"That's not funny Ren, I'm being serious!" She snapped, her eyes flaring.
"So am I," I insisted, struggling to keep my voice level. "My name is Serena Elizabeth Johnson, and I am a GIRL."
She gasped and backed away, but her eyes were still filled with doubt. "But you go to Madison's School for BOYS. You can't be a girl!" She asserted. "You just can't!"
"But I am," I said quietly. "That's why I knew your perfume, that's why I can dance, and that's why I'm so polite…" I smiled softly.
She didn't smile back, and only continued to stare at me, letting all that I had said sink in. I sighed and looked away, realizing I had made a terrible mistake. Then, to my surprise, I felt a hand against my cheek, and I turned my head only to see Raye standing in front of me with a determined look gracing her pretty features. She suddenly began to pass her hand along the side of my face, down to my chin, and back up again.
"It's skin…" she whispered. "You don't shave."
I grinned. "I don't have to." I turned away, and sighed. "I have breasts too, even if they're not that impressive…"
"But why?" She protested. "Why are you in the boys' school? Why the disguise?" She asked, stepping away from me.
I shrugged. "I couldn't get into the girls' school because it was too full, so I dressed up as a boy and got into the other one with a little help from a friend."
Raye exhaled loudly and leaned against the wall, her face puzzled. "I can't believe this! How did you get through the background checks?"
"I had a very intelligent friend who was willing to help me out," I explained.
"But how do you live with all those guys? I wouldn't know what to do with myself with all that testosterone flying around!"
I laughed. "It's not so bad, and you get used to it after a while. You know, a lot of them are really sweet--especially Jarod," I said softly, and smiled as she blushed. "Were you really in love with him?" I asked.
"Oh God!" she moaned. "I was hoping you hadn't noticed that little section of my rant!"
"Oh no, I heard every word!" I said, chuckling a little. "Is it true? Do you love him?"
She hesitated, and then sighed. "Yes… no… I don't know!" She muttered, shaking her head. "It's hard to feel for someone who doesn't have feelings for you. I've never been anything more than Darien's little sister to him, and it's been driving me CRAZY!" She growled. "I've been trying to get rid of my infatuation for years," she explained, glancing at me. "I was hoping you were the cure."
I smiled. "Who says you need a cure?" I asked. I paused for a moment, and then went on. "What if I told you that Jarod is head-over-heels for you, and has been on my case all week because I was the one who took you to a dance."
"What?" She asked, surprise quite evident in her voice.
"Jarod loves you, Raye," I stated flatly. "He's been crazy about you for years, but he doesn't know how to show it. For two weeks I've been trying to give him lessons, and he's been extremely pissed at me because…"
"All I've been doing is flirting with you…" She finished.
"Exactly!" I exclaimed. "He's hated me the past two weeks because he thinks I like you, and that I'm trying to steal you away from him."
"But that doesn't make any sense!" She cried. "Why didn't he tell me before? Why didn't he just say something?"
"Why didn't you?" I countered.
"Because I was…"
"Scared," I finished for her. "Well, he was too. You're a beautiful girl, Raye…" I said softly. "I'm not a even a guy and I'm a little intimidated by you. It's easy to see why he loves you so much."
She blushed and turned away. "I can't believe this! I'm such an idiot! All this time, and I never knew!" She glanced at me. "I never knew ANYTHING!"
"Well, you know now, and we can do something about it," I murmured.
I glanced back at the doors leading into the gym and grinned, knowing Jarod was somewhere within. I reached for Raye's hand, took it, and began leading her inside, knowing what I had to do.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
I laughed. "Girl, I'm going to get you to dance with your man!"
We were in for a bit of disappointment, however. We searched high and low for Jarod inside, but all we found was Molly flirting with Melvin next to the refreshment table.
"Where's Jarod?" I asked as we reached her.
She shrugged. "I don't know. I think he went home, he said something about not feeling very well…" She explained. "Why? Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," I assured her, but I couldn't keep the frustration out of my voice. I had hoped to get Raye and Jarod together tonight, but it appeared as if I had failed. I sighed softly, and turned to Raye, my face full of regret.
