It was a cloudy mid-summer Thursday afternoon-the perfect kind of day to get lost in your thoughts and the smell of rain...
Nicole walked out of the mall in a slight daze, not really paying attention to where she was going. It was strange; the parking lot was full but it seemed like not another person lingered there. It was unusually quiet, but that didn't bother Nicole. She sort of liked it. She continued to walk in the same daze until reality hit her like a brick wall, forcing her to come out of her own little world.In this case, reality was in the form of a boy.
"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!" she apologized to the person on the ground across from her.
"Oh no, it was my fault," he replied. He stood up and offered her his hand. He helped her up as they lightly giggled about their little collision. "I wasn't watching where you-- where I was going," he quickly corrected himself.
She laughed. "Why would you be?" she replied. She looked towards the sky,and he followed her gaze upward. "It looks like it's going to rain," she said. "It's so easy to loose your head on a day like today..." her voice trailed off.
"Yeah, I know what you mean..." he agreed. They stood there for a few moments, not remembering the bags and packages scattered on the ground. Suddenly the boy snapped out of it, and Nicole soon followed. "Let me help you with those," he said said as he picked up some of her bags. Still slightly shaken from the collision, they put everything back in their bags and he handed them back to Nicole.
"Thanks," she said.
"No problem. My name is Jason," he offered his hand out for a shake. Taking it, she smiled.
"That's a nice name. Well, I guess I better be going. Thanks again, Jason." she said as she turned to walk away, but the boy put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. "Hold on!" He said. Normally, Nicole would have been put off by a complete stranger doing this, but there was something about him that made her wait to see what he would say next. "I didn't get your name," his voice then became a bit hushed, as would a young child's when unsure of what the other person's reaction would be.
"I didn't give it," she smiled coyly. "It was nice meeting you, Jason." she turned to leave again, but the boy wasn't going to give up that easily. Nicole found it slightly amusing. It was like a game to her, playing hard to get.
"Wait!" he called again. His voice again became hushed. "Will I see you again?" Almost immedietly he was taken aback by his comment and a confused look came on his face as if to ask himself "Where the heck did that come from?"
Nicole laughed a little. "I don't know." she said with a smile. "Probably. What do you think?"
The boy thought about the question for a minute, then his facial expression changed from inquizzetive to a hopeful, but slightly clueless one. After a moment, he spoke. "I'm not sure. Maybe," he said.
"Well, I don't know. It's a small world, after all. Stranger things have happened. Anything is possible. I guess we'll just have to see," she said. "It was nice meeting you," she said with a smile as she turned away for the last time. When he didn't call after her to stop, she kept walking.
The boy stood in the parking lot for a minute to let what just happened register and absorb, but didn't dwell on it. He let it go and just kept walking as if nothing had ever happened. In their minds, they thought that it was probably the last they would ever see of each other,but someone else had a different idea...
**********************************************
School had only been in session for a couple of weeks and already Nicole had a reputation. She pondered this as she looked in the mirror at 5:30 a.m. She always woke up an hour before she really had to, especially when she was going to be seen in public. School was no exception.She inherited this early bird quality from her mom. She had grown to like the extra time and the sunrises that came with the early morning. She would often sit on her window seat and draw the sunrises or take pictures of them with her camera. She had an extensive collection of mirrors and frames on her walls, and she would fill the frames with drawings and photographs. After about 3 years of doing this, she had become pretty skilled with a pencil or a lense. Her hand had become steady, which made her a pro when it came to applying make up. Even though her look almost never changed, she still managed to look stunning when she arrived at school in the morning.
Walking over to the closet, Nicole picked out an awesome vintage style Mudd t-shirt and matched it with her best pair of jeans. It was a mix of golden hues and looked awesome with her naturally wavy brown and blonde highlighted hair. It had a tie at the neck and the hems were ruffled. She studied the outfit for a moment and looked in confusion. What had that girl meant when she said that she was probably "experienced" and it was no wonder that all the guys liked her? She couldn't figure it out. She didn't look slutty, and as far as she knew, she didn't act like one. It bothered her that anyone could even think that about her, no less say that. She walked over to the floor length mirror and studied herself another time. Nope. Nothing she was wearing was in the least bit flashy; in fact, she had been shooting for the vintage look. Nothing was showing; there was nothing suggestive about the person staring back at her. Was it just her? Or did people see something else when they looked at her? Whatever it was, she didn't see it.
Nicole hopped down the stairs to the kitchen and sat down on one of the high stools at the island (not really an island, that's just what they called thecounter in the middle of the kitchen floor). Her mom was making a full-fledged breakfast- bacon, eggs, toast, pancakes fruit, cereal etc. The whole enchilada.
"Mom?" she stuttered. "Am I... I mean do you think I'm... what I mean to say is... Do I look ... suggestive to you?" she spit the last part out. She knew that if something looked trashy, her mom would be the first to point it out.
Her mom looked up inquizzitively at her daughter. She studied her for about 2 minutes and after a long pause she said "No honey. Not at all. Why do you ask? You look very stylish to me."
