Chapter One
Day 1

I never imagined myself as loveless. But then again I never imagined myself in the arms of a guy either. So what am I doing here…in this club with this guy who’s ego is bigger than North America? Blame Robin, I know I am, for having me make that stupid bet with him, and getting stuck in this stupid pink dress – two things I hate put into one – dancing in heels – wait that was wrong: FOUR things I hate into one; pink, dresses, dancing, and heels. Some of the worst things about being a girl. But really this night was going well, besides this guy talking endless about himself, and dancing until I felt my feet swell from both the heels and dancing, but how was I supposed to imagine that by the time I got home I would be covered in chilly.

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Acme Mall, a sanctuary for all teenagers in our small town…and where my new job awaits. I’m just going to say this ones, I hate kids. They spit and are always sticky. They hit everything they touch, and scream and wail every five seconds. So going to work at the daycare over at Acme was probably not the best place for someone like me who screams at everything that moves to work…but my mom’s too poor to take care of herself let alone me.

“Children, oh children,” I was standing in an extremely bright room, with this large woman who looks like the last date she’s had was never. “This here is Faye Gale.” She introduced me. I gave them a weak smile and a small wave. Too many pairs of small eyes looked up at me. I have just entered Munchkinland.

A little blonde girl standing in the front wailed, “You’re not my mommy! I want my mommy!” And as if on cue the others followed suit.

“Children, please,” the woman tried to calm them down but it was a hopeless attempt. They were jumping up and down screaming, some were splattering paint on the wall, one kid was eating glue in the corner, a boy was ripping the heads of all the dolls, two rascals were having a pillow fight, and another kid was ripping up all the books he could get his tiny destructive hands on. The fat woman was too busy trying to rip two boys who were wrestling, and the wailing girl was jumping up and down the mini-TV, screaming her favorite tone, “I want my mommy.”

I sat down on a bean bag chair in the corner opposite of glue boy, “This is what I call easy money.”

“I could use help.” My boss yelled as kids jumped on her. I rolled my eyes annoyed thinking of having to stand up.

I grabbed the little blonde demon from the TV that was about ready to break. She started biting me. I put her on the ground and glared, “What’s your name?” I demanded.

She was able to stop calling for her mommy – who was probably glad to be relieved of this girl – long enough to answer me…rudely. “Marisol.” She yelled loudly bursting my eardrum.

I shook my head, and looked into her evil eyes, “Well Marisol, wanna do me a favor?” I asked in a sweet voice.

“What?” She demanded like she was goddamn Madonna.

“Sit down and shut up!” I yelled back at her. She screamed loudly at me and stomped on my foot, and somehow made her way onto my back. I fell on my hands and knees.

“C’mon horsey,” She said as she started jumping up and down on my back, and grabbing my black hair as if they were reigns. I wanted to kill this little girl. Who did she think she was anyways? To make the pain lesson I did what she said but only until I got to the corner where a bunch of stuff animals were laying, and I threw her off me.

“Stay!” I commanded as I brushed dirt off me, and she looked up at me as if in shock. I turned around until I saw a midget standing there looking up at me with a smile that I didn’t like.

“Hello sweet thing,” He said as if he were cool. Oh hell no. His hair was black, his face was so small, and he looked Latin. “Why not get out of here and go get a smoothie?” Did he think he was being sly? I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

“You are too much,” I said, “but I’m afraid not.” I put my head up and began to walk off, but he was at my heels.

He said, “Is it because I’m a Scorpio?” I stopped looking down at him, “I can tell you’re a Pisces, you’re so sensitive, and I’m sure that that beautiful mind of yours has wonderful creativity.”

I smiled down at him, “Aw, thanks. Come back to me when you finish first grade.” I quickly said trying to get away from him. He followed me like some sort of spider hanging on a web. From what I could tell I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a line of web attached to my butt.

“Hey baby,” He said sneaking his way in front of me, “don’t be afraid,” he took my hand, “I don’t bite.” I pulled my hand away from him stepping back. And I only had another five hours of this.

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“I want my doll!” Blonde Screeching Girl cried. I was too lazy – and really just didn’t care enough – to learn everyone of these children’s name, so I just threw them a nickname based on what I’ve learned so far.

I rushed over to her sighing, “Okay,” I picked up a random doll, “is this your doll?” I asked holding it up. She started to sniffles.

“No,” She cried.

I picked up another one, “This one?”

“No.”

I dropped the doll trying not to snap. “Okay, where was the last place you left your doll?”

