Destiny is Ugly

I always wanted to be that girl. Which girl?

It all started in middle school. I was well aware that many people were already dating at this age. I didn’t care that much, though. My grades were the most concerning things at that time.

Until I saw Sara, a smart, and very sweet girl, and got my first sight of romance. She had music with me, and as I waited for the bell to ring, I saw Kevin, a quiet, also intelligent, boy put away his instrument and come up behind her. Then, he wrapped his arms around her waist. She turned around and hugged him. From then on, I always noticed when the two hugged or held hands.

My friend told me they were dating. I’d seen it coming, but it still surprised me that people labeled as “nerds” were dating in middle school. Ever since that day, through high school, I’d always wanted a relationship of my own. A boy to love me, to hug me, and to surprise me.

From that time, I was very aware of all the PDA going on around me. Holding hands, kissing, sneaking touches. And I wanted my own relationship. Sure, my friends complained about guys who were too clingy, players, or that broke hearts. Many a time, I’d see someone crying after a guy left her there. That didn’t stop me from getting jealous. I wanted these things to happen to me. I wanted to be able to brag about my latest relationship.

Then, it happened. In sophomore year, I met my guy. Before the cheers and oohs start, I should fill you in that it matters how you meet your perfect boy.

Walking in school hallways never posed a dangerous threat to me until now. My head was aching. Then, I wondered why I’d had such a soft landing. That was when I saw there was someone under me.

“Oh, God, I’m so sorry!” I gushed, my face turning redder and redder, though it wasn’t my fault I’d bumped into someone. Actually, he had bumped into me.

He stood up, glaring. I gulped when I realized he was Brian Colwich, the cross country and track star. The face that all the girls swooned over. Green eyes, dirty blond hair, and tan skin; yup, definitely him. “Watch where you’re going,” he snapped, turning and starting to walk away. I was pissed.

“Hey, you!” I yelled.

He stopped unwillingly. “What?”

“You could at least apologize. After all, you crashed into me.”

“You could’ve stepped out of the way. And you’ve already apologized.”

“You’re such a jerk!” I blurted.

“Excuse me?” He looked surprised but mostly irritated to hell.

“Just because you’re some stupid track athlete doesn’t mean you’re God. You’re supposed to say sorry when you run into someone. Jeez.” I glared.

“Oh, so you know I’m a track star, huh?” He smirked.

“Dude, vain much?” I was annoyed. I had a class to get to. “Bye, I hope I never see you again.” My foot slipped in a puddle of water and I started my way down, down, down. I was prepared for a beautiful splat on my face, when a warm hand grabbed my waist, stopping my descent.

“That was a dramatic exit,” Brian said. “Now we’re even.”

“I didn’t want you to freaking catch me!” I shook his arm away. “Perv.”

“Would you have preferred to hit your face on the cement? And I’m not perverted until you think of me that way.” He snickered.

“Why am I even talking to a cocky jerk like you?” I stepped away, this time avoiding the pool of water and carefully hopping over, knowing I’d had the last word. It was sad how wrong I’d been.

“Mads, me and Tom are going to the beach tonight with his friends. Do you want to come?” My best friend, Lara, and her boyfriend, Tom, had been on and off for the past three years. They were probably going to get married, divorced, and married all over again. Since I was dateless and hopeless, I agreed to go.

We got there, and Tom took us to a bonfire with boys sitting all around. “Lara, Maddie, these are Richard, or Rich, Jonathan, Sean, and…”

“You,” I gasped.

Brian smirked his famous smirk at me. “Glad to see me?”

“I’m leaving.” I took off my sandals, ready to run through the sand and away from the staring boys. I should’ve known that Brian would come here. Tom was on the football team and all athletes attended sport festivals and such, so of course they knew each other.

“C’mon, don’t ruin the fun. Stay here. I’ll go.” Brian shrugged.

“You don’t need to. Fine, I’ll stay.” Lara gave me and grateful smile. I knew she was the only girl here. I would’ve felt guilty if I’d left.

“Well, whatcha waiting for? Let’s get into the water!” Tom playfully tugged at Lara’s tank top. “Take it off, babe.”

The other boys looked away. I knew Tom would beat the heck out of them if they so much as stared.

“You too, Maddie,” Tom said. He rolled his eyes when Lara smacked him.

“It’s cold.” I struggled to find an excuse.

“It’s evening, but it’s Florida in the summer. You’re gonna have to find a better excuse than that,” Brian laughed.

“Fine, I’ll strip” Unlike Lara, I wasn’t taken, so the boys thought they suddenly had the right to stare at me as I slid out of my jeans. When I pulled my t-shirt over my head, they whooped at the sight of the string bikini I was wearing.

“Nice,” Brian said appreciatively. I gave him the finger, and the other boys oohed.

“Looks like Maddie has a new crush,” Lara snickered.

I whirled on her. “Shut up!”

“Really?” asked Brian innocently. “Who?”

“Ha! As if you didn’t know,” Lara teased. My face was setting on fire by now.

“Alright, let’s not embarrass Mads any further.” Tom grinned and led Lara and all the other boys followed, except for the one I wanted to leave the most.

