is
set firmly. Seeing the awkward silence, and knowing that's all she
wants to hear, Tess turns the corner and holds her head high. She
sees her French class right up ahead, and quickens her step.
Isabel
sees her and calls out a greeting. Tess turns and looks at Isabel.
Usually, whenever Isabel greeted her, Tess would smile and say hi
right back, but this time. She wasn't going to do that.
Tess nods
her head and gives Isabel a hard look-her deep blue eyes narrowed
into blue, cold slits.
Isabel blinks, perplexed for a second, and
realizes that Tess must have overheard them. Isabel's face turns a
deep shade of pink and then white. Isabel looks away, playing with
her bracelet.
Entering the classroom, Tess hears Liz asking
Isabel,
"What was that about?"
And Isabel doesn't
answer.