~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 1
Simone licks her lips nervously as she watches Chad at his locker. "He's so good-looking," she hisses to her best friend Kay Bennett. "Everything about him is perfection."
Kay smiles wryly. "So now you finally realize how I feel about Miguel," she says. "It's called love, Simone."
Simone laughs a little too loud which makes Chad look over his shoulder at her. She whirls around in the opposite direction, and her face flushes. "Oh my God, Kay, he heard you! He knows how I feel about him!"
Kay pats Simone on the shoulder. "Relax. It's too noisy in these halls for Chad to pick out our conversation. The only reason he turned around was because of your hysterical laughing. Nobody could have missed that."
Simone peeks at Chad out of the corner of her eye. "You think I'm falling in love with him, Kay?"
Kay throws her arm across her best friend's shoulders. "Oh yeah, definitely. You've fallen and can't get up."
***
Later that day in a study hall, Simone scribbles furiously in her diary, pouring out her feelings for Chad. He's so handsome and mysterious. I've never felt this way about anyone before. And this time, I get Chad all to myself...with no interference by Whitney. I'll make sure that those two never meet...Well, I suppose some day they'll have to come across one another. After all, Whitney will want to come to our wedding...
***
"Oh no, I forgot my math book for class, shoot!" Whitney mutters to herself. She makes a mad dash for her locker, only to find an unfamiliar male huddled over it, fiddling with the combination. "What do you think you're doing?" she cries, pushing him roughly. He jerks his head to look at her, and their eyes lock.
Chapter 2
Whitney and the mysterious guy continue to lock eyes until Whitney manages to look away. "W-w-what are you doing at my locker?" she stammers.
"What are you talkin' about, yo? This is my locker," he says with a smirk. "Check out the number, 165, that's..." He swallows hard and looks sheepishly at her. "That's the locker next to mine, which must be yours."
Whitney rolls her eyes, and turns her back to him. She twirls the combination, and yanks open the door. She grabs her math book off the top shelf then closes the door with a bang. She sighs, and says to him, "Now that that's settled, why don't you--" But he is gone. The strange male is nowhere to be seen! "--tell me your name," Whitney whispers softly. She bites her lip, and glances at locker #164 with a small smile on her face.
***
I don't think any guy could be as perfect as Chad is. He's everything I could ever hope for in a boyfriend. Which is exactly what he'll be in no time.
Simone closes her journal with a satisfied nod, and gathers her books for her next class. Just as she is leaving the library, she bumps head on into...Chad!
"Hey, sorry, girl, I didn't see ya there," Chad says without looking at Simone closely, then begins to walk away. Simone's heart is pounding as she whispers, "I certainly saw you."
***
"And then he tries to tell me that I'm wrong, that I'M the one who has the wrong locker number. And Theresa, you should have seen the look on his face, it was this smirk, and his eyes were like..." Whitney is cut off by her best friend.
"Whit, now, come on, be honest. Did you really mind your "encounter" with locker boy all that much?" Theresa says with a sly smile. "Are you sure there's not something else that you're not telling me?"
Whitney just looks at Theresa.
Chapter 3
Whitney stares at Theresa, digesting her words. "Are you asking me if I LIKE that jerk? That's insane, Theresa, even for you." Whitney shakes her head, but the only thoughts filling her mind are of the chocolatey brown color of Chad's skin, his brooding eyes, and his mysterious half-smile.
***
"Just a few more minutes, Kay, please?" Simone pleads.
"Simone, he's obviously not coming out of this school!" Kay says impatiently on the front steps. Simone had roped her into waiting for Chad after classes.
Simone sighs, and cries, "But he has to come out sometime! I just have to see him one more time..maybe smile at him, or even wave if I get up the courage!"
Kay rubs her forehead, then nods. "All right, fine. We'll wait for Chad. After all, you've been more than patient with me since I fell in love with Miguel."
Simone grabs Kay's arm excitedly. "Thanks, Kay, you're awesome!"
Kay smiles, and murmurs, "I know."
***
Chad stuffs textbooks and notebooks into his already oversized backpack. He had just been let out of detention for skipping a class. Never thought they'd catch me, he thinks to himself. Whatever. Just then Whitney rounds the corner with a group of tennis players. "Let me just stop at my locker a sec, I'll be right there!" she calls out to her teammates. She dashes to the infamous locker #165, and hurriedly spins her combination. "Come on, come on, open," she mutters impatiently. In her haste, she hadn't even seen Chad at the locker next to hers, watching her with one eyebrow raised and a smirk.
"Got somewhere to be?" he asks.
Whitney jumps, and whirls around to look at him. "You," she whispers, then clears her throat. "You scared me, I didn't see you there."
Chad smiles that lopsided grin of his, and says, "Now come on, Whitney, how could you miss me?"
Whitney looks at him in surprise. "How did you know my name?" she asks.
"Harmony High's a small school. I asked around. You seem to be pretty popular, huh?"
Whitney blushes. "I--I guess, maybe..."
