New Beginning
"When will I meet you?" read her text message out loud; she thought of a reply, "I don't know." She picked up her bag from the concrete floor, rising off the bench when her mobile vibrated. "How about, at the ball?" debated whether to take that offer or not, "Maybe."
looked quizzical, "Maybe?" he text back. After replying he headed into the lecture room. Mid-way through a vibration could be heard, ducked his head down as if he was taking notes and then read his message, "Yep, maybe. As in, I might go but I might not. Hey do you know who I am?" He looked around the room wondering if it could be any of them. After a few minutes of inspecting he replied to the message, "I don't know you and you don't know me :P" When the message sent he looked around to see any reactions but there were no mobile noises and no movements from anyone.
At home collapsed on the sofa and stared at her older sister, "Hey, you wouldn't happen to know whose number you gave me would you?"
"Nope my psychology project is strictly anonymous," she answered with her full concentration still on work.
read a text message she received, a smile approached her face. The mystery guy typed an endearing, philosophical sonnet, "Are you sure you can't tell me who it is? Not even by the handwriting."
Her sister turned away from her studies and sighed, "As I said, it's anonymous, people don't fill in their names. You are all part of my statistics, I don't know how you all write...well...besides you. Stop pestering me, okay? I don't know who is who and neither will you; not until after I've finished my studies anyway. All I know is each of you are paired male and female. Unless of course someone's been a prat and filled the opposite or "yes please" - but I made sure that didn't happen. Wouldn't it be interesting though, if it turned out to be someone you hate?"
"No. I doubt it's or Mr I'm-too-cool-to-be-seen-with-you, as he's conceited and down right rude. Well I think I'll go on MSN now, have a nice day going through 100 of those forms," said with sympathy.
"Jeez...thanks," her sister replied, "And for that comment I hope it's !"
The next day headed straight to the workshop where she met up with , "Hey! You wouldn't happen to know who you mystery guy is, would you?"
"Nope but I'm sure he's not my type. I mean, he told me he was a stripper and kept telling about his gross thoughts," said with a raised eyebrow.
laughed, "Aw...well...it doesn't matter anyway, you've got a boyfriend...and speaking of the boy band wannabe," she sniggered.
"Hey...that's uncalled for," gave her a stern look but knew she was just joking.
"Hello lassies, what you been up to?" asked after he entered through the door.
"The mystery phone numbers," answered and looked towards .
"I know you're going to laugh. I can just see your about to crack. It's not funny," retorted.
"What?" asked with a smile, intrigued.
"'s...the number...it's a stripper," laughed but then a straight face appeared, "Sorry I know it's gross but it's a little funny. I know you'd be rolling on the floor by now if it was me."
"True but he's really creeping me out. I've got so many unread messages it's unbelievable," shrugged.
"What?! Give me your phone," ordered wanting to know what kind of messages she was referring to.
"Calm down . Nothing will happen to . She's a tough girl anyway. I've seen her kick your butt before now anyway. Besides it's not like these mobiles are ours anyway, my sister borrowed a hundred of these cheap, brick phones so when she's done we'll be able to get back to our normal lives and with our beloved phones," insisted.
"Yeah I better get my phone back. I've got some psycho who won't leave me alone," said holding onto 's hand, as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Don't worry she'll make sure everyone gets their phone back. The ring tones and vibration have been driving her mad," laughed. "And I'm pretty sure I heard the Bob The Builder song. So , how about you? What's your girl – so to speak – like?"
He saw give him a stern look, "Signature look." He laughed and then coughed, "Ahem...boring...she keeps talking like the world revolves around her. Yesterday she was talking about a 'pretty' pink top she brought and how gorgeous she looked in it."
and giggled as his imitation of a conceited girl.
"I just left the phone standing there so she could worship herself," laughed, standing his phone on the table, "That's the only thing these bricks are good for – leaving someone to talk whilst you're doing other things."
"You're right there," agreed.
"So Missy, how about your guy?" asked.
"What guy? It turns out mine was in fact a disguised female," shrugged.
's and 's jaw dropped.
"Yeah, I'm having a word with my sister about that, I got duped," managed to keep a straight face, she didn't want to talk about her mystery guy as she knew would somehow make her cheeks turn a light cherry colour. "I'll see you guys in a bit. I've got to go to my locker." At her locker received a text saying: "Hey, do you think we're seeing each other right now?" She looked around; mainly girls were around chatting except for , who was probably flirting. She grunted at the site of him, then turned back to reply to the text, "Nope, I'm only seeing one ugly sight of my enemy." Taking out her project she sighed and headed back to the workshop.
"What took you so long?" asked, looking at the clock which hung on the wall.
