TITLE: "Mystery Valentine"
AUTHOR: Dream Catcher
DISCLAIMER: Me not own Sailor Moon
A.N.: I back!!!! I know, I know, it's about time. Can't say I disagree with you. But school has started, and I've been procrastinated editing this chapter. Well, I have finished writing this story; so don't worry about me not finishing this story. All I have to do now is edit the last chapter and I'm DONE!! I also have to decide what story to write/post next. Now for chapter five...
CHAPTER FIVE...
It was Friday, which also meant it was Valentine's Day, the loneliest holiday for people like me, who, year after year, have spent it alone. And, it seemed, that I was spending it alone this year too. Who was I to break tradition?
And where was my admirer when I needed him? He was obviously a no-show. But then again, I thought with some optimism, it was still early. Heck, the school day was still thirty minutes away form beginning.
I had purposely arrived earlier to school than I would have on a normal day. If I had arrived at my usual time, I would have been greeted by a ton of happy couples mingling around the campus. Instead of being overwhelmed by the lovey-dovey couples at one time, I arrived early, and watched as they slowly filtered in.
Lita was the first of my friends to arrive, and I could tell as soon as she got close enough that she was sorry for what happened yesterday at the mall. But a simple apology wasn't going to make up for the amount of embarrassment she had put me through. Not only did I kiss Darien on the cheek, but I ran like the chicken I am for the nearest exit.
"I'm sorry," she said, head bowed.
I knew it was hard for Lita to apologize to me. She was the type of person who believed in everything they did, even if it wasn't always right. To say she was sorry was like admitting she was wrong, and to be wrong, meant she was a failure in her own eyes. It made it harder for me to stay mad at her.
"Sorry isn't enough."
She got mad and tried to justify her actions. "Well, what I did was only payback for what you did to me."
"Lita, you know you enjoyed the attention. It's not often that you get that much."
Lita knew I was right, but didn't want to admit it. I was shocked, however, when she did admit it out loud. "You're right. It was too much. I shouldn't have done it. I know how much you hate it when we tease you about your crushes. I'm really sorry, Serena."
And just like that, I wasn't angry anymore. I knew it was hard for Lita to admit she was wrong, and, besides, I've never have been able to stay mad at my friends for long.
"It's okay, Lita. I forgive you."
Her shoulders slumped with relief, and she looked back up at me, a mischievous smile in place. "Now, tell me the truth, you enjoyed my dare a little. You got to kiss Darien. Go on, admit it."
She was right, I did enjoy the kiss on the cheek that, under normal circumstances, I would have never given him.
Then I wondered, "In kissing Darin, did I betray my admirer?"
Lita thought a moment, "No. First, you're not going out with your admirer; so you can't call it cheating. Second, you can't really betray someone you don't know and have no relationship with. And third, how do you know Darien isn't your admirer?"
"Get real, Lita. Look at him and then look at me. Why would someone like him want to go out with someone like me?"
"Well, I am looking at you, and I see nothing wrong. If you ask me, you have just as good at chance as any girl in this school. No, you have a better chance."
"You're just saying that because you're my friend."
"No, I'm not. You know Darien well enough to know that he wouldn't go out with someone as self centered as Alana. That narrows the field down a lot."
"But Alana is pretty. Guys like pretty," I said sadly.
"You don't think you're pretty?" I shook my head. "Girl, I'd kill to have you blond hair and blue eyes. You don't find that combination that often anymore. Well, natural, that is."
"Alana doesn't think I can get a boyfriend."
"Alana's just a jealous bitch."
That made me smile. She was a bitch, and someone else agreed with me.
"Well, that's one thing I won't disagree with you on, Lita," I said smilingly, as I noticed the girls approaching us. Mina seemed to be her normal happy self, but it looked as though poor Amy was getting a tongue lashing from Raye.
"Do you have to drive so slow?" Raye was saying to Amy, who had her head bowed and was trying not to allow anyone to see her blush. "I wanted to have enough time to see Chad before class, but with the way you drive, I'm just happy we got to school on time."
Poor Amy. While I get stuck driving Raye home, Amy has the job of driving her to school, which is worse because Raye is not a morning person and, she tends to take her frustration out on the first person she sees in the mornings: Amy. Mina and Lita got out of car pooling because they live no where near the three of us. Lucky them.
"Cut it out, Raye," I said, trying to defend Amy from Raye's morning wrath. "You have plenty time to see Chad. The bell doesn't ring for another twenty minutes. So if you want to get enough make-out time, I suggest you get a move on and search for your lover-boy."
Raye glared at me, checked her watch, saw that I was right, and smiled at the possibility of twenty minutes of PDA before school started. "If you'll excuse me," she said, leaving the rest of us to talk.
"Hey, uh, Greg wanted to see me before the bell rang to, uh, look over his history report for him," Amy said fleetingly before she disappeared in the crowd of teenagers.
"Andrew wanted to see me too. He said he had a surprise for me," Mina giggled while leaving Lita and I to watch her retreating back.
"So, I guess it's just me and you again," I said smilingly.
"Actually, Serena," Lita said, her face uncertain. My smile dropped a little. "I told Ken I'd meet him after I apologized to you." Then she hastily added, "But if you don't want me to leave, I'm sure he'll understand."
I could tell Lita didn't want to leave me alone because she knew I'd feel deserted, and I did. But I couldn't be selfish; I can't always think about myself.
"Go find Ken, Lita. It's okay. I need to go to Mrs. Day's classroom anyway. I need to make up a test I missed yesterday while at the blood drive."
Of course, I was lying. There was no test that needed to be made up, but I knew Lita would have felt bad about leaving me alone unless she knew I had something else to occupy my time.
I watched her smile happily before going off to meet Ken. I knew I shouldn't, but I suddenly felt betrayed, like my friends found their new boyfriends more important than me. But I shouldn't be jealous that they're wanting to spend time with boyfriends and not me. It's Valentine's Day for Pete's sake. They should be spending it with their valentines. I know if I had a Valentine, I'd spend the day with him.
IF I had a valentine.
I had an admirer, one who seems to have forgotten me, not a valentine. But maybe by the end of the day I'll have one. In the note my admirer left in my locker yesterday, he asked me to the dance. I assume he'll tell me who he is tonight. But you know what they say about assuming: "It only makes an ass out of you and me."
Of course, I've already made an ass out of myself yesterday at the mall. How much worse can you get?
"Hey, Clumsy. Your friends get tired of you?"
It seems that I spoke too soon. Well, damn.
Chewing on my bottom lip, I turned to face Darien, scared spit-less. It seemed I had three options: One, I could act like yesterday never happened; two, confront Darien about the subject; or three, turn tail and run to the nearest ladies room. Choice number three was completely out of the question because it would only be a repeat of yesterday, and from the amused look on Darien's face, there was no way in hell he was going to pretend it never happened.
"Listen, Darien, about yesterday. It was just a stupid dare. So, you better not tease me about it," I said, proud that not one ounce of hysteria could be heard.
I wasn't going to mention the fact I had fled from the scene of the crime, and I was happy he didn't either.
"Okay, I won't tease you about it," he said with a shrug, and I sighed with relief. "However, I do wonder why you didn't kiss me on the lips."
Suddenly, my lungs had a hard time taking in air, and it was all I could do but continue to stare him in the eyes as I tried to come up with an answer. Did I tell him the truth and say, "I've never been kissed before, and although I have dreamed for the past month and a half that you give me my first kiss, I didn't want it to be the result of a dare?"
Uh, yeah right! It just screams pathetic loser.
Or do I make up some silly excuse? "Gee, Darien, I wasn't feeling good yesterday, and decided to spare you from getting sick." Or maybe, "Gosh, Darien, I guess my aim was a little off" would be a better excuse.
Sometimes I find it easier to be truthful, but I wish it wasn't so personal. But of course, he wouldn't know I've never been kissed. He's probably, more or less, curious as to why any girl-namely me- wouldn't want to kiss him.
"I've never been kissed."
There, he knew. It was out in the open. He could chose to tease me with this new information, or he could just leave it alone. The ball was in his court now. Funny how some people say a weight is lifted off their shoulders when they tell someone a secret such as mine, but my shoulders just felt heavier as I waited for his reaction.
"Oh," he said looking down at his shoes.
That's it! I told him one of my biggest secrets, and all I get is an "oh." This is the kind of information that deserves to be printed in a newspaper. I can see the headlines now: PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE NBK (Never Been Kissed Club) SHARES HER STORY. A fucking "oh!" was a fucking understatement. Well, at least he isn't laughing and pointing at me.
Uncomfortable, I said, "Well, now you know."
He looked up and smiled, and I braced myself for some teasing comment. "Well, you had me thinking it was me. I didn't know if I had something in my teeth or something hanging out of my nose." He chuckled, shaking his head. "That's a relief."
He actually thought the reason I hadn't kissed him had something to do with him? I thought anyone's immediate thought, had they seen yesterday's little event, would be that something was wrong with me. What normal, straight teenage girl wouldn't want to kiss Darien?
He looked every bit a prince charming, and he even acted like one when he wasn't calling me Clumsy. He had every quality girls--me included--died for. Surely, anyone could have seen that it was the blond girl with the problems yesterday.
I didn't feel comfortable telling him my thoughts, however, because if I did, it would be like waving a red flag in his face while I scream at the top of my lungs "I like you, big boy! Now kiss me till my legs feel like jello and my head is swimming!" Nope, not my style. Heck, I didn't have enough courage to tell the guy "nice shirt" because I feared that any compliment I gave him would give away my attraction to him.
Suddenly the urge to explain why I had never been kissed overcame me. I didn't want him to think I was a loser and couldn't get a date, which could have been partially true, but there were other reasons, aside form the fact men scared me a little.
"My dad's a little protective of me, and I've just never had the..." I trailed off realizing how stupid I sounded. Wasn't telling guys you have an overprotective father one of those things you never supposed to tell a guy you're interested in? I made a note to myself to ask Mina later.
