Stammered Love

Chapter Nine|Contagious Rumors

The true rumor that Lennon Graydon was going out with Victoria Alton had spread through the school faster then the flu in February.

In the few days before I'd asked Victoria out, Victoria had already become popular, so there were a lot of disappointed people around. There were a lot of girls (a lot) who were furious and upset that I hadn't asked them out and a lot of guys angry because I'd gotten to Victoria before they did. So either I was being cold-shouldered by broken hearted girls, glared at by jealous guys, or being told that me and Victoria were the cutest couple anyone had ever seen.

I asked Victoria out two days after I met her. I didn't waste anytime because I knew Victoria had to be the one, and she was a very attractive person so if I didn't ask her out soon, somebody else would.

It had taken a lot of courage though (and a lot of persistent poking and nudging on Leo, Brody and Sam's part) until I finally approached Victoria as she came out of her math class. I was dismayed to see her surrounded by a the group of giggling girls she had acquired over the past few weeks.

"Uh, Victoria," I said as I approached the group. Already it felt like my face was on fire. "Could I have a word?" I asked this in as casually as I could.

One girl, Ava Wessex, nudged Victoria and giggled, while another girl, Enya North, wiggled her eyebrows. Tamara Jorden looked distinctly disgruntled and sent Victoria a venomous glare. Victoria ignored them all.

"Okay," she said, giving me a dazzling smile.

We moved to private corner near the principals office- a place most students avoided.

"So," I said, once we were out of ear shot of Ava, Enya, and Tamara. "Um." I rubbed my neck, feeling extremely embarrassed. "Er, well . . . " I couldn't get myself to meet Veronica's eyes, which were gazing at me steadily. "Well," I said again. "The thing is . . . I would . . ." I felt my voice falter.

I tried to calm my self down.  I thought of what Sam had been telling me for days, "Just do it dude. Either she'll say yes, or leave you an emotional train wreck the rest of your life." Somehow that advice didn't help much.

I remembered what Brody had said to me, "Just pray to the lord and the spirits and they will do what's best for you." I was praying. Praying that she would say yes. But those prayers couldn't be answered until I actually got up the courage to ask her!

"Just take a deep breath, and do it." That had been Leo's advice, and I decided to trust it, after all, he was the only one with a girlfriend.

Victoria was staring at me, frowning a little.

I sucked in as much air as I could -like a vacuum sucking up dust- then let it all out and blurted, "Doyouwannagoutwithme?"

Victoria's frown deepened. "What?" she asked.

In my head I swore loudly at my mess up.

"Would you," I said, speaking slowly, "Like to go out with me?"

A smile broke over Victoria's face. "I'd love too!" said Victoria, her cheeks flushing.

I felt relived. "Good . . ."

That was all I had to say, but Victoria was gazing at me expectantly so I added, "I was thinking we could go to Queenie's after school tomorrow and get a soda? Would that work for you?"

Her grin broadened. "Sure! See you later Lennon!"

Then, with a toss of her long chocolate colored hair, she left. I watched her go. Before heading off with her friends, she waggled her fingers at me.

A moment later Sam, Leo and Brody had surrounded me.

"Well," asked Leo, "Did you do it?"

"Do what?" I asked in a causal tone I knew they would hate.

"You know what we mean!" complained Brody.

"Did you get the loot?" asked Sam.

I shrugged. "I asked out Victoria Dalton if that's what you mean," I said in the same casual tone.

A roar of sound erupted from my friends.

"Nice," said Leo, patting me on the back.

Sam pounded his chest and yelled, "Lennon has past the test of manhood!"

Only Brody didn't look that excited.

"What's up with you Brody?" I asked as Leo and Sam chanted, "Lennon's got a girl! Lennon's got a girl!"

Brody frowned and looked up at me. "Well . . . nothing . . . But . . ."

"But what?"

"But what about Emmy?" asked Brody.

"Lennon's got a girl, Lennon's got a girl! Lennon's  got a girl!"

"What about her?" I asked stiffly.

"I thought you liked her?" said Brody.

"She's not my love at first sight Brody," I said stiffly. "I got over it, and you'll have to too. Victoria is my love at first sight."

"Lennon's got a girl! Lennon's got a girl!"

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The next day, Thursday, Victoria and I went to Queenie's - a 24-hour diner down the street where all the kids liked to hang out. On Saturday, we went to see a movie. Wednesday, we did homework together in the library, and on Friday we went to the movies and then out to eat. At least two times a week for the next month, I went out on dates with Victoria.

I introduced her to my family and, as the grass began to freeze to the ground and wild turkeys flocked about waiting to be eaten, Victoria was starting to feel more and more like part of it.

Victoria was intelligent, funny, and strong. She liked horror movies, jeans, the color purple, cherry sodas, and hated romance movies. The latter of which I was disappointed about because - although you'd have to force feed me cream cheese before I'd admit it- I loved romance movies and books.

My family and friends all had their own opinions about her.

George said, after meeting her, "She's hot, but not as hot as Luka."

My mom had given a very cautious "She seems nice," and my dad had said, "If you like her son, I like her.", but both had been dismayed to learn that she couldn't play a single instrument and enjoyed rap music.

Paula just shrugged and said, "She's okay." But then she'd glared at me and added, "But I always hoped you'd fall for Keirstan, then she'd be my sister in law. You know she's spent the last five weeks in tears because of you?"

Leo, Sam, and Brody all took an instant liking to her. Although Leo was dismayed because Phillipa didn't like her, and although Brody was polite to Victoria, I knew he would rather I go out with Emmy Frost. Out of everyone, Sam liked her the best. He kept saying I had scored big time.

I couldn't have been more thrilled to be dating my dream girl, but . . . Well, I didn't know what was wrong, but I still felt like something was missing.