‘Sam, be positive. Take detention as a chance to master your anger management skill” - I kept telling myself that all the way to the detention room as if it would help me feel a teensy bit better.

“Welcome to detention room, a place where delinquent adolescences learn to never remake the mistakes they had in the past”  – Mr. Detention beamed at me. His announcement was filled with pride about the job he was doing.

Noticing I was still freezing at the door, he gestured me in with one hand, the other was tapping on the desk. I ambled inside, suddenly recognizing there was only one vacant desk upfront. I knew I had no other choice so I plopped down in the chair, not paying much attention to other students around me. To be blunt, why did I have to worry about them? After all, they are just my schoolmates, to whom I never even talked. After what happened yesterday that sinister jackass (oh come on, you know who. Don’t make me pronounce his name or I’d go cut my hair short pixie like Pink), I learned enough of a lesson to never try to fit in and get to know as many people as you can so you could develop your popularity status in such a place.

As I was fixed in my seat which happened to be in the front row, Mr. Detention voiced: “Ok, kids. It’s detention time. Do whatever you want until our time is over. Sleep, Read your books, talk, draw, whatever. Just no make-out session, okay?“ So this is how they educated ‘delinquent adolescences’ (hey, I’m just quoting) to never make any mistake again. What an interesting education method. But I ain’t complaining. How could I when that meant I would have a full two lecture times to finish off the book of Sarah Dessen I started yesterday. Actually, nobody knew I was hooked on chick lit books. When I mentioned that, they never believe. That was explicable when the thought of me being a rough and nosy girl was engraved in their heads from a long time ago. But what they don’t know and never potentially know is that I am multi-characterizing. Okay, that may somewhat sound like something they talk about in a psychological class in Stanford, in which you knew they were talking in English but still couldn’t understand a thing, but that’s who I really am. I could be a total tomboy at time, I could kick-box and knock some poor kids off easily but I also could fawn over a good and teary chick-lit work and may take up a whole box of tissues to wipe off my tears when say, the male character in a novel fails to catch the female character when she decides to leave for a faraway country to give them both time and space to sort out their relationship problems on their own. Dorky, that’s a suitable word for me.

I was flipping to the page I read last night when someone tapped me in the shoulder. At least, I felt like it was a tap. Firstly, I thought of ignoring him/her but that would be rude, especially to someone I may have never met before in my life so I turned around. Evan’s face hit my eyes.  Wait, Wasn’t that really Evans? If not, he must be his long lost twin brother.

I let out an ‘err’ sound, clearly showing I had no idea what he was doing that tap-tap-on-the-shoulder-til-I-retreat thing.

“You remember me?” – He curled up the corner of his lips.

‘Hmm, this is what sexy is’

What. Was. I. Thinking? Since when have I stooped so low down to that level of a brainless hoochie who falls for any boy that she merely just meets?

I pushed the thought aside and acted as if I didn’t have a single idea who the hecky hell he was.

“I’m Howard Evans. The one having received your question in History class’ – He lightly shook his head and gave me his best megawatt smile. Although this was only the second time I saw him smile.

I grinned goofily as a reciprocation to his heart-melting, jaw-dropping, eye-staring smile “Oh, hi. But what’s ur name again?’ – Cool. I just made it irrefutably evident that I was so into his presence that I didn’t hear a word he said. Somebody just name me Ms. Worldwide Dork right now and I’d thank my Mom for giving birth to me in my acceptance speech.

“Hmm. Howard. Is there any problem with my name?” – He sounded unsure.

“No. Nothing. It’s just I didn’t hear you clear. You know, it is actually noisy hear” – I instantly replied then suddenly wanted to take all words back. Seriously, what formed my brain? Nobody is talking right now and I told him it was the noise that distracted me from hearing his name? Somebody just pull the trigger please.

“Okay. Anyway, your question in History was actually really interesting” – He said and winked at me. Did he really WINK, W-I-N-K- at me? Or he was just winking at the picture of Einstein adhered on the chalkboard? But there was no reason he could feel that connected to the genius who died a very long time ago, right? I hyperventilated. Inhale, exhale, Sam! Keep breathing. Don’t faint. Don’t faint. My brain was suffused with that wink of him. I thought it went dysfunctional but it didn’t. Still some part of it managed to form a thought: ‘Howard, darling, just get married now and fly to the Mars’. Woa, it was official. I couldn’t control my brain anymore.

“Hmm. You okay?