Covering up for my little mishap, I asked, "So are you going to the dance with anybody?"
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized that my question had been no better than my first statement. Surely he now had an idea that I liked him? After all, sounding interested in his dating life was just like another red flag showing my feelings.
There was a glint in his eyes when he said, "I'm meeting someone there."
I took every ounce of strength I had to mask my disappointment. He was meeting someone at the dance? Then that meant he was taken. It meant he was officially off limits. I had no chance with Darien, and I knew I might as well face the music and give up.
Usually I'm a pretty headstrong person, and if I wanted something bad enough, I got it. But it was always different with guys. At the first sign that the guy was sniffing after a girl, I automatically gave up. I didn't go chasing any guy, and I didn't moon after them either. I guess I could blame it on my mom, who preached to me when I was very young that guys didn't like girls chasing after them, that they liked a girl who seemed unattainable. I guess after a while her lectures added to the strong morals my parents passed down to me, I began to believe that it was wrong to go after an attached guy, even if he wasn't officially attached.
I realize now that maybe it was stupid of me to give up once a guy started showing interest in another girl. After all, the girl may have no interest in the guy. I could still stand a chance with the guy, but no one liked to be second best.
I watched as Darien put his hands in his pockets, and inwardly sighed. Darien was officially attached...wasn't he? If he was meeting a girl at the dance, didn't that mean the girl was interested too? Therefore, even if I didn't choose to give up this time, his first choice obviously liked him. Why else would she be meeting him at the dance?
"I'm meeting someone at the dance too." I blurted out. Thinking of my admirer and the note he left in my locker the previous day. Even though I wasn't officially "with" whomever my admirer is, I felt the urge to mention him to Darien, so I wouldn't look like a complete loser in his eyes. Of course, I didn't mention the fact I have no absolutely idea who the person I was.
The glint was still in his eyes when he asked, "Really? Is it a boy?" The way he asked the question, it made him sound like he just one of my best friends teasing me.
Damn it! What can't he show an ounce of jealousy? Although, I thought, if he was to show some jealousy, I doubt I'd recognize it because I've never had a guy to become jealous over anything about me.
"Yes, it's a boy," I said, trying to feign annoyance. Then as an afterthought to try and provoke some of that elusive jealousy, I added, "A very cute boy."
But instead of showing any outward signs of envy, he just smiled and changed the topic. "Do you think Mrs. Hart will be here today?"
"Probably, but I could be wrong."
He nodded in agreement, and one of those annoying awkward silences swallowed us. Not knowing what to do, I began looking at anything but Darien.
I noticed that a lot more couples had arrived and were exchanging gifts. Girls all around me were holding teddy bears, boxes of chocolates, and roses, their usually soothing smell making me want to gag.
I suddenly felt extremely emotional and alone. I didn't want the gifts; I already got those from my admirer. No, what I wanted was someone who I could hug and kiss and say girlishly, "Oh, the flowers are lovely! Thank you!"
I sighed. Life may be like a box of chocolates, but it sure as hell wasn't like a romance novel.
"Serena," Darien asked, drawing my attention back to him. "I didn't get a chance to ask you if you were alright yesterday after the blood drive. But, um, you're okay now, right?"
Moved because he concerned about me, I nodded. "Thanks, but yeah, I'm fine now. I'm just never going to allow any more vampires at me." I laughed shakily.
"You scared me to death when you fainted," he blurted.
I blushed and looked down at my feet. Why would he be scared? I just fainted. Heck, it's ME we're talking about. ME! Why would he worry about poor little 'ol Clumsy? I wasn't even out long!
"I just fainted," I said, trying to sound as if I thought it was nothing, but I didn't sound convincing even to my own ears. Luckily Darien either didn't notice or chose to ignore it.
He opened his mouth to say something, but the bell rang. I smiled apologetically, and headed in the direction of my locker.
"See you in strings!" I heard him call.
I smiled. I had just had a rather good conversation Darien. Even if Darien wasn't my valentine, I can at least call him a friend now, in my eyes at least. Whether he sees me as a friend is up to him, but I sure hope he does.
Maybe that was my problem: my strategy was all wrong. In the past, whenever I liked a guy, I would try to become friends with him, get to know him. But every time I did this in the past, I always ended up in one of two outcomes: the guy either considered me one of his best friends/like a sister, or I found out the guy was a complete jerk, a drunkard, or a druggy. Usually, we just became good friends.
From now on, I wondered, should I just try to jump into a relationship with a guy?
I went to my locker, which was void of anything related to Valentine's Day, and walked with Raye to first period.
As I once again spent the class period starring out the window, I began to wonder why I ever decided to take algebra over. I should be taking statistics, but no-o I had to be dumb and take a class I took three years ago. I'm actually surprised I was allowed to take the class again. Usually the councilors won't allow students to take classes they already have passed, but somehow Raye and I slipped through.
First ended, and, heavy lidded from my nap in first, I walked to second and entered the empty classroom, empty except for one person.
Kyle Johnson was without a doubt the most popular guy in school--just ask him and he'd tell you he was. He was the star quarterback and not in my second period, so I was a little stumped as to what he was doing in the classroom.
"Serena?" Kyle asked when he noticed me.
Stupefied that he was talking to me, let alone knew my name, I was at a loss for words but managed a few. "Err, yes?"
He smiled. "Serena, would you liked to go to the dance with me tonight?"
I looked at him like he was crazy, which he was for even asking me. Sure the guy was popular, but he also a jerk who likes to drink. I know this because Sean mentioned Kyle's name when he was describing one of his wild parties. Kyle was the guy who got on the coffee table and danced with the ceiling fan.
It didn't take me long to answer. "No."
He looked confused. "What?"
"I said 'no.'"
"No what?"
Was this guy stupid? Did he not understand English? I suddenly found it very ironic we were standing in my English classroom.
"No, I won't go to the dance with you."
"Why not?"
I sighed. All morning I had silently complained about my single-ness, and here is this guy asking me to the dance. Normally, I might have been flattered to be asked to the dance by any guy--even Kyle--but today I wasn't. I couldn't get this morning's encounter with Darien out of my head, and he was the only guy I wanted to think about. Besides, I don't even know Kyle.
Sure, I don't know my admirer--wait, I don't know WHO he is--either, but I can tell just by playing the song he wrote that he likes me. Who knows, I might know my admirer, after all, once I find out his identity. Too bad when I figure out whom he is I have to tell him I'm not interested.
Yeah, I have officially decided that the only reason I'm going to the dance tonight is to dump a poor guy I'm not even dating, and maybe to catch a glimpse of Darien...and my competition.
"I just don't want to go to the dance with you," I answered simply, knowing it as a blow to his ego, and turned around to find a seat in the back as the class started filing in. I opened my D.I.R. book and began reading.
When class ended, I was more than ready to head to third period. Maybe I'd have another lengthy conversation with Darien. With that hopeful thought in mind, I crossed the courtyard and made my way to the building that housed my third period class.
Rachael, Raye, and Avery were waiting outside the classroom door when I got there. It seems Mrs. Hart was late as usual. When Rachael saw me, she did something completely odd but totally in her character. She made a small scream and nearly lunged at me.
"So?" she asked.
Confused, I asked, "So-o what?"
"Don't be coy with me. What did you say? You said yes, didn't you? I just knew you would," Rachael babbled.
I looked over at Raye and saw she was as confused as I was. "Whoa. Back up. What did I say yes to?"
Rachael looked into my confused eyes and smiled. "Quit kidding. I know you said yes to Kyle. He did already ask you, right? I'd hate to blow the surprise for you. I mean that would-" Rachael was cut off by three rather shocked voices...
"Kyle asked you to the dance?"
"You're going to the dance with Kyle?"
"How did you find out he asked me?"
The last question came form me, but instead of waiting to listen to Rachael, I turned to see who had asked the other two questions. And there, standing side-by-side, shock in their eyes, was Darien and Raye. I would have laughed under normal circumstances, but right now my mind was reeling.
Rachael was answering my question: "Well, Kyle told Brian he was going to ask you to the dance, and Brain told Chris, who told Jason, who told his girlfriend, who told Kristy, who told Jessica, who told me. So did he ask you to the dance yet?"
"Yes, but-"
"I knew it!" Rachael exclaimed, hugging me. I didn't return the hug, however, because I was still reeling at how fast news spread through the school.
"Serena?" came Darien's strained voice. I turned to look Darien, and he asked, "Are you really going to the dance with Kyle?"
"No," I answered looking into his eyes, trying to decide what the expression on his face meant.
"I thought Kyle asked you to the dance?" Rachael asked, baffled.
Still looking Darien in the eyes, I answered her question, "He asked me to the dance, but I turned him down." And suddenly the expression on Darien's face changed, and he looked...relieved? Happier? I couldn't tell.
"Why in the world would turn Kyle Johnson down?" Rachael wanted to know.
"Would you like the abbreviated version?" I asked, finally looking at her now that she stopped hugging me. She ignored my joke, so I gave her a simple list of his flaws. "He's too wild, he's a jerk, and he's not my type. Besides I'm already meeting someone at the dance."
"Who are you meeting? Your admirer?" she asked sarcastically.
"Yes, my admirer," I said, my voice a tad venomous. "At least he cares about me."
"And how do you know that Kyle doesn't care about you?"
I sighed. And then, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, I told her, "If he cared about me, he wouldn't have waited till today to ask me to tonight's dance."
"Maybe he was shy!" Rachael argued back. I gave her a "you're stupid look." and before she turned around to stomp off into the classroom that was now open because Mrs. Hart had arrived, she said, "I'd kill to be Kyle's date to the dance."
Raye was laughing as we entered the classroom together, and I couldn't help but smile too.
