Unnamed+Story

An excerpt from a story I'm currently writing: __9-24-11__ __pulchritudinous__

I looked this word up. What the heck was the point of saying beautiful with //five// syllables?

Beautiful already has //four// syllables. Why add an extra one? Plus, pulchritudinous doesn’t have the same ring to it.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Do you think a girl <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">will like to hear <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">that she’s <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">//p u l c h r i t u d i n o u s ?// <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Does she? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">It sounds like <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">she has some kind of disease.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Beautiful is a lot <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">better. Especially <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">if you’re a songwriter. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Pulchritudinous is <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">just too long and <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">sounds really <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">stupid.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Try going up <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">to a girl and <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">say, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Hey, you <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">look pulchritudinous <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">today.” <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Bet you five bucks <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">that you’ll get <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">slapped. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">//Five bucks//. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">For you to <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">tell a girl <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">that she’s <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**pulchritudinous.**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">__best friends__

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">You’d think <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">you’d know your <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">best friend <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">so well that <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">you’d trust them <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">with your <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">whole life. You’d <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">assume that they’d <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">never do anything to <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">hurt you.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Whatever happened to <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">the forever part? <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Whatever happened to <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">the best part? <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">What happened to my <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">best friend who said that <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">they wouldn’t let me fall? <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">What happened to him?

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">My best friend hasn’t been <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">the best to me for a while. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">He’s been ignoring <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">some questions I’ve been <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">asking him. He’s avoided <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">the same question repeatedly.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Is he a best friend if he’s <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">beating around the bush? <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Is he really the guy <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I knew for my <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">whole life?

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Is <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">he <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">my <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">actual <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">best <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">friend <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">forever?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__what the heck?__

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">What the heck <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">is up with <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">her? What’s <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">up her corduroys? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">She’s been acting... <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">strange <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">over the past <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">few days. I’m sure I <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">didn’t do anything <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">wrong to her.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">To think,that <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">she wasn’t this <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">melodramatic <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">was a mistake.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">She’s been <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">avoiding me a lot. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">She’s been <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">ignoring my calls. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">She’s been <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">disoriented. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">She hasn’t been <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">the best friend I thought she was.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">There’s always this <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">menacing glare in <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">her eyes that makes <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">me uncomfortable. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">She seems to give me <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">the cold shoulder. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Like she’s... <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">she’s hiding something <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">from me.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">What the heck <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">is up with girls? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">They are, by far, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">the most complicated <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">beings on this <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">planet. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Especially teenage girls. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">More specifically, my best friend, Rachel.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">What the heck <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">is <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">up <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">with <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">her?

Like it so far? If so, leave a message; if not, tell me on what I should improve on. Here's the next three chapters. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">__9-25-11__ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">__school for eternity__

