Nova and Shawn [Part One]

Nova: 1

“You wish.” Shawn said, with a light-hearted yet mocking smile.2

And the sad thing was...yeah, I did.3

Shawn had been my best friend since the first day of kindergarten when he squirted glue up his nose and I had helped him scoop it out with my lunch spoon. And that was his response to my teasing comment about whom he was taking to the upcoming dance.4

“Winter formal is coming up soon. Are you going to be so lame as to resort to asking your best friend?” I had said, all the while knowing I should have kept my mouth shut. I couldn’t bear not knowing whom he was planning to ask. Shawn has never had a serious girlfriend, but I knew it was only a matter of time. It wasn’t as if girls weren’t interested. Oh, no...quite the opposite.5

Shawn was one of those guys who had everything going for him. He’s kind, sweet, and very smart. He’s strong and courageous, yet he’s sensitive when he needs to be and is a great shoulder to cry on. And he’s gorgeous. Icy blue eyes peer out from under his cropped hair. He has high cheekbones, full lips, and a strong jaw. He’s got muscles, too. Not body-builder muscles, but enough to notice. Standing at 6’3” he towers over my five feet, six inches.6

It was almost as if he couldn’t see it though. He certainly doesn’t act like a guy who has tons of girls after him.7

We walked down the halls of J. D. Smith High and into the busy cafeteria. I followed Shawn to our usual table in the back. Abigail and Brett were already there.8

“Nova!” Abigail called to me as we neared.9

“Hey Abby!” I sat down next to her and she slung her arm over my shoulder, hugging me to her tall frame.10

“What’d you bring for lunch? I want to mooch.”11

I laughed and pulled out my lunch sack. I handed her a container of ravioli I had made this morning. Abby is exceptionally tall and has an extremely fast metabolism so she can pretty much eat whatever she likes. Which is usually a lot.12

“Hey can I get one of those?” Shawn said, spearing one of my ravioli’s with his fork and popping it in his mouth13

“Hey!” I glowered at him. “I’m going to starve if you guys don’t stop eating my food.” I took my ravioli back from Abby. She’d already eaten a good potion of it.14

Shawn laughed, shrugged, and stole another ravioli. “We can’t help it if you bring really appetizing food.”15

Brett laughed too, then decided to try one for himself.16

“No, seriously guys. I need to eat.” I shielded my food with my hand, and quickly finished it before my friends could even think of taking more. Not that there was much left to finish.17

“What else did you bring?” Abby said, peering into my sack.18

I snatched it away from under her. “Nothing for you,” I teased.19

Brett laughed and then changed the subject. “So, have you guys got dates to the dance, yet?”20

Abby sighed, “nope.”21

“Same.” I said, sighing as well.22

“Yep, me neither.” Shawn said.23

“That makes four of us.” Brett said.24

“Her, maybe we should all go together! Not dates this time. Just the gang.” She smiled, giddy at the idea.25

I, of course, was delighted with the idea as well. That would mean, A) I didn’t have to find a date (or look stupid if I couldn’t get one, which was very likely), B ) Shawn wouldn’t be able to take a date, which would result in, C) no jealousy on my part. “Yeah! That’d be cool.” I said, smiling.26

Shawn nodded, “I’m in.”27

“Okay, sure.” Brett said, suddenly very interested in the textbook he had on his lap. Weird. He hated schoolwork. Brett was one of those guys who goofs off in class and never turns in his homework. While normally, these guys irritate the hell out of me, Brett’s got a good heart and he’s really fun to hang out with. Another reason I tolerate him is because he doesn’t have a huge ego like most hot guys. He’s tall (about an inch taller than Shawn) and very muscular, with chocolate brown eyes that show loyalty plainly in them. He’s got a chiseled face with acute features. If I weren’t so gone on Shawn, I might have had a small crush on him, even though he’s far from my type. That is, he’s not Shawn.28

We had all decided to meet at the front steps after school to go for yogurt. Brett was already there when I got to the steps. Shawn and Abby had yet to come.29

“So...” Brett said, not meeting my gaze. “Do you like this idea of us all going together in a group?”30

“Yeah. I think it’ll be fun.” I said, smiling at him.31

He was squinting into the distance. “Yeah, I guess. I just...” he took a deep breath. “I kind of wanted to ask someone.”32

“You’re going to ditch us just like that?” I teased him, nudging him with my elbow. “That’s fine. Abby, Shawn, and I will keep the punch bowl company by ourselves.” Brett laughed. “Who are you going to ask?”33

Brett turned to look at me now, all signs of laughter vanished from his face. “You.”34

“W-What?” I whispered.35


Brett: 36

I could not believe I had just asked Nova to the dance. I had planned this for months, knowing all the time I wouldn’t have the courage to do it.37

And her response was surely enough to haunt me for weeks. How could she not see how obsessed I was with her?38

“Hey guys,” Abby said as she and Shawn approached.39

I hadn’t heard them approaching, and Abby’s greeting started me.40

“Woah, why so jumpy, Brett?” Abby Asked.41

I smiled, brushing her comment off.42

Shawn linked his arm through Nova’s, causing jealousy to brew inside me. I wish I could be that close to Nova.43

We arrived at the smoothie place in what seemed like no time. I knew I was being abnormally quiet, but I couldn’t bring myself to be upbeat. Nova kept glancing at me but I could never quite read the expression on her face.44

“I have to go to the restroom.” Nova said, getting up.45

“Me too.” I said, following her. What was I doing?46

Nova and I walked down the small orange-colored hall that led to the bathrooms in silence. We stopped at the unisex bathroom at the end of the hall.47

“You go ahead.” I said.48

She nodded, but didn’t move. “Did you mean what you said earlier?”49

I sighed.50

“Sorry – I shouldn’t have said anything.” She said, taking a step towards the bathroom.”51

I slipped my hand into hers, and tugged her gently back to me until she was so close I felt like my heart was going to explode it was beating so fast. “Yes.” I said. And then my lips were on hers.52

She froze. I pulled back to look at her. She blushed. “I’m sorry...I—I wasn’t expecting that.”53

I took a step back, “so will you go to the dance with me?”54

“I—me?”55

I laughed dryly. Nervously. “Yes, you.”56

She looked blown away by my request. Flattered, even. But I knew what her answer was; it was plain on her face. “I think we should go as a group.”57

She was being polite, but the rejection still hit me just as hard. “Okay.” I said, trying to remain calm and collected, “Save me a dance, though.” I faked a smile, and walked back to the tables.58