Page 7 of Once Bitten

“What about, um...Princess Charming?” She eyed me, questioningly.

“For the hundredth time... I’m not a lesbian! I’m not single by MY choice.”

“Oh come on, you’re so pretty. It’s because you’ve got your nose buried in a book all the time that you don’t notice the guys ogling you.”

“Yeah, look closely, those guys all have lazy eyes and they’re actually aiming their luring leers at you.”

“Fine. But mark my words, I’m not going to Prom without you.”

She actually sounded like she meant it.

***

“Geez, where is everyone?” I wondered, looking around at the half empty halls.

“Where do you think?” Heather replied, shoving her books into her locker and slamming it shut before they could fall out. “Getting their moustaches trimmed.”

“Yeah, but what about the girls?”

“I WAS talking about the girls,” Heather grinned at me.

I snorted, she could make such jokes, she didn’t have a hair out of place let alone a whole upper lip full.

“Yeah, but it’s only Thursday, I thought the mass ‘sick absence’ wouldn’t happen until tomorrow?”

“Babe, for some poor souls, it takes more than just a day to look night time appropriate.”

“I’d take a whole week if I was getting ready for the Prom tomorrow night.”

Heather turned and smiled sadly at me, “you SURE you don’t wanna go?”

I nodded, and leaned my head on her shoulder.

“Oh well, you never know what might happen at the last moment.”

“The gym might get swallowed up by a hellhole?” I suggested hopefully.

“Hey girls.” A body pushed in between us and wrapped a leather clad arm around our shoulders.

“Ugh, what do you want, Finn? I thought we agreed not to talk to each other at school.” Heather shrugged her brother’s arm off; I tried not to grab it and pull it tight around me.

“I’m not here to talk to you, sister dearest, I’m here for the pleasure of Kara’s company.” He turned and gave me the full of glare of his 1000 kilowatt smile.

“Oh. Um, is there something I can help you with? Do you need my math homework notes?” I stammered. After 10 years of knowing him, I could still barely get a sentence out without tripping over my own tongue.

“No, he’s grounded, he should have had plenty of time to do it himself,” Heather said.

“So cynical at such a young age,” he ignored his sister and said to me. “I am here to...” He stopped and turned to his sister. “Don’t you have a nose to powder or something?”

“I think you’ve had enough powder in your nose.” She said to him warningly.

“Oh hush. Silly rumors. But since you couldn’t take a polite hint – go away. I’d like to talk to Kara alone please.”

“Is that ok, Kara?” She asked me...and winked.

“Um, yeah, sure.” I’d never really been alone with him before, but I wasn’t going to give up this chance.

She stopped and let us go on ahead.