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">In my opinion, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">school shouldn’t even <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">exist. There is <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">absolutely no <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">point to this <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">frivolous affair.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It’s just a place <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">where smart people <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">can show off. I’m <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">one of them, but <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I’m a humble person. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Plus, it’s a reminder <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">that my best friend Xavier <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">goes there.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Of all people, he <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">hasn’t missed a single <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">day of school. Of all <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">people, since he hates <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">school, he’s the only <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">one with a perfect <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">attendance record. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The redundancy of <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">the whole situation <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">boggles my mind.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The worst part is <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">that he’s in all of <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">my classes. Don’t <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">know how he <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">avoids me, but he <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">does. I’m not a <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">very logical person <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">so I wouldn’t know.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This time, surprisingly, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">he approached me <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">first saying “Hi.”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Hey. Haven’t talked to you in a while,” I said bitterly.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Wouldn’t have been a while if you stopped ignoring me. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">What was that all about? What did I do that made you <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">stop talking to me? Did I even do anything wrong?”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Me? Ignoring you? You’re the one <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">who’s ignoring me and avoiding <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">the question.” I look at him. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“I believe there’s something you have to tell me.”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“I haven’t been ignoring you. You’ve just been <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">acting weird Rachel. You have this bizarre <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">hatred in your eyes.” He equalled my gaze. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“What happened to the Rachel that I knew?”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“She never left Xavier. She’s been here the <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">whole time, but what about you? <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Where have you been?”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">He scratched his head and sighed. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“I’ve been hanging out with <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Amanda more often. She’s my <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">partner for the science <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">project. I knew you didn’t <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">like her, so I never told you.”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I exhaled greatly. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“I know she’s not on my list <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">of top 10 to hang out with, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">but you didn’t have to be <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">so. . . so remote. I’m your <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">best friend. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Aren’t I?”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">He reached down <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">his shirt to retrieve <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">a locket with half a <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">heart. On his half was <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">inscribed “Best <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Rachel &”. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“This here locket <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">says so doesn’t it?”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I smiled. I pulled out <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">my half of the locket. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The other half. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The one that says, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Friends Xavier.” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Together it should say, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Best Friends Rachel & Xavier”. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I raised it at a certain degree <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">so that our halves connected <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">to complete the heart. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Best friends forever?”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">He snorted. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Best friends forever? More like BFFEs”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Best Friends For Eternity.” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I looked at him quizzically. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Are you sure about <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">the eternity part?”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“If I wasn’t one hundred percent sure, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">would I still be hanging out with you?” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">He cupped his hands around my face <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">in a playful way a mother does to her child. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Think logical for a moment.” Then he added <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">with a voice of a five year old, “Now would I?”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I slapped his hands away and smacked him <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">on the back of his head. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I pouted and added in the same childlike tone, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Yes I do.”

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__dude, girls are harsh__

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Never thought I’d see <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">a day where a guy <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">would be given <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">a break. Girls <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">always need to know <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">what you do every hour, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">every minute, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">every second <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">of the day. They need <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">to hear that you <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">love them. That <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">there’s no one. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">That you’ll make them <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">feel like the <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">only girl in the world. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">(Yeah I’m quoting Rihanna).

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">That kind of commitment <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">is complicated. That’s harsh. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">//Girls// are harsh.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">It’s a known fact <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">that the guy’s part <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">of the relationship <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">is more difficult <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">than the girl’s.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">We have to constantly <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">give the girl <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">flowers, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">dresses, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">jewelry, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">compliments, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">our spare time. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">What more can <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">they want?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Girlfriends are tough <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">but if your best friend <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">is a girl, you’re doomed. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Forever. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Girlfriends can dress up their boyfriend, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">but girl //friends// can slap you. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Anytime they want. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Isn’t that harsh?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Note: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">To all the guys out there, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">for those who have girl friends <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">//and// girlfriends, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">don’t let them abuse you. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">(Not the real abuse, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">but where the girl has somehow the <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">right to slap you.) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Because dude, girls are **harsh.**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">__understanding__

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">A key component in a boyfriend <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">is that he understands you. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If he doesn’t, then there is <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">absolutely no point of <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">staying together.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">A key component in a best friend <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">is that they understand you too. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If they don’t, then they are <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">not really your best friend.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">A key component in a boy friend <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">is that he understands you also. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If he doesn’t, then is he really <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">a friend of yours?

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">A key component in a relationship <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">is that they understand you. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If they don’t, then the relationship <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">is weak and there can be <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">no trust between each other.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">A key component in a relationship with your parents <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">is that they both understand you. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If they don’t, then they aren’t <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">really being your parents.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If Xavier never understood me, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">then would he still be hanging out with me <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">after all these years?

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If I never understood Xavier, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">would I care for him <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">this much?

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If we never comprehended each other, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">our relationship as best friends <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">wouldn’t work. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Heck, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">it wouldn’t even exist!

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Without an understanding between the two, <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">then there’s nothing. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Understand?

10-2-11 __falling__

There are...hmm... one...two, two definitions of falling.

1)Falling - to move towards the ground in a downward motion

2)Falling - to start developing feelings for someone; to fall for someone

The first definition I’ve already done. In kindergarten. Fell and broke my poor wittle arm.

The second one... well... maybe, but I’m not positive.


