So how did my night go?

Let's start with my mom's crazy driving. She was pulling out in front of fast moving traffic like we were rushing to the hospital or something.

So instead of down the street, she drives into the Donut Shop parking lot. I'm thinking she's got some secret alternate route to the dance that bypasses all the traffic and involves driving across the Donut Shop parking lot, but then she parks!

"Why don't you grab us some donuts?" She says.

"Are you serious?" I ask, because after I'd been avoiding smudging my lipstick all evening the last thing Vanessa would want me doing is eating a sprinkle donut.

But Mom isn't listening. She's looking into the Donut Shop, all around, like she left her keys in there and is trying to spot them from the car.

"Okay," she says, once she's satisfied with her scope of the place. "Go on. Get the donuts."

"What donuts?"

"Something good, I'm hungry."

"No one's at the drive thru." I point out. Mom just stares at me blankly. "Weren't you the one saying we were going to be late?"

"Go! And hurry up."

So I jump out of the van, cuz my mom is in a conspiring mood and I must go along with it for now, until I find out what she's conspiring. 

The Donut Shop is not busy because its rival 'donut/coffee' shop down the street is WAY cooler. I notice a boy sitting at a chair looking at me, probably because I'm all done up gorgeous and rushing into a donut shop for emergency donuts on the run, which to a boy is probably very sexy.

No one wants to take my order even though I'm the ONLY customer (another reason why this donut place is so uncool, compared to the one down the street where they are always over-staffed and making jokes with customers).

I look over my shoulder through the windows at my mom who is practically eating the steering wheel in some kind of anticipation. She's pointing dramatically somewhere, I'm guessing it's because she wants me to hurry up, so I turn around and say "Excuse me!" real loud to get someone's attention. After a moment a girl comes out of the back room and looks at me like I'm disgusting and rude but I ignore it, she's probably just jealous of my how pretty my faerie-god-mother-in-training Vanessa made me look this evening. "Can I please have two old fashion plain donuts? To go."

The girl grabs the money out of my hand but detours to the back to laugh like a hyena with some pimply faced boy before actually getting my donuts. I don't want to turn around to see if my mom has eaten the steering wheel yet. Maybe she is really hungry! I glare daggers into the cashier's back, but it does nothing to speed her up.

I have this feeling that someone, other than my mom of course, is watching me. I glance nonchalantly over my shoulder. It's the boy sitting by himself. He's listening to music on his headphones, maybe he's 13? He looks like the quiet type, playing a game (and music) on his cell phone. He only keeps my gaze for a second, then looks away. Kind of shy. I'm reminded of when I was 12. I was a bit of a loner too. I'd go to the book store and just hang out by myself, always listening to music. That's what I really like about DC. He loves music as much as I do, and the same type of music too!

"Hey!" The girl at the counter says, dangling a paper bag in front of my face.

"Oh, thanks." I grab the bag, remembering that I'm in a hurry, and rush off. I notice the boy getting up too as I turn to leave, like he's coming after me. But I don't have time to think anything of it. I'm on a mission to save the steering wheel from being eaten!

"Jelly Donut!!!" my mom yells. She has the car window rolled down and is gesturing everywhere.

"What?" I say.

"I want a Jelly donut!"

"You don't even know what I bought yet."

"Just go back!"

I sigh and turn back. This time the music kid holds the door for me. He's on his way out, or at least I think he is, until I realize at the counter that I'm less a dime for the jelly donut and he offers me some change.

"Thanks." I say and look at him up close. He's my height, if I minus the heals I'm wearing, and he's got this dark wavy hair and baby blue eyes that tell me he's going to be a heart-breaker when he's older. I pay for the donut and leave. He follows me and holds the door again on the way out, which is really sweet. It's probably just because I'm all dressed up and because its Valentine's Day. He's quite brave for a kid his age. Then I swear he makes eye contact with my mom in the van and she nods or something. He couldn't possibly be someone my sisters would set me up with, first of all because he's too young, and because they would actually have gotten it right for once. I toss the donut bag into the van.

