Welcome to New Haven (51 page)

On the way over with the group, Riss stopped suddenly and everyone was staring at her.
 
Standing on the table, with a huge card held above his head reading
 

‘Marissa Kennedy, will you go on a date with me?’ was Ryan.
 

They could hear the ‘will she, won’t she?’ comments as they waited for her answer. Holly and Alex looked at each other and smiled.
 
Riss was still in shock, but she was managing a smile also.
 

“Can you answer? Because my arms are killing me.” Said Ryan making everyone crack up.
 

Riss nodded her head, speechless at what Ryan had done for her.
 

“Oh thank God.” He sighed.

He hopped down off the table and picked up a packet.
 
Kayla quickly took Riss’ lunch out of her hands as Ryan approached.
 
He handed her the packet which was, of course, her favourite rocky road cookies.
 
She threw her arms around him, and they hugged.
 
He took her hand and led her to the table.
 
There were claps and they all looked around.
 
Students were watching, as were the teachers and lunch staff who had been involved.
 

“You did all this?” she asked.
 

“I had some help.” He said as he grinned at Holly.
 

“So
that’s
what help you needed?” she asked.
 

“Yep.” Ryan looked pretty pleased with himself.
 

“I was wondering why you hadn’t asked me.
 
You usually do.”
 

“Yeah, well, it would have been kinda weird and anticlimactic.”
 

Ryan had definitely put a lot of thought into it.
 

“How did you do it all? We were in class.” Asked Kayla.
 

“I wrote down everything Ryan said about Riss.” Holly explained.
 
“Well, the most frequent anyway.” She smiled.
 

“We didn’t put in annoying or…ow!” He said as Riss hit his arm.
 

“Hey, I can change my mind ya know?” She said.
 

“Nuh uh. I gave you cookies.
 
That’s a no-deal breaker right there.”
 

“You’re right. You’re not getting these babies back.” She giggled.
 

“On Wednesday, we asked some of the staff for help.
 
So we got together during free period.
 
They set the cafeteria notices and Mr. Benson’s note when were in class.” Holly continued.
 

“Really? They
wanted
to help?” Asked Ben.
 

“They were happy to.” Said Ryan.
 
“But…I may have promised to behave if they did.”
 

“Like that’ll happen.” Said Alex.
 

“I might have exaggerated that promise a little…or a lot.” Ryan said gesturing widely with his hands.
 
“Did you like it?” He asked Riss.
 

“I really really did.” She said, and he beamed at her like a little kid.

“So…” Ryan said suddenly.
 
“You two huh?” He pointed at Alex and Holly.
 
“I didn’t see
that
coming.” He joked.
 

“I heard you told the class that Alex is sexy!” Said Kyle as Holly was drinking her juice.
 
She almost choked and started to cough. Alex patted her back whilst Dev took her bottle away.
 

“Oh my God!” She said when she got her breath back. Alex kept his arm around her shoulders.
 

“Everyone just stopped and turned to Holly. It was awesome.” Laughed Ben.
 

“Come on guys that’s enough.” Said Alex.
 

“I didn’t mean to say it out loud!” Said Holly.
 

“At least, she’s not saying she didn’t meant it.” Said Kyle, waggling is eyebrows.
 

“Stop it, now.” Said Alex.
 

 
“It’s ok.” Said Holly, taking his other hand as it rested on the table.
 

Chapter 18

Alex looked into her eyes. Eyes that he could get lost in forever. He moved his hand from her shoulder to her cheek and stroked the back of his fingers down the side of her face.
 
He held her chin and brought her mouth to his, running his fingertips back up her cheek and into her hair, cupping the side of her head.
 

“Oh…I think there’s going to be tongue!”
 

“Kyle!” Said Kayla as Holly and Alex pulled back from each other.
 

“Don’t ruin it for them.
 
It’s beautiful.”
 

“Kyle, you’re a dick.”
 

Ben was chuckling.

“You better get used to it Kyle. Because it’s only gonna get worse.”
 

Alex threw a potato chip at Ben. Only making him laugh harder.

Holly glared at Kyle.
 
When he looked at her, she quickly glanced to Kayla, as she was talking to Dev, and then back to him.
 
She raised an eyebrow.
 
Kyle stopped laughing and just looked nervous instead. She turned to Alex and smiled.
 

“What was that?” He asked quietly.
 

“I’ll tell you later.” She whispered.
 

“You still have to tell me about your Mom’s warped sense of humour.”
 

“I will.”

Alex turned when he noticed the group were watching them.
 

“What?” He asked as they were all grinning.
 

“Nothing.” Said Riss.
 

“It’s just…” Kayla began. “…This time last week was a completely different picture.”
 

Holly felt really happy with how different things were now.
 
She
finally
felt comfortable to hold a conversation, now they knew how each other felt.
 
She still had other hiccups, like saying her thoughts out loud and getting caught in her Alex fog, which was getting stronger all the time.
 

“It was inevitable.” Said Dev. “And I can tell you, not saying anything to them about each other was torture!”

“Well, before we start holding hands and singing…“ Said Ben. “We should go…” The bell sounded for the end of lunch. “…Saved by the bell.

"Alex and Holly, as well as Ryan and Riss, walked hand in hand to the Phys.Ed building. As the rest of the group walked in front.

“You do realise we’ve been kicked to the curb?” Said Kyle.
 

“Kyle. Don’t be an ass.” Said Ben.
 
They’re happy. Don’t you want your friends to be happy?”
 

