I dressed quickly and checked how I looked in the mirror. I was wearing a red mid-thigh dress with gray skinny jeans under it. I had on my Converse Boots and a pair of dangling black star ear rings to complete the outfit. Good enough. I rushed down the stairs when I heard the door bell ring.
"Why hello, April dear, how have you been?" Mom addressed my friend.
"Hey, Mrs. Jones, and I've been great."
"How's school been treating you?"
Before April could answer I kissed my mom on the check and said, "Sorry Mom, but we don't want to be late for the movie."
"Yes of course baby girl. Have a great time! And be safe!" With that, April and I hopped into Stacey's car.
Bliss was terrible. I can sum it up in a few quick sentences. A girl falls for a guy out of her league. She knows he'll never love her, but he secretly does (roll of eyes goes here). They confess their love for each other and start dating. The guy's friends make fun of her, the girl's offended when the guy doesn't stand up for her and she leaves him. She decides she wants to move out of their small town and is waiting for a train one rainy day. Naturally, the guy shows up, says he's sorry, and they have that huge kissing session in the rain that is at the end of nearly every romance movie. Ok, maybe not so short but still, you get the point.
So now Stacey, Gwen, April, and I were on our way to Pizza Planet, home of the most greasy pizza in the universe, making it an automatic teenage hot spot.
We parked in the crammed parking lot. I was sort of surprised to see that it was so full considering Tommy's party was tonight. Then again, the people at that party probably consisted mostly of jocks and cheer leaders, and yes, that includes my brother Eric.
Sure enough when we entered Pizza Planet and Gwen spotted her crush at the register she asked us what we wanted and volunteered to get it. Stacey and my eyes met. I could tell the same plan was forming in our devious minds.
"Hmm, let me think... Well, I want a large Cherry Coke and a slice of the veggie deluxe."
"I want a raspberry slushy and a medium pepperoni with green peppers pizza." I announced.
"I'll take a side salad. I'm on a diet." April added.
"Wait!" Stacey cried as Gwen began to walk away, "I also would like a medium order of fries."
"That sounds good! Me too, but make it a large! I'm starving!"
"Geez Wren, you're such a pig sometimes."
"Like I said, I'm starving. I haven't had much to eat today." I lied.
"She's always eaten a lot though." April said.
"True, but she's stays so skinny!"
"I know! It's totally unfair!"
"I have a high metabolism." but neither of the girls even seemed to notice my last comment as they found us a table.
"Stacey, you ordered an unusual amount of food though."
"Yeah, I was trying to pile it on for Gwen so she would have to get that guy, we need to find out his real name so we don't have to call him "that guy" anymore. Anyway, back on topic, so she would have to get that guy to help her bring the food over.
"You're a genius." April sounded amazed.
"I'm pretty sure Wren had the same idea." She said with a wink in my direction.
When Gwen came back over we found out that our plan had failed. "That guy" who's real name was Rick, was called to clean up some kid's vomit when it was her turn in line. Someone else both took her order and brought us our food. That someone else' s name was Don.
I ate my food feeling famished. Unfortunately, I couldn't just dive into it, taking gigantic bites and slurping on my drink because my friends were all eating while staying well composed. Of course, I still managed to down the whole pizza and basket of fries before April announced she was done eating, half-way through her salad.
Even though we were all finished eating we didn't want to go quite yet and we all ordered slushies. Even April did who said she could cheat a little, and that she'd been good all day.
"Here is the receipt for your meal Miss." Don said passing it to Gwen.
She smiled and thanked him, but he didn't leave.
"I'd be happy to let you have your slushy on me."
Gwen went pale and when he asked, "Can I have your number?" she turned bright pink.
She answered, "Uhh,"
I jumped in, "She broke her phone and her dad doesn't let boys call on the home phone...sorry."
"Yeah, I'm really sorry. You seem sweet though."
"Oh, ok, well, bye."
"Oh my gosh! Thanks for saving me Wren! It's just that..."
"You have a crush on Rick, and it's no big deal." I took another sip from my raspberry beverage.
"Hey, it's Miss Fire Hazard!"
I froze, then slowly turned my head to see Jared. Accompanied by what other then his smirk?
"Miss Fire Hazard?" Stacey asked looking at me.
"She didn't tell you what happened in Home Ec.?" Gwen snorted from laughter. She knew what happened, but only because she had the class with us.
"No, what happened?" April asked curiously. Jared gave a wicked grin and pushed himself into the booth next to April and me. He motioned to someone. It was only then that I noticed that somebody besides his smirk had been with Jared. The boy looked to be about nineteen. He was tall with strawberry blonde hair and light mocha colored skin. His eyes were a deep brown. He was skinny, but not scrawny. Altogether, he was handsome, his looks were very unique. Even his features such as how his nose pointed and the shape of his eyes had a unique quality that was rather attractive. I tore my eyes away from him, and began to pay attention to what Jared was saying.
"So I took over and see fire everywhere! The potholder's burning! And the stove-eye looks like an active volcano spitting out flames!"
"It wasn't that bad." I interrupt turning pink.
"Yes, yes it was. And then get this, I come to find out she tried to put the fire out with cooking spray!"
Everyone shrieked with laughter. Ok, I admit I am not very good in the kitchen. So yeah my friends, just go ahead, get your laughs. But what did make me blush was that the boy, had chuckled a bit himself.
I roll my eyes. "Come on Jared I have a embarrassing story about you too!"
"Oh Yeah? What?"
"Remember that time Mrs. Sloan called on you to answer a question?"
"She does that all the time." He interjected.
"Anyway, she asked you what the square root of sixteen was and you said pi!" No one laughed.
"Tough crowd." I mumbled, pulling into my shell of an emotionless mask. The mask I usually only used when I was extremely embarrassed or depressed. This was one of those embarrassing moments.
"Well I mean three point one four is pretty close to four." April announced batting her eye lashes at Jared. Oh God! Don't tell me my best friend is falling for him!
I decided to not correct her on the three point one four comment. Rounding in this case worked to my advantage of pi not being so close to four. Overall I decided not to say anything at all. I had pulled back, I was now quiet and didn't let anything bother me the way it usually would. Or at least I didn't let it be seen that it bothered me. For example when Jared spilled his drink all over my dress. All I said was," Excuse me." as I stood up and walked to the bath room to clean up.
Jared and the boy, who was introduced as Chris, stayed at our booth until closing time when the Don turned us out.
"Oh no!" April cried! It's 11:30! Dad said I had to be home at 11:00!"
"Poor babe. I'll drive you home if you'd like." Jared offered.
"You have a car?" April asked a hopeful glint in her eye.
"No. But Chris does. He's seventeen."
"Oh." She sounded disappointed. "I better not."
"I just had a great idea! What if you girls came to sleepover at my house tonight!" Gwen said suddenly.
"That will get me out of trouble for coming home late since Daddy will just think I've been at your house. I'll call him to tell him."
"I'll text my mom to let her know."
"What about you Wren, can you come over?"
"No." I said quickly. I would have loved to go to a sleepover, but I couldn't risk my wings being discovered.
"Aww, why not?" April whined as she shut her phone with a snap.
"I'm taking Kayden swimming tomorrow morning." another lie.
"Well we hope you ladies have a nice night together. It was nice meeting you guys. Especially you Fire Hazard. Bye." Chris said turning away.
"Peace out." Jared said with a wave.
"Byeee." we chorused.
Stacey drove me home and that night while I lay in bed I couldn't help but think about Chris.
A/N What do you think? Whoever's kid could that be?