Getting through the first day of school was a lot easier this year now that I didn't have to walk around looking like a lost child in the middle of winter. The day went by pretty well and I made a few new friends. I felt like a whole different person now. The old Carlyn was on her way out and the new Carlyn was more confident and all smiles. I was smiling even more now that I got that cute guy in my algebra class to notice me. His name was Tremaine Adkins. He was brown skinned with the deepest waves in his head that I've ever seen. He was about 6'1 and was on the varsity basketball team. He looked so hot in those shorts on the court. He makes me want to do unforgivable yet unregretable things to him. I know that sounds gross but when I say he is fine like ginuwine trust me I mean it. The day had ended and right on cue Prince was exactly where I told him to meet me when my last class let out. I ran down the back steps and waved to him. When I approached him he was looking me up and down happily.

"Well! Don't you look nice! I like that blue on you!" He exclaimed pointing at the blue top I had on under the black hoodie jacket.

"Oh thanks! Tomorrow I'm wearing the denim set with-" I was suddenly silenced by the sight of Tremaine standing off to the side of the building with two of his teammates.

"Uhh Carlyn? You alright?" Prince asked.

I almost didn't hear him because the song 'Why Don't We Fall In Love' by Amerie was playing on blast in my head. It took him a few attempts but he finally got me to snap out of my love spell.

"Hello? Carlyn? Carlyn!" Prince shouted.

I snapped back to the real world quick.

"HUH???" I said in a state of shock.

"What's up with you? What are you looking at?"

"Nothing! I'm good!" I said as I looked back at the beautiful sight just behind me.

Tremaine left his friends and started walking away from the building. It looked like he was headed our direction.

"Oh my god he's coming this way!" I shrieked as I turned back towards Prince covering the sides of my face with my hands.

"Who? What's wrong?" Prince asked looks around.

I grabbed him and pulled him by his jacket.

"DONT.....look I don't want him to see me with you. You might cause a riot or something." I said to him still holding on my the collar of his jacket.

"What is wrong with you today girl?" Prince asked confused.

I tuned back to find Tremaine getting closer and this time he spotted me and smiled.

"Hey Carly!" Tremaine shouted as he was coming closer.

"Oh my god!" I said turning back to Prince.

Prince soon saw Tremaine and gave me a disapproving smile with a side eyed glance.

"He's why your acting all goofy? He looks like a thug." Prince said as he looked him over.

"Hey Mr. McJudgie! Go wait in the car."

Prince grinned and shook his head.

"Not on your life girl." He giggled.

"Will you not be possessive right now please? Go get in the car!"

"No. I wanna meet this guy."

"PRINCE! NO! Please don't be embarrassing on the first day!"

Prince smiled and looked at me.

"You're lucky it's the first day. Come to the car where your finished flirting. Carly." He said

I shooed Prince off just in time because there he was just behind me.

"Hey Carly." Tremaine said as he waved.

"Hi Tremaine." I sad shyly pulling at my braids.

"You don't have to call me that. Call me Tré." He said with a smile.

He had the whitest teeth. Like a brand new pack of chicklettes.

"Ok! Sooooo how was your summer?"

"It was good. We had basketball camp in Indianapolis for a month. It was pretty fly. We got to stay in a nice hotel and all. What about you? How was your summer?"

"It was pretty boring. I started taking music lessons in Chanhassen."

"Sounds pretty cool! Who's your teacher?"

I couldn't just tell him that I was practicing at Prince's house so I had to make something up.

"Oh! I really can't pronounce his name. Some French guy." I lied.

"Oh! Well you must be learning so pretty complicated music."

"Not really."

We both got quiet and smiled at each other. Finally Tremaine broke his silence.

"Soooo I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked.

"Ye-yeah! See you tomorrow!" I said.

"Ok. Bye Carly."

"Bye....Tré."

He walked to his bus to go home and I watched as he took his seat and the bus pulled away from the school. My smile was so big it was hurting my face. I was giggling like a love sick idiot. I ran back to the car and jumped in the front seat happily. Prince looked over at me like I was crazy.

"Well that took a turn." He said as he started the car.

"Oh shut up he's a nice guy and he's a straight A student. Always has been. And he's NOT a thug." I said as I pulled out a marshmallow cream pie from my book bag. Prince looked at me and let out a sigh.

"Please tell me you're not gonna eat that after the rush you just had with that boy." He asked.

"What? It an atomic marshmallow! All the kids eat them."

"An atomic.....what now?"

"Atomic marshmallow! Here try some!"

I broke off a piece and tried to hand it to Prince but he turned me down.

"Dude you don't know what your missing." I said to him.

I took the piece that I broke off and shoved it in my mouth. It was so chewy that I could barely talk to Prince. He giggled as he put the car in drive and pulled away from the school.

"I don't know what to do with you little girl. Carlyn really eats atomic marshmallows. Whatever that is."

I laughed still with a mouth full of cream pie as we drove to a nearby vegan restaurant in downtown Minneapolis.