Change Has Come - Chapter Five: Unluck of The Draw
"I'm sorry, Tino, but I can't hang out today. I have to homework to do, and I have some chores to do," Carver said over the phone.
"Man, we haven't really hung out in like two weeks. I can't believe this," Tino lamented.
"I know, I know, but I have to do this stuff. Hey, I'll see you at the dance tomorrow, right?"
"Maybe. I have to hope that I can find someone to go to the dance with. Hopefully, today will be the day."
"I'm sure it will be, T. Just be positive and not so neurotic."
"Being neurotic is in my blood. It's hard to ignore that, but I'll try my best."
"Good luck, and later days."
"Thanks, later days."
Carver hung up the phone and noticed his mom peering over the top of the paper at him.
"Is there something on my face or am I just that good looking?" Carver asked.
Carver's mom shook her head for moment. "I'm just curious as to when you started offering to do fake chores and to not procrastinate with your homework instead of going out on Saturday."
"I never started and I never will. I just needed a good alibi for why I can't hang out today."
"I don't understand this at all. Why would you not want to go out with your friends?"
"Oh, I have my reasons. My absence today should make for an interesting outing for the rest of the group. Verrrry interesting, heh heh heh haha HAha, oh, was I doing that out loud?"
Carver's mom shook her head again. "Sometimes I worry about you, honey."
"Don't worry. I think it's just a phase. If you need me I'll be in my room polishing my shoes."
"Alright then, sweetie, I'll see you at supper."
"Okay then, we'll all meet there. See ya then," Tish said.
"Okay, see ya," Tino said on the other end of the phone line.
Tish hung up her phone, and smiled to herself. "This makes things easier. If only Lor is around, it will be easier for Tino to open up, and for me to get a date with him to the dance."
She stroked her chin thinking more intently about her plan of action.
"Hmmm, I suppose the best way to go about this is to be discreet. I'll subtly hint to him that he and I should go to the dance."
Tish laughed devilishly, pleased with her planning.
She suddenly stopped and thought, "I can't get too cocky. I still have to make sure that Lor doesn't figure anything out. At least Lor isn't the quickest person around."
Tish hated to think of Lor in such a negative fashion, but the situation made it necessary to consider.
"Hmmm, I do feel like I'm kind of deceiving her by trying to keep her in the dark, but it's necessary. I don't want her to mock Tino and me."
Tish took a deep breath and strengthened her resolve telling herself that she was making the right decision by not telling Lor about her feelings.
"Yes, this is the right thing to do. It would be more painful to tell her than it is to keep it from her."
Tish took one more deep breath for assurance and left her room with a grin on her face. Now was the time when she would enact her plan.
"So then it's just me, you, and Tish? Okay, that's fine. I'll see you at the mall," Lor said as she hung up the phone.
She pumped her fist in the air, excited that Carver would not be making the trip with them. If she had to endure any more of his gloating about the dance then she would go ballistic and kill him. Her excitement faded as she realized Carver's lack of presence put a bit of a kink in her plans.
"Oh man, I was supposed to get Carver to lure Tish away while I made my move. Now what do I do? Hmmm, well I guess I could always just lure her away myself. Yeah, that's it! I'll just lie a little to make her head off somewhere leaving Tino and me alone."
Lor chuckled to herself in a slightly evil manner.
"Although I have to wonder, is it right of me to lie to Tish? ......Yes, it is. We all tell little lies to her and to each other all the time. This is just drip in the ocean."
Lor whistled a happy tune as she got her money together. Once she got it all together she went over her plan in her head once more.
"I just gotta be direct about it. Lure Tish away, then I say to Tino 'I like you. Let's go to the dance.' No goofin' around, no underhanded business aside from the lying. Sounds like a plan."
Lor took a deep breath and marched happily out the door assured that this would work.
Tino paced at the entrance to the mall waiting for the arrival of Tish and Lor. Every five seconds or so, Tino would check his watch growing more impatient with each passing moment.
"Where are those two? We are missing valuable date finding time. This is getting ridiculous. The mall is going to close by the time they get here."
