Dream of Love

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“Wake up, sweetie” a familiar voice murmured “wake up or you will be late for school” it was my father; he’s a regular man who loved me a lot, and still does; well at that moment when he came into my room like a gatecrasher and started to wake me up I had that feeling and telling him ‘Dad I am not a kid anymore, well more importantly I am sixteen, I will wake up even if someone don’t wakes me up’ but since he was my old man and I loved him too I said.

“Alright, Alright daddy I am already awake” I snarled him but my voice cracked, so that must have sounded cute for him, well what do you expect someone’s voice early in the morning? ----I rubbed my eyes and looked up at my father he was smiling wide, I smiled him back. He asked me if I did my homework –okay dad I am no more in Middle School, of course I did--but that’s when I remembered that I had a little test on that day I ran to the washroom, brushed my teeth, took a bath and then checked out my text book.

My father came in again, don’t know what had got into him, but thank goodness the questions were so easy that I learned them effortlessly, well did I mention the subject was World History? Argh… yeah right the most irritating subject in a student’s life, He was sitting on my red couch with heart-shape glass table, on which my favorite books were scattering, and was reading the newspaper until I was done then when I turned around to see him; he folded his newspaper and started asked me a pretty lot of questions that I didn’t really listened very cautiously or answered clearly, just nodded and shook my head to answer though. But then I started to pay attention what he was saying when he started to ask me about the school, Yeah that’s really something when your dad starts to ask you things about school, especially when you are in High School,

“So, how’s your classes going?” he started ask, I pouted as my reply “Let me guess, ‘not so good’!” he added shaking his head and I shook my head synchronizing his, as my answer.

“Why? Is someone bullying you?” he inquired, okay that was one of the horrible guess, I don’t know how he came up with that idea.

“No!” I said, my eyes widened than ever before, of course I knew he would ask me then what’s the matter so I added “There is this new guy in the class everyone is just flattering over him, you know it’s boring and disgusting”

“Who is this newbie? Do I know his family?” he urged to know more, my father was an engineer so most of the elite people in the town knew him since he was one of them and so did he knew the other. Even if we were not origin in Montpelier, Vermont my father had a great reputation ever since we moved to this place we moved here, due to his job and we never moved.

“Aaron Ruperts, his dad is Dr. Reginald Ruperts” I replied tenderly without leaving any traces that I hated that guy.

“Oh, the son of Dr. Ruperts?” alright he knew them but ‘wait why is he so surprised?’ that’s the only thing could occur in my mind. I nodded to response his question but again he asked another question unfolding his newspaper again to check any update he missed “didn’t he study in your school all along these past, three years?” oh my goodness that moron has been living here now for more than three years? Wow! I am impressed. Well yeah, I think I heard he studied his middle education at River Rock but still I didn’t know he was not new to town.

“You know his family from three years now? And no, he didn’t study in our school all these past three years!” I inquired very skeptically while I wanted to wrap up the conversion as faster as it could, but I couldn’t help but ask how my father knew them.

“Well yes, I know the Ruperts’, they are very good people try to get along with the boy, after all he is a nice boy” my father really drove me crazy when he said ‘after all he is a nice boy’ I mean I am his classmate I know how mingy he is. He never said anything to me or did anything to me, but still just looking at his face was enough to provoke me.

“He is strange! I don’t wanna be friend with a freak.” I growled I was really, really mad just by talking about that guy and how someone could imagine me to be friend with that pudding head. Then my father, Harold, laughed at me, oh c’mon that’s gross! Don’t laugh at your daughter.

“Sorry, Sweetie but don’t worry daddy knows how to make you smile” He commented looking at my funny expression. “Let’s go for a ride, all of us!” he added.

“Are you sure?” I asked him to assure that he wasn’t joking, well yeah my father is a comedian but one of the lamest comedian in the world that I know. “It means I have to skip school” I repeated him.

“Yes, it’s alright if you skip one day, right?” he blinked his eyes twice, oh daddy I love you thank you for letting me skip the school and so I didn’t have to see that Aaron Rupert’s face!

“Oh, but we are going tomorrow, is that fine?”

“Fine” I hissed

Right after that I smacked to my wardrobe, to find a dress for school; I grabbed out one of my black and white dresses it was a White And Black Striped Jersey Knit Pleated Turtleneck Dress with whom I thought I would wear my Black 'Miss Mouse' Pumps but ended up wearing 'Carla' Bow Pumps; with long white shocks; because I was already wearing a dress that all girls in my school desired and I didn’t want to look totally a vamp so I didn’t wear any extra accessories with it except my new Mini Backpack. When I was done, I walked downstairs while humming my favorite song, A thousand Years by Christina Perry, my cousins mocked me asking me if I had tragically felt for someone -- which was definitely one of those things that I believed was never going to happen in my life-- but the worst part was my father was tagged along with them and made fun of me. And obviously I moped again. My mother, Abigail shut their mouths and concluded by pursuing them to do their own chores “Don’t you guys feel embarrass for teasing someone who is so younger than you guys? And Harold you got to get ready, honey” she then gave me a cup of milk and a fine breakfast, which was included with my favorite fruits and toppings. I had a pretty big house; well it’s a mansion that could be compared to a palace, but even though it was like a palace it was just a house and we had our own house rules too and we had this one watchword that we could never break, that is “Never be Late” and I was running late for school so, I sat in the car with my daddy because my school was on the way to his office so he always had this job to drop me at the school and pick me after. Oh and what about my cousins? Well they live in our hometown, Vancouver actually; it’s just that they are on their vacation, every year they come and stay here during their vacations; but even though they were my cousins I loved them very much, and so did they love me very much and we live like siblings more than cousins by the way.

It was definitely not my first day of school after vacation or anything, so I had no problem even if I were late. Actually it is the end of June; exactly the week before the mid-term exams and vacation. But don’t know why but I was feeling kind of little anxious.

Yeah right! Then when I reached the school gates I waved goodbye to my father and right after that when I touched the play ground I saw my friends were waving ‘hi’ to me. Thus, I had no other choice but to tag along with them. They were really super girly I mean they only talk about dresses and boyfriends, yeah the topics in which I can’t keep my pace with them. Because

1. I am not so a shopaholic, my parents buy my dresses and

2. I didn’t have a boyfriend.

“Hey your bag is so cute!” Penelope Didion my best friend –who is also really a genius and expert in mathematics--, actually came to help me out, the only one who didn’t talk about my dress because before her interruption everything was like:

“Oh my gosh! Shar, where did you get this so perfect dress?” Leila Nelson my coolest classmate just started it.

“I am damn sure, if I wear something like this, August will be just buzzing over me” Tierra Cubits who never gets obsessing over her boyfriend August Martinson added.

“Yeah, right!” I said staring at them and smiling like an idiot and I really got annoyed when I saw that duffer with his friends looking really cool and throwing their head backs and laughing like some elementary graders with their jock and nerd friends, oh did I mention that guy was popular with everyone? Jocks, Preps, Nerds, Geeks, I mean it, popular in every clique and people.

“I want to know if that dress will impress Aaron Ruperts?” oh my God, Amy Peterson of all the people wanted his attention. Eww… that’s not very good, I mean that girl is like a princess – okay I know I am kind of too – but still she was a real charmer and wanted to hang around with someone like HIM! No way! I can’t let that happen…so I wanted to say ‘oh no, of course no, he is a nerd Am’ but instead I went “Sure, it might” don’t know what was wrong with me but it was definitely not a great day for me and honestly what did I just say?

“Did you wear it to strike off him?” Amy demanded with very mean looking eyes…well thank goodness I sneered, yeah I sneered and rolled my eyes and said “Of course no” and to my surprise everyone seemed happy with that. Oh my god who the hell is that freaking guy who is stealing all my friends! Not to mention…he is not talking to girls but still he is like seducing them…from far away.

After that chat finally Pen interrupted, changing the subject to my bag.

I am skipping to talk about the classes before lunch because there was nothing interesting than girls talking about my dress and some boys wooing on me .So after lunch break, in our calculus class our teacher came in to the class with his expected long stick (not to beat of course, just to scare us off) and gave us the class work; he gave us to do one of the geometrical maths which we had to prove it with Thales theorem, yeah right not so tough if you like geometry. “Don’t close your notebooks, after doing that do number 6 of page 93 and then bring me to check, and do not copy each other now hurry up!” Mr. Shaw repeated, well let me tell you one of the joke on Mr. Shaw, ‘we’, the students, nicknamed him ‘Mr. Hurry Up’ since each time he gives us a class work he would start bawling “Hurry up, Hurry up”.

Aww crap, forget the joke for a moment because after that I lost my scale! It was my horrible day. I had no other choice but to ask my friend Sasha Clive, to lend me hers. She was one of the divas of our class at that time but even then we had a pretty good friendship. Oh and did I mention she was the class-representive of our class and I was nominated for the Student Council Body President next semester, yeah that’s right even if I am a freshman I am nominated, so of course she would have to be sweet to me.

“Sash? Can I borrow your scale? I lost mine” I poked her with my pencil because she sits right in front of me and requested very affirmatively and maybe I did a good thing she lent me, muttering “Sure, but don’t lost mine” she smiled at me and so did I to response her cute welcoming face with fluffy cheeks. I did the class work much faster than others so I thought to wait for Pen who sits next to me…. and I was really happy when I went to check because we were the only two who had done it faster then anyone and went to check our copies but it ruined when Arthie my ex-best friend; yeah best friend not boyfriend; came along with that jerk, and checked their notebooks earlier than us.

I was really irritated, I mean alright you guys are good boys since no other boys come to check but this is really not very gentleman manner to check before ladies. Well, sorry that’s exactly not the fact actually I was frustrated by idea of Arthie; the perfect student of our class is hanging with that poor fish. I was gnashing my teeth because Arthie was my best friend till the beginning of this year that is until Aaron the centre of attention of the class came. I was the only one who disgusted it and ignored his popularity. Alright I began to hate him not because he was centre of attention or was taking my friends away; only boys however, don’t know why but I think he was pretty shy to talk with girls because he never talked with any; but I hated him because he was kind of a brat and really the cheekiest guy in the world that I knew. And probably I was mad because I also wanted to be friends with him.

Since I was so pissed off, I thought to lure Arthie and Aaron into a conceited fight.

“Hey there Arthie, looks like you got a pretty good companion” I said in very foul tone. I don’t know why but it was as if that geek just read my mind and whispered something to Arthie, hello? I was close enough to hear what he said, and then Arthie and Aaron just left the conversation before it could start, both of them just chuckled and went back to their seats and it was like I just made a joke on me. That guy was a whacko!

After that, it was the history class so we changed classes as soon as it was possible because our history teacher Ms. Élan was really a strict teacher; I don’t know why did I get this subject; but hey, Arthie and Aaron have same routine as I do. Yup, that’s right I had to bear that guy every second during my school hours. Oh boy that really sucks! I kept my math book in my locker and took out the world history, oh by the way Sasha had history too -- the only other class that both of us shared -- so she tagged along with me when I went to my locker. And then we dashed off to Ms. Élan’s class. Okay it was the test time, the questions were easy as I mentioned but hey it doesn’t mean that it was all that easy too because Ms. Élan just added some new questions… Well it seemed like that guy will be fail because he just returned his test paper in ten minutes. Ha ha eat some dust boy! Or so what I thought…..

Then it was the last class, biology -- and you know what? I am paired with him in biology—but we don’t just do as team, we do everything as if one of us is just invisible. Wow, the day really passed soon, since I was going out with my family next day I was really excited, but then I noticed I didn’t bring my book and our Bio teacher was really annoying he keeps babbling if we do one little mistake, well I didn’t want anything bizarre anymore so I walked off outside to take it out of my locker but guess what?

“Oops, Aaron!” I murmured I remember I just took his first name for the first time on my lips, ah he bumped on me and without being a gentleman, I mean without even apologizing he just walked away he gave me a look that was like ‘I am not sorry alright? I am sure you were spacing out, so I am not going to damn apologize you but I will make you instead’ I can say that because I saw his gave me that grimy smirk that boys give when they think something wicked, it pissed me off even more than before and definitely it was enough to make a saint swear, and of course a reason to hate him more. Due to this behavior of his I never talked to him much. But wait what was he doing out near my locker as far as I can remember his locker is not near mine well, who cares.

Finally, the class was over --I didn’t talk to him at all, not a single darn word-- and so the school time was! I saw dad right in front of the main gate with our red Infiniti G35, it was a new car and of course everyone had locked their eyes on it. Then I turn my head toward the car next to ours, I saw Aaron, shouting “Shotgun!” to his little sister, Nora; His sister was really the sweetest little sister I know and it was funny when Aaron said shotgun because he was driving and then I noticed that their car was a black Oldsmobile Alero seriously how old is that car? It made me to laugh a little but then I remembered what Aaron said to Arthie and what he did before the last class.

“You know, Sharon is really cute kid, it’s funny how her expression is always so complex in front of boys!” (Yeah! That’s what he said in the math class. I mean hey I am not a kid)

And then ‘Huh! You should apologize, not me’ thing–he never said it but I knew by that smile of his -

Oh man, these words were spinning over my mind, on all the way home that I shushed to myself.

“What happened? You look sort of mad at something” my dad asked, definitely I was making such an idiotic expression that anyone would understand how irritated I was!

“No, I just…. had a hard day! You know old phrase ‘a good day to die hard’!” I scoffed and I lied. I was pretty good liar and so my dad believed at it -- just like my other friends did--. At home I tried to act as very usual but you know it really hard when you are angry! I even tried to outcome my rage on my food during the supper; thank goodness I have a futuristic family, they didn’t really find any curious, so I went directly to my bed before I could do anything weird.

Next morning,

I woke up early, I didn’t had much to do and I was still in my pink bunny print pajama, so I turned on my laptop and started to write some stupid article on “Reasons to know your Destiny” oh I forgot to bring up it earlier I really love literature. I don’t know how to say it but it took only half an hour to write that article. After that my sister, --one of the cousins I mentioned earlier—Nathalie came breaking into my room--was in her black T and her lounging trousers--. She took my big teddy bear, and bounced on my bed.

She came in to talk about her boyfriend ‘Al’ with me, --yeah she is way too open to me as I was to her—I don’t know his full name yet though. She told me how he proposed her and how he sweet is to her. Well, she wouldn’t shut up about her boyfriend, which was of course was not one my favorite thing to talk about since I didn’t have any to know those feelings. Oh did I state that Nat (that’s her obviously nick name), is applying for college? She is in her last year of High School (I really envy her), and I think she had dumped more than 7 boys when she was a freshman in high school, and you know why she dumped them? Well because they were either not good companions or they were not gentlemen. Yup, my cousin is a good girl. And I love her the way she is.

“After he was all broken and his heart shattered by his ex, he asked me and I said yes because I liked him too” she said cuddling my Mr. Teddy and the blanket. Aw…she is cute.

“You just like him?” I said in a tone of very curious, yeah I am a clever girl I didn’t want to show that I am not interested and yeah I actually am interested I mean I wanted to be sure if she was serious about this ‘Al’ guy.

