The Girl

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Fiction

The Girl
(Part One)
Fiction by Scott M Thompson

She was the most beautiful girl in the world. Yet, she barely knew he existed. Jack Miller was a 15 year
old high school student who had the good fortune to be sitting across the aisle from Tina Black.
She was amazing! Thin with long blonde hair and a beautiful smile. Jack met Tina on the first
day of school and had only spoken to her once or twice.

The day they met was unforgettable. Jack had just sat down and accidentally dropped his pencil.
As he reached into the aisle to pick it up, there stood Tina. Jack was embarrassed to be
leaning over the aisle trying to reach his pencil. He felt like a dork. But, Tina smiled and
put a hand on his shoulder. “ I see you’re nervous too.”, she joked.
“Math isn’t my best subject and I’m afraid the teacher will move me up front.” She gently rubbed
her hand across his back as she took the seat in the next aisle. “I’m Tina, what’s your name?”
Jack’s expression quickly changed from embarrassed to confident. “ I’m Jack.” “Hi.” “Don’t worry”, he said.
“I’m good at Math and we sit right across from each other.” Tina seemed so warm and friendly.
She must really like him. Why else would she have shared her fear of Math? She was clearly
looking for a friend to help her get through the class. “I can help you study if you like.” Jack said.
Tina smiled and nodded.

Two weeks had passed since that first day. They had barely spoken. Jack couldn’t understand
why Tina didn’t experience the same “love at first sight” feeling he did. He tried to make
small talk and occasionally share solutions to hard problems. But, Tina seemed distant.
Sometimes she would smile and look over but not say a word. Jack didn’t want to be too pushy
but it was hard to contain his love for Tina. He had to find a way to talk to her. Start slow;
friendly and casual. Then, after she got to know him better, he would share his feelings for her.
It was tricky but there had to be a way.

Jack had seen so many guys rush right into love, only to be rejected. Rejection was Jack’s biggest fear.
He would never forget the day Calvin Morris walked up to Jenny Bean in the cafeteria and asked her to
go to the dance. Jenny shrieked “Ooh gross! He just asked me out.” Everyone around started laughing
as Calvin’s face turned bright red. He scurried away, a defeated man. For weeks after, the kids
ridiculed Calvin. “Hey Calvin, I just saw Jenny and I think she wants to go out with you.”
Jack didn’t know Calvin very well but after that incident, he was sure Calvin was a loser.
What moron would walk up to Jenny Bean and just ask her out. She was one of the best looking
girls in school. It would take weeks of preparation before you could ask her out; and you would
never ask her in public.

Jack had to make sure Tina liked him before he showed too much interest. But, she must have liked him.
Her touch and big smile was a clear signal. He couldn’t be wrong. Maybe Tina had the same
fear of being rejected. If he could just start a casual conversation, their feelings for
each other would surely come out. If that stupid Math teacher would stop talking so much,
maybe he could get Tina’s attention for a few minutes. Jack had already tried approaching
Tina at lunch. But, she sat with a group of girls he didn’t know too well. He would have
to find another time and place to talk to her.

More than anything, Jack wanted a girl friend. Not just for a single date, but a long
term relationship, maybe the whole school year. He was looking for someone special to
share his inner most thoughts and feelings. He envied the couples he saw walking the
halls of the school. They seemed so happy together. Jack wanted the same happiness.
Every time he saw a new couple at school, Jack felt more alone. Would he ever find love?
He didn’t think he was ugly or unworthy of a girlfriend. Jack had been on a few dates with
pretty girls. But they were just single dates that never turned into anything more. Jack knew
there was a beautiful girl out there that would be crazy about him.

Jack knew of a couple of girls that liked in him. Yvonne Carter was one.
But, she had flaws that he couldn’t overlook. Jack wasn’t the best looking guy in the school
but he wasn’t the worst either. He wanted someone beautiful like Tina. He couldn’t go out
with someone like Yvonne. She had a mouth full of metal braces and she wore glasses that
were as thick as a coke bottle. Even talking to her might ruin his chances with Tina.
Jack had to be sure Tina didn’t think he was interested in someone else. Yvonne didn’t
seem to be taking the hint. She was constantly showing up in the hall or cafeteria
just as Jack arrived. He was pretty sure it wasn’t by accident. Fortunately, Yvonne sat
on the other side of the Math classroom from Jack and Tina. She was too far away to talk to him during class.

