“Well, until 1641, Moravia’s capital was the centrally-located Olomouc, but after its capture by the Swedes it moved to Brno, who repelled the invaders successfully,” Sam replied.
“Very good, class is excused. Sam, come to the front for your candy.” Sam looked smug as I walked by him, with a grudging look at him. He knew that we were even for reputation after he had gotten a 129.9% on his math test. As I walked to my locker, Sam caught up to me and asked me what I was doing after school.
“Nothing, far as I know. Wait, I have Tai Chi practice at 5:15. Why?”
“Oh, I just wondered if you wanted to some ice cream with me. Think you have time? I’ll pay. Anything under $2.50.”
“Sure, why not?”
So at exactly 2:36, Sam and I were to be found at Dairy Keen, eating their ice cream at a table-for-two. They were enjoying each other’s wit and humor.
“…Nevermore, never-" I suddenly stopped in reciting Poe’s epic. There was Jean, the witch of my existence.
“-more,” finished Sam, smiling. ”What’s up? It’s not that hard, is it?”
“I, I, I have to go! This was really fun and nice and all that, but I have to go!” Sam, confused, glanced back at the entrance behind him. He saw Jean, Christie, Carla Sanchez, who supposedly had more friends that anybody in the whole school, and Teddy Riggs, who was a trouble maker small enough to save his own hide, enter, as I, my cheeks burning, left. Carla, Jenna, Christie, and Teddy went to order, but Jean made a beeline for Sam. I overheard some of their conversation.
“So, you really like Aly, don’t you?” Jean asked with a flip of her hair and a seemingly innocent smile.
“Well, it is nice not to have to slow down to be understood, for a change,” Sam replied.
Jenna either didn’t get the put-down or ignored it. “Interesting, have you chosen who you want to go to the Valentines Day Dance tomorrow yet?”
“Yes-“ Sam started.
“Yes! I-“ Jean seemed very eager to go on.
“-but it’s not you,” Sam finished. Jean’s energy left her like a deflated balloon.
“Who is it? Is it Aly? I’ll bet its Aly!” As she said this Jean’s expression changed very rapidly from confusion to recognition to contempt.
Sam simply stood up and said, with a straight face, “It’s none of your business.” He laid down a five dollar bill and three quarters down on the table. “Sorry, but it’s time for me to leave. See you later, Jean, Ted, girls.” The door shut behind him with a tinkle and the train running around the tracks by the ceiling tooted its horn, surprising Jean.
The next day, as I was getting my gym clothes out of her locker, I saw a piece of paper on her books. It was red, and folded to look like a heart.
I opened it as my heart raced. It said:
“Roses are red
Violets are blue
I want to go to the Valentines Dance-
WITH YOU! Call me 555-735♥”
I tucked the note into my pocket as I raced toward the gym. I got there right before Mr. Harrison, and changed quickly. I knew he would mark her tardy, but I didn’t care. As soon as I got home I was dialing that number.
When I got home I made myself a PB & J and went upstairs to my room. Thanks to my uncle Joe, I had a phone to plug into the empty socket in my room. I didn’t even have to pull the paper out of my pocket to dial, I had memorized it that day.
The phone on the other end rang for so long, I was about to give up when someone finally picked it up.
“Hello?” said someone whose voice I knew well.
“Sam?!” I said in amazement. I hadn’t exactly thought anyone would want to go to the dance with me, let alone Sam!
“Hey, Aly! Apparently you got my note, or you would’ve known who you were calling. So, will you?”
“Will I what?”
A sigh. “Go to the dance with me tonight.”
“Umm, well… alright. Wait, what about Jean? Who is she going with?”
“No clue. Why should I care? Hey, you know what? Thanks! If you had said no, Jean probably would’ve been on me like no other. I’ll bet she already has our wedding planned. I wonder what’s for dessert.”
“WHAT??!!”
“Hey, I was just kidding! No need to freak out! I’ll-“ Sam seemed to enjoy his little joke.
“Keep your distance,” I finished. There was laughter from both ends. We chatted until we decided it was homework time. We hung up reluctantly after making plans of where to meet.
That night at the dance, I didn’t see Jean anywhere. As Sam and I waltzed passed Carla and Ted, I thought, “This could last”