Title: April Fool

Author: Tanglefire

Author's Email: jen_

Feedback: * snigger * let me know what you think of this little piece.

Rating: PG for the word 'bitch.' And perhaps 'sluttiest'

Summary: HET. Ali likes Jay and is really nervous around him. An April fools prank and confusion ensues. Written in diary form.

Author's notes: Another assignment for English. I couldn't think of a decent plot, so I threw this together at the last minute. Excuse the tackiness. Also, I do realise that if someone April fools someone after noon, they're the fool, but afternoon April fools can still hurt.

WARNING: Contains themes that could be considered corny by any sentient person.

Dear Diary,

Today was completely typical. I arrived at school, ten minutes early as usual. I passed down the hallway, cheerful and bright, almost eager. Totally relaxed. A good ten hours sleep contributes greatly to this.

So I walked along, waving and saying "Hi" to various people, a couple of my friends began to walk with me, you know, the usual morning happenings. We laughed, we gossiped, I was chattering a hundred miles an hour until. I saw him. Jay.

I actually stopped in my tracks. I even stopped halfway through a sentence. I may have stopped breathing, but I can't be sure. He was with some other guys. I didn't notice who they were though. I was totally absorbed by the way he. talked? Walked? Existed. Everything about Jay.

His gaze lifted and he looked directly at me. How embarrassing! I knew immediately I had turned either red or white, and something took me and I suddenly broke away from my friends and rushed ahead of them, away from Jay.

Oh sod. Didn't I promise myself I wouldn't be so transparent every time I laid eyes on this guy? That I might exercise a little self control? Now, of course, my friends noticed this odd behaviour. They caught up to me pretty quickly.

"Ali, are you okay?" No, I'm in hell, why does he have such beautiful eyes?

"Ali, you've gone pale." Great. Well I suppose pale is better than bright red. Less noticeable.

Grr. Grr. Grr. Did I mention this happens every time I see him by surprise? I'm okay when I'm prepared, like before class, but when he just pops out of nowhere. I'm doomed.

A few excuses, such as I have to print something before class, got me out of being grilled by my friends. I wonder if they actually believed me. Hmm..

So my morning was a bit weird and embarrassing. What else happened today?

Oh, the torture. I had biology, and Jay's in my class. This is good, except so are a bunch of other girls who flirt endlessly with anything on two legs. Well, that's an exaggeration; they don't flirt with girls. But. UGH! I mean, I thought I was transparent. At least I don't flirt like the last elephant seal to get a mate before winter. Get a load of this.

Beginning of the lesson, the teacher hadn't arrived yet. I was sitting on my own in the fourth row, hoping someone decent would sit with me. (None of my friends are in my biology class, so moral support is non-existent in the case of lost homework, or being called on to answer impossible questions.)

I couldn't believe it when Jay sat almost next to me. He was about half a space away. He cast me a smile and settled himself down. Oh wow - oh wow - oh - wow. I was thinking that perhaps the lesson wouldn't be so bad after all.

Well I thought too soon didn't I? No sooner had I recovered long enough to actually ask him a question, like how he was or something when.

"Ja-ay!!!" Linda Johansen, the absolute sluttiest girl in the entire school, entered the room with a hysterical wave in Jay's direction. Then she ran over and dragged a chair from another desk and parked herself between us. I. Hate. Her.

I tried to glare at her, but she wasn't looking at me, she was too busy chatting up the guy of my dreams, making jokes, earning his laughter. I was so peeved. Why can't I make him laugh?

Great, now I've depressed myself. I'm not writing any more, perhaps I'll write more tomorrow. Got to go do my homework.

Oh life isn't fair! I'm crying at this very moment. It's an hour since I last wrote. I can't believe what has happened since then. My life is over. And I hate Jay. I never want to speak to him again.

Okay, I'll try to get it out. I was doing some maths study, the phone rang and I answered it.

"Hello, Ali speaking."

"Hi Ali. it's Jay."

I couldn't believe it! Jay was phoning me? Where'd he get my number? I was so excited (and terrified) that I almost forgot to answer him.

"H- hi! Why are you calling me? I mean -" I felt like kicking myself, but I pressed on. "I mean, how are you?"

"I'm good. Listen, I wanted to ask you something."

"Su - sure. Go ahead."

"Will you go out with me Ali?"

Didn't believe him at first, so I said, "Sorry, what was that?"

"Will you go out with me?"

