| The Way You Look Tonight |
| By Mattie Scott |
| "Jeremy is such a jerk. I can't believe he called me a turnip in Geography today! I hate him sooo much!" I complained as Mark and I walked home from school. I waited for Mark to say something but he didn't. I looked up at him and saw him staring off into the horizon. "Mark! Hello!" I waved my hand in front of his face. "Did you just hear a word I said?" I asked him. "Oh yeah� That Jeremy is a jerk." He muttered and pulled off his tie that was part of his school uniform. I groaned, "Oh forget it!" We continued to walk home. Mark and I have been friends only for a few months. We both went to different schools. He went to an all boys' school while I went to a public school. I don't know what gave me the option of being friends with someone who loved to call me "Carrots" because of my red hair, or anything for that mattered. Mark was the only person I tolerated when it came to my hair. Anyone else would get their own head bit off. I came to Ireland as part of an exchange program and to finish year 12 there. I was to return to Canada for grade 13 soon when I graduate grade 12 in June. I met Mark through my host family's son, who was also the same age as Mark and I. Ever since, we had been hanging out after school, either walking home or just playing soccer or whatever we felt like doing. "Hey Michelle, are you playing football tonight?" Mark asked me when he finally snapped out of his "phase". "Good to see you actually paying attention to me," I sarcastically said. "Yes, I do have a game. Are you coming?" Mark ran his fingers through his dark brown hair. "I just might. Maybe Brittany will be there." I punched him in his shoulder. "Ah, oui� That's what you have been thinking about all this time. Why didn't you tell me?" Mark blushed. "I am not!" he exclaimed. I laughed, "Sure, whatever Mark." We approached the gate of his house, which was outside of Sligo. I saw Mark's mother walking over to where we were. "Ah Michelle, I'm glad you're here. You left your football boots here." She handed me my soccer cleats. "Thanks." I replied and shoved them into my schoolbag. I turned to Mark and told him I had to hurry and get ready for my soccer game. "Pick me up later?" I called out as I was about to head down the road to my host family's house. "I'll be there around six!" he called back and walked back inside the house with his mother. While I walked home myself, I thought about all the times that Mark and I had fun, like going to the fair, parties, swimming, and soccer. "God�. I'm going to miss him." I thought to myself. As much as I loved Mark as a friend, I missed my family to death. I was looking forward to seeing them after 5 months of staying in Ireland. *****Later during the day, around 6 o'clock***** "Michelle, get your butt down here!" Mark called up the stairs as I scrambled to put all my soccer stuff into my sports bag. "Okay, okay�. Just a minute!" I called back. I picked up my bag and grabbed my cleats and headed downstairs. Mark shook his head. "Girls, what do you expect?" I pinched him in response. "Good luck on your game." My host father, Mr. O'Donnell told me as he handed me my water bottle. I thanked him politely and Mark and I went to his car, which was parked out front. "I can't believe you're leaving next week. The months went by so fast." Mark commented as he drove us. I didn't say anything because I knew I would cry if we talked about it. "Oh Carrots, don't worry. I'll always be your friend. No matter what, even when I'm rich and famous and have the best-selling album in the world." He chuckled and winked at me. I let out a small smile. Mark was right about the rich and famous part. Not long ago, I went to a talent show with Mark's family to hear him sing. By god, he was amazing. The best voice I've ever heard in my life. I knew someday that he would be a famous singer. Mark looked at Michelle and saw her staring out the car window. She was a great friend, as a matter of fact, one of his best friends. She was shy, but very intelligent and athletic. He remembered the first day that he met her - at a pickup football game. Michelle had been invited by her host family's son, Matthew to play a fun game of football. Mark was there and on the opposite team. It was the first time for him to get his ass kicked by a girl. He chuckled at that thought, but the little chuckle turned into sadness when he realized she was going back to Canada. "Is it she leaving for good?" he thought as he glanced over at her again. *****After the soccer game***** "That was a rough game!" Mark commented to me after we walked back to his car. "No it wasn't." I protested. My team, who I joined midway during the season, had won 4-0. "Carrots, you got like 5 fouls and a yellow card!" Mark exclaimed as he put my bag in the trunk of the car. I shrugged my shoulders. "Oh, it was nothing. The other team is just