Scared of Falling in Love

More Homecoming Dates

"Dinner next Saturday? That seems cool. I'm in", says Jaden smiling down at me. Every time I talk to him I have to look up because of our hight difference. Why does he have to be so tall?
"Okay, cool. So, this Saturday", I say.
"Got it", he says nodding his head.
"5:00."
"Got it."
"We're having take out. Pizza."
"Got it."
"Oh and dress formally", I say testing to see if he's even listening.
"Got it-wait what?", he says , whipping his head towards me, or down I guess.
"Oh relax.", I say nudging him. "I was kidding. I'll probably be wearing sweats and a t-shirt", I say laughing. He starts to laughing too, but both of us are cut off when Klarese approaches us.
Klarese and I used to be friends in the 6th grade, until she grew out of me and became friends with the prettier, more popular girls. All she's done is taunt me and spread rumors about me ever since.
"Sooo", she smiled, shoving her way between me and Jaden. "You haven't answered my text. Is your phone not working or something", she says putting her arm on Jaden's shoulder. Jaden looks at me then gently takes her arm off his shoulder. "Uhm. No I got the text, Klarese", he says looking at the floor. Klarese raises her eyebrows and takes a step away from Jaden, allowing me my spot next to him back. "Well then what's the problem, sweetie", she asks nicely. Although, you can clearly hear the sudden edge in her tone as she crosses her arms. "I could take any of the boys in this school to the home coming dance and I chose you, Jaden. You know, I should just walk away right now, but because I'm such a caring person, I'm going to give you second chance to answer my question", she says taking a step closer to Jaden. A small crowd has formed around us now. "Jaden, would you like to gladly take me to the homecoming dance?"
The crowd gasps followed by shared whispers talking about how Jaden and Klarese are going to be the "it" couple. Jealous guys mumble bad stuff about Jaden.
Jaden opens his mouth to say something, but quickly closes it. "I - uhh", he says scratching the back of his neck. "I'm waiting", Klarese says, looking impatient. Jaden is now the center of attention. Everyone's waiting for his answer with the same excitement of a girl watching the season finale of her favorite show. I feel bad for him, being put under all this pressure. I know what he's thinking. He feels like he should say yes because he doesn't want to hurt her feelings. Although I doubt she'd be hurt, considering the fact that she's got a never-ending line of guys wanting to date her.
Jaden obviously doesn't like Klarese like everyone else does. If he did, they'd already be riding off into the sunset by now. What I couldn't figure out was why he didn't like her. Most guys would probably faint if they got a simple smile from her. Okay, I know that sounds like I'm over exaggerating, but it really did happen in the eighth grade.
I bite my tongue resisting the urge to laugh at that thought.
I revert my attention back on Jaden and Klarese and the crowd watching, which has grown in the past minute.
Jaden finally responds. "Well. You see Klarese. I can't go to the dance with you", he says , causing more whispers in the crowd. Klarese's eyes to grow wide at Jaden's response. "Excuse me?", she asks taking a step back looking at the crowd, embarrassed. "Did you just reject me", she says as her cheeks turn slightly red.
"Don't take it the wrong way, Klarese. It's just that... Well you see... I um....", he stutters, trying to come up with an excuse. "Well what is it", Klarese asks, looking as if she's about to tackle Jaden. "I uh ALREADY HAVE A DATE", he says sounding satisfied with his under-pressure excuse. More whispers.
"You do? Who?", she asks.
"Uhhhhh. Giselle!", he says with a huge smile on his face. "I'm taking Giselle to the dance", he continues, putting his arm around me. "Right, Giselle?" He mumbles. Everyone in the crowd gasps now, and share whispers that I can clearly hear.
Is he serious? Giselle. Bookworm, Giselle? The one that got badly dumped in last year?
I ignore the side comments.
"Oh uh. Yes. He his. Yah. Uhm, we got the limbo and everything, you know. Been planning it for weeks. Right,...... Sweetie", I say smiling nervously? Jaden lets out a nervous laugh. "You got that right, my little..... Sugar muffin", he responds. I hold in my sudden urge to die on the floor laughing. Sugar muffin? Really?
Klarese opens her mouth to respond, closes it and just walks away with her entourage. The crowd finally disperses. Once not many people are around, Jaden and I let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Thanks for going along with it. I owe you one", he says says chuckling. "Heck yah you do", I say laughing and nudging him. "Sorry about that", he says placing his hand on the back of his neck.
"Eh. It's fine. I didn't have a date to the dance anyways", I say laughing.
"Oh wait you actually wang to go?", he asks.
"Sure. Klarese will probably get suspicious if we don't show up together. Besides, it'll be fun. Just two friends. Hanging out.", I say chuckling.
"Oh yah. Totally. Just friends. I mean it's not like we're...you know."
"Yah, we're so not...", I say, laughing, looking down at my shoes.
"Yeah...."
"Well I look forward to going to the dance with you, kind sir. As a friend", I say in a British accent.
"As do I, ma lady. As a friend", he says copying my terrible British accent and bowing.
We both burst out laughing, and continue walking down the hall.
"But seriously? Sugar muffin", I ask laughing.
"Hey! I was under a lot of pressure", he says laughing and putting his hands up in surrender.
"Okay see you at lunch", I ask.
"Okay. Have fun in History", he says sarcastically, smiling amused by himself.
"I'll try", I say smiling back and waving as we enter different classrooms.

Looks like I have date to the dance. As a friend, of course....