Chapter Six: It's A Date

AMERICAN NEWS BULLETIN:12th Grader Suspended From School Due To "Shocking" Essay

In Great Forks, North Dakota, seventeen-year-old senior Kara Kosher was suspended from St. Burke Central High School when she wrote an essay for her English class entitled, "The Girl Who Was Anything But A Victim." Within the paper's contents, Kosher told her classmates about fourteen-year-old Bubbles Utonium, who, as we all know, committed the number one massacre in world history. Utonium (within the essay) was labeled as a "martyr" and a "hero." English teacher, Nora Kenton, withheld the essay from Miss Kosher and reported it to the PTA. A vote decided that such a "violent and subjective" topic should not be discussed in school at all; Kosher's father, Harold, a lawyer, has told the press that his daughter's suspension was clearly put into, as he said, "the wrong category." Most North Dakota citizens are blaming this vote as an act of censorship, but many others are agreeing with the PTA. Principal of St. Burke, Mrs. Grey, has told the Great Forks Press: "This, honestly, is just a little misunderstanding. We give our students the right to speak their minds. Our school loves a little bit of 'creativity' such as the essay that this young lady wrote. It'll be taken care of." Kara Kosher herself has argued that she is willing, as an adult, to sue the school and the North Dakota Parent Teacher Association for withholding her paper. Blossom Jojo, the eldest sister of Bubbles Utonium, came out of hiding briefly to share her thoughts on the matter: "I love to write, so when I heard this I was shocked. An essay about my little sister? Some people are calling this 'mad.' Well, I don't like the vote that the PTA made…that's all I have to say." –Huffington Post, October 2003

(May 24, 1999)

Bubbles was sitting at a table in the back of the library when Boomer found her. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, her face was revealed—neat, clean, no acne for once. Boomer didn't want to approach her just yet. She'll think I'm crazy, he told himself. I gotta make it look like I'm just browsing…

Of course, she had already seen him out of the corner of her eye. She got nervous around him. Once, they were partners for a Chemistry project. But Bubbles—what with Isaiah Fish and Danny Reed throwing spitballs at the back of her head—did not say a word to him when they were studying chemical compounds. I'm so stupid, she thought. I could NEVER talk to BOOMER…of all people…

Bubbles looked up from the book she was reading. Just a quick glance at him—OH NO, he saw me! Oh God! Oh no…just go back to reading. Reading…

He approached her slowly. "Uh…hey Bubbles."

She couldn't look at him. She didn't have the nerve. He made her bones turn to jelly, at least…that's what it felt like. Butterflies were turning in her stomach. "B-Boomer…hi." Bubbles managed to put her book down. "Are you…here for the English homework? We write a paper for Shakespeare—"

He chuckled. (Oh, great, Bubbles. Wrong move…I'm so stupid!) "No. Actually, it's not about the English paper. I came over to ask you…" Boomer paused. He looked down at her book.

"The Catcher In The Rye…"

"Have…have you read it?" She thought maybe she could ponder on. Ask him a few questions in order to keep there…just a few inches away from her. "I've read it three times."

Boomer smiled. "I've read it four times."

She was blushing crimson red. Oh he's so cute…but why is he talking to me? Probably here to set me up for a joke…I bet Princess...I bet she put him up to it… Nervously, she picked up her book and started to pack up her things. "Bubbles, wait." She stopped dead in her tracks. "Y-Yeah?"

The fifteen-year-old boy just stared at her for a moment. He was admiring all her glory. She was beautiful. So why did everybody call her names—whore, slut, pig, weenie, turd—and treat her like shit? Boomer didn't understand it all. But he came here for a reason. So he just opened his mouth, slowly, and said: "If…you don't have a date for the prom on Friday…would you like to go with me?" By now, everyone else in the library had either transitioned to the other side of the room, or they left early to head to Fifth Period. You could hear a mouse sneeze. "Boomer…are you trying to trick me?"

He was taken aback. "Hell no. Bubbles, I—"

The tears came. "Who put you up to this? Princess? Alexis? Heather? Robin? Boomer, I could name a thousand more. Don't play tricks with me." They looked at each other. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm asking you because I want to." That was half-true. "Bubbles, I won't hurt you."

Bubbles held back the rest of her tears and looked down at the floor. "It's just…they laugh at me. They always laugh at me. I feel like I can't trust anyone. Boomer, only my sisters care for me…and my mama…she's told me all about boys…how they touch girls and make them bleed and give them pleasure when they don't want it. How can I trust—?" He pulled her close. "I asked you, didn't I?"

She felt the warmness of his body. His breath that smelled like mint. And she loved everything about him. He was cute, charming, and quick to the point. Not to mention, she was a sucker for those ocean-blue eyes. He smiled at her and she formed a small grin. "Okay, Boomer. I'll go."

Boomer laughed. "Great. I'll pick you up at 7:45."

Bubbles held her book to her chest. "Alright…uh…goodbye. I…Boomer I…thank you." And she left him. It may have seemed awkward, but on the inside she was screaming with joy.

(Fifth Period, Algebra. Room D-49)

Princess was sitting at her desk, filing her nails. The teacher was going on and on about some pointless lecture and she wasn't listening—in fact, she never did.

She had started working on her left pinky when she heard Heather Cooper and Natasha Winters giggling behind her. Obviously, they were gossiping. Princess turned around. "Okay," she said smiling. "Who do you have the dirt on? I love juicy stories." Natasha and Heather look at each other and then looked back at Princess. Natasha cleared her throat. "Boomer Jojo."

"What about him?"

Heather smiled nervously. "He…asked Bubbles Utonium to prom."

Princess dropped her nail-filer. "Excuse me. What did you just say? He asked who to the prom?"

Natasha nibbled on the end of her eraser. "Tony and I were in the library during Study Hall and Caitlyn Jiménez came over and told us, because apparently she saw the whole thing unfold."

Princess narrowed her eyes. "Oh really? Well…I'm not going to stand for this. That little bitch already has every teacher watching over her—" RING. The class was over and they all gathered up their things to go home. Princess scoffed. "I mean, come on! How could Boomer be attracted to her? She's ugly."

Natasha shrugged and Heather looked away. "Well, needless to say…I wasn't planning on going to prom at all. It's so stupid. And now that you-know-who is going…I'm not even considering the idea of such a thing ever happening. But trust me, I'm gonna get her."

"How?" Heather asked. "She's just going to prom and—"

"Exactly, Heather," Princess said, flashing one of her famous shit-eating smiles. "Now, if you two will excuse me…I have to go meet up with Ace and tell him the news. Ta-ta!"

OH YES! ANOTHER FABULOUS CHAPTER DONE. AND NOW I AM REALLY TIRED SO GOODNIGHT AND SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN SOON. KEEP REVIEWING. I LOVE YOUR REVIEWS…okay I took the Caps Lock off. So tune in for the next chapter, it's going to be another flashback. Keep making guesses and check out the poll on my profile. See ya! (BTW, I own NOTHING….no PPG or RRB or anything!)