So I freaked out, silently. I was so blissed I nearly hit the roof. With a grin so big I almost couldn't speak I began to answer. "Yeah, of co-"

But I was interrupted. The little BITCH who I thought was a kind beautiful person suddenly yelled, "Ha ha! Just kidding! April fool!"

I felt like I had been slapped in the face, but at the same time totally confused.

"But. it's not." I began, and then glanced up at my calendar. April 1sy. How humiliating.

I head a male voice laugh at the other end. Several male voices. So he rung me surrounded by his friends as a joke. I can't believe it.

If I hadn't been on the cordless phone, I would have slammed it down. Instead, I switched it off and pelted it as hard as I could into the floor and thew myself on the bed. I thought I was going to cry, but I didn't at first. At first I was angry, really angry. And I still am, but now I'm just completely embarrassed and I feel so rejected. To think that tomorrow I have to face Jay and know that he knows and I'll know that he doesn't. like me at all probably.

I don't want to go to school tomorrow. But Mum will make me.

Dear Diary, 2nd April - I know now to keep an eye on the date

I haven't left for school yet. It's still morning. I was right. Mum says I have to go to school, now matter how embarrassing. No, I didn't tell her what was embarrassing, just that I was going to die if I went to school. That was probably not a good approach, but I wasn't really thinking straight. I'm not thinking straight now. I don't even know rightly why I'm writing now, since nothing's happened. I think I just want to record this nervousness.

Well here you go. I am officially nervous.

Life is fantastic! Life is so cool and I'll never like anyone but Jay! Here's what happened when I got to school and it's nothing like I had expected. Here goes:

I was walking down the hall ignoring my friends, not wanting to speak to them or anyone ever again, when lo and behold, nightmare of nightmares, I saw Jay.

I tried to look untroubled, but I know I gave him a good healthy glare. He looked shocked and (would you believe it) hurt. And I was thinking, 'you've got nothing to be angry about. You had the time of you life last night, didn't you?' I wanted so much to say it to him, to unveil his immaturity, show him up for how insensitive he'd been. In fact, I was just about to walk over to him. I don't know where the confidence came from, but it was there. Anyway, I didn't have to. He came over to me.

"Ali. Hi." He said quietly.

'Well of all nerve,' I was thinking. 'This guy actually has the nerve to greet me in the morning.'

"How are you?" he asked.

"Why do you care?" I snapped back. He looked shocked and (gawd) hurt again.

"I was just asking," he replied.

"Oh, you mean how you 'just asked' me out last night? Except you didn't mean it, so I'm assuming you don't actually care how I am right now. Goodbye." I walked away, but he caught my elbow. I drew away like I'd touched fire, but turned to face him again. I was ready to explode, but then I looked directly into his eyes, and almost cried. It really flooded back how much I like him, and the most incredible feeling that I'd lost something when he phoned me flooded my mind. But I still couldn't help thinking how adorable he looked, curse him. I almost regretted pulling my elbow from his grip. How dare he make me lose my pride!

"Ali, I'm feeling kinda."

This was my chance to regain any dignity. "Angry? You've got no right to be angry. You had the time of your life last night, didn't you?" So I got to say what I planned. But it didn't feel as good as I'd hoped. It felt rotten to be yelling at him, but I couldn't help it, unless I was going to break down and beg him to like me, and no way would I ever stoop so low. Anger was the safest choice of emotion.

"No, I'm feeling bad. About what I did."

"Bad? Oh great!" I exclaimed sarcastically. "Pity's the last thing I need right now. Don't do me any favours."

"That's not what I mean!" he seemed to be getting annoyed. 'Well, good on him', I thought.

"Then what did you mean?" I asked. I'm ashamed to say I may have sounded slightly hysterical by then.

"Would you stop interrupting me?"

"Oh, it bruises your male ego to be interrupted by a girl, does it? So you're a chauvinist pig, are you?" I put two fingers in my mouth and whistled loudly. Several heads turned. "Everyone, this guy is a chauvinist pig!" I yelled dramatically, waving my arms. By now everyone was staring at us, and a few people sniggered.

I know, I can be a bit dramatic sometimes, but by now I was fuming. Now I laugh at that particular outburst. But I'll tell you what happened next.

