I was sitting on the wide window sill, lazilly flicking tiny wads of paper
at the wall. Jamie was slumped in a desk, jelously eying one of Jake's
sketches and trying persistantly to draw one of his own. Unusually, we
were the only ones in detention today. It was pretty boring.
"How does he do it?" Jamie lamented to himself. "It's not fair. how can anyone draw that good?"
"Aren't you supposed to be working on your history?" I reminded him, tired of his mutterings.
"Who cares about history? I'm working on something much more important," he snorted indignantly.
"Caitie? Jamie? Detention again?"
We both looked up to see our friend, Valerie LaNier, standing in the doorway. Val, the tall popular blonde cheerleader...who would think she could be my very best friend in the whole wide world? (The only one closer to me than Jamie.) She's also on the EMT squad, though unlike Jamie, she volunteered for it on her own free will.
"Of course, where else would we be?" I smiled sweetly at her.
"Then Jamie," she turned to him, "the least you could have done was beeped me," she waved her beeper in the air. "When you didn't show up at the station after school and didn't even call, Alex hit the roof!"
"I *tried* calling, but Mrs. Lindley wouldn't hear of it. She made me turn off everything," Jamie shrugged apoligetically.
"Yeah, Alex said he tried calling your cell, but he only got your voicemail. He sent Tyler to check the bleachers at the football field for you, Hank to run by your house, and me to see if you were stuck in detention. Guess I'll go call them and tell them I've found you. What time are you out of here?"
"We only have fifteen mintues left," I answered for him.
"Great, then I'l see you then, Jamie. Bye-bye, Caitie!" Smiling broadly, she turned and disappeared from sight behind the door frame. Suddenly she popped back up, a mischevious grin on her face. "And, oh, Cai-tie..."
"Wha-at?" I imitated her sing-song voice.
"*Somebody* stopped by my locker after last period and wanted me to ask you something..."
"Well...? Who was it? Lemmie guess, Brianne? Jake? Mark?"
"Actually...do you know a certain...Jason Rendleman?"
My heart jumped up to my mouth at the sound of his name. Jason Rendleman? *Jason Rendleman*?! Did I even dare consider it? I couldn't help my mind from imagining the super-tall, super-hot Jason, too embarassed to ask me straight out, so he scopes out my best friend to find out if I had a boyfriend or not, to see if I was "availible..." Now that I thought about it, it did seem remotely possible...I mean, he looked so interested when he asked me if Jamie was my boyfriend...but when I looked back up at Val my heart fell back down, along with my hopes. There was something about her sly grin that told me she was just screwing with me. After all, she's always known of my huge crush on him. I mean, she is my best friend and all. I do tell her everything.
I forced a laugh. "Right. Seriously, who was it, Val?" I tried my best not to let my disappointment show.
"...Jason Rendleman." She looked at me expectantly.
"Really?" I asked meekly, preparing myself for the inevitable "Well, actually..."
"God, yes, Caitie! Jeeze!" She rolled her eyes in exasperation, laughing at my distrust.
My heart skipped a beat. She was serious! *Somebody wanted me to ask you something...* Ask me something?...Out...maybe? But of course, the simplest most rational explaination dawned on me, tearing my hopes down once again like a heavy wrecking ball inside my stomach. He was my partner for that stupid geography project. If anything his question was about or report. Of course.
"Well, anyway," Val shrugged, digging through her purse for her cell phone. "He just wanted to know if you were doing anything tomorrow afternoon. Wanted to know if you would be interested in doing something with him. Give him your answer the nixt time you see him. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to head back to the station to let everyone know I've found you. See you in a few minutes, Jamie." She waved good-bye and once again walked away.
I just sat there staring off into space, too shocked to move or say anything. Was this all a dream? Had I fallen asleep in the middle of detention, or worse, algebra, and am just imagining it? Did my ultimate crush really ask me out?
"So, that Jason creep asked you on a date?" Jamie's bitter voice brought me back into focus and helped me establish that this was no dream, that this was indeed reality.
"I...I guess so..." I stammered.
Pause. "Are you sure Val wasn't just making it up?" He eyed me skeptically. "I mean, ever since she hooked up with Tyler, she's gotten almost as bad as he is with his practical jokes..."
"No," I shook my head defiantly. "Val wouldn't joke about something this big."
"'This big?' What's so 'big' about it?" His voice had a sharp edge to it that I had never heard before. I couldn't be jelousy, could it? Nah, Jamie had no reason to be. He had *plenty* of crushes of his own to worry about.
"Well, duh! I...I mean..." I quickly bit my lip. I forgot I hadn't told him about my disturbing obsession. "I mean, it's been so long since any guy's given me the time of day...she just...wouldn't joke about that..." I spat out lamely.
"Ah...you gonna say yes?"
*Why* did he keep asking me questions like that? "I...I guess...I haven't been on a date with a guy for ages..."
"So? You don't *have* to say yes to that queer. You don't have to 'settle' for anyone. Don't sell yourself short, you can do so much better than *him*."