“You look hot,” Brian said. Was he actually nervous?

“Thanks.” I didn’t exactly know what else to say. I think he was sincere.

“Let’s go.” Without hesitation, he took off his shirt. There it was, a chest that the girls would be paying to see.

“Alright,” I said, trying to ignore the fluttering in my stomach. I was suddenly hoping this beach date ended soon.

When Lara and Tom had had enough fun splashing each other, and the other guys were tired of checking out girls, we went home. I said goodbye to Brian, sure I’d never talk to him again. I was so wrong.

One week later, I’d forgotten entirely about the whole Brian thing. I was walking towards the library, ready for a study session. That was when I saw him leaning over Nancy Stewart, one of the volleyball team players. His hand was on both sides of her body, and he was getting closer and closer to her lips.

Without even thinking, I took my eraser and aimed it at his head. It hit him square in the ear.

“What the fuck?” he cursed. I ducked quickly behind a potted plant. He looked at my place, and saw the flash of my red hair. Crap.

“You! Get back here!”

“He’s coming!” I squeaked, before I sprinted for the safety of my physics classroom. Sadly, my fastest mile time is 8:01. Brian’s was 6:31. So of course, he caught me, grabbed my wrist and glared murderously at me. Part of me was glad that his moment with Nancy was ruined, but most of me was afraid what he’d do to me. He wouldn’t hit a girl, would he?

“You little…”

“Sorry?” I widened my eyes innocently. “I was trying to erase, and the eraser just flew out of my hand.”

“Yeah, and it coincidentally hit my ear when I was trying to kiss a girl.” I backed away as Brian’s mouth formed an ‘O’. “You’re jealous,” he realized.

“No I’m not! I’m just not supportive of PDA.” I tried to keep from blushing.

“Sure,” he drawled. He stepped closer. “Actually, I just needed my daily lip booster. I’m sure you’d do.” I pushed him away unsuccessfully.

Then his lips were on mine, warm and gentle. And I couldn’t fight it. I gave myself in, letting his tongue enter my mouth.

We broke away gasping. “Whoa, that was an adrenaline rush,” Brian panted. “You know, Stevens, for someone undated and single, you’re pretty good.”

I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Very mature,” he congratulated.

“I know.”

“You know, would you like to try it?”

“Try what?”

“I mean, do you want to…” He blushed furiously.

“Aw, the cute widdle boy is turning red!” I teased.

“Augh, shut up! I mean, do you want to be my girlfriend?”

I gaped. “What?” To be taken by surprise was an understatement.

“Do. You. Want. To. Be. My. Girlfriend?” He enunciated every syllable.

“I’m not mentally retarded,” I snapped. “You’re just decreasing your chances of having a relationship with me.”

“Sorry.” He said it sincerely, genuine worry clouding his attractive features. “Don’t you want to date me? I know this is really random. You can just think of it as an experiment.” He looked like a hurt puppy. Way too adorable.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never dated anyone either.” I gasped when he looked embarrassed.

“You haven’t!” I choked out, immersed in a fit of giggles.

“Okay, I haven’t. Do you agree to go out with me now?”

“Sure. Will you pick me up at eight?”

He smirked. “You can bet on it.”

--

“Did you know that Brian is cheating on you?”

“Excuse me?” I looked at Nancy. She’d never forgiven me for the whole eraser thing, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this whole thing was made up.

“I saw him smooching April Lancaster at lunch.”

“Right…” I was a bit unsettled. I did know that April had a crush on Brian for some time now. But Brian never felt anything towards her. We’d already been dating for two months. In fact, our three month anniversary was tonight.

I left Nancy in the hallway to search for Brian. What the…

Nancy hadn’t been lying. They were in the middle of the auditorium, kissing in front of everyone. My heart pounded and my cheeks grew red. He’d been leading me on the whole time.

I decided to wait until tonight to slap Brian and tell him what an ass he was. It came too fast, and even at seven, four hours since the kiss, my blood was still boiling. I’d already accidentally ripped up my science worksheet and set my dinner on fire.

“Hey.” Two pairs of arms wrapped around my waist. I very purposefully slipped out of his arms. Brian cast me a confused glance, but pulled out a bouquet of purple irises from a basket.

“Hmm. You still remember my favorite flower, huh?”

“Um…yeah?” he said, eyebrows knitting together. His stupid adorable green eyes blinked at me bemusedly.

“Well, I thought you forgot while you were doing…other stuff….” I hinted unsubtly.

“What?” He looked completely clueless.

“The kiss, you idiot! I saw you kissing April.”

He burst out laughing. “You’re so funny, Maddie.”

I glared, ready to slap the hell out of him.

“No, but seriously, that was a stupid drama production our teacher made us do. Remember? I told you about it.”

I stopped. That explained all the people….

He was still chuckling. “You’re so jealous sometimes, it’s just too cute.”

Placing a hand on my cheek, he murmured, “You’re the only one for me, Maddie. You know I wouldn’t do that to you.”

And I knew. I’d found my perfect guy. Sure, girls complained about heartbreak, but to me, that, the fun, and destiny, had told me one thing. I was built for relationships.