Jack saw the opportunity. Tina came into class with a brace on her wrist. Jack over heard her
telling a friend that she had twisted her wrist rollerblading. This was the perfect chance.
Jack would offer to carry Tina’s books to her next class. Not because he liked her, but because
he was a concerned friend who wanted to help out. Tina had Science next and Jack had English.
After he got Tina to class, Jack would have to rush to make English without being tardy.
But it was worth the risk. While they were walking, he would have at least five minutes to
impress Tina and get her to open up. It was fate that she hurt her wrist. He finally had the
chance to talk to her. Jack couldn’t focus on Math class. He was busy practicing what he would say to Tina.

A few minutes before the bell rang to end Math Jack leaned over to Tina and said,
“I could carry your books to Science for you. Your wrist is sprained and you might need some help.”
Tina smiled and said “Why thank you Jack. That would be very nice.” Jack’s eyes lit up.
Only two minutes till the end of Math and the first step of his plan had worked perfectly.
Jack already knew what he would say in the hall as they walked. He had rehearsed the whole
conversation at least three times in his head. He would chat about Math and the stupid annoying
teacher. Then, he would pretend to notice that Tina had a long walk home carrying all
those books. Since she let him carry her books to Science, he was sure that if he offered,
she would let him carry her books home. It was the perfect plan. On the walk home, Tina would
be able to open up. It would be a much deeper conversation because it would only be the
two of them. Jack would rehearse for the rest of the day to be sure he was ready.

The bell rang. Jack stood up and moved around to Tina’s desk. Yvonne was standing there.
She’d better not mess this up, he thought. “Hi Tina, I heard you’re going out with Tommy Johnson
this Friday?” Yvonne asked. “That sure got around fast.” Tina replied. She smiled and said,
“He just asked me this morning. I’m so excited.” Yvonne looked at Jack and got a big smile.
Then she looked back at Tina and said “He is so cute. You two would make a great couple.”
Tina giggled and said “I hope he asks me to the Fall dance.” Yvonne turned to Jack and asked, “
Isn’t Tommy one of your good friends Jack?” Jack was speechless. In less than ten seconds
all of his plans had been destroyed. For two weeks Jack had been trying to get close to Tina and now
it was all ruined. The Fall dance was two months away and she was already making plans to be with
someone else. Jack’s hopes were shattered. All he could mutter was “Uh huh.” To add insult to injury,
now he had to carry Tina’s books all the way to Science class knowing the whole time she was
thinking of someone else. Tommy was a close friend. He and Jack had known each other since the
second grade. But how could Tina be interested in him. He was such a loser. She must really be
shallow to be interested in someone like Tommy. With his big hair and shiny teeth, Tommy was all
flash with no substance. Boy, Tina was a terrible judge of men. Jack couldn’t believe it.
Yvonne smiled again and said “See you at lunch Tina. Bye Jack.”

It was a long walk to Tina’s Science class. Jack had never taken this route because his
English class was at the other end of the building. It was a change to his routine.
Tina smiled and said hi to friends as they walked the hall together. Jack didn’t say anything.
He just felt like throwing up. His chance with Tina was ruined. What a roller coaster.
Ten minutes ago, Jack was happy and on top of the world. Now he had hit bottom, carrying books
around like a broken mule. Oh great, there was Tommy. He smiled and winked at Tina. She smiled
and said “Hi Tommy”, with a giggle.

When they arrived at Tina’s Science class, Jack followed her in and set her books on the desk.
He said “See ya, Tina”, and quickly turned away to get away. He couldn’t stand the sight of Tina for
another minute. What a loser she had been. Boy was I wrong about her, Jack thought. She doesn’t know
a good thing when she sees it.

As he walked out of the classroom, Jack noticed someone new. She was tall with a nice figure and long red hair.
When she turned towards Jack she smiled and said “Hi there”, as she walked by. Jack wasn’t sure but she might be
the most beautiful girl in the world.

See The Girl (Part Two) at Fiction 046

Scott M Thompson
Contact: scott_m_thompson@yahoo.com
Copyright 2009 Scott M Thompson
Reviews and Comments requested
Posted 9/22/2009