When everyone was inside the classroom, Mrs. Hart began yelling out instructions for everyone to retrieve their instruments. In reply, she received a groan from every one of her students. After two days absent of playing, it seemed that we had gotten lazy. We argued that it was a holiday, and we should get the day off. Mrs. Hart argued that we had had the past two days off. But in the end we compromised. So instead of playing our instruments, we played Musical Bingo.
Everyone got a black music stand and bent it back so that it made a rudimentary table of sorts. I dragged my stand to where Raye and Darien were already sitting, and the three of us formed a triangle. Mrs. Hart passed out the bingo cards and torn pieces of paper to be used as bingo chips, and gave us all time to cover our free-space, which was actually a cartoon drawing of a conductor, who looked remarkably like Hitler. Only, he was smiling and pointing a conductor's baton at me like Harry Potter would his magical wand.
Every card had the same Hitler conductor in the middle and the same pictures of symbols and terms often seen in sheet music. The only differences in the cards, was where each of the symbols was located. It was really a cheesy rip-off of the original bingo, but I'd take cheesy-German-dictator-bingo over playing the violin any day.
"Am I blind?" I mumbled to my card during the second round, frustrated that I couldn't find the square on my card that had the dotted half note on it.
"Must be," Darien said, leaning over so he could see my card clearly. Then he had the nerve to point to the square that held my dotted half note in it.
I glared at him, though halfheartedly because I was enjoying his attention...and his nearness.
"You like being a pain in the butt don't you?"
"Staccato!" Mrs. Hart called the next square.
Both Darien and I looked down at are cards, and found the square with a quarter note with a small dot underneath it.
"I like being your pain in the butt," Darien teased once he had placed a piece of paper over the square.
"Well, don't feel special because you're not the only pain in my aspirin. Raye is too."
"Hey!"
I turned to Raye and pretended to notice her for the first time. "Well, hi, Raye, how long have you been sitting there?"
Raye smiled wickedly then leaned in closer to me so only I could here. "I've been sitting here quite some time, not that you'd notice, of course, with the way you're flirting."
"I have not!" I said in a fiercely screeched whisper, which, quiet and forceful as it was to the ears, hadn't hid the doubt underlining it.
"You were too! Gosh, it wouldn't have been more obvious if you had been playing footsy."
"I would never play footsy!"
"Cut time!" Mrs. Hart called the next square.
Raye opened her mouth to retort, but instead of hearing Raye's usual silky voice, I heard Darien's deep baritone call out "Bingo."
Both Raye and I turned to look at Darien and then at his bingo card. Sure enough, going diagonally from top right to bottom left were five little pieces of paper.
Mrs. Hart made him call out the his squares that made up his bingo, and when she was satisfied that he had, indeed, a bingo, she tossed him a red heart-shaped sucker, with KISS ME written on it.
I stared longingly at the sucker. That morning I had, rather reluctantly, even though I knew it was for the better, skipped breakfast so I could get to school early, and I was now, at a little after twelve, starving. The gum I had snagged from a sophomore during first in hopes to subdue my cravings had long since lost its flavor, and my hunger pains were back in full force.
I know a sucker's not enough to curve anyone's cravings, but maybe the sweet taste of strawberry would distract me. Therefore, I made it my mission to win the next round.
Four rounds later, I was still sucker-less. Class was over in five minutes, and there was no more time for another round. But at least it was five minutes till lunch. YIPPY!!!
Together, the class cleaned up the cards, the bits of paper, and put the stands back in their proper place. Once the room was as clean as it could get (Which is not very clean because of all it's clutter and the fact that the dingy tile floor wants to come up as the result of the perpetual leaking roof), the class grouped around the door.
Raye and I, weary of crowds, moved away from the gaggle of students to the piano.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Raye said abruptly as I began performing scales on the piano, skipping the keys that were missing.
"Hmm?" I let her know I was listening.
"Chad's giving me a ride home this afternoon. He rented a tux, but he wants me with him to make sure I approve of it. So, you don't have wait for me after school."
I sighed with relief. Last night, after Mina had gotten home from the mall, she had called me to ask if I was okay after my embarrassing moment and to cheer me up by telling me about the look on Darien's face after I had run off. She described it as the classic deer-caught-in-the-headlights shocked look. Of course, I had doubted Mina's interpretation of Darien's expression. Before this morning's conversation with him, I would have bet everything I owned that it had been a look of horror and disgust Mina had seen, but after this morning, I just didn't know anymore...
Anyway, somewhere during our conversation, the dance had been brought up. I made the mistake of telling her that I planned on driving myself to the dance in my rather crappy looking Honda.
Mina of course had protested to the idea. "What if you're admirer wants to drive you home? Or, maybe take you somewhere after the dance?" She added the second part as a sexual innuendo, to which I ignored.
I hadn't told Mina or any of my friends that I planned on breaking some guys poor heart because I knew they were dead set on making me un-single and would object at the mere idea of me dumping this guy without giving him a chance.
In the end we--make that Mina--decided that I would pick Mina up at her house where she would have her dress, shoes, and other necessities ready, and we'd go back to my house and get ready together. Then at eight, Andrew would pick us up and take us to the dance, where, as Mina put it, I would meet my "dreamboat," fall madly in love, and hitch a ride home--or elsewhere--with him.
Seems easy, but we forgot about Raye, who I usually give a ride home. But, now that loose end has been clipped.
"Okay. Fine with me," I told her.
"Can't you play something other than scales?" Darien, feigning irritation, said as he approached us.
"For your information, I can play a lot more than scales," I said boastingly.
I knew that he knew I could play more than scales, after all he heard me play my admirer's song (Funny, I'm no longer calling it "our" song) Wednesday, but I like bickering with him. It was fun. Maybe, though I hate to admit it, Raye was right. Maybe I am flirting. And if that was true, then my prediction was also accurate: any flirting I do, is scarily obvious.
He smirked, and I glanced him over, and noticed he was twirling my desired sucker between his thumb and forefinger at his side. The flashing red, had caught my attention.
I looked at Darien. "You know, you're supposed to eat that, not twirl it," I stated, referring to said sucker.
He raised the sucker and began twirling it in my face just to annoy me. It worked. I swatted at it, and he grinned slightly at my reaction.
"I have another purpose for it."
"What?" I asked, once again enjoying trying to outwit him. "Are you going to shove it up your-"
"Serena!"
"Nose," I finished. Then I turned to Raye who had interrupted me, smiling innocently, I asked, "What did you think I was going to say?"
Raye just laughed, turned, and left Darien and I alone. Still smiling I turned back to Darien. When I saw the serious expression on his face, my smile dropped.
"No, Serena," he said, "I was going to give the sucker to you...in exchange for a kiss." He held up the sucker, so I could read the KISS ME written on it.
What the hell? was my first thought.
Is he for real? was my second.
He was looking so serious that I couldn't tell if this was just another part of his teasing to see what I'd do. He wouldn't actually ask me for a real kiss after what I confessed this morning...right? I wanted to kiss him, I realized rather shockingly, but I wasn't willing to do it in front of so many people only to find out it was a joke. Besides, I've never been kissed. This was neither the place nor the time to denounce my position as president of the Never Been Kissed Club.
So, I decided to act like I knew it was a joke and that it had not effect whatsoever on me. Which was of course a BIG FAT LIE!
"Oh, I'm sorry. I can't kiss you. No one dared me to." I smiled a smile any actress would be proud of.
His grin was back, but his demeanor was tad off, I think, for someone who found my answer amusing. But I could be wrong. I've been known to be wrong a few times, unlike Amy, whose always right.
"What if I dared you?"
Holy crap! What is he thinking? Is he trying to provoke me into admitting I like him just so he can tease me about that too? Is he just trying to make me give him a kiss he feels I was supposed to give him yesterday? Or dose he REALLY want me to kiss him? But the main question is, why would DARIEN, of all people, even mention the thought of kissing me?
"You haven't asked me truth or dare yet."
Oh shit! I am flirting! Why would I do THAT? I didn't even know I could flirt. Heck, I still don't know if I'm doing it right.
"Alright," he said moving closer. "Truth or dare?"
TRUTH! TRUTH! TRUTH! TRUTH!
"Dare."
Well that's it. I need to go find a shovel and start digging my grave because I'm dead.
"I dare you..." he said in what could only be described as husky, "to kiss me," he said moving closer, yet again. He was so close now that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. Suddenly I forgot the presence of the group of students gathered at the door, and I most certainly forgot Mrs. Hart, who, should she find us in such a compromising position, get me into a lot of trouble.
But I'm already in trouble, not with my parents or the school, but with myself. I'm on the brink of a panic attack and I can't seem to stop my body from moving towards Darien...
The bell rang.
I bolted for the door.
Like the Julia Roberts ran right before she said "I do," I run right before my lips are silenced by another's. Would that make me the Run Away Kisser? I am a loser, a chicken shit of a loser.
After I ran from the strings room, I burned rubber to the lunch room, where I got my pizza and made another mad dash to the library, where I decided to hide out for fear of running into Darien.
Mrs. Daisy, the assistant librarian, gave a disapproving glace at my pizza but said nothing because she knew that the head librarian Mrs. Pinkly absolutely adored me. Besides, she knew I wouldn't dare make a mess in the room I liked most out of all the other rooms in the school.
I sat down at one of the many wooden tables and woofed down my pizza. When I was finished, I threw away my Styrofoam plate in the proper trashcan. I had just opened my library book, when Raye snatched it away form me.
"Here you are," she said, still holding my book.
Mrs. Daisy sent a reproachful "shh" her way, which Raye rolled her eyes too.
"Why are you holed up in here?" she asked.
"I thought I would finish my essay for Mrs. Robinson."
"While reading this?" Raye asked, holding up my book.
"Fine, I'm hiding. You happy?"
"From Darien, right?"
"How'd you know?" I asked with a sigh.
"I saw what happened at the end of third. I also saw you bolt like a rabbit with a fox on it's tail. Why'd you chicken out this time?"
"Same reason as before."
"Don't lie to me, Serena," she said warningly.
