99 WAYS TO ANNOUNCE YOUR LOVE!! (04-27-06)

So let's see...you ignore her, screw her best friend, and make her life a living hell...this is your way of flirting?

I was in love with her...

Okay, understatement. I was flat out obsessed with her. From the moment I saw here I wanted her so, so badly. Funny thing was, I didn't want to do her. That's right. Johnny Chu didn't want to screw. It was amazing. Honestly, this was love in first sight. Not the cheesy kind, but actual...actual love.

Thinking back, it started when I was hanging out with Twik Matthews (he was a tanned, bleach haired fellow I met in swim) during lunch. So there we were, chilling out at the gym with our Pepsis' and Mac fries when she comes bouncing along in her bright, pink jacket (she was always easy to spot because of it). Raising a hand, she started to salute Twik as he followed suit. She turned her attention to me and gave a nervous, brief smile before jogging away to Angie Richards.

Angie Richards, I later found myself hating that name. At that moment I only thought of her as only the girl everyone around me confessed they loved. I didn't blame them- still don't. That Angie had the most beautiful looks ever graced by God. Her personality wasn't snobby either. Nope, Miss Richards was the perfect girl whom every guy wanted to become close to.

Angie overshadowed my beloved so much at the time.

I saw my beloved hang around Twik at times in our group. During lunch she would sit herself next to him and gingerly talk about the newest the "anime" episodes or about this "manga" the two were so obsessed about. Then, as if she was never there, the world went as it was as soon as her pink jacket left out views.

I realize now how sad it was.

Her faint presence always seemed to peak at the corner of my eye every time she visited. For some reason I couldn't shake her image. The big, plump face I thought I saw back at the gym seemed to evolve into a cute, heart shaped face. Stubby legs and gaunt fingers grew into a healthy figure with elegant hands. Her eyes were a brown color (as all asians were of course) but when the Sun happened to hit her face just right- I saw grey.

Back then I didn't think I was in love.

I just thought I got used to her.

Maybe I did.

Either way, the time my birthday came along I had already planned to invite everyone. I went to the Asian corner to Norman Hill and back giving invitations around. Donnie Herman and Joe Donovan (both of which I remained friends with since elementary) threw out flyers from the rooftop. Joe even threw the girl's locker room open and bombarded the papers before being chased by Shawna, a female coach. A bit much? Maybe.

But I wanted everyone to come.

Maybe that's why Angie and I clicked- she was a people whore and I liked to be with the people.

It was finally down to one flyer. I wanted to make this count of course, so I took my time scanning the lunch bowl for anyone.

There was a minute until late bell and everyone was deserting the lunchroom into their fifth periods. Donnie and Joe were long gone into their chemistry period, but I stayed behind shuffling my feet. It was probably instinct, but for some reason I wanted to give away this last flyer rather taping it poorly to the school's wall.

Dear God. I swear it was destiny.

Slamming the blue doors, she hurried in right as I was about to walk out. A blur of her pink jacket flew by me as she got down to her knees and frantically searched the floor. Frozen, I wasn't sure what to make of it at the time. She whispered a sign of happiness and pulled out a pair of pizza stained P.E. shorts. Picking off the pepperoni, she nonchalantly chucked the shorts over her should before sauntering towards the door.

Her grey eyes caught mine.

And we both stood there.

Her entire personality seemed to have changed as she suddenly hid her shorts behind. Staring down to her shoes, she shifted her feet in an adorable manner as her head was turning into a peach.

She...was so cute.

I wanted to stay like this- before knowing her, before she knew me. I wanted to stay as just two people secretly taking glances at each other and knowing nothing but the outside. Looking back, the girl I saw in the cafeteria was just a stranger that I could have gazed at for eternity. But now, that girl is probably the closest person to me...and I can't stand to be in the same room as her.

She made a move to the door.

"Wait," I said.

She stopped and turned to me.

'Shit!' I thought, 'Now I have to think of something to...'

I fingered the paper in my hand.

"Here," I said and I reached out for her, giving the most sincere grin I could muster.

She slowly took the paper and when I was sure she got it I gave her a pat on the back and marched out the door.

Before turning a corner I heard her yelp as the late bell rang and her footsteps clattered towards the gym.

Adorable.

The Friday after that I sat around the bon fire with nearly half the school surrounding me. Drunkards dove into the ocean, Twik was whining next to me about Tasha dumping him, both Donnie and Joe were off lighting illegal fireworks, and me- I just sat there with my can 'o beer. Girls flocked to me giving birthdays cheers and guys punched my shoulders.

A half hour 'till ten Donnie, Twik, and Joe brought to me a giant cake with sixteen candles sloppily aligned to form a retarded happy face. Half the people around me were cheering and hooting while the drunks waved their beer around to sing the anthem. I remember Twik patting my back before I blew out the cake.

Everyone hooted and clapped. The girls helped passed out the cake and I leaned back into my beach chair staring at the faces around me.

None of them was hers'.

I shouldn't been sad. She didn't even know me. I gave her the flyer without knowing her name (then again, I did that with half the people there). She was not obligated to come. I didn't leave my phone number so she couldn't have called me either.

So screw it, I thought and I drank a shot Twik passed to me.

That night I danced, sang, and drank.

The next day I woke up in front of a Chinese fast food place.

I got up and scratched my greasy hair. Fingering a noodle, I flicked it out and pulled up my pants. The Chinese lady behind me was screaming alien as her daughter was pointing accusingly at me. Hm. Wonder what I did?

Looking back, I was about to flick the bitch when her daughter defensively got in front.

And you know those damn five years olds were too innocent to show the birdie to so I held back. But not before taking a stoned look into those Asian eyes that attracted me so much.

That's right. She didn't come to my bonfire-after I had personally given her invitation.

I sauntered out, vowing to forget that pink sweater, that heart shaped face, and brown-grey eyes,

I was going to forget her.

The next week I got myself I pretty lady, whom I met at the bonfire, I was promoted to varsity swim and my grades were getting pretty damn good.

I'd say things were going perfectly.

That is, until Donnie grew a crush on my pink jacket lady.

END OF CHAPTER ONE.