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Three Wishes
Or: Be Careful What You Wish For
“For my first wish, I wish…I wish that I was beautiful,”
When my neighbor, Ashley picked me up for the drive to school, she commented on how nice I looked. I smiled and thanked her, feeling my self-esteem shooting up. I wondered how everyone else would respond. There was one reaction in particular that I was waiting for.
It was late when we got to school, and I had to head straight for Chemistry. I could feel the eyes of my classmates on me as I walked to my seat. Quinn Rogers, who was seated next to me, snuck a glance in my direction, and smiled at me when I caught him looking. I love being beautiful. I wonder what Kevin will think, I thought as I returned Quinn’s smile.
After the announcements were over, Mr. Pond put us into partners to work on the lab. He put me with Timothy Lakeland. Olivia Lakeland, one of my friends, and her partner, Quinn, took the bench across from us. As Tim and I set up the equipment for the lab, I noticed that Tim kept “accidentally” brushing up against me, and realized that he was flirting. It wasn’t every day that I had a boy flirting with me. I had never been in that situation before, and it would be a lie to say that I didn’t enjoy his attention. I only hoped that Kevin’s reaction would be the same.
We finished setting up the equipment, and we started to the lab. Everything went smoothly, and we finished with time to spare. I gave Tim my notes so that he could copy the data for himself.
“You have pretty handwriting, Aurelia,” he told me. Olivia was watching this, with a look on her face that I couldn’t interpret. Olivia was impossible to read, unlike me, who wore my emotions the same way that I wore a shirt.
“Thank you,” I answered, feeling myself blush a little bit. My ability to blush too easily was one thing that hadn’t changed about me.
“And, if you don’t mind me saying this, you look very pretty today,” he added, this time looking right at me. I blushed even more when he said that, and I didn’t know what to say.
“I…thank you, Tim,” I replied, and luckily I was saved by the bell. I grabbed my notebook and practically ran to English. I was still feeling…flustered from Tim’s comment.
Howie Smith came in at that moment and put his bag on the seat next to me. When I looked at him, he flashed me a grin. Billy Ross followed shortly, and asked Howie to move.
“That’s my seat,” he explained. We didn’t have assigned seats in that class, but Billy had been sitting in the same seat since the first day of school. Howie flicked his eyes to me and then back to Billy.
“You don’t always have to sit in the same seat. What if I want to sit next to Aurelia today?” Howie asked, stepping up to Billy, who was a good four or five inches taller than Howie. The two argued for a minute or two until Olivia came in. She picked up Howie’s things and put them on the floor, then slid into the seat next to me. The boys stared for a minute, then Howie picked up his things and they both sat in their seats, saying nothing more on the topic.
Olivia looked at me, obviously wanting an explanation of some sort. What could I say to her? I met a genie and my first wish was to be beautiful. Yeah, like she’d believe me. I had hardly believed it myself, until my first wish had been granted.
There wasn’t any time for me to say anything else, because at that time Mrs. Lawson called the class’s attention to her, asking if anyone had anything to say about the reading. Kevin raised his hand, and I felt my stomach fluttering as he spoke. I wouldn’t have been able to repeat what he was saying, though. I was too busy staring. He was the one that I wanted to impress, the one that I wanted to be my boyfriend. He was tall, lithe, with cropped blond hair and an air of walking into a room that made everyone stop and take notice. I’d had a crush on him since September, but he never seemed to notice me.
Olivia caught me as English ended, and she was still looking for an explanation.
“Okay, what is going on? Tim was flirting with you in Chemistry, Billy and Howie…and I could have sworn that Mike Fisher was making eyes at you,” she said, looking at me.
“I don’t know. Is there something wrong with guys looking at me?” I asked, suddenly feeling defensive. She shrugged.
“Just asking, I guess. It just seemed kind of weird, I guess.” She shrugged again and left for Band. I went to study hall, signed in, and then sat in my usual seat, taking out my Spanish homework. After about ten minutes of working, a shadow came over the table. I looked up.
“Do you have a dollar?” Tim asked, looking down at me. I felt myself flushing involuntarily, remembering the way he’d gotten me flustered that morning.
“Um, yeah, I think so,” I replied, and looked in my purse. I found a dollar and handed it to him. He flashed me that grin of his.
