Diagnosed with Love:

Chapter 1

It all began when my dad left my mom for another woman when I was three years old. Can you say predictable? Men are cowards. They run. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. He got going alright... and never came back.

Mom was devastated. She’s lived in denial for so long, but now no longer. What’s gone is gone and better not come back. If I have anything to say about it, he won’t.

The last few months was the beginning of the rest of our lives. Mom started dating. His name’s Terrence, if you were wondering, and he’s not that bad- for a guy, anyway. Mom seems to like him, so I might give him a chance. Remember, I said might.

“Terrence will be here in five minutes, Star. Why are you not dressed?”

Oh yeah, he’s coming over. He’s supposedly taking me and mom out to dinner. Yippie.

“Do I have to go? I don’t see why I have to go. Isn’t this your date?” I said, making a face.

“It isn’t a date, he wants to get to know you. Just… get dressed- now.”

Urgh, I hate that! Parents just automatically get to have control over us like that- and it’s so not fair! She thinks that I’m some potty-trained little puppy. Well, she’s got another thing coming if she thinks that I’m going on that stupid date of hers…

“So, Star, how was school today?” Terrence said after setting down his now dripping cup from all the fog of the ice. We were sitting in a restaurant with dimmed lights. It made a very romantic mood- especially with the beautiful chandeliers hanging above each table. Also, in the center of each table was a giant, white candle with real red rose petals surrounding it. The whole setting was very beautiful. The table and chairs were also pretty colors. They were a reddish wood type with white cushioning on each chair. Each table had a white tablecloth that was trimmed in red and gold. It was the most romantic setting I’ve ever been to, but I have seen plenty of good ones on shows and the commercials and such. It was the type of date you would bring your girlfriend to so that you could propose. It was too bad I was on this date with my mom and her boyfriend. He had better not be proposing to her.

“Okay, I guess,” I said, responding to Terrence’s question.

“Terrence, didn’t you say that you had a son Star’s age?” Mom asked matter-of-factly.

“Yeah- in fact, he goes to Star’s school,” he added in.

“Maybe Star knows him- she’s pretty well known and socially involved.” She was obviously trying to start a conversation.

“What’s his name?” I asked since I felt obligated to join in on their little conversation.

“Casicune Yuuka.”

After I heard that name, I was wishing that I had never asked. If I was drinking, I’m pretty sure that I would have spit it out. My heart even skipped a beat. Maybe he said something completely different and my brain’s just not comprehending today.

“W-w-who?” I stuttered. I was almost speechless- almost.

“Casicune. He’s tall and has a light complexion that’s about the same as your skin tone… wait… actually, he got a tan this past summer. What else… oh yeah, he’s got black hair that looks it never gets combed,” he added with a laugh, then continued, “and he’s got a light pink eye color. I know, I think it’s weird too.”

Those gorgeous eyes… his sexy features… his wonderful body and I mean wonderful… have you seen him with his shirt off? I’m just saying...

“Hey, I know- I’m supposed to pick up Cas later. How ‘bout we all hang out?” Terrence said, sounding rather excited.

I nearly choked on my water. Me hang out with Cas? I mean... it wouldn’t just be us, but still...

The lobster we had for dinner was delicious. I mean, it was all tender and juicy. It was sooo good, and then it was time to leave... Buh-bye lobster, hello Cas…

We pulled up to a pretty normal looking house in Terrence’s black escalade. The house was a 3-floor, including a basement. It had a short narrow walkway leading up to the house, purple and yellow flowers in the front yard, and a pathway curving around back. The blinds were halfway open to the point where the people inside can look out and be nosey without anyone noticing.

Terrence walked up to the yellow door and knocked, then waited for an answer.

“I think you should get to know Cas- you know, as a brother,” Mom said, watching Terrence from the car.

Like hell I’ll think of Cas as a brother. Come on, he’s hot. That’d be one hot brother of mine.

Ralph answered the door. I know Ralph from our school- Cas hangs out with him a lot. Ralph and Terrence talked and said a few things. Terrence then headed back to the car and waited, soon followed by Cas and his bags. He opened the car door and my heart leapt. Upon seeing a figure in the car, he ducked his head into it, glanced at my face, and spoke. “Hey, Star.”

“H-h-hi …” I was so nervous- like I’ve never seen him at school before. In fact, I was even more nervous than the time we were alone in the hallway at school and... well, we’ll save that story for another time.

He smirked, and my cheeks felt like they were on fire. He then put his bags in the trunk, got in beside me, and said, “How’s it goin’?” as he shut his door.

Oh yeah- I forgot. I’m not supposed to like him. I hate him. I hate all boys- especially him.

I turned my head and looked out the window. I could see his reflection in the window, looking at me. He then put his hand on my thigh.

“You know, we’re not at school- so you don’t have to pretend like you don’t care.”

“I don’t- kindly take your hand off my thigh before I do it myself.” I made myself sound as if I was mad at him.

He removed his hand very quickly. We were whispering to each other so that our parents wouldn’t overhear us talking. It actually sounded pretty romantic from my point of view... I wondered if he was thinking the same thing. The music was playing softly and Mom and Terrence were talking, so I’m pretty sure they didn’t hear us.

He wasn’t looking at me anymore, instead looking out the window, so I looked past his reflection at the scenery outside. We pulled up to a row of fully lit stores consisting of stores such as Dollar Value, the highly expensive store that has a maximum of a few things that really are actually a dollar. They had Kroger, Big Lots, Roses, Blockbuster, etc...

We parked in front of Blockbuster, Terrence killed the car, and he looked over at my mom.

“Are you two coming?” Mom asked as she unfastened her seatbelt and slowly opened her door.

“No ma’am, I’m not. Dad takes forever to pick out movies. Just get something good on my behalf, please. Dad has no taste.”

Mom laughed and Terrence just frowned. “Boy, shut up,” said Terrence as he was getting out the car.

“Star?” Mom asked upon seeing me gaze out the window.

“No, just make it fast. You know being in the car too long makes me sleepy.”

“Of course, sweetheart,” she said so kindly, as if she weren’t just giving me demands at home.

They both shut their doors, and Cas looked over at me. After Cas was sure mom and Terrence were gone, he pulled me over to him and whispered in my ear. “We’re alone, finally.”

His voice tickled my ear. “I can see that- get off.”

“Why are you always so mean to me? I’ve only tried to be your friend and maybe a little bit more.” He was serious now- at least, he sounded serious.

“Because I don’t like you.”

“Honestly?”

“Just get off me.” I tried to wiggle loose, which was a big mistake on my part, because next thing I know, my body was under his and he was on top of me... and we were looking into each other’s eyes...

He brushed my bangs back with his fingertips and kissed me gently on the lips. My whole body felt like a hot, hot flame. Then I kissed him back- because what else could I do? He was on top of me. I can’t say I didn’t love this because believe me, I did.

I guess some time must have passed since we started kissing, and out of the blue, Mom and Terrence were standing at the car with a Blockbuster and Dollar Value Bag...