A Birdie's Tale

Chapter Two

When I got to West Oak High, the school I attend, Tristen Sukata was waiting for me by the front door. Tristen has long silky black hair and light olive skin. If her last name wasn't a big enough hint that she's Asian, her brown almond-shaped eyes should be a dead giveaway. With her soft facial features and voluptuous figure, Tristen is described by the male populists as downright angelic.

"Wow, sucks to be you." she says as we walk to our lockers. I had just finished telling her about what happened at the coffee shop. "I mean, meeting a total hottie and then—"

"I know, spilling my hot coffee down the front of his shirt."

"No. I mean running away."

I would ask her to explain how running away from him was worse than spilling hot coffee on him. But why bother? She's going to explain in two seconds whether I ask her to or not.

"He gave you his name," she says.

Two seconds, right on cue.

"Breaking the ice," she continues "leaving you open to flirt!" she says as if it was the simplest thing there is.

Only Tristen could see the logic in that.

"You see? This is why you're better at flirting and dating than me." I laugh.

We get to our lockers that are right next to each other.

Tristen and I have been best friends for nearly three years. We met when we both realized that we were in all the same classes in first period the second day of school. We're slow, we're very much aware of that fact.

A loud, cold, laugh comes from behind us.

"That's why anyone is better at flirting and dating than you." says someone from behind us.

We both already knew who it was as we turned around to face her.

"Actually, who would want to waste their time dating a nerd like you?" says Jessica Promisel.

Jessica and her clones Tweedle dumb and Tweedle dim, Vanessa Kingston and Serena Cleveland, stood behind us. Of course Jessica, Vanessa, and Serena are the pretty cheerleaders who basically rule the school.

Jessica is the snobby Brat-That-Needs-To-Be-The-Center-Of-Attention with a major Better-Than-Thou-At-Everything attitude, who's the ring leader of the evil trio. Vanessa; mess with her and worst that would happen to her is that she would bruise her fist with your face. And Serena is Jessica's second in command. But honestly, she'll just re-word or copy whatever Jessica says or does.

"Yeah," says Serena. "Who would waste their time dating a nobody like you?"

See what I mean? Copying.

"You mean a nothing like her." Vanessa said with a sneer.

"Come on girls. Let's not waste any more time with these losers." says Jessica.

She and her doubles turn and walk away laughing.

"Oh," says Tristen angrily while slamming her locker shut. "She is so cold hearted."

"Don't you mean cold blooded?" I laugh grabbing my math book and shutting my locker.

"Yeah," She says laughing. Turning, she starts walking down the hall. "See you in history."

I head to Algebra on the second floor.

Jessica and her groupies are always harping on Tristen and me. She says she does it because Tristen and I are squares, but I think it's because of Tristen's fabulous good looks. Jessica and Tristen are both easily the hottest girls in the school, if not the whole town. Yet, what comes to Tristen naturally, flawless skin, soft hair, and twinkling eyes; Jessica has to work to achieve by applying makeup. That's most likely why Jessica hates her. Somehow, in Jessica's twisted and warped mind, she sees Tristen as the completion; I'm just the completion's friend. But even if I wasn't Tristen's best friend, I seriously doubt that Jessica and I would be buddy-buddy. Unlike Tristen, Jessica's a heartbreaker and an It Girl. I'm a girl with morals, what can I say.

I get to my classroom and take my seat. I take out Kelley Armstrong's 'The Reckoning'. But I'm too lost in thought to concentrate on what I'm even looking at.

Jessica is very attractive; boys would sell their own mother for a date with her. Which is impressive, seeing as it's impossible to separate boys from their stomachs (and their cooks). I wonder what Aaron would think of Jessica. Would he be all hot and heavy over her like all the other boys are? What am I saying? Of course he would. It's stupid to think he wouldn't. It's stupid to think that someone as hot as Aaron would see me as more desirable than Miss Homecoming Queen.

I'm so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I never noticed when someone had walked up in front of my desk until they tap me on the head. I look up and gaze into the eyes of Aaron. Why is my heart beating so fast? It's not like I've never spoken to a boy before. Why is he so different?

"First things first," he says. "You don't have any coffee with you, right?"

"Uh, no." I say a little confused as to what he's getting at.

"Good. This is the only spare shirt I have with me." he smiles as he takes the empty seat next to me.

I start to blush again.

"Sorry again about that." I say shyly, my face continues to heat up.

"No worries."

I smile timidly at him.

"Though I do feel sorry that I cost you your drink. My mother always told me to be a gentleman to the lady. And I wouldn't feel like a gentleman if I didn't offer to buy you another one tomorrow."

Am I dreaming! Did he just ask me out on a date? No, he was being nice, he just said it. But that doesn't mean I can't take him up on the offer.

"Sure. Seven sound good?" I ask smiling back at him.

"Excellent." He says smiling wider, his eyes sparkling at me.

Whoa.

"What's your shirt size?" I ask.

"What? Oh, um, medium. Why?"

"So I can buy you another shirt to replace the one I ruined."

"Ah. Really it's alright. Thanks though." He says smiling at me again.

God why does his smile give me this melting feeling?

"Forgive me." I say.

"For what?" He asks confused.

"For what I'm about to say next." I giggle.

I giggled? I never giggle. What is going on with me today?

"Which is?" He chuckles.

"You seem a little old to be in high school."

He laughs. "You're right and you don't need to apologize for anything. I'm here because—"

The bell rings, cutting him off.

"You'll see." He says getting up and walking up to the front of the room.

Mr. Sanders, the teacher, gets up from his desk.

"Okay, I need everyone's attention. Quiet now." says Mr. Sanders. "We have a new addition to our class. I would like to introduce you to Mr. Aaron Watson, our new student teacher."

WHAT?!

"Mr. Watson will be here for the next five months." Mr. Sanders continues.

Aaron steps forward. "Hello." He says looking at everyone, but his eyes pause when he gets to me. I look away and start gathering my things for class.