“No….I love him” she said….her eyes glazing like they were made of diamonds…“he is the guy who is sort of similar and sort of different than me.” She added.

“Alright, I get it.” I said smiling like a baby. After which she just pulled my cheeks like a baby –seriously like a baby because my family thinks I am a baby, well I am sort of though—and then left me all alone in my room.

Since I had some time, I took an amazing bath after which I checked out my wardrobe and picked out one of my blue jeans along which I wore my black jersey tee and my converse shoes. I was not in mood to wear anything very super model type or something and get really mad if coincidently bumped to any of my super girlie friends. Thank goodness that didn’t happen.

“Why did you wear this?” Nat asked unbelievingly looking at my dress when I got to our glass-made dining table –she was wearing a pinkish-like evening dress with short sleeves --. She was helping my mother, who was making an apple pie. It was obvious I wasn’t going to tell her the truth. I mean how could I tell about what happened yesterday? They will make a real nuisance over that topic and will always tease me which definitely was not one of my favorite things.

“Um… I don’t have mood to wear anything heavy and we are going to a family drive not to a party, Sissy.” I replied at which she just casually nodded.

“So, are you guys ready to go?” My father wanted to know –who came out of nowhere in his casual dress, which was a blue Jeans and a check shirt--, then he leaned his head and looked down at me. “What happened? You look sort of upset.” He declared, at which my brother Ryan, –who was sitting next to me and was busy chatting with his girlfriend until my dad muttered-- looked up at me. “Whoa,” he said “really what happened? You look so fluffy and angry like an angry bird” alright he made fun of me.

“Nothing!” I yelled, “…can we just go…or do you guys want to go after lunch?” I was really annoyed. I mean it. I was already excessively annoyed by that stupid fellow and now my family. Eww…Kill me!

Finally, we went to the drive that we planned, it was already past three o’clock. Yeah they were making it real late, I mean if it wasn’t dad who told me to skip today I guess I would have bumped into that dim-witted somewhere at school. Well, whatever I was hoping my evening would be great.

We crossed few neighboring towns, and then we stopped to our destined place “Manchester!” my sister seemed way too exited than usual after all it was Manchester her favorite shopping place, it was full 3 hours I was pretty bored. And so was my brother. But really Nat was way happy, she wanted to go to Orvis and so Ryan and dad tagged along with her –oh yeah, they were shopaholics --I didn’t want to go but she insisted me to (what about my mother? Well she didn’t mind, she will go anywhere as long as dad is with her). But before that I went to Northshire Bookstore so that I could buy an interesting book for me. Because the last book I read was The Mediator Series by Mag Cabot (this series was really sweet and funny) I loved Paul more than Hector or Jesse whatever and now I really needed a new book.

“Hey Shar,” my brother called me, “this is it, right? I mean you want this right?” holding out a book in his hand --it was not just a book it was the last book of the Water Song series by Amanda Hockings– when I was talking to the owner if he had it or not.

“Yeah,” I said very casually “that’s that.” Ryan handed me the book and so we checked out of the store.

“How did you know which book I wanted?” I asked very dubiously in a tone that I believed wasn’t mine at all -- it was too cheesy type – when we were putting our seat belts on to go to Orvis.

“Sorry,” he said “I read your books without permission.” he frowned but I knew it was all fake because after that he just winked.

“Haha, very clever” was the only thing I could think of. Oh, by the way Ryan was older than both me and Nat, sooner or later after his Engineering course is complete he have to search for a job, so it was really odd to know he was actually reading book other than his University books as well.

When we reached the Orvis, I took the chance and sat on one of it’s couch while all the other family members who came, were, well searching for some clothes. I thought I was saved but no, they came down with tons of clothes, my sister dumped a pile of clothes on me and said “Mom searched them for you, just try them.” Then she just left me there, before I could say anything. I had no other choice but to try those clothes on. They fit me perfectly. I picked out few of them so that they won’t buy all of them. After that we went to the restaurant to have our dinner.

On our way back, I saw a black BMW, I didn’t mistake it. It was Rick’s car another brat of our class –well honestly he was sort of a brat and his father was too a doc like Aaron’s. I saw Aaron in there with all his funky friends. I wondered where they were going but even then the first thing that came in my mind was he was really lucky to go somewhere with his friends at night.

He is a guy, I know, but still how old might he be?

Not more than seventeen of course.

He was really lucky and I… and I… argh how to say it. It’s embarrassing, alright lets spit it, and I envied him because he’s very…friendly.

“And this is it.” Finally Nat stopped babbling about what she was talking with Albert –ah that’s his name--, she almost broke up with him last night but again he just made up this morning. It’s Sunday morning so I was lying on the couch –in the living room-- reading the physics book and Nat was sitting on one of the end of couch making her lap as my pillow.

“Oh” was the only word that comes out of my mouth when I am not concentrating on what someone is saying. Then suddenly the door the bell rang, I was in pretty bad mood so I asked Nat to see who it was –since every other members were out for some stupid meeting with the Stewarts’—she did it without having any arguments (real generous).

When she reached the door I acted as if I were asleep at which she sighed, well I couldn’t help it I didn’t like meeting people without any appointment or whatsoever. She pulled the door and let the person in and she talked very sweetly at which I did think its a little kid and then I heard a deep but really sweet voice:

“Shar?” he said. I opened one of eyes to see who it was and then to my surprise it was

“Gary” I jumped on him, Garrick Slaghorn—or Gary that’s what I call him—is my childhood friend and my neighbor’s grandson, who lives (now lived) in New Jersey.

“How are you?” I babbled “and what a pleasant surprise, is it your early summer vacation?” I didn’t let him to answer, just asked him a lot of questions and then he just laughed and said me “I am good, thanks” see he really is a gentleman unlike Aaron “and no it’s not my vacation it’s…” his voice trailed off and he just turned his head to Nat. “Nathalie?” he said. Amazing that he remembers her but she doesn’t.

“Yeah” she said then gazed me and asked me nervously “Shar, who he is?” at which my eyes rolled automatically “don’t you remember Garrick?” I said. Nat hit her head to show us that she is flashbacking her memories and then she just shrieked “Oh yeah, Garry Marry.”

Garry chuckled in amusement, “Stop calling him that!” I told her, --I saw--before Garry could say anything.

“What?” she went “He don’t mind, so why do you?” then she turned to face Garry “do you, Garrick?” she asked.

“No, I don’t” Garry said in his deep sweet voice that any girl would fall in love, he looked a lot like young Justin Timberlake now, I mean, the last time I saw him, that is ages ago he was just a mere small chubby boy, who liked to tease girls a lot and now he is a hottie. And I mean it.

“See, he doesn’t” Nat declared, I had nothing to say so I just sighed, I couldn’t believe I was related to her. I mean how thickhead she was? How could she believe that someone would say ‘Yes, I do mind you calling me by my old nickname’ When she’s a hottie?

I mean she’s beautiful; she’s little skinny and have long shiny black hair (yeah shiny black hair like the all our other family members) perfectly copper skinned and brown eyes.

“So, why are you here if it’s not your vacation?” I asked Garry again. At which he was grinned really wide. He was so sweet and was the least friend I ever wanted to lose.

“I am transferring to your school next semester” he said every eagerly to see my expression.

If it were a year before I would have just hugged him again, and I think I would have screamed out loud ‘Oh my God, Garry, I am so happy. You and I will be in same school.’

But now the time was different, I already lost most of my friends—boys, I mean—and I didn’t want to lose Garry. But to hid my real feelings I just hugged him and muttered something real stupid “That’s so great, Garry…I am too excited to see you after vacation…can we go together? I mean you are staying with Grandma Samantha and Grandpop right?” because after that he frowned.

“How long has it been since you last visited them?” he shook his head as inquired with an expression that was hardly could be readable.

“We haven’t visited them for, er, almost a year and a half” it wasn’t me who replied, it was Nat at that point I could finally read his expression. “What happened to them? Are they alright?” I grumbled.

“No, she is not good” he shook his head, “I don’t think she is going to live any longer” his frowniness deepened.

“Oh I am so sorry, Garry.” I did apologize him from the dept of my heart. “I am extremely sorry…I didn’t know”

“It’s fine, many people –including the neighbors- don’t know” he said with a grim smile.

“So, you are going to live at there home…? I guess” Nat asked though it sounded more of like a statement than a question.

“No, we are not going to live at Grandgran place…You know, my mother have a brother, elder brother, and he is going look after the house and Grandpa and Grandma with his wife and two sons and so this will be the last time I will come around this area.” He went “We are building a house near Michael’s place; you know Mike is my cousin, so see you at school next semester.” He smiled this time deep with thought. --- Oh about Michael, he is my classmate, childhood friend, and one of those friends (boys) that stolen by that geek Ruperts. ---

“Aren’t you going to give the tests before this semester?” I babbled again “I mean this semester hasn’t ended yet. The exams are from tomorrow” I tried to cool down my statement but it sounded crappier.

“No, your school said they don’t let to transfer in the middle of a semester exams so” he smiled wide.

“Oh, Yeah” I said coolly this time with a smile that must have looked like a fool since I could see Nat laughing.

“See you soon” Garry said and left us.

It was pretty silent for a while, but that Nat opened her mouth and the silence disappeared

“So, why are you so angry since yesterday?” Whoa she noticed that I was irritated. I blushed. I don’t understand whenever I am angry I either cry or blush.

“N-n-nothing” I shattered and Nat turned around to look at my face and then she went “It gotta be something, you don’t really shatter, Shar. Spit it already.”

I didn’t think for minute because I was already babbling out the things “You remember the day before we went to Manchester, there was a test and that Ruperts submitted his paper in 10 minutes, I thought he didn’t wrote anything so he is going to fail but he scored the highest and I am third, I don’t like it, I wanna kick him out of my life…ever since he came to school he stole all my friends, boys only since he seems to be shy towards the girls, well, and now Garry is coming to our school, I am sure I will lose him too. I hate that freaking Aaron.” I screamed my anger out loud the only thing I didn’t say was freaking I used more informal word that shocked my sister. She gently came closer to me wiped my tears, yeah I ended up crying again, and hugged me while saying

“Don’t hate him, try to be friend with him…I’m sure he will become your best of best friends if it’s you, Shar. You understand everyone.” she almost said the same thing as dad said, but just like he was shy to talk with girls, I was shy to ask a boy ‘lets be friend.’

“No, thank you. I don’t want to be his friend”

“Don’t start acting like a brat, Shar.” She went “You never say this kind of things, what’s wrong with you?” I might have made her go mad because she just yelled at me and was about to almost-slap me. I was scared so I went up to my room. When I got back to my room my eyes started blur up again; I couldn’t concentrate on my studies anymore I cried until my eyes got swollen and my head started to ache. It was already dinner time and I haven’t studied at all.

“Wow, what happened to our sweet pea’s eyes?” my brother said when I came down for dinner. I looked at Nat she was still furious so I didn’t said anything about our little fight. “I didn’t sleep last night. And today I have been reading all day.” I covered Nat with a smile at which she just stared at me like I was a strawberry and she would love to eat me.

“You better go and sleep early then, isn’t it your exams tomorrow?” my father said. I nodded to answer him.

After the dinner Nat whispered me “I am sorry for yelling at you.” And kissed my cheeks like I was a baby –oh as a baby? I remembered when I was a kid, and I get mad at someone she or he has to kiss me five times, on my cheeks, on my chin and on my forehead, or I would pout all the time, oh no I was such a spoiled brat–. Then I went to sleep, I was tired.

“Wake up or you are going to be late for your exam” Nat came up to wake but it was terrible I couldn’t stir my head it was heavy –Crap! I was laid on my bed with a high fever. - Nothing could have been more or less horrible than having fever on the exam day. I jumped out of the bed as soon as I realized it. I knew my family won’t let me take the exam with a fever, so I had no other option but to act normal. Honestly acting while you have high fever is not a damn kid game.

“What’s wrong?” Nat said when she noticed me jumping out of my bed like I just saw a ghost.

“Nothing…nothing at all” I lied without flapping my eyelashes like an idiot so thought I was telling the truth. See I am really a classic liar. I acted very usual so no one even my mom didn’t doubt about anything.

“See you later” my dad said, “Give your best” he wished me good luck and so I just smiled and made him to see that everything was normal. To make sure that he didn’t have any idea of my act I waited for him to leave first and so I was sure he had no idea of anything regarding my act when he left as soon as I jumped out of the car. I sighed with relief but it didn’t last any longer because I was feeling cold –yeah, feeling cold in the month of August, disgusting- . I came in the class and acted as normal as I could, only as I couldn’t hide my headache my friends didn’t bother to ask ‘how’s ya’r preparation? ’ as it had already been written all over my face. DON’T BOTHER ME!!

“Here, you go” the teacher handed the test papers to everyone. I took a look at it and started to write but my bad luck I was feeling nauseous I was about to lose my consciousness so I started to write as much as I could because I knew I couldn’t handle it for a much longer time. I was just about to finish but I guess I just pass out. Because after that I don’t remember anything else than being in dad’s car in the school parking lot.

“Wait what happened?” I asked to dad with my awfully trembling voice. “I did pass out, didn’t I?” I tried to act sweet now because I knew I was going to get scolded by him for fooling him.

“Yes, you did”

To my surprise dad was very calm and seemed as if he isn’t going to scold me.

“Oh, so they called you to pick me up?” I blinked my eyes like a cartoon character.

“Of course they did, if it wasn’t your classmate who saw you then I guess no one would have noticed it until the final hour of exam” he stared to yell at me “Thanks to you, that other kid also didn’t got to complete his paper, because he was too busy with you, taking to the infirmary.” Dad snapped at me and that hurts emotionally when he does that.

“Alright, relax Dad!” I said “I’ll thank the kid later, you know who he is? Because I don’t.” I added as soon I could because dad’s rage is really too much to lure me and I wasn’t in the position to do any reckless at that moment.

“Him!” dad pointed to the oldest car that I know.

“Aaron Ruperts?!”

“Isn’t that Dr. Reginald’s son name? See I told you get befriended with the kid. I better should thank him.” Dad said that and don’t ask me what he did next. He pulled the car near that dupe and

“Mr. Ruperts!” dad exclaimed in joy as if he was meeting his son-in-law –honestly – “I am really really thankful to you that you took care of my daughter and I am sorry for causing such a trouble for you, I mean because of Shar you couldn’t complete your paper.” I didn’t like dad mentioning my nickname to Aaron.

“Don’t worry, sir I did complete my paper and i--”

“Yeah of course, dad he is a genius” I didn’t let him complete his sentence; I mean gosh Aaron talking in such a formal way to my daddy that it was tingling my spine. But I was insulting him why did he blush all of a sudden?! AWWW now I get it why all the other girls are crazy over him. He is so damn cute.

“Thank you, Shar” no, no way he was calling me by my nick name!? And despite being having grudge on me he smiled at me, a crooked smile – that’s how it actually looked since dad didn’t smiled him back so I had to, I mean I pitied him- than I noticed his charcoal black eyes. They dazzled me, I was already feeling sick and now those sparkly eyes, oh God. I can’t believe I never noticed how gentle his eyes look.