I couldn't help my cheeks from blushing. Luckilly Mrs. Lindley returned just at that moment and I didn't have to give him an answer. "Ok, Jamie, Caitie, you're free to go," she waved absentmindedly, and we eagerly snagged our things and left.
"Have fun in your little geek squad," I joked as we made our way down the long forboding hallway towards the front door and freedom.
"Right. I can't wait till my stupid probation is over," he moaned.
"Caitie!"
I turned around at the sound of my name and froze when I saw none other than the blonde haired Jason hurrying after me. "Uh...hey...why are you still here?"
"Oh, no special reason," he shrugged, catching up to us. "Me and a couple of the guys were out back skating," he jerked his thumb behind him in the direction of the south exit, "and I remembered you and detention and would be getting out soon, and...well...I'm not sure if Valerie LaNier talked to you yet or not, but...I knew she was one of your friends, and I told her to ask you if you would be interested in going somewhere...with me, Friday...well, that's tomorrow, and..."
"Er...yeah, Val told me..." I rubbed the back of my head embarassedly.
"So, then...do you havean answer?" he asked.
"Er..." I felt my face begin to burn. Beside me Jamie noticably stiffened.
"Oh, please," he muttered to himself.
"Hey, shut up!" Jason glared down at him. He was about three inches taller than Jamie, and with his long hair spiked up like that he looked even more intimidating.
"No," Jamie scowled back. "You're up to something, aren't you? I want to know why you're hooking on Caitie when you've got all the slutty cheerleaders knocking down you're door! What's in it for you?"
"Jamie!" I squeeled.
"You don't know what you're talking about, why dont' you just stay out of it?" Jason snarled, shoving him roughly.
"Guys, guys, stop," I interrupted, not wanting them to start fighting.
"So, Caitie, yes or no? for tomorrow?"
"No," Jamie answered for me. "Don't do it, Caitie, don't do it."
"Did I ask you?" Jason shoved him again.
"Stop!" I sighed, exasperated. "I...I..." Though Jamie's observation did stir up several bad feelings in the back of my mind, I had been dying for a date with Jason since I was a freshman. I should be thrilled, right? This was the perfect oppertunity and I couldn't let it go. So, swallowing my insecurities, and trying to ignore Jamie's whispered objections to me, I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes," I said uncertainly. "Ok, yes."
************************************** A/N: Wee, second chap done ^-^ Thanks to the few people who have reviewed it...and if you're having trouble trying to picture Jason, just look at a pic of Arashi from the Paradise Kiss mangas. I based him on Arashi :) Anyway, R/R pleeeeaze...third chap coming soon hopefully ^^;
"How does he do it?" Jamie lamented to himself. "It's not fair. how can anyone draw that good?"
"Aren't you supposed to be working on your history?" I reminded him, tired of his mutterings.
"Who cares about history? I'm working on something much more important," he snorted indignantly.
"Caitie? Jamie? Detention again?"
We both looked up to see our friend, Valerie LaNier, standing in the doorway. Val, the tall popular blonde cheerleader...who would think she could be my very best friend in the whole wide world? (The only one closer to me than Jamie.) She's also on the EMT squad, though unlike Jamie, she volunteered for it on her own free will.
"Of course, where else would we be?" I smiled sweetly at her.
"Then Jamie," she turned to him, "the least you could have done was beeped me," she waved her beeper in the air. "When you didn't show up at the station after school and didn't even call, Alex hit the roof!"
"I *tried* calling, but Mrs. Lindley wouldn't hear of it. She made me turn off everything," Jamie shrugged apoligetically.
"Yeah, Alex said he tried calling your cell, but he only got your voicemail. He sent Tyler to check the bleachers at the football field for you, Hank to run by your house, and me to see if you were stuck in detention. Guess I'll go call them and tell them I've found you. What time are you out of here?"
"We only have fifteen mintues left," I answered for him.
"Great, then I'l see you then, Jamie. Bye-bye, Caitie!" Smiling broadly, she turned and disappeared from sight behind the door frame. Suddenly she popped back up, a mischevious grin on her face. "And, oh, Cai-tie..."
"Wha-at?" I imitated her sing-song voice.
"*Somebody* stopped by my locker after last period and wanted me to ask you something..."
"Well...? Who was it? Lemmie guess, Brianne? Jake? Mark?"
"Actually...do you know a certain...Jason Rendleman?"
My heart jumped up to my mouth at the sound of his name. Jason Rendleman? *Jason Rendleman*?! Did I even dare consider it? I couldn't help my mind from imagining the super-tall, super-hot Jason, too embarassed to ask me straight out, so he scopes out my best friend to find out if I had a boyfriend or not, to see if I was "availible..." Now that I thought about it, it did seem remotely possible...I mean, he looked so interested when he asked me if Jamie was my boyfriend...but when I looked back up at Val my heart fell back down, along with my hopes. There was something about her sly grin that told me she was just screwing with me. After all, she's always known of my huge crush on him. I mean, she is my best friend and all. I do tell her everything.