“Thanks,” he said, “I’ll pay you back tomorrow,” he promised, and went to buy himself something to eat. I went back to my Spanish homework, and managed to get through the rest of the period without being bothered. I was somewhat anxious for fourth period History, because Kevin was in that class with me.
As usual, I was the third person in the classroom – Bethany Moore and Matthew Keyser had both arrived just before me. I took my usual seat being Matt, and took out my book to read – or at least fake it. I was actually watching the rest of the class as they filed in, waiting for Kevin.
“Hey, Aurelia, you’re looking nice today,” Devin Bailey grinned, sitting next to me. Inwardly, I groaned. Devin was notorious as a ladies man. His was not the attention that I wanted.
“Thank you,” I replied crisply, and went back to my book. The bell rang less than a minute later, and Kevin sauntered in thirty seconds after that. I put down my book and hoped that he would say something – anything – to me, but he sat down in his seat and said nothing. I hid my disappointment.
“You all have papers to be working on, so get to it. I’ll sign passes if there’s someone who wants to go to the library,” Mr. Darcy said, not moving from his desk. Most of the girls left, in a giggling group.
I took out my notebook and pen. I’d written most of my paper – on Alexander the Great – the night before. I read over what I’d done and made corrections. The period was uneventful, much to my disappointment. I was slow in leaving the classroom, hoping that maybe Kevin would say something this time. He didn’t, and I finally headed to lunch. Olivia and Zach, Olivia’s boyfriend, were sitting at the table already. Luckily, Olivia mentioned nothing about our near-argument earlier, and the period passed by as usual.
Walking into Spanish with Olivia after lunch, I felt more eyes on me. Ronny Kinsey gave me a grin and a wink when I passed by him. I returned neither, knowing what he wanted (I’d heard the rumors about what – and who – he was willing to do). I wished that I could have gotten the same reaction from Kevin.
Spanish and Math after that, both passed by with nothing exciting. I had Sociology last period, and Kevin was in that class. It was my hope that this time he would speak to me. I sat down in my usual seat, in the far end of the classroom, the back row. Kevin didn’t as much as glance at me. Tim, however, did, and he came to sit right down next to me.
“How’s it going?” he asked, and I couldn’t help noticing the deep chocolate color of his eyes, framed by thick, dark eyelashes. I hadn’t realized before that Tim had such nice eyes. Of course, I’d never been close enough to observe them before.
“Uh, it’s okay,” I said, shrugging. I couldn’t very well tell him how disappointed I was regarding Kevin. Tim nodded.
“That’s cool,” he said, nodding, “Oh, um, about earlier,” he began, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you, or anything like that. It’s true, though. I think you look beautiful,” he added. I was blushing again. I didn’t know what I was supposed to say to him.
“I…I don’t mean to keep blushing,” I told him, “but no one has ever said that to me before,” I told him honestly. He scoffed, raising his eyebrows.
“I find that hard to believe,” he said. I didn’t reply, but I didn’t really have a chance to, because Ms. Jackson flicked off the lights and turned on the projector for us to take notes.
I went home at the end of the day, though, feeling as though my wish had failed. Kevin hadn’t noticed me and that was what I wanted more than anything.
“Yes. I wish that Kevin loved me.”
“That I cannot do.”
“Why not?”
“I cannot disturb free will. It is his choice to love your or not.”
“Oh. Then, I wish…I wish that I could read his thoughts.”
I chose another outfit I’d saved for ‘when I’m pretty’. This consisted of black capri pants, a white tank top, a red and black diagonal striped tie, red socks, and the same black boots. I wondered if this outfit would make a difference to Kevin.
When I got to Chemistry the next day, Pond told us to get to work on the second part of our lab. Tim gave me that grin again, and we got to work. Today he didn’t say anything embarrassing to me, but he did ‘accidentally’ brush his hand on mine a few times, and his leg even brushed against mine for a moment. I noticed Quinn looking at me a few times, but after the second time that Tim had touched my hand, he stopped staring, which I thought was slightly odd. Yet I said nothing.
When the period ended, Olivia and I walked to English together. She said nothing, though. Howie and Billy didn’t argue like they had yesterday. When Kevin walked in, I tuned into his thoughts, hoping I’d hear my name.