"! Is there a day where he's not being a man-whore?" asked rolling her eyes.
"Why are you two even arch rivals anyway? None of you have done anything to deserve it," asked.
"Are you kidding me? He started it; acting as if he's someone to be worshipped. I just happened to be someone who knows better. Since I've not agreed with his personality he's held it against me. So, technically, he built this hatred and I'm just battling for myself. Like I'm going to let one idiot and his groupies get the better of me," explained.
It still didn't make clear sense to or but they shrugged at each other in reply.
"Speaking of the idiot," snickered as walked past the large-window covered wall.
"Morning , ," he cheered but when his gazed turn to his tone changed into an unwelcoming one, "."
rolled her eyes in disgust. The way he even looked at her made anger build up. If there was anyone in the whole world she hated with passion, it was . In an excusing tone she said, "Well, I'm going to do some research. I'll see you two later," she smiled towards and , completely ignoring .
gave a stern look, "I know you like , why don't you just tell the truth?"
denied any truth in what said, "No I don't. She's a spoilt brat!"
"How is she a 'spoilt brat'? The girl owns a brick of a mobile...her room is no bigger than a box...she baby-sits her little sister..." listed with her fingers.
rubbed 's back to calm her down and whispered, "I think he gets the idea."
"So what? We have never liked each other so what gives you the idea that I like her?" asked, knowing it wasn't true.
"Maybe because I catch you gawping at her, across the table!"
"So what? I'm always staring," insisted.
"No you're not. Let's face it, that's just an act. I know, for a fact, that 's the only girl you have eyes for," contracted his eyes and examined 's face.
"Of all the birds I choose a parrot?" said in a spiteful tone.
"You are unbelievable," threw his arms in the air surrendering.
"What won't you just admit it?" asked in frustration.
"There's nothing to admit."
"What!?!" asked, not believing what she was hearing.
"You. Have. To. Go. Out. On. A. Date. With. The. Guy. I. Matched. You. Up. With!" her sister explained in a belittled tone.
"I heard you. Does everyone have to?" asked collapsing on the sofa, flicking through the channels.
"No, only a select few. Those who agreed to it. You, being my sister, have no choice but to go on this date."
gave her the evils, "I hate you."
"You'll love me after this," her sister insisted.
"I doubt it. Not even a date with Jensen Ackles would make me love you," poked her tongue out.
"! It's 1 in the afternoon, wake up," her sister shook her in bed but just rolled around. "Come on. God, you're like a lump of lard. Come on, you've got a date soon!"
mumbled under the covers, "I don't want to go," she whined more not ready to get out of bed.
"Come on," order trying to pull out of the bed, until they both heard the doorbell ring, "That must be him." They both stared at each other for a few seconds.
"What? This early?" questioned, rising up from her bed.
"Well it is...2 in the afternoon!" moaned, then the doorbell rang once again, "I better go get that."
scrambled out of bed. Closing her door she alertly opened her wardrobe, flicking through the clothes rack to find something which looked ironed and presentable. Pyjamas certainly weren't going to cut it, let alone leave a good impression. Not that she was out to impress anyone; this was after all her sister's experiment. Without thinking she sprayed perfume but with a little too much exuberance, leading her to over spray. The smell over powered her nose, she coughed fanning the perfume smell away from her face, "Okay, note to self. Never over spray," she said in between coughs.
Minutes later she walked downstairs, straightening herself out before she entered the lounge, which she assumed the mystery guy would be.
She heard talking in the next room, "She shouldn't be long. I'm just going to check on her." walked into the lounge and saw , "Well that...oh...what is that smell?" She pegged her nose and took a deep breath, "Are you ready yet? You sounded like you were dying upstairs."
"Yeah...too much perfume," laughed.
"Well Mr Right's in there," said pointing to the kitchen. "So I guess I can introduce you both then, since I had read both your 'lonely hearts' applications," she sniggered. As they walked into the living room said, "...this is..."
She didn't get to finish her sentence as she was cut off by pointing at the guy, "It's you!"
"You know him?" asked.
"Hey ," gave one wave from the table.
"He's ! Why in hell would you set me up with him?" queried.
"How am I meant to know? These were filled in anonymously," say holding the applications.
"Oh no, there is no way I'm going out with him!" moaned pointing back at .
"You have to! Otherwise I'll fail my project," pleaded.
"No..." cursed.
"You know she's right," sniggered.
"What?" asked confused.
"Might as well. Wouldn't want her to fail would you?" He carried on reading his magazine.
"What? Why do you even want to go along with this?" asked. 's input had really confused her.
"Please . I need all the results. I could get marks down," whispered, pleading with her praying hands. "You have no choice anyway, I'm going to lock you both in the house."
