Hey! Sorry it took me so incredibly long to get this chapter out! Hope you like it!
All's Fair in High School
Chapter 15
Josh picked up his cordless phone, punched in two numbers, and placed it back on the base.
" You can do this," he said to himself. " Just ask her."
After giving countless pep talks to his football team, Josh had learned the value of a personal go-get-'em speech. It was a great way to combat fear and almost always worked. Almost always.
" Go for it," he continued. " You've done it before, this is no different."
Actually, it was different. This was Kay.
Kay Bennett. He saw be beautiful dancing chocolate eyes, her playful, pouty mouth, her smooth, tan skin, all framed by her shiny brown hair.
She was something special. And she deserved something unforgettable. Unfortunantly, he couldn't afford unforgettable. His wallet could handle probably something more… semi-forgettable.
Suddenly, an idea hit him and he picked up the phone.
Kay was digging through her closet. She had no idea that she actually owned this much clothing.
Suddenly the phone rang, and she ran to pick it up.
" Hello!" she sang into the phone.
" Kay?" a deep, male voice asked.
" Mig—Josh?" she quickly corrected herself.
" Yeah." He answered.
" Oh. Hey! What's up?" she asked brightly.
" Not much. But I was kinda wondering." Josh hesitated.
" Yeah?" Kay prompted.
" I—I wanted to see if you had any plans for tomorrow night?" Josh asked, gripping the phone so tightly, his knuckles were turning white.
" Well, I have cheerleading until four-thirty. But after that I'm free. Why?" A playful tone returned to Kay's voice.
" Well, I was wondering if you'd like to… go out. With me." Josh let the words tumble free.
" Sounds great! Where to?"
Josh's heart jumped. " I can't tell you. It's a surprise."
" A surprise?" Kay's pitch rose excitedly. " Can I have a hint?"
" Well… it's bigger than a bread box."
" Gee, thanks," she said sarcastically. " At least give me a clue as to the location."
" It's definantly on this planet. In Maine, to be more precise." Josh leaned back in his chair.
Kay sighed loudly. " You realize that I'm going to get no sleep at all tonight. Thanks you very much."
" You're welcome," Josh said. He wasn't going to give an inch.
" Well… okay. I'll see you tomorrow." She said reluctantly.
" See you then," Josh said.
They said their good-byes and hung up. Josh felt like flying. The surprise thing definantly had Kay excited.
Now all he had to do was live up to his own hype.
As soon as she parked the car and approached the school on Monday morning, Kay could tell things were different. Instead of the lazy, procrastinated typical students returning after a fun-filled weekend, everyone stood buzzing about the neat little clustering all over the school's front lawn.
Even before the first high pitched whispers reached her ears, Kay knew the topic of everyone's gossip. Obviously. News of Charity's suicide attempt had already made the rounds.
As she headed down to the front sidewalk, Kay could pick up small fragments of different conversations like a slowly turning dial.
" I heard it was Valium."
" No, Xanax."
" Did she leave a note?"
" First she didn't make cheerleading captain. Then Miguel…"
Miguel! Kay felt her throat constrict. She remembered the haggard look on Miguel's face at Charity's house yesterday and wondered if he could show up at school.
She tried to shake the image of his face out of her mind, but it would leave. Just that thought of him stuck in her mind.
Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald
If I hear one more person tell me they're sorry, I'm going to scream. I will litterally run into the street, shouting the worst curse words I can think of.
All I've heard today from the kids, teachers, even guys on the team, is that they are all "so sorry to hear about what happened to Charity."
They're not sorry. The whole situation is sorry. I'M sorry. In fact, I'm probably the sorriest jerk in the world.
Sorry doesn't get anyone anywhere.
Kay raced her car up the driveway, hopped out, and glanced at her watch. Only fourteen minutes after 6. She had plently of time to get ready for her date with Josh.
What were they going to do? The possibilities were making Kay nervous. On one hand, she like surprises. They kept you on your toes. But what if she totally wore the wrong outfit…
" Oh, Kay. You're home." Grace said, trying to place her hand on Kay's bouncing shoulder. " Josh just called."
" Really?" Kay stopped short. " What did her say?"
" He said you should meet him at 7 o'clock at 2007 Isabelle Avenue." Grace replied, smiling.
Ah, the adventure begins, Kay thought, revving up again. " Was that it?" she asked her mother.
" Yes, that was all." Grace said, smiling again.
" Thanks, Mom," Kay said, racing up the stairs.
The matter of wardrobe posed some potention risks. Let's see… If she dressed to casually, she might risk embarassing herself or making it appear that she didn't care much. Better to be overdressed than underdressed.
Of course, then there was the problem of shoes. There could be a lot of walking, or slippery marble stairs. But some places didn't even allow tennis shoes—even the glittery platform kind.
