Prank Week [ON HOLD INDEFINITELY]

Chapter 19: Amy

Tuesday, September 3rd, 12:45 pm

I can't think straight. I am pretty stupid, I admit. It's not like I'm trying to be, either. Some girls act stupid to get a guy's attention. Not me. I just really am that dumb.

It never really bothered me. I'm 100% book-smart. I'm 0% street smart. I am a total klutz. I never know what to say. It's like I'm a robot on the outside. My feelings are trapped. Very few people know how to access those feelings. I hardly do.

When Claire was crying earlier today, I didn't know what to do. I felt so bad. I was also covered in paint. Orange! I didn't really mind, I knew it was just a prank. We had to expect the extremes from Ray. I wasn't too happy about the fact that my braids were doused in it. When I get back to the house, Hannah can fix it, she's a master with hair.

I headed down to the fields. Cheerleading warm ups had already begun. These were all the freshmen girls. I'd sometimes help them with their routine, but I had other things on my mind.

I sat down on the grass. I wore my uniform often around campus. Right now I sported a blue camisole along with my cheerleading skirt. I regretted not bringing a jacket. Storm clouds rolled in, and I could smell dew on the fresh cut grass.

Just then, a shadow sat down next to me. Victor. Victor was center lineman for the Varsity football team. We had been good friends since we went to CCHS.

"Hey, little Ronnie."

Ronnie was my mom's nickname (short for Veronica). He always said how much I looked like her. I didn't see the resemblance 'til I looked at her high school pictures.

"Hey, Blondie." I joked back. Everyone else in his family was blond and fair. Oddly enough, he was a brunet, with sun-kissed skin.

"Well that's a new weave. Orange, huh?"

He enjoyed joking about me being African American. I didn't mind too much. I could give him an equally powerful comeback whenever I felt like it.

"I'll have you know that this is my NATURAL hair. Okay, Comb-over."

"Feisty much?"

With that we started laughing. He put his arm around me. I rested my head on his shoulder. This was strictly a friendship. If I had to date a guy though, it'd be Vic.

"What's gotten to you, Amy?"

"Life."

"I understand."

And he did. He'd been through a lot in the last eight years. His parents divorced, his cousin died in a car accident, on top of that, he nearly failed his junior year.

"Fair enough."

"Vic, can I tell you something?", I said.

"I don't see why not."

"You're the hottest guy friend I have."

"Gee thanks. Wait- I'm the only guy friend you have."

"Exactly."

I ran off, and he chased me. My legs were strong, but not very fast. I ran into the gym, and he was right behind me. We both were out of breath.

"Hey, I forgot we had a racquetball court," he said.

"Yeah, ya wanna play?"

"Best out of 3."

"You're on, Stretch."

I hadn't played racquetball in the longest time. We both sucked.

Finally, we gave up.

"So, Smalls, what's wrong?"

"I don't know, Vic. I feel so out of place."

"I know the feeling."

"We all do."

"Amy, let's go outside. I wanna show you something."

We walked out, to his dorm. I hadn't been there in forever. There it was. We walked around back, he pointed to an old redwood.

"You see that?"

"What? The tree?"

"Look closer. You see those marks?"

"Yeah." I was suspicious.

"I made a tally on that tree for every time something bad happened to me, since I got here."

This was weird. There must've been eighty plus marks on the tree.

"Why?"

"My life, Amy. It seems that you're my only peace of mind. My bliss. I don't mean to say I love you. But I do. You're like my sister. I'll always love you,"

"I feel the same way, Vic. It's like you read my mind."

And then it happened. He leaned down and kissed me. Tenderly. On the lips. Had it been any other guy, and it would've meant more than friendship, but since it was Victor, it was only meant for that. We both understood that we could never date.

"Wow." I said. "You're a really good kisser, bro."

I tried to stay calm. This wasn't weird. He was simply showing affection. I got him, and it really was just a friend thing. And that was okay.

I could tell he didn't know how to react. "Well, uh, can you never tell anyone about this?"

"I promise, Victor. You have my word."

Vic was awesome. I truly did love him. But, like a brother. I will always have him as a companion. The only bad side to Victor was that he was good friends with Raymond. All the bonfires and parties at Vic's dorm. I had always been invited. So had Ray. It was like Ray and I were competing for his friendship. Except Ray didn't know. He didn't know about the tree, about Victor's past.

Vic's past only made me love him more. He was like me. His feelings bottled inside. This is why we were perfect friends. We are just friends right?

The first signs of rain came dripping like a faucet.

"We better head inside," I insisted.

"No, that's okay," he said.

The rain poured harder and stronger. He kissed me again, but it wasn't the same as before. I got a strange feeling. Then, I molded myself into the kiss. It must've been minutes before we stopped.

"Vic, I gotta go,"

"I know, you didn't like the kiss, Amy. I'm sorry!"

"Vic, it wasn't that. I did like it."

He looked shocked.

"Goodbye, Vic."

With that, I ran off. Crying, just as hard as the raindrops against my forehead.