CHAPTER 16 (A DATE WITH A HEARTTHROB)

I sat frozen to the spot. My tongue probably stuck to the roof of my mouth. Scratch that, it was super-glued to my mouth.

WHAT THE COTTON DAISIES BUTTERSCOTCH WAS HE THINKING??? WAS HE WHACKO???? I've got enough problems already without him, being a catalyst that speeds up my troubles.

Who is he?? He may be handsome but he's certainly not a ruler that I have to follow whatever he wants me to do.

"What the--??!!" I started to say when he suddenly placed his arm around my shoulder. I saw Kelley throw a disgusted look at me and Nate looked simply shocked.

"Yup. She is. I thought that you all just wanted to know that," Gian grinned and everyone went "Ooh" and "Aah" for several times. I saw a few girls crying (which downright pathetic to me) and a few girls looked like they were ready to suspend me fifty meters away from the ground.

Gian only grinned at me. "So, where do we go on our first date?"

I sighed. "Look. I need to talk to you."

"Can't it wait? What about the date?"

I faced him with a murderous look on my face. I didn't even smile. "TALK. NOW. Or else I kick your butt all the way to Atlantis."

He gulped and complied. He had no choice after all. It was either talk or meet my fist.

I held his hand and dragged him towards the hallway. A few people jumped out of the way, most of them had stunned expressions carved into their faces. Ah well. After all, since when did Norah Frost ever have a heat throb as a 'boyfriend'?

Eeww. He may be cute but he is one vain person. He may have hoodwinked the rest but he didn't fool me. Underneath that cute façade was a very… Um…

Oh crayola. Never mind. I can't judge him since I don't know him yet.

We finally arrived at the hallway, with only a few people passing by. Thank God they weren't the nosy type. I could talk to Gian in peace.

I sighed. Gian looked about and grinned when he turned to me.

"Yes darling?" he asked me.

"Er… First of all, don't call me darling," I reminded him.

"Oh okay. Pookie bear maybe?"

"Um… No…"

"Sweet honey bun?"

I held my hands up and sighed. "No! Don't… er… Call me anything like that. Got it? Now, why the hell did you do that? Are you playing a prank on me?"

His eyes widened for a few seconds before he erupted into loud laughter. "No Norah. I really do like you. I realized that when you saved that ball from my face. It would be a shame to have my face all mangled up."

Shame eh? He's going to be disappointed soon if he keeps this up. My fist is just itching to meet his face.

"And… you really are pretty," he said and I couldn't help but blush.

Oh get a grip Norah! This dude's nothing.

"How about a date then?" he asked, and he looked extremely eager.

"No," I said flatly and walked away.

I need to get away from this psycho. He's out of his mind. His mind's been replaced with… Strawberry jam…

Yuuck.

Gian ran after me. "We have to go on a date. Come on Norah. It'll be fun."

I sighed and more people stared at us. "No. That's final."

And I walked away and left him frowning.

I sat in the library. The place was a cozy place to be in. I was reading Alice in Wonderland. Like the book, my day was just as bizarre.

I can't believe it. The most popular guy in school likes me, and I have no idea why. I don't believe him for one second. It's as if I've sprinkled some fairy dust on him and it's caused him to go crazy! Jeez. I've got enough problems already…

And Nate. Jeez! How will I ever score a date with him if psychos keep on showing up?? Why couldn't they just leave me alone??

I sat in silence when suddenly a paper plane flew to my table. Curious, I picked it up, wondering what its contents would be about.

"Date? Please?

Love, Gian."

A grisly feeling settled on my stomach.

What the butterscotch was this?

I looked around and saw that Gian was behind a bookshelf, grinning pleadingly at me. He had these puppy dog eyes that would sway any girl.

Any girl except me of course.

"No," I mouthed back and crushed the paper plane. I got up and walked away, storming.

Jeez he is getting on my nerves!

Right now, I was at home, just surfing the internet. It was just after class and I practically ran all the way back home.

Thank God. At least he couldn't follow me until here. This place was safe for me. Like the light that drives vampires away.

Yeah. He couldn't follow me here. That would be cuckoo of him if he did so. That was just plain…

All of a sudden, something lightly tapped on the window.

What the fudge was that?

I stood up and hurriedly went towards the window, nearly hitting my desk. I saw that a few pebbles had landed outside. I opened the window.

"Over here!" a familiar voice said.

I looked down and to my horror saw that it was Gian.

What???? He's STILL here????

"Gian! What are you doing here??" I hissed at him.

He only smiled. "I still need a date with you. Pleeease???"

"No!" I said, feeling very annoyed, and I hope that he got that message.

I rolled my eyes.

Jeez. This guy is desperate. Maybe…

But that's unthinkable Norah!!! I mean…

Oh… But he won't stop!!

Finally, I decided to give in. "Fine. I'll go."

Do I know what I'm getting into? No. Do I know how stupid this whole thing is? No. Am I crazy? Yes.

"Cool. Pick you up tomorrow at two in the afternoon," Gian grinned and waved.

I waved weakly. "Yeah…"

"I love---"

But by then, I had shut the window.

Gian held my hand as we walked around the theme park. Boy, this was really awkward. But I had to let him do it since he threatened me that he would cry out loud. No way was I having people stare at me.

Girls looked at him as he passed away. To him, they gave admiring looks. To me, they gave murderous ones. I only sighed and rolled my eyes.

It's not like I wanted this!

"Let's go to the Love Boat!" Gian urged me.

I felt like I was about to puke.

"Um… Why don't you get us something to eat and I'll ride… Er… Something…" I replied.

He shrugged. "Fine. We'll meet here."

And I praised the heavens as he walked away.

Finally! I was free! Even if it was only for a few minutes, I could certainly live with that. It was better than nothing.

I walked towards one ride. It was a roller coaster. I could hear the screams of delight of the people riding it. It made me feel excited.

Okay. Here I go.

I lined up for a few minutes and I was soon getting inside the ride. There were about six people in every compartment. I was ushered to sit at the front. I saw that someone was already sitting beside my seat. It was a girl.

Ah well. We could both scream together.

I sat down and fastened my seatbelt. I was quiet when my companion suddenly spoke up in the most unexpected manner:

"Why! It's YOU again!" she said.

I froze.

Icy tone… The kind that gave me shivers… The kind that inspired a deep sense of loathing in me… The devil incarnate…

It's KELLEY!!

To my horror, I faced her. Her hands were folded across her chest, and a frown set on her face.

"Norah, Norah, Norah," she said, and her voice sounded deadly.

Oh this'll be fun.

WHAT THE CRAYOLA IS THIS?!?!?!