teenage nightmare ² ━━ amour

48.

48.
chapter forty-eight:
assassination of player
and assassination of
hearts.

Days bleed by fairly quickly. We were well into fall and heading towards winter. I cast Serena a quick glance. Despite not speaking with her for over a fortnight or more, I could not help the warmth I felt in my gut each time she had her lips quirked upward in a beautiful, dimple-free smile.

Why? That one by Tay, Wildest Dreams, is one I included in my playlist for the girl I like, Butterhead.

I looked at my incorrigible handwriting and let out a chuckle. It looked like a Pikachu standing beside an Eternatus.

Scribbling tiny notes, correcting Butterhead, or replying to her words on her letters had become a pastime for me during breaks between classes.

At times, Butterhead would totally take me by surprise, such as the one two days ago when she confessed that I had appeared in her dreams wearing an elegant suit, and that she had wished I had asked her for a dance. If I ever got to know who she was, I would definitely ask, even if it's a platonic one from my side.

"WHAT?!" Serena's scream brought me back to her, and I scrambled to look at her through Gary, who was leaning against my desk and chatting with Misty. I pushed him aside, and he yelped in protest.

The girl was red, and I was worried she was sick with fever from the way she was behaving. Shauna caught me looking and gave a small smile. I turned away, embarrassed at being discovered, and started scribbling on the latest letter from Butterhead.

Y'know, the dance is near, and I sorta wish I could take the girl I like. She's amazing and has great feet too, unlike me. We've danced before, onstage, and I feel fuzzy just reminiscing that moment she poked my chest. Aww. <3

But I really doubt she would go with me, a clumsy airhead. Anyways, I hope you take someone who treats you right, Butterhead. :)

I threw the letter into my rough notebook and closed it shut when May peered over Gary at me. "Wotcher?"

"Doodling," I lied, sprawling across the desk in an attempt to cover the rough note and the letters sticking out from it. May bought my lie and left me alone with my thoughts.

And then there was Butterhead. Her letters were a constant reminder to smile, but unbeknownst to her, they also guilt-tripped me. They made me regret my actions toward Serena and the consequences that caused me to break my own promise.

"And then he pulled out a wonderful rose!" May exclaimed, looking dreamy. Misty cooed, and Gary merely moved an inch. I looked up at them, the question clearly etched across my face. What?

"The year-end ball," Misty supplied. "You need a date, y'know?"

I hummed in thought. I wasn't willing to attend unless with Serena. "Have you got any, Misty?"

Misty shook her head sadly. "No, although Brocko did ask me as friends. I've put him on hold, should he find someone he actually likes and wants to go with. It's his final ball."

"I see. Gary?"

The boy, with his huge ego, ran a hand through his hair. "I've been asked out, but I didn't find any of them particularly attractive enough to accompany me." We rolled our eyes. "You could say I'm waiting on the right one."

"Right."

"What about you, man?"

I dipped my head and cast a forlorn glance at Serena again. "I haven't got any girl either..."

"Butterhead?"

"Hell, if I knew her identity."

May patted my head sympathetically. "I'm sure she'll come around."

I shook her hand away. "I don't want her to. I would only go with Serena, but she can't stand me."

Misty snorted, hands on her hips in an angry manner. "You're hoping she hates you."

"Nah. She does."

"You've convinced yourself."

Before I could further make a fool out of myself, Tierno approached us with a message to head to the auditorium, as the final years were putting up a show. Glad to have found a distraction, I ushered my friends. We were in the passageway when Barry tapped my shoulder.

"Mate, did you submit your name for player assassination? You know, since we failed captainship trials."

What?

"Assassination?" I asked, wondering what darker thoughts were going through Alain's mind. "What?"

Misty looked absolutely flummoxed when she voiced her thoughts. "Do you mean assessing?"

Barry turned the color of a tomato. "If you mean another test, yeah, that one, but shut up or I'll fine you a thousand dollars!"

Misty rolled her eyes and went back to talking with May and Gary. I turned to the blond boy. "When's the last date to register?"

Barry looked flabbergasted. "Today, and by the end of this period!"

My heart skipped a beat, and I thanked him quickly. Patting Gary thrice to signal him that I'd catch up later, I made a beeline to our class to get the jersey form and then head to the courts. While on my way, I spotted Serena talking to Calem. I couldn't make out what, but by the looks of it, the two were enjoying the conversation.

A tinge of green seeped into my vision, and I made a dash, narrowly clashing into Calem on my way. "Hey, mate! Watch where you're going!" I heard him shout. I waved a hand and did not pay them any more heed.

I was so furious; my blood felt hot within my veins. Serena still had that puffy redness around her beautiful eyes, as if she had been hurting all evening and eventually cried herself to sleep. After breaking her, he talks to her so casually as if nothing happened!

If I ever get a clue that you don't hate me, I thought as I entered our deserted classroom and looked at where I had discovered Serena, a shattered wreck, a couple of days before. I'll make sure to treat you right, make you smile heartily and genuinely, and be absolutely sure that you deserve nothing less than the beautiful and colorful world you have shown me.