One Day Before The Winter Ball
The next morning Lee couldn't believe how tired Kara looked. There were big bags under her eyes, her hair was everywhere, and she couldn't keep her eyes open.
"What happened to you?" Lee asked. "You look exhausted."
"I didn't get much sleep last night, the Winter Ball is tomorrow and I don't even have any shoes. Well, I didn't last night, now I do." Kara said groggily. "Besides, you don't look so hot either."
"Well, I couldn't fall asleep."
She knew there was something more, but she left it at that. On the way to school Kara thought about what a mistake she had made.
'I wish Lee had asked me to the Ball.' Kara thought.
She would never tell anyone this, but the only reason she let Taj take her to the Ball is because she didn't want to be alone at the dance, and she had given up on Lee.
When they got to school they both sauntered off the bus, thinking about what they had gotten themselves into.
Lee thought he should have asked her sooner, and Kara thought she should have waited longer. Or at least gone alone if he didn't ask her to the dance.
As they were walking down the hall, Taj came barreling down and actually knocked Kara down while trying to hug her. Lee had to laugh a little because Kara practically bounced off of Taj. Lee helped her off the ground and scowled and Taj for "assulting" his best friend.
"Geez, Taj, get your brakes checked," Kara said jokingly, trying to sound happy.
But Lee was more serious. He wanted to let Taj know that he couldn't hurt or upset Kara and get away with it.
"Just be careful," Lee warned, "you could've hurt her."
"Come on man, it was an accident.' Taj said, Lee thought he sounded a little drunk. He slurred his words together, and he couldn't stand up by himself. "Who is this guy Kara?"
"This is my best friend, Lee. He's staying." Kara gave him a look telling him not to mess with Lee.
"I just wanted to come and tell you that I missed you, and that I can't wait for tomorrow!" Taj said, ecstatically, practically bouncing off the wall.
Kara tried to smile but it came out more as grimace. She had started to realize how much she didn't want to go to the dance with Taj. But she couldn't dump him the day before the Ball, that would be just cruel.
"Okay, so I'll see you later?" Taj asked.
"Uh, I don't know. I still have a lot of college applications to fill out. I might be swamped."
Lee knew she was lying; almost all of applications were mailed for early action.
"Till tomorrow night, ma chère." Taj said, trying to sound romantic, but it came put sounding more like "my cherry".
When he walked away Kara let out a little sigh.
"I just wanted to come and tell you that I miss you and I can't wait for tomorrow!" Lee said with over exaggerated excitement.
That made Kara crack up. She laughed and laughed. Lee loved her laugh, it was loud and her whole face lit up. Suddenly Danny, one of Lee's friends, ran up.
"I have a great idea!" Danny shouted.
"I gotta go Lee, see ya after school!" Kara said as she walked away.
"What?" Lee asked, completely annoyed. He liked walking to class with Kara.
"I've got the perfect girl for you to go to the Winter Ball with," Danny said. Lee thought he sounded like Columbus when he announced he had finally found a new country.
"I told you, I want to go alone. You know to… uh…" Lee said, trying to think of an excuse.
"To keep my options open." He lied.
His friends didn't know he had a thing for Kara.
"Dude, come on. She's great, you'll love her." Danny said desperately, whining a little actually.
"Okay, who is she?"
"Her name is Samantha. She has short blond hair and rich hazel eyes."
This description couldn't have sounded any more like Kara.
"Okay, but is she new? I don't think I've ever seen her before." Lee asked.
"I doubt you've seen her, she's my sister. She's a sophomore."
"Your what! You want me to take your sister to the dance?"
"Please. She's really upset that she doesn't have a date. And she has a little crush on you. But don't tell her I told you that, she'll kill me."
"Okay, but you owe me," Lee said as he inched away. He didn't like where this conversation was going. He'd do his friend a favor, then go back to Kara.
"So you're going to the Winter Ball with Danny's sister Sam," Kara confirmed, completely confused.
'Is he desperate or something?' she thought.
Yea, I don't know, it could be fun." Lee said, trying to sound optimistic.
"What did you do, lose a bet?" Kara said, jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. Also she didn't want Lee to realize that she was insanely jealous.
"No, I'm just, she's just, she wants someone to go with and I'm doing Danny a favor. Besides, Danny said that all she wants is someone to show up with, one slow dance with, and leave with.
"Whatever," now Kara was getting upset, she didn't want to talk about it anymore.
That night Kara couldn't sleep. All she could think about was some sophomore taking her Lee to the dance. She finally fell asleep, but only dreamt of Lee.
TBC- Read and Review, please be gentle. this is my first fanfic story ever.