"So?" My mom is looking at me. I'm not even in the van yet and she's asking me "so?"

"So what?" I get in and almost sit on the donut bag.

My mom pulls out of the parking lot and I put my seat belt on.

"So what did you think of that boy in the coffee shop?" My mom now has no interest in the jelly donut.

So it was some sort of set up! Secretly I'm pleased that my sisters actually got it right this time; a tech-y, music listening boy!

"Mom, he's like 12."

"Actually he's 14, turning 15 in 3 days..."

My first thought it that DC's birthday is coming up too and I need to send a funny e-card.

"But you're right. He looks younger than I thought," my mom continues. She points her finger in the air, letting go of the steering wheel and making me nervous. "Although, I agree that's too young for anything more than friendship." Then she talks for a while about girls maturing faster than guys and how a mature guy is essential for dating. "But anyway," she concludes. "Derek said that if you weren't too disappointed with your first impressions of him to meet him at the hall."

"That's the second time you mentioned the name Derek, Mom. Are you sure you got this boy's name right? Or do you just refer to all boys as Derek?"

"Yes, well you don't seem too excited. I thought you said he was your best friend. You two talk all day and all night."

"What? I don't know anyone named Derek Mom." I'm starting to wonder if my mom's blood pressure pills are making her confuse things again.

"Sure you do, your internet buddy dot.con."

I'm not sure how long it takes me to internalize this information, seconds could be minutes, or hours... suddenly my heart is beating wildly. DC is here! My DC? My most special, bestest friend in the whole world? The one who understands me better than anyone?

"Mom! Turn around!" I yell.

My mom grabs me by the arm and sits me back down.

"Put your seat belt back on!" She demands.

Then I remember she said he would meet us at the hall. That's what he was hinting at online last night; going on a two hour drive, he only lives two hours away, asking what I thought of going to the dance with another guy...

Suddenly it dawns on me. So this was DC's big secret! That he's young. I'm 16 which is a great deal older than he is, when it comes to what grade you're in. He'd be... in grade nine or ten(?) if he's turning 15? Maybe it's a good thing. I couldn't handle him looking perfectly exactly what DC should look like AND be old enough to date. I'd be hopelessly in love! And long distance relationships never work out. I'm not ready to be in love. Loving someone you don't think you'll ever meet is one thing, but being in love with a real person is way too... scary.

I realize that my mom is talking to me but I can't focus on her words. I replay the scene in the donut shop. So that's DC, the one who likes to call me princess sometimes and talks with me late into the night. How brave of him to go for an older girl!

And he's really cute too.

My mom's wrong. I've talked to DC long enough to know he's more mature than the guys in my class! 15, in three days, is only one year younger than me.

When we get to the Hall I try to get out of the van with my seatbelt still on.

"He's not going anywhere. You have time to take off your seatbelt." My mom is looking at me funny. I slow down and take my seat belt off. "I've never seen you like this."

"I'm just excited to finally meet DC. Do you think he's here yet?" I ask, not wanting to waste time asking her how in the world she arranged all this.

"His mom is right over there." My mom waves at a lady beside a dark blue SUV, like they're old friends or something.

"Okay, you have to tell me how you know DC's mom!"

"I'm sure Derek will tell you all about it."

We get out of the van and my mom and Derek's mom start chatting it up like only two extroverted mom's can.

"Derek went on inside." His mom offers me her hand in greeting. "I'm his mom. You must be Alanna."

"Hello." I take her hand and try to shake it in the way I think it's supposed to be done. Firm but not hard. I don't usually shake hands with adults. I'm trying to remain unexcited and calm, but all I want to do is run off and find DC, my DC, my best friend!

"I didn't realize you were so much older." Derek's mom says with concern.

"It's just all the make-up." I say.

I don't think it's the right thing to say, judging by her look, so I try something else.

"I didn't realize DC was younger than me, either."

Also the wrong thing to say.

"Oh I mean Derek, not DC." I smile and try to act nonchalant. I don't want to show how desperately I'm in love with this lady's son, because she's one of those crazy, overprotective mom's. I should know, I've talked to her son!