He paced a bit more getting more and more anxious. Finally, he looked up and saw Lor and Tish approaching from both sides.
"Where have you two been?! I've been waiting, and waiting, and waiting. This is a time sensitive case we are dealing with," Tino said anxiously.
"Calm down, Tino. It takes time to get ready, you have to have some patience," Tish commented.
"Yeah, dude, it's no need to panic. We're here now, so let's get in there and get searching," Lor added.
Tino needed no further convincing and was off into the mall with Tish and Lor quickly catching up to his pace.
"I've noticed that you two seem to be much more cheerful today than yesterday afternoon. What happened between then and now?"
"Well, I don't know about Tish, but I know that I'm feeling happy because I can almost guarantee that I'm gettin' a date today," Lor answered.
"Wow, what a coincidence, that's the same reason why I'm happy!" Tish commented.
"That is odd. So you two, who are the guys that you are almost certain will be your dates?"
Both chuckled for a moment.
"I can't say, it's a surprise," Tish said with a smile.
"Same here," Lor added also with a smile.
Tino sighed, "Fine, keep it to yourselves, but tell me this is it someone I know?"
Both girls chuckled again.
"Oh I know you know this guy. You see him almost everyday," Tish said amongst the chuckling.
"Same here again," Lor chuckled.
"I see. And what is so funny about all of this? Is this some type of joke? Or are you just laughing about he fact that I will be the only one who won't have a date?" Tino asked.
"It's nothing, Tino, just a fit of the giggles. Forget about it," Tish commented.
"I have to forget it. I can't have anything ruining my concentration today," Tino said.
"I think you need to relax a bit. You are way too uptight about this," Lor commented.
"Yeah, just take a deep breath, it will be fine," Tish added.
"You'll get a date," Lor and Tish said in unison while grinning ear to ear.
The two stared at each other surprised by the coincidental timing.
"Synchronized," Tino said calmly.
The three continued their walk through the mall eventually coming to a stop at the atrium for a round of chug-a-freezes. It had been a mere week earlier that Tino and Tish were there looking for dates.
"You know I think that you girls are right. I think that I will get a date today. Yeah, there's definitely a vibe in the air," Tino commented as they sat around the table with their chug-a-freezes.
Tish quickly sat upright and thought, "I think Tino just sent me a signal. That sounded like a subtle comment that he knows he is going to ask me to the dance. I'll have to let him know I understand."
She cleared her throat and said, "Definitely. Why I bet your date to the dance is right under your nose, right in front of your eyes, you just might not recognize it."
Tish followed up by quickly winking at Tino.
Lor took notice and began thinking anxiously to herself, "What was that about? That traitor! I knew Carver couldn't keep his mouth shut. He must have told Tish. At least, she is trying to help me out by nudging Tino towards me. I'll still make sure to give Carver a piece of my mind when I see him. Hmmm, even if Tish knows I'd still feel awkward being direct with her around."
"Hey Tish you got something in your eye? It was flickering a minute ago," Tino commented.
Both Lor and Tish let out a silent sigh that Tino was unable to pick up on the signal.
"Tish's help didn't seem to work. I guess I just have to rely on myself to do this. So that means it's time to ditch Tish," Lor thought.
"Hey Tish, I uhh, just saw that Strings 'N Things is having a one day sale today. You should check that out while Tino and I stay here and wait for you," Lor said a bit stiffly.
"Strings 'N Things is having its one day sale tomorrow not today," Tish commented.
"No, it's today alright. I'm sure about it."
"Yeah, well the big poster in their window right behind you begs to differ."
Lor turned around slowly and saw the enormous poster boldly stating that the sale was in fact the next day.
"That's right the sale was at, uhhh, Rings 'N Things. You know it's that jewelry store that, uhhh, just opened up downtown."
Tino and Tish stared at Lor, but decided to let it go.
"Ohh, this isn't good. Tino completely missed my first comment. Maybe I was too subtle or maybe I was too blunt and he thought Lor was on to us. Oh I don't know! I've got to think of something fast," Tish thought.