slow." Mark laughed and brushed me off. *****Mark's house***** "Can we just leave the car at your house. I feel like walking." I asked Mark as we were just coming to his house on the road. He looked at me for a minute as if I was crazy because I hated to walk. "Sure, I suppose." He replied and we got out of the car at his house. I let out a sigh and adjusted the strap of my sports bag on my shoulder. "So, how did it go with Brittany, or the Blonde Bimbo as everyone calls her?" I teased Mark. "Ah, I decided it was a waste of my time." He quickly said and bit his lip. "Ooh�. Shot down! That must have hurt!" I laughed and linked my arm with his. I did actually feel bad for Mark. He wasn't bad-looking, when it comes to the dating game. Actually, he looked handsome, kind of. Mark felt some drops of water on his arms. He looked up at the sky, and saw it was getting darker. "Oh, it's going to rain, we'd better hurry." He told Michelle as they continued to walk to her house. "We'll be fine." She replied. Mark was amazed at how tough she seemed. He never saw her cry once and she was always up for a game of football. The guys often laughed at her whenever she asked to play with them, but her persistence paid off. She was a respected player and always chosen first when it came to selecting teams. Michelle was kind of pretty in a way. She had red wavy hair that had a curly feature, big green eyes, and a strong build. Suddenly, the skies grew even darker and it started to rain harder. Mark saw Michelle pulled up the hood of her coat over her head. The weather was getting horrible and the road was muddy. "Let's run!" he shouted to her as the wind blew against their faces. Michelle struggled because of her sports bag, so Mark grabbed it and put it around his neck. Suddenly, they fell due to the muddy road. "Oh!" Michelle screamed as Mark fell on top of her. Someday, when I'm awfully low�. And the world is cold� I will feel a glow, Just thinking of you, And the way you look tonight�.. I looked up to see what happened and I realized that Mark was on top of me. His gorgeous blue eyes twinkled as I stared into his face. I saw him looking into my own eyes and his cheeks turning red, which often happened a lot. Yes, you're lovely, With your smile so soft, And your cheeks so warm, There is nothing for me but to love you, And the way you look tonight�.. Mark felt his heart beating faster and the torrid rain was pouring down on him. Michelle's eyes were so pretty and they appeared to change from a solid green to an aqua-green colour. With each word, your tenderness grows, Tearing my fear apart�.. And that smile that wrinkles your nose, Touches my foolish heart�.. I saw Mark leaning down closer to my face. I realized what he was going to do and I received a funny feeling in my stomach. He leaned closer and closer and kissed me gently on the lips. Suddenly, the butterflies in my stomach all "flew away". Lovely, Never, never change, Keep that breathless charm�. Won't you please arrange it 'cause I love you, Just the way you look tonight�. Mark didn't know what possessed him to kiss one of his best friends, but he knew he had to. He felt her put her arms around his neck and pulling him closed till their noses touched. Their lips met with ever such passion and grace for two 18 year olds. The rain stopped and Meagan turned her head to see what just happened. "A rainbow�" she gasped. "Isn't it gorgeous?" she asked Mark. Mark looked up and in the direction she was looking at and saw a beautiful rainbow above the valleys far away. I let go of Mark's neck and brought myself to my feet. "Um�" I blushed and bit my lips. "Yeah, that was kinda sudden." He replied. "We can't do this. Not now, not ever. It's too complicated." I slowly said, regretting ever word. I saw Mark look at me for a moment, his blue eyes still fixated on mine. "Yeah, you're probably right," He mumbled and bit his thumnail. "I should go. I'll see you later." He said monotonously. "God Michelle, you're such an idiot. Why would you do that to the guy you just kissed!" I told myself as I slowly walked to my house. I couldn't just bear to get my heart broken, not because I was about to return to Canada in a week. But because I knew Mark had a bright future ahead of him and I didn't want to stand in the way of that. Mark's friends had formed a band not long ago and they were just about to be signed to a record label. I didn't know much about what was going on because Mark didn't want any bad luck to happen if he got ahead of himself. "I hope he realizes what I'm doing is the right thing for both of us and for his future." I thought to myself sadly. I turned around and saw Mark walking back to his house, hands in pockets and head hung down low. My heart sank. There were no more words to be spoken to him for I had hurt his feelings. Just the way you look tonight�. song performed by: Fred Astaire in "Swing Time" |