Roddy climbed onto the bus behind Rita. He groaned.
Here we go.. Roddy complained to himself, Now I have to make a new friend..
Rita quickly spotted Hal and rushed off. Roddy glared at Hal as Rita asked him if the seat next to him was taken. Hal sneered back at him. Then he turned up to Rita with a charming grin and patted the seat next to him. She quickly sat down. She beamed at Roddy excitedly. Roddy gave her a thumbs up, congradulating her on her accomplishment. He had to be a little happy for her. She was getting what she wanted..and if he really did love her..best friend or lover..he would want to see her happy, right? No matter what. Roddy then realized he had to try. For Rita. Roddy spotted a lonely girl. She had big, round hazel eyes, tannish-fair skin, and long lught brown pig-tail braids that lay over her shoulders down to her ribs. She wasn't skinny, but she wasn't the least bit fat, either. She was dressed in a nevy blue tank top and a navy blue and white striped oxford shirt. The sleeves were rolled up like his. She had on a pair of white jean short shorts. On her feet here navy blue Vans flats. In her hair was a matching navy blue headband that bordered her thick combover bangs. She looked like a sweet girl. He sat down next to her.
"Is this seat taken?" Roddy asked.
"No, not at all," the girl answered.
Her voice was smooth and clear. She smiled at him. Her teeth were like Hal's..perfect and white. Roddy noticed she had a drawing pad on her lap and a pencil in her hand.
"I see you draw.." Roddy observed.
"Yeah," the girl replied, "I love to draw. I've been drawing since I was like..2 or 3."
"Wow," Roddy looked over the sketch, "You're amazing!"
She had been drawing a picture of the Ratropolis Town Square. It looked too real to be a drawing done by a high school student.
"Thank you," the girl blushed, "I'm Dawn Cabrera."
"I'm Roddy St. James," Roddy smiled, "Cabrera? You're Cuban?"
"Yes, I am," Dawn explained, "I grew up in America..Florida to be more specific, but my family moved here last year."
"Yes, I noticed you didn't have the English accent," Roddy nodded.
"I think I saw you around school yesterday," Dawn said, "You were hanging with the Malone girl..Rita is it?"
"Yes," Roddy replied, "Her name is Rita. She's my best friend..but she'd rather sit with Hal Grenner than me..I mean..how can I compete with that?"
Dawn saw the look on Roddy's face.
"I knew you two were a little too friendly with each other," Dawn giggled, "Why don't you tell her how you feel?"
"Because it could wreck our friendship if I tell her.." Roddy whined, "But I've got this bet with Hal that Rita will go to the Welcome Back dance with me as dates..so I have to make her fall for me. When I see that she's falling for me, then I might tell her. But if she ever finds out about the bet, me and Hal are both dead meat."
"Oh," Dawn sighed, "I see. Well maybe I can help out? I'm good at getting people together."
"Would you?" Roddy smiled, "That would be awesome! Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Well..maybe," Dawn thought, "You don't have to if you don't want to..but you know Damon Cook?"
"I believe I have math class with him...why?" Roddy grinned, catching on.
"Do you think you could talk to him for me?" Dawn asked, blushing.
"No problem," Roddy held out his hand, "Deal?"
"Deal."
The new friends shook hands. Roddy and Dawn planned out their schemes for each other. Roddy would make friends with Damon and Dawn would make friends with Rita. Each would talk to the other's crush. Put out some good qualities, find out some inside information, things like that. Roddy was glad Rita wanted to sit with Hal that morning..because now not only did Roddy make an amazing new friend..he had someone to help him.
Dawn and Roddy spent lunch together, still getting to know each other. Rita came over and was about to sit down with Roddy and Dawn, but Hal put his arm around her shoulders and pushed her along with him over to his table with his little gang. Rita sent an apologizing look over her shoulder. Roddy acknowledged it with a "it's ok" smile. Rita smiled back.
"Thanks," Rita mouthed.
Roddy turned back to Dawn with a look of anger and jealousy.
"This isn't going to be easy.." Roddy noted, "With Hal hogging her up at school, I'm not gonna have a lot of time to charm her."
"Don't you live with her family?" Dawn asked.
"Yeah," Roddy answered, "But she's always doing homework or studying. At least I get to have dinner out with her tonight."
"You didn't tell me you were going on a date with her!" Dawn gasped, smiling, "What are you going to wear? Where are you going?"
"It's formal and we're going to Chez Fromauge," Roddy answered, saying the restaurant name with a French accent.
Dawn laughed.
"Well that's good..try charming her at dinner, ok?" Dawn said, "Say something about the way she looks. Say something about her eyes. About her smile. About her outfit. About her shoes..things like that. My brother once used the line 'You're eyes are two glittering ponds of crystal clear blue water in the candle light' and he dated that girl for two years! Just instead of glittering ponds crystal clear blue water..her eyes would be..two sparkling dew-covered pastures or something like that."
"Wow.." Roddy gaped, "That's beautiful! You should right romance novels."
"I kind of do.." Dawn said, "I just don't like people really reading them because they come from my heart and I relate to the feelings of the main character.."
"Maybe one day I could read on, though?" Roddy asked.
"Maybe.." Dawn answered "But let's change the subject."
"Ok," Roddy agreed.
Roddy looked over at Rita and saw her looking back at him with her two rolling dew-covered pastures. Roddy smiled and winked. Rita smiled back. Roddy had a sudden surge of confidence. Maybe tonight would go better than he thought.