On the other side of the table Lor was thinking similar things. "Oh man, Tish completely botched my plan right there. I thought she was trying to help me. She is a tricky one that, Tish. Maybe I can wait till she goes to the bathroom. No, she never uses these bathrooms. I need to come up with some type of plan, quick."
Inspiration struck both girls at the same time. Both opened their mouths to speak, but were cut off by an approaching voice.
"Hi guys," it said.
The three turned their heads to see Dot Cardigan.
"Hi Dot," they all answered.
"Hey Tino?" Dot asked a bit shyly.
"Yeah?" Tino answered.
"Ummm, I was curious if you had a date to the dance or not."
"No, I'm still dateless, unfortunately."
Dot's face seemed to brighten at his response. Both Lor and Tish noticed it, and they knew what was coming next. Each one wanted to somehow stop the current conversation, but neither could think of a way to do it.
"Well then how would you like to go to the dance with me?" Dot asked.
Between her question and the light in Tino's eyes Tish and Lor wanted to die.
"Sure! I'll go with you," Tino replied excitedly.
"That's great! I'm sure we will have a fantastic time. I'll see you tomorrow then," Dot said as she walked away.
Tino smiled and waved goodbye.
"Dot Cardigan, how come I never thought of asking her? You know what I think it was? She was too obvious a choice. It's just like you said, Tish, right under my nose and I had no idea until today. Nothing like a successful day."
Lor and Tish both grumbled an agreement. Tino was so overcome with joy that he became completely oblivious to Lor and Tish's regression into a funk.
"I tell ya, I can't wait to tell Carver about this," Tino commented as he kicked his feet up and drank his chug-a-freez.
Tish paced around in her room trying to keep herself busy, but it failed to keep her mind busy.
"I can't believe this. Tino is going to the dance with Dot Cardigan. It should be me out on that dance floor with Tino tomorrow night. This isn't fair!"
Tish sat down on her bed to sulk some more.
"And the look in his eyes when she asked him to the dance, oh it was terrible! I guess he likes her and not me like I had thought."
Tish put her head in her hands and thought some more to try and ease her racing mind.
"I know what he sees in Dot. It's her nice outfits and accessories. I could spend money like that if I wanted to, I'm just more frugal."
Tish slowly began to rekindle her spirit and determination.
"That's it. He may be interested in Dot, but I'm still falling for him so I won't give up. I'll buy a real nice dress and things and really wow him at that dance tomorrow. That lousy Dot Cardigan, two can play her money game."
Tish grinned evilly. "It's time for Operation: Steal Tino From Dot!"
Tish rubbed her hands together and laughed an uncharacteristically evil laugh.
Lor repeatedly punched her pillow imagining it was Dot Cardigan.
"I can't believe she stole Tino away."
Lor punched the pillow one more time. "And I can't believe Tino let himself be taken away. I guess this is going to be harder than I thought."
Lor thought about it and began punching her pillow again.
"Now if life were easy, my feelings for Tino would just vanish now since he is in Dot Cardigan's spell, but nooooo I'm still in love with him."
Lor pulled herself away from her pillow so she wouldn't punch through it, and she sat on the edge of her bed.
"I think I know what he sees in her. She is more of a girly-girl. Walking around with her hair all up in the air, I could do that too, but I just don't want too. Well, we'll see who walks away with Tino at the end of the night tomorrow."
The spark of competition that shined in Lor's eyes before a big game was burning brightly now.
"Tomorrow at the dance, I'm gonna take Dot out and then with no one in my way I'll win Tino over. I'm going to call this Operation: Damn Dot Cardigan, Tino is Mine and I Will Prove It."
An evil smile spread across Lor's face as she pounded the palm of her hand imagining the dance the next night.
End of Chapter Five
I don't think I've written any chapter so far that jumps between locations as many times as this one did. Regardless, I think it's a necessary evil so you know where Lor and Tish are coming from. That's all I've got for this chapter so keep readin' and reviewin'.
