Chapter 4

Lunchtime came in school rather quickly today. Everybody took their lunches and sat down.

"So, how's science for you, Bella? Any regrets?" Roxanne sneered.

"It's fine, Roxy. You know, he's really not that bad once you get to know him."

"Oh, so you got to know him. Whatever happened to my warning?"

"Well, maybe I don't want to follow your warning. It is my life, after all."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you shouldn't tell me what to do and what not to do."

"I'm just trying to look out for you."

"Yeah, well maybe I'll look out for myself this time."

"Whatever. Go ahead, be with that wacko, skin-bleacher, smart-aleck kid."

"Don't call him those names!" Bella yelled, now standing up, causing everyone to look at her. She ran out of the cafeteria soon after, not noticing that Michael ran after her.

She dropped by her locker, sobbing in her hands. She felt a sudden warmness beside her, but she didn't care who it was anymore, just as long as it wasn't Roxanne.

"Honey, obviously if she's making you cry, then why are you friends with her?"

"I don't even know anymore. She always controls my life and tries to make the right decisions for me, when really they're the wrong ones. This time, she just went too far."

"What did she say to make you so miserable right now?"

"…"

"Marybella?"

She looked up to him with her tear stained, hazel-blue eyes. "She called you names that I didn't want to hear and obviously I made her mad because I wasn't following her warning."

"What warning?"

She was silent for a matter of seconds. She looked deep into his brown eyes and a single tear ran down her cheek.

"She told me not to fall in love with you."

The walk back home was very silent. Michael always walked her home no matter what. He didn't want her to get hurt or raped by those guys.

He hadn't muttered a single word after what he heard from Bella. With it being so silent, they seemed to have reached their house in about five minutes rather than ten.

Bella didn't bother saying goodbye as she went up the steps to her house.

Finally, he said something. "Would you like to go on a date with me?"

He saw her wearing a smile when she turned to face him. "Of course."

"How about tomorrow night, since it's a Friday?" He asked.

"Sure. Pick me up at seven?"

"Will do. I'll see you."

"Okay…bye, Michael."

He nodded and walked away. She entered the house, biting her lip as to not squeal in sheer happiness.

It was finally Friday for it has obviously been a long week, with projects and finals coming up. There were also tons of awkwardness in the air by lots of certain girls. Bella had just picked up her science binder and book for 1st period. When she closed the locker, she saw Robin standing right next to her.

"You know I'm going to support you 100% right?"

Bella was at first dumbfounded by this, but now she turned really happy and hugged her. "Oh, Robbie, you're the best!"

"No problem. Please don't call me Robbie though, that's a guy's name!"

"It can be a girl's name! It fits you too!"

"Since when can it be a girl's name?"

"Since now! Hey, guess what?"

"What?"

"I got me a date!"

"No kidding! Really? With who? Michael?"

"Yep!"

"Aww! You guys are so cute!"

They both giggled. "Thanks. I gotta get to class. Hey, wanna sit next to me and Michael in lunch?"

"Certainly! I cannot stand being next to Roxanne and Addison now! They're so bitchy!"

"I know. But I'll see you in lunch, okay?"

"Kay kay!"

In science, Michael was talking more about the spectrum project, but Bella was just simply staring and listening to his sweet voice. Pretty soon, he took notice of what she was really doing.

"Stop staring at me and listen!"

"Noooo, you're so cute."

He smiled at her and whispered, "Save those comments for later, please."

"Why?"

"Because I told you so."

"Neh." She finally did listen afterwards but just kept drowning in his sweet voice.

School was now long over, and Robin was over Bella's house helping her pick out an outfit for her date.

"This is your first date, oh my god! This is so exciting!"

Bella blushed. She hated how this was only her very first date. When it comes to waiting, she really waits. She wanted to wait for the right guy to come into her life. She somewhat had a vibe that he might be the one.

"Oh shush and help me find an outfit or a dress. Nothing too saucy, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah yeah. What about this one?" She pulled out a small cute polka-dotted dress.

"Nah. Too polka-dotty. Try to find a plain one, or maybe with a little floral I guess."

"Hm, okay. So you think he really likes you?" she asked, starting up a conversation while they were looking.

"I hope so. He's so nice and so polite and sweet. He's sorta cute too."

