Stupid Mistakes Lead to Nowhere
Part Three of 'Something I Believe In – Miracle Romance'
Nora seemed to garner even more attention than before for remaining single. Guys would pour their love letters into Nora's locker, but there was no letters from the guy Nora wanted to hear from most. When she Instant Messaged him, there was no sign of romantic ardor.
Nora watched as the fall season slowly came to a close, and one snowy day, she woke up with a newfound courage. It was nine in the morning. Looking into her mirror, she saw that her chest had grown. She was taller, and her hair was even silkier and more perfect than before. She had truly become gorgeous.
Nora plopped down into her computer chair and began to IM Natalie.
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "Natalie. You up?"
GirlFromIpanemaAge13 (Natalie's screen name) responded immediately. "You finally woke up. Nice."
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "I think that maybe today's the day."
GirlFromIpanemaAge13: "Day for WHAT?"
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "You know that guy I love but I won't tell you who it is?"
GirlFromIpanemaAge13: "Are you going to tell him you like him?"
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "Bingo."
GirlFromIpanemaAge13: "I'm forwarding this conversation to Dee-Dee."
Nora waited patiently.
FlowerChild45: "I thought you'd never do that!"
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "No school today. I figured I'd 'accidentally' bump into him inside the library."
FlowerChild45: "Nice. Now go do that. I'll tell Natalie you're off-line."
Nora put on her long, black, button-down jacket. She looked good. Nora prayed that everything would go well.
Nora began to walk to the library. Please, God, I want this to work out…
She was still walking, but she didn't notice that Mandark was walking as well.
Oh God help me, I'm about to take the plunge…
Nora wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to where she was going.
I love him, God, and I pray that you shine your light on me, please let him love me…
Nora ran smack into Mandark. Her library books flew everywhere, and his glasses went askew. Both of them landed flat on their backs.
Nora looked up, her face a strange mix of thankfulness and pain. Mandark looked back, his face looking definitely confused.
"Sorry," Nora finally said shakily. She was red in the face.
"Don't worry," Mandark smiled. Nora began to pick up her books, and thought that she had gotten them all. Mandark, however, handed her a novel, Blue Eyes.
"Don't forget this one," Mandark reminded her.
Nora's courage was still with her, so she went for broke.
"Actually, Mandark, I have to tell you something," Nora said.
Her face was becoming red, for sure. She could feel her heart beat in her chest crazily.
"Really?" Mandark inquired. "Is it important?"
Of course it's important! Why else would I tell you?!
"Yeah, I think so…"
Nora found that courage was deserting her.
"What is it?"
Nora looked into Mandark's eyes, and became furiously red in the face. "Uh… I like you, okay, bye!"
Nora sped off.
Mandark cocked his head.
"Um… I knew I was her friend," he mumbled to himself.
Dexter was outside too. "She is such a bag of nerves."
"I don't get it."
"Neither do I."
Mandark looked at Dexter. "I can't believe I'm talking to you."
"I'll pretend that I said nothing," Dexter snapped.
"Fine!" Mandark yelled.
"Fine!" Dexter yelled back.
They walked away from each other.
Nora pulled The Adventures of M&M out of a rack at the library when Ellen Rourke appeared out of nowhere and put a cold hand on Nora's shoulder.
"You should be ashamed of yourself," Ellen said coolly.
"Why?" Nora asked. She faced the blonde teen. Ellen's brown eyes looked down in consternation at Nora.
"Why, you say? Because you hurt Carter!" Ellen yelled.
"Shh!" yelled a librarian.
"Sorry," Nora whispered back. Nora turned to Ellen. "That was a month ago."
"He's not over you yet," Ellen snarled. "Duh."
"What's your point?" Nora asked.
"You may think that everyone loves you, but most of us hate you," Ellen spat. "You can't sit with us. We're too good for you."
"What about Natalie?" Nora asked. She was beginning to get scared.
"She can't hang out with us either," Ellen snapped.
"But she didn't do anything!" Nora whispered loudly.
Ellen narrowed her eyes. "She hung out with you. That's bad enough."
Nora felt something bubble inside her. It was anger. But it was anger, as Nora had never felt it. It took over her system and shut off her brain.
Before Nora knew it, she had smacked Ellen in the face. No one noticed, because Nora was exceptionally quiet, but Ellen looked at Nora in disgust, rubbing her cheek.
"What was that for?" Ellen moaned.
"You won't have to put any blush on for a while," Nora spat before walking over to the checkout table.
Nora sat at her computer.
Come on, Mandark, IM me or something, Nora thought.
But Dee-Dee did IM her, and Nora nearly fell out of her chair.
FlowerChild45: "Did Mandark say he'd go out with you?"
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "Uh… well… I told him really quick and ran away."
FlowerChild45: "Idiot."
Nora just wasn't in the mood. She logged off without saying good-bye. She was worried. Ellen had connections, and something really bad could – and probably would – happen to her and Natalie.
She looked into her mirror. She hated worry. She had a fear of the future.
