Little Cupid

Beginnings

Have you ever dreamed of the person who would make your heart race? 

Your Soulmate?

Your missing puzzle piece?

Well for Amanda Cheryll, those dreams died a long time ago.

Amanda had seen lots of romantic movies and read lots of romance books, and she has tried countless times to picture herself in those stories, but to no avail.

It's Amanda's second year in high school. She tries to keep away from school dances and boys to avoid any chances of heartbreak just like in those stories she would read.

Amanda usually keeps to herself, quiet and shy. She goes to school to learn and nothing else.

"OOH! Amy! What do you think about that one? Be honest," Her best friend, Ebony, asked.

Amanda followed Ebony's line of sight, "You mean your possible future 11th boyfriend? He looks alright."

Ebony's eyes lit up, "So does that mean-!"

"-In a platonic way, Ebony," Amanda interrupted.

Ebony sighed, "Come on, Amanda! At least give him a try! I don't want you to be like those girls who rather think instead of act."

"Thinking before you act is what every girl and guy should do. I already thought about how asking this guy out would go. I don't know him, and he doesn't know me, so he might not be open to any commitment."

Ebony yawned, "Your boring."

Amanda smiled, "I may be boring, but at least I might maintain a relationship that would last more than a week."

Ebony laughed, "Hey now. At least I dated a guy."

"...And that guy would break up with you on the third day..."

Ebony put her hand on her chest and pretended to look offended, "Excuse you! I break up with them, not the other way around."

Amanda quietly laughed and glanced at the time on her phone, "I have to go to Chemistry, so now we must part."

"But my lady! I cannot live without you! Please! Take me with you!"

Amanda laughed a little louder than she usually would, "You sound like someone from a play. While we're talking about plays, did you finish your Engli-"

"Would you look at the time! Geometry is on the other side of the school! Don't wanna be late! See you at lunch!"

Ebony then ran off the opposite direction, leaving a laughing Amanda by herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So because no one knew the answer, he decided to give extra homework tonight!"

Amanda couldn't help but laugh at Ebony's complaining, "Well you know how Mr.Green is, if no one knows the answer, the whole class will suffer."

Ebony wanted to cry, "But now instead of enjoying my ME time, I have to do stupid homework!"

"You'll get your time during the weekend, but during the weekday, you have to sacrifice your time for school anyways. You barely do your homework..."

Ebony fired back with her mouth full, "What are you? My mom?"

Amanda reached over the lunch table to close Ebony's mouth shut, "Decency Ebony! We are in public!"

"Yes, mom..."

Amanda heard loud cheering and turned in its direction, while Ebony continued to complain.

"How did you deal with Green in ninth grade? He seems like the definition of a nightmare."

Amanda quickly turned back, "Oh! Well, he wasn't so bad once you learn his patterns and what he expects from you."

"Thanks for the advice, but what were you looking at?"

Amanda slowly pointed her head in the direction of the cheering table while maintaining eye contact. Ebony saw that within that table was where Caitlyn and her little group resided in.

"Ugh, the prissy princess and her minions. Don't look at them, look at me instead. If she sees any signs that you were paying attention to them, she's gonna tease you again."

Amanda chuckled, "And you're going to try and fight her again."

"Your darn right I am!"

"Hey there Dirty Duo!" Caitlyn suddenly chirped.

Ebony could see the anxiety in Amanda's eyes. "Ignore her," Ebony whispered.

Amanda tried to change the subject, "So, I ran into Kat in the hallways. She told me that the English teacher is absent today, so you got a pass about the homework."

"Yes! Thank you, Katherine!"

Ebony did a little arm hump in the air, and Amanda laughed. Amanda knew that Caitlyn was slowly sashaying over to their table and did her best to stay calm.

Fortune was on Amanda's side today because when Caitlyn was a few feet away, the staff released the students from the cafeteria.

Amanda quickly got up, grabbed her belongings, and then threw her trash away, Ebony doing the same.

The students piling up to leave the cafeteria is what separated the two from Caitlyn and her friends, but the two checked behind them to be sure.

The two started to walk to English together in silence, but not for long. Ebony decided to break the silence.

"You have to be able to stand up for yourself Amy."

Amanda sighed, she already knew where this was going.

Nevertheless, Ebony continued, "No!  Seriously Amanda! You might've heard this song and dance several times, but I'm your best friend, so it's my job to worry. You know that if I'm not here, Caitlyn will take advantage of that to get to you. She's already learned from last year that I'm your bodyguard, but she also learned that you're not going to defend yourself-"

Amanda interrupted, "-I know I know. I'll get stronger, I promise."

Ebony smiled, "You're always a woman of your word, so you better not break the promise. CHANGING THE SUBJECT! Can you help me with my Geometry homework? Green is so dull that I don't pay attention..."

Amanda smiled back at Ebony, "Of course, though I prefer that you pay attention in his class in case I'm not there to walk you through it."

"It was a yes or no question, Amanda. You didn't need to say all that. You tell me this pretty much every day."

"Yeah, well, 'you might've heard this song and dance several times, but I'm your best friend, so it's my job to worry,' so..."

Ebony rustled the small girl's hair, and the two continued to walk to their English class.