Chapter 3: Troublesome Gossip

You now that feeling when you just wake up and for a split second you don't know where you are? Or what just happened the night before? When you just feel completely ignorant to previous or past events? Well if you don't, then you should. It's bliss for me.

My alarm clock reads: 7:30. Yeah, I have to wake up this early to go to church. There are usually two morning services and my Dad and I go to the 8:00 o'clock service. Why we have to go to the earliest service, I will never know.

I shower and change into my new blue dress. I just bought it yesterday when I was shopping with…. Ugh. I don't even want to think about that traitor. I look back in the mirror. I wonder if Brandon would like it. He better, because I don't plan on changing today.

Brandon. I can still feel the soft caress he gave my cheek last night. I'm still thinking about him when my Dad starts banging on the door.

"Wake up Stella! It's time to go." He said gruffly. I open the door to show him that I was already fully dressed. My Dad didn't really look like me. He had really dark hair and facial hair everywhere. I mean, he is very handsome, but looks nothing like me. I am told I look exactly like my Mother. Not that I care. She can rot in hell.

"Oh. You're dressed. Well then let's go. Don't want to be late." He grinned and bustled down the hall. I'm not quite sure why he always wore his uniform to church. I guess to show his "power" over people.

Once we arrive at church, I knew something was off. Everyone was kind of glancing at me from the corner of there eyes. A few gave me pity looks. Oh come on! How does the whole town know about something that only just happened last night? This was a disadvantage of living in a small town.

The service hasn't started yet, so my Dad went off to talk to a few buddies. I want to get out of here. All the looks are getting me angrier then I thought they would. People haven't looked at me like this since my so-called Mother left town. It was completely unnerving.

Someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn to come face-to-face with Layla. Her black hair was styled beautifully down her back and her smile was infectious. "Hey Stella!" She said.

"Hey." I had to laugh at her exuberance. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing. My step-bro told me he met you at the party last night. He's been talking about you all this morning too. Stella, Stella, Stella. It was quite annoying." He was talking about me? I couldn't help but feel delighted at this new fact. I also couldn't help but wonder why Layla came and he didn't though. I was about to ask her when she interrupted me.

"Oh, and I saw what happened last night. Bloom is such a witch. Don't worry about her. You okay though?" She asks genuinely. I know she is just being considerate, but it irked me to no end when people asked me if I was okay after something terrible just happened.

The same thing they did when Mother left. I absolutely hated it.

"I'm fine." I snap at her. I feel a bit guilty at the hurt look on her face. I sigh and say, "Look, I'm sorry I just…" I trail off as I look to see the couple who just walked into the chapel. Hand-in-hand.

Bloom and Sky.

What are they doing? Does Bloom seriously want to be called the town slut? Does Sky really want to be known as the town jerk? Do I honestly want to be known as the helpless girl who was cheated on and dumped? Absolutely Not!

Sky looks right at me then. He smiles weakly and gives me a half wave, as if trying to call a truce. I flick him off. Wait, you can't flick people off in church, Stella! He frowns. Like I care. I'm just done caring about him and his little skank.

"Stella, where do you think you're going?" My Dad inquires as I start to run out of the chapel. I turn back to him and look over his shoulder. Everyone is looking at me. There looks range from curiosity to strong pity. So some of them don't know yet. It doesn't matter; they will know soon enough if Bloom has anything to do with it.

"I can't…. I have to," I sniff to control my tears, "I just need to get out of here Dad. I'll… see ya at home." I run out before he has time to object. I always seem to be running now a days. I glance at my watch to see that it's 5 'til 8. No place is open this early. Well, except for one.

I race down to Sally's Ice Cream Pallor. I don't know why that's the name. They don't even serve ice cream. Just food and drinks. It's not a popular place, which is why I love to go. I push open the creaky door. The only sign of life is the man behind the counter. And he is sleeping on the stool. Terrible service. I didn't mind though. I don't come here to eat.

I start walking toward the booth in the back when I stopped short. There is already someone sitting here. What is Brandon doing here? He doesn't notice me approaching because he looks like he's in another world. He's still staring off into the distance, deep in thought, when I clear my throat.

"Hey stranger." I say, slightly wary of interrupting his thinking session. He looks up, startled for a second, and gives me a confused smile. "Stella? What are you doing here?"

The tears start to form again as I have an onslaught of recent events in my head. Brandon notices and says, "Never mind. Sit down…. Please." You don't have to tell me twice. "You look gorgeous by the way." I mumble a, "thanks."