“I didn’t have any problem of taking care of Shar, sir” he started to complete his sentence “After all…” he took a pause there, it startled me “she is my friend.” He smiled at me again. His eyes were irresistible. I couldn’t bear looking at them anymore even if I was in the passenger seat his eyes were clearly visible to me so I closed my eyes.

“Seems she is not feeling well, you better take her home, sir.” Aaron started to say to my dad “Sorry for taking your time.”

“Ah... I am the same...However…Nice to meet you, Son”

“Pleasure to meet you, Sir” that’s the last I heard Aaron’s voice. His cracked but sweetest voice to my ears. Oh no I was falling for him.

“So IS your friend indeed!” Dad repeated Aaron’s words.

“Shut up, daddy, let me sleep” I exhaled.

“That’s how it was, he was looking so cool and tempting.” Amy said

Oh boy I was tagging in the chit chat about Aaron- I am calling him by his first name now, oh don’t get wrong idea, its him who said I am his friend so friends call each other by the first names right? - She was little making me embarrass actually because she was telling me how he carried me to the nurse office last week –exam week- and now it’s the vacation. I was feeling so shy but I was replying as if I am annoyed “Oh yeah, he must have had.” I said very plainly at which she must have thought that I didn’t like talking about Aaron. Because after that she just said me:

“Er… Shar, I think you are tired, take rest bye”

And she hung up the call.

After she hung the call I smiled like a fool and I forgot that Nat was with me doing her college presentation for next week.

“Geez, what’s up with that ugly smile?” she tried to inquire again, “It’s a blush isn’t it?” she added and I was so damn shocked

“Wh-wha-what are you sayin’? I am no-no-not blushing at all.” Oh boy I shattered again, why can’t I just lie when it comes to the topic connected to Aaron?

“Huh? Is it? Show me your face then” Nat said in her Nat-cunning voice and looked up at me face which I was trying to hide.

“Why don’t you do your homework at your room?” I said in a very irritated voice of mine.

“It’s not a homework it’s a presentation for my college interview.” She said

“Alright, whatever, now get out of my room, sissy.” I said to her but she didn’t move a bit, now I was really provoked. I jumped off from my bed and glared at her but instead of being scared she laughed out loud.

“Look at you, you are so damn busted, you are blushing sweetheart.” She said still laughing. I had no other choice so I grabbed her wrist in one hand and her works on the other and dragged her out of my room.

“And don’t come back if you just want to make me mad.” I banged the door on her face but I still heard her giggling until she was gone from near my room.

I sighed. I came back to my bed and started to think if she was really telling me that I was blushing.

I looked up at the big mirror beside my bed. And really I was looking as red as a tomato.

“Geez, I am going to sleep.” I said to myself.

After, a week or so, Pen and Sana –Sanae Peterson or Sana is my other best friend who is really fun loving but have this rivalry with her older brother, I mean I find them always arguing whenever I call her and she loves fashion. - called me, they were together and asked me if I am free and can come and join them at Capitol Grounds.

Since it wasn’t too far from 99 Parkway Street (that’s where my house is.) I said yes to them but God since it was August, a walk to Capitol Grounds at 4 pm was like walking to hell so I asked Ryan if he could drop me. So I was there in 5 minutes but when I stepped out of the car, I was feeling like I was going to get fried.

“Sorry if I am late.” I said to them. Pen was in her regular dress a simple halve sleeve light pink shirt with knee length pink and white floral skirt which she bought with me before vacation and Sana was wearing a purple and pink printed silk tie neck blouse with a white jeans and they both were wearing light pink All Stars. And there I was in my white stretch poplin button down blouse and black stretch denim skinny fit jeggings with my Elaine sandals. I was looking out of place.

“Black and White again.” Both of them said together.

“What? I can’t help it… you guys invited me without any pre calls.” I demanded.

“Sorry for that Busy Girl.” Sana said, argh it was worthless to ague with best friends.

“So what’s the plan?” I asked to both of them.

They both flushed with blush. Oh my God.

“What’s the plan?” I repeated this time it sounded more with excitement.

“You see the Fall Dance is near and we want to go to shopping together.” Sana said showing me that the ‘we’ means she and Pen is in cooperation.

“You see like something ‘best friends shopping eve’.” Pen said, she is kind of shy type girl you know. And I couldn’t believe she got date for the Fall Dance. Wow! I am so happy. Finally I can pull their ears. Especially Sana’s (hehe).

“Well, fine by me.” I assured them both “but who are the guys?” I added in order to tease both of them.

Sana threw her head back with a big laughter that everyone near us turned around to see if she didn’t go mad but Pen was blushing. I could see why that is because

“It’s just who is the guy? You see, Arthie asked our little Penny. And I am the gal who is going out with you. Sorry for asking you this late but, Dear Sharon Hemlocks will you be my date for the Fall Dance?” Sana said mockingly

“Oh my sweetheart, sure.” I rolled my eyes and said with a big grin on my face as I stared at Pen to which I am certainly sure that I was looking like a dupe because Sana just hit my head. (That hurt)

“My ex-best friend asked my best friend for the Fall Dance it’s so damn amazing. I’m loving it!”

“Ah… that phrase makes me remember we are right in front of the Subway not the McDonald’s, Shar…let’s grab something and go for the shopping.”

“Hey, I didn’t bring money today!” Pen said but both I and Sana were so busy in our discussion of what should Pen wear that we ignored what ever she said. We knew she don’t wear anything short so we had to check out for long gowns.

“Don’t worry I brought my card, we are going to shopping right now.” I said.

“And I brought my mom’s car.” Sana added ignoring what Pen said of no money borrowing.

“Perfect, just let me tell my mom then.” I giggled, so then I called my home and guess who picked it up? Nat of course so I told her I’ll be late home so let mom and dad knows about it. She said “Okay I’ll let them know, but is it some guy you are going out?” sounding very happy.

“No, it’s just Pen and Sana, you have met them right?”

“Ah-huh I remember them, okay have a great eve with your friends I’ll let mom and dad know.” she sounded disappointed but couldn’t be help I had no boyfriend.

“Where are we going so?” Pen asked.

“Well, to Walmart of course.” Sana joked.

“Isn’t obvious we are going to Berlin Mall, Pen.” I said to Pen from the passenger seat in my how-to-talk-to-a-child-voice.

“Oh I forgot to tell you Shar but when we will be returning back to home you will drive. I hope you brought your license” Sana added.

“Fine, but drop me at my home.” I muttered.

Then there we were. At the Berlin Mall. I was sure what to buy for her so I went to the damn right place.

“Sana, come with me.” I whispered. I showed her fuchsia crinkle chiffon shirred draped shoulder 'Melissa' Gown by Max and Cleo.

“Oh my gosh, this is perfect for Pen.” She cried “Pen come here and wear this.” She called Pen. At first Pen hesitated to try the dress but we insisted so when she wore it, she was looking like a

“Princess” Sana said it out loud. “Alright you are buying this. Now help me and Shar to buy.” Sana said without asking Pen if she liked the dress or not. Damn I love that part of Sana.

Sana tried many dresses until I and Pen brought her Teal crinkle chiffon shirred high neck open back 'Penia' dress by Max & Cleo and then she brought another ten dresses to try on me which I directly rejected. Then she and Pen brought a dress.

“I don’t have a date to wear a dress like this. Try it on Pen.” I roared at Sana while gesturing at Pen.

“If she wouldn’t have mind to wear this, did I have ask you to try?” Sana emended me.

“Right to the point.” I accepted my mistake. “But this dress is pretty expensive and I already have a dress to wear for the dance, well anyway I am not dancing.” I added.

“Yeah another black and white dress, don’t lie me I know it is black and white your damn signature color, and it’s not expensive at all you have more costly dresses in your wardrobe which are mostly black and white!.” Sana was mad at me which left me no other option but to wear it.

“Well, Shar you better try it before the volcano erupts.” Pen whispered and I knew she was right the volcano seemed very angry.

The dress fit me perfectly it was navy chiffon sequin embellished high-low strapless gown by Nicole Miller and it cost me $660 dollars.

Since I already bought a dress that cost me too much I thought to buy something for Pen and Sana too.

For Pen I bought a pair of pink bow ballet flats, I also wanted to buy a pink mini purse for her but I couldn’t find it anywhere in the mall. So, I ended up buying a black and deep purple snake embossed leather shoulder bag for her.

And for Sana I bought a pair of Jimmy Choo that could fit with her prom dress.

I didn’t buy any shoes and accessories for myself because I had a stock in my room.

“Alright now let’s go to eat something, I am starving.” I said.

So we checked out from the shop and now we were back to State Streets where we ate in an Italian restaurant. We are late, it was 7:45 and Pen had curfew of 8:30 and I had 7:30. Sana’s house was pretty further than ours so it was alright for her.

“Sana I am late. I am driving to my home then drop Pen on the way your home.” I was telling her while we were running back to where we parked the car.

“Alright, your majesty.” Sana said still joking.

“Shar, watch out.” Pen shrieked.

“Ouch, there I go again. Sorry I didn’t—” my voice trailed off when I saw whom I bumped to.

“Aaron.” I said well it sounded more of a soft whisper.

“Fancy meeting you guys here.” It wasn’t Aaron who said it, it was

“Arthie?” It sounded more like a shout.

“What’s up?” Mike said.

“We were out for shopping.” Sana yawned.

“Yeah, fancy meeting you too.” Pen said but it seemed more like she was just talking to Arthie.

“Are you alright? You are not hurt anywhere, are you?” Aaron said.

“No, I am not. Thanks to your protection.” I said with a smile.

“My pleasure to help a lady.” Honestly Aaron is a gentleman. I just hated him for no reason. I am a fool and he is a sweetheart.

“Aham” Sana coughed to take my attention “Two girls have curfew here.” and added.

“Well, Sharon.” Aaron called my name. Aww his voice might be cracked and deep pitch but is really the sweetest. When he called my name I looked up at his deep eyes “You are holding my shirt” he added and that when I realized how I was clinging to him. I saw he was still smiling.

“Oops I am sorry.” I said while freeing his shirt from my fist, I was very embarrassed for my act.

“Well, now let’s go Shar. Remember you are driving?” Sana said.

“Well, Yeah. Let’s go.” I said but my eyes were stuck with Aaron “Merry meeting you guys. Have a goodnight.” I added.

Then we moved to two opposite directions, we to our car (Sana’s mom’s car actually) and Aaron, Arthie and Mike to the opposite. I turned back just to see Aaron’s back and his laughter.

“He might have good looks but he is totally out of fashion.” Sana mumbled that suddenly made to forget my attention Aaron.

“Wait, who are you talking about?” Pen queried.

“Of course that Ruperts.” Sana said. Oh did I say that other than me Sana and Pen were the girls who didn’t flatter over Aaron?

“Yeah totally look at that khaki cargo pants that looks funny.” Pen said.

“Yeah and over that he was wearing a dark blue plaid shirt. Total loose and baggy clothes.” Sana said with a crazy giggle.

“Yeah, he might be wearing loose and baggy clothes but they are looking good on him.” Oh no what did I just say to them?

“What’s wrong with you Shar?” Sana said “I saw how you were so clinging to that dupe, whose best friend are you?” she added very angrily. I remained silent for a while.

I looked at Pen from the car’s front mirror. I could see her sparkly hazel eyes even perfectly from her spectacular glasses. Then suddenly she looked directly in my eyes,

“Are you in love with him?” Pen said.

“What are you saying Pen, Me and in love? Especially with that dupe. No way” I lied to them, with a laugh because of what they believed what I said was true but I really really hated when my lips said the word ‘that dupe’.

“Of course, that’s impossible.” Sana said with her poker face. It’s really hard to read Sana’s expression than Pen’s. Pen was still suspicious of what I said and I saw that in her face. We talked about other things while we were on the way but since my house was near I just left them in half conversation.

“Goodnight.” I said to them with a smile, while taking that shopping bag from Pen.

“Goodnight, Princess.” Sana mocked about my name. My name had the meaning ‘Princess’.

“Goodnight, Shar.” Pen whispered with a gentle smile on her face.

I waved them and went to my home. I was sure I was going to get scolded but no my parents didn’t mind about my lateness that day. And told me to go to my room get fresh and take little rest.

This was of course impossible because of these new feelings I have for Aaron and for what I lied my friends, I couldn’t sleep.

Every time I tried to sleep every time I remembered his face.

The vacation is already over. It’s the end of September.

I have to work at school since I am the Student Council’s President –yahoo, but it’s really a exhausting job- I have to choose everything for the formal dance which is on the next month, from decoration to food items everything, it’s so tiring I mean I have to make sure everyone likes it.

“Sh- President, what are we going to do about the music?” Pansy McMillan, my senior (she is in her junior year though) who was also a nominee for the Student Council’s President and got the position of Vice-President, asked me with very sweet loving voice.

“Well, why don’t we use you?” I said to her, she was little puzzled “I mean you are the best DJ that our school have so far.” She was still very confused.

“WH-what are you talking about?” her words scattered as if she was scared of something.

“Well, I saw you DJ-ing for the street dancers.” I declared. I wasn’t lying to her I mean I saw her doing it when I went to the airport for my sister’s departure for back to Vancouver (Yeah she went back to stay with Uncle and Aunt and will come back once she will get vacation from college), and I was amazed by the way she did it. I mean who can believe an Honor Student can be this fun loving?

“O-Oh, so you saw me.” She blushed and looked down at her pretty glasses, yeah she wears glasses like Pen but Pansy don’t have hazel eyes like Pen, but rather she have mauve ashes eyes, the type you can only dream of.

“Yeah, I did and you were doing fantastic.” I said, sounding more like surprised and happy rather than flattering her off.

“Thank you” she went “And if you think I can do it, it will be my pleasure to be of any work. I mean after you became the President you take care of everything even the smallest thing. So I hardly did anything or any of the other members did. I’ll be very honored if I could help you.” Well I might not have flattered her but she sure did. All the other council members just nodded when I looked at them so that I know that what Pansy said was true and it was embarrassing.

I rolled my eyes and sighed “Guys, don’t flatter me.” I mattered.

“Well, we are not. It’s true you are the best President of all the time.” Sasha babbled.

“Yes, it’s true. Shar, I mean President.” Charlie Raymond, the only hottie male senior in the council said. (Oh I can die in peace now…hehe)

“C’mon guys, you can call me Sharon, I am just a freshman. I am very younger than you are.” I muttered with a clearance in my voice.

“Alright, so you guys have to work hard in the décor.” I announced to the Jock Trio of our Council. Yeah can you believe Three Jocks in the Council? It helps a lot.

“And Sash, you and Charlie will…do the food selection.” I said to Sasha who had a pretty little crush on Charlie.

“I’ll do with the flyers, now the meeting dismissed.” I said and then rushed out to my art class. Honestly, I was good at art but today I was late. I hardly had 20 minutes and I am sure Mr. O’Neil will yell at me but I am the President I have works too.

“Good to see you could join us President Hemlocks.” Mr. O’Neil complained.

“I am sorry Mr. O’Neil. I had this, uh-” I couldn’t finish my sentence because someone was late as I was. And he saved me

“Sorry Mr. O’Neil. The Principal called me and Shar.” Aaron murmured and as ever his deep cracked voice made my heart beats go slow.