“At my grandma’s house…last Christmas!” This was useless.

I stood up. “I’m going on my lunch break now.” I called out to my boss as I walked out of the daycare center brushing off everything that had traces of little brats. I ran my fingers through my hair, bitter.

“Please…” I heard her beg, “Don’t leave me!” But I let the little rugrats eat her.

I put my earrings on, as I walked down Acme Mall, passing Hot Topic, the only place that was ever packed. I stood near the center as a group of street dancers were performing and a crowd gathered around watching them. There were carts all over the place with different types of jewelry, cell phones, etc.

“Would you like a crab?”Some Arabian guy came up to me, with his cart of crabs that had colorful shells. I shook my head, and he used the begging face, but I still shook my head walking away. I couldn’t even keep a fish alive for a week, let alone take care of a crab. A group of girl scouts set up in the corner of the mall with cookies, and the thought of food made my stomach grumble. A group of football players basically trampled me as I tried to make my way through the food court; now I wasn’t short, but then again I wasn’t 6’1”. I was an even 5’5”, growing at least another half a quarter every year. By the time I’m twenty-five I’m sure I’ll have reached 5’6”. But it surprised me how taller I was then most people.

A little girl was squealing as her mother dragged her by force away from the latest Barbie store, and I watched thinking of Blondie, back at the daycare. Shaking my head, I grabbed a piece of my black long cruelly hair, and kept walking. This was just your typical mall. A group of teens sitting at the corner of the food court chilling to some music by rappers who were talking about how hard it was growing up with money, wearing sweaters that could fit ten kids in, and obviously thinking they are the best damn thing around here.

“Hey Faye,” I turned around finding Robin, and rushed over to him. He worked at the Subway station here, though that didn’t mean I could get any of the food for free – dammit. “How was your first day?” I pulled a crayon that was riding down my back out, and a pile fell to the floor. Robin raised his eyebrows, “That good?”

“Just get me my food.” I demanded glaring at him. He started laughing and I hissed, “Go swallow a knife.” Knowing Robin, he probably would. Robin had this thing about taking dares seriously; dare him to do anything, and he’ll do it. In third grade this girl he had a crush on told him if he ate fifteen worms during recesses she would be his ‘girlfriend’ and Robin did it, in front of the whole third grade, and apparently his stomach didn’t agree because he ended up throwing up on her; he even got it in her hair! Turns out she was just pulling his strings the whole time, seeing how many idiotic things she could make him do before she got bored with him, and it didn’t seem to take long. And as of today that girl is our worst enemy.

As Robin grabbed the wheat bread, I followed him along the line as he spoke, “I don’t even know why you’re working with little kids. You hate them.” I shrugged. Robin knew me more than anyone, which was scary.

“I need the money.” I gave him the obvious answer as he put my sandwich in the toaster.

Robin looked back at me, “But you could have worked here. They’re hiring, didn’t I tell you?” I glared at him. Sometime’s Robin could be so such an ass.

“No!” I yelled at him, “You didn’t. It would have been nice if you mentioned it last night – you know when we were feeding you.” Robin laughed. He had this unique laugh that I don’t think I have ever seen anyone else posses. It sounded like a cough and wheezing put together. At first it was so annoying I tried not to do anything funny, but to Robin everything is funny. After a while I got use to it. I think that’s why he doesn’t have many friends; his laughing might be responsible for that. But he also has glossy shiny black hair that seems to glow when the lights hit it in the right place. His teeth are nearly perfect besides the croaked one right in front. During a game of baseball I hit the ball so hard it smacked him the face. The damage was permanent, and to make up for what I did I became his friend. After a few years I hardly noticed any of his flaws.

“Here you are.” He handed me my wrapped sandwich. “And the total is $35.85.” I glared at him as he gave me his cough-wheezing laugh. “Okay, sorry. Can’t a guy have any fun?”

“Not with a girl who just got finished with the worst job ever…and will have to return against her will.” I paid him and sat at my table that was right in front of the subway. Robin jumped over the counter and sat across from me. “Seriously, those kids are on cocaine or something.”

Robin chuckled, “They’re kids, all they’re doing is having fun – you know the thing you should be doing now before you enter the real world.” I rolled my eyes.

“I just wish those kids would take things seriously.” When I say that out loud it almost doesn’t make any sense – almost.