"Alright, he more or less asked me to kiss him this time."
"So why the hell did you run?" This earned her another "shh" from the crabby assistant librarian.
"Because he was going to kiss me," I said in an urgent whisper.
"And that's a bad thing?"
"I know it was all a joke on his part."
"You are dense. I saw everything, and he wanted to kiss you."
"How in the world do you know that?" I wanted to know.
"He was nervous!"
"And how do you know this?"
"The closer he got to you, the faster that damned sucker would spin between his fingers."
"Is that the universal sign for a guy who is nervous?"
"What did you expect? Do you actually see him shaking his foot like Thumper in the movie Bambi?"
"Well no... but still, how does a spinning sucker signify nervousness?" I asked, not seeing where Raye was getting with this.
"When some people are nervous they don't know what to do with their hands. I'm that way. Whenever I'm on stage, I cling to the mike. Some people fool with their hair. In Darien's case he spun the sucker."
"I didn't see him spinning the sucker."
"Trust me, he was."
"Well, I still don't believe that he even really wanted to kiss me. He's already interested in someone else," I said forlornly.
"What makes you think that?"
"He told me he was meeting someone at the dance."
"Did he said it was a girl he was meeting?"
"No, but-"
"See there, he could just be meeting a group of buddies or something."
I hate to admit it, but Raye had given me some hope. I just hate knowing that it might be fleeting. I'd find out tonight if she was right.
"Come on, let's go back outside."
I agreed, but before we were halfway to our usual spot, the bell rang. We went our separate ways, Raye to English, me to psychology. I met up with Mina in the hallway and she immediately asked where I had been. Then, she not-so-casually mentioned that Darien had come up to her, Amy, and Lita and asked where I was.
I pushed any thoughts and curiosities I might have into the back of my mind as I entered Mr. Grant's classroom.
Today we spent the class period talking about a woman who was fine one moment and then the next she thought she was a light post. We also learned about a guy who thought he was a glass of milk. We spent the whole class period asking questions like, "What would happen if you approached him with a straw?" "What if you pretended like you wanted to dunk a cookie in him?" Class, as usual, was memorable.
"There'll be no homework tonight," Mr. Grant was saying, shutting off the overhead after a glance at the clock, which showed the school day was coming to an end. "I know what you're thinking: I'm the greatest teacher on earth. But I just know that if I were to give you some, ninety-five percent of you wouldn't do it anyway." The class laughed, but was cut short when Mr. Grant silenced us due to the beginning of the afternoon announcements being chirpily yelled through the intercom by the senior class president.
She went through her usual spiel about upcoming events, such as the school play, the first basketball game of the season, the Beta Club's newest fundraiser, and, of course, tonight's dance.
The final bell rang, and a throng of students made their way to their lockers, the school parking lot, and the car and bus waiting ports. Most of them juniors and seniors thinking of the dance.
Normally, if I had a date, I'd be dreaming of the dance, too, but all I could think about was ways to let this guy down easily.
Then, a new thought struck me: What if the whole admirer thing was just a cruel joke? I didn't know whether to be maddened or relieved at the thought. I should be mad that someone would be so mean, but I was relieved because their was a small hope that I wouldn't have to turn someone down.
But if it was a joke, who would spend hours writing a piece of music just for a stupid, but cruel joke? No, it wasn't a joke. Somehow, I knew it.
I reached my locker, and I wasn't surprised to see a small white card laying on top of my algebra book. It simply said:
See you tonight.
If I wasn't so confused, I might have found it romantic. But I saw the short note as a reminder of what I was dreading to do. But Raye had ignited a small hope inside me today in the library, a small hope that Darien may like me.
I usually prize myself as being more of a realist (Even if a stupid quiz on the internet said I was more aesthetic), but for some reason, that small hope weighed more on my scale of importance than my admirer did.
Maybe the quiz was right after all.
When I reached the school parking lot, Mina's Beatle was parked beside my Honda, and I could see her sitting inside, singing to the words blaring from her speakers.
I knocked on a window. She turned, saw me, then reached to lower the volume of her radio. The window I was looking through rolled down, and I poked my head inside.
" 'Bout time you showed up," she said, looking in her rearview mirror and brushing at her bangs.
I shrugged my shoulders. "The hallways were crowded."
"Well, anyway, I just wanted to remind you that you're supposed to go to my house and pick me up after you drop Raye off, or however you plan on getting her home."
I leaned against her car, not worrying a moment about scratching the paint. "Raye got a ride home with Chad. So, I guess I'll be following you."
"Okay, well, I'm outta here."
And she was. I watched as her green Beatle (Nicknamed "Little Booger") spun out of the school parking lot.
I shook my head and unlocked my car. As I slid into the driver's seat, I glanced around the parking lot. I wasn't surprised to see Kyle Johnson and his group of buddies off to the side comparing car motors. There weren't many girls presents, but I assumed it was because most of them were trying to get to their hair appointments on time.
I turned the key in the ignition, and looked up from the steering wheel just in time to make eye contact with Darien.
Eye contact is a very dangerous thing, especially when it's with a hot guy. I was once in a car while Mina was driving, and she happened the make eye contact with a cute guy who was about to turn onto the same road as us. Mina had maintained eye contact and had driven off the road, narrowly missing a mailbox. She would have hit it, too, if I hadn't jerked the wheel.
And even though my car wasn't moving, I still knew I was in danger, but not physically. No, I was in danger emotionally because Darien was heading my way, and I knew he would want to talk. He would, of course, tell me that what happened in strings was just a joke, that he meant nothing by it, and I wasn't willing to have that small amount of hope I was clinging to be crushed.
So, I acted like I didn't notice that he was moving steadily towards me and waved casually and pulled out of my parking space. I tried not to gun it out of the parking lot, like Mina, but as soon as I was on the highway heading towards Mina's, I went as fast as I could without going too far over the speed limit.
I reached Mina's house in record time, having ran a few stop signs when I felt it was safe. She was waiting for me when I pulled into her driveway.
She had the back door of my car and was laying her dress across the back seat by the time I had locked the parking brake. She dumped her huge make up bag in the floor board, along with a shoebox.
She closed the back door, only to open the front passenger side door and jump in the car, her purse and a banquet of white roses in her hands.
"Come on, let's go. We only have four hours to get ready!"
I thought four hours was plenty time, but I didn't voice my thoughts because I knew Mina would go into some long speech that I really didn't want to listen to.
On the way home, I stopped at a McDonalds, against Mina's wishes, to grab something to eat. But after I explained that, as of yesterday, my mom had become obsessed with health food, and dinner at my house would not be enjoyable, she had agreed to wait ten minutes in the drive through.
"Dad had gotten a physical done last week," I told Mina, "and the results showed he had high cholesterol. When I go home from the mall yesterday, she dragged my to this health food grocery store. I had no idea you could make so many things with soy."
Mina shuddered and patted my arm in sympathy. "School food is looking a whole lot better," she laughed.
I laughed with her, and then reached one hand for my fries at a red light.
I pulled up in my driveway, and unbuckled my seatbelt. After shoving the McDonald's bags under my car seat to hide any evidence of our meal, I got out to help Mina drag her things inside.
In the living room, Sammy and one of his friends were hammering on the controls of the Play Station Two, they and completely ignored our presence. A very good thing, if I say so myself. Mina and I said hello to my mother and politely declined dinner before rushing up the stairs to get ready.
After we had taken our showers, we did our nails, hair, and make-up. Mina had insisted on doing my hair, and I didn't argue because I knew she would do a better job than I could even dream of doing.
By ten minutes till eight, both of us were starring at our reflections in the mirror. I stared enviously at Mina in her long golden spaghetti strapped dress. Together, we had managed to get her hair up with a ton of bobby pins and hairspray, but the final project turned out to be a work of art. Two white roses from the bouquet Mina had brought were pinned in her hair. Mina giggled at her reflection and batted her blue eyes, dusted with gold eye shadow.
She looked beautiful, like one of those rich women going to a fund raiser ball, where she would sip wine and gossip among the other high class women.
I didn't know what I looked like, but Mina assured me I looked beautiful, but I wasn't so confident. I just wondered if she was telling me that because I was her friend.
I stared at the white peasant style dress that came to just above my knees. It had looked perfect on me when I tried it on at the mall, but now I wondered if it made my hips look bigger than normal.
Mina had used fat curlers to roll my hair, and when she took them out thirty minutes later, my hair had been a wavy golden sea. I had liked the curl at first, but now I wondered if it made my head seem too big for my body.
I had done my own make-up, but had immediately washed it off and had asked Mina to do it. She had done a much better job than I had, but I couldn't help but wonder if the lipstick she had applied made me look pale.
I voiced my insecurities to Mina, and she turned away from her reflection to look at me in shock.
"You look beautiful, Serena."
"You look beautiful, Mina. I look pale and plain."
"Serena, you look anything but plain. You look like one of my porcelain dolls."
I was surprised at the comparison. Mina had shelf upon shelf of porcelain dolls she had collected since she was a child, and each face was a work of art. I had always loved going to her house and admiring the pretty dolls and their dresses, and begging Mina to allow me to hold one.
"You really think so?" I asked, wanting to know if she really thought I was as lovely as her dolls.
I smiled at Mina when she nodded and suddenly felt confident of myself as I placed on my strappy white heels that went with my dress.
At least, I was confident until I heard the doorbell ring, which announced Andrew's arrival.
TO BE CONTINUED...
SHOUT-OUTS AND THANKS:
MARY J.W.: Oh, it is such an honor to have you review my story! I read your fanfics before I even concidered writing my own. Thank you for your complements! (I loved your story "I'm Bringing You With Me")
LEEZA: lol Here's your update! Thanks for taking time to e-mail me.
JERRI: Thanks so much for your encouragement!
A.N.: Hoped you liked it! Sooo sorry for the cliffhanger! But the next chapter is almost finished, ao I'll try not to put off editing it. Till next chapter.