"Oh, I don't know. Just checking I guess." Nicole knew she could trust her mom on this one. Her mom didn't always have the best sense in everything, but when it came to fashion, her mom knew best. She wasn't like most moms, that was for sure. Most teenagers can't stand when their parents buy clothes for them, and she couldn't blame them. Most of the stuff her friends' moms' picked out looked like they were from the maternity ward- everything covered them down to their ankles, and not a shred of skin was left exposed. But her mom wasn't like that. Her mom knew how to shop. She knew all about how to look like a knock-out while still being modest. She had tips on how to make everything look model quality with out designer price. She always got the coolest thing for a fraction of what most people paid. It had even gotten to the point where her friends wanted her mom to shop for them! In fact, the top she was wearing right then was the top her mom picked out and got for 80% off at Kohls. Her mom may have been 47, but she didn't look a day older than 35. So when her mom said she looked good, she knew she looked good.
***************************************
Nicole walked down the street towards the bus stop where her friend Stephanie was waiting.
Hair? No.
Clothes- definetly not.
Make up- Uh-uh.
Was it because she was a cheerleader? Why would that matter? She continued to check herself over quietly.As she approached the bus stop, Steph greeted her.
"Hey, mi amiga, que pasa?" Stephanie was in this habit of speaking spanglish. She only spoke a little spanish, so she figured spanglish was the next best thing.
"Steph? Do you think I'm a slut?" Nicole asked candidly.
"Hmmm... I don't think so..." she said looking her friend over. "Doesn't look like it to me...why?" Nicole preceeded to tell her firend of what she had overheard on the bus the day before.
"Is it your hair?"
"No..."
"Is it because you're a cheerleader?"
"Could be..."
"Your make up?"
"I hardly wear any, and besides, I've been wearing the same makeup since like the 7th grade and no one ever said anything before," they went over on the bus ride. Still with no answer, they approached the doors of Chapelfeild high, and entered. Their other friend Allisa was waiting for them by the lockers. They needed another opinion, and it was a perfect oppertunity to get one. They could always count on Allison to honest. Not to say that she never lied, but her nose flared whenever she wasn't telling the truth.
"Ally? Do you think Nicole's a *slut*?" Stephanie whispered the last part, but still everyone in the hall stopped and stared.
"Go on!On your way," Nicole shooed them away.
"Now, back to business, do you?"
"No! Not at all!" she yelled, appalled at the very thought. When the two other friends explained to her what had happened on the bus, Ally just looked confused at why someone would say that.
"Eww! Why would anyone think that?" she asked. Just as the words left her lips, Tad Johnson walked by and waved to Nicole.
"Duty calls," Nicole said and then caught up with him. Ally and Stephanie looked at each other and then they realized it.
Oh. That's why.
Nicole walked out of the mall in a slight daze, not really paying attention to where she was going. It was strange; the parking lot was full but it seemed like not another person lingered there. It was unusually quiet, but that didn't bother Nicole. She sort of liked it. She continued to walk in the same daze until reality hit her like a brick wall, forcing her to come out of her own little world.In this case, reality was in the form of a boy.
"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!" she apologized to the person on the ground across from her.
"Oh no, it was my fault," he replied. He stood up and offered her his hand. He helped her up as they lightly giggled about their little collision. "I wasn't watching where you-- where I was going," he quickly corrected himself.
She laughed. "Why would you be?" she replied. She looked towards the sky,and he followed her gaze upward. "It looks like it's going to rain," she said. "It's so easy to loose your head on a day like today..." her voice trailed off.
"Yeah, I know what you mean..." he agreed. They stood there for a few moments, not remembering the bags and packages scattered on the ground. Suddenly the boy snapped out of it, and Nicole soon followed. "Let me help you with those," he said said as he picked up some of her bags. Still slightly shaken from the collision, they put everything back in their bags and he handed them back to Nicole.
"Thanks," she said.
"No problem. My name is Jason," he offered his hand out for a shake. Taking it, she smiled.
"That's a nice name. Well, I guess I better be going. Thanks again, Jason." she said as she turned to walk away, but the boy put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. "Hold on!" He said. Normally, Nicole would have been put off by a complete stranger doing this, but there was something about him that made her wait to see what he would say next. "I didn't get your name," his voice then became a bit hushed, as would a young child's when unsure of what the other person's reaction would be.
"I didn't give it," she smiled coyly. "It was nice meeting you, Jason." she turned to leave again, but the boy wasn't going to give up that easily. Nicole found it slightly amusing. It was like a game to her, playing hard to get.
"Wait!" he called again. His voice again became hushed. "Will I see you again?" Almost immedietly he was taken aback by his comment and a confused look came on his face as if to ask himself "Where the heck did that come from?"
Nicole laughed a little. "I don't know." she said with a smile. "Probably. What do you think?"
The boy thought about the question for a minute, then his facial expression changed from inquizzetive to a hopeful, but slightly clueless one. After a moment, he spoke. "I'm not sure. Maybe," he said.
"Well, I don't know. It's a small world, after all. Stranger things have happened. Anything is possible. I guess we'll just have to see," she said. "It was nice meeting you," she said with a smile as she turned away for the last time. When he didn't call after her to stop, she kept walking.
