Iris

The rest of the week went by fairly uneventfully. There wasn't much to really occupy my mind except for the growing anticipation I felt for this Saturday. I'd never been on a date before. Hell, I'd never come in contact with any boys not twenty years older than me until at least two or so months ago. So I have no idea how I'm going to act...do I play it cool? Goofy? Overeducated? The possibilities are endless!

"Earth to Iris." Iggy snapped his fingers in front of my face. "Don't burn our food!"

"Huh?" I snapped back to reality, sighing. "The pancake burned. Great. Why didn't you take over?"

"Excuse me for trusting you." He rolled his eyes. "Anyway, what's up with you? You've had that anxious I'm-about-to-throw-up look all period. No, all day!"

I sighed. "Carter."

He raised an eyebrow. "Carter? Who the hell is he?"

"Captain of the football team...he asked me out on Monday."

I saw something in Iggy's eyes snap, but shrugged it off. "I've got absolutely no experience in this department, and, well, I'm hopeless, Iggy. I'm so scared I'm going to screw this up!"

A girl walked down the aisle of the classroom, stopping at my table. "I've got leftover batter if you need it. I made a tiny pancake." She smiled sheepishly. "My name is Noelle, by the way."

"I'd definitely appreciate it." I smiled back a bit, just as sheepish. "Thinking too hard. Burnt my pancake."

"Ooo. Is it boy-related?" She pulled up a chair and propped up her elbows in front of us.

"Well, this guy asked me out, and I've got like no dating experience whatsoever. So I'm lost."

Iggy got up with our pan and grumbled, walking off to dump the gunk in the trashcan.

"What's his deal?" I mumbled, jabbing a finger at Iggy.

"You good friends?" she murmured back.

"I guess. Not sure. I'm actually not very social...I've been away from society basically since I was born, and I feel so naïve about this..."

Noelle looked at me with interest. "Where'd you used to live?"

Iris shrugged. "In the countryside of Italy. I was homeschooled. Then, when my parents lost our farm to bankruptcy, they were forced to give me up because they couldn't support me anymore." Great lie for only being given about five seconds to think about it!

"That's sad...did someone even have the cliché crush on the farmer's daughter?"

I laughed. "Nope." Not that I knew what the hell that meant…

Noelle put out her hand. "Noelle Wicker at your service! I shall help you through the hell that is high school!"

I gave another laugh and shook it. "Iris. And this is Iggy." I motioned to the silent bird kid next to me, cooking with his good eye.

Noelle grinned. "So. Why not come over to my house Saturday afternoon? I'll help you out. Promise not to dress you like a slut!"

I hid my baffled appearance. What the hell was a slut? "Sure, I guess." We swapped numbers, and then the bell rang. "Oh. Art class. Got to go, guys." I grinned, walking off.

Iggy

"So, Noelle," I smiled warmly, hatching a plan. Phase one in progress. "Can I come too?"

Noelle shrugged. "Sure. Just promise not to fall silent on me." she grinned, spinning open her locker, which happened to be next to mine. Iris was across the hall. Uh...not that I noticed.

I smirked. "I'm not the silent type, I assure you. That's more of my buddy Nick."

"The dark clothing-clad new kid? He won't talk to anyone but that girl of his. Max? Yeah. Her. That's her name… Otherwise he looks like the statue of Lincoln in Washington (A/N: ?). Nothing."

I smirked again. "He's not a bad guy. He's just got problems with expression. Actually, I don't think it's even that. Maybe trust issues...I don't know. I never thought about it."

Noelle shrugged. "Eh. Anyway, I've got dance class. I'll see you soon, James." She stopped herself. "Uh…Iggy." With that being said, Noelle took her dance bag and closed her locker. "I'll see you soon."

I watched her walk away, then turned to walk away myself. God, school is going to be interesting.

Iris

On Saturday, I found myself at Noelle's doorstep. What was I doing...

"Oh, Iris! You're here!" she squealed. After a moment, she held open the door. "Come in. We've got quite a bit of work to do."

I stepped inside nervously. But once inside, it felt...homey. I liked it. "I love it here," I murmured. "It feels like how a home should feel."

Noelle led me up to her room, smiling. "Big house. But...my parents are business partners. So they travel a lot. But they bought me a car, and whenever they're gone, they send me money for groceries and stuff. It's a lonely life, and I don't have many friends. I'm also stuck taking care of my little sister Kate. But she goes to daycare...so yeah. At least she has something to do."

I sighed. "Sounds like it sucks."

"It does. I'm usually not irresponsible with my money, or bringing boys up to my room and stuff."

"I guess your parents must really trust you."

"Yeah…they do. Sometimes I wish they didn't just so they'd stay home…I feel like I'm raising my little sister by myself." Noelle shrugged. "Anyway, enough about me. Let's just get you dressed, okay? I'll let you borrow some of my clothes." She grinned cheekily at me, then pushed open the door to her room.

