Chelsea Sheston was by far the hottest chick in our grade. She had it all; the brain, the bod, the friends, the extra curricular activities. She was even the head cheerleader of the Cheerleading Squad. She had those half-closed, half-open kind of eyes, the ones that really compliment the long eyelashes. She had beautiful blonde hair that (among other things) bounced when she walked or ran. And of course; to match the blonde hair, she had beautiful deep blue eyes that I could stare into forever if it didn't make me look like a creep, so I’m creepily stuck with the hundreds upon hundreds of photos she uploads to Facebook. Oh right, me. I’m Jake, plain boring founder-of-the-AV-club-Jake. Or that’s how everyone knows me, because the real Jake, Jake Cresley, was the star quarterback of the football team, it suited him that the number on his jersey wasn't just “1”, it was “#1” so I was used to not turning my head whenever somebody called out “Hey Jake wanna go there or wanna do that?” because it was never meant for me. So yeah I’m founder of the AV club and the head director for the lights and crappy little fireworks of the football games, so that’s how I know so much about the captain of the football team and the head cheerleader, not because I really dig Chelsea and really hate Jake. Funny, the guy I’m “competing ” with (and I put competing in quotations because he doesn't even know my name which is coincidentally his) is a complete ass, and if anyone knows anything about West Preston High they’d know he’s the only guy who’s even got a remote chance with Chelsea Sheston. So there she is walking with her troupe of girls whose slightly less prettiness only compliments her own down the hall looking like a group of fashion models going down a runway, and I swear a fan must’ve been going because her hair was flowing as she strode. Her eyes looking in no particular direction as everyone did a double-take to her beauty. Her hands gently swaying just below her hips, in perfect synchronization with her legs and feet, although she clearly did not care about how her arms swayed; it was effortless perfection if I ever saw it.
“Getting a good look, Jake?” Ah yes, my friends. See? I’m not a complete loser, I have friends, and like any other friends, we taunt each other. That was Alexander, the sort-of leader of my little social group.
“Oh shut up, don’t act like I was the only one.” I answered. The bell rang.
“Yeah, she’s definitely got a bangin’ bod. Come on, we’re going to be late for….”
“History. Man, you have to find your schedule.”
History, one of the classes I have with Ms. Hatterson who obviously has it in for me, because as I step into the class with Alex, the second bell rings, and she yells:
“LATE!” So we both turn to the office, which is directly across the hall. “Oh no Alexander, you can stay. You were on time. But Jake has to get a late slip.” Alex smiles, and as I turn to leave, he shoots me this look like “I know it’s bullshit but ha-ha”, but just beyond his left ear I see Chelsea, and she’s smiling. Oh my god, she thinks I’m funny, or at least, I’m in a situation which she thinks is funny, and when it’s the first time she notices me it’s enough to keep me happy for a week.
“Yes, thank you Ms. I am definitely deserving of this punishment. It’s not unfair at all.” And I turned before she had a chance to add on. So as I’m making the three-step journey to the office an announcement starts.
“Helllllloooooooooo West Preston student body-” there goes the Principal, trying to be funny, you really had to hand it to the guy because you definitely could tell that he was indeed trying “-this is your principal speaking, Mr. Roderickson* just reminding you the welcome-back dance will be this Friday at six, assuming the student council doesn’t postpone it again. The following morning announcements are-” But I really didn’t care because I’d only be hearing him more quietly in the office. So I went inside the office to fully confirm my detention. Then I realized that this Friday was tomorrow, and just like every year, I have no date. “Why?” you might ask, but then again, you probably wont, because it’s painstakingly obvious. Gee, I thought, I wonder who else is going stag? And I returned to the hell that was Ms. Hatterson’s history class.
It must have been a very boring day and a half because I suddenly found myself wearing a tuxedo along with three friends talking about nothing and sipping punch. Clearly Alex and Cillian didn’t find a date. So we were bored and having a heated debate about how Bass Effect 3 is just going to be a lousy remake in comparison to Bass Effect 2, Cillian and I were trying to convince Alex.
“Please Alex what more can they offer? Oooh a few new rods and a couple of new fish. I can’t believe you! It’s just-” But Cillian immediately shut up because a girl was in our presence, and I was the only one normal enough to respond. It turned out she was just looking for the punch. So Cillian continued: “-going to be a game with no story that everyone gets for the multiplayer!” But I blocked out them out and began scanning for Chelsea, and after a good sixty seconds:
“Holy crap, guys look!” And I made an effort to point without pointing. And they saw what I saw. There she was with two of her friends directly across from us on the other side of the makeshift ballroom, looking stunning in a red dress. A beautiful red dress, one like I had never seen, and probably would never see it looking so good again. While the guys tried to keep their jaws shut I scanned for Jake. Jake Jake. There he was, reviving his effort of spiking the punch bowl, he was clearly done his usual first bottle of rum, preparing to empty the vodka. He was preoccupied, maybe he wasn‘t into Chelsea, Was she into him? I then joined my friends in their awe, only to find out Chelsea and her two friends looked bored, and since I could predict the lousy song they were going to play, I started walking forward, absentmindedly. But Alex pulled me back,
“Dude what the hell are you doing? That‘s Chelsea Sheston and her rag-tag group of hotties you‘re walking towards!” Oh damn, what could I make up in half a second?
“Going to see if Jake’s alcoholic punch is any good. This party can’t get any worse, so we might as well get a buzz on.” I was amazed at my save, probably the smartest thing involving a girl that I’ve ever done. So we go over to the punch bowl, and Jake is as far as I’ve ever seen him get, he’s on the third bottle of hard liquor. Probably because he got the linebackers to hide him. The three of us each go for a refill, and surprisingly Jake didn’t give us any trouble, however I did overhear him talking to his team-mates about which girl was the hottest, from what they were saying I could tell one of the linebackers was defending Chelsea.
So there we were an hour later back where we started. Only this time we were breaking the law by having alcohol in our drinks. Man was it strong. You couldn’t even taste the punch, which was also pretty gross, so it didn’t really bother most people, who seemed to be having a great time, but were probably succumbing to peer pressure and pretending to have fun. I couldn’t see Chelsea but I imagine she was having fun. Alex and Cillian kept arguing but I was thinking of things I could say to Chelsea that wouldn’t make me look like a total spaz, but nothing was coming to mind, the best I could get was, ‘Boy that Ms. Hatterson sure is a pain’ and that didn’t even sound real. God, who made talking to pretty girls the hardest thing ever? ‘I’m Jake, I’m in your history class, want to dance?’ Yeah right. Maybe if I were the last guy on earth. Maybe. Maybe the alcohol was getting to me, that’s probably why I was even dreaming up conversations with Chelsea Sheston.
“It will suck, I bet you fifty dollars.” I said, even though I didn’t know which game they were talking about. They looked at me, then this look of shock manifested itself onto their faces. They must have been talking about the one game coming out this year that looks good, so I said, “Wait, what are we talking about?” Nothing, just that same look of astonishment. “Look guys it better be something-” A light tap on my shoulder. I turn around.
“Hi, you’re kind of cute. Jake, right? I think we’re in the same history class.” My heart was out of control, beating like a drum. I couldn’t believe my eyes, everything was happening really, really quickly. What do I say? Oh God, just say anything! Please brain work in the one time I need you.
“Hi, I’m dance, care to Jake?” Smooth.