“Yeah, like I was saying you, the Principal called me and Aaron because he wanted to know if the fund for the dance is enough.” Oh did I say Aaron is also a Council member only that he rarely visits any meetings.

“Oh, ok” he paused for a moment and then said “why don’t you join your other mates and draw what they are drawing.”

Aaron winked at me; I gave him a short smile and took my place that was opposite to him. We had to draw this bunch of beautiful roses in a vase. Since we barely had 15 minutes in our hands now I started to sketch it but the bell rang. I groaned and dropped the pencil so Aaron just came over to see my sketch and so did Mr. O’Neil.

“It’s beautiful.” Aaron murmured.

“It’s just a sketch, I couldn’t complete.” I said sorrowfully

“Well, it’s the best sketch as Mr. Ruperts said” Mr. O’Neil praised me.

“That’s exactly what I said, I mean look at my sketch.” He said in a painful look to my back, I turned to see at Aaron’s drawing and he really was one of the worst artists that I know (that includes my mom.), his sketch was barely even looked like the original, I laughed at his drawing.

“See? I told you, I am sure if you color it. It will look much beautiful.” I wish he said ‘just like you’ with his that drop-dead smile. But no worries he did smile. And I know I loved it because my heart skipped a beat.

“Sure.” I blushed. God why did I blush?

“Well, then I give Miss. Hemlocks an…” Mr. O’Neil announced the class “A.”

The class applauded and Aaron patted on my shoulder as if I am one of his close mates. (Hehe)

I had free track for the next hour so I hurried out of the art class when Aaron went out.

“Aaron” I called him. And he turned gently to look at me.

“Yes, Sharon?”

“Well, I was wondering if it’s your free track too then can you help me with the prom flyers?” Of course I knew it’s his free track because our schedules are same duh.

“”Uh Sure, but be sure I am a bad artist.” He smiled at me, so I did I smile him back nodding my head in a way to show him that I agreed.

So we made the flyers the whole hour. It was just two of us but we barely even had a decent conversation until the ink fell on his shirt.

“Oh no!” I snapped.

“It’s okay I have a spare one.” He said looking at my panic expression “Can you pass me the cloth to rub them and my bag?” he added.

“Ah…Y-yes” my voice was trembling that the words sounded like two syllables. He chuckled and said “Its okay, Shar. It’s just a shirt. No big deal” in addition to calm me down.

“But it is for me.” I spitted out while I dragged out his bag from my desk (he handed it to me before helping me). “I mean, it happened because you were helping me with the flyers. It’s my fault.”

“It isn’t your fault, Sharon.” He said. I liked how he pronounces my name so clear. He took the bag and pulled out a green T-shirt. Shit! I remembered this shirt, it’s the t-shirt he wore in the test day, the day I collapsed and he took me to infirmary like a princess (I find that moment as my most embarrassing moment in my life so far) and the time I actually noticed how cool he was!

“You look good in green.” I muttered something that I shouldn’t have “I mean it’s better than white which gets dirty easily.” I amended.

“You know what? I really can’t disagree with you with that, I don’t like white either, and green is my favorite color and so is this shirt.” He grinned and unbuttoned his white shirt. He wasn’t wearing a vest like the jocks, so I saw him half-naked (hehe) and man I know he is drop-dead handsome but I never thought he is drop-dead hottie. He had abs not six packs but more of 4 packs and it was really weird for a guy who is not so sporty. Yeah Aaron wasn’t athlete type just like me.

“Uh- Sorry” I said when he looked at me how I was staring (more like glaring) at him.

“It’s okay, and I am a guy, so it’s really okay.” he chuckled and to be honest he was right. I mean he wasn’t a girl to have worried of someone seeing his breast. He wore his green t-shirt which was looking stunning on him.

“Got a date for dance?” I wanted to change the topic.

“Not exactly” he said while getting back to work, I mean doing the flyers.

“You are very popular, I am sure at least a dozen just asked you.”

“Yeah a dozen did and I refused…” he paused for a moment and before I could say anything he went “because this dance means a lot to them and nothing for me, I don’t want to ruin their hopes, I mean I don’t want them to be hurt by making them to think that I love them or anything. I’ll only date the girl I love.”

“Oh.. I see” I said casually because in my mind there was only one thing that is ‘there goes my chance.’

“What about you? You are way too popular than I am. Have you got a date for yourself?” He looked up to meet my eyes; his gaze is always so bottomless and magnificent so I had to look down at the flyer that I was working on so that I won’t get dazzled by him.

“I am the same.” I said “but, the only difference is I can’t ask the guy I like.” I admitted.

“Oh then that’s exactly the same, I can’t ask the girl I like because” he was done with his flyers and so was I so we stacked them together and then we looked at each other and

“I am scared of losing our friendship.” We both said together and then we laughed out loud. We had so much fun talking and sharing our thoughts to each other after that that we didn’t even notice that the bell had rang and so all the students came back to the class. And to my disappointment every one saw us laughing and the worst Sana was smiling damn wide.

“Ah, see you later.” Aaron said smiling wide.

“Yeah, thanks for helping me.” I waved him and he went to his own seat which was at the end of the room where all his friends were crowding.

“So what’s going on between you two?” Sana mumbled with that devilish smile on her face.

“Nothing, he just came to help me with the flyers.” I said and I didn’t lie I mean it is true that he was with me to help.

“Liar.” Sana said “then why were you laughing out loud?”

“What? Can’t we have a decent talk?” I said giving her half of the pile of flyers. “Put them in the hallway.”

“Why me?” Sana complained.

“Because that’s an order from the President.” I mocked at her.

“Fine, I’ll do it but” she paused and came closer to me and whispered “let me tell you this, it’s alright if you like that guy we don’t really hate him that much.” She winked at me. And honestly that was creepy but sweet of her. Pen, who was standing behind me, poked me to take my attention and murmured “We already know you like him.” And smiled wide and gave me freaky Goosebumps.

“No I don’t like him” I disapproved of their statements.

“Mmm…see? That’s the first thing you do when you are in love.” Sana said.

“I can’t disagree!” Pen claimed.

I sighed and paid attention to what our teacher was saying but I could still hear them giggling.

“Tell us just what happened.” Sana insisted while we were going to the parking lot.

“I told you, he was just helping me.” I said while I was looking for daddy,

“Oh really? Then tell us why did he change his shirt?” Pen demanded.

“Ink fall on his shirt so.” I declared. “Guys you are annoying, believe me there is nothing going on between me and Aaron.” I added.

“Yeah, we can say that” Sana went on “You never called him by his name before. It was always something like that Ruperts.”

“I—I have no excuse for that” I admitted smiling at them. “Now shut up my dad’s here.”

“Well, bye bye Miss. Little Lover” Sana said.

“See you later, Shar.” Pen smiled.

“See ya.”

So that was it at school.

Later that night, Nat called me and talked with me for almost three hours. Honestly! Three hours, you know girls’ gossip never ends in short especially when you got boys talk.

“So, got a date for dance?” she asked me out of blue, I was pretty shocked at first but then I answered “Not really, you know I can’t dance like you so I am going with Sana.”

“Honestly, you got to be kidding with me, I mean even a kid know that high school dance is very easy and the best dance of your life. Go and get a date.”

“Sis, I don’t want to date someone I don’t even like.” I said what Aaron said me.

“Looks like I have to keep a spy on you, who just rejected you, honey?” she mumbled.

“I am so not rejected sis, I am telling the truth.” I complained.

“Okay fine, call you later Al is on hold. But be sure to dance with a guy.” She appealed.

“I’ll see.” I hung up.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The fall dance was finalized on 18th October and today was 18th October.

I had no idea of what to do so I called Sana and Pen at my home.

“Sit comfortably Pen, the iron won’t burn your hair.” Sana ordered Pen because something was troubling to curl up her hair.

“I know it won’t but it’s scary.” Pen complained. It was really funny the way they were arguing. I mean I hardly ever see them arguing.

“What are you smiling for?” Sana demanded.

“Its funny to see you guys arguing.” I said.

“Ah...Don’t worry the next is you” Pen added.

“No I am not curling my hair.” I announced.

“Yes you are.” Pen jumped out of the chair with her hair all curled so they were bouncing (she do actually looks good with curly hair) and grabbed me and dragged me to the chair.

“So here I go.” Sana said and started to curl my hair.

“Stop, don’t.” I shrieked but they ignored as if they didn’t hear me. So in the end my hair was curled up too.

“The dress will look good with curls.” Sana said as if I didn’t know.

So we were all set with our dresses and masks (We themed the prom for a masquerade dance, since they looks great but the masks are only for girls because boys will look horrible in tuxedo with mask) and were about to go to the hotel where the prom was going to held. I looked my reflection in the big mirror at my room and I was looking awesome. I couldn’t even believe it was me. I wondered if Aaron will think I was looking beautiful.

It was 8 pm and we were at our first fall dance.

“Excuse me but may I take my lady for the dance?” Arthie asked us in a very English style that we broke into giggle and sent Pen with him.

“They are looking great.” Sana said looking at Arthie and Pen while we were waiting for our drinks. Not real drinks just some sort of fruit punch.

“Yeah, they sure are.” I couldn’t be more agreed with her than that.

“Hey by the way where did you get the idea of masked dance?” Sana asked.

“Oh I was reading Cinderella to this kid I was baby-sitting and got this idea, however the only difference is there is that Cinderella was wearing mask because she was hiding from her step mother and sister and here we are all wearing because we themed it.” I said remembering at my own reflection with my black feathered mask.

“I like your mask you know?” Sana said.

“I think your one is much better.” Her one was white feathered but even though the white one was the one I like I didn’t take it because first it wasn’t going to match with my dress and second I remembered Aaron don’t like white. While talking about masks let me tell you Pen was wearing pink feathered mask that matched with her dress and shoes.

“Here you go.” the waiter gave us the drinks we ordered, it was just some fruit mix that Sana drank once before and loved it that she is ordering again. And just before I could sip a drop I saw Aaron in his tuxedo, he was goddamn looking amazing.

“Isn’t that Aaron?” Sana said and I liked it when she accepted for who he was.

“Uh-huh”

“Looks like the dupe knows how to come to a party” Sana irritated me that I glared at her. But I couldn’t glare at her for a long time because Aaron and Mike just came to us out of nowhere and…

“Would you mind sharing a dance with me, Sharon?” Aaron Ruperts asked me for a dance?! I wished God had stop the time at that time, I was super happy.

“Don’t say no today sunshine” Sana went “It’s his birthday, ain’t I am right, Aaron?” Sana added meeting directly at my eye indicating me to go or she will kill me and I wanted to punch her because I already knew it was his birthday I mean I was ready with a beautiful floral pinkish card which was inside my purse and I was waiting for a perfect time to hand it to him.

“Yes, it is my birthday but it doesn’t mean that she have to dance with me because she pity me.” Aaron was little rude back there. I rarely see him in that mood.

“I don’t pity you.” My voice got little impolite too “and I don’t mind sharing a dance with you.” I calmed myself down, it’s not like Aaron doesn’t know I am short temper, he knows it but its prom and I didn’t want to ruin it.

Aaron smiled and bowed and took my hand and then we were at the dance floor. When we reached the dance floor Pansy tuned the song into a slow one, so it became a slow-dance. (Hehe slow dance with the guy you like is really awesome, right?!) And when I remembered the song it was, ‘Give you what you like’ of Avril Levigne, and the lyrics were pretty funny and cute that I kept blushing during the entire dance with Aaron and then I broke our pretty silence.

“I don’t pity you but there’s something I need to ask you.” I sighed.

“Sure.” His smile widened. Aww his smile is so sweet.

“What about the girl…er...You have crush on?”

“Don’t worry she is not the type who misunderstands things.” He said still smiling gorgeously.

“Aaron,” I took a deep breath and went “does your heart pain because you can’t ask the girl you like out?”

“Yeah, it does but every time I see her smiling, I feel better.” He claimed. So he is same as me only the person I like was right in front of me and he was smiling the best anyone can ever imagine. I was about to cry and I knew even if I had cried he wouldn’t have notice because of the mask. But I didn’t because I saw his amazing eyes dazzled me again and this time I wanted to touch his fluffy hair too. He really had a cute hair style.

“Look at those two… they are dancing too.” Aaron said and when I turned to look, it was Mike and Sana who were dancing too. I chuckled and so did Aaron.

And that’s how we all had dates, well, kind of dates but not exactly.

I handed him the card later that night and he just showed it to whole school like I just gave him a precious jewel. Hehe well, I was happy that he liked the card. I couldn’t give him anything else or it would have become an issue in the school so I just put it that way.

“Well, why did you guys call me here on the Christmas Eve?” I came to our usual place to meet with Sana and Pen, yeah the coffee shop Capitol.

“Stop complaining and see what we got you” Sana went as she pulled a rectangular piece of something which was wrapped in pink satin cloth and a cute white lace from her bag.

“You can think of it as a Christmas gift.” Pen completed as Sana handed their so-called gift.

“Can I open it now?”

“Of course you can!” They both smiled so wide that I couldn’t wait a second to unwrap it.

As I unwrapped it I found it was a beautiful photo frame that I saw on the way home with Pen and Sana but couldn’t buy because it was very costly and I didn’t bring my card that day and the next day it was already sold out.

“It was us who bought it.” Sana grinned. Geez this two are so stupidly sweet that I almost cried.

“Oh yeah I got a perfect photo to put on that frame.” Sana pulled a photograph from her bag and smiled wickedly that I was so sure it would be something very not good but it wasn’t a bad photo. Actually it was the best Christmas gift ever.

“Hey that’s for her birthday!” Pen complained.

“Hey, sweet pea 4th January is too long to go. And my tummy will be destroyed if I wait any longer. It has already been two months I can’t wait a week or so anymore.” Sana rolled her eyes and so she and Pen argued for whatsoever foolish reason. Because I just stared at the photo that they had gave me. It was a photo of me together with Aaron during the masquerade dance or the so-called our freshman Prom.

“Hey, hey, so you like it?”

“Who said I will like the photo with that jerk but…I was looking pretty, wasn’t I?” I amended; I can’t believe I was so good at hiding my feelings.

“Shar, you should already admit it before it gets too late.” Sana and Pen both said together that it almost gave me Goosebumps.

“Sheesh, guys it’s true I don’t like him at all.” I said.

“Alright you don’t want to admit fine, anyways guys I have meeting with Arthie today so I will have to take my leave first.” Pen frightened me by becoming so bold but both I and Sana are too ghastly, we just teased her.

“Ah...it’s so good to go out on Christmas Eve with your boyfriend.” I said.

“Sure is, I wonder when I will find my dream boy.” Sana tagged along.

“Geez, you guys are so mean. Bye and Merry Christmas.” Pen was so cute when she was annoyed. After she left I and Sana laughed out loud and didn’t stop until our stomach started to ache.

“Hey Shar, and Sana.” A voice which I was very familiar called us from behind.

“Oh, Sarah.” Sana exclaimed with surprise because behind her there was a flock of girls of our very own class, the photo was still in my hand Sarah saw and gasped.