 * MAYBE.**

Not positive, but this girl has been occurring in my dreams, thoughts, daydreams, my lyrics (yeah, I write songs), my art...
 * //e v e r y w h e r e.//**

It’s sort of maddening that I’m... I’m //infatuated// with this girl. It may not be a healthy crush but... Look, I’ve known this girl long enough to... have an understanding with her. She’s a great girl. Amazing, to be exact. I’d do anything for her. I’d catch a grenade for her. (Yeah, quoting Bruno Mars.)

She’s beautiful. She makes me smile. She makes me laugh. Knows me head to toe. She’s smart. She’s easy to talk to. She’s understanding. Did I mention she’s pulchritudinous? (See, not the same ring to it.)

Maybe... Maybe I **//am//** falling for her...

Next two chapters of the story that is still to be named. I NEED ASSISTANCE WITH A TITLE! 10-5-11 __who’s laughing now?__

Who’s the wisecrack that decided to prank me? Who’s the nut job that decided to sabotage my locker?

Oh, that’s right. Xavier.

Yeah, well I left a little surprise in your locker also. Think you can taunt me, Think you can hurt me, Bringing up my small crush on Drew in third grade?

Think you can inflict some bad memory? Think you can get a good laugh from me? Think you can get a shocked look on my face? Wrong.

Left you something. Left a picture of you in your onesie, running with a cape around your neck... at the age of fourteen.

Bought the 25x32. Couldn’t fit it all in you locker. Had to tape it on the back of the locker door and on the side. Surprise! Pay back Xavier. You play hard ball, I retaliate.

Who said girls couldn’t fight back? Who said girls couldn’t gain revenge? Who said girls weren’t harsh?

Who’s laughing Xavier? Who’s laughing now?

__very funny__

Thanks for the gift, //Rachel.// I feel so special that you brought up one of the multiple times I made you laugh.

And you know I wasn’t fourteen... I was... thirteen... Anyways, you know well I did that because you were sick, and I caused that to happen, and I was trying to make you feel better.

I did that for //you.// And about the surprise I left for you in //your// locker, that was to remind you that Drew still hasn’t forgotten what you did for him. I haven’t either. Talk to him. Let’s see if something clicks. Remember... he’s single...

I’m not trying to play matchmaker, but Drew wants to try. He told me to tell you.

Oh, by the way, saw that little note you gave me. Very funny. I //used// to like her until... Never mind. I can’t play matchmaker, neither can you.

You think you’re so clever. You think you got the best of me. You think that I was humiliated. Wrong.

I //will// prevail. I actually thought that the picture was pretty funny. Very funny actually. Very funny...

Another chapter for the untitled story. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">10-9-11 __playing games__

I don’t know what signals Xavier is giving me. Now they’re mixed. He’s trying to hook me up with Drew? Xavier never liked Drew, So why is he trying to make me date him?

I used to like Drew, but that changed. Is this some sign that Xavier is trying to get rid of me? Is that it? He doesn’t want to be my best friend anymore?

Why is he pushing the envelope for me to date Drew? I was kind of hoping that he was going to... That Xavier... Never mind. That was a foolish thought.

I seriously am confused by what he’s trying to tell me. I seriously am hurt by his offer. I seriously don’t want to date Drew. I seriously want to date him. Fine. I said it. I admit it. I want to date Xavier, but is that going to happen?

He’s giving me weird messages, mixed signals. Can’t he quit playing games and just tell me straightforward? That’s what I assume he’s doing. He’s playing games with my heart. Well he has to stop. It hurts me. It really does.

10-12-11 __confused__

I bumped into Rachel today. Her eyes were all puffy and red. //Real// red. She looked like she didn’t get enough sleep last night. I’m really concerned about her. About her feelings. About her well being.

I tried to talk to her, but she pushed me away.

I don’t know if it’s about yesterday. I don’t know if something happened. I don’t know if someone taunted her. I don’t know if she failed something.
 * I don’t know.**

I am //so// confused right now. //Too// confused.

10-13-11 __the encounter__

I sat in the library with a box of tissues. I attempted to read a book, but my sniffles kept coming back.

Word of advice: Don’t go to your cousins house when you are completely aware that they have the flu. Turns out that even if you are wearing long sleeves, you can get sick too.