“Yeah. I was just kidding.” He said. “Actually, I think it’s awesome. Ryan’s liked Riss for a long time, and Alex and Holly…well that was inevitable.”
 

“So, why make fun of them?” Asked Kayla.
 

“I
was
really just making a joke, ya know?
 
I guess I’m just a little jealous too.” He said as he walked into the changing area.
 

“
What
was
that
?” asked Dev.
 

“I don’t know.” Said Kayla.
 

“Ben…find out.” Said Dev as she tried to hurry him in.
 

“I’ll try, but I’m not making any promises.” He said as he went inside.
 

Holly watched the interactions and knew why Kyle was jealous.
 
She felt bad for him as she saw the sad look in his eyes as he walked through the door.
 

“He’ll be fine.” Alex said to her.
 
They shared a gentle kiss, before they had to go to their changing areas.

Riss bounced over to Holly and hugged her tight.
 

“Thank you so much!” she squealed.
 

“What for?” laughed Holly.
 

“For helping Ryan. I thought he’d never ask me out.
 
For a while, I thought I’d been ‘friended’.” She said.
 

“He put a lot of thought into it.” Said Holly.
 

“I
loved
it.” Riss beamed.
 

“When’s your date?” asked Dev.
 

“We haven’t planned anything yet.” Said Riss.
 

“You have a date with Alex tonight.
 
Where’s he taking you?” Asked Kayla.
 

“We haven’t had a chance to talk about it really.” Said Holly as she was changing into her track pants.
 
“He’s running track with me today so we’ll probably decide then.”
 

“Do you think Ryan will bring you flowers for your date?” Kayla asked Riss.
 

“I don’t know. I hope not.
 
Isn’t it a little old fashioned?”
 

“I prefer flowers still in the ground.”
 
Holly said quietly. She’d always thought that way.
 
Just like her Dad.
 
He had a poem he would say to Holly, and it was one of her favourites.
 

‘Displaying a dying flower, is really very sad.

Keep it growing in the ground,

And it will be very glad.’

“I think it’s too cliché.” Said Dev. “I mean, he already knows you like him, so why go overboard? And do you get him something if you ask
him
out
?”
 

“Makes sense.” Said Riss.

“Is it still a done thing to give gifts on dates? There are a few girls in English class who thinks it’s the best part. I don’t think gifts are necessary.” Said Holly. “Why would he need to buy your affection? Wouldn’t saying ‘yes’ to the date be enough?”
 

“Exactly!” Said Riss.
 
“I went on a date with a guy in sophomore year.
 
He brought me some flowers and chocolate hearts.
 
It was very sweet until the end of the date.”
 

“What happened?” asked Holly.
 

“Well… The date was a little awkward to begin with. No spark there. When I got home he tried to kiss me, but I said no. Guess what he said?”
 
Said Riss with annoyance at the memory.
 

“What?”
 

“He said, ‘but I brought you flowers and chocolates!’ Like
that
were an instant pass for some tonsil tennis! I don’t think so.” She snorted.
 
“We never went out again.”
 

“See?” Dev said. “Cliché. It might have been acceptable a hundred years ago, but oh my
God
do guys take it for granted. “What do you think, Hol?” she asked.
 

“I don’t think it’s right that a guy
has
to give a gift.
 
Like you said Dev, what if
he’s
the one being asked out, does he still have to buy one, or do you?
 
In the
caveman
days, when women didn’t really have their own money, then yeah, things were paid for or bought for them. Nowadays, a lot of girls
still
expect that even though they have their own.
 
It’s like they’re saying ‘My money is for me, and so is yours.’ I think that’s just selfish and disrespectful.”
 

“That is so true.” Said Kayla, shaking her head.
 

“Well I guess we’re the few who don’t like date gifts.” Laughed Riss.

“So is everything ok? Do you still get nervous or awkward?” Riss asked Holly.
 

“It’s great.” She gushed.
 
“It’s mad how I feel a lot more comfortable.
 
It feels…I dunno…”
 

“Right?” Dev cut in.
 
Holly smiled and nodded.
 
“I’m so, so happy.” Said Dev.
 
“And who knows? Maybe you’ll become my sister!”
 

Holly froze for a second as Dev sighed.

Married to Alex?

She
 
didn’t think she should be looking that far into the future just yet, but still…she imagined herself there…Alex in a black tux, looking perfectly gorgeous as always.
 
Ben his best man; of course. Dev would be her chief bridesmaid and Em her maid of honour, or whatever they had at weddings.
 
She would wear a long, white, sleeveless dress that tapers in at the waist and then the skirts would flow loosely to the floor…

”Holly! Wake up.” Laughed Dev.
 

“Sorry, I was a million miles away.” Said Holly.
 

“Dum dum du dummm.” Dev said as she sang the wedding song.
 
Holly rolled her eyes.
 

“See you after class.”
 

“Yeah see you…sis.” Said Dev as she went to the pool area, still giggling.

Holly walked outside and paused when she saw Alex waiting for her.
 
His black track pants fitted him to perfection.
 
The waistband lows on his hips, and his white T-shirt clung to every contour of his chiselled physique.
 

Holly’s mouth was actually watering.
 

“Uh…Um…Hi.” She said with a shaky breath.
 

“Back to that now?” He asked, amused.
 

“What? No…um…Hang on.” Holly took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Ok. I’m fine.” She said as she approached him.
 

Alex looked himself over and then back to Holly, raising an eyebrow.
 

“Don’t judge me.” She said, narrowing her eyes, playfully which made him laugh.
 
A throw-your-head-back laugh.
 
Holly giggled too. His laugh was contagious and so…mmm.