Red-Letter Day

Chapter 1: Don't Tell

When we were young, about age 16 or 17, Dean had a crush on a young girl. Penny Schmidt was her name. She was quite beautiful, very simple though, blonde hair and blue eyes. I never understood what he saw in her. It was one day in particular that still stand out to me now. We happened to be walking to school, I believe it was nearing the end of the school year. About April or so, maybe March. It was a beautiful day, strange because it was never very sunny in England.

"Do you think Penny likes me," Dean was skipping alongside me.

I looked over at him, "Are you kidding? What do even see in that girl?"

"She's quite beautiful, and she smells like flowers. I think that's her natural smell," Dean's eyes widened.

I rolled my eyes, "You've never even talked to her."

"I know, but what if I ask her on a date," He asked me.

"That's ridiculous, again you've never even talked to her. Besides you're probably not handsome enough for her," I joked.

He playfully punched me in the arm, "Hey, you're just jealous!"

"Nothing to be jealous about," I told him.

"Aww, I'm sure you'll find your own Juliet someday," Dean said.

"Juliet," I said confused.

"Like Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare? Don't you know him? One of the most amazing play writers in the world," He said surprised.

"Doesn't ring a bell," I shook my head.

"You probably wouldn't like him anyways," He shrugged his shoulders.

"You should come over tonight, for dinner, we could study him then or something," I said.

"I'm sorry I can't. Mother wants me to help her with chores tonight," His head hung.

"I-It's fine. I mean I could help you with them if you'd like," I offered.

"No thank you," He declined.

"Oh, Alright. Another time then," I looked over at him.

"Yeah, another time," He smiled.

We didn't talk to each other the rest of the way to school. The two of us happened to pass a large meadow of flowers on the way there. They were officially in bloom this time of year. We passed the same spot every day to school but the whole patch of land was dead and full of weeds.

Dean jumped up, "I should get her some flowers,"

"Do girls like flowers?" I asked him.

"Sure they do. These ones will be perfect," He walked over into the patch of flowers and grabbed some.

"They are quite beautiful," I said as I watched him pick the flowers.

Two young boys watched as he picked the flowers and began to laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" I yelled