That evening I quickly did all my homework and spent the entire evening practicing my songs. The teacher had actually let me pick some of my favorites. So I was there, doing breathing exercises, singing, and practiced handling the microphone. It might sound easy to practice singing, especially if you sing really well, but let me tell you, it's not.

I was going through the songs for the fourth time when the door knocked. "Who is it?" I said.

"It's Patty!"

"Oh, come in!"

Patty opened the door. She walked up to me smiling. "Getting ready for the recital?" she asked.

I grinned. "Yeah, you know practice makes perfect. The choir teacher gave me an A+ on vocals, singing quality and on vocal range…well, let's just say that if it was possible, she'd give me a 318% on my report card."

She nodded. "Yeah, so I heard. You nervous?"

"Nah! How could I…well, maybe just a little bit. I mean, everyone gets nervous in front of audiences, even the best actors and singers do. But, I guess I'll get used to if after some rehearsals."

She patted me on the shoulder. "Well, I'm sure you'll do all right."

"Thanks, Patty."

She turned to leave, but at the last minute she stopped and turned back to look at me. "Say, Spiny, what was Lilia's reaction when you told her about all this?"

Uh-oh. I could feel the blush rising in my cheeks. Something told me she had more or less found out about what almost happened at the cafeteria today. I cleared my throat and kept my eyes on my music sheet. "Uh, well, you know, she was all excited and whatnot. Very encouraging, motivating, you know." I turned away and walked a few steps away.

Then I said, "Why do you ask?"

She shrugged. "Oh, no reason. Just curious."

Then I asked the question that was tearing at my mind. "Did…did she say anything to you?"

"Uh, yes as a matter of fact, she did."

Oh, no. I hope she didn't mention anything about, um, well, you know what I mean. You do, don't you? "She said, that um, you talked to her for a while in the cafeteria." She had a sly look on her face.

I, uh, coughed. That's what I always do when I'm nervous or scared. "Did she say that I, uh, that I almost…" I felt my face blushing again.

Patty nodded slightly. "She did, uh, mention it. What was that all about?"

I plopped down on my bed. "To be honest, I don't know. It's just that, well, I enjoy having her as my friend, but deep down, I'm tired of being just friends and I want us to be more. Much more. I want to be her boyfriend. I want us to be together. But I'm too chicken to ask her, so I guess I just…" I shrugged.

"Well, I don't want to make you feel bad or anything, but you are really confusing her like that. I mean, that's what, the third time you've tried to kiss her."

I knew that Patty was only saying this for my own good, but something in me snapped at that moment, and I just lost my head. I stood up quickly. "Well, I can't help it. I like her. I like her a lot. I love her. And she's beautiful and smart and fun to be with and nice and when I'm around her I get a warm feeling and I can't help but want to kiss her because she's so pretty and I love her and I want to let her know." I was talking real fast and almost shouting.

She had eyes kind of…well, they looked solemn. She stood up and in a soft voice she said, "Well, I just tried to see how I could help."

I sighed and dropped my arms to my sides. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just that…well, I suppose you can understand that when have this strong of a feeling…"

She nodded. "Yeah, I guess so."

Then she left me to my thoughts. I felt kinda guilty. But also relieved. I mean, I had to tell someone. I couldn't tell Kathy because she'd get all giddy and girly. Not Robert because he's just turning into a preteen and has become real moody lately. Not Greeny because at his age he still despises girls like if they had smallpox. Not Rudy, Dimetroodon or Roger because they're too immature when it comes to girls. Not Darla because she's the worst person to tell personal secrets to. And definitely not Larry because…well because he's Larry!

Well anyways, I got back to practicing. But this time, my mind and heart weren't really in it; only my throat was. Ha, get it! Yeah, I know. Stupid joke. Never mind. Forget it. I can't help it. When I'm upset, I even laugh at the way doors close.

I know it's weird but…oh forget. All I'm doing is make a fool out of myself.

Well anyways, I kept practicing. For several hours. For days. Finally, the big day of the recital came.

That morning, I was so nervous that all I had for breakfast was a banana and a glass of chocolate milk. I don't know why, but from one day to the next I was a nervous wreck. I think they call it "Last-Minute Stress." And let me tell you something, that's the worst kind of stress in the world.

When I walked in, instead of seeing the usual symbol of the school on the front wall, there was the announcement of the recital. It had a picture of the usual choir members, and below it said, "And Featuring A Special Attraction: The Already-Heartthrob, Super-Cutie, Casanova Suave Debonair; The One Who Makes All The Girls Crazy, and Soon-to-Be Singing Superstar, Spiny Kyverná!"

Okay, that was so far out. Talk about humble, for T. Rex's sake! I mean, sure a lot of girls think I'm the cutest, the handsomest, that I got the prettiest face, the pretties eyes, that I'm tall, and a gentleman and all that, but they don't have to announce it publicly. And I was especially not sure about the part of being a future superstar.