Now I have to do that fucking Calculus homework before third period which I don’t have time for and she’s looking at me again isn’t she oh shit I didn’t read the chapter for today I hope she doesn’t call on me I wonder if Mike will let my copy his Calculus Damn I didn’t get enough sleep last night I’m so tired …
I tuned out, not realizing that thoughts were that complicated and convoluted. There was nothing in there about me, and I sighed, feeling the disappointment settle into my stomach. I wanted the genie to make Kevin love me, but that wasn’t possible.
At lunch, Olivia couldn’t keep quiet any longer.
“There’s something weird going on and I’d like to know what it is,” she demanded, “why are all the guys hitting on you all of a sudden?” she asked.
“I told you, I don’t know!” I answered, but now she’d gotten Zach interested as well.
“Yeah, come to think of it, Ronny was giving you a look when he walked by. What’s up with that?” Zach asked.
“I already fucking told you that I don’t know!” I exclaimed, hating their accusatory tones. I got up from the lunch table, threw my remaining lunch away, and walked down the hallway, feeling my eyes well up with tears. I couldn’t even get my wishes right. Was I a screw up, or what?
“Hey, are you okay?” Tim’s voice caught my attention, and I turned to look at him. I must have looked so lame, tears running down my cheeks.
“Aww, hey, you don’t have to cry,” he told me and, totally unexpectedly, he wrapped his arms around me. At first it felt awkward, but he was gentle and strong at the same time and he smelled so nice, that I had to hug him back. His height made it perfect for me to nestle my head right at the crook of his neck, which I liked very much. I took a deep breath, inhaling his scent, which was a little bit of sweat, mixed with soap and something like vanilla. If this had been my boyfriend that I was hugging like this, it would have made the whole thing a whole lot better. But I want my boyfriend to be Kevin – not Tim!
“Now, what’s wrong?” He asked when I’d managed to stop crying and wipe my tears away. I was a little regretful that he’d let go of me, but I reminded myself that it was Kevin I liked, not Tim.
“A bunch of stuff. My friends are being rude and…” well, I couldn’t tell him about the genie, could I? “Just stuff. It doesn’t really matter anymore.” I told him, “thanks, though”.
“You’re welcome, I’m always glad to help,” he grinned, “I’ll see you seventh period, then?” he asked, and I nodded. We parted ways, and I was left feeling something…what was it? Tim was so nice, and he was considerably more attractive than I thought he’d been. If I hadn’t liked Kevin so much, I would have wanted Tim…
When I went to Spanish, I said nothing to Olivia, and she said nothing to me. In Math, I took notes, but my mind was on Tim, my third wish, Kevin, and the short argument I’d had with myself.
Seventh period came, and I sat down in my desk, still thinking. I was so deep in my thoughts that I barely noticed when Tim sat down next to me.
“Feeling better?” he asked. I nodded, giving him a smile.
“Much better, thank you,” but I didn’t think that was the truth. However, I knew that I couldn’t tell him about the genie and my failed wishes and how much I just wanted Kevin to like me.
“Are you sure?” he asked, somehow detecting my uncertainty. The concerned look that he gave me made we want to wrap my arms around him and confess everything. How could he make me feel this way?
“I don’t know, actually,” I replied, “something didn’t turn out the way that I expected it to,” I added. Tim nodded, and used a hand to brush his dark brown hair away from his eyes.
“Yeah, I totally know how that is,” he told me, giving me that slow grin. I felt an ache in my chest and wondered why it was Tim that was having this effect on me.
“So, I was wondering…” Tim began, and I froze, sensing what was coming next, “if maybe you’d want to do something with me tomorrow after school, you know, if you don’t have any plans or anything. I mean, you’re probably already doing something but I thought it would be worth a shot to ask and…say something, please?” He spoke very fast, looking nervous. I couldn’t respond at first, being shocked by what he’d just asked. He did like me. And it was all because I’d wished to be beautiful. Would he like me if I wasn’t beautiful?
“I…I’m sorry, Tim, but I can’t,” I replied, hating the way his face fell when I spoke those words. Damn, it’s not supposed to be this hard. I don’t like Tim, and he only likes me because of my looks. These wishes caused more trouble than they’re worth.
