Written in the Stars

Six

The week leading up to the Valentine's Dance is the most painful I've ever experienced. The last thing I want is to be bombarded with soppy declarations of love but that's what hits me for the whole freaking week. Principal McKeown allows the formal committee to play love songs over the school radio during the lunch breaks, and there are cardboard hearts and cupids everywhere. The posters with famous couples on the walls and bulletin boards with quotes about love on them make me want to puke.

On Monday, Brittany buys me one of the chocolate roses the formal committee are selling with 'Be Mine' on a note attached to the fake stem. She gives it to me in front of my whole English class, including Bridget, while reciting one of Shakespeare's sonnets.

On Tuesday, she dedicates a song to me on the school radio. Unfortunately for me, I'm in line at the tuckshop buying my lunch, so I have nowhere to hide. I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole. And as if things can't get any worse, after the wolf whistles and cat calls die down, when I finally make it out of the line and head off to find Luke, I spot Bridget, staring at me from across the quadrangle. I can't tell whether she's mad or not, but she just slowly turns and walks away.

On Wednesday, Brittany presents me with a rainbow unicorn fluffy toy she's made herself at the Build-a-Bear shop, and has filled a little pocket inside it with heart-shaped lollies. I'm a sucker for the little 'be mine' lollies and even though it's all so sickly sweet, I can't help but be impressed with the effort she's gone to. I'm still not giving her much in return but she just keeps putting herself out there in front of everyone.

By the time Thursday comes around, I'm so Valentined out, I almost decide to skip school. It's also the anniversary of Dad's death, but even that wouldn't convince Mum to call in sick for me. It turns out to be a blessing in disguise. I know that sounds terrible but it gets me out of a potential date with Brittany. She presents me with a bunch of heart-shaped balloons and hands me a note with a coupon for a 'First Date Tonight, Your Choice' on it. When I tell her the significance of the day, she's so genuinely upset that I almost feel bad for saying no to the date, and almost, almost agree to a rain check.

She is kind of growing on me on account of being around so much. Plus, she gives me attention in public, which is more than I've been getting from Bridget. I do agree to stay back to help her with some history homework after school, though I don't know whether it's a ploy to spend more time with me. Spending the afternoon with her is not as bad as I imagined, so I actually let myself believe that going to the dance might be fun after all.

As much as Brittany's over the top devotion annoys me, it keeps my mind off of Bridget. Mostly, anyway. We've managed to avoid each other, except for the couple of classes we've had together, and even then, we deliberately sat on opposite sides of the class room. That's why I'm surprised to see her sitting on my front step when I get home that afternoon. She stands up when she sees me and says, "Hey."

"Hey," I reply as I open the front door. I dump my bag in the hallway and turn back around to face her. Normally I'd ask her in but I don't want her to stay. And I don't want Mum to hear our conversation. It would too awkward to explain to her what's going on.

"Your mum said you'd be late today."

"I was helping Brittany with her history assignment."

A slight grimace passes over Bridget's face. "Do you think you can find time to help your actual partner with her history assignment?" she asks. She's obviously annoyed with me for spending time with Brittany. Too bad.

I shrug in reply.

"Because we need to find some time to get it done. Isn't that what you said last week? I mean, I wouldn't want to make you do all the work," she snaps.