Nametags

Chapter 5

          I walked into the small library and looked around. There where only a few students there, and all where girls, except for... "TYRUS?!" I stared angrily at the boy waiting for me. He was dressed in his school clothes- just a Tee and baggy pants. This boy was my bully all throughout school, and I had since learned to avoid him, but he still hadn't changed. His name tags still read "I love and care for dogs" and "I'm a huge-butt bully." But it didn't say "butt". "Carrot Top? You are my blind date?" He smirked. My face turned red to match my hair. Suddenly I felt like a fool. "This is not a date. Good bye." I stormed out onto the bench to call Jadee. I grabbed the burner phone out from my pocket and dialed her number. She answered on the third ring.

"Hey, Cherry! Done already? How was it?"

"It wasn't, Jadee. I forgot to give you a list of people I definitely don't want to don't want to date."

"Oh, Cherry! I'm so sorry! Who is he?"

"My bully. He calls me Carrot Top.''

"I'm so sorry! Hang on a sec."

"What are you doing?"

"Blocking him."

"Thanks. That's ok, I'll give you another chance. You still have 2 guys."

"Thanks! I'm sorry again. Hey, you're all dressed up, so lets still make today fun. I'll meet you at the restaurant in 10."

"Thanks, Jadee! See ya there!"

I hung up, feeling much better. It wasn't Jadee's fault she picked a bad kid. I brushed myself off and started walking towards the Chinese.

          Jadee met me at a booth in the back. She ordered egg soup, and I ordered orange chicken. "Anyone else you don't want to date?" She asked, chuckling. "Well, not anyone from church. That was awkward." She laughed and agreed. "So, when's the next date?" I asked, already excited. "Well, now that I know more who you like and don't like, I'll have to do some more digging. How about this Friday?" She already began scrolling through her contacts. "Sounds good. Can I just wear this again? I really like how it looks on me." She looked up at my dress and hair. "Yeah, totally. I wear the same outfit,like, every date." I grinned and finished my food.

          Andre and Valentina picked me up from the restaurant about an hour later. In the backseat with Anna, I told them about my date and told them to pass the word. I didn't want to have to explain myself to a small village of people. I assured them that I was ok. I was. I returned the phone to my parents, and made my way to my room. After changing out of my clothes, I wanted to write in my diary about the day, but Cara and Gina where huddled around their bed making a video. It was too risky. "Hey, guys! Can I see your video?" They looked up at me and then at each other. I had never taken interest in their videos before, but I wanted to go to my vent, so I sat down on Gina's bed and watched it. It was actually really good! In the video, Gina was singing "Happier" by Marsmello, and Cara was doing an interpretive dance. At the end, there was an unfinished clip. I looked at them. "Woah. You guys are even better than I thought you where. You should totally finish it!" They smiled bashfully. "Well, we want to, but we need another photographer. We asked everyone, but they are busy. Gina frowned. I smiled. "You didn't ask me. I'm free." They lit up. "Really? We thought you didn't like our videos!" I shook my head defensively. "I never saw how good they where until now!" Soon, they showed me what angle to video from, changed into costume, and continued to sing as I videoed. After a few takes, the video was finished. It looked very good. They thanked me happily and ran off to show Mom. Taking the opportunity, I crawled into my vent and began to write and read.

          After dinner, Mom and Dad called me into their room. I began to panic. In my mind, I thought of everything I had done in the last 6 months. Had they found out about my vent? Were they going to kick me out? Ground me? I'd have to call off the date if I was grounded. My heart filled with dread, I walked in and sat beside the bed. They looked at each other. "Jadee, the twins told us about you helping them with their video. Is that true?" I swallowed hard and nodded. "Well, Your father and I have decided-" They paused for effect, "to let you keep the burner phone!" I Looked up in awe. What?! They continued happily. "We think it was very nice that you  helped your sisters even after your date didn't go so well. It was very responsible." I was speechless!  "Now, you have to turn it into us by 8:00 every night, you can't take it into class, and restrictions will be set. If you break the rules, the phone can and will be taken away. Keep up your grades and chores, and you can keep it." They slipped the small flip phone into my hands. It felt heavy and expensive. It felt like responsibility. Suddenly finding words, I said huge thank you's and hugged both parents. Then, I carried it down to my room and called Jadee to tell her the news. We set up a text, and started sending messages to each other. Next, I called Valentina, Even though she was in the next room.

"Hola?"

"Hey, Valentina! Guess what?"

"Sorry, who is this?"

"Guess!"

"Sonia?"

"Nope. I live very close to you."

"Hannah?"

"Closer..."

She gasped.

"Cherry?"

"Yes! Mom and Dad gave me the burner phone to keep!"

She opened the door to my room, still on the phone.

"That's awesome!"

She came up and hugged me. Hanging up her phone, we set up a text and I told her how I got the phone. "That's amazing, Chica! I'm so orgullosa!" I felt all around awesome as I turned in the phone for the first time. It was my phone. I felt so mature.