“Okay, yeah, I understand,” he said, but he looked so hurt that I wanted to take my words back. But I knew that I couldn’t do that. Tim turned away and didn’t say anything to me for the rest of the period. We went our separate ways at the end of the school day, and I went home, feeling even worse than I did the day before.
“I think I have.”
“And what will it be?”
“I wish that everything went back to the way it was before my first wish.”
“You wish to reverse your wish? You will forfeit your third wish, as well,”
“I know,”
When Ashley picked me up she didn’t say anything to me, but she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. I said nothing to her, and the drive to school was silent. I got into the Chemistry classroom and sat down in my seat behind Olivia. She turned around and looked at me.
“I’m sorry if I made you mad yesterday,” she said, “I guess I was being kind of rude.” She looked at me and I knew that she wanted forgiveness.
“It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I was being bitchy,” I told her in reply. Tim walked in the classroom at that moment, and I saw him glance at me, but then look away. His response only showed me that I was right in thinking that he only liked me when I was pretty.
Luckily for me, we weren’t working on our labs anymore. Instead, Pond wrote notes on the board for us to copy down. It was mindless work, which was also lucky, because I couldn’t stop thinking about Tim. As much as I hated to admit it, I liked him. And I’d screwed up my chance with him. But, you know now that he won’t be dating you only because you’re pretty. You wouldn’t want someone who’s that shallow, anyway, I told myself. It didn’t make me feel any better, though. When the bell rang at the end of the class, I bolted out of the classroom before I could even look at Tim, afraid that I might cry.
My concentration was minimal during English, but I managed to notice that all the boys didn’t stare at me anymore, and I found that I was actually happy about that. I didn’t like having everyone’s eyes on me. Third period, I found my table in study hall, and folded my arms, using them as a pillow for my head. Tears filled my eyes as I berated myself. How could you be so stupid? You’re granted three wishes and you couldn’t get what you wanted! Then you had someone and you lost him all because you’re selfish! What the hell is wrong with you?
“Um, Aurelia? Can I talk to you for a minute?” It can’t be Tim, can it? I looked up, and it was. He looked nervous. But when he saw me the nervous look changed to one of concern.
“Oh, hey, what’s the matter?” he asked, meanwhile taking the seat next to me and wrapping his arms around me. I let myself enjoy the feeling of it, knowing I’d never have something this good ever again. Being that close to him only made me cry harder, and I pulled away when I realized that I was getting his shirt all wet.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking concerned. And I found myself telling him.
“I wanted Kevin to like me but he didn’t even notice me and then I realized that I didn’t like Kevin any more and it was you that I liked. But you only liked me because I was pretty,” I said between sobs. It seemed to take Tim a while to process what I’d said, but when he did – he laughed. He was laughing at me! That made me angry.
“It hurts badly enough without you laughing at me,” I told him, wiping my eyes.
“Do you really think baggy clothes makes you any less pretty?” he asked. I nodded, not mentioning anything about the genie. I wasn’t pretty anymore.
“Well I hate to tell you, but you’re wrong. I don’t care what you’re wearing – I still think you’re pretty,” he admitted, “but that’s probably because I’ve had a crush on you since September,” he added. I couldn’t do anything except stare at him.
“You…you like me?” I asked incredulously. Was it possible that Tim had noticed me – had liked me – even before I’d been granted my wish?
“But – you never even said anything until yesterday,” I pointed out, wondering how any of this was possible. Tim smiled sheepishly.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t think you even really noticed me. Until Wednesday when we worked on the lab together and I got to talk to you. And it seemed like you liked me. So, I thought it was worth a shot…” he trailed off, “but now I can’t figure out why you didn’t want to hang out with me after school…”
“Because I didn’t think you’d like me when I wasn’t pretty,” I told him again. Tim shook his head, sighing. He didn’t say anything else, though. He reached his hand forward, brushed his thumb across my cheek, wiping away my tears. My eyes fluttered closed at his soft touch and then I felt his lips brush mine in a soft kiss.“Excuse me, you need to separate,” a voice interrupted us. I moved away from Tim, my face flaming. Mr. Lock, the study hall monitor, looked down at us.
“Sorry about that,” Tim apologized. She rolled her eyes and went back to her table in the back.
“Um…do you want to be my girlfriend?” he asked, taking my hand in his.
“Yes…” I answered. Maybe I don’t need wishes to get what I want.
The End