“Isn’t that Aaron?” Sarah came marched toward me, “this girl, whosoever she was, had such a pretty dress and was so lucky to dance with Aaron! Where did you get it?” she moaned, well you see there was no need to convince them that it was me or I was a dead meat. Whoa I forgot to say it before but no one in the school knows that the secret Cinderella was I.

“Ah yeah, Sana brought it for me.” I smiled cowardly; Sana giggled and changed the topic to save me.

“So what are you guys doing here?”

“You see since it’s the Christmas Eve and most of us are still single, so we thought of having a mixer with the boys with our class, you wanna join in?” Sarah was cutest and sweetest but most-annoying friend of mine who had such a pretty face that it was always hard for people to say ‘no’ to her, except me.

“Yeah Sure”

“No, Thanks”

Argh, the moment I said no, Sana said yes.

“Come on Shar, it will be fun, and you know the more people the more fun.” Sarah blinked her green eyes as if she was some kind of doll.

“Okay fine but I have to leave soon.” I was defeated by the baby-blonde of our class, great.

Sarah smiled and so we went to where the event was supposed to hold.

“Wait, why are we this far?” they took us to Morse Farm Ski Touring Center; it takes an hour to my home from here on foot so it was an obvious that I am not leaving without Sana.

“It’s December and can anything be better than ski?” Sasha mimicked Sarah. And Sarah responded her with her cute little pout.

“Then I suggest you guys don’t have to pay for mine, because I am not skiing.” I muttered.

“Huh! Okay let see who have time to company you.” Sana growled at me and that for a second I thought who is she with?

“Huh so, he is not skiing too? That’s so bad.” I heard a group of girls moaning and making noise over a guy who isn’t skiing like me.

“Here’s your company, Aaron isn’t skiing either, and so have a great time.” Sarah said smiling and gesturing at Aaron who was standing right behind her.

“Fancy meeting you everywhere Shar.” Aaron winked at me that I almost burst with laugh. He sat in the couch, where I was sitting, right next to me. Most of the girls except for my friends, Sarah, Sasha, Sana, Gabrielle, and so on, gave me a dirty look before they went to ski with the guys. And then it was just me and Aaron.

“Where’s your other friend Penelope?” Aaron inquired as he saw that there was only Sana and me there of our trio.

“Uh, where’s Arthie.” I replied but I guess it sounded like a question because he just said me that Arthie is the end of the river bed.

“It’s so rare to see only two of your trio.” He added.

“Well, that’s because your friend stole our sweetheart.” I mumbled which now that I think was somehow rude I guess.

“Oh you meant Penelope is with Arthie?”

“Yes, that’s what I meant.” I smiled at him. He chuckled, you know I really loved his voice; it was so deep and pure and clear.

It’s always something that soothes my ears like some sweet melodious music. But I couldn’t hear it for too long that eve because just then he did something so unbelievable that I am still so shocked that a strong and cool guy like him did it. His eyes became full of tears but he was still smiling so wide that I was scared if he was heart broken.

“It’s okay Aaron. Don’t cry!” I murmured jumping off of the couch and holding him tight in my arms as if he was a kid who got bullied and I was his momma who was comforting him.

“You can always trust me, so tell me if anything is wrong. Let me know if you are done. I know you don’t want me to see you crying.” I added at which he surprised me by hugging me. I was hugged; I was touched by the guy I love more than anyone in the whole wide world but he was hurt and I couldn’t do more than comforting him.

“Thanks...” he started his voice so cracked that I was about to cry along with him but I held my feeling for sometime there “A-And it’s alright I am alright.” His voice shattered.

“It’s alright I’m your friend, right? I’ll always help you at anytime at any place.” I tried to cheer him up but he wasn’t ready to leave the tight grip he held around me so I just patted his head gently. He had so nice soft hair. And as I hugged him back I inhaled a sweet scent. A smell very nostalgic but I certainly don’t know of what.

“Aaron, don’t cry so much or everyone will think that I beat you up.” I mocked and maybe it was a good idea because he undid the grip that he was holding around my waist and smiled wide again and apologized for showing something so embarrassing.

After that we talked for a bit and then the group came back.

“Looks like our friends are back see ya later” Aaron waved at me and whispered in my ears!

Please Don’t Tell Anything Because It Will Be Embarrassing, and Merry Christmas

I smiled at him as an agreement. Then waved goodbye and as I turned to take my leave Sana gave me that peculiar tell-me-what-happened smile of her as everyone started jump in the couch I made my way and as usual I rolled my eyes at her as I approached to the door where she was waiting for me.

“What just happened here when we were out?” Sana asked so suspiciously that I got some serious goosebumps.

“Geez, nothing just happened!” I snorted then she shook her head and pointed her index finger at my dress, which was wet by the tears of Aaron.

“Oh this?” I calmed my voice to make her believe that I was telling her the truth “Little water felt on them when I was drinking.” I smiled at her.

“Gosh, girl you are such a klutz! And now let’s go we are running out of time.” She complained. I took my Coat which was dumped on the chair near the door along with Aaron’s Caramel Pink Hand-Woven Sweater; I wonder who wove this for him and such beautifully. I really liked that sweater of his. It suited him a lot. Before I took our leave I looked back at him again and there again he was goofing with his friends. Oh hell yeah, he still don’t really talk to girls, so right now I am the lucky girl to be able to talk with him. Did I mention how sexist he can be sometime? And how he really badmouths a lot about girl that sometime he really pisses me of?

Ah, forget that, his smile was enough for me, and there was Sana who was yelling at me to hurry.

And thanks to her great driving skills I was home early. I tip-toed myself to the house in case there were guests, and I was shocked when I saw both my momma and daddy were busy on their phones, yelling and telling that they will help no matter what.

“Shar, come inside” a voice that I am so familiar yet at that time total stranger just told me, when she saw me how shocked I was to see both mom and dad with lots of phone directories and documents.

“What happened here? It’s the Christmas Eve so why they are in such a panic? Sis, please tell me! Is everything is okay at Vancouver? And what are you doing here?” I yelled at my sis who was here to surprise me.

“Everything is fine; I’ll tell you in everything just let’s go to your room.” She rubbed the tears from my eyes and gave a promising smile that everything is okay. I ran to my room where she accompanied me. She turned on the TV and I was shocked when I saw the name on the headlines “Dr. Reginald Ruperts!” I muttered.

The news read:

"Doctors are no more your knight in shining armor; and this is proved by Dr. Reginald Ruperts of Montpelier Hospital."

“Only a handful people know about this news because since its Christmas people don’t really watch news except for the weather forecast, of course, Mom and Dad were with Mr. Ruperts when this things happened.” Nat explained me; she was first time very serious to me. “Mom and dad are also doing there best to contact whoever they can find to help. I was here to surprise you not to comfort you. I know his son is the one that you complained me about the last time…er…what was his name again? Yeah Aaron, but I also know that he is not someone you hate from the bottom of your heart it’s the total opposite right?”

As soon as my sister completed her explanation I ended up crying until my eyeballs came out. I can’t believe one of my love ones was crying because this chaotic problem happening in his house. And I couldn’t do anything except hugging him and making myself satisfied. I am so selfish.

“Don’t cry! I know you were scared but its okay now.” Nat hugged me, she thought that I was still panicky because I thought something happened with our own family but that wasn’t true I was crying because I was so stupid.

“Nathalie,” I finally got the grasp of my voice. “Is the news true?”

“Of course it’s not! It’s that Dr. Angela Freeman who incidentally did wrong treatment and pushed all the nasty blames on Dr. Ruperts and the time the reporters says was when Mom and Dad were with Dr. Ruperts. And that’s the reason mom and dad is trying to help Dr.Ruperts.”

“Who is the one to published such false and garbage news?” These things got into my nerves now. I hated it! But the thing I hated the most is Aaron cried for the first time actually.

“Henry Grimrock.” Nat replied.

I call him the grim reaper because he is no good than making people sad and this time I can’t believe it that man who once made me to cry on my birthday made my love one cry too. I hated him since my 12th birthday (after he made me cry daddy strictly told mother to never invite him on our parties) but at that moment I wanted to kill him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Couple of months have past but Aaron hasn’t broke once ever since then.

He is same as always; smiling and goofing around but I wonder what he is thinking about. Nobody else in the school knows about the news only me. Oh no I was like his stalker.

Friends & Rivals

Then came the sophomore year of high school, two new girls name Felicia Chadwick and Ashley Fisherman came to our class and to my coincidence Felicia is Aaron’s childhood friend. She’s really bubbly, sweet and loving but she had the bad habit of saying people whatever she think is right. We became great friends at very short time. But then we had a big conflict, actually it was a misunderstanding caused because of Ana Cadman a girl who didn’t know anything about Spanish said that I said Fel to fuck off when I actually said bueno, ella es así que amigo lindo maldito which means ‘well, she is so darn cute friend.’ The word maldito also stands for the f-word so that’s where Ana made everything messed up.

I and Fel stopped talking to each other after that incident thanks to Ana. I really hated when Fel would stand just in front of me and I would just move along. Sana and Pen was talking to both of us, at least that way I was in touch with Fel.

Then suddenly one day the whole class got punishment of doing either community service after school for 1 whole month or the whole class will get detention for same period of time, because of some rules broken by our classmates and since community service was better than detention the dean said us to start it from that particular day and every single student must do it or we will get the detention but few students were absent that day including Fel as well as Aaron  , some boys said that they will bring Aaron and others after school to Christ Episcopal Church (that’s where we got to do our service.) but they didn’t know where Fel live so I was the only person who knew her address…

“Shar, please. You can borrow my bug, just bring Fel okay?” Sana said

“We know you haven’t talked to each other for a long time but its okay you guys are still friends.” Pen’s words were so comforting and sweet that I grabbed Sana’s keys and went to Fel’s home. Her house wasn’t too far from School it was just 15 minutes.

It was a normal house just a big lawn in the out with pretty amazing fruit plants in the backyard. I knocked the door and her little sister Cher, (whose name matches to my nick name so much that I always get confused whom Fel is calling to) came to response my sudden self invitation to their home.

“Hey,” I smiled at her “Is your sister at home?”

“Yes” she said half shying “do you want me to call her?” I just nodded and then she went inside to call her sister.

Fel came out in her pajamas and she was looking so funny and cute and welcomed me inside their home. I made myself home, sat in the couch and since I had to go to church again so I started to explain Fel

“Fel, there is this community service our class got because” I got interrupted

“What?” Fel made that funny invisible question mark that I laughed and then told her what happened, she got ready soon and then we were in Sana’s bug. All in the way back to church we remained silent then Fel murmured

“I forgive you, because I know you will never say something that nasty.” She shook her head in an agreement to her statement. “And also because you are the one who started to talk back.” She smiled; did I mention how I love my best friends’ smiles?

Sana’s smile makes me feel overjoyed, Pen’s smile makes me comfortable and Fel’s smile makes me please with pleasure.

We laughed all the way back to church and everybody was shocked. We didn’t say anything to them we just signed our names in the router and let the padre assigned us for work.

“Looks like, two people just patched up.” Sana commented smiling wide, when I, Sana, Pen and Fel, were cleaning the attic. At first I glared at her and then laughed out loud. Fel joined me and said “We never broke up to patch up, right girlfriend?” I nodded in agreement and chuckled and then Pen burst out in laughter because she couldn’t bear all those crazy stuff anymore. Fel’s really a tomboy and a comedian.

“Fel you are crazy!” Pen exclaimed and we had a group hug.

That evening after we had done our c-service, we left to have some fun together. We went to my favorite spot in the town. It was one of the bedsides of the Winooski.

“You sure love this place, don’t you?” Pen murmured me, while Sana and Fel were busy with playing with little river water.

“I sure do!” I smiled at her. It was also the place where I became friends with her. Few of the classmates bullied her on her first day at MHS, only because she was wearing a long skirt unlike others. They threw food on her head, drenched her in colored water and pulled many other pranks on her. She didn’t say anything to anyone not even to the principal but I noticed that she was crying so I followed her when she skipped her last class. She ran and came here and started to do her home-work while her eyes were red with tears. She cried why everyone is so mean to her, what she did wrong. I felt really bad for her and approached to her and asked if she wants to be my friend. She smiled while crying and hugged me. Hehe, now that I remember Pen was such a cutie. Then later, she became great friends with Sana as well. And we really took revenge on who bullied Pen. Hehe.

“You remembered the old stuff, didn’t ya?” Pen rolled her eyes.

“I sure did!” I chuckled.

“Hey don’t leave us behind tell us what’s the old stuff you were talking about?”

Fel broke into the conversation out of nowhere and so did Sana.

Then I explained how I became friends with Pen and Pen started to blush and scream ‘don’t say more than that!’ but as usual we three ignored her and explained the whole story.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It’s the third week we are working, so a week more and then we don’t have to work.

But

“Hey did you hear the news?” I heard some girls of out the church were chattering.

“Yeah, I sure did! So bad Aaron likes Ashley.” another girl moaned, no wonder they were one of Aaron’s fan girls.

“We lost our chances girls, but honestly Ashley and Aaron will be a great couple.”

“Yeah, you are right Am, but that tramp of the prom was like unbeatable.” Oh gosh it was Amy’s fashion clique. But their news actually shocked me. Because Aaron said me that there is someone he likes and Ashley is just a new girl, so it’s impossible.

“Hey who said that news?” I nosed into their conversation so suddenly that must have scared them because they shivered and almost jumped when they saw me.

“Aaron said that himself to August and some other guys, yesterday.” Amy said trembling as if I were a evil witch who was going to eat her if she doesn’t.

“Are you sure it’s not false news?” I almost repeated my previous question.

“It’s not false news Shar. You can ask to Mike. He said it’s true, Aaron said ‘I like Ashley’. Also you can see them working together.” Leila pointed me to the old attic, where I was working with Pen, Sana and Fel weeks ago. There I saw Aaron and Ashley working together. Ashley was so pretty when she was smiling. She is a blonde so of course she would be pretty unlike me. They really were looking good together. Aaron was smiling too. So in the end I had no other choice but to accept that the rumor is true.

Amy and her clique left but I was standing the same place. “Shar” Sana looked directly into my eyes and pulled my arms to take me where Pen and Fel were. They were waiting in Sana’s bug. I took the passenger sit as usual and I acted normal.

“What happened?” Pen asked with a frown on her face when she saw Sana’s sad face.

“She heard the news from Amy and her followers.” Sana said.

They all frowned.

“What’s wrong if I heard the news? It’s Aaron’s problem so why are you frowning?” I growled on them while in fact I did ask Amy myself.

“Shar, stop covering your feelings about that dupe. He is a dupe no matter how you look at it. Everyone knows you love him apart from him.” Fel declared and as I said she is honest.

“Fel is right, stop covering your feelings and no matter how I look at it. You are hurt right now. Stop putting that ‘nothing-happened’ face.” Sana added.

“I think Fel and Sana are right. Stop it Shar. Or you will regret later.” Pen agreed to them.

“But what can I do then? He doesn’t love me. And might never.” my eyes started to flow with tears when I said the word never; Sana pulled out her tissue box and started to wipe my tears.

