Nametags

Chapter 6

         Friday at school, I carefully put my phone on the shelf in my locker. All week, I had been setting up my new phone. Mom had reminded me that no "unauthurised conversations" where allowed. She meant no talking to boys. So far, it was going good! Aside from a small protest from Luke, who wanted his own phone, my siblings where largely happy for me. "BAH!" I was instantly pulled out of my thoughts by Jadee scaring me. "Dude! I have 5 younger siblings! You don't think I get startled enough?" She and I laughed it off. "So," she began,"I promise this guy is much better than last time. He's really cool, and he is one grade older than us, so you probably don't know him." I was excited for my next date, but I was also a little anxious from last time. From what Jadee had hinted about this guy, he was the referee for the soccer team, worked at the local Pizza Hut, and was super hot. I could have done some digging and found out who it was, but I decided not to. It was a blind date, after all. We where to meet at his work, where he would get a free pizza, then we would go to the city park and eat it. It was simple and cheap. I liked it. I planned on wearing the same dress from my last date, but pulling my hair up into a bun to make it seem more casual. As I walked to class, I couldn't stop thinking about Tyrus- That jerk that ruined my first actual date. Hang on- I wasn't even going to count him. We didn't even finish, after all. I sat down for coding, satisfied.

          After changing and pulling my hair into a bun, I checked my messages and then slid my phone into my pocket. My date was in 15 minutes, and I was taking Dad's truck. I had learned to drive in that truck, and I was feeling awesome. I had a phone, and I was driving myself to a date. I feel so mature. It's weird that it took me 16 years to feel this way. I felt like singing. Singing! I reminded myself I had music on my phone. Pulling it out and plugging some school earbuds into it. I scrolled to "Party in the U.S.A" by Miley Cyrus. Things got nostolgic as I started jamming to the song. Still listening, I waved goodbye to my parents and danced away to my date.

          When I got to the pizza place, I instantly knew who my date was. He was the only employee wearing a nice button-down shirt instead of a dirty tee. As soon as he saw me, he smiled and yelled, "Hey, Jamie! My date's here, I'm on break!" I grinned as he walked toward me. "Hey! I'm Dacoda, But call me Dak. Are you my blind date?" I felt my cheeks get red. Jadee was right, he was hot! "Yeah! I'm Cherry." He smirked "You look like one." He remarked. I blushed harder. Was it that obvious? He gestured to my hair. "Oh! Yeah, I suppose..." For the first time, I looked down at his name tags. "I'm very hot" and "I'm a huge narcissist." I hoped he wasn't too big of one. "Checking out my pecs? Wow, you get right to it, don't you." My eyes shot up to his. "What!? No, I- I-" He smirked and laughed. "Naw, It's ok, ladies like it." I was sure I looked more like a cherry than ever, now that my face was bright red. "Alright, let's 'git this pizza going!" He clapped his hands. "No wait for us, since I work here! Nice, right? I bet I'm the best date ever." I hated to say it, but he was my best date so far. Wow. I'm so pathetic. "What do you want?" He asked, sitting down in a table for two. "Oh, Just whatever you want. Not mushrooms." His eyes got wide. "No mushrooms!? You'll love them on our pizza, just wait and see!" Before I could say anything, he stood up and grabbed a mushroom pizza from the top shelf. "Martain" was written on the top of the box. "Well, I guess Martain will just have to wait!" He remarked as he opened the box. I felt the smell of mushrooms hit my face. I am allergic to mushrooms.

          Dak bit into a piece and I just sat there. What was I supposed to do? I couldn't tell him! I stood up quickly. "Uh, do you know where the bathroom is?" I asked, trying not to breath in the steam of the pizza. "Well, yeah, duh. I work here. Down the hall." He said, pointing. I thanked him and ran to the ladies room. Looking in the mirror, I saw a small cluster of hives beginning at my collarbone. The reaction was fast and severe. Feeling angry and embarrassed, I ran out to the table, and slammed down $10. "Here's for the pizza, Dak. Sorry, but I have to go. My Mom is-" I searched for a lie quickly. "-Having a baby. Bye!" Then, before he could say anything, rushed out to the truck, scratching and crying.

           The whole way home, I cried. The date sucked, and anyway, my whole face itched and stung. When I finally pulled into the driveway, I could barely see. Fumbiling with the keys, I turned off the car and ran inside. As soon as Mom saw me, she gasped and sat me down on the livingroom couch. Miley climbed onto my lap and mumbled in her baby voice, "Choowey, why's you face pink?" Mom dug into her purse and grabbed some allergy pills. "Oh, honey! What happened?" I sniffled and whispered, "Mushroom pizza." She frowned as I swallowed the pills. "Oh, honey. Just go on upstairs and wash your face with cold water. We already said prayers, so go on to sleep. I nodded and stood up. In the hall, Valentina Stopped me "How was your date? Good?" She must not be able to see my swollen face in the dark. I looked up at her and burst into tears. It really sucked. "Oh, pobre Chica! Come here!" I fell into her arms, sobbing. After a few minutes, I sat on her bed and told her the whole story. She handed me a tissue and rubbed my back. "I'm so sorry, Chica! That sounds malo!" She continued to comfort me and muttered "Matare a cualquiera que intente romperte el corazon!" "What?" It sounded like a curse to me. "Nothing. I'm so sorry your date went malo! The next one will be better, I can feel it!" I nodded, stood up, and went to my room.

          In my vent, I wrote in my diary and cried some more. I'd call Jadee later, but right now, I just wanted to sleep. Just sleep. I'm so... Crazy... Tired....