Chad smiles, and Whitney's heart skips a beat. "Why don't you let me walk you out?" he says. "At least until we catch up with your friends. It's the least I can do after almost stealing your locker this morning. Come on, what do you say?" He offers an outstretched palm to her, and after a bit of hesitation on her part, Whitney places her hand in his.
Chapter 4
Kay leans against the guardrail with Simone, who is anxiously biting her fingernails. "Simone, you shouldn't do that, you just got those French tips," Kay scolds lightly.
Simone sighs, and twirls a strand of hair around her fingers. "I'm just nervous to see my boyf---to see Chad. He's so good-looking that it's intimidating."
Kay smiles, and touches her friend on the shoulder. "I know what you mean. Guys can have that effect on girls." Kay lazily glances to the door of the school, then looks away. Suddenly, she does a double take to get a better look at two people strolling out the door together: Whitney and Chad. "Simone, we have to go!" Kay cries, steering Simone down the steps.
"No, Kay, I already told you, I--"
"Simone, please, come with me, you really have to..." Kay trails off, realizing she is too late. Simone is staring, shocked, at the sight of her sister with the guy she's crazy about.
***
Whitney and Chad head across the small courtyard at the entrance of school, then down the marble steps. "Thanks for walking me out, Chad," Whitney says. He had told her his name on the way. He's so nice, she thinks happily. Maybe Theresa was right. Maybe I DO like him, after all.
"No problem, Whitney, but I'll let you go now," Chad says, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips. "See you tomorrow, angel." He walks away, leaving Whitney behind, speechless.
***
Chad walks confidently down the steps, and glances over his shoulder at Whitney. Damn, she's hot, he thinks to himself. I'm gonna make her mine. When he reaches the bottom, he sees a familiar-looking girl crouched on the last step, her head in her hands. Her friend is sitting beside her, patting her back. He steps in front of the girl he recognizes, and kneels down to look at her. "That you, Simone?" he asks.
Simone looks shakily up at him. "What do you..." Her breath catches in her throat. "Chad, hi...Why are you...I mean, you...you remember my name?"
He laughs kindly. "Sure I do, how could I forget a pretty name like that? A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," he says smoothly.
Simone swallows around the lump in her throat, and smiles shyly at him. "T-t-thanks," she murmurs.
Chad lifts a hand to softly wipe the tears from her cheeks. "Don't cry, beauty. You look so gorgeous when you're smiling."
Simone is on cloud 9, as Kay watches suspiciously. He's a sweet talker, she thinks, but is he for real?
Chapter 5
Chad straightens up, and takes Simone's hand to lift her to her feet. "You take care now, aight, Simone?" he says with a smile.
Simone smiles dreamily back at him. "You too, Chad. Bye," she says with a dazed look in her eyes.
As Chad strolls away, Kay grabs Simone's arm and spins her around to face her. "Simone, what just happened?" she says incredulously.
Simone smiles, and adjusts her backpack on her shoulder. "I told you it wouldn't be any time at all until Chad fell for me. I didn't expect it to happen so quickly, but hey! Who's complaining?!" she cries happily.
Kay shakes her head, smiling. I just hope he's being sincere and not just leading her on, she thinks to herself.
***
Later that night, at the Russell house, Whitney is on the phone with Theresa, relaying every detail about her conversation with Chad. "He's soo nice, Theresa," Whitney says excitedly. "I've never felt this way about anyone before!"
Theresa crinkles her brow on the other end, and replies, "What about Frank? You were pretty crazy about him."
A wave of hurt flows over Whitney. "That's all in the past," she says curtly. "Besides, I just want to forget all about Frank Lomax."
"And concentrate on Chad?"
Whitney smiles thoughtfully. "Maybe," she says with a twinkle in her eye.
***
Did I mention his amazing body? I could see his pecs through his shirt! He's perfect in every way, and I couldn't believe I was able to have that conversation with him today. It was fate that brought us together, and I've never wanted to mess with fate!
Simone scrawls the words across her journal pages in her loopy handwriting. After a while, her hand starts to hurt, and she reluctantly puts down her pen. She grabs her bookbag to get her homework out, but as she lifts it off the bed, the bottom breaks and books come tumbling out! "Shoot!" she cries. "I'll have to borrow one of Whitney's old backpacks for tomorrow."
Simone tosses the bag into her disorganized closet, and runs down the hall to Whitney's room. She yanks open the door, and barges in without knocking. She catches the end of Whitney's sentence: "...and I don't think I've ever seen eyes as gorgeous as his."
Whitney looks up at Simone, and cries angrily, "You don't just come in my room without knocking, Simone!" She quickly says good bye to Theresa, then turns to face her sister angrily.
Simone bites her lip, and asks softly, "Who were you talking about, Whitney? Whose eyes are the most gorgeous you've ever seen, huh?" It must be Chad, she thinks dejectedly.