Obviously, I went to school. Obviously, I didn’t want to miss anything. Obviously, I shouldn’t have gone to school.

A head poked out from behind a book shelf. I squinted my eyes and realized who it was. I began to pack up my things, but he came to me first.

“What the heck happened to you?”

I stared coldly. “A simple hello or ‘how are you feeling today?’ would’ve been nice.”

Xavier rolled his eyes. “Hey Rachel, what the heck happened to you?”

“Seriously?”

He shrugged.

“Went to cousin’s house. She had flu. Got too close. Got sick myself. Still went to school,” I said slowly as if he didn’t grasp the concept the first time.

“Don’t have to be so heartless.” He grabbed a chair and pulled it next to me. He placed his hand on my forehead.

“My head is throbbing,” I confessed. “My sinuses are congested, my tongue feels dry, and my tummy hurts.” I winced at his touch.

“Then why did you go to school?”

“Do I have any other choice? Mom went out of town. Dad is on a business trip. I can’t take care of myself. I don’t know how to tend to myself, when it comes to illnesses.” “Then come over to my house. Simple as that.”

“Don’t want to be a burden.”

“Come on. You’re burning up again. Besides, Zia would like to see you again. You know how happy that would make her.”

The thought of Zia made me smile. “I’m sorry about the picture. I didn’t mean to. I guess this is karma’s way of getting back at me.”

“It’s alright. I was the instigator. I was kind of expecting you to retaliate.”

“That confuses me, but oh well.” I grabbed my things and headed out the door.

It was a torrential downpour. I pulled my hood up and ran. I ran to my car but I forgot to get gas. I slammed my fists into the steering wheel. “Really? Really karma? You wanna play that way?”

Someone tapped my window. I scrolled down.

“Why don’t we use my car instead?”

I reluctantly got out of my own car and walked to Xavier’s car. I sat down in the passenger seat quietly.

“If you’re in my car, that means you’re going to stay at my house until you feel better. Understood?”

I nodded.

We drove all the way to his house in silence.

This took awhile, but I hope it's worth it for you guys! The next chapter of the still TBA story. 10-22-11 __maybe...__

We got to my place in about the speed of sound. Well, maybe not. But we got there pretty fast.

I pulled out my home keys from my pocket and opened the door.

Zia rushed towards me and gave me a big hug. She peeked around me and noticed Rachel. Zia pulled her inside and began talking to her... sort of.

Rachel began making gestures that I never understood and Zia replied.

My sister is deaf. Let’s put it at that. She was born this way and always will be. I used to yell at Zia, but that was before I knew. Before I knew that she was going to stay like this for the rest of her life.

I heard laughter. I shook my head from my trance and looked to see Rachel laughing. Probably Zia said something funny and Rachel began laughing.

“I still don’t get how you know how to speak sign language.”

“Well I’ve been learning since I was five. I have a cousin who’s partially deaf, so he learned sign language. I learned it with him, I still do, so he wouldn’t be alone and so that I could talk with him.”

“Well then. I did not know that about you.”

“You don’t know //everything// about me, but it’s the complete opposite with you. I know //everything// about you.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Because you’re an open book.”

“Are you sure? I thought I kept some things away from you.”

“Nope. I even know that you have a crush on me.”

“What?” I asked incredulously.

“I’m just kidding.”

My shoulders relaxed.

“Or am I?” Rachel sneezed.

A voice from the kitchen yelled, “I heard a sneeze! Who was that?” My mom came into the living room. “Hello Rachel. I assume that was you.”

Rachel nodded.

“Well you’re in luck. I made chicken soup.” My mom told Zia something that I think was about dinner, and Zia dashed away into the kitchen. “Xavier, can you give Rachel some spare clothes from upstairs? Girl clothes this time.”

“Oh it’s okay. It doesn’t matter with me.”

I ran up the stairs and grabbed pants and a t-shirt out of a box labeled, “If Rachel Comes Over”. I was perplexed on who titled the box that, but I just ran down the stairs again.

“Here.” I throw her the clothes.