After trying on the contents of half of her wardrobe, Kay finally settled on her favorite black dress. It was the only thing that seemed appropriate, no matter the occasion. And it never let her down. She slipped on her black suede sling backs and added pearl-drop earings to complete the emsemble.
" All set," she said, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were wide and glittering with anticipation.
Minutes later she was driving down Central, singing along with the radio to calm her nerves. By the time she turned onto Isabelle Avenue, she was doubling with excitement. Finally, at 2007, she pulled into the parking lot of… Fantasy Island Fun House?
" A kiddie arcade?" Kay asked aloud.
Okay, so she was half an hour late. Thirty-five minutes to be exact. No reason to freak out, right?
Josh glanced at the building. Majestic Theather. Romeo and Julliet, Kay would have loved it.
He walked over to a pay phone and called The Bennett House.
" Hello, Mrs. Bennett? It's Josh. I've been waiting for half an hour, and I still haven't seen any sign of Kay yet. Have you heard from her?"
" Josh! Where are you? I just talked to Kay. She told me to repeat the address that you gave me. 2007 Isabelle Avenue, just like you told me." Grace exclaimed.
Josh let out a sigh of relief. " I'm at Majestic Theater, 2007 Isabelle Court," he explained.
Grace gasped audibly. " Oh Josh! I'm so sorry! I must have mixed up the streets!"
" It's okay, Mrs. Bennett. I'll go over there and get her right now." Josh reassured her.
As he pulled into the parking lot, he realized that this was Fantasy Island Fun House! What kind of date did Kay think he had planned?
He spotted Kay immeadiately, and ran to meet her.
" Josh! Where have you been?" Kay demanded.
" Your Mom got the adresses mixed up. We were going to go see Romeo and Julliet." Josh explained.
Kay's eyes gleamed. " Can we still go?"
Josh glanced at his watch and shook his head. " They'll be dead by the time we get there."
" Oh, well.", Jessica shrugged. " We kind of knew the ending anyways."
" Yeah." Josh replied.
" Listen, I'm really sorry for the mix-up. You went through all that trouble for nothing." Kay said apologetically.
" It's okay," Josh said. He was dispointed that his carefully planned night had been tanked, but it wasn't Kay's fault. At least they were together now. " I packed a picnic dinner. As long as we're here, why don't we take it inside and play some foozball?"
" Okay," she said with a shrug. " But I have to say, I feel a little overdressed.
Josh smiled. " Who cares? Maybe those video game nerds will finally tear their eyes away from the screen for once."
CALLING ALL ACTORS AND ACTRESSES!!
Auditions for the Fall play will take place next week. Stay tuned for more information soon!!
" Die, T. Rex! Die!" Kay squealed, aiming her plastic laser gun at the all-too-lifelike dinosaur soming right at her and Josh. She pumped her trigger finger wildly.
" This is insane." Josh said, holding his gun with both arms. " My muscles are actually sore from this."
Kay screeched as she took one last shot and the T. Rex finally reared it's head and fell over. Josh grinned and watched her laugh triumphantly. Who knew that a beautiful girl would enjoy playing video games with a bunch of spaced-out kids.
Suddenly a siren went off inside the building, and the inder seventeen population of the arcade groaned in unison. "Fantasy Island will be closing in fifteen minutes!" a voice announced over the loudspeaker.
Josh's mood sank. " Maybe we should call it a night."
Jessica reached out and grabbed his wrist, turning it to check his watch. " I can't belive it's practically ten."
" Time flies, I guess." Josh said. He looked around the kid-infested room, feeling morose.
The night had been fun, but wasn't what he had expected. He had wanted it to be romantic and memorable.
" Listen, Kay. I know things didn't turn out like I expected them to." Josh started.
" It's okay, Josh. I had a ton of fun." Kay insisted.
" Well, I want to make it up to you. Do you want to go out again tomorrow night? There's this new comedy club that I hear is really funny." Josh asked, not daring to look her in the eye.
" Of course. Sounds great." Kay said enthusiastically. They both started walking to her car. When they reached it, Kay turned and smiled at him. Her eyes sparkled, and her mouth parted slightly. That was all the invitation he needed. He leaned toward her, tilting his head at a perfect angle to bring his lips to hers.
Suddenly, just before contact, a high-pitched scream cut through the evening air. Josh jumped back in surprise.
" No! I don't want to! I want to play Sonic! I don't want to go home!"
Kay and Josh watched as the mother patiently wiped his face, disarmed him of a plastic pirate dagger and buckled him into the backseat. Once the van had driven off, Josh turned back toward Kay, and they both laughed awkwardly.
" I sort of know how that little guy feels," Josh said." I don't want to go home either." He stared straight into Kay's warm brown eyes. He wanted to kiss her, but the moment was gone.
Kay grinned. "Playtime is over. But we still have tomorrow."
She got into her car. " I had a great time tonight," she said, revving her engine.
" Me, too." Josh said smiling.
He stood there alone, watching until her car drove out of sight.