Whitney gulps, and decides she doesn't want to tell her sister about Chad just yet. "Uhh, Frank's eyes. His are just...so wonderful," she says nervously.
Simone's heart leaps. "You're kidding! You're not over Frank? Oh my God, this is great!" Then she stops, and says, "Because, well, you know, you two are meant for each other."
Whitney nods her head, but inside her heart pounds at the thought of Chad. Maybe Chad and I are meant to be together, she thinks hopefully.
Simone grabs a backpack out of her sister's closet, one with Whitney's initials on it. "My bag broke, so I gotta borrow this one, ok? Thanks, bye!" she says hurriedly, anxious to tell Kay her good news. Whitney is no longer a threat to my relationship with Chad! she thinks delightedly. Now he's mine...all mine.
Chapter 6
Simone dashes excitedly into her bedroom and snatches up the phone receiver. Quickly, she punches in Kay's number, and drums her fingers in anticipation on her desk.
"Hello?" Kay answers distractedly.
"It's me! I have the best news!"
Kay smiles wryly on the other end. "And just what is that, Simone?"
"Chad is mine...all mine! Whitney just confessed to me that she's still in love with Frank! As long as she's still pining for that dorky private investigator, I can concentrate on winning ALL of Chad's affections." Simone stares dreamily off into space, imagining her future with her soon-to-be boyfriend.
***
Whitney plops into her computer chair and stares at the blank screen. I have to get crackin' on this essay, she thinks with a sigh. She glances halfheartedly at the topic: Passion - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Suddenly, her interest is renewed in the essay, and her fingers fly across the keys.
I always used to read about the thrill of falling in love at first sight. Those emotions, those sudden passions...they just seemed so out of my reach, feelings that would never happen to me. Little did I know that I would experience such intense fervor and passion for someone, and that it would turn out to be love...at second sight.
Whitney nods her head energetically, and pushes on with the essay. Wouldn't it just boost Chad's ego if he knew I was basing my Lit essay on him? she thinks with a sly smile.
***
Chad is perfect for me. We're destined to be together! After our talk today, and the sweet way he understood me...I'm even more assured of our fate together. Tomorrow will be the day...the day that will change our lives forever...the day Chad will ask me to be his girl.
Simone clasps her hands eagerly, and falls back onto her bed. She squeezes her eyes shut tight, and easily falls asleep. Her diary slips off her stomach and crashes to the floor. A photo of Whitney and Simone as young girls glides across the hardwood surface and lands in front of Whitney's old backpack. The girls' smiling faces and warm embrace shows the love and friendship they shared even at such a young age. However, Chad Harris has now stepped into the picture, and will change the lives of the Russell sisters...forever.
Chapter 7
RIIIIIIIIIIING! The shrill sound of the alarm clock startles Simone out of a deep sleep. She jumps slightly, then groans at the prospect of yet another school day. "When's the weekend gonna come?" she mumbles. After hitting the alarm clock to turn it off, Simone stumbles bleary-eyed into the adjoining bathroom. She turns the shower on and adjusts the water to a perfect temperature. She steps in and lets the water blast around her, closing her eyes and catching a few peaceful moments. "Ahh," she murmurs. Her mind lazily moves from one thought to the next, finally resting on Chad Harris. "Mmmmm," she sighs. "Chad...today's the day...I'll make him mine...ahhh."
***
Whitney moves her head to the beat of "Hangin' Around" by the Counting Crows as she meanders through traffic on her way to school. Next to her, Simone stares dreamily out the window. A smile plays on Whitney's lips. I can't wait to see Chad today, she thinks with a happy sigh. Simone looks at her with a questioning look. "What's the matter, Whit?" she asks. Whitney glances at her sister, then turns to look straight ahead, saying nothing. "Whatever," Simone mumbles, thinking once again of Chad and forgetting her sister.
***
Hey Chad, gotta tell you something, meet me in the library.
No, Simone thinks with a frown. She crumples the piece of paper and takes out a fresh sheet.
Chad, if you're not busy, I sorta need to te
Terrible, she thinks, and crumples up the second attempt as well.
"Miss Russell, is there a problem?" Mr. Edwards says with a twinge of annoyance in his voice. "Uh, no, sir, nothing's wrong," Simone smiles. When her math teacher turns his back once again to face the chalkboard, she slips out another sheet of paper.
Dear Chad, I didn't see you this morning, but there's something you need to know. Something I can't put off telling you for one minute longer. Meet me in the library during lunch. I'll explain then.
Perfect, Simone thinks to herself. I'll put this note in Chad's locker after class. She folds it into a triangle and scrawls ~Chad~ across the front.
***
Chad saunters down the hall after arriving at school almost two hours late. Damn, I missed Whitney by comin' in so late, he thinks with a frown. It's aight, I'll catch her later.
He spins his locker combination and opens the door. A folded note falls out and he bends down to pick it up off the floor. After reading it, he arches an eyebrow and smiles slyly. Gotta be Whitney, he thinks with a nod. The library, eh? I'll be there.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~