“Thanks,” she said.

“Xavier. You could’ve at least handed it to her instead of chucking them at her face.”

“Well she caught it.”

Rachel smiled. “It’s okay Mrs. Miller. I’m used to Xavier throwing stuff at me.”

My mom’s eyes widened. “You throw stuff at Rachel!”

“What? NO!” I turned to Rachel, but she just gave me a smirk. “Only soft things though.”

“Like what?”

“Clothes, pillows, plush items...”

“Well stop that.”

“Fine. Whatever.” I changed the subject. “Mom, when can we eat? I’m starving.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

After we ate, Rachel and I watched television. I don’t know how long we were watching, but at some point, Rachel fell asleep with her head on my shoulder. I let her stay there. Sleeping soundly and looking beautiful than ever. I don’t know why, but she looks really cute when asleep. I began to nod off too.

Before I fell asleep, I thought maybe... Just maybe, Rachel liked me too. Rachel just may like me as much as I do. Maybe...

<span style="background-color: #ff0000; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next two chapters of this unnamed story. I hope by the end of the year I've picked out a title and finished this story, which I'm hoping will become a book. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">10-29-11

__awkward__

I find myself, when I wake up, in the arms of Xavier. I glance at him only to find out that he was already awake. ... Awkward...

He lets go immediately. “Sorry. You feel asleep and I couldn’t get you off my shoulder. You’re heavier than I thought.”

I punch him lightly on the arm. “I didn’t gain any weight. Maybe you just got weaker.”

“Whatever. Save your feminine pride.”

“What feminine pride? I never had pride. Heck, I’m self-deprecating.”

“My question is why? Why don’t you have any confidence in yourself?”

“I just don’t.” “That’s not a valid reason and you know it.”

“Then what is? That I can’t handle compliments? That I’m afraid?”

“Afraid of what?”

I bit my lip. “Afraid to love.”

“Afraid to love who?”

This conversation was getting real awkward. I wasn’t about to confess to Xavier about my feelings for Xavier.

He looked at me expectantly.

Just then, Zia came in, skipping towards us in her penguin pajamas and pigtails.

“Good morning” she signaled to me.

I smiled. I began talking to Zia.

“Xavier,” Mrs. Miller called, “Come into the kitchen and help me cook breakfast.”

Xavier reluctantly got up and gave me a look that said “We’ll talk about this later.”

I just ignored this and continued talking to Zia.

I just got myself in a heap of trouble. I just got myself into an awkward position. I just put Xavier and I’s friendship in an awkward position. Things are just about to get more awkward.

__darn__

I woke up noticing that Rachel is wrapped up in my arms against me. I smiled because I’ve always wanted this to happen. But I let go of her when she found out that I was awake. Darn. So close.

When I was helping my mom, I just kept thinking about Rachel. Her red hair, her warmth against me, her startled blue eyes...

My mom asked, “You sure seem in such a great mood.”

I break from my trance. “Huh? Oh yeah. I had an awesome dream.”

“Was it about Rachel?”

Darn. She knows. Then again, she’s the knowing.

“Maybe,” I said inaudibly.

She smiled. “You know, if you don’t ask her out anytime soon, I’ll force you to. I’ll drag you to her and make you ask her.”

Darn. She knows that I want to date her too. What else does she know?

“I know I can’t force you two, but I want Rachel to be my daughter in-law.”

Darn. She even knows about my want to marry Rachel.

“You know I got really close to asking her, but you ruined it.”

“Did I? Darn.”

Darn is exactly what //I// was thinking.

I was close to asking her out. Close to her mouth. Close to getting a kiss. So close.

Darn. “Well, there’s prom Xavier.”

“I know that.”

“You can ask her out to there.”

“Mom, every guy wants to go with her. //Every guy.//”

“What makes you think that you don’t have a chance?”

“I’m her best friend. Do you think she’d want to make our tight relationship awkward?”

“If she loved you.”

I winced. I’m not sure if she does. I was never sure. I just hoped. “Maybe Mom. Maybe...”

“Only maybe? Shouldn’t you know by her actions?”

