E Title: March 3
Author: Abigayle
Rating: PG
It was a day like no other. The sun was shining merrily, caressing her face with its warmth. For the past two weeks, alternating periods of violent thunderstorms and harsh cold had quarantined most people indoors. But today… today was warm, sunny… one of those picturesque days that seem to remind you that spring is just around the corner, if it's not already here.
Near eighty degrees may be common for the end of March, but in the beginning… It was a welcome change, especially for all of the people who were sick of wearing long pants and wanted to once again sport shorts. Needless to say, the sun wasn't the only thing demanding the use of sunglasses [AN: Anyone get that? No? Never mind]
But, even if the weather was less than pleasurable, Serena had vowed the day before to abandon her house for the day. It was so depressing. A little joy would certainly do wonders for her stressed appearance. Maybe if she could spend the night with one of the girls, she could get a good night's sleep, and the dark circles under her eyes (presently concealed with cleaver makeup tactics) would start to fade, if not vanish. She knew she must look like she'd been to hell and back.
It was mid-afternoon, and she had been up and about for several hours window shopping downtown. She had spent every last dime of her savings, save enough for a cheeseburger and milkshake at the diner in the arcade, and was clutching her packages rather tightly as she navigated the sidewalks to her destination.
When she reached the double doors, she hesitated when she caught a glimpse of the guy sitting at the counter. Her first impulse was to turn around and walk away. Today was -her- day. She could always grab a burger and a shake somewhere else…
But she was spotted. A passing pedestrian had accidentally knocked her towards the automatic doors, causing them to open. Darien immediately turned when he heard the jingle of the bells [AN: Jingle bells, jingle bells… whoops, wrong time of year], and (gasp) actually smiled, beckoning her to enter.
The eternal decision: grin and bear it, or be rude and run away?
As tempting as the later sounded, Serena reluctantly chose the former.
It had been several weeks since her last encounter with Darien, but as she walked toward the counter, she desperately hoped this one would go as smooth as the last. Her day had gone well, and she didn't want some childish squabble to spoil her mood. After an entire morning of earned selfishness, she was once again her cherry self.
"What's up, Meatball Head?" he called across the room.
"Well," she started, making her way across the floor, dodging kids with fists full of quarters. "Let's see… the sky, that's up. There's also the sun, that bird I just saw… Oh, yeah! You'll be up (against the wall, that is) if you don't stop with the stupid nicknames!"
"Such harsh words! Surly a little niceness never hurt anything. And we parted on such good terms last time!"
"Ya know, you really should consider taking your own advice."
"Yeah, well, I guess you have a point there."
"Where's Andrew?"
"Why? Here to flirt with him?"
"No, I want a cheeseburger."
"He's in the back. I think Rita called him. Here, have a seat." He motioned for Serena to sit in the swivel stool next to his. She sat, propped her elbows on the bar, and laid her chin in her hands. "You do know I'm teasing, right?"
"When?"
"Like just a second ago. Like when I implied that you flirt with Andrew. Like when I call you Meatball Head."
"Like, oh, my gosh! You sound like a cheerleader!"
"Here I am, trying to apologize…"
"Sorry. I'm just in a good mood today, and you just totally set yourself up for that one."
"How?"
"By using the word 'like' every, like, fifth word."
"There -you- go…"
"I'm still making fun of you. Its not often you give me a long enough break to poke fun of you, ya know…"
"I'm not going to apologize now."
"Good, because I'm not, either!" She stuck her tongue out at him and giggled, causing him to chuckle.
"What's up with you today?"
"I -finally- got out of the house for the first time in -weeks-, and, well, I don't know…"
"I know what you mean. How's stuff at home?"
"Terrible."
"Care to elaborate? Just a tad?"
"Mom and Dad are -so- into each other, it makes me sick. He's bought her a bouquet of roses every other day since January, then he complains to me because he doesn't have any extra money to take her out to a nice restaurant for supper. Then, while we're watching TV or something, they'll start making out like teenagers--can you even begin to imagine how disgusting it is, watching your folks go at it like a couple of love sick kids?"
"I-I don't think I want to…"
"My point exactly."
"So why are you just now getting out of the house?"
"All the girls have been gone, and the weather has been terrible…"
"Why didn't you call me?"
"We haven't ran into each other on the way to school lately, I haven't been to the arcade, and, well, I haven't got your number!" She was tempted to add, 'I didn't think you would care,' but decided against it; it might spoil the mood.
"Do you want to go see a movie tonight? My treat--and I'll even let you pick the movie!"
"Well, Dad -did- say that he was taking Mom out of town tonight, and they wouldn't be back until tomorrow… I'll go, but only if you promise you'll come back to my house afterwards to watch Saturday Night Live."
"Sounds like a plan to me!"
"Ya know, I'm going to have to start venting to you more often…"
The End.
ANs: Well, sports fans, there you have it. Thanks to the few folks out there that e-mailed me requesting a sequel to 'Interlude', and my annoying little sister, you now have 'March 3' to add to your list of favorite stories! (Nothing like a little self-confidence… too bad sarcasm isn't always evident in the written word…)
Kat-chan, it's not exactly what you wanted, but let's face it, IT'S MY STORY! And Valentine's Day was a month ago, so that idea wouldn't work, anyway...
Kat-chan: Yea right!
A brief explanation--yes, I know it's short, but I penned it (in its entirety, no less) during Contemporary Lit, and didn't have the vaguest of ideas as to an actual plot. Given these circumstances, I'd say it's pretty dog gone good. Agree? Disagree? E-mail me and let me know!
abbiechan10@hotmail.com
Thanks for making it this far, and thanks to everyone who has e-mailed me for 'Interlude'!