“Who said that? You are pretty, you are kind, you are poised, you are helpful and confident, you are sweet, you always think twice before doing something and of all the things you are best.” Pen comforted me.

“He is a fool not to notice how much you love him.” Fel giggled, she tried her best to calm me down but I kept crying.

“You are such a crybaby, Shar!” Sana hugged me and that’s when I finally calmed down.

“You should take Ashley as your rival.” Fel suggested.

“You think she will agree to that?” Pen commented.

I shook my head like a kid and I am sure I was pouting too.

“I can’t take her as my rival because I love Aaron so much that I am happy if he is happy. So if he loves Ashley…let him be.” I murmured with a foolish smile.

They all sighed in adore and hugged me and then hissed me when they noticed that everyone was staring at us. I was so pathetic.

Oh crap what the hell did I just dream of!

After crying till my eyeballs pooped out. Sana drove me back to home. And I thought a goodnight sleep will make me energetic again but no, I think I had a nightmare because even after knowing that Aaron likes someone else I dreamed of kissing him. Actually it’s the first time I have dreamt of something like that. The news gave me a divine trauma.

I can’t believe I felt for a jerk. I believed he is a jerk at first but why did I change my view about him. I shouldn’t have because if I didn’t I would have never felt this hurt.

“Shar? Honey, are you up?”

“Coming momma” I told my mother, and I was damn troubled, because I stopped calling her momma and started with mom ever since I graduated from middle grade school but I still call her momma when I am sad. But right now I didn’t want to share my trouble with her. Actually I didn’t want to share it with anyone.

“You alright honey?” Mom asked me when I didn’t touch anything on my plate, oh boy mothers can see through their children.

“I am fine, Mom.” I assured her with a fake smile on my face. She gently touched my hair and then looked at dad who was as usual busy with his daily newspaper.

“Darling” mom whispered although I could hear her since she was sitting right in front of me, dad looked up at her and said louder than she expected “Yes? What happened?”

Mom looked fused and rolled her eyes and said “Nothing just nothing.” and shook her head but still dad didn’t got her and I was relieved. I assured her once again before I left for School that day. She kissed me goodbye and then I was at school.

Now I couldn’t concentrate on anything except having a glance of Aaron. I would stare him the entire class without giving him a single idea of someone looking at him. Whenever any teacher would ask any question he is would raise his hand immediately and I would just shake my head nonchalantly and smile at myself. My love began to grow more. I was going crazy and wanted to tell him that how much I love him but I was scared that he might say he really likes Ashley and I will be hurt so I kept my feelings silent down in the bottom of my heart. Ahh…I was such a scaredy cat.

As soon as the class would over I would follow down the hall as if I am going to my next class but I actually follow Aaron. I would see him smiling and having fun with his little gang. Arthie noticed me once and twice that I was following them but he kept his mouth shut. Thanks to Arthie, Aaron doesn’t know about how I was shadowing him.

After school in our community service, we now had to sing prayers in a choir for the church. I wouldn’t sing with passion, so I would just lip sync. Aaron wasn’t a good singer so he and some other kids had to do other stuffs like cleaning benches and removing the molten candles after people leaves.

Today was the last day we have to work in the church I was as usual waiting with the choir when suddenly the bishop called me and said

“Miss. Hemlocks we see you aren’t actually singing so if you don’t mind can you help Mr. Ruperts after prayer? His partner didn’t come today since she is ill.”

I rolled my eyes and asked who Aaron’s partner was. He said that it was Fel’s turn to work with Aaron. Darn that girl wants me to spend time alone with Aaron so badly. I knew it would be worthless of telling him about my secret love, since he was a priest, I accepted his order.

I sat in the corner of the last bench of the church, murmuring myself stuffs. I saw Pen and Sana were smiling wide since their cheekbones could be noticed easily.

“What happened? Are you okay, Shar?” the mesmerizing voice of the guy I love brushed my ears. I turned my left to see him and then he was so close that I could feel his breath, soft and sweet smelling breath of some candy.

“I am alright” I smiled and turned back to the position I was.

“Let’s work together for the last time.” He whispered and I was about to cry when he said for the last time, because I knew what he meant was that he will be with Ashley after today, as he and she are together perhaps. Since my eyes were already blurry I knew my voice would crack if I say him anything, so I just nodded to reply him.

Sana and Pen noticed my tearful eyes that they almost hesitated to leave me alone with Aaron.

After they left I got a text message from Sana saying:

‘Call us if anything happens we will be waiting for you in the corner of the road with Fel.’

I chuckled when I read her message.

“Whoa” Aaron began “You know Sharon, I always admired your that sweet laughing voice.” He looked up at me, from gap of the bench he was cleaning. I looked down at the molted candles and I began to pull them out while talking to him.

“You do?” I replied him with a question instead of thanking him.

“Yeah I do.”

“Thanks.” I said very ordinarily I knew I wasn’t acting normal with him.

“Are you mad or something?” he asked.

“No.” I said, shaking my head lightly. I was so sad that I wasn’t even listening to what he was saying and didn’t even notice that he was standing right beside me.

When I heard he wasn’t saying anything and turned to look at him I gasped in scare, finding him sitting silently right next to me.

“Don’t scare me like that.” I punched his arms little harder than gently.

“You know, lately you have been acting strange.” He saw right through me like I was an open book to him.

“No it’s just your imagination, and may be because I am just little tired.” I was a good liar; I could lie without blinking my eyes.

“Is that so?” he said with that crook smile of his. I smiled him back and said him that yes that so is. And after that he shocked me when he held me in his arms and said

“If you are tired then sleep in my arms.”

“How can I do that? Please put me down.” I said him gently.

“I can’t.” I heard him saying but may be its just my imagination because he did put me down but pulled me by my waist and kissed me hard and instead of straggling; straggling because I had lots of things going on my mind, I kissed him back because I loved him. His lips as silky as feather, and gentle as of rose and taste like honey; his kiss swept me off of my feet and made me to feel as if he wanted to say,

I love you.

We were kissing in a church, what does it mean? That God bless us to be together? Hell no, that can’t be possible of course. But

We kissed for a long time like my dream, I felt like déjà vu and then Aaron grabbed me tight and then I remembered that he doesn’t love me I am just a replacement of Ashley. Because he was with Ashley for the most of the service days and they must have had kissed each other many times and he might have wanted to kiss her today as well. As I realized my mistake of kissing him back so I pushed him away and then he said “I am sorry; I didn’t mean to do that,”

I was about to cry but I said “It’s okay Aaron” with a foolish smile and then ran down the roadway.

On my way I found Pen, Sana and Fel, they were waiting for me.

I hoped into the car and stayed silent for sometime.

“Well, what happened?” Fel asked when I didn’t say anything.

“C’mon Shar now you are making us tensed you know?” Sana grumbled.

“Sana let her calm down.” Pen defended for me.

I stayed silent even then. After a while I finally said them.

“Aaron kissed me.”

They screamed with excitement and asked if he said he loves me or not.

Then I finally said “I was just a replacement of Ashley, he apologized for kissing me later.” My voice trembled as I said “He said that he is sorry and he didn’t mean to do it. He didn’t feel anything about the kiss; it was just an obligatory kiss. He doesn’t like me in the way I do to him.” I smiled at them with tears flowing down my cheeks.

This time they didn’t hug me or anything because they knew if they would do anything I would break down.

“I am sorry if only I didn’t plan this.” Fel said.

“It’s okay Fel, thanks to you my first kiss was stolen by the person I love.” I was smiling without tears this time and I was back to my normal self.

“So what you gonna do?” Sana asked

“What you mean Sana?” Pen was surprised by Sana’s question and so was Fel but I wasn’t since I knew what she meant.

“I won’t give up on him that easily and if he hurts me more I’ll make him to pay me back my first kiss.” I chuckled as if I was possessed by an evil spirit.

“That’s what I meant.” Sana rolled her eyes and revved the bug.

We all were at our homes before dinner time; actually we drove to somewhere else after all those things because if I went home with my eyes red and swollen, my mom would have questioned me a lot. This déjà vu feeling has given me a lot of pain and excitement although.

Lost

Two days have passed since Aaron stole my first kiss but I can’t find Aaron anywhere.

Arthie seemed to be alone with the gang but is fine. Aaron was ditching school just because he kissed me? That’s not possible.

Every girl started to buzz over Arthie like before they used to when Aaron wasn’t here.

Since I couldn’t find Aaron, I thought of searching his sister, Nora at the middle section of our school.

But neither she was at school.

I became tensed; I couldn’t keep my heart function well. It started to beat unsteadily, I ran to every places he could be during breaks and class change (I knew all his places because I followed him like a fool for ages now).

“I miss my best friend, and it’s only been two days I wonder how it will be for forever.” It wasn’t me who said that. It was during the end of school when I was going to the parking lot to meet up with Pen, Fel and Sana. But near the end corner of the car lot I saw Arthie and the gang were talking about something and I knew they hardly ever buzz over something; and the something always becomes serious.

I thought of snooping into there conversation and that’s where I saw Aaron sitting in the driving seat of a new cool bug. It was his new car that was for sure. It was a black Tesla Roadster, one of the coolest cars that I know. Forget about the car stuff, why was he missing school for two days and what Arthie mean by the forever thing. I wanted to know, I went to the back of the wall and hided myself in the shadows of the trees near it.

“Hey, is there any hot chick near your new neighborhood.” Mike almost made me mad and brought me into light, well that’s how boys are, couldn’t be helped.

“Mike, can you just save the jokes for later?” Arthie snarled at Mike, that wasn’t like Arthie at all. “You must be tired, driving all the way here from New York all because of your school paper works.” Arthie added to which Aaron surprisingly shook his head.

All of a sudden my mind blanked out. I couldn’t think of anything but about the fact that I couldn’t see Aaron anymore because he just left! I was about to break then Aaron just said something, something that I regretted that I snooped into their business.

“Did you talk to her? I didn’t say to her that I was leaving, so she must be troubled.”

He definitely meant about Ashley, the girl he loved. His expression was so painful and those words were like knife in my heart so I just came out from the shadow where I was hiding in and they seemed shocked when they saw tears in my eyes so I just ran away.

I ran away and when I saw Sana’s car near the school gate where she and Pen was standing around it, while Fel was busy in her phone in the back seat, I hopped into the back seat too.

“Hey what’s wrong?” Fel murmured with the sisterly care in her voice.

“I won’t see him anymore.” I wiped, and curled into her lap. Seeing me in that pathetic condition Sana and Pen came inside the car and closed the doors so that no one else could see us.

“Shar?” Pen’s voice was so comforting and her warm fingers that reached out for my cheeks made me to cry more.

“Oh Shar, Shar” Sana hugged me from the back “Don’t cry or so will we!” she completed her sentence half sobbingly.

But I kept crying on Fel’s chest, who tried to comfort me and rubbed my hair gently as if I was her young kid who got bullied and Sana and Pen, like my two sisters tried to cheer me up.

“Oh Shar come on now tell us what happened?” Pen murmured in a little cracked voice, she too cried for me.

“He is gone.” That was all I could manage to say. “He is gone.” I repeated.

“Who? What? Where? Shar.” Sana pulled me to look into her face and I saw her blistering eyes and unreadable expression.

“Aaron has gone to New York.” I was finally able to complete my sentence.

“What!” They all yelped together, they were as shocked as I was.

“He has gone to NYC,” I said again “back in there” I pointed to the back of the car lot where I overheard the conversation of Aaron and Arthie “there is this new car, that’s Aaron’s, he came here to do the school works and he asked Arthie that” I couldn’t bring myself to say those words, they hurt me “that”…I repeated the word that for many times and then my eyes became blurry and tears rolled down my cheeks.

“It’s okay, Shar. It’s okay.” Pen gently said from the passenger seat since 4 people can’t fit in the back of a car.

“It’s okay honey, if you don’t want to say.” Sana rubbed my eyes and cheeks.

“But we need to know, don’t we?” Fel demanded and she was right, they needed to know. They were the one who made me involve in all these love mess.

“Aaron said to Arthie, ‘Did you talk to her? I didn’t say to her that I was leaving, so she must be troubled.’ And I am sure he meant about Ashley” I sobbed.

“And then I jumped in front of them out of the blue and I ran here.” I completed and shook my head gently because I was feeling guilty that I dared to interfere in the thing I shouldn’t have had and that thing made me hurt even badly than before.

“Shar, they saw you?” Pen said in surprise.

“Yeah they sure did.” Now I was back into my normal self because I knew I had to tell them everything. I was not crying anymore.

“Why no one is here then? To ask what Shar heard and etcetera” Sana sounded mad now. “Those losers, Pen tell that Arthie to tell Aaron to stay away from Shar.”

“Not losers! they are jackasses!” Fel corrected Sana “They never cared for anyone else’s feelings, especially that Aaron so Pen just tell Arthie to tell whatever Sana said you to.”

“But Sana, Fel…” Pen tried to defend for me.

“No, if he ever wants to talk than its okay, I wanna talk to him.” I covered for myself because I thought I was back to my normal self but no I wasn’t, I couldn’t resist my tears roll down my cheeks when I thought about the fact that I loved Aaron.

“That guy, that Ruperts” I was really mad that I started to call him Ruperts once again, “he is a jerk,” I smiled at myself “because he tells you he has no feelings for you and then suddenly he kisses you and sweeps you off your feet and the kiss is as if he wants to say he loves you and then he says sorry because he loves someone else and only kissed you accidentally” I was very mad. “And the next thing you know he is gone. Poof” I made a little hand gesture.

“Shar, let’s go home.” Pen murmured.

“Yeah Pen’s right, take little rest and” Sana opened the door and went to the driver’s seat

“And forget that jerk.” Fel said.

“You are getting good, Fel.” Sana complimented Fel for completing the sentence, which usually I do. But they don’t know it’s not easy to forget someone you love so much.

That evening after all those things, I searched on Google, about love stuffs and lots of stories like mine but they didn’t help me to cheer up, instead they made me mad because my life wasn’t a story it wouldn’t end up like theirs. So I ended up in Youtube, listened to some good old songs.

After this many things happened in one and a half year. Like, I have pretty much isolated myself from my friends. Started to watch cartoons and stuff, and even started to become prettier to which sequence was I got 12 proposals which I definitely rejected saying “I don’t like relationship and stuff”. And well, every time Arthie came to talk to me Sana and Fel would yell him off but since Pen is his girlfriend she asked him to stay away from me and not to talk anything connecting to Aaron with me.

Following Arthie and Pen as couple,

Sana and Rusty is together, poor creature I think he proposed her more than a gigallion times after which she has finally accepted.

When Sana told us that she is in a relationship with Rusty we all were like giggling and pulling Sana’s ear. Rusty is a good friend of ours but he is not from the same high school, he is actually Pansy’s cousin and that’s how we know him first.

One day when I was alone with Fel putting the books in their correct shelves in the school library, she suddenly said me “Shar, you may don’t know but you’ve changed a lot.”

“Huh?” I turned to her “What you mean?” I asked as gently as I could, tilting my head like a kid maybe I did want to look cute. Not gonna lie.