Because usually the future hurt her. Inadvertently.Dee-Dee had taken Nora on a grand tour of the house a few weeks before. Nora had been clutching a piece of lined paper when Dee-Dee showed Nora Dexter's lab.
"Wow," Nora gasped, dropping the paper underneath a table accidentally. "This place… it's wonderful…"
Dee-Dee shrugged. "I like running around and pushing buttons."
"It's like Heaven on earth," Nora sighed. "How can one person… build something like THIS?"
"I don't know," Dee-Dee admitted. "But I think it rocks too."
Nora was beaming. "If only my parents would let me do this…"
"Why wouldn't your parents let you?" Dee-Dee asked.
Nora stuck out her tongue. "My parents are paranoid. They're always afraid that I'll end up getting kidnapped or maimed… I don't get it."
"Why are they so… paranoid?" Dee-Dee inquired.
"It's just their nature," Nora grinned.
"Wow, harsh," Dee-Dee thought aloud. She immediately covered her mouth.
"Aw, don't worry," Nora smiled. "I think they're a bit unreasonable, too."
Dee-Dee led Nora to the other rooms, the little paper long forgotten.
Natalie watched Ellen write hateful words to her on her computer… nasty letters, things that she knew weren't true…
Natalie pressed the warn button, but the words kept coming. Natalie logged out. She didn't know what had gotten into Ellen. Ellen had been one of her best friends…
Natalie stared at her floor. A drop of water fell down. And then more. Natalie watched her tears splatter on the carpet.
I must have made some stupid mistake… And stupid mistakes lead to nowhere… I have to pull through… but I can't…
I miss the old Ellen already… She was so nice to me, and peaceful… and she…
We're not friends anymore, though. She even said it.
Natalie ran things through in her mind, thinking about if she did anything. Besides the fact that everything stunk at the moment, nothing came to mind.
Natalie decided to call Nora. She dialed the numbers on her red phone and waited. The thing rang… and rang… and then someone picked it up.
"Hello, Nora?" Natalie asked, choking back a tear.
"Hey, Natalie," Nora responded. "Today stinks."
"Oh, yeah, it stinks bad," Natalie chuckled. "You first."
"Well, where do I start?" Nora pretended to think. "I'm in love with my best friend's brother's rival, and something tells me that when I told him, he had no idea. And then that little brat Ellen goes and tells me that all the popular people hate me, and I hit her, because she said something really out of line –"
"What'd she say?" Natalie interrupted.
Nora swallowed some spit. "She said she'd never speak to anyone connected with me ever again. And she acted repulsed when she was talking to me directly."
"That means she'll never talk to me again," Natalie sobbed. "I can't believe this… all over a stupid guy…"
"Natalie, I'm sorry!" Nora cried. "I didn't mean for this to happen!"
Natalie stopped her light sobs. "It's not your fault. You just don't like him. You love Mandark, with every fiber of your being you love him."
"Yes, but therein lies… wait!" Nora yelled. "How do you know? I never told you!"
"Duh," Natalie giggled. "You just TOLD me. Your best friend is Dee-Dee McPhearson. Her brother is Dexter; his rival, Mandark Astronominov. You're a complete idiot."
Nora felt her face burn a furious red. "Thanks a lot."
"What could anyone like about him?" Natalie scoffed. "He's strange."
Nora heard a beep on the other line. "Hey, want Dee-Dee to join us?"
"Heh, sure, why not?" Natalie smiled.
Nora manipulated the buttons on her phone, and soon, Dee-Dee was on the line.
"Hello, Dee-Dee," Nora grinned. "What happened to you today?"
"Ellen rejected me, said she never wants to talk to me again," Dee-Dee sighed. "Ah well. Didn't really like her anyway."
"We were kicked out, too," Natalie shrugged. "Join the crowd."
"And what were you guys talking about before I got here?" Dee-Dee asked.
"Oh, Nora let slip who she REALLY liked," Natalie giggled. Nora gritted her teeth.
"I already know, so counting Mandark himself and not counting Nora, four people do know," Dee-Dee rattled off. "Me, Natalie, Mandark, and someone else that Nora won't tell me about."
"Who?" Natalie asked.
Nora felt her heart begin to sink down her chest, and her stomach begin to go up her throat.
"None of your business," Nora responded matter-of-factly.
"Fine," Dee-Dee huffed. "I'll see you later."
Dee-Dee hung up.
"I should probably go too," Natalie said, her voice now filled with worry.
"All right, bye."
Nora hung the phone up.
Great, Nora thought. Just peachy. How can I be stupid enough to tell Natalie that – and not even know it?
Nora looked at the floor. Ah well. I guess… everything will work out…
But I'm not sure.
My beloved Dee-Dee, her beautiful frame and slender body… just once, I want her to acknowledge my existence, to flash those beautiful anime-esque eyes my way and smile at me… Her hair, as beautiful as the very sun itself, glittering like the aforementioned star, constantly bringing light to this world…
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "What's up?"
Mandark looked into his computer screen.
I've really got to stop dozing off so much… Mandark thought. Ever since Nora came here, I've been sleeping a lot… wonder why…
BrokenBackpack678: "Thanks for waking me up."