"I'm sorry, Tino, but I can't hang out today. I have to homework to do, and I have some chores to do," Carver said over the phone.
"Man, we haven't really hung out in like two weeks. I can't believe this," Tino lamented.
"I know, I know, but I have to do this stuff. Hey, I'll see you at the dance tomorrow, right?"
"Maybe. I have to hope that I can find someone to go to the dance with. Hopefully, today will be the day."
"I'm sure it will be, T. Just be positive and not so neurotic."
"Being neurotic is in my blood. It's hard to ignore that, but I'll try my best."
"Good luck, and later days."
"Thanks, later days."
Carver hung up the phone and noticed his mom peering over the top of the paper at him.
"Is there something on my face or am I just that good looking?" Carver asked.
Carver's mom shook her head for moment. "I'm just curious as to when you started offering to do fake chores and to not procrastinate with your homework instead of going out on Saturday."
"I never started and I never will. I just needed a good alibi for why I can't hang out today."
"I don't understand this at all. Why would you not want to go out with your friends?"
"Oh, I have my reasons. My absence today should make for an interesting outing for the rest of the group. Verrrry interesting, heh heh heh haha HAha, oh, was I doing that out loud?"
Carver's mom shook her head again. "Sometimes I worry about you, honey."
"Don't worry. I think it's just a phase. If you need me I'll be in my room polishing my shoes."
"Alright then, sweetie, I'll see you at supper."
"Okay then, we'll all meet there. See ya then," Tish said.
"Okay, see ya," Tino said on the other end of the phone line.
Tish hung up her phone, and smiled to herself. "This makes things easier. If only Lor is around, it will be easier for Tino to open up, and for me to get a date with him to the dance."
She stroked her chin thinking more intently about her plan of action.
"Hmmm, I suppose the best way to go about this is to be discreet. I'll subtly hint to him that he and I should go to the dance."
Tish laughed devilishly, pleased with her planning.
She suddenly stopped and thought, "I can't get too cocky. I still have to make sure that Lor doesn't figure anything out. At least Lor isn't the quickest person around."
Tish hated to think of Lor in such a negative fashion, but the situation made it necessary to consider.
"Hmmm, I do feel like I'm kind of deceiving her by trying to keep her in the dark, but it's necessary. I don't want her to mock Tino and me."
Tish took a deep breath and strengthened her resolve telling herself that she was making the right decision by not telling Lor about her feelings.
"Yes, this is the right thing to do. It would be more painful to tell her than it is to keep it from her."
Tish took one more deep breath for assurance and left her room with a grin on her face. Now was the time when she would enact her plan.
"So then it's just me, you, and Tish? Okay, that's fine. I'll see you at the mall," Lor said as she hung up the phone.
She pumped her fist in the air, excited that Carver would not be making the trip with them. If she had to endure any more of his gloating about the dance then she would go ballistic and kill him. Her excitement faded as she realized Carver's lack of presence put a bit of a kink in her plans.
"Oh man, I was supposed to get Carver to lure Tish away while I made my move. Now what do I do? Hmmm, well I guess I could always just lure her away myself. Yeah, that's it! I'll just lie a little to make her head off somewhere leaving Tino and me alone."
Lor chuckled to herself in a slightly evil manner.
"Although I have to wonder, is it right of me to lie to Tish? ......Yes, it is. We all tell little lies to her and to each other all the time. This is just drip in the ocean."
Lor whistled a happy tune as she got her money together. Once she got it all together she went over her plan in her head once more.
"I just gotta be direct about it. Lure Tish away, then I say to Tino 'I like you. Let's go to the dance.' No goofin' around, no underhanded business aside from the lying. Sounds like a plan."
Lor took a deep breath and marched happily out the door assured that this would work.
Tino paced at the entrance to the mall waiting for the arrival of Tish and Lor. Every five seconds or so, Tino would check his watch growing more impatient with each passing moment.
"Where are those two? We are missing valuable date finding time. This is getting ridiculous. The mall is going to close by the time they get here."