“Well I’m not sure.”

“Honey,” she usually never calls me that, “you //should// know. A girl like that doesn’t come here everyday.”

I ran my hand through my hair. “I know Mom, okay?”

Darn. She doesn’t think I know that already?

“I’m scared though Mom. I’m scared to be rejected. I’m scared that if I’m rejected, that I just ruined our friendship. Our friendship is on the line.”

“To heck with friendship! If she loves you, then there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Mom, you know everything I think of. Darn. There’s nothing that escapes from you. There’s nothing I can hide from you. Darn.

<span style="background-color: #ff0000; color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Here's another chapter of the TBA story. Please help with a title. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">11-1-11 __whoa__

I finally recovered from my fever. Thank goodness it was just a fever. I went to school two days later. Xavier helped me with what I missed. He claims I didn’t even need any aid. Whatever.

I heard whispers today. Something about me. This can’t be good. I don’t know what it’s about though. I keep getting cold stares, snarls, looks of longing, weird looks from guys. Awkward.

I bit my lip and picked up the pace.

I’m sort of scared. Actually, I’m really scared. I was so scared, I didn’t notice the “Caution: Wet Floor” sign. I slipped and fell backwards. When I expected to hit the ground, I was still in midair.

I thought this to be an unworldly miracle, but when I opened my eyes, one by one, Xavier was smiling at me.

“Got’ cha.”

I smiled. “Whoa. That scared the heck out of me.”

“It should’ve, if I wasn’t there.” He helped me until I gained my balance. “Exactly what was scaring you that made you run in the hall that fast?”

“I don’t know. I’m hearing a lot of things about me.”

“Well that’s nothing to be worried about.”

I sighed. I turned around, but remembered, “Thanks, Xavier. I owe you one.”

“Obviously, you do.”

I walked up toward him. “Exactly what do I owe you this time?”

He took a step closer to me. “To be my date for the prom.” He was about two inches away from my mouth.

Man, I really wanted to kiss him.

“Is that what everyone’s been talking about?”

“You didn’t think I’d ask you to go with me without a little fun, did you?”

I smile. I took his hand in mine. “I wouldn’t expect anything else from you.”

Another chapter of the unnamed story. I can't emphasize this enough. I need help with a title! 11-2-11

__really?__

“Really?” I whispered.

She nodded. “Yes. Of course I will.”

“You’re serious? You’re going with me? This isn’t a joke?”

She smiled and even giggled.

I smiled at her too. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Positive?”

“One hundred percent.”

I was so excited. I picked her up and spun her around until I was dizzy. All the while, she was laughing.

“Okay, you can put me down now.”

I let her feet touch the ground before I cupped my hands around her face. “Thank you.”

“For what? I’m the one who should be thanking //you// for not letting me fall.”

“You know I’d never let that happen to you.”

“Well now I do.”

We began walking down the hallway. I didn’t notice that our hands were still intertwined, until she let go to get into the bathroom.

I waited for her.

In my mind, everything was going ten times faster. My heart was pounding so loud that I was shocked that she couldn’t hear it. My hands were shaking, but they stopped when she took my hand again.

Really, it was the best feeling ever. I’m not trying to sound weird. Don’t think of me as some weirdo. It’s just that her hand feels soft and warm, unlike my hand. And her lips. Gosh, her lips. I was real close this time. //Real// close. Closer than last time.

I thought about what my mom said to me. I smiled at the thought. “Mom, you were right,” I whispered.

“What’d you say?”

“Nothing. I’m just excited.”

“Me too.”

“Really?”

“Don’t start on me again or I’ll regret saying yes.”

“Don’t.” I pull our arms in a swinging motion down the hall. “I’m sorry. I just really wanted to go to prom with you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Just because it came from you, I’ll let it slide.” I took a sideways glance at her. I noticed her blushing.

“Prom is coming real fast.”

“I know.” I stop in front of my car. “You still don’t have your car yet.”

“Nope.”

“Come. I’ll drive you home.”

“How much more do I owe you?”

“Nothing now. You going to prom with me makes up for everything.”

“Really?”

“Really.”