Breaking All the Rules

Crap! I thought as I walked down the hallway with my books in hand. There was no way I was going to be able to get a date to homecoming. Eh, I wonder how mad Sisco would be if I just skipped the dance, sadly I couldn't skip the game because I was in the band. Oh well, it wasn't like I was going to look good at the game anyway. Marching pants aren't very... how do I put it... flattering.

And there were a bunch of other kids in band that didn't have dates. We just all kind of hung out in a swarm together normally at the football games. But the thing was, would it be different because it was homecoming? Maybe I should just ask one of the more shy band guys? I wasn't that bad-looking, right?

But I knew, when the image of that person took up my mind, that I couldn't do that. There was only one person who I wanted to go with. And despite him starting to notice me (I think) he would never want to go with me. I didn't want to be anything like those popular girls at school, but you had to admit, they sure got all the guys.

Though weirdly, Max hasn't dated a girl since 7th grade. I wonder why? Maybe he just needed a break. Or maybe he liked someone else? Freak! The thought that he would never like me had crossed my mind about a million times. But the thought that he might like someone else... that just tore me up. I would die if he asked someone else to Homecoming.

But whatever, I sighed as I walked into my English class. I was about to sit down beside Sisco, but Max gestured for me to come over. I hesitated, what would she think? But, seeing as she hadn't noticed me yet, my curiosity overcame my fear, and I walked over.

"What?" I said quietly, looking at him weirdly.

"So, do you have the song?" he asked me, smiling cheerily.

I'd completely forgotten, "Oh, yeah," I replied, I just forgot, and looking into his golden eyes didn't really help me keep my priorities straight either. "Um, here," I said handing him the paper.

His eyes skimmed over the collection of words. " I think it might have potential," he said looking at me seriously, "But I have one question for you."

"What?" I was curious.

"Can you sing?" he was being serious. What was his problem?

"Uhhh, not really, well, I'm not in choir or anything, it's fun I guess," I rambled on, trying to not sound like an idiot... And failing horribly.

"Great! Meet me in Mrs. Gray's room during lunch, you're going to put on a little performance for me. I need to see what your idea for the melody was."

Eh? Before I knew it, Max... Did he just wink at me? I must've been hallucinating. I quickly crossed the room over to my desk near Sisco's and sighed. Today was going to be a long day.

"What's wrong?" she asked me, "Having no luck with a date?"

"Huh?" I didn't hear what she said, "Uh, yeah whatever."

"I did offer to set you up, so don't blame me if you end up being the loser without a date."

I didn't respond, more pressing things were on my mind at the moment.