"It's okay," she said, before I could open my mouth. "You tried your best. Tonight's just not the night, that's all," she murmured with a shrug.
"Raye…" I began, "I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry about it," she insisted. "But," she sighed, "I'm not feeling so well now. You think you could walk me home?"
"Sure," I replied. "Let's go."
I took her arm and led her to our table where we gathered our things. We left the gym in silence, and entered the cool night outside. I shivered as the wind suddenly picked up, and abruptly realized that Raye must be freezing. I smiled to myself, and removed my coat to drape it over her shoulders. She smiled at me, and shook her head.
"For being a girl, you sure have this chivalry thing down," She cracked.
I laughed. "I watch a lot of movies, and I know how we want to be treated!" I teased.
She laughed too, and we continued on without speaking for a while. I focused my attention on the ground, and began to wonder where Darien was at this moment. I wondered if he was sleeping, dreaming in his warm bed, with his beautiful head pressed into his pillow…
"So why did you REALLY go through with this charade?" Raye asked suddenly, breaking through my thoughts.
"W-What?" I stammered. "What are talking about?"
"Why did you go through all this to get here? You couldn't have done it for the prestige Madison can give you, it would never transfer to your name. So, why? Are you pissed at your parents or something? Or are you running from the law?" She made it sound like a joke, but her eyes were serious.
I smiled. "Is it really that important?" I wondered.
"Well," she began, "I guess I don't HAVE to know… but I'm definitely curious. It's a lot to gamble, and I'm wondering what's so important at this school that makes you willing to risk so much to be here."
I stopped walking, and she followed suit, her eyes never leaving mine. "Why, Serena? Why are you here?"
I smiled as I heard her speak my real name, and suddenly, for some reason, I knew I could trust her.
"Darien," I answered. "I'm here for Darien."
"Darien?" she repeated, obviously surprised. "Why are you here for him?"
"It's a long story," I whispered, uttering an embarrassed laugh. "And every time I try to rethink it in my head, it still doesn't make sense." I sighed, still not knowing where to begin.
"Try me," Raye insisted.
I hesitated, but gave up. "I'm crazy about your brother," I said finally, my voice wavering. "I met him about a month ago in a diner I worked at. He came in with all his friends, and when I laid eyes on him… well, it was like I was struck by lightening. Suddenly, nothing in my life made sense anymore! All I knew was that he made me feel something I had never felt before, and I was suddenly willing to risk anything to find out why."
I paused, and turned away. "I know it sounds crazy, leaving everything you care about to follow someone you don't even know… but the more time I spend with him, the less crazy it is to me." I sighed, and shook my head. "The more I get to know your brother, the stronger I feel for him. He's smart, and funny, and so kind! He's one of the most wonderful people I know, and as stupid as it sounds, I would be willing to risk a lot more than I already have knowing what I know now."
I turned back only to find her staring at me with tears in her eyes. She shook her head, and smiled softly. "You're not crazy," she whispered. "In fact," she began, uttering a wavering laugh, "you see him the way I've always wanted a girl to see him. You recognized the beauty inside of my brother, and in my opinion, no one else is more worthy of his affection than you!"
I smiled, and the tears that had been building in my own eyes spilled out. She reached forward and hugged me to her, and I finally allowed myself to release the emotions within me.
"You don't know how good it feels to finally talk to another girl!" I sobbed, laughing a little.
She laughed too, and hugged me closer. "I'm going to help you, Serena…" she murmured. "I promise!"
"You bastard," A voice suddenly spoke from behind us, and my eyes widened in recognition.
I pulled away from Raye's embrace, and turned around only to see a handsome blonde man in tuxedo, his face full of pain.
"Jarod," I whispered.
Uh oh, Serena's in trouble now! Sorry about the cliffhanger--dodges rotten fruit and vegetables--but I promise I'll have more out soon!
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