"I'll go talk to him now," I say.

My mom is onto me. She gives me a you-be-good look.

I walk away in my heels to the front of the building, every step taking an eternity. I just want to run. I can feel the mothers watching me from behind.

Once I'm finally inside I slip off my heels and practically float, bare foot, down the short hallway.

DC is leaned back against the wall, playing on his phone in a relaxed way. I see him before he sees me.

Now I'm nervous. I shouldn't be, because I'm the older one, but I am. Super nervous! Why does he have to be so attractive? It just doesn't seem right. People who are on line all day should be unattractive and socially inept. I wonder if he thought the same thing about me when he saw me in the Donut Shop, not that I was unattractive and socially inept, but that I was surprisingly... beautiful?

He looks up and sees me coming, then kind of gets disoriented and almost drops his phone but catches it at the last second and puts it in his pocket.

"Hi." I say. "I... guess you made it to the dance." The music from the dance in the gym is a bit loud, in a tinny way like someone took crappy speakers and turned them up to their allowable max volume.

"I'm not exactly dressed for a dance," he says, running his fingers through his hair, and looking around like he's too shy to keep eye contact with me.

"You're not staying?"

"My mom wants to get back. We spent all day running errands. But I told her I wanted to meet you."

I'm not sure what to say. If we were chatting on line I'd say 'you HAVE to stay! Let's get out of here, and just go watch a movie, or something! Don't leave yet!'

But I don't say that. In fact, we're not saying anything at all, because this is real life. And talking in real life to someone you like is a lot harder than typing them a message.

It is my turn to speak so I say, "I skipped the last two classes of school with my sister to get all done up."

DC looks me over now. "You look good."

My cheeks heat up. I was wrong about what I thought of him in the donut shop, he isn't shy. He was probably just a bit nervous. I know DC and I know he isn't a shy person, just introverted like me. There's a big difference.

"How old are you?" He asks.

"I'm 16, remember?"

"I thought you were lying when you told me that. You looked younger in your picture."

"I did say it wasn't my most recent picture."

He is looking at me openly now, no longer nervous about eye contact, which reverses our situation. Now I'm the one feeling nervous and he's a lot more confident.

"So you're not staying long?" I ask again, swinging my shoes at my side.

"Not supposed to be."

He's got this wonderful smile, and I get the feeling he can tell I'm nervous now, and likes it.

"Maybe we can run off and see a movie together," I say playfully. He doesn't answer, which makes me more nervous so I start swinging my shoes even more. He reaches over and stops my hand, taking the high heels from me and setting them down on the floor, then pulling me into his arms in an old fashion dancing style, one hand behind the small of my back and the other holding my right hand in the air with interlocked fingers. It's all quite perfect since we're the same height now, without my heels.

"Would you like to dance for a bit China*?" He says softly, closing the gap between us. I'm not used to having people close, his breath tickles my cheek. And using my online name sort of brings our whole history into perspective, like when Timbit our cat went missing. Everyone had given up hope because we have four lanes of traffic in front of our house. But DC stayed up with me all night and made like 6 different missing cat posters and sent them to me. We did find Timbit at the animal shelter two days later. And another time DC stayed 'home' with me, hanging out together online, because I was feeling too sick to go to school. We watched movies at the same time and commented on them in chat, it was so fun! DC can be so funny!

I guess because I'm thinking about all this I don't notice that he is moving closer to kiss me, until he actually is kissing me. Just as my toes start to curl a piercing voice breaks the spell...

it's my mom,

and she's telling me to get off the computer now,

and before I go, I have to tell you (I'm so sorry), this story wasn't how my Valentine's night went. I kind of made it all up. I'm sorry but I will tell you how my night 'really' went, once I'm done my chores. Sometimes I wish my mom had a full time job, so that on Friday's when we get out of school early, I could just sit in my room and write as long as I want.

Well I hope I haven't upset you all too much but it wasn't entirely a lie, I did go to a dance. More on that later... s.i.r.

*oh and I will have to explain why DC calls me China... next time cuz my mom's about to come in here and drag me out of my room...