He paced a bit more getting more and more anxious. Finally, he looked up and saw Lor and Tish approaching from both sides.
"Where have you two been?! I've been waiting, and waiting, and waiting. This is a time sensitive case we are dealing with," Tino said anxiously.
"Calm down, Tino. It takes time to get ready, you have to have some patience," Tish commented.
"Yeah, dude, it's no need to panic. We're here now, so let's get in there and get searching," Lor added.
Tino needed no further convincing and was off into the mall with Tish and Lor quickly catching up to his pace.
"I've noticed that you two seem to be much more cheerful today than yesterday afternoon. What happened between then and now?"
"Well, I don't know about Tish, but I know that I'm feeling happy because I can almost guarantee that I'm gettin' a date today," Lor answered.
"Wow, what a coincidence, that's the same reason why I'm happy!" Tish commented.
"That is odd. So you two, who are the guys that you are almost certain will be your dates?"
Both chuckled for a moment.
"I can't say, it's a surprise," Tish said with a smile.
"Same here," Lor added also with a smile.
Tino sighed, "Fine, keep it to yourselves, but tell me this is it someone I know?"
Both girls chuckled again.
"Oh I know you know this guy. You see him almost everyday," Tish said amongst the chuckling.
"Same here again," Lor chuckled.
"I see. And what is so funny about all of this? Is this some type of joke? Or are you just laughing about he fact that I will be the only one who won't have a date?" Tino asked.
"It's nothing, Tino, just a fit of the giggles. Forget about it," Tish commented.
"I have to forget it. I can't have anything ruining my concentration today," Tino said.
"I think you need to relax a bit. You are way too uptight about this," Lor commented.
"Yeah, just take a deep breath, it will be fine," Tish added.
"You'll get a date," Lor and Tish said in unison while grinning ear to ear.
The two stared at each other surprised by the coincidental timing.
"Synchronized," Tino said calmly.
The three continued their walk through the mall eventually coming to a stop at the atrium for a round of chug-a-freezes. It had been a mere week earlier that Tino and Tish were there looking for dates.
"You know I think that you girls are right. I think that I will get a date today. Yeah, there's definitely a vibe in the air," Tino commented as they sat around the table with their chug-a-freezes.
Tish quickly sat upright and thought, "I think Tino just sent me a signal. That sounded like a subtle comment that he knows he is going to ask me to the dance. I'll have to let him know I understand."
She cleared her throat and said, "Definitely. Why I bet your date to the dance is right under your nose, right in front of your eyes, you just might not recognize it."
Tish followed up by quickly winking at Tino.
Lor took notice and began thinking anxiously to herself, "What was that about? That traitor! I knew Carver couldn't keep his mouth shut. He must have told Tish. At least, she is trying to help me out by nudging Tino towards me. I'll still make sure to give Carver a piece of my mind when I see him. Hmmm, even if Tish knows I'd still feel awkward being direct with her around."
"Hey Tish you got something in your eye? It was flickering a minute ago," Tino commented.
Both Lor and Tish let out a silent sigh that Tino was unable to pick up on the signal.
"Tish's help didn't seem to work. I guess I just have to rely on myself to do this. So that means it's time to ditch Tish," Lor thought.
"Hey Tish, I uhh, just saw that Strings 'N Things is having a one day sale today. You should check that out while Tino and I stay here and wait for you," Lor said a bit stiffly.
"Strings 'N Things is having its one day sale tomorrow not today," Tish commented.
"No, it's today alright. I'm sure about it."
"Yeah, well the big poster in their window right behind you begs to differ."
Lor turned around slowly and saw the enormous poster boldly stating that the sale was in fact the next day.
"That's right the sale was at, uhhh, Rings 'N Things. You know it's that jewelry store that, uhhh, just opened up downtown."
Tino and Tish stared at Lor, but decided to let it go.
"Ohh, this isn't good. Tino completely missed my first comment. Maybe I was too subtle or maybe I was too blunt and he thought Lor was on to us. Oh I don't know! I've got to think of something fast," Tish thought.