AUTHOR: Dream Catcher
DISCLAIMER: Me not own Sailor Moon
A.N.: I back!!!! I know, I know, it's about time. Can't say I disagree with you. But school has started, and I've been procrastinated editing this chapter. Well, I have finished writing this story; so don't worry about me not finishing this story. All I have to do now is edit the last chapter and I'm DONE!! I also have to decide what story to write/post next. Now for chapter five...
CHAPTER FIVE...
It was Friday, which also meant it was Valentine's Day, the loneliest holiday for people like me, who, year after year, have spent it alone. And, it seemed, that I was spending it alone this year too. Who was I to break tradition?
And where was my admirer when I needed him? He was obviously a no-show. But then again, I thought with some optimism, it was still early. Heck, the school day was still thirty minutes away form beginning.
I had purposely arrived earlier to school than I would have on a normal day. If I had arrived at my usual time, I would have been greeted by a ton of happy couples mingling around the campus. Instead of being overwhelmed by the lovey-dovey couples at one time, I arrived early, and watched as they slowly filtered in.
Lita was the first of my friends to arrive, and I could tell as soon as she got close enough that she was sorry for what happened yesterday at the mall. But a simple apology wasn't going to make up for the amount of embarrassment she had put me through. Not only did I kiss Darien on the cheek, but I ran like the chicken I am for the nearest exit.
"I'm sorry," she said, head bowed.
I knew it was hard for Lita to apologize to me. She was the type of person who believed in everything they did, even if it wasn't always right. To say she was sorry was like admitting she was wrong, and to be wrong, meant she was a failure in her own eyes. It made it harder for me to stay mad at her.
"Sorry isn't enough."
She got mad and tried to justify her actions. "Well, what I did was only payback for what you did to me."
"Lita, you know you enjoyed the attention. It's not often that you get that much."
Lita knew I was right, but didn't want to admit it. I was shocked, however, when she did admit it out loud. "You're right. It was too much. I shouldn't have done it. I know how much you hate it when we tease you about your crushes. I'm really sorry, Serena."
And just like that, I wasn't angry anymore. I knew it was hard for Lita to admit she was wrong, and, besides, I've never have been able to stay mad at my friends for long.
"It's okay, Lita. I forgive you."
Her shoulders slumped with relief, and she looked back up at me, a mischievous smile in place. "Now, tell me the truth, you enjoyed my dare a little. You got to kiss Darien. Go on, admit it."
She was right, I did enjoy the kiss on the cheek that, under normal circumstances, I would have never given him.
Then I wondered, "In kissing Darin, did I betray my admirer?"
Lita thought a moment, "No. First, you're not going out with your admirer; so you can't call it cheating. Second, you can't really betray someone you don't know and have no relationship with. And third, how do you know Darien isn't your admirer?"
"Get real, Lita. Look at him and then look at me. Why would someone like him want to go out with someone like me?"
"Well, I am looking at you, and I see nothing wrong. If you ask me, you have just as good at chance as any girl in this school. No, you have a better chance."
"You're just saying that because you're my friend."
"No, I'm not. You know Darien well enough to know that he wouldn't go out with someone as self centered as Alana. That narrows the field down a lot."
"But Alana is pretty. Guys like pretty," I said sadly.
"You don't think you're pretty?" I shook my head. "Girl, I'd kill to have you blond hair and blue eyes. You don't find that combination that often anymore. Well, natural, that is."
"Alana doesn't think I can get a boyfriend."
"Alana's just a jealous bitch."
That made me smile. She was a bitch, and someone else agreed with me.
"Well, that's one thing I won't disagree with you on, Lita," I said smilingly, as I noticed the girls approaching us. Mina seemed to be her normal happy self, but it looked as though poor Amy was getting a tongue lashing from Raye.
"Do you have to drive so slow?" Raye was saying to Amy, who had her head bowed and was trying not to allow anyone to see her blush. "I wanted to have enough time to see Chad before class, but with the way you drive, I'm just happy we got to school on time."
Poor Amy. While I get stuck driving Raye home, Amy has the job of driving her to school, which is worse because Raye is not a morning person and, she tends to take her frustration out on the first person she sees in the mornings: Amy. Mina and Lita got out of car pooling because they live no where near the three of us. Lucky them.
"Cut it out, Raye," I said, trying to defend Amy from Raye's morning wrath. "You have plenty time to see Chad. The bell doesn't ring for another twenty minutes. So if you want to get enough make-out time, I suggest you get a move on and search for your lover-boy."
Raye glared at me, checked her watch, saw that I was right, and smiled at the possibility of twenty minutes of PDA before school started. "If you'll excuse me," she said, leaving the rest of us to talk.
"Hey, uh, Greg wanted to see me before the bell rang to, uh, look over his history report for him," Amy said fleetingly before she disappeared in the crowd of teenagers.
"Andrew wanted to see me too. He said he had a surprise for me," Mina giggled while leaving Lita and I to watch her retreating back.
"So, I guess it's just me and you again," I said smilingly.
"Actually, Serena," Lita said, her face uncertain. My smile dropped a little. "I told Ken I'd meet him after I apologized to you." Then she hastily added, "But if you don't want me to leave, I'm sure he'll understand."
I could tell Lita didn't want to leave me alone because she knew I'd feel deserted, and I did. But I couldn't be selfish; I can't always think about myself.
"Go find Ken, Lita. It's okay. I need to go to Mrs. Day's classroom anyway. I need to make up a test I missed yesterday while at the blood drive."
Of course, I was lying. There was no test that needed to be made up, but I knew Lita would have felt bad about leaving me alone unless she knew I had something else to occupy my time.
I watched her smile happily before going off to meet Ken. I knew I shouldn't, but I suddenly felt betrayed, like my friends found their new boyfriends more important than me. But I shouldn't be jealous that they're wanting to spend time with boyfriends and not me. It's Valentine's Day for Pete's sake. They should be spending it with their valentines. I know if I had a Valentine, I'd spend the day with him.
IF I had a valentine.
I had an admirer, one who seems to have forgotten me, not a valentine. But maybe by the end of the day I'll have one. In the note my admirer left in my locker yesterday, he asked me to the dance. I assume he'll tell me who he is tonight. But you know what they say about assuming: "It only makes an ass out of you and me."
Of course, I've already made an ass out of myself yesterday at the mall. How much worse can you get?
"Hey, Clumsy. Your friends get tired of you?"
It seems that I spoke too soon. Well, damn.
Chewing on my bottom lip, I turned to face Darien, scared spit-less. It seemed I had three options: One, I could act like yesterday never happened; two, confront Darien about the subject; or three, turn tail and run to the nearest ladies room. Choice number three was completely out of the question because it would only be a repeat of yesterday, and from the amused look on Darien's face, there was no way in hell he was going to pretend it never happened.
"Listen, Darien, about yesterday. It was just a stupid dare. So, you better not tease me about it," I said, proud that not one ounce of hysteria could be heard.
I wasn't going to mention the fact I had fled from the scene of the crime, and I was happy he didn't either.
"Okay, I won't tease you about it," he said with a shrug, and I sighed with relief. "However, I do wonder why you didn't kiss me on the lips."
Suddenly, my lungs had a hard time taking in air, and it was all I could do but continue to stare him in the eyes as I tried to come up with an answer. Did I tell him the truth and say, "I've never been kissed before, and although I have dreamed for the past month and a half that you give me my first kiss, I didn't want it to be the result of a dare?"
Uh, yeah right! It just screams pathetic loser.
Or do I make up some silly excuse? "Gee, Darien, I wasn't feeling good yesterday, and decided to spare you from getting sick." Or maybe, "Gosh, Darien, I guess my aim was a little off" would be a better excuse.
Sometimes I find it easier to be truthful, but I wish it wasn't so personal. But of course, he wouldn't know I've never been kissed. He's probably, more or less, curious as to why any girl-namely me- wouldn't want to kiss him.
"I've never been kissed."
There, he knew. It was out in the open. He could chose to tease me with this new information, or he could just leave it alone. The ball was in his court now. Funny how some people say a weight is lifted off their shoulders when they tell someone a secret such as mine, but my shoulders just felt heavier as I waited for his reaction.
"Oh," he said looking down at his shoes.
That's it! I told him one of my biggest secrets, and all I get is an "oh." This is the kind of information that deserves to be printed in a newspaper. I can see the headlines now: PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE NBK (Never Been Kissed Club) SHARES HER STORY. A fucking "oh!" was a fucking understatement. Well, at least he isn't laughing and pointing at me.
Uncomfortable, I said, "Well, now you know."
He looked up and smiled, and I braced myself for some teasing comment. "Well, you had me thinking it was me. I didn't know if I had something in my teeth or something hanging out of my nose." He chuckled, shaking his head. "That's a relief."
He actually thought the reason I hadn't kissed him had something to do with him? I thought anyone's immediate thought, had they seen yesterday's little event, would be that something was wrong with me. What normal, straight teenage girl wouldn't want to kiss Darien?
He looked every bit a prince charming, and he even acted like one when he wasn't calling me Clumsy. He had every quality girls--me included--died for. Surely, anyone could have seen that it was the blond girl with the problems yesterday.
I didn't feel comfortable telling him my thoughts, however, because if I did, it would be like waving a red flag in his face while I scream at the top of my lungs "I like you, big boy! Now kiss me till my legs feel like jello and my head is swimming!" Nope, not my style. Heck, I didn't have enough courage to tell the guy "nice shirt" because I feared that any compliment I gave him would give away my attraction to him.
Suddenly the urge to explain why I had never been kissed overcame me. I didn't want him to think I was a loser and couldn't get a date, which could have been partially true, but there were other reasons, aside form the fact men scared me a little.
"My dad's a little protective of me, and I've just never had the..." I trailed off realizing how stupid I sounded. Wasn't telling guys you have an overprotective father one of those things you never supposed to tell a guy you're interested in? I made a note to myself to ask Mina later.