"Nuh-uh, he's either cute or not cute. No sorta's or anything."

"Fine, then he IS cute. Better?"

"Much."

Bella giggled. Oh, how she loved best friends.

"Ooh, how about this one?" Robin pulled out a pretty purple dress that looked like it went to her knees.

"Yeah! That's perfect! Thanks so much for pulling that one out," she cheered like a little excited child.

Robin giggled at this. "Okay. Do you need me anymore or…what?"

"I guess not. I'll call you after the date and give you all the details though, I promise."

"You better! I hope you have fun though. I'm sure he'll be very nice."

"I hope so. Well, I'll call you then."

"Okay, bye!"

"Bye!"

After she left, Bella got undressed and picked up the dress. But before she put it on, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her face turned shameful. She wasn't very fond of her body. She always thought that her breasts were too big, a 36C. Her tummy was fine, and her legs she was a bit iffy. But she felt it was nothing to be in awe of.

She shrugged it off and put on the dress. Now she was much more satisfied. It was spaghetti-strapped and went down to her knees. It covered her bosom just enough to show barely any cleavage.

She put on black flip-flops and a black bracelet to top it off. She was not a big fan of makeup so she only put on a little lip-gloss. She straightened her hair and brushed it so it came out soft and shiny.

The time passed by quickly doing all of that and it became 7:00. There was a knock on the door and a doorbell.

"Coming!" she yelled out. She did a quick look in the mirror and rushed to the door, only stopping to regain herself. She opened the door to see a handsome looking man that goes by the name of Michael.

"Why, hello! I'm glad you came!" Bella greeted, showing a smile.

"Yes, you are," he smiled back. "You look very pretty."

"Thank you and you look very handsome!"

"Thank you." He had on a white t-shirt with a blue button shirt over it. The buttons were all unbuttoned except for the last three. He also had on black pants and patent leather shoes with white socks.

The two got into his car and started driving off to somewhere.

"May I ask where we are going?"

"You may. We are going to have a picnic under the stars or sunset on Strawberry Hill."

"Strawberry Hill, are you kidding me? I love that place! I used to go play there with Robin all the time when we were little."

"Really? That's good then. Yeah, I like that place too. It's really calm and it's such a nice scenery."

"I know, it's amazing."

Strawberry Hill was famous for its cherry blossom and apple trees. It was also covered with beautiful wheat fields and quite a few dandelions. It was also perfect for picnics because it was on a hill where you could see the sunset or sunrise, and it was simply a perfect place to see the stars.

They got there in about ten minutes, the place not being too far from Bella's house. They laid out the picnic cloth along with the picnic basket. Michael pulled out six sandwiches, three for each, two bottles of water and a box of strawberries.

"Ooh, strawberries!"

Michael teasingly pulled them away. "We save those for later."

"Oh, but why?" she whined.

"They're the dessert. Now hands away." He gently smacked her hands away from the strawberries and she made a pouty face. Michael just said 'no.'

The two were off to eating their sandwiches now. Michael finished his first sandwich and took a sip from his water.

"So, tell me something interesting about you. What are some of your goals or something?"

"Hm, well I made a list, actually. I don't have it with me, but I have it memorized. It was supposed to be my New Years revolution list, but that's way long over now, so it's now just my list of goals, especially in the summer."

"That's cool. Tell me some things from your list."

"Hm, well, I want a tattoo. Not a real one though, but like a long-lasting one. I want to be kissed in the rain. I want to actually have my first kiss. I want-"

"Wait, wait, you never kissed anybody?" he interrupted, being shocked by this new information.

Her face seemed embarrassed. "Yeah…I haven't. See, when I wait for somebody, I actually wait for the right person to do everything. I want the right one to be the first to kiss me, to touch me, to make love to me…" she was blushing to the point where she could have been mistaken for a sunburned lady.

"Aww, that is so sweet…"

"Shut up…"

"No, it is sweet! I know what you mean too, I guess. I mean, I wanted to wait for the right one, and I thought she was the right one, but…she wasn't."

"Oh, so…that's why you didn't want to talk about your virginity?"

"Yeah. But I'm all good now. I'm looking out more now."