His voice slapped me awake from the crazy thoughts running wild internally. Oh my lovely unpainted nails, how I loved to scream at him ‘No, I am not. It’s your sexiness to blame. I think I am in love, with you.” Fortunately, I was wise enough to stop myself before condensing my cogitations and scared the crap out of him.

“No, of course not. I was just lost in thoughts, you know?” – I sure sounded firm but I bet my face already turned greenish as if I was about to barf. I always turn green when I am nervous, unlike normal people who usually turn red. That’s another weird gene I possess out of many other ones I do and don’t know where the heck it comes from.

“So tell me your name” – He titled his head, his eyes as crystal as the Hawaiian ocean in July locked up into mine. There is something special tinting inside his irises. His expression persuaded me that he really wanted to know my name. I read in last month issue of Seventeen that when a boy is interested in you, he would ask for your name and try to grab any chance to look deep into your eyes as to tantalize you. Oh my God. My chance at love never looked this clear and bright.

“Samantha. Sam for short” – I answered sheepishly. Who just entered my body? I, Samantha James never felt sheepish in front of a guy. Or maybe they were right. Love could change anything. It just transformed me into a giggling, girly and versatile girl.

“Oh so you’re that chick this whole school is talking about. You don’t look that big and strong to actually can knock a guy like Jason down. I’m impressed’ – That lovely smile bloomed on his face again. Why someone with Howard as a last name can’t be cute as half as this Howard as a surname?

“I guess I’m famous now” – I grinned, goofily again, in front of the man of my dream. It’s official. I hate myself.

As I was about to drown on a conversation with him, the bell rings, indicating detention was over.  Howard stood hurryingly to leave. He stepped forward so he was standing at my desk right now and threw out a hand. “It’s good talking to you. I’ll see ya around?”

I hesitated for a moment but took his hand eventually. ‘Definitely’. Wishfully, he didn’t notice the red shade on my cheeks.

I could already foresee our marriage 8 years from now when we both finished college. I would be wearing white and he’d be standing there in his tuxedo and polished shoes and we’d be saying our vows. Man, I think I just found my soul mate.

I stepped out of the detention room with my mind on cloud ninth. The feeling of love was amazing, like you got to taste a dish cooked by Gordon Ramsay. His name, Howard never sounded this soft and sweet like sugarcane, like a natural treatment for my soul. I felt like I was in the wonderland of love before got dragged out drastically by a loud and rough shout. Welcome back to reality, Ms. James. I turned around and obnoxiousness hit me in the face. Jason Howard was standing just inches from me. Way to ruin a high mood.

’What the heck do you want, Howard?’ – I growled. Just a minute ago, this name was a rite of passage to heaven, right at this moment; it was a key to open the door to hell.

‘Thought I told ya we needed to discuss about the name of our group. More like couple’ – He ran his fingers through his messy and sweaty hair. I could tell he was off from his basketball practice.

‘Thought I told ya to name it Ducklings?’ – I retorted with an expressionless face. I hate this Jason Howard.

‘Nuh huh. That’s a very ugly name that would ruin my reputation if this school knew about it’

‘Oh, really? They why don’t you name it Jason Howard?’  - I said sarcastically with a sneer plastered on my face.

“If you don’t mind’ – He shrugged. I abhorred his broad shoulders and heavy arms.

“I was just kidding. Quote-unquote That’s a very ugly name that would ruin my reputation if this school knew about it” – I shot back, signaling the bunny ears.

“Aw, how could you be this intelligent, sweetie?” – He mocked, condensing a fake admiring look.

‘Aw, I am not intelligent. You are just being dumb, sweetie” – I gave him much of a faux smile and turned to walk away.

“I’ll name it The Handsome and Ugly. That’s how the couple is made of” – He shouted. Anger was too transparent to be noticed in his voice.

“Name it There-is-a-Jason-who-just-thinks-he-is-so-cool-when-he-is-not. That’s the most appropriate name I can think of’- I shouted back and walked out to the schoolyard. Fortunately, he didn’t follow me. He just knew better to bail in time. 

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Author's note: Finally, chapter 5 is published. I know I know, it's all my fault. But I really am freaking busy. Papers and upcoming tests to study for. My life is a mess these days. However, I pledge more chapters are coming soon. This time you can count on this undertake b/c I so am in the mood for writing right now, plus, I am havig a 4 days off from school so I think I could give this story an extra writing time, I guess *grin*

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Thanks for spending time checking out my work. God bless each and every one of you.

xoxo

Kaydence.