I forced a laugh. "Right. Seriously, who was it, Val?" I tried my best not to let my disappointment show.
"...Jason Rendleman." She looked at me expectantly.
"Really?" I asked meekly, preparing myself for the inevitable "Well, actually..."
"God, yes, Caitie! Jeeze!" She rolled her eyes in exasperation, laughing at my distrust.
My heart skipped a beat. She was serious! *Somebody wanted me to ask you something...* Ask me something?...Out...maybe? But of course, the simplest most rational explaination dawned on me, tearing my hopes down once again like a heavy wrecking ball inside my stomach. He was my partner for that stupid geography project. If anything his question was about or report. Of course.
"Well, anyway," Val shrugged, digging through her purse for her cell phone. "He just wanted to know if you were doing anything tomorrow afternoon. Wanted to know if you would be interested in doing something with him. Give him your answer the nixt time you see him. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to head back to the station to let everyone know I've found you. See you in a few minutes, Jamie." She waved good-bye and once again walked away.
I just sat there staring off into space, too shocked to move or say anything. Was this all a dream? Had I fallen asleep in the middle of detention, or worse, algebra, and am just imagining it? Did my ultimate crush really ask me out?
"So, that Jason creep asked you on a date?" Jamie's bitter voice brought me back into focus and helped me establish that this was no dream, that this was indeed reality.
"I...I guess so..." I stammered.
Pause. "Are you sure Val wasn't just making it up?" He eyed me skeptically. "I mean, ever since she hooked up with Tyler, she's gotten almost as bad as he is with his practical jokes..."
"No," I shook my head defiantly. "Val wouldn't joke about something this big."
"'This big?' What's so 'big' about it?" His voice had a sharp edge to it that I had never heard before. I couldn't be jelousy, could it? Nah, Jamie had no reason to be. He had *plenty* of crushes of his own to worry about.
"Well, duh! I...I mean..." I quickly bit my lip. I forgot I hadn't told him about my disturbing obsession. "I mean, it's been so long since any guy's given me the time of day...she just...wouldn't joke about that..." I spat out lamely.
"Ah...you gonna say yes?"
*Why* did he keep asking me questions like that? "I...I guess...I haven't been on a date with a guy for ages..."
"So? You don't *have* to say yes to that queer. You don't have to 'settle' for anyone. Don't sell yourself short, you can do so much better than *him*."
I couldn't help my cheeks from blushing. Luckilly Mrs. Lindley returned just at that moment and I didn't have to give him an answer. "Ok, Jamie, Caitie, you're free to go," she waved absentmindedly, and we eagerly snagged our things and left.
"Have fun in your little geek squad," I joked as we made our way down the long forboding hallway towards the front door and freedom.
"Right. I can't wait till my stupid probation is over," he moaned.
"Caitie!"
I turned around at the sound of my name and froze when I saw none other than the blonde haired Jason hurrying after me. "Uh...hey...why are you still here?"
"Oh, no special reason," he shrugged, catching up to us. "Me and a couple of the guys were out back skating," he jerked his thumb behind him in the direction of the south exit, "and I remembered you and detention and would be getting out soon, and...well...I'm not sure if Valerie LaNier talked to you yet or not, but...I knew she was one of your friends, and I told her to ask you if you would be interested in going somewhere...with me, Friday...well, that's tomorrow, and..."
"Er...yeah, Val told me..." I rubbed the back of my head embarassedly.
"So, then...do you havean answer?" he asked.
"Er..." I felt my face begin to burn. Beside me Jamie noticably stiffened.
"Oh, please," he muttered to himself.
"Hey, shut up!" Jason glared down at him. He was about three inches taller than Jamie, and with his long hair spiked up like that he looked even more intimidating.
"No," Jamie scowled back. "You're up to something, aren't you? I want to know why you're hooking on Caitie when you've got all the slutty cheerleaders knocking down you're door! What's in it for you?"
"Jamie!" I squeeled.
"You don't know what you're talking about, why dont' you just stay out of it?" Jason snarled, shoving him roughly.
"Guys, guys, stop," I interrupted, not wanting them to start fighting.
"So, Caitie, yes or no? for tomorrow?"
"No," Jamie answered for me. "Don't do it, Caitie, don't do it."
"Did I ask you?" Jason shoved him again.
"Stop!" I sighed, exasperated. "I...I..." Though Jamie's observation did stir up several bad feelings in the back of my mind, I had been dying for a date with Jason since I was a freshman. I should be thrilled, right? This was the perfect oppertunity and I couldn't let it go. So, swallowing my insecurities, and trying to ignore Jamie's whispered objections to me, I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes," I said uncertainly. "Ok, yes."
************************************** A/N: Wee, second chap done ^-^ Thanks to the few people who have reviewed it...and if you're having trouble trying to picture Jason, just look at a pic of Arashi from the Paradise Kiss mangas. I based him on Arashi :) Anyway, R/R pleeeeaze...third chap coming soon hopefully ^^;