The boy stood in the parking lot for a minute to let what just happened register and absorb, but didn't dwell on it. He let it go and just kept walking as if nothing had ever happened. In their minds, they thought that it was probably the last they would ever see of each other,but someone else had a different idea...
**********************************************
School had only been in session for a couple of weeks and already Nicole had a reputation. She pondered this as she looked in the mirror at 5:30 a.m. She always woke up an hour before she really had to, especially when she was going to be seen in public. School was no exception.She inherited this early bird quality from her mom. She had grown to like the extra time and the sunrises that came with the early morning. She would often sit on her window seat and draw the sunrises or take pictures of them with her camera. She had an extensive collection of mirrors and frames on her walls, and she would fill the frames with drawings and photographs. After about 3 years of doing this, she had become pretty skilled with a pencil or a lense. Her hand had become steady, which made her a pro when it came to applying make up. Even though her look almost never changed, she still managed to look stunning when she arrived at school in the morning.
Walking over to the closet, Nicole picked out an awesome vintage style Mudd t-shirt and matched it with her best pair of jeans. It was a mix of golden hues and looked awesome with her naturally wavy brown and blonde highlighted hair. It had a tie at the neck and the hems were ruffled. She studied the outfit for a moment and looked in confusion. What had that girl meant when she said that she was probably "experienced" and it was no wonder that all the guys liked her? She couldn't figure it out. She didn't look slutty, and as far as she knew, she didn't act like one. It bothered her that anyone could even think that about her, no less say that. She walked over to the floor length mirror and studied herself another time. Nope. Nothing she was wearing was in the least bit flashy; in fact, she had been shooting for the vintage look. Nothing was showing; there was nothing suggestive about the person staring back at her. Was it just her? Or did people see something else when they looked at her? Whatever it was, she didn't see it.
Nicole hopped down the stairs to the kitchen and sat down on one of the high stools at the island (not really an island, that's just what they called thecounter in the middle of the kitchen floor). Her mom was making a full-fledged breakfast- bacon, eggs, toast, pancakes fruit, cereal etc. The whole enchilada.
"Mom?" she stuttered. "Am I... I mean do you think I'm... what I mean to say is... Do I look ... suggestive to you?" she spit the last part out. She knew that if something looked trashy, her mom would be the first to point it out.
Her mom looked up inquizzitively at her daughter. She studied her for about 2 minutes and after a long pause she said "No honey. Not at all. Why do you ask? You look very stylish to me."
"Oh, I don't know. Just checking I guess." Nicole knew she could trust her mom on this one. Her mom didn't always have the best sense in everything, but when it came to fashion, her mom knew best. She wasn't like most moms, that was for sure. Most teenagers can't stand when their parents buy clothes for them, and she couldn't blame them. Most of the stuff her friends' moms' picked out looked like they were from the maternity ward- everything covered them down to their ankles, and not a shred of skin was left exposed. But her mom wasn't like that. Her mom knew how to shop. She knew all about how to look like a knock-out while still being modest. She had tips on how to make everything look model quality with out designer price. She always got the coolest thing for a fraction of what most people paid. It had even gotten to the point where her friends wanted her mom to shop for them! In fact, the top she was wearing right then was the top her mom picked out and got for 80% off at Kohls. Her mom may have been 47, but she didn't look a day older than 35. So when her mom said she looked good, she knew she looked good.
***************************************
Nicole walked down the street towards the bus stop where her friend Stephanie was waiting.
Hair? No.
Clothes- definetly not.
Make up- Uh-uh.
Was it because she was a cheerleader? Why would that matter? She continued to check herself over quietly.As she approached the bus stop, Steph greeted her.
"Hey, mi amiga, que pasa?" Stephanie was in this habit of speaking spanglish. She only spoke a little spanish, so she figured spanglish was the next best thing.
"Steph? Do you think I'm a slut?" Nicole asked candidly.
"Hmmm... I don't think so..." she said looking her friend over. "Doesn't look like it to me...why?" Nicole preceeded to tell her firend of what she had overheard on the bus the day before.
"Is it your hair?"
"No..."
"Is it because you're a cheerleader?"
"Could be..."
"Your make up?"
"I hardly wear any, and besides, I've been wearing the same makeup since like the 7th grade and no one ever said anything before," they went over on the bus ride. Still with no answer, they approached the doors of Chapelfeild high, and entered. Their other friend Allisa was waiting for them by the lockers. They needed another opinion, and it was a perfect oppertunity to get one. They could always count on Allison to honest. Not to say that she never lied, but her nose flared whenever she wasn't telling the truth.
"Ally? Do you think Nicole's a *slut*?" Stephanie whispered the last part, but still everyone in the hall stopped and stared.
"Go on!On your way," Nicole shooed them away.
"Now, back to business, do you?"
"No! Not at all!" she yelled, appalled at the very thought. When the two other friends explained to her what had happened on the bus, Ally just looked confused at why someone would say that.
"Eww! Why would anyone think that?" she asked. Just as the words left her lips, Tad Johnson walked by and waved to Nicole.
"Duty calls," Nicole said and then caught up with him. Ally and Stephanie looked at each other and then they realized it.
Oh. That's why.