Challenges

By

J.C. Thomas

Chapter Nine: Winter Formal?

The good part about dressing the way he did, was no one ever thought to bother him. One look of disinterest and the population of most high schools flocked away to people who would care what was happening to them. He himself would much rather just be left alone, anyway.

The bad part about his loner ways was that it sent most girls into overdrive trying to date the strong, silent type that he seemed to convey.

Apparently not Allana, she wasn't tripping over herself to get to know him, in fact she had turned down dinner and studying at his house in favor of being with her best friend. And at the club, she had left after only being with him for a few minutes. She hadn't seemed the shy type with the way she was with his sister and friends.

She'd certainly been okay with his touching and trying to communicate his interest. But this morning, she'd done little more than smile at him before continuing on in the hallway. Girls were confusing creatures.

"Want to tell me what all that was about," his sister asked beside him.

"What, what was all about," he slung his back pack over his shoulder and walked down the hall. His sister quickened her steps to match his long stride.

"You and Allana, I know you like her."

"I'm sure you have some point, Le—,"

"Rogue."

"Whatever," he growled back at her only to realize he had just passed his class. "Don't you have a class to get to?"

She shook her head, "Study period, so admit you like her."

"Does it really make a difference if I say yes or no," he asked putting his stuff on the desk he'd been assigned.

"Not particularly," she smiled in a way that looked very strange with the gothic look she had.

"Then no I don't like Allana," he said only loud enough for her to hear in case said person happened to get the wrong idea.

"Liar," 'Rogue' stuck out her tongue.

He smiled at her reaction, "Maybe yes, maybe no… now get out of here."

"Sooner you admit it, the sooner you get over this whole loser, I'm-too-cool-for-a-girlfriend thing you've had since—,"

"Shut up," he said evenly.

"It's been how many months? Shouldn't you—,"

"Shut it, now."

She opened her mouth to say something and thought better of it, "I think she likes you, you know."

He nodded, "Good to know, but I think I'll worry about it when it comes up with her."

"Suit yourself," she gave a dramatic sigh, "I'm just trying to look out for my older brother, but if you don't want to know what I heard about Winter Formal…"

He debated with himself whether or not it was worth the bait she dangled, "What Winter Formal?"

She pulled out a flier clearly torn from the wall with the tape still attached, "Next week is their Winter Formal, you up for going with a certain purple spiked girl?"

Are you up to going with a certain purple spiked girl's best friend, he thought but didn't say, "We'll talk about it after school, now right the bell is going to ring for those of us that have class."

"Fine, fine," she left him the flier, "Just think about it, it could be fun… get you out of the house."

"Go."

"Gone," she threw over her shoulder as she exited the room.

He shook his head and tucked the stolen flier into his back pack. Was he up for the high school dance thing right now? More importantly was he up doing the high school date to a dance thing? Before he could contemplate that any further voices, outside of the classroom that had been gradually getting louder, suddenly exploded in an array of threats and curses.

The entire class was up and on their feet racing to the doorway where only a few feet away Allana stood in between Pietro and another kid was. The two boys were yelling and pushing toward each other and she yelled at the boys to calm down and pushed them back apart.

Neither boy looked as if they were going to take a swing at the other with Allana there, but that didn't stop him from joining her.

Facing the blond black kid, the anger in his eyes instantly dissipated as Dante stepped in front of him. "I'm cool, man," the kid said holding up his hands to show his defeat.

Allana talked quietly to Pietro and the scene was over just as soon as it began. Pietro headed off in the opposite direction from where the other boy went and it left Allana and him in the middle of the hallway with everyone returning to class.

"You okay," he asked touching her shoulder lightly.

Allana looked at him finally and took a step back as if realizing he was still there. "I'm fine, boys will be boys."

He gave a nod.

"It wasn't the first time; it won't be the last, but thank you… I have a test to get to, later." She smiled and left him to his thoughts as he returned to his classroom. Peeking out of this back pack was the Winter Formal flier.

Maybe he wouldn't mind going after all.