Covering up for my little mishap, I asked, "So are you going to the dance with anybody?"
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized that my question had been no better than my first statement. Surely he now had an idea that I liked him? After all, sounding interested in his dating life was just like another red flag showing my feelings.
There was a glint in his eyes when he said, "I'm meeting someone there."
I took every ounce of strength I had to mask my disappointment. He was meeting someone at the dance? Then that meant he was taken. It meant he was officially off limits. I had no chance with Darien, and I knew I might as well face the music and give up.
Usually I'm a pretty headstrong person, and if I wanted something bad enough, I got it. But it was always different with guys. At the first sign that the guy was sniffing after a girl, I automatically gave up. I didn't go chasing any guy, and I didn't moon after them either. I guess I could blame it on my mom, who preached to me when I was very young that guys didn't like girls chasing after them, that they liked a girl who seemed unattainable. I guess after a while her lectures added to the strong morals my parents passed down to me, I began to believe that it was wrong to go after an attached guy, even if he wasn't officially attached.
I realize now that maybe it was stupid of me to give up once a guy started showing interest in another girl. After all, the girl may have no interest in the guy. I could still stand a chance with the guy, but no one liked to be second best.
I watched as Darien put his hands in his pockets, and inwardly sighed. Darien was officially attached...wasn't he? If he was meeting a girl at the dance, didn't that mean the girl was interested too? Therefore, even if I didn't choose to give up this time, his first choice obviously liked him. Why else would she be meeting him at the dance?
"I'm meeting someone at the dance too." I blurted out. Thinking of my admirer and the note he left in my locker the previous day. Even though I wasn't officially "with" whomever my admirer is, I felt the urge to mention him to Darien, so I wouldn't look like a complete loser in his eyes. Of course, I didn't mention the fact I have no absolutely idea who the person I was.
The glint was still in his eyes when he asked, "Really? Is it a boy?" The way he asked the question, it made him sound like he just one of my best friends teasing me.
Damn it! What can't he show an ounce of jealousy? Although, I thought, if he was to show some jealousy, I doubt I'd recognize it because I've never had a guy to become jealous over anything about me.
"Yes, it's a boy," I said, trying to feign annoyance. Then as an afterthought to try and provoke some of that elusive jealousy, I added, "A very cute boy."
But instead of showing any outward signs of envy, he just smiled and changed the topic. "Do you think Mrs. Hart will be here today?"
"Probably, but I could be wrong."
He nodded in agreement, and one of those annoying awkward silences swallowed us. Not knowing what to do, I began looking at anything but Darien.
I noticed that a lot more couples had arrived and were exchanging gifts. Girls all around me were holding teddy bears, boxes of chocolates, and roses, their usually soothing smell making me want to gag.
I suddenly felt extremely emotional and alone. I didn't want the gifts; I already got those from my admirer. No, what I wanted was someone who I could hug and kiss and say girlishly, "Oh, the flowers are lovely! Thank you!"
I sighed. Life may be like a box of chocolates, but it sure as hell wasn't like a romance novel.
"Serena," Darien asked, drawing my attention back to him. "I didn't get a chance to ask you if you were alright yesterday after the blood drive. But, um, you're okay now, right?"
Moved because he concerned about me, I nodded. "Thanks, but yeah, I'm fine now. I'm just never going to allow any more vampires at me." I laughed shakily.
"You scared me to death when you fainted," he blurted.
I blushed and looked down at my feet. Why would he be scared? I just fainted. Heck, it's ME we're talking about. ME! Why would he worry about poor little 'ol Clumsy? I wasn't even out long!
"I just fainted," I said, trying to sound as if I thought it was nothing, but I didn't sound convincing even to my own ears. Luckily Darien either didn't notice or chose to ignore it.
He opened his mouth to say something, but the bell rang. I smiled apologetically, and headed in the direction of my locker.
"See you in strings!" I heard him call.
I smiled. I had just had a rather good conversation Darien. Even if Darien wasn't my valentine, I can at least call him a friend now, in my eyes at least. Whether he sees me as a friend is up to him, but I sure hope he does.
Maybe that was my problem: my strategy was all wrong. In the past, whenever I liked a guy, I would try to become friends with him, get to know him. But every time I did this in the past, I always ended up in one of two outcomes: the guy either considered me one of his best friends/like a sister, or I found out the guy was a complete jerk, a drunkard, or a druggy. Usually, we just became good friends.
From now on, I wondered, should I just try to jump into a relationship with a guy?
I went to my locker, which was void of anything related to Valentine's Day, and walked with Raye to first period.
As I once again spent the class period starring out the window, I began to wonder why I ever decided to take algebra over. I should be taking statistics, but no-o I had to be dumb and take a class I took three years ago. I'm actually surprised I was allowed to take the class again. Usually the councilors won't allow students to take classes they already have passed, but somehow Raye and I slipped through.
First ended, and, heavy lidded from my nap in first, I walked to second and entered the empty classroom, empty except for one person.
Kyle Johnson was without a doubt the most popular guy in school--just ask him and he'd tell you he was. He was the star quarterback and not in my second period, so I was a little stumped as to what he was doing in the classroom.
"Serena?" Kyle asked when he noticed me.
Stupefied that he was talking to me, let alone knew my name, I was at a loss for words but managed a few. "Err, yes?"
He smiled. "Serena, would you liked to go to the dance with me tonight?"
I looked at him like he was crazy, which he was for even asking me. Sure the guy was popular, but he also a jerk who likes to drink. I know this because Sean mentioned Kyle's name when he was describing one of his wild parties. Kyle was the guy who got on the coffee table and danced with the ceiling fan.
It didn't take me long to answer. "No."
He looked confused. "What?"
"I said 'no.'"
"No what?"
Was this guy stupid? Did he not understand English? I suddenly found it very ironic we were standing in my English classroom.
"No, I won't go to the dance with you."
"Why not?"
I sighed. All morning I had silently complained about my single-ness, and here is this guy asking me to the dance. Normally, I might have been flattered to be asked to the dance by any guy--even Kyle--but today I wasn't. I couldn't get this morning's encounter with Darien out of my head, and he was the only guy I wanted to think about. Besides, I don't even know Kyle.
Sure, I don't know my admirer--wait, I don't know WHO he is--either, but I can tell just by playing the song he wrote that he likes me. Who knows, I might know my admirer, after all, once I find out his identity. Too bad when I figure out whom he is I have to tell him I'm not interested.
Yeah, I have officially decided that the only reason I'm going to the dance tonight is to dump a poor guy I'm not even dating, and maybe to catch a glimpse of Darien...and my competition.
"I just don't want to go to the dance with you," I answered simply, knowing it as a blow to his ego, and turned around to find a seat in the back as the class started filing in. I opened my D.I.R. book and began reading.
When class ended, I was more than ready to head to third period. Maybe I'd have another lengthy conversation with Darien. With that hopeful thought in mind, I crossed the courtyard and made my way to the building that housed my third period class.
Rachael, Raye, and Avery were waiting outside the classroom door when I got there. It seems Mrs. Hart was late as usual. When Rachael saw me, she did something completely odd but totally in her character. She made a small scream and nearly lunged at me.
"So?" she asked.
Confused, I asked, "So-o what?"
"Don't be coy with me. What did you say? You said yes, didn't you? I just knew you would," Rachael babbled.
I looked over at Raye and saw she was as confused as I was. "Whoa. Back up. What did I say yes to?"
Rachael looked into my confused eyes and smiled. "Quit kidding. I know you said yes to Kyle. He did already ask you, right? I'd hate to blow the surprise for you. I mean that would-" Rachael was cut off by three rather shocked voices...
"Kyle asked you to the dance?"
"You're going to the dance with Kyle?"
"How did you find out he asked me?"
The last question came form me, but instead of waiting to listen to Rachael, I turned to see who had asked the other two questions. And there, standing side-by-side, shock in their eyes, was Darien and Raye. I would have laughed under normal circumstances, but right now my mind was reeling.
Rachael was answering my question: "Well, Kyle told Brian he was going to ask you to the dance, and Brain told Chris, who told Jason, who told his girlfriend, who told Kristy, who told Jessica, who told me. So did he ask you to the dance yet?"
"Yes, but-"
"I knew it!" Rachael exclaimed, hugging me. I didn't return the hug, however, because I was still reeling at how fast news spread through the school.
"Serena?" came Darien's strained voice. I turned to look Darien, and he asked, "Are you really going to the dance with Kyle?"
"No," I answered looking into his eyes, trying to decide what the expression on his face meant.
"I thought Kyle asked you to the dance?" Rachael asked, baffled.
Still looking Darien in the eyes, I answered her question, "He asked me to the dance, but I turned him down." And suddenly the expression on Darien's face changed, and he looked...relieved? Happier? I couldn't tell.
"Why in the world would turn Kyle Johnson down?" Rachael wanted to know.
"Would you like the abbreviated version?" I asked, finally looking at her now that she stopped hugging me. She ignored my joke, so I gave her a simple list of his flaws. "He's too wild, he's a jerk, and he's not my type. Besides I'm already meeting someone at the dance."
"Who are you meeting? Your admirer?" she asked sarcastically.
"Yes, my admirer," I said, my voice a tad venomous. "At least he cares about me."
"And how do you know that Kyle doesn't care about you?"
I sighed. And then, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, I told her, "If he cared about me, he wouldn't have waited till today to ask me to tonight's dance."
"Maybe he was shy!" Rachael argued back. I gave her a "you're stupid look." and before she turned around to stomp off into the classroom that was now open because Mrs. Hart had arrived, she said, "I'd kill to be Kyle's date to the dance."
Raye was laughing as we entered the classroom together, and I couldn't help but smile too.