Robin sighed, “No, they’re doing what they’re supposed to do. Having fun. Faye, you can’t get mad at every little kid you see who’s laughing. That’s all they know how to do. Most of them probably don’t even know the definition of seriously, some of them can’t even spell it.” During the times when Robin lectured me, I hated those. I chewed my food with a blank expression on my face. “See, that’s your problem.”

I tried to swallow when he said that but ended up chocking, “Everything that has to do with fun, love, or living you dismiss as being immature.” He continued.

“I don’t have a problem!” I protested defending myself.

Robin had that croaked smile which I hated so much, “When was the last time you went on a date?”

I thought about it for a second before shaking my head, “I don’t date.”

“When was the last time you went to the movies with some girlfriends?”

“I don’t have girlfriends and I don’t go to movies.”

“And you don’t live. My point has been proven.” Robin raised his hands in the air in victory.

I put my half eaten food down, glaring at him. “You have not proven anything! Just because I enjoy a nice weekend indoors, isn’t illegal.”

Robin nodded in agreement, like a Bobblehead, and I sat back crossing my arms over my chest. I didn’t understand what Robin was even talking about. So I don’t go out and get drunk like every other teenager in this town. “Are you going to prom?”

I rolled my eyes chuckling, “I don’t go to dances.”

“Are you going to prom?” He repeated as if he didn’t hear me the first time.

I grunted before replying, “No, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a life.”

“What are you doing that night?” Dammit, so I hadn’t thought this through the whole way. What was I going to do that day? Well I was planning on going to the video store, grabbing some DVD’s, and just relaxing in my room, but I can’t tell Robin that. He’ll never let me live it down. When a full minute passed without me saying anything, Robin grinned. “I was right.”

“No you’re not.” That’s another thing, I hate being wrong. I will always make sure I walk away with being right and having the last word.

“Prove it.” Robin said.

I rolled my eyes again, “How do you want me to do that?”

Robin obviously has that this through since he responded quickly. “Okay. I dare you to go out, find your true love, and bring him to prom.” I laughed out loud thinking about how ludicrous the dare was.

“I don’t have a true love,” I said between laughs.

“How do you know?” Robin asked in a serious expression that he revels every once in a blue moon. “You don’t live. How do you know the guy you’re looking for isn’t out there somewhere?” I recomposed myself looking at him seriously.

“I just…” But he cut me off not letting me explain myself.

He shook his head, “I knew you would never take the dare.” He stood up, and I felt myself sink. My fist tightened thinking about this. My pride had just been crushed right in front of me, and the crusher was walking away, and I was letting him. I stood up as Robin slid to the other side of the counter behind the register.

“Fine, I’ll take your dare.” I quickly said standing up, and everyone seemed to stop what they were doing looking at us. I was talking a little too loud. “And…” Think Faye, think. The little voice inside my head kept repeating. “And…I’ll have my true love by prom. And I bet you I can find my true love in fewer than twenty guys.”

Robin smiled as I shook where I stood. I hated it when he crawled under my skin. It just made me bitter, and angry. “You’re on.” He said.

I took the rest of my food and threw it away suddenly losing my appetite. This won’t be so hard. “And, Faye,” Robin called out. I turned around glaring at him, and his smirk, “Prom is thirty days away…” He looked at his watch and chuckled, “my mistake, it’s twenty-nine days away as of today.” My food turned to stone in the pit of my stomach. “Tick tock, tick tock.” I suddenly felt sick and dizzy.

“F-f-fine.” I said and walked away with my legs shaking. I was I supposed to look for my true love – someone I had to marry, spend the rest of my life with, be happy with – in less than a month. I think I’m going to pass out. What if I can’t do this? What if I show up to prom with no one there? What if Robin proves to everyone that I can’t hold up my end of the bargain? I’ll be humiliated, and worse I’ll lose to a boy. What guy would date me anyways? I was a total tomboy. I started seeing doubles as I thought about prom. I didn’t even realize it when I made it to the daycare and slumped over a beanbag chair. “Oh crap.”

A|N: If your reading this, then you have officially read the first chapter of my new story, and are considering reviewing because this means a lot to me. I'm not the lovey dovey time of person, I'll admit, that's why I hate writing romance novels, but this story was pulling me. It demanded to be written, and me being me gave in. I was supposed to have this up by the first of January, but no worries, I'm only...four days behind. But if you give me reviews, constructive criticism, and I will return the favor, though I'm going to admit it will take me a while to get back to you, but if you put an honest effort to review my story, then I will give an honest effort to review yours. I'll make it as humors as I can.

The first paragraph of this chapter, consider it a little preface.

Thanks.
MB.