Grace twirled her hair into a bun, and pulled it on top of her head- turning this way and that, as she examined herself in the bathroom mirror at school.

She heard a toilet flush, and her friend Amanda emerged- walking over to Grace to wash her hands.

"I look like a spinster" Grace frowned, letting her hair fall and drop down her shoulders.

Amanda let out a small laugh as she walked to the dryer; "what's with the sudden 'bad hair day' crisis?" she asked, flipping her curly golden locks to one side.

Grace watched her in the mirror, wishing she had her hair- instead of her own boring, dead straight brown rat hair.

"Nothing" Grace said simply, slinging her backpack off her shoulder, she started digging around for a lip-gloss.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you have English next……..and a certain Ayden Clymont is in your class?" Amanda asked slyly, snatching Grace's cherry lip-gloss, and putting it on her own red lips.

"Shut up!" Grace half smiled at the mention of Ayden's name, but still remained defensive- swiping the lip-gloss out of Amanda's hand, and trying her best to scowl at her.

"Whatever!" Amanda laughed, flipping her hair one more time as she adjusted the too-tight pink top she had on.

"Not to menton the fact that you and him have a date tonight!" Amanda added, turning on her heel and heading for the door.

Grace's jaw was hanging on the floor of the girl's bathroom as she saw her friend breeze out the door-

GRACE is it at all possible for human beings NOT to gossip? Or do we have some kind of defect that makes us cling onto information and pass it to other human beings?…………..

Grace quickly regained consciousness, and ran out the door- looking up and down the crowded hallway, she found Amanda's golden locks bobbing along- and ran towards her.

"Amanda- how did you………?" Grace began, a little puffed, but Amanda cut her off

"Heard it round" she said simply, looking down and smiling at Grace's bewildered face.

GRACE like passing on a virus!

"But how………" Grace began again.

The two girls stopped walking as they reached Amanda's locker- "oh Grace……….you can be so……..blind sometimes!" Amanda smiled as she unlocked her locker, and began rifling through her books.

"What?" Grace asked, trying to make sense of Amanda's words.

"Ayden is so damn excited to be going on a date with you……..he told the entire hockey team this morning at practice………they told their girlfriends……….their girlfriends are all big mouthed sluts who told other big mouthed sluts who told their jock boyfriends………" Amanda continued to speak, but Grace only half listened.

"……….And it eventually spread throughout the entire school" Amanda turned to see Grace's blank face.

"It will be broadcast over the loud speaker today at 2:00" Amanda said seriously- making Grace look at her with such a horrified expression, she had to laugh.

"Shut up" Grace said unenthusiastically- allowing Amanda's words to wash over her.

Amanda let out a small laugh; and put a heavy hand on Grace's shoulders.

"Don't blame him Grace, the boys smitten with you!" Amanda smiled warmly, and walked past Grace, to catch up with a few girls who were heading towards maths.

GRACE then again………..not all viruses can be bad.


Ayden's heart and smile lifted as Grace entered the class room- she shot him a blushing smile, and sat down two seats in front of him.

He contemplated asking Jeremy Higgins, the boy behind Grace, if he would swap- but thought it would make him look to desperate and clingy.

Grace turned around, and looked past Jeremy, and Bianca, the girl sitting in front of Ayden.

Ayden leaned forward, looking past the people in front of him, to see Grace's face; "will I pick you up tonight?" Ayden asked, half smiling.

Grace gave him a small nod, "yeah, around 6:30?" she asked, unable to control her blushing cheeks.

"Sounds good" Ayden replied, trying to control his smile- he hoped it wasn't too wide.

"Yeah" Grace said quietly.

"It's a date then" Ayden said, before sitting back in his seat as Mr. Simmons entered the class.

Grace reluctantly turned around……..not really listening as Mr. Simmons talked about the English essay due in next Thursday……

GRACE a DATE? As in, a test run to see if we are boyfriend and girlfriend……….or just a friend date?………or a study buddy date?

Grace nervously tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, trying to sort her raging thoughts out………


The second the bell went, everyone hastily rose from their seats and ran for the door- eager to leave the stuffy English classroom.

"Don't forget- - - essay, next Thursday!" Mr. Simmons called out to the racing students.

Grace nervously tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, as she saw out of the corner of her eye- Ayden approach her.

He waited until Mr. Simmons had left, before looking down at Grace.

"Hey, you going to lunch now?" he smiled.

Grace turned around, and looked up- trying her best to smile.

"Err…….. I guess……" She began.

Ayden could tell something was on her mind, and sure enough, Grace aired her thoughts.

"Ayden-" she began, feeling the tension rise in her throat; "this 'date'…………..well, I was just wondering- - -" Grace tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, realizing she'd done this several times already, but unable to stop herself; "well, is this a friend date, a study buddy thing………a 'get to know you better'………." Grace opened her mouth, about to continue, but Ayden stopped her.

"I guess we'll have to wait and see" he said simply; and before Grace could open her mouth, he'd flashed her a kind smile, and turned to walk away, calling out over his shoulder, "see you at 6:30".

"Yeah………..seeya" Grace replied to the empty classroom- finding herself more confused than ever.