When everyone was inside the classroom, Mrs. Hart began yelling out instructions for everyone to retrieve their instruments. In reply, she received a groan from every one of her students. After two days absent of playing, it seemed that we had gotten lazy. We argued that it was a holiday, and we should get the day off. Mrs. Hart argued that we had had the past two days off. But in the end we compromised. So instead of playing our instruments, we played Musical Bingo.
Everyone got a black music stand and bent it back so that it made a rudimentary table of sorts. I dragged my stand to where Raye and Darien were already sitting, and the three of us formed a triangle. Mrs. Hart passed out the bingo cards and torn pieces of paper to be used as bingo chips, and gave us all time to cover our free-space, which was actually a cartoon drawing of a conductor, who looked remarkably like Hitler. Only, he was smiling and pointing a conductor's baton at me like Harry Potter would his magical wand.
Every card had the same Hitler conductor in the middle and the same pictures of symbols and terms often seen in sheet music. The only differences in the cards, was where each of the symbols was located. It was really a cheesy rip-off of the original bingo, but I'd take cheesy-German-dictator-bingo over playing the violin any day.
"Am I blind?" I mumbled to my card during the second round, frustrated that I couldn't find the square on my card that had the dotted half note on it.
"Must be," Darien said, leaning over so he could see my card clearly. Then he had the nerve to point to the square that held my dotted half note in it.
I glared at him, though halfheartedly because I was enjoying his attention...and his nearness.
"You like being a pain in the butt don't you?"
"Staccato!" Mrs. Hart called the next square.
Both Darien and I looked down at are cards, and found the square with a quarter note with a small dot underneath it.
"I like being your pain in the butt," Darien teased once he had placed a piece of paper over the square.
"Well, don't feel special because you're not the only pain in my aspirin. Raye is too."
"Hey!"
I turned to Raye and pretended to notice her for the first time. "Well, hi, Raye, how long have you been sitting there?"
Raye smiled wickedly then leaned in closer to me so only I could here. "I've been sitting here quite some time, not that you'd notice, of course, with the way you're flirting."
"I have not!" I said in a fiercely screeched whisper, which, quiet and forceful as it was to the ears, hadn't hid the doubt underlining it.
"You were too! Gosh, it wouldn't have been more obvious if you had been playing footsy."
"I would never play footsy!"
"Cut time!" Mrs. Hart called the next square.
Raye opened her mouth to retort, but instead of hearing Raye's usual silky voice, I heard Darien's deep baritone call out "Bingo."
Both Raye and I turned to look at Darien and then at his bingo card. Sure enough, going diagonally from top right to bottom left were five little pieces of paper.
Mrs. Hart made him call out the his squares that made up his bingo, and when she was satisfied that he had, indeed, a bingo, she tossed him a red heart-shaped sucker, with KISS ME written on it.
I stared longingly at the sucker. That morning I had, rather reluctantly, even though I knew it was for the better, skipped breakfast so I could get to school early, and I was now, at a little after twelve, starving. The gum I had snagged from a sophomore during first in hopes to subdue my cravings had long since lost its flavor, and my hunger pains were back in full force.
I know a sucker's not enough to curve anyone's cravings, but maybe the sweet taste of strawberry would distract me. Therefore, I made it my mission to win the next round.
Four rounds later, I was still sucker-less. Class was over in five minutes, and there was no more time for another round. But at least it was five minutes till lunch. YIPPY!!!
Together, the class cleaned up the cards, the bits of paper, and put the stands back in their proper place. Once the room was as clean as it could get (Which is not very clean because of all it's clutter and the fact that the dingy tile floor wants to come up as the result of the perpetual leaking roof), the class grouped around the door.
Raye and I, weary of crowds, moved away from the gaggle of students to the piano.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Raye said abruptly as I began performing scales on the piano, skipping the keys that were missing.
"Hmm?" I let her know I was listening.
"Chad's giving me a ride home this afternoon. He rented a tux, but he wants me with him to make sure I approve of it. So, you don't have wait for me after school."
I sighed with relief. Last night, after Mina had gotten home from the mall, she had called me to ask if I was okay after my embarrassing moment and to cheer me up by telling me about the look on Darien's face after I had run off. She described it as the classic deer-caught-in-the-headlights shocked look. Of course, I had doubted Mina's interpretation of Darien's expression. Before this morning's conversation with him, I would have bet everything I owned that it had been a look of horror and disgust Mina had seen, but after this morning, I just didn't know anymore...
Anyway, somewhere during our conversation, the dance had been brought up. I made the mistake of telling her that I planned on driving myself to the dance in my rather crappy looking Honda.
Mina of course had protested to the idea. "What if you're admirer wants to drive you home? Or, maybe take you somewhere after the dance?" She added the second part as a sexual innuendo, to which I ignored.
I hadn't told Mina or any of my friends that I planned on breaking some guys poor heart because I knew they were dead set on making me un-single and would object at the mere idea of me dumping this guy without giving him a chance.
In the end we--make that Mina--decided that I would pick Mina up at her house where she would have her dress, shoes, and other necessities ready, and we'd go back to my house and get ready together. Then at eight, Andrew would pick us up and take us to the dance, where, as Mina put it, I would meet my "dreamboat," fall madly in love, and hitch a ride home--or elsewhere--with him.
Seems easy, but we forgot about Raye, who I usually give a ride home. But, now that loose end has been clipped.
"Okay. Fine with me," I told her.
"Can't you play something other than scales?" Darien, feigning irritation, said as he approached us.
"For your information, I can play a lot more than scales," I said boastingly.
I knew that he knew I could play more than scales, after all he heard me play my admirer's song (Funny, I'm no longer calling it "our" song) Wednesday, but I like bickering with him. It was fun. Maybe, though I hate to admit it, Raye was right. Maybe I am flirting. And if that was true, then my prediction was also accurate: any flirting I do, is scarily obvious.
He smirked, and I glanced him over, and noticed he was twirling my desired sucker between his thumb and forefinger at his side. The flashing red, had caught my attention.
I looked at Darien. "You know, you're supposed to eat that, not twirl it," I stated, referring to said sucker.
He raised the sucker and began twirling it in my face just to annoy me. It worked. I swatted at it, and he grinned slightly at my reaction.
"I have another purpose for it."
"What?" I asked, once again enjoying trying to outwit him. "Are you going to shove it up your-"
"Serena!"
"Nose," I finished. Then I turned to Raye who had interrupted me, smiling innocently, I asked, "What did you think I was going to say?"
Raye just laughed, turned, and left Darien and I alone. Still smiling I turned back to Darien. When I saw the serious expression on his face, my smile dropped.
"No, Serena," he said, "I was going to give the sucker to you...in exchange for a kiss." He held up the sucker, so I could read the KISS ME written on it.
What the hell? was my first thought.
Is he for real? was my second.
He was looking so serious that I couldn't tell if this was just another part of his teasing to see what I'd do. He wouldn't actually ask me for a real kiss after what I confessed this morning...right? I wanted to kiss him, I realized rather shockingly, but I wasn't willing to do it in front of so many people only to find out it was a joke. Besides, I've never been kissed. This was neither the place nor the time to denounce my position as president of the Never Been Kissed Club.
So, I decided to act like I knew it was a joke and that it had not effect whatsoever on me. Which was of course a BIG FAT LIE!
"Oh, I'm sorry. I can't kiss you. No one dared me to." I smiled a smile any actress would be proud of.
His grin was back, but his demeanor was tad off, I think, for someone who found my answer amusing. But I could be wrong. I've been known to be wrong a few times, unlike Amy, whose always right.
"What if I dared you?"
Holy crap! What is he thinking? Is he trying to provoke me into admitting I like him just so he can tease me about that too? Is he just trying to make me give him a kiss he feels I was supposed to give him yesterday? Or dose he REALLY want me to kiss him? But the main question is, why would DARIEN, of all people, even mention the thought of kissing me?
"You haven't asked me truth or dare yet."
Oh shit! I am flirting! Why would I do THAT? I didn't even know I could flirt. Heck, I still don't know if I'm doing it right.
"Alright," he said moving closer. "Truth or dare?"
TRUTH! TRUTH! TRUTH! TRUTH!
"Dare."
Well that's it. I need to go find a shovel and start digging my grave because I'm dead.
"I dare you..." he said in what could only be described as husky, "to kiss me," he said moving closer, yet again. He was so close now that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. Suddenly I forgot the presence of the group of students gathered at the door, and I most certainly forgot Mrs. Hart, who, should she find us in such a compromising position, get me into a lot of trouble.
But I'm already in trouble, not with my parents or the school, but with myself. I'm on the brink of a panic attack and I can't seem to stop my body from moving towards Darien...
The bell rang.
I bolted for the door.
Like the Julia Roberts ran right before she said "I do," I run right before my lips are silenced by another's. Would that make me the Run Away Kisser? I am a loser, a chicken shit of a loser.
After I ran from the strings room, I burned rubber to the lunch room, where I got my pizza and made another mad dash to the library, where I decided to hide out for fear of running into Darien.
Mrs. Daisy, the assistant librarian, gave a disapproving glace at my pizza but said nothing because she knew that the head librarian Mrs. Pinkly absolutely adored me. Besides, she knew I wouldn't dare make a mess in the room I liked most out of all the other rooms in the school.
I sat down at one of the many wooden tables and woofed down my pizza. When I was finished, I threw away my Styrofoam plate in the proper trashcan. I had just opened my library book, when Raye snatched it away form me.
"Here you are," she said, still holding my book.
Mrs. Daisy sent a reproachful "shh" her way, which Raye rolled her eyes too.
"Why are you holed up in here?" she asked.
"I thought I would finish my essay for Mrs. Robinson."
"While reading this?" Raye asked, holding up my book.
"Fine, I'm hiding. You happy?"
"From Darien, right?"
"How'd you know?" I asked with a sigh.
"I saw what happened at the end of third. I also saw you bolt like a rabbit with a fox on it's tail. Why'd you chicken out this time?"
"Same reason as before."
"Don't lie to me, Serena," she said warningly.
