‘Don’t worry about it man, you’ll find someone!’
We walked in to our maths lesson to find out that our maths teacher, Miss Jones was giving out tests. When the class found out they started to moan but they knew if they complained too much she would either put them in a detention or give them extra homework so they quietened down a bit after that.
I felt that I had done quite well in the test and so did Imran so we were both quite happy for the rest of the day until Imran saw the girl he wanted to ask to the ball, a tall, good looking blonde. She was called Laura. He said she had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. I urged him to ask her out but he said he could not because he would find it too embarrassing. I told him to ring her then. At least that way it would not be as bad. He said he would ring her that night.
The next day we met up again and Imran, being unorganised as usual asked me what we had next. I again said ‘Melanie’. He laughed and replied ‘So I guess we have math’s then?’
‘Man, I have to stop saying that. I could end up making a fool of myself’
‘Bit late now isn’t’ he laughed at me
‘Shut up Imran’ I said back and we laughed our way to the lesson.
During the lesson though I was surprised when Ms. Singleton did not give me my mark back and when I asked he looked at me blankly. She asked me to stay behind at the end of the lesson because she wanted to talk to me. She told me that the reason that she had kept me behind was because of my test. At first I thought, ‘No, I’ve failed’ but then she went on to say that I had not failed but wanted to ask me why I had put the name ‘Melanie’ where I was supposed to put my name and my form. I smacked my forehead in disbelief and went absolutely red with embarrassment. Luckily she let me off the hook and told me not to do it again. For the next couple of days I tried extra hard not to write Melanie's name on any of my work.
In bed at night my mind wandered. However, it always ended up stopping at Melanie. It was like all the paths in my mind led to the one shining thought. I drew up memories of his last football game. I was running down the wing, heading for a goal with the ball at my feet . . . the ball . . . the Ball . . . Melanie. Damn. I switched to my English assignment. It was going well until I remembered English was Melanie’s favourite subject. Damn my double-crossing memory. It was quiet like a deaf-dumb convention when it came to work, but when I actually want it to shut up? No chance. It was as if her beauty was tormenting me.
I finally managed to fall asleep that night but all I dreamt about was Melanie. She was in my daydreams and night dreams. I had a flash… I was in a tuxedo, all dressed up. I pulled up outside her house in a limousine. I walked up to her front door and knocked on it. It opened it and she was standing where the door used to be. She was wearing the most flattering white dress, and the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.
’Good evening, Melanie,’ I say, ‘you look absolutely ravishing. I am honoured to escort such a beautiful jewel to my Ball.’
‘Oh, you're too kind,’
Suddenly she stepped forward and started licking my ear. My ear was soaked with her saliva; I woke up to see my dog on my bed licking me all over my face. ‘Rover leave me alone’, I groaned and pushed him away. I checked the time on my bedside table. It was seven thirty. I got up and started getting ready for school. I saw Imran during lunch; I saw he had a big grin on his face. ‘Hey Imran, what’s up?’ I asked
‘Well . . . nah, nothing important,’
’Come on.’
’I got my date for the Ball. She said yes’
’So, your worries are over now. You can chill’
‘Yeah, I guess’ We ate our lunch in silence but then Imran said, ‘It’s just that I can’t get her out of my mind’
‘I know the feeling’ I said and we both smiled at each other.
On Tuesday I started making the preparations for the ball. I rang up the local shop that rents out tuxedos and they had a couple in my size so I asked for one to be reserved for pick up on Thursday evening. Then I tried to make inquiries for renting limousines. Then I found out what sort of prices they were doing and I went off the idea instantly. I guess my dad’s old Vauxhall would have to do. I had better tell him to take it for a car wash before we go.
Finally the big night arrived and I was looking at myself in the mirror. I thought the black tuxedo fitted me perfectly and I breathed a sigh a of relief hoping I would be able to stop shaking. My gel had made my hair as hard as concrete. I winked like I was trying to seduce the mirror, then shaped my hand into a gun and pretended to fire it. ‘Time to go’ I shouted to my dad. We left the house, and seated ourselves in the now sparkling Vauxhall and set off. It can be surprising sometimes what a car wash can do. I made it to her house a few minutes before six. I walked up to her house, number 329 and pressed the doorbell. Than all of a sudden something felt wrong. My arms sort of drooped to my knees and my knees felt weak. I tried to strike a more natural pose, but I felt awkward whichever way I held myself. I felt like an un-oiled robot.
The door opened and a middle aged, half bald man opened the door. Hello,’ the man said,
‘Errr, yes. Hello.’
The man appeared to be waiting for me to say something. ‘Well? What is it?’ he asked.
‘I'm Melanie's date. Is she ready?’
The man looked confused, ‘Sorry?’
‘Melanie,’
No change.
‘Is this the right house?’ I was starting to get worried now, and a weird expression took over my face.
From behind the man I heard a familiar voice say, ‘Are you teasing him, dad? Stop it!’
‘Sorry hun, I couldn't resist.’ He opened the door and motioned for me to come in. Melanie stood in front of me, shimmering in her red dress. She looked beautiful with her hair set in an intricate design, radiant lipstick and gold necklace. Her beauty sent a warm tingle up my back. Her face was as radiating as the sun on a summers day.
‘Hey’ was all I could think of saying
‘Hey’
‘Wow! You look…’ I was very conscious of Melanie’s father standing next to me ‘You look lovely’
‘Thanks’
‘Shall we go?’
‘Lets’
My Dad drove. Melanie and I sat in the back and I could see my dad looking at us through the rear view mirror and smiling. We chatted about lots of things. I found it so easy to talk to Melanie, she was so easy going. We finally reached the ball. We got some drinks and we sat on the side and we chatted some more about life, family and how much we hated our school teachers. It started off with a few rock songs, then when everyone started to get tired they played some slow songs. Melanie and I only danced to the last rock song and then the slow songs came on. Our eyes met. There was a hint of a smile on her face. I smiled back. An intimate moment passed between us. I drew closer and whispered in her ear, "Could I have the pleasure of this dance with you?" She nodded and we embraced each other and started moving to the music. I felt her warm cheek pressing against mine. She smelt like a flower, but not just one, a whole field of them. Everybody else evaporated, leaving us alone on the chequered dance floor, as one entity.