Jay was bright red, ('serves him right' I thought) though he was trying to look like it was all part of a joke. "Oh, you're so embarrassing sometimes Ali, " he said with a ghastly false laugh, loud enough for everyone to hear. More people sniggered. Then Jay grabbed me by the elbow, harder this time and before I could protest yanked me into the nearest classroom, which happened to be empty. I was so furious I didn't speak at first, just folded my arms and waited for him.

"Ali, I want to ask you something," he asked, looking determined.

"What? Is it really that important?" I asked.

"Yes! Okay? Now before you interrupt, and before I lose my nerve, tell me this." He hesitated. Then spoke before I could think of another insult. "When I. fooled that. Uhh. were you... uh. all that upset?"

What a question! "Yes, of course I was upset. I'm still upset, and angry, in case you couldn't tell. How would you feel if someone tried to make you look like an idiot?"

"But I mean," he continued. "Were you upset because maybe, you wanted to go out with me? Because perhaps you like m." his voice trailed off.

It was almost the undoing of tears. I felt like crying, he'd hit so close to home, he'd actually struck it. I almost considered lying, but decided to be honest.

"Yes Jay, I do. I really do. No, wait -" I lifted my forefinger as if making an important point. "Did. Did like you, Jay. Not anymore. I don't like guys who play fools like that. I hate you." I finished with a grim smile, and saw from the look on his face that he knew I was lying in the last part, and still liked him.

"So, you don't like me anymore?" he asked, knowing that I did.

"No," I replied. "And backtracking a bit, why do you feel bad about last night?"

"That's something else I wanted to talk about. See, I feel bad because, well, the reason asked you out like that was because with that escape route, the April fool, I was safe in the case of you saying no."

"But why would you need it? You said no anyway."

"I only said no because my friends were there and thought the whole thing was a joke. See, my friends don't know that I like."

"That you like." I prompted.

"Well, you," he said with a little laugh. I suddenly lost the ability to speak, so he kept talking. "So I was practically sure you would turn me down, but wanted to be absolutely sure, so I thought the April fools idea was good. I thought I could say "April fool' just as you started to say no, so you would think the whole thing was a joke." He blushed. "I didn't think of what to do if you said yes, so I wasn't prepared. I just blurted out what was on the tip of my tongue." He stopped talking and looked up at me. "I hope you can forgive me," he said shyly.

I couldn't answer him. I couldn't speak.

"Ali?"

Finally I answered him. "You mean you actually meant to ask me out?"

Still blushing, but with the cutest shy smile he replied, "Yes."

"Are you asking me now?"

"Yeah, I was getting to that. I still want to go out with you; I think you're really cool. And pretty." (My gosh, could he have blushed any more?) "And despite you. dramatic performance. in the hallway just now, I know you have a serene side."

By then I was the one blushing, and he looked amused. I felt really stupid for all the things I'd done and said. "Oh Jay, I'm so sorry about that!"

"Don't mention it," he said grinning.

"I'm sorry, I was just so angry but I had no right to be -"

"You had every right to be. Please don't worry about it," he said soothingly.

"Thanks Jay." I said.

We stood smiling at each other, until I said; "I suppose we may be needing each other's phone numbers then."

"Sure, have you got a pen I could write it with?"

"No, crud, only in the depths of my schoolbag. I'd have to dig it out of my pencil case, and there isn't time."

"No problem. I can just get it off you in class."

"All right," I nodded. "Well, we'd better go."

He opened the door, stepped out and looked back at me. "Won't you be coming? The bell just went I think."

I was so dazed by what had happened I was still standing in the empty classroom. "Yeah of course." I followed him, and then we parted in the hall to go to our separate homerooms.

"Well see you later," he waved.

"Yeah, bye!" I answered him. He backed into his classroom, still waving and smiling at me. He wasn't looking where he was going, and backed straight into his homeroom teacher. I suppressed a snigger.

"Late again Jay?" grilled Mr. Prasad.

"Oh, sorry sir," he said quickly. Casting one last sheepish smile in my direction, his face was at last hidden as Mr. Prasad closed the door.

Oh I'm so happy! How I could have been angry with Jay and said all those outrageous things I can only imagine, and laugh about them. I'm so over the moon, I couldn't care less about my marks right now.

I can't tell you about the rest of my day yet, because it hasn't happened. I'm writing this in homeroom.

Bye for now!

Yours, Over the Moon Ali

(Look, I know I don't normally give salutations, but I needed another way of expressing myself, and 'Over the Moon Ali' has a sort of ring to it, don't you think?)

FINIS