On the other side of the table Lor was thinking similar things. "Oh man, Tish completely botched my plan right there. I thought she was trying to help me. She is a tricky one that, Tish. Maybe I can wait till she goes to the bathroom. No, she never uses these bathrooms. I need to come up with some type of plan, quick."
Inspiration struck both girls at the same time. Both opened their mouths to speak, but were cut off by an approaching voice.
"Hi guys," it said.
The three turned their heads to see Dot Cardigan.
"Hi Dot," they all answered.
"Hey Tino?" Dot asked a bit shyly.
"Yeah?" Tino answered.
"Ummm, I was curious if you had a date to the dance or not."
"No, I'm still dateless, unfortunately."
Dot's face seemed to brighten at his response. Both Lor and Tish noticed it, and they knew what was coming next. Each one wanted to somehow stop the current conversation, but neither could think of a way to do it.
"Well then how would you like to go to the dance with me?" Dot asked.
Between her question and the light in Tino's eyes Tish and Lor wanted to die.
"Sure! I'll go with you," Tino replied excitedly.
"That's great! I'm sure we will have a fantastic time. I'll see you tomorrow then," Dot said as she walked away.
Tino smiled and waved goodbye.
"Dot Cardigan, how come I never thought of asking her? You know what I think it was? She was too obvious a choice. It's just like you said, Tish, right under my nose and I had no idea until today. Nothing like a successful day."
Lor and Tish both grumbled an agreement. Tino was so overcome with joy that he became completely oblivious to Lor and Tish's regression into a funk.
"I tell ya, I can't wait to tell Carver about this," Tino commented as he kicked his feet up and drank his chug-a-freez.
Tish paced around in her room trying to keep herself busy, but it failed to keep her mind busy.
"I can't believe this. Tino is going to the dance with Dot Cardigan. It should be me out on that dance floor with Tino tomorrow night. This isn't fair!"
Tish sat down on her bed to sulk some more.
"And the look in his eyes when she asked him to the dance, oh it was terrible! I guess he likes her and not me like I had thought."
Tish put her head in her hands and thought some more to try and ease her racing mind.
"I know what he sees in Dot. It's her nice outfits and accessories. I could spend money like that if I wanted to, I'm just more frugal."
Tish slowly began to rekindle her spirit and determination.
"That's it. He may be interested in Dot, but I'm still falling for him so I won't give up. I'll buy a real nice dress and things and really wow him at that dance tomorrow. That lousy Dot Cardigan, two can play her money game."
Tish grinned evilly. "It's time for Operation: Steal Tino From Dot!"
Tish rubbed her hands together and laughed an uncharacteristically evil laugh.
Lor repeatedly punched her pillow imagining it was Dot Cardigan.
"I can't believe she stole Tino away."
Lor punched the pillow one more time. "And I can't believe Tino let himself be taken away. I guess this is going to be harder than I thought."
Lor thought about it and began punching her pillow again.
"Now if life were easy, my feelings for Tino would just vanish now since he is in Dot Cardigan's spell, but nooooo I'm still in love with him."
Lor pulled herself away from her pillow so she wouldn't punch through it, and she sat on the edge of her bed.
"I think I know what he sees in her. She is more of a girly-girl. Walking around with her hair all up in the air, I could do that too, but I just don't want too. Well, we'll see who walks away with Tino at the end of the night tomorrow."
The spark of competition that shined in Lor's eyes before a big game was burning brightly now.
"Tomorrow at the dance, I'm gonna take Dot out and then with no one in my way I'll win Tino over. I'm going to call this Operation: Damn Dot Cardigan, Tino is Mine and I Will Prove It."
An evil smile spread across Lor's face as she pounded the palm of her hand imagining the dance the next night.
End of Chapter Five
I don't think I've written any chapter so far that jumps between locations as many times as this one did. Regardless, I think it's a necessary evil so you know where Lor and Tish are coming from. That's all I've got for this chapter so keep readin' and reviewin'.