Well, you know what I mean. I wasn't even finished reading the announcement when guess who came walking up? No, not Katy Perry. And not Tom Cruise, although we're good friends. This person reminded me more of Hilary Duff with Pomeranian dogs on her head. Every time I see this person, my mind always told me, "Whoa, look out! Witch alert! Straight ahead."

Yep. Kylie Anderson. Captain of the Cheerleading Team. School and Local Flirt. Most Popular girl. Considered to be the "finest" girl, if you know what I mean. She's considered the Queen Beauty. And of course, I'm not saying that she's ugly. But I have learned from long ago that her personality is no different than that of many celebrities and/or models.

Anyways, she came up and said, "Hey, there, Dreamboat! You excited about the recital tonight?"

I tried to smile politely. Only politely, mind you. But, how in the world is a girl with a mind like Kylie supposed to distinguish the difference between a friendly, polite smile and a smile that says something else?

I said, "Hey, Kylie. Well, I guess I am nervous a little bit." I was a wreck, that's what!

She smiled suggestively, and said, "Oh, don't worry. When you say that you dedicate all the romantic songs to me, I'll make it easy on you and kiss you after you're done."

I stared at her with a wooden stare. Me dedicate songs to her?! I'd rather be stuck in a pit of tar! And no way was I going to let her kiss me. Never! I'd rather…I'd rather…well, I don't know, but I do know that if I'm going to kiss any girl, it's going to be Lilia. I wouldn't kiss Kylie if my life depended on it.

I cleared my throat. "Look, Kylie. Just go to the recital. Don't try to get too excited. Okay? It's just a recital, that's it?"

"Ohhh. I see. I get you, sweetie pie." Blech! If she called me by that name again, I was going to throw up. I said that I had to go to class and got away as fast as I could. And in case you want to know, every single girl who I passed smiled at me like a dazed fan.

While I sat there at my desk, waiting for everyone else to get there—I was the first one there; even the teacher wasn't there yet—I went over some notes for Literature and Grammar class. I was in the middle of reading the summary of The Lord of the Flies, when I heard Dimetroodon, Larry and Darla walked in.

I don't know what they were talking about but Dimetroodon said, "Well, then, I guess I'll pick what we do."

Darla rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, please, calm down. I mean, chill, okay? Ever since you found out that today's International Invention Day, you want to decide that every today is going to be a project."

Larry then said, "Well, how about inventing words?"

"You mean etymology?" I said. Now they had caught my full attention. They looked at me and Larry said, "No, I said inventing words, not swear words."

I rolled my eyes and groaned. Dimetroodon shook his head. Darla hit Larry in the arm hard and said, "That's what etymology is, you fool! Inventing words!"

"Yeah," I said. "Like…well, like a new word for butter."

All three got to thinking hard. After a while, Dimetroodon said, "I don't think there's word for butter, Spiny. Other than just butter."

I raised one eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? What do you think of the word 'mushlek'?"

Well that quieted them. They sat down and waited for the class to start. Then Lilia walked in. There went my heart beating fast again. She smiled at me and I felt the blush coming to my face. I smiled back. Boy, that smile and those beautiful caramel/honey-brown eyes would always melt my heart.

And her hair was combed all the way over her left shoulder and flowed down like a waterfall of chocolate-brown, shiny silk. I mean, her hair was real silky. The lights in the classroom shined off her hair so beautifully.

I mean, I have to be honest. She has the gift of beauty. I mean, it's really a gift that she has. But since she's humble, gets good grades, is an honor student, is honest, hangs out with my friends, and spends her time in gardening, tree climbing, and reading classic literature, about 95% of the school, including all the girls thinks she's boring, geeky, etc.

Anyways, she walked over to her seat, which was next to mine. I didn't realize I was staring at her. Well, that is until she caught me and I got butterflies in my stomach. I quickly looked down at my finished homework. I pretended that I was tying my left shoe, but out of the corner of my eye I saw her smiling at me.

At least Kylie wasn't in this class. If not…let's change the subject. Anyways, the teacher walked in and said, "Good morning class. I hope you all have your homework assignments. Those who don't will be flunked."

There were some murmurs in the room. The teacher then pointed to Larry and said, "Ah, Mr. Larry, may you tell the class your assignment."

Larry stood up and said, "Uh, sir. I'm not going to be able to because…my hamster ate my homework."

HUH?! A hamster?! Oh, for crying out loud! That was the cheapest trick in the history of cheap tricks in middle school homework. Where in the world had he gotten that one? What idiot had told him that?

The teacher smiled angrily. "Very funny, young man. But your little joke will cost you in having a passing grade."

Boy. Something told me this day was going to be anything but ordinary.