"Wow," I breathed. The walls were a soft purple color, with black designs painted randomly here and there. There was a white canopy bed with purple screens and white, black and light purple bedding seated against the wall, but in the middle of the room, next to a sliding glass door that led out to what I guessed was a balcony. The dressers were black, and a dark brown bookcase was next to an alcove, where many pillows and a window were displayed. "This place is awesome!"

Noelle laughed. "Thanks. I did some redecorating while my parents were in Milan. When they came back, they loved it. Anyway," She patted the chair to her vanity in the corner. "Have a seat. We'll do the hair and makeup first-"

Ding dong!

"—right after I get the door," she laughed again. "Wait here." Noelle slid down the stair railing, jumping off just before she hit the bottom. She then brushed herself off and looked through the window. Iggy.

"Hey Igs!" Noelle smiled, ushering him inside. "Come on. 'The party'," I put air quotes around 'the party' has just started." She led him back up to her room, where I was seated, brushing my wavy hair in the mirror.

"Iris."

I turned, noticing him. "Iggy."

Noelle poked the air, making a 'pop' noise. "There. I just popped the tension in the air." Both of us cracked a smile. "Now Iris, let's get to work. Mr. Iggy, I've got a PS3 over there with Black Ops in it. Go crazy."

He was gone in an instant, off to inspect the TV mounted on her dresser with the PS3 next to it.

"Captain of the football team, eh?" Noelle murmured, lifting my hair this way and that. "I'm surprised they notice anyone other than those cheerleaders with the skimpy outfits that are known all across campus for not owning a v-card. Except Jenny. She absolutely refuses to lose her's."

I smirked. "At least there's one cheerleader that hasn't completely lost their insanity."

"She's the nice one, too. One of my friends, though I don't talk to her much." Noelle finally pulled up the front of my hair and brushed it backward, then clipped it into a sparkling red barrette. "Perfect. The red looks great against your dark hair!"

I smiled. "Thanks. Amanda said it looked good against me…"

"So…hmm. Something black and red…I've got something perfect for that. But first, the eyes. Wow, Iris. Pretty eyes!"

"Hence the name, 'Iris'. One blue, one green."

Noelle grinned and put on a bit of mascara, along with some eyeliner. "I just can't get over them…wow. Someone could really fall in love with those eyes. Not me, of course, because that's not how the cookie crumbles, but seriously…why don't you think you're pretty, Iris?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I just don't."

"Well, Carter will." She grinned, pulling me up and to the closet. "Now, I've got this cute red dress in the closet…Ah! Here it is." She tugged it out and held it up to me. "Looks like it'll fit. Hmm…take this vest, too." Noelle handed me a black vest. "Go change in the bathroom. Tis down the hall."

I nodded and walked off.

Noelle

While waiting, I sat on the bed next to Iggy. "Wow. You're pretty damn good at this game."

Iggy grinned. "I am? Why thank you. Fang and I play almost 24/7. You? You're…pretty. Just pretty."

I blushed, turning my face away. "Why thank you, kind sir."

"I am at your service, Lady Noelle." Iggy mock-bowed after pausing his game.

I just laughed. "Really now? And what does that mean?"

"I'm hoping it means we can go out for a bite to eat too." He grinned over at me.

I shrugged. "Sure, I guess. Let me just get finished setting up Iris, and then we can leave."

"Okay."

Iris

I stepped back inside and twirled around in my new outfit. "It looks nice," I smiled. "Thanks, Noelle."

"Call me Noe. And no problem, Iris! It looks stunning on you," she chuckled. "Now, I need your opinion, because I've got a date too."

"Really? With who?" I pulled her up, walking to her closet.

"Iggy," she squeaked under her breath once he'd returned to his game. "He's adorable, don't you think? And he seems super sweet."

Just like when I'd told Iggy about Carter and I, I felt something snap. Deep inside myself. What the hell? "He is. You'll have a great time with him," I smiled back, genuinely. "Now, I really think purple is your color." I held up a purple and white polka dotted dress to her frame. "By the way, what shoes am I wearing?"

"Depends. What size are you? Actually, meh. I'll just wear my little ankle boots."

"They look nice with that dress anyway…I'm gonna wear some black and white boots with mine. I'll go get changed. Did you tell Carter to come pick you up from here?"

"Yeah." Just then, the doorbell went off. "Ooh, I think that's him!" I waved hastily at Iggy and Noelle. "Have fun on your…" I blinked when I couldn't say it, and instead, just fled down the stairs and opened the door. "Hey, Carter."

Carter grinned and held out his arms. "Why, Miss Iris, might I say, you look gorgeous."

I hooked my arm through his. "So where are we going?"

"La Bella Luna."

Oh shit.