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "I woke you up? Oh man, I'm SO sorry…!"
Nora can be such a spaz, Mandark thought. But there's something about her…
BrokenBackpack678: "It's really not a problem…"
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "I swear, I didn't mean to… oh, if it wasn't a problem, then I guess it's fine… but I still feel bad."
Mandark felt his face redden.
What the heck is going on? The only time I've ever blushed was in the face of Dee-Dee…
BrokenBackpack678: "Look, it's fine. What's up with you?"
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "Oh, nothing much. Just bored out of my skull."
A little voice inside Mandark's head was saying, come on. Ask her if she's doing anything tonight.
The rational voice in Mandark's head responded immediately. Am I crazy? I've worshipped Dee-Dee ever since I set eyes on her, she of beauty and unsurpassed grace, and now…
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "Still there?"
BrokenBackpack678: "Oh, yes. Sorry."
Mandark waited for Nora to reply. He decided not to think about anything, since the two voices in his head were arguing with each other and giving Mandark a headache.
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "Sorry. My favorite song is on ODHR. I just love this song. I don't even know why…"
Mandark, without thinking, twiddled the dial on his radio. It hit ODHR, and he heard an older song.
Nights of light, so soon become
Wild and free, I could feel the sun
Your every wish will be done
They tell me…
Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this the feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "I'm such a dork, for liking the Backstreet Boys… wow, I feel stupid…"
Mandark rubbed his head. The headache was going away, with the music soothing it.
BrokenBackpack678: "If you liked Hilary Duff, I might call you a dork."
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "Ha ha ha! Me, like Hilary Duff? That's a good one…"
BrokenBackpack678: "You don't seem like a girl who'd listen to bubblegum music, anyway."
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "No way. Never. I'd be betraying my screen name."
Mandark smirked for no reason at all.
What is wrong with me?! Mandark thought desperately.
BrokenBackpack678: "Oh, sorry, I have to get off."
Eminem4Ever&Ever: "Oh well. See ya."
Mandark logged off, and then sat in that chair for a while, just thinking and listening to the music.
Why Nora? Mandark thought. I don't understand. I love Dee-Dee, and yet, all I can think about right is Nora…
And what did she mean when she said she liked me, and ran off, point-blank?
Mandark cradled his head in his hands. He couldn't figure out why his mind had suddenly decided to play such a nasty trick on him.
I like this… but I don't like this…
For the first time in my life… I don't understand.
Dexter shoved a handful of floppy disks under a large stack of useless papers. He was always making sure that Dee-Dee couldn't get to – and destroy – important documents.
Dexter blinked. On the ground, underneath a table, there was a lone piece of white lined paper. Dexter picked it up and unfolded the little paper.
It had been written a while ago, Dexter could tell. And on the paper was a simple little heart.
Inside the heart was Mandark's name.
"Whose is this?' Dexter asked no one in particular.
Dexter remembered something.
"Dexter, can you keep a secret?"
"Keep a secret? Is it something important?"
"It is to me."
"All right then. What is it?"
Nora was very red, like her face had gotten burned, and her eyes had completely glassed over.
"Well… I like Mandark."
"Oh dear…" Dexter shuddered. "Oh dear… oh dear… oh dear…"
Dee-Dee banged through the laboratory door.
"Hiya Dexter! What're you doing?" Dee-Dee asked.
Dexter didn't even hear her, too intent on the paper. Dee-Dee looked over Dexter's shoulder.
"Oh wow! You like Mandark?" Dee-Dee gasped.
Love triangle! Dee-Dee thought happily.
"No, stoopid!" Dexter yelled. "I found this in here."
Aw man, no love triangle.
Dee-Dee vaguely recalled bringing Nora into Dexter's lab, and then covered her mouth with her hands.
"What is it?" Dexter inquired.
"I remember! I brought Nora in here and she must have dropped it!" Dee-Dee giggled.
Dexter was becoming angered. "You brought her in here?"
"Well, I was giving her the tour," Dee-Dee shrugged. "This is part of the house, isn't it?"
Dexter remembered something else.
"Really?" Mandark inquired. "Is it important?"
"Yeah, I think so…"
"What is it?"
Nora looked into Mandark's eyes, and became furiously red in the face. "Uh… I like you, okay, bye!"
Nora sped off.
Mandark cocked his head.
"Um… I knew I was her friend," he mumbled to himself.
Dexter was outside too. "She is such a bag of nerves."
"Oh God!" Dexter yelled before curling into the fetal position and shaking furiously.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Dexter's Lab, or AOL Instant Messenger, Hilary Duff, the Backstreet Boys, 'Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely', or Blue Eyes (Lil Riter). I partly own the Adventures of M&M (again with Lil Riter.) (I accidentally wrote that disclaimer for part two. Oh well.)
Ren: The fetal position…?
Kaiba: I find myself interested in this story… what's the world coming to…
(Mandark is too busy reading really random fics and cannot come to the computer right now, for those of you who are curious.)