"That's good. Um, next on my list…is to write a song. I'm in that process. I want to finish that song that one day after school. I want to be sung to. I want someone to tell me I'm beautiful when I don't look my best…"

"What do you mean, 'not your best?'"

"Like, if I'm in sweatpants and a large shirt or something."

Michael laughed. "I tried picturing that just now. I think you'd look pretty cute."

"Oh stop it," she giggled.

"No really. I pictured you in a large shirt with the Beatles on it and gray sweatpants."

"Oh boy. How'd you even know I like the Beatles?"

"I didn't tell you…but I'm psychic," he sarcastically said, trying to make it sound real.

She followed along. "Oh my god, really? Can you, like, read my mind right now?"

"I certainly can. You are imagining being in a pool of yummy strawberries and just eating them all day."

"…No, really, are you a psychic?"

"Was that really what you were thinking?" He asked, half laughing.

"Sort of."

"You're so weird."

"Thank you!"

Michael laughed and shook his head, taking a small bite from his sandwich. Bella smiled. She just loved everything right now. She didn't even know why she wanted to take Roxanne's warning. He was simply perfect for her; funny, sweet, polite, smart, etcetera. His looks were pretty handsome too. Even though he has vitiligo, his skin as of now suited him pretty well, as well as his beautiful curls and chocolaty eyes. His smile could make her swoon for hours.

And now she was on a date with him. Gosh, she felt as if Michael was a celebrity or something!

"Can I ask you something?" he started.

"Sure."

"Why are you friends with Roxanne?"

It actually took her a minute to think. "You know, that's a good question. Well, maybe because we were best friends around when 1st grade came. We always looked out for each other, we liked and disliked the same things, and more. But I've noticed that she started to take control of me since freshman year. I guess I just listened to her and…yeah. Plus, the real reason we became friends is because in 1st grade, my mom died of cancer."

"Oh…I'm so sorry."

"Yeah…and then it was my dad in sophomore year. He died in a car accident."

"What? Both your parents are dead?"

"Yep…I took care of myself for the rest of my life, and I guess I still plan on doing that unless I get married or something."

"Wow, Marybella. I can't believe that…"

"A lot of people couldn't at first, it's okay," her voice cracked a bit.

"It's not okay."

"Well…no, it's really not okay. I've recovered though. I got my friends and…yeah."

He looked at her for what it seemed like the longest time. He studied her like a book and she was definitely not recovered. He obviously could read people like that.

She shifted uncomfortably. "Can we eat the strawberries now?" she asked, hoping to break the wall of silence.

Michael smiled. With that, he got the box of strawberries and opened it, and he ate one, pretending to ignore Bella. "Gosh, the sunset sure is beautiful."

"Michael…"

He popped another one in his mouth. "The clouds are all pink and stuff. So pretty."

"Michael."

"Oh, man that was a really sweet strawberry."

"MICHAEL!" she yelled, now jumping on him. She was on his lap. "Give me the box, come on."

"No." He protected the box in his arms.

"Come on…" she whined again, her bottom lip sticking out.

"That's not working on me," he told her, not showing any expression whatsoever for her whining.

"Please?" she tried so hard to make it sound like a child's voice.

He cracked a smile. "I don't know…"

"Pleaseeee?"

"Oh okay, here." He pulled out a nice sized strawberry and placed it on her lips. She smiled and took a bite.

"Mmm, those are so good."

He gave her another one before placing the box beside him, noticing a dandelion. He picked it off the ground and also placed it in front of her face. "Make a wish."

She giggled and made a thinking pose. Then she nodded and blew on it. The cotton flew off of the centerpiece, one by one. He smiled more, showing his pearly whites. She was just so adorable. Her pale skin seemed to glow from the red sunset. Her hair was also shining red, and it seemed so soft that he wanted to stroke it so bad.

He loved how she wasn't bone skinny, but she was skinny, like himself almost. She had curves to die for and she had such a beautiful smile. He felt himself falling in love with her as well.

His eyes traveled to her sweet lips, which had just finished blowing the cotton off the flower. She was looking at him as well. They were now like magnets; they got closer and closer until they connected.

And their lips did, into a tender loving, strawberry-flavored kiss.

There, much longer! Sorry I said I was gonna update this yesterday, but I had more homework than I expected, and I fell asleep right after. Finals are coming up. Ehhhh. Review!