I sit and start biting my nails. It's a terrible habit, I know, but I tend to do it when I'm upset or nervous. Brandon takes my hand and lowers it from my mouth. "Bad habit?" he asks. I can only nod and look down at my lap.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you. You seemed to be in a deep thought when I came in. I swear I'm not stalking you or anything." I laugh nervously.

He smiles. "It's ok. Just some… stuff I have to deal with. Well, since were together now, why don't we start our date?"

Date? "Umm.. I thought it was just a… get-to-know-you-better meeting or something."

His face fell slightly. "Oh. Well, we can have that 'meeting' right now and the date later on. How does that sound?"

I squirmed uncomfortably. "Brandon…."

"Never mind. Just forget it. I understand."

I didn't mean to make him in the least bit sad. I just couldn't let people in right now. It hurts too much. "Aren't you still curious why I'm here?" He had to wonder.

"Well, you don't seem to want to talk about it, so let's not talk about it. Unless you do want to talk about it." Wow he is really perceptive.

"Ummm… no let's not speak of it right now."

"Cool. So, tell me about Stella Solaria." He said leaning forward.

I laughed humorlessly, "You probably don't want to know. I'm a pretty messed up girl."

"Well I'm a pretty messed up guy." I thought he was joking because of his smile, but something in his eyes told me he was kind of serious.

"Okay," I swallowed, "My favorite color is orange, I love mac and cheese, I can't sing to save my life, I can dance a little, I am extremely stubborn at times, and… I have a major soft spot for animals. Especially dogs. Your turn."

He looked a little shocked. Probably didn't expect me to speak so many words at the same time. I can't blame him; it takes me a while to be comfortable enough with a person to actually talk casually with them. That rule doesn't seem to apply right now though.

"Let's see… I actually have a dog. German Sheppard."

"Oh really! What's it's name?" I asked inquisitively.

He smiled wistfully. "Rose" he said softly. There is definitely a deeper reasoning to that name.

"That's a beautiful name," I respond. He smile widens. " Ok. Tell me more."

" Ah…." he trailed off. I'll help him out a little.

"How about we play twenty questions. I ask you twenty questions and you have to answer truthfully."

"Sure." He replies.

"Alright. Favorite sport?" I question. Guys like sports, right?

"Football."

"Favorite show."

"I… don't really like to watch television anymore. At least T.V. shows."

We went on and on with this game. After plenty of laughs and giggles, we were down to the last two.

"Okay… favorite color?"

"What color are your eyes?" he asks slyly.

"Yellow-orange. It's pretty weird."

"Well, my favorite color is actually yellow-orange, so it's not that weird."

I laughed whole-heartedly. "Very nice. Favorite food?"

"Chicken. Gotta love chicken."

"Actually… I'm a vegetarian." He looked a little surprised. He cleared his throat. "Well, everyone except vegetarians."

"I was joking," I giggled. "I love chicken too. Not a lot of course. But I do splurge myself now and then."

He chuckled. "So you're a weight-watcher, huh?"

"Yup, and proud of it."

"Well you should work out with me sometime."

I looked at him suspiciously. "Are you calling me fat?" He flat out laughed at that. I didn't find it that funny.

"No, I just thou-" He was interrupted by his cell-phone chirping. He looked at it briefly and his face darkened. What's that about?

"Uh, Stell I gotta run. I'll pick you up later for 'part 2'" He said distractedly as he stood up. "See ya!" I stop him before he leaves.

"Wait! Um…. I should probably get your number. You know, in case one of us needs to reschedule or something." I say with a slight blush. I have never had this much trouble

asking for a guy's number. I am really losing my game.

He gave a quick smile, grabbed a pen from his pocket, took hold of my forearm, and wrote down his number. He wrote it so fast I didn't have time to object to him putting ink on my skin.

When he was finished, he flashed me another grin and said, "Talk to you later Stell!" Then he was out of the door. Wow. That must have been some emergency if he had to leave like that this early in the morning. I look down at my watch to see that it was 8:30. Wow. Time went by fast. It defiantly didn't feel like we talked for thirty minutes. I guess that's what happens when you're actually enjoying yourself.

As I walk back home, I can't wipe the smile off my face. How did Brandon make me forget everything going on in my life like that? It was like he put me under his charming spell or something. The spell vanished, however, when I walked into my kitchen.

"Time to explain yourself, Stella. Now!" My father demanded.

A/N: Thanks for reading! So it's a bit longer, but I hope you liked it. And just so you know this is an All Human fic. Also, a reviewer said that they hated Mitzi more than Bloom. Well don't worry, she'll be making an appearance as well….. Review and tell me what you like or don't like. I need your opinions! Oh, and just because Stella says certain things doesn't mean I agree to them too!