It's Really Just a Short Distraction
Brad was going on about some aspect of his life that was causing him trouble and Link wasn't really paying attention - it was their usual pattern. Instead, he was running lyrics through his mind to the rhythm of his walk. A girl by the lockers smiled at him as he passed by; he grinned and gave her a wink. He was definitely looking good in this new suit. That was the thirty-sixth smile he'd gotten so far and it wasn't even lunch yet!
"I'm not really sure what to do about it… I mean, should I ask her to go steady or should we keep things as they are?" Brad was asking next to him. Link just shrugged a little, careful not to wrinkle his threads; the song in his head was starting to take shape.
She's got those big brown eyes
And all that long brown hair
If I could make her mine
I'd take her everywhere…
…anywhere… take her…
At that moment he caught sight of a dome of dark hair, perfectly coifed and accented with blonde, moving into the hall from a nearby classroom. He slowed down his walk, unconsciously waiting for a glimpse of the girl to whom that particular 'do belonged. The crowd parted only for a moment to reveal none other than Tracy Turnblad, dressed in her usual blouse and skirt combo. All thoughts of song lyrics or Brad's girl troubles fled as his gaze skimmed her form, taking quick note of the sway of her hips and the way her dark pink skirt flirted about her knees as she moved down the hall, dancing along to music only she could hear.
The mass of students closed around her once more and she disappeared from his view. He scanned the crowd for another look at her, leaning up on his toes. She is so damn short, he thought; and without his knowledge a slow smile crept across his face.
"Larkin, what the hell are you smiling about? I'm over here begging you for your input and you look like you're on another planet!"
"Hmm?" Link responded, his preoccupied mind slow to decipher the words Brad was saying. After a second he quickly added, "Sorry man." He couldn't quite wipe the smile off his face, but managed to turn it into his usual smirk. "I got a little… distracted." He motioned a bit impatiently for Brad to continue and tried to actually listen this time; he needed to cover for that crazy grin and the odd bubbling feeling that seemed to be bouncing around inside of him at the moment.
As they walked, they came to a small traffic jam in the hallway. Link didn't really notice it until Brad stopped mid sentence and said, "Move!" He packed just enough star power of his own to get a response from the mob of kids who all shuffled to the side as the boys cut through. Everyone, that is, except a particular little girl with big hair who turned around and looked up at Brad with a sassy look.
"My, you're bossy," Tracy admonished with a grin and Brad, looking slightly reprimanded, smiled back at her. Link felt peculiar about seeing her smiling so brightly at Brad, but the sinking feeling in his chest evaporated when she turned to him and beamed. Was he mistaken or did she smile wider when she looked at him? "Hey, Link," she said, chin pressing flirtatiously into her shoulder. "You sure are killing in that new suit today."
"Well, thank you Darlin'," he said confidently, tugging gently on the dark blue lapels. Ha! He thought to himself as she turned away, make that… He stopped to think but for the life of him couldn't remember how many smiles he'd already gotten that day. He'd just had it a moment ago… He watched as she once again disappeared into the throng with a bounce in her step. Smiling to himself for the umpteenth time in the last ten minutes, he let the thought go and started a new tally.
One smile from Tracy Turnblad… and it was still before lunch. He had plenty of time.