Phases of Love

1

Seasons pass by quickly. Everything seems to blend together at an even pace. Such is the love life of a simple hometown girl named Adrianna. 2

Arianna or Ari as her friends like to call her is your typical teenager. Outside of school she likes to go shopping, listen to music and hang out with her friends. One thing she consistently found herself lacking was a boyfriend. She knew there were a lot of good looking guys but she wasn’t quite sure where to begin looking. It was the summer before her junior year in high school. She woke up on the morning of the first day of school and thought ‘this is the year my love life is going to change….. For the better.’3

So thus begins her journey……4

For the past couple of years her love life has followed somewhat of an unlucky streak. She seemed to be channeling her energies between the jockish popular types. This didn’t work out very well for her a lot of the time because these boys never really paid much attention to her In Eighth Grade Arianna had written a love letter to a boy she liked who was a few years older than she… that plan backfired miserably. Seeing how her unlucky streak and not wanting it to continue for very much longer her friends decided to aid her in finding “perfect man” if such a man existed at their school. This is how Operation Fix up Ari came to be founded. 5

At every sporting event or any other school event where there were a lot of people in attendance Arianna and her friends kept their eyes opened for any hot guys they knew were single. An endless sea of possibilities surrounded them. So much that at times it was bombarding. By the end of the first two weeks of classes they already had a list of possibilities and were thinking of who they could hook Arianna up with. 6

Then it was that time of year again…. Homecoming. It was a crazy week full of inter class competition to see which grade would come out as the best. And of course with every homecoming week there is a homecoming dance. “Hey Ari, got any ideas of who you want to ask to homecoming yet?” Arianna’s best friend Crystal asked Adrianna at lunch one day. Adrianna was totally blank and one single name could not come to her mind at all. “No, not really.” She replied “How about Rick Danielson from Chemistry class?” Her friend Rachel suggested. Adrianna sat chewed on her carrot stick thoughtfully ‘Rick’s a pretty nice guy and we get along decently enough ‘she thought. “Okay, sure that might work.” She answered nodding her head vigorously.” 7

The next day in chemistry class Arianna had a really hard time focusing on what her teacher was talking about. She kept staring at the back of Rick’s head wondering how she was going to work up the nerve to ask him to the dance. Finally after what seemed like an eternity the period was over and everyone started to clean up their work stations. Out of the corner of her eye Arianna saw Rick strolling over to her work station 8

“Hey Ari, I heard you were looking for a date for homecoming.” Rick said in a nonchalant manner. “Yes, in fact I am Arianna answered back as her heart skipped a beat. “How would you like to go with me?” Rick asked. Arianna’s jaw dropped. Rick must have read her mind as to knowing she wanted to ask him if he asked before she could even get the words out of her mouth. “Yes, I would love to go with you.” She answered once she got over her initial wave of shock. “ Okay, great. What time should I pick you up on Friday night?” Rick asked . “7:15 is fine” Adrianna answered. “7:15 it is see you then. The bell rang and Arianna and her classmates made their way out of the chem. lab and on to their next classes. 9

Arianna spent the rest of the morning in a complete fog. She couldn’t believe that Rick had asked her to homecoming. At lunch she walked over to her regular table and sat down smiling to herself. “What’s wrong with you? You look completely giddy.” Rachel asked her. “You are correct, I am giddy. I bet you could guess why.” Her friends stared at her in confused shock and confusion. “Did Rick ask you to the dance?” Crystal asked. All Arianna could do was smile and nod. Screams erupted from everyone else at the table. “ Ari, we’re so happy for you that are so great.” Crystal got up and hugged her friend tightly. “I know I’m pretty excited too, I can’t wait til Friday.” 10

The rest of the week went by in a total blur for Ari. Finally it was Friday… the day of the dance. As she was getting ready for the dance she thought to her ‘Could tonight be my night? Is Rick the guy I’ve been waiting for?’ At 7:15 sharp the doorbell rang. Air opened the door and there stood Rick. Once again Ari was speechless if Rick looked cute in everyday clothes he looked twenty times as cute in a tuxedo. “You look pretty Ari.” Rick said handing her a flower. Arianna blushed. “Thanks, you look very handsome yourself.” Rick took Ari by the hand and let her to the car. “Your chariot awaits us.” He said.11

The gym had been transformed into a 1970s theme. Ari was blown away at what a remarkable job the decorating committee had done. It was the best the gym had ever looked for a homecoming dance. The night was full of dancing and lots of good times. Ari was still in shock that Rick had asked her to go to the dance with her and was even in a stronger sense of awe with the amounts of fun she was having with him. The music was paused and the president of the homecoming committee came over the loudspeaker. It was time for the part of the dance that everyone that been waiting for the announcement of homecoming king and queen. “Hey everyone how’s everyone doing tonight?” Emily Stone asked. The crowed erupted in hoots, hollers and applause. “It’s time to announce the winner of the coveted title of homecoming king and queen... the envelope please.” The room suddenly got pin drop quiet. “This year’s prom king is Aaron Guathier.” Air turned her eyes to look in the crowd for Aaron, who was the captain of the varsity basketball team. Aaron made his way up to the stage. “Joining Aaron as this year’s homecoming queen will be Crystal Simenson.” Air screamed like she had never screamed before she couldn’t believe her best friend had won homecoming queen. This had to be the culmination to the best week of her life… there was no way things could possibly get any better. 12

As the night started to wear down and strains of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven started to come out of the speakers Ari’s head was nestled on Rick’s shoulder and she was smiling quietly. This had simply been the best homecoming night out all three years of high school so far. Maybe it was because she didn’t feel like such a wallflower anymore. 13