Red ✔

My Moments

The gym is a dream. There are pink, red and white cutout hearts all over the walls. The hearts have words on them, like those heart candies. Those messages make me feel loved by the candy. There are words like "Be Mine" or "I Love You" or "Never Leave." The refreshments are even romantic-looking. There is garlic bread with delicate spices on top. A fruit bowl sit on the side of the table. The candy section has red peppermints and tiny Kisses. I see this one couple holding out a Kiss to each other's mouth. They inch closer to eat it together. SMACK! They are kissing each other. I turn around to block the sight. The red and pink lights of the crystal ball zigzag around the room. Fake flowers scatter on the speakers, the snack tables, and the stage. There is a live singer singing, "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. In a dark corner, a guy wearing a pink tuxedo pulls down a rope. Down rains rose pedals. I can smell the scent of the sweet fresh-cut roses. I spin around the flower shower, letting the pedals fall on my hair. I imagine I look like a flower girl for a Valentine's Day wedding.

Clive picks up a full white rose from the floor. They probably accidently thrown it in instead of the petals. He slips the stem into my hair, near my ear, cautious not to poke me with the prickly thorns.

"Now you look like a real princess."

I hide my face behind my hair shyly, as usual. as Holly predicted, it is flattened the way I want.

He brushes the locks from my eyes. "You should not hide your beautiful eyes."

He leaves his hand on my cheek. My cheek is sizzling from his touch. I want to kiss him so bad. His fleshy lips are right there. They are so close...

NO! I cannot do this. I do not feel ready. Not yet. "I-I am going to get a punch, a drink."

"Oh, okay," he says, mystified.

I hurry to the punch. Nervous, I grab a cup and pour the strawberry punch in the cup. I sip it. The cold drink dissolves the thick lump in my throat that will not disappear. I stare at the three-quarter full cup, so I gulp it down. There is not enough refreshments in the whole world that can get rid of this itching in my throat. I wipe my mouth with back of my hand.

I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn. "Daniel?"

"Hey Scarlet," he falters shyly.

"Hey."

"Hey Scarlet," he says again.

No one says anything for a few moments. Both of us are looking down at our feet. Daniel is biting his bottom lip, which makes his lips appear to be moister.

"Um," I say, trying to think of a conversation starter for this really awkward moment, "So, are you enjoying the dance?" I ask pathetically.

"Yeah, it is a bit lonely since Victoria and I broke up."

"Uh huh." It is true. Victoria and he have been dating for over three years. They will be everywhere together. They will go to dances together. I have never seen them apart. Either I see them kissing or holding each other. If it is not for his good looks, he would look like a normal person, like the rest of us.

"I was meaning to ask you, but I chickened out." He flings out a bundle of pink carnations from his back.

"Oh!" I say, stunned. "That is so sweet of you."

"Read the tag."

I hold up the tag and read it:

To Stunning Scarlet.

Sorry, I did not ask you earlier, but you are the prettiest girl I have met. When Victoria and I were dating, it was not real. I guess I liked the attention, but you were in my mind for those three years.