"Alright, he more or less asked me to kiss him this time."
"So why the hell did you run?" This earned her another "shh" from the crabby assistant librarian.
"Because he was going to kiss me," I said in an urgent whisper.
"And that's a bad thing?"
"I know it was all a joke on his part."
"You are dense. I saw everything, and he wanted to kiss you."
"How in the world do you know that?" I wanted to know.
"He was nervous!"
"And how do you know this?"
"The closer he got to you, the faster that damned sucker would spin between his fingers."
"Is that the universal sign for a guy who is nervous?"
"What did you expect? Do you actually see him shaking his foot like Thumper in the movie Bambi?"
"Well no... but still, how does a spinning sucker signify nervousness?" I asked, not seeing where Raye was getting with this.
"When some people are nervous they don't know what to do with their hands. I'm that way. Whenever I'm on stage, I cling to the mike. Some people fool with their hair. In Darien's case he spun the sucker."
"I didn't see him spinning the sucker."
"Trust me, he was."
"Well, I still don't believe that he even really wanted to kiss me. He's already interested in someone else," I said forlornly.
"What makes you think that?"
"He told me he was meeting someone at the dance."
"Did he said it was a girl he was meeting?"
"No, but-"
"See there, he could just be meeting a group of buddies or something."
I hate to admit it, but Raye had given me some hope. I just hate knowing that it might be fleeting. I'd find out tonight if she was right.
"Come on, let's go back outside."
I agreed, but before we were halfway to our usual spot, the bell rang. We went our separate ways, Raye to English, me to psychology. I met up with Mina in the hallway and she immediately asked where I had been. Then, she not-so-casually mentioned that Darien had come up to her, Amy, and Lita and asked where I was.
I pushed any thoughts and curiosities I might have into the back of my mind as I entered Mr. Grant's classroom.
Today we spent the class period talking about a woman who was fine one moment and then the next she thought she was a light post. We also learned about a guy who thought he was a glass of milk. We spent the whole class period asking questions like, "What would happen if you approached him with a straw?" "What if you pretended like you wanted to dunk a cookie in him?" Class, as usual, was memorable.
"There'll be no homework tonight," Mr. Grant was saying, shutting off the overhead after a glance at the clock, which showed the school day was coming to an end. "I know what you're thinking: I'm the greatest teacher on earth. But I just know that if I were to give you some, ninety-five percent of you wouldn't do it anyway." The class laughed, but was cut short when Mr. Grant silenced us due to the beginning of the afternoon announcements being chirpily yelled through the intercom by the senior class president.
She went through her usual spiel about upcoming events, such as the school play, the first basketball game of the season, the Beta Club's newest fundraiser, and, of course, tonight's dance.
The final bell rang, and a throng of students made their way to their lockers, the school parking lot, and the car and bus waiting ports. Most of them juniors and seniors thinking of the dance.
Normally, if I had a date, I'd be dreaming of the dance, too, but all I could think about was ways to let this guy down easily.
Then, a new thought struck me: What if the whole admirer thing was just a cruel joke? I didn't know whether to be maddened or relieved at the thought. I should be mad that someone would be so mean, but I was relieved because their was a small hope that I wouldn't have to turn someone down.
But if it was a joke, who would spend hours writing a piece of music just for a stupid, but cruel joke? No, it wasn't a joke. Somehow, I knew it.
I reached my locker, and I wasn't surprised to see a small white card laying on top of my algebra book. It simply said:
See you tonight.
If I wasn't so confused, I might have found it romantic. But I saw the short note as a reminder of what I was dreading to do. But Raye had ignited a small hope inside me today in the library, a small hope that Darien may like me.
I usually prize myself as being more of a realist (Even if a stupid quiz on the internet said I was more aesthetic), but for some reason, that small hope weighed more on my scale of importance than my admirer did.
Maybe the quiz was right after all.
When I reached the school parking lot, Mina's Beatle was parked beside my Honda, and I could see her sitting inside, singing to the words blaring from her speakers.
I knocked on a window. She turned, saw me, then reached to lower the volume of her radio. The window I was looking through rolled down, and I poked my head inside.
" 'Bout time you showed up," she said, looking in her rearview mirror and brushing at her bangs.
I shrugged my shoulders. "The hallways were crowded."
"Well, anyway, I just wanted to remind you that you're supposed to go to my house and pick me up after you drop Raye off, or however you plan on getting her home."
I leaned against her car, not worrying a moment about scratching the paint. "Raye got a ride home with Chad. So, I guess I'll be following you."
"Okay, well, I'm outta here."
And she was. I watched as her green Beatle (Nicknamed "Little Booger") spun out of the school parking lot.
I shook my head and unlocked my car. As I slid into the driver's seat, I glanced around the parking lot. I wasn't surprised to see Kyle Johnson and his group of buddies off to the side comparing car motors. There weren't many girls presents, but I assumed it was because most of them were trying to get to their hair appointments on time.
I turned the key in the ignition, and looked up from the steering wheel just in time to make eye contact with Darien.
Eye contact is a very dangerous thing, especially when it's with a hot guy. I was once in a car while Mina was driving, and she happened the make eye contact with a cute guy who was about to turn onto the same road as us. Mina had maintained eye contact and had driven off the road, narrowly missing a mailbox. She would have hit it, too, if I hadn't jerked the wheel.
And even though my car wasn't moving, I still knew I was in danger, but not physically. No, I was in danger emotionally because Darien was heading my way, and I knew he would want to talk. He would, of course, tell me that what happened in strings was just a joke, that he meant nothing by it, and I wasn't willing to have that small amount of hope I was clinging to be crushed.
So, I acted like I didn't notice that he was moving steadily towards me and waved casually and pulled out of my parking space. I tried not to gun it out of the parking lot, like Mina, but as soon as I was on the highway heading towards Mina's, I went as fast as I could without going too far over the speed limit.
I reached Mina's house in record time, having ran a few stop signs when I felt it was safe. She was waiting for me when I pulled into her driveway.
She had the back door of my car and was laying her dress across the back seat by the time I had locked the parking brake. She dumped her huge make up bag in the floor board, along with a shoebox.
She closed the back door, only to open the front passenger side door and jump in the car, her purse and a banquet of white roses in her hands.
"Come on, let's go. We only have four hours to get ready!"
I thought four hours was plenty time, but I didn't voice my thoughts because I knew Mina would go into some long speech that I really didn't want to listen to.
On the way home, I stopped at a McDonalds, against Mina's wishes, to grab something to eat. But after I explained that, as of yesterday, my mom had become obsessed with health food, and dinner at my house would not be enjoyable, she had agreed to wait ten minutes in the drive through.
"Dad had gotten a physical done last week," I told Mina, "and the results showed he had high cholesterol. When I go home from the mall yesterday, she dragged my to this health food grocery store. I had no idea you could make so many things with soy."
Mina shuddered and patted my arm in sympathy. "School food is looking a whole lot better," she laughed.
I laughed with her, and then reached one hand for my fries at a red light.
I pulled up in my driveway, and unbuckled my seatbelt. After shoving the McDonald's bags under my car seat to hide any evidence of our meal, I got out to help Mina drag her things inside.
In the living room, Sammy and one of his friends were hammering on the controls of the Play Station Two, they and completely ignored our presence. A very good thing, if I say so myself. Mina and I said hello to my mother and politely declined dinner before rushing up the stairs to get ready.
After we had taken our showers, we did our nails, hair, and make-up. Mina had insisted on doing my hair, and I didn't argue because I knew she would do a better job than I could even dream of doing.
By ten minutes till eight, both of us were starring at our reflections in the mirror. I stared enviously at Mina in her long golden spaghetti strapped dress. Together, we had managed to get her hair up with a ton of bobby pins and hairspray, but the final project turned out to be a work of art. Two white roses from the bouquet Mina had brought were pinned in her hair. Mina giggled at her reflection and batted her blue eyes, dusted with gold eye shadow.
She looked beautiful, like one of those rich women going to a fund raiser ball, where she would sip wine and gossip among the other high class women.
I didn't know what I looked like, but Mina assured me I looked beautiful, but I wasn't so confident. I just wondered if she was telling me that because I was her friend.
I stared at the white peasant style dress that came to just above my knees. It had looked perfect on me when I tried it on at the mall, but now I wondered if it made my hips look bigger than normal.
Mina had used fat curlers to roll my hair, and when she took them out thirty minutes later, my hair had been a wavy golden sea. I had liked the curl at first, but now I wondered if it made my head seem too big for my body.
I had done my own make-up, but had immediately washed it off and had asked Mina to do it. She had done a much better job than I had, but I couldn't help but wonder if the lipstick she had applied made me look pale.
I voiced my insecurities to Mina, and she turned away from her reflection to look at me in shock.
"You look beautiful, Serena."
"You look beautiful, Mina. I look pale and plain."
"Serena, you look anything but plain. You look like one of my porcelain dolls."
I was surprised at the comparison. Mina had shelf upon shelf of porcelain dolls she had collected since she was a child, and each face was a work of art. I had always loved going to her house and admiring the pretty dolls and their dresses, and begging Mina to allow me to hold one.
"You really think so?" I asked, wanting to know if she really thought I was as lovely as her dolls.
I smiled at Mina when she nodded and suddenly felt confident of myself as I placed on my strappy white heels that went with my dress.
At least, I was confident until I heard the doorbell ring, which announced Andrew's arrival.
TO BE CONTINUED...
SHOUT-OUTS AND THANKS:
MARY J.W.: Oh, it is such an honor to have you review my story! I read your fanfics before I even concidered writing my own. Thank you for your complements! (I loved your story "I'm Bringing You With Me")
LEEZA: lol Here's your update! Thanks for taking time to e-mail me.
JERRI: Thanks so much for your encouragement!
A.N.: Hoped you liked it! Sooo sorry for the cliffhanger! But the next chapter is almost finished, ao I'll try not to put off editing it. Till next chapter.