Chapter 6

Alan ran a comb through his hair, checking his reflection from all angles. He smiled, satisfied with the way it looked. He thundered down the stairs to his front door where he had left his school things. He grabbed his books and started heading out the door when he heard his dad call him.

"Yeah Dad?" he asked, hand on the doorknob.

"Did you have breakfast, son?"

"Oh yeah. No I didn't." Alan came into the kitchen, setting his bag down on a chair. He picked up and apple. "How's this?"

Fred Bosley gave his son a funny look, raising one eyebrow.

"Okay, I know it's not much but I'm sort of running late and I promised I would meet Ronnie at the corner." Alan explained, hesitating before leaving the room.

"All right." He sighed.

Alan hustled out of the room and had opened the door.

"Lunch?" Fred called after him.

Alan skidded to a stop and ran back in, grabbing the paper bag off of the counter. "Thanks!" he said before he flew out the door.

With his bag falling off of his shoulder and his apple and lunch in hand, he streaked up the street, running like crazy for the corner.

"Sunshine!" he yelled after a golden blonde figure walking towards the school. The teenager turned and waited.

"Man, where were you?" he asked when Alan had caught up with him, "I was waiting forever."

"I know, I know. I woke up late and then I had to get breakfast. On the go," he explained as he raised his apple.

Ronnie laughed. They walked most of the way to school in silence. Alan could sense that something was bothering Ronnie but he figured it might have been when he had completely missed a throw the previous day. When they came to the school doors, Ronnie went one way, and Alan the other, both waving goodbye. Alan walked up to his locker, juggling books, his lunch, and his apple.

"Need some help?" a familiar voice asked.

"Could you?" Alan said as he dumped all his books and lunch into Melody's arms. He handed her the apple and she just waited as he jiggled his lock until it opened.

"You just wiggle yours and it opens?" She asked in astonishment.

"Yup, it's broken," Alan said as he pulled out his math books.

"Aren't you worried someone might steal something?" Melody asked, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Ain't got nothing worth stealing," he answered simply as he turned to get his books, "Besides, only you and me know it's broken."

Melody smiled, "Well what if I go to the criminals?"

"Then," Alan said, his face grave, "you will be an accessory to robbery."

Melody giggled, "Okay Alan. But how would you prove it was me?"

"I would just know." Alan said as they walked to the history room.

"Okay, if you say so." Melody said as the bell rang.

"Come on Melody," Ronnie picked up Melody's books and started down the hall.

"Hey, you don't have to do that," she said, walking behind him.

"Oh, I don't mind," Ronnie said as he shook his head a little.

A group of girls they passed sighed. Melody rolled her eyes. Sure Ronnie was nice and absolutely gorgeous, but still... that sighing could drive someone insane.

"Will you sit with me at lunch?" Ronnie asked as he opened the door for her.

"Sure," Melody smiled, wondering why Ronnie was being so nice all of a sudden. When they came to where Ronnie's locker was, he offered to keep her books in his locker until after lunch.

"Oh, that's real nice of you," she said, "but my money is in my locker."

Ronnie was leaning up against the locker, looking down at her. His eyes bored into her,

"No, I'll pay for your lunch."

Suddenly, everything finally caught up with her. Carrying her books, keeping them in his locker, buying her lunch. Ronnie wanted her to be his girl! Melody looked up at him, amazed. He could have any girl in the school and he wanted to be with her? She smiled up at him.

"Thanks Ronnie," she said, and he shrugged and they started walking to the cafeteria.

They went through the lunch line and Ronnie carried out his tray and hers. Melody followed, feeling like a million bucks. Instead of sitting with the team, like she had expected, Ronnie led her to a table by themselves. The football team turned to whisper to each other at this.

"Way to go Sunshine!" Petey yelled.

Ronnie laughed, "Yeah, whatever Petey."

Ronnie turned his attention away from the team to Melody. "What are you doing this Friday?" he asked her.

"Nothing," Melody answered, hoping he was doing what she thought he was doing. "

Would you want to go out to dinner with me?" Ronnie asked, watching her face for a reaction.

"Sure. I'd love to," Melody beamed. Gosh he was gorgeous. She couldn't help but think of the wonderful things this was going to bring.

"Great," Ronnie smiled and put a fork into his spaghetti, "I'll pick you up at eight."

"Can't wait," Melody returned watching him eat.

She glowed inside, wishing it was already Friday.

"So wait, is he asking her out?" Petey asked in a whisper surprisingly.

"I don't know Petey. If you would get your dog gone head out of my way, maybe I could see." Gary said, leaning over to try to catch the conversation from the other table.

"Alan!" Julius said, looking down the table for the thin boy. "Go pull the pudding trick."

Alan grinned, "Of course," he smiled.

He stood up and walked over to the table where Ronnie and Melody were deep in conversation. He heard Melody say "can't wait." He stood next to their table for a long time and neither one noticed him.

"-what kind of dinner do you want?" Ronnie asked her.

Melody answered with "umm... anything."

Alan cleared his throat and they looked up.

"Sunshine, don't mean to interrupt, but can I have your pudding?" Alan asked courteously, winking at him. Sunshine groaned, handed Alan his pudding and called across the cafeteria.

"Yes, I asked her out. Okay?"

The team whooped, shouting together,
"All right Sunshine!"