"You can't...damn, I don't have keys," cursed.
"Well you two have fun! Behave. I'm going take our baby sister out," smiled, swiftly walking out the door.
"Well this is going to be fun," said still reading his magazine.
rolled her eyes as she collapsed on the chair not wanting his company. Grabbing the Nintendo DS that sat in front of her she starting playing and furiously tapping the pen on the screen. After all the pen tapping on the DS asked, "What's your age?" Knowing she way playing on Brain Training.
"What's it to you?" spat.
"Only asking. No need to get your knickers in a twist," chuckled.
There was a moment of silence, neither or them took one glance at one another, "40 for your information," said calmly, yes she didn't want to be near him but she thought time might fly by if they talked, even if it did lead to an argument.
"Aah the age of a mid-life crisis," smirked. smiled finding his sarcasm funny. saw the smile, and rose his head up from the book, "Are you smiling?" He asked with a small grin appearing across his face.
"No," denied – but she knew she was strangely finding 's company comforting. By now she wasn't actually playing on the DS anymore, just tapping on the screen randomly.
"I guess we have some talking to do," closed his magazine and for once they made eye contact.
put the DS away, "About what?" She didn't feel it was necessary to start talking now since they've not got along for a long time. He was just another poor excuse of a man to her. Not even the past few minutes had changed her conceptions about him.
"About the – as some would say - football type rivalry we've got going on?" suggested.
"Typical, it's always about football," rolled her eyes.
"And here we go again," gave up trying to come into good terms with , she just didn't seem to want to know.
sat up straight, turned on the seat to face , "Fine, you want to talk, talk. I'm all ears," a tone of sarcasm exited her mouth.
"I'm sorry for the way I've treated you," said with a sincere voice, his hands intertwined with each other...wait...come to think of it, I've never done anything to you," exclaimed.
"Yes you have," retorted, finding it unbelievable how he could say that.
"No, I haven't. Okay then, tell me what I've done to you to make you so angry?" queried with a raise eyebrow.
"You, well, you've..." thought about it for a while but couldn't come up with a real reason, "You think you are above everyone else. You...you flirt with girls like we can't have intelligent conversation with you. They hang around you like groupies. You're always giving me the dirtiest looks and not to mention..." moaned.
"Woah...hold on there. Firstly I've never, ever, thought I was better than anyone. If that was the case you wouldn't even be replying to my texts," stated.
"Well, I didn't find out, that was you, until today," retorted.
"Still, did you think I was being snobby?" asked.
"No, I guess not," replied.
"Okay. I have a confession. Now, just take this because it's not very often guys spill their hearts out," prepared himself for a, what he thought was going to be, laughing reaction.
"I'm listening," stated, not giving any emotions.
"I like you okay? By like I mean fancy but the guys were teasing me about. Saying how you were way out of my league and that you would never date someone like me. Their constant teasing really angered me. I guess I took that anger out on you," looked animatingly flicked back through his magazine, not wanting to hear 's reaction. "Right, I'm going to go," quickly got up of his seat.
"..." didn't get to finish her sentence as rushed out the front door without saying another word.
When came home balancing their baby sister on her hip she question , seeing power walk past the park. didn't give specific answers as she was still deciphering what had said earlier that day. She knew that it was no joke, the tone of his voice revealed the seriousness.
At the workshop , and were talking amongst themselves. They were all glad to finally have their mobiles back. It had been two days since the talk but nothing seemed to change. hadn't felt weird about the situation, instead she decided not to think about too much.
walked through the door worriedly, he didn't want confrontation. He opened the door and closed it quietly hoping that the three would just carry on chatting and ignore the fact that someone had entered.
looked away from and , knowing it was who had just walked in, "Erm...?" she called trying to get his attention, he unwillingly acknowledge her call, "Can we talk?" asked, her eyes pleading with him. and looked at one another, shocked and confused.
"Uh...yeah...sure," answered, rubbing the back of his neck. They both walked out of the room.
"Did I just hear what I think I did or am I just hearing things?" asked, looking outside the room as and walked away.
"Huh?" a bemused answered, he couldn't quite believe what he just heard.
"So...I...well," never found it easy to do what she was going to do.
"So," laughed uncomfortably, putting his hands in his trouser pocket.
"I'm sorry okay?" said with a certain sincere-ness. Knowing her wrong was never a strong point of hers. "I guess, like a girl, I typically retaliated at you without knowing why you were being that way."
"Yeah I'm sorry too. For taking it out on you," smiled.
"Well since we've done the apologising do you want to start over again?" asked, gesturing for a handshake.
"Yeah, that'd be great," grinned, "I'm ."
laughed, "Hey, I'm ."