-Abbie-chan
Author: Abigayle
Rating: PG
It was a day like no other. The sun was shining merrily, caressing her face with its warmth. For the past two weeks, alternating periods of violent thunderstorms and harsh cold had quarantined most people indoors. But today… today was warm, sunny… one of those picturesque days that seem to remind you that spring is just around the corner, if it's not already here.
Near eighty degrees may be common for the end of March, but in the beginning… It was a welcome change, especially for all of the people who were sick of wearing long pants and wanted to once again sport shorts. Needless to say, the sun wasn't the only thing demanding the use of sunglasses [AN: Anyone get that? No? Never mind]
But, even if the weather was less than pleasurable, Serena had vowed the day before to abandon her house for the day. It was so depressing. A little joy would certainly do wonders for her stressed appearance. Maybe if she could spend the night with one of the girls, she could get a good night's sleep, and the dark circles under her eyes (presently concealed with cleaver makeup tactics) would start to fade, if not vanish. She knew she must look like she'd been to hell and back.
It was mid-afternoon, and she had been up and about for several hours window shopping downtown. She had spent every last dime of her savings, save enough for a cheeseburger and milkshake at the diner in the arcade, and was clutching her packages rather tightly as she navigated the sidewalks to her destination.
When she reached the double doors, she hesitated when she caught a glimpse of the guy sitting at the counter. Her first impulse was to turn around and walk away. Today was -her- day. She could always grab a burger and a shake somewhere else…
But she was spotted. A passing pedestrian had accidentally knocked her towards the automatic doors, causing them to open. Darien immediately turned when he heard the jingle of the bells [AN: Jingle bells, jingle bells… whoops, wrong time of year], and (gasp) actually smiled, beckoning her to enter.
The eternal decision: grin and bear it, or be rude and run away?
As tempting as the later sounded, Serena reluctantly chose the former.
It had been several weeks since her last encounter with Darien, but as she walked toward the counter, she desperately hoped this one would go as smooth as the last. Her day had gone well, and she didn't want some childish squabble to spoil her mood. After an entire morning of earned selfishness, she was once again her cherry self.
"What's up, Meatball Head?" he called across the room.
"Well," she started, making her way across the floor, dodging kids with fists full of quarters. "Let's see… the sky, that's up. There's also the sun, that bird I just saw… Oh, yeah! You'll be up (against the wall, that is) if you don't stop with the stupid nicknames!"
"Such harsh words! Surly a little niceness never hurt anything. And we parted on such good terms last time!"
"Ya know, you really should consider taking your own advice."
"Yeah, well, I guess you have a point there."
"Where's Andrew?"
"Why? Here to flirt with him?"
"No, I want a cheeseburger."
"He's in the back. I think Rita called him. Here, have a seat." He motioned for Serena to sit in the swivel stool next to his. She sat, propped her elbows on the bar, and laid her chin in her hands. "You do know I'm teasing, right?"
"When?"
"Like just a second ago. Like when I implied that you flirt with Andrew. Like when I call you Meatball Head."
"Like, oh, my gosh! You sound like a cheerleader!"
"Here I am, trying to apologize…"
"Sorry. I'm just in a good mood today, and you just totally set yourself up for that one."
"How?"
"By using the word 'like' every, like, fifth word."
"There -you- go…"
"I'm still making fun of you. Its not often you give me a long enough break to poke fun of you, ya know…"
"I'm not going to apologize now."
"Good, because I'm not, either!" She stuck her tongue out at him and giggled, causing him to chuckle.
"What's up with you today?"
"I -finally- got out of the house for the first time in -weeks-, and, well, I don't know…"
"I know what you mean. How's stuff at home?"
"Terrible."
"Care to elaborate? Just a tad?"
"Mom and Dad are -so- into each other, it makes me sick. He's bought her a bouquet of roses every other day since January, then he complains to me because he doesn't have any extra money to take her out to a nice restaurant for supper. Then, while we're watching TV or something, they'll start making out like teenagers--can you even begin to imagine how disgusting it is, watching your folks go at it like a couple of love sick kids?"
"I-I don't think I want to…"
"My point exactly."
"So why are you just now getting out of the house?"
"All the girls have been gone, and the weather has been terrible…"
"Why didn't you call me?"
"We haven't ran into each other on the way to school lately, I haven't been to the arcade, and, well, I haven't got your number!" She was tempted to add, 'I didn't think you would care,' but decided against it; it might spoil the mood.
"Do you want to go see a movie tonight? My treat--and I'll even let you pick the movie!"
"Well, Dad -did- say that he was taking Mom out of town tonight, and they wouldn't be back until tomorrow… I'll go, but only if you promise you'll come back to my house afterwards to watch Saturday Night Live."
"Sounds like a plan to me!"
"Ya know, I'm going to have to start venting to you more often…"
The End.
ANs: Well, sports fans, there you have it. Thanks to the few folks out there that e-mailed me requesting a sequel to 'Interlude', and my annoying little sister, you now have 'March 3' to add to your list of favorite stories! (Nothing like a little self-confidence… too bad sarcasm isn't always evident in the written word…)
Kat-chan, it's not exactly what you wanted, but let's face it, IT'S MY STORY! And Valentine's Day was a month ago, so that idea wouldn't work, anyway...
Kat-chan: Yea right!
A brief explanation--yes, I know it's short, but I penned it (in its entirety, no less) during Contemporary Lit, and didn't have the vaguest of ideas as to an actual plot. Given these circumstances, I'd say it's pretty dog gone good. Agree? Disagree? E-mail me and let me know!
abbiechan10@hotmail.com
Thanks for making it this far, and thanks to everyone who has e-mailed me for 'Interlude'!
-Abbie-chan