“You don’t talk to me or Pen like you used to before.” She grumbled

“No, I do talk to you, don’t I?” I tried to clear myself.

“When was the last time you came to mine or Pen’s home?” She protested.

“Well…”I paused for a while because it was true I didn’t go to her and Pen’s home for a long time.

“That’s what I was talking about; you go to Sana’s home frequently but not anymore to ours.” She looked mad at me “and I heard a lot about you guys you know, from people around.”

Okay this time I was pretty pissed off, I mean yeah I may be not giving the same behavior to her and Pen but I still love the three of them a lot. Well how to put it, I think of all three as my sisters and if one of them misunderstands me, then I had no idea to what to do. I didn’t say anything to her then she broke our silence saying she will change once she will be in our senior year. She meant she won’t be all that bubbly and all and become some book-worm wannabe. She didn’t know what she was saying because the person who says she wants to change never changes because I said I don’t want to change but I kept changing over and over.

Fel’s words hurt me like she just stabbed me on my bleeding wound. But I stayed silent. I was already in a dilemma of what to do because as Aaron went away I got distracted that my grades decreased to the least rankers and I lost my student body president role too and mom and dad’s daily arguments through telephone was almost killing me. Since dad had to stay aboard (he went a year before Aaron left actually but mom reacted badly after two years), somewhere in UAE, because of his job. Mom started to torture me emotionally even though if she never wanted to hurt me she unconsciously hurt me. She says stuffs which are totally untrue and psychological. And I hate it when she say “Because of you I am not with my husband, he might be your father but I am his lover and wife, do you have any idea how tough it is to be living far from your beloved, of course you don’t, you’ve never been in love.” I keep resisting her pointed words that were like a razor-sharp knife which always tear my heart into pieces badly that every night I had to cry alone in my room. However I don’t say her anything badly because I knew she was sad and so did babble stupid stuffs and later say sorry to me. But sometime she goes overhead, and since I am a sort tempered girl I couldn’t bear and would scream at her saying “Stop hurting me, mother.” And then she would say why am I screaming and what would the neighbors would think and tell me that I have gone mad. Then I would run into my bed and curl into my blanket and when I feel cold I would whisper Aaron’s name in my breathe. Its okay I get it, she was missing dad but she had no idea about how much I was missing Aaron just like she was to dad, I was sad, and I was depressed too. That’s why I decided to study in NYU as a solution to all this things. I mean in that way mom could stay with dad and I could confess, at the least, to Aaron. That’s what I thought. I was already ready to break my links with Pen, Fel and Sana that was supposed to be my sacrifice.

I got this idea when I met Aaron’s family on 19th October, a day later his birthday, I and my dad (when he came back home for few days) went to their home to acquire a medical certificate for my school since I was skipping a lot lately, the school wanted one. There I learned something from his mother that Aaron left the town because he was sad, I was right he broke down after that Christmas Eve. She said “Only your teacher Mr. David Dane saw Aaron crying, I curse that Grimrock every second you know.” His mom had a pretty cheerful character, and Mr. Dane left our school recently because he got a better job than a teacher, then Aaron came into the living room after lots of pressurizing from his parents, ah yes, they knew we were classmates and his dad almost teased him saying “look son you are shying but she isn’t.” actually I was shying but more like blushing, well he changed a lot. He was taller then before, was looking stronger than before I mean his arms and shoulders looked stronger and his hair was like perfect, fluffy and all, you know, but he wasn’t shy he seemed mad at me, that annoyed me but I kept smiling like a fool. “Hey, come in your friend is home, pumpkin.” His mum said and when she said the word pumpkin I chuckled lightly and then I said “Oh Happy Birthday Aaron and sorry no gift.” Well, actually I did have his gift at my home, yeah right cards because that’s what I gave him for the first and last time; I cursed myself for not bringing.

“Oh my, you still remember his birthday! How is that?” she exclaimed and I must say his mum had a great remarkable sense that’s for sure, and I thought that I just almost slipped into the den of lioness, I didn’t want his mum to doubt that I was in love with her son so I said “Ah…we talk about birthdays at school so I remember his too.” I made sure I didn’t sound nervous or speckled my words but I knew my phony reason didn’t satisfy Aaron as it did to his mum. “Well, thank her, pumpkin.” She said to him but Aaron was expressionless, he didn’t thank me at all and so I said to him “You look little different you know.” I bit my lips as I spoke my heart was beating loud to which I thanked God that I wasn’t sitting beside him or his mum. My dad was sitting right beside me until Mr. Ruperts called him to help him to what he should write so he left me in a room with Aaron and his mom. When I said about his little change his mum giggled and then asked “You know Ryan, right? How is he? He doesn’t talk much, right?” she was talking about Ryan who had a relationship and like forever crush on Amy and I and Aaron said together “He is one hell of a talking monster!” we always used to do that, I almost remembered few things we had in past. I looked up at Aaron when we did that and then turned to his mum “He acts like an innocent child in front of his mother you know.” She said. “He must be scared of his mother.” She laughed and so did I laugh quietly as a response to her and Aaron left me and his mum alone again. I don’t know what was wrong with him but he wasn’t behaving like usual, that was for certain.

Then his mum brought in some snacks and pastries and tea. I said sorry to her

Since my tummy was already full and I couldn’t eat anything. Actually I was so uneasy that I lost my appetite.

“Come on have some sweets, it was Aaron’s birthday right.” Good technique Mrs. Ruperts saying the girl in love to eat things for her beloved’s birthday. I sighed and took a bite of the pastry and it was good. I saw Aaron’s sister only for a fiction of seconds there when she came to fetch some water. I said “Hi Nora.” She had changed a bit too, she smiled at me and went to the room where her brother was watching baseball.

“So where are you going to study after graduation?” She asked me gently.

“Oh, I haven’t thought of that yet, ma’am.” I said honestly to her.

“Not those formal talks honey, feel home.” She went “and why don’t you come to NYU then? Aaron is joining there too.” She is such a sweetheart I wondered why Aaron had that rude nature when his parents had such adorable characters.

“I am not a genius like your son.” I admitted.

“I am thinking to put her in NYU too. Do you have any application, Mrs. Ruperts?” My dad babbled and when he said that I almost wanted to hug him but I controlled myself.

“Well, I don’t have right now but if you want I can send it to you.” She said. Then she called Aaron in the room and asked him if I could apply for NYU then his old rude avatar was back.

“Wait what?” Aaron said “The application for NYU is already finished, you know? She can’t apply for it now I guess.” He sulked and then went to the room where he was watching base again. I had no idea why he was so mad.

“Sorry, for that Mr. Hemlocks” Aaron’s mum apologized.

“Oh that’s okay, it’s just our bad luck, so it will be possible only after graduation I guess.” My dad said and laughed. “And don’t worry honey; I am also going to apply for you in UBC.” My dad looked at me smiling and said.

“Well, it was nice meeting you Mr. Ruperts, and sorry for coming your home without any early calls.” My dad said to Mr. Ruperts to whom he was talking when I was with Mrs. Ruperts a.k.a Aaron’s mum, I don’t know her first name at all. I think Mr. Ruperts called her Suze. Well, I am not certain.

“It was nice having you Mr. Hemlocks.” Aaron’s dad said smiling.

“Homerun!” From the room next to the room where we were, came that sudden jolly shout.

“Sorry my son is a baseball geek.” Aaron’s dad shook his head and said, to which I suddenly blushed because my dad was a baseball geek too and I knew once we would be back home he won’t get up from the television screen.

“Oh that’s fine baseball is my favorite too.” My dad covered his thrill to know the results and I saw right through him because he just said “Let’s go, hon.”

“It was pleasure meeting you Mrs. Ruperts. Goodnight.” I said to Aaron’s mum and I got up from the chair I was sitting in and run down the porch since my dad already ran to revved up the car engine.

“Oh please, come to meet us if you visit to New York.” She gave me that gentle laugh and waved me.

“Yeah sure, have great eve ma’am.” I said and then turn to my way where I shouted “Dad wait.” And I heard Aaron’s mum giggling once again. It was a cold but starry night, the moon was beautiful and I could see the pole star without any problem.

“Dad, apply me for NYU please.” Aaron’s words provoked me as usually it did before.

“What, hon?” My dad didn’t hear me the first time.

“Let mum stay with you in Dubai or whatever that place is, I will stay in NYC so let me apply for NYU.” I amended.

“But hon, you are my only daughter how can I just let you stay on your own at the age of only what? 17!” Dad seemed to be disappointed by my plan.

“I will be eighteen this January, dad and I want you to gift me, let me apply for NYU.” I went “You know mum’s word sometimes gets so harsh that they pierce my heart like a sword, she miss you and wants to be with you and I want little peace.” Well, I didn’t lie to him only I didn’t say him the part where I miss Aaron.

“Fine I will think about it, you can apply for NYU however I want you to still apply for UBC okay?” Now dad approved my idea. “And I am sure if it’s you, you can get accepted to both, so after graduation it will be your choice where you want to go.”

“End of discussion!” I murmured to myself and smiled at my father

And I remembered what happened today at the library with Fel so I demanded my father not to tell anyone which colleges I am applying to.

I had to make sure that it worked out because if I apply without telling them and leave the place just like the wind, at least Pen, Fel and Sana won’t act mean to each other they will always stay best friends forever, which was my first wish when I became friend with them.

Later, I mailed to Sana. I couldn’t believe that I was so lost.

“Shar, what the crap did that mail mean?!” That evening the only mail I got in my cell. Well, since Fel was sad with our too much unusual behavior thinking we just left them and are sort of becoming mean girls I decided to break up my friendship with all the three of them, so I mailed to Sana that:

Sana I think we should break up! I mean as a best friends....! let’s just be friends...I mean of course we will stay good friends even after graduation...It just I am breaking up with three of you....You, Pen and Fel!! Don't ask me anything now...I'll explain you one day everything....okay? I love you...bye...!

But as I knew my dear Sana, if I say her not to ask she would definitely ask me that.

I text her back that it means I will tell her someday later. But she as usual annoyed me and didn’t let me break up. In the end things stayed the way they were.

The next thing I remember after having fun with my best friends and acknowledging our unbreakable bond of friendship. One day during the vacation and a couple of months before my shifting to NYC, to which all the five are still unknown, Sana suggested to go on a group blind date with Amy and her clique, she wanted me to forget Aaron and move on to which I always replied “I sure will forget that Ruperts and fall in love again.” But they were just words of course no one could steal my heart away when it’s with somebody else. Since I was bored I decided to tag along since I was certain there will be no certain prince who would bring the heart I lost. I knew Pen won’t come since she had private date with Arthie but surprisingly she came because Arthie came with the other guys. All the guys were from our respective classes so I was defined there will be no mysterious prince. Everyone got a date for themselves, many girls tried to hook up with Arthie but he was like hey get away from me, I already have got a girlfriend okay? That was really sweet and comical. And Pen nevertheless ignored the guys who tried to flirt with her. Sana unbelievably went to have lovebird chat with her beloved Rusty and so did my lovely, Fel, go to have some fight with Dave Kingsley. I didn’t get why in a group blind date they only came to argue. Well, never that I hated that part because it kept entertaining me. But I was like a bother to them, because I had no date, so I went away to sit in a free couch and plugged in my earphones on and read one of the magazine that was in the store bookshelf. Then suddenly a person turned off the light I was using when I turned to see who he was, it was the guy who has been sleeping since we entered the café shop.

“What’s your problem, dude?” I babbled because I was reading an article on love.

“Your dad doesn’t own this shop.” He said and covered his head and slept again, it pissed me off that I turned on the lights again and unplugged my earphones and tuned the volume to maximum. It pissed off the guy and woke him up from his damn sleepiness. He didn’t seem to be local or anyone from our class. He had his hood covered his face still so I couldn’t see his face in the dim light of the café.

“What’s your problem didn’t get your date?” I scoffed and turned off the light and then said something that was horrible “You know what? You are way too ugly and bitchy to have a date, now turn off that damn boom box of yours, I need to sleep.” I didn’t turn my music off, I mean who the hell that guy think he was, the son of the President? How rude could he be calling a girl ugly and bitchy of all the things? As seeing my arrogance he sighed and finally accepted his defeat and my victory. He sat up and pulled his hood back and I saw that he was a blond with little short hair, with beautiful sparkly emerald eyes. He was a hot looking guy but not my type. He stared at me for sometime and then said “I am sorry I take my words back, you are not ugly but you are damn bitchy.” He chuckled and I noticed that his voice was really deep and melodious and this time calm totally unlike the time when he was annoyed.

“Sorry I am like that!” I rolled my eyes in madness. He laughed and said “I like that kind of attitude of a girl.” But I was still mad at him for calling me ugly without even looking at my face beforehand.

“You came with them?” he muttered when he noticed I was sulking, while pointing his directory finger at my classmates. “I came with them you know!” he said. But wait none of us knew him anyway. “That guy Arthie is my old buddy.” he kept saying while I didn’t speak a word. “I am sorry for calling you ugly and I really regret for that Miss Sharon.” He said with his really soft English accent and this time I was shocked I mean I didn’t even know who the guy is and he knew my name!

“Whoa wait how come you know me?” I simmered very fast with a stun in my voice.

“Finally you spoke.” He chuckled again, ignoring my question.

“You didn’t answer my question, how come you know me and I don’t know you?” I said again, looking straight into his emerald eyes when he stared to mine.

“The world knows you Miss. Hemlocks” he went “and I really must say, people say right your chocolate eyes are really beautiful.” He complimented my eyes.

“Now come on say me who are you?” I demanded.

“Pleasure meeting you Miss. Hemlocks, I am Damon Sherman.” The guy finally introduced himself. I burst out in laughter that every one in the café including my best friends and classmates turned to see if I had not gone mad. I ignored them and kept laughing and then teased the guy “Damon? Like Damon Salvatore in Vampire Diaries?” He chuckled at my remark to his name and then tagged along with my joke and said “Who knows maybe I am a vampire” he smirked and he was right he was kind of mysterious and he was wearing a black leather jacket with a hood too, like "Damon" although he is a blond. I looked at him seriously and then sighed “Now tell me honestly how you know me, Mr. Mysterious? Have we met somewhere before.”

“Ah, let’s get outta here and give some space to them.” He totally ignored my question again, he pinned his eyes at my classmates who were sitting behind me when he said them and then he heaved me out of the café. Well, as he held out me of the café the people started to make some clattering sound that was off since when I laughed like a mad. I tried to escape my hands from his strong grip but he was too strong. He, the guy Damon, took me to his silver Porsche (I don’t get it why cute and hot guys always have cool cars.) and then opened the door of his passenger sit and said “Shall we go for a drive, princess? I want to show you somethin’”

“I don’t know you and you don’t even answer to my questions when I ask you, and you called me ugly why should I go for a drive with you?” I pouted.

“You don’t know me but I know you very well, Sharon and I am not a pervert so fear not princess, I just want to show you something that I found sometime in past.” He smiled at me and went to the driving seat and before he sat inside he added to his last sentence “And you are the prettiest girl that I know.” I almost blushed so I stepped inside the passenger seat and rolled my eyes and bit my lips to hold my smile “Like I am ever gonna believe you.” I said. Putting my seatbelts on I just realized it was my first time to be in a guy’s car but so what? It was obviously impossible that I would fall for this funny but mysteriously devilish guy.

We kept silent for a little while and then I interrupted the silence when I saw his driving was like he belonged from Montpelier “wait are you local?”

“No I am not; I just know this place well because I used to come here to meet my cousins.” He finally answered me obediently. But as far as I knew there was no family with surname Sherman in Montpelier.

“There’s no Shermans here you know? Are you lying?” I said dubiously looking to his side, he looked directly into my eyes and said with a smile “They are not Sherman; it’s my dad’s kid sister and her family who live here.” He said. Since I was asking him too much of one question I changed the question a bit “Where you from then?”

“Mysticfalls.” He mocked at my remark at his name.

“You know I like Damon” I took my revenge of joking at my remark because his expression was just what I wished for; stunned. “I mean Damon Salvatore. He is cool.”

He sighed and shook his head like a baby “Don’t joke with me.”

The way to the place he was taking me was beautiful and then I realized he was taking me to the lake. He stopped the car engine and I went outside what so special was. It was another starry night and the lake was looking beautiful as the moon shone its light on the water. My mouth wide opened in surprise as the place was like wonderland.

“I found this one night when I came here with my cousin,” he went “he said whenever he would be sad he would come here. It’s his special place.” He completed his statement.

“He gotta be a genius.” I whispered as I was dazzled by the shivering view of the place.

He didn’t say anything. So, I asked him “Why did you bring me here?”

“Because I saw you were sad.” I was about to cry because this guy whom I know only like an hour or so, he saw right through me. My eyes blurred up and tears rolled down.

He shushed me and hugged me and said “Don’t cry, its okay, did anyone break your heart?” his voice was really reliable. I held his shirt from the front and said him everything about my love life only I didn’t say Aaron’s name and then I cried on Damon’s warm and wide chest. And then when I was done he said “Are you feeling light now?” smiling so wide and as the moon’s light shone over his face, he almost looked like a fallen angel. I nodded and then he drove me to the café because I forgot my coat and purse there and then he drove me to my home. All the way he just said jokes and made fun of me. He said me that he was sleeping in the café because he wasn’t interested in blind dates and only wanted to hang out but like me got bored so he thought to take a nap and I disturbed him, I pulled his ears when he said I disturbed his nap. Then when we reached my house’s pavement he asked me if we could hang out again next day and I said yes because I thought I would like to know about him too as he knew about me and also because he read my feelings as if they were written on my face and because I liked the time I spent with Damon and he was my café demon who wasn’t an evil though, that meant he was my sweet café demon.

It has been a couple of weeks since I started to hang out with Damon even though he would call them dates I would totally ignore him and he would make that puppy face and I would say “Aww” and then he would touch my cheeks like I just said something magical. He would take me to that lake sight of Waterbury, on starry nights, and then ask me to forget the person who has hurt me. To which I would always smile and say “I am.” And he would shake his head and give me a frown.

Today, 23rd September, is the last day of Damon’s vacation and yesterday night my sister, Nathalie as you can now remember with her nickname Nat, came home since she is searching for job now and also going to stay with me in NYC, and we are moving on 3rd of November, during the new session of semester and none of my friend know about it even I haven’t dared to tell them yet. Right now I am choosing a dress to meet Damon. He will be here at four sharp, that’s for sure because Damon never makes me to wait but instead I always make him to.

“Hey help me, which one of them is better?” I drew out my old black sheer laced sleeveless blouse and navy and grey rugby stripe shirt with my blue jeans.

“Go with Rebecca Beeson if it’s a date, of course it is I guess.” Nat said rolling her eyes. “I don’t want your boyfriend to think that you are a black and white maniac, which is of course you are.” She was texting her boyfriend Al.

“Damon is not my boyfriend. We just hang out together and talk a lot. He is more like my best friend.” I corrected her, to which she was like “Yeah, yeah whatever.” It did make me go mad over her so I just left her room but before I leave she snarled “And wear your Jimmy Choo.” I sighed because like ever I was going to wear those high heels, they hurt.

But when I saw Damon waiting outside my house I hopped out and pulled those shoes which I hardly thought I would wear, The Jimmy Choo.

“Great dress!” Damon complimented my dressing style.

“My sis drew them out.” I lied. He chuckled and then gently messed my hairstyle and said “You can’t keep the truth away from me, Shar.” And gave me one of those sweet heart melt smiles to which I just turned away to cover my blush. As I turned away, he sighed and pulled the car out of my home street. I haven’t been in contact to any of my best friends since I met Damon, because he would always spare sometime and take me out. Although Sana and Fel knew that I was hanging out with ‘the café guy’ since the blind date but still I was sure they would be mad on me.

“Well, where are you taking me today?” I noticed that he wasn’t taking me to our usual place, the lake sight, but in the total opposite route.

“Just wait sometime, will ya?” he looked at me skeptically.

I simply rolled my eyes. “Why not the usual place?” I said swiftly.

“Well, because that place is for when you are sad, and you seem to be happy today.” He have a great remarking ability, I got to admit. And he was right I was happy, I was suddenly forgetting all the pain within me and becoming somewhat happy to be with Damon.

Suddenly my cell beeped, it was a text from Sana she was mad at me because I haven’t contacted her for the least five days. Her message was like a volcano just burst in Brazil. It noted:

Sharon Parris Hemlock, where are you? In fact where have you been? Did you just forget that there are some people who are so called your besties? If you won’t come to Capitol tomorrow morning at 11 then forget we will ever talk to you. And yeah we will just go and beat your beloved Aaron Ruperts too. : P: @

“Whoa” I sighed and Damon shook his head like a little kid and I love it whenever he does it. I giggled then he stared at me like “Finally you laughed.”

“It can’t be helped if you make such cute faces you know.” I rubbed his hair and messed his style “Oh man, I wanted to look like a hero.”

“You already look like hero.” I murmured so that he couldn’t hear but as I said before he has good hearing ability. “Well, if the princess thinks so than I really happy.” He made that funny gesture with his head since he was driving, and he is especially careful when he is with me, which makes me feel like a real princess.

It was around ten past five o’clock when we reached “St Johnsbury!” I exclaimed with surprise.

“Yup and we are going to” Damon reached his hands to the back seat and grabbed two pieces of papers and said “Kiwanis pool.”

“And tennis court” I giggled. “But I can’t swim.” I frowned.

“Don’t worry we are here to celebrate someone’s birthday” You see Damon is really good at making fun of me, because I don’t know when he is joking and when he is serious.

“Care to tell me whose birthday?” I closed the car door and unzipped my jacket and folded it in my arms and Damon just simply put his arms around my neck and leaned to my ears, oh yeah he is taller than me, and whispered “mine.” I jumped out a feet from him and sighed and babbled to myself that how fool I am, not to know when his birthday is when we’re like more than best friends.

“You should’ve told me you know; now look I don’t even have anything to gift you.” I frowned. He came to me and gently stroked my hair which was hiding my face.

“If I had, I would have missed this reaction right? And I don’t need any gift from my princess.” He kissed my forehead like I was his kid sister.

“That’s totally not fair.”

I don’t get it why but when Damon teases me I really feel bad, and when he smiles at me with that pitiful look in his eyes, I automatically sulk because somehow he really did become a part of me. We walked into the main room and I noticed that there was no one, yeah its cold so the pool would be less to use but even the tennis court was empty.

“Today, it’s especially reserved for us.” Damon confirmed when he saw my puzzled look. Then took me to the tennis court where there were lots of balloons and my favorite types flowers, red roses, carnations and camellias, and a cake was already there with a knife.

“Why there are only us?”

“Well, you see I don’t have many acquaintances in your town and my only friend Arthie bailed on me because he has a date planned with his girlfriend.” Oh yeah Pen have a date today.

“No wonder.” I commented as sulkily as an irritated brat.

And then the boom box started and oh no, again the Give you what you like played and I thought if this song really had something connection with my love life and I chuckled to myself. Damon took my hand gently and said “Let’s dance.” I bit my lips to hide my smile but I kept smiling in the end “I can’t dance.”

“Just follow me.” He smirked at me as he has placed my right hand on his shoulder. He grabbed my waist for the first time and it kind of gave me shiver. He held me very close that I could almost feel his deep sweet breaths. And then we started to dance.

“See? You can dance.”

“Yeah right.” I rolled my eyes because I thought if he couldn’t just find some other song than the song on which I danced with the guy I once loved. Damon has great reflexes and there’s no doubt about it because he could dance with someone like me, someone who is as clumsy as a klutz. I enjoyed the dance while smiling like a fool. I couldn’t hide my smile because he did the least expected things as the lyrics went.

Like when it had the part:

When you turn off the lights

I get stars in my eyes. Is this love?

He would give me the spin and gesture his head up at the starry sky. I can’t help but to laugh.

“That was fun wasn’t it?”

“Certainly it was.” I admitted. “So when the birthday boy is cutting his cake?”

“Well, after he gives the Princess a tour of the pool.”

I was kind of irritated by him calling me by my nickname, Princess, so I grabbed his hair thinking I will tease him by how rough his hair was because I thought he has dyed his hair, which apparently turns out the total opposite. His hair was as soft and silk as a peacock’s feathers, really really soft that I made him to lean for me so that I could look at them closely.

“Whoa your hair isn’t dyed blond?” I said, surprised.

“Of course they are not dyed, they are naturally blond.” He seemed to get mad. Well, it couldn’t help because the yellowish was too much to believe naturally blond. He got really mad at me because Damon is like always very concerned about his hair and I questioned him about them, so he went away and sat on one of the steps near the back door, or for us entry to the pool, and took some lonely space which I took away.

“I am sorry” I said kneeing down a step below him.

“Its fine, I am not mad at you anyway.” He said while he was sulking like a baby, hehe, looking at Damon’s sulking face was really cute.

“Aww, why are you so cute, Damon?”

“I am not cute, I am hot.” He smirked, damn I was lured. Suddenly the cold wind blew and I shuddered.

“Are you feeling cold?” He inquired.

“Just the wind” I said and then he unwrapped his beautifully hand knitted red muffler from his neck and dropped in mine and said

“Don’t let yourself be cold.”

“Yes.” I giggled and smiled at him closing my eyes and a moment later I was in Damon’s arms. His hold was so warm and broad that even though I was pretty startled by his sudden action, I wanted to sleep soundly in that warm hug.

“I wanna eat you up.” He said.

“I am not something to eat, stupid.” I murmured while listening to his super fast heartbeats.

“But if you give such a sweet smiling face the wolf will definitely be starved, right?” he squeezed me tight and chuckled.

“Umm…Damon, Can I sleep?” I giggled.

“Of course you can’t, because” he let go of me from his hug and locked his eyes on mine as if he wanted to read them “let’s go inside.” He said, with a big grin and so we went in.

The pool was nicely decorated too, just like the tennis court and was nicely lighted, not very much brightened a little more of dark, just colorful.

“Hey I have an idea.” I bit my lips and studied Damon’s expression.

“What idea?” he had no idea what kind of mischievous game I was planning.

“Let’s play hide and seek.” I smiled.

“At a place like this?” he looked at me skeptically.

“Yeah that’ll be fun right?” I went “And if you find me, I promise I will definitely go on a date with you, the next time we will meet.” I gave him a tip.

“Well, I like the idea in fact I love it!”

“Okay now you go to the back door and come after five minutes, I’ll be hidden till then and no peeping.” I pushed him out of the place.

The place was really huge and had lots of place to hide but, I had to hide in a place from where I can see Damon clearly while he can’t and I found one.

Right next to the changing room there was a space to hide which was dark as well. I ran to hide there but my heels stuck me to the edge of the pool and I was drowning. I couldn’t do anything because I didn’t know how to swim in fact I accepted that I will die down there because Damon was outside waiting his five minutes to complete and there was no person in the pool except us.

As I drowned I saw how the water was so clear and the bubbles were making it more beautiful, I thought ‘yeah death can be beautiful too.’ And as I closed my eyes I heard a sound of splash and the second later someone was holding me and I could breath again I felt something sweet and hot on my lips so I opened my eyes and I found I was in Damon’s grip again and he was kissing me, well he was saving me, by giving me some sort of underwater CPR. He pulled me out of the pool and I coughed, and then took a deep breath.

“Did you want people to call me your murderer?” Damon was mad, really really mad at me.

“Of course not, it was an accident, I am sorry.” I went and touched his face.

“Don’t give me heart attacks, clumsy dummy.” he grabbed my hand and hugged me again.

“I am sorry,” I said half breathing “now tell me what was with that kiss?”

“That wasn’t a kiss, I was giving you oxygen” he said.

“But I felt kind of passionate you know.” I admitted, and I mean it, his kiss was not like my first one, with Aaron, it was kind of different I mean I could swear I felt his horrified feelings that he might have killed me; well, his kiss was sweet and gentle.

“How can you say that? You never had any boyfriend in past right?” he said, shocked.

“Well, I might never have a boyfriend in past and present, but it doesn’t mean I have never kissed.” I giggled and looked at how my dress was so drenched.

“Please go and see there in the changing room, there will be some clothes for you.” Damon murmured and I couldn’t understand what he was saying so I looked up to look at Damon and I saw he wasn’t looking at me.

“Damon?” I did call him but it sounded more like I just said his name, but he replied “Yes”

“What happened to you?” I tried to know.

“I can see through your dress.” Damn Damon was such a pervert; he could have said me a little earlier. I almost shrieked but I made my way to the changing room because changing my dress was my first priority at that moment. In the changing room there was a dress, a red dress, and it was kind of cute and fitted me perfectly except that it was kind of made me look busty. But I didn’t want Damon to see through my dress that’s for sure so it was fine. I was happy for a moment that I didn’t have my coat soaked because I was cold but I was sad at the same time because I drenched Damon’s cute muffler. I stared at it for some time and then Damon knocked in and stared at me and said “Why wearing the coat?” then he came closer to me and undid my coat’s buttons while I stood still like a 2 year old baby while staring at the muffler which was resting in the chair along with my drenched clothes because I was sure I must have seen the same knit before but I couldn’t remember where. “Who did you say, that mend it for you?” I squeaked. Damon chuckled and took my coat again and then gave me another muffler, kind of same as the soaked one and same red color but the weave was a little different and had a small D in it. “Don’t worry I never had any girlfriend who could mend mufflers for me, it’s my aunt who like to knit sweaters and stuffs but she weaves only mufflers for me and I have like dozens of them, it just today I have two of them to share one with you.” He said with a blissful tone as if his aunt was his crush and I got somewhat puzzled.

“So the one which was I certainly soaked was mine?”I bit my lips because I really loved both the mufflers and was kind of having this selfishness of having both of them and maybe Damon saw right through me as usual of him because he leaned to look at my face and laughed and then said “You can have both of them, she sends me one like every month”. I was so happy when he said that that I almost wanted to kiss him. Hehe.

After that event he took me out and said “Let’s go to our usual place” in his mischievous voice. I, of course never say no to him so we went there.