In the dead of night (part 1)

         The night was cold and mysterious as the wind lightly blew through the bare trees. Dim lights shone through the windows of some of the houses on the block. That time of year again that I hated. Winter was my least favorite time of the whole year. The trees turned bare, the nights grew colder and longer. I hated the night. You never knew for certain what the darkness held, and I never wanted to know. Sometimes everything and everyone needed a secret that was never meant to be divulged.
                I pondered this for a moment longer until I heard loud thumps in the hall outside of my bedroom. My mom was busily dusting and trying to get my little brother and sister to behave. There came a loud knock at my door. “Come in,” I called.
“Mia sweetheart, can you entertain these runts while I finish cleaning?” Mom asked.
I smirked. “Sure Mom.”
“You are a lifesaver!” my mom came over and hugged me. “If it wasn't for you, I would be schizophrenic with white hair by now with the way these runts are acting,” she said. I smiled at her attempt at a joke. I looked up at my mom and admired her, she looked very pretty for her age. Her onyx hair swept up in a messy bun at the back of her head, her big blue doe eyes filled with life. She was tall, taller than me even. I stood at 5'5. and she was around 5'9. Very slim, almost super model thin, despite the fact that she had given birth to three children.
“What are you staring at goofball?” she asked. She showed off her dazzling smile which made me smile in return.
“Nothing mom,” I bowed my head and blushed. Mom giggled, and I felt her bend down and kiss the top of my head. She left my room and I heard her go back to her cleaning. It had been four years since my dad had died in a car accident. I was fourteen at the time, and I remembered everything so vividly. The police coming to our house, the funeral, Mom crying for hours and even days on end. Ryan; my little brother was three at the time and doesn't remember much. My little sister Sarah wasn't even two yet when it happened, and remembers nothing.
         It's been hard for my mom raising three children on her own while trying to keep a steady job at the local hospital. I have a part time job at a bookstore to help out, not to mention babysitting almost every night which left no room for a social life. I sighed as I  closed the book I had been trying to read and made my way to Ryan and Sarah's bedrooms. I noticed that Mom had now made her way downstairs, and both Ryan and Sarah were now in Ryan's room dismembering a stuffed hippo. I stood in the door way and shook my head. “What are you doing?” I asked. Their tiny heads whipped towards the doorway; startled by my presence.
Sarah ran up to me and grabbed me by the knees and tried her best to shake me.“Mia! Mia! Ryan's killing Hubert!”
“No i'm not Mia! Sarah told me to cut off his head cuz he was being mean!” Ryan yelled. He dropped the scissors that he was using and handed me the lavender colored stuffed hippo.
“What were you guy's doing with a pair of scissors anyway?” I asked, “you know your not supposed to use these unless Mom says you can, and even then either her or I have to be around to watch you,” I said. I gave them a stern look and in response they gave me the sad puppy dog eyes that had taken me years to perfect. “No way is that going to work you two,” I said, “I think it's time you two went to bed anyway,” I said. I took the stuffed animal and walked next door to Sarah's room and placed it on shelf next to her bed.
“No Mia! Not yet, will you tell us a story before we go to bed?” Ryan asked. I looked down, ruffled his reddish-brown spiky hair and smiled. This was a usual routine around their bedtimes. I would tell them to go to bed, and I would have to tell a bedtime story in return. “Alright,” I sighed, “Let's get in Ryan's room and i'll tell you one.” They ran next door and hopped onto Ryan's bed. “Alright munchkins, what'll it be tonight,” I asked.
“One about a vampire!” Ryan cried.
“No, vampire's are mean and scary and they kill people,” Sarah whimpered.
I glared at Ryan. “You know she doesn't need to hear that kind of crap Ryan,” I scolded. Ryan already had his head bowed in shame.
“What do you want to hear Sarah?” I asked. She thought about it and you could see the gears churning in her head. “Mia, can you tell one about Daddy?” she asked. A knot twisted in my heart and stomach at the same time. “Okay Sarah, i'll tell one about Daddy,” I promised. I racked my brain trying to think of one that she would like. I decided to tell her about our summer vacation trip to the beach. I told her about how Dad had got stuck in the big umbrella and how it took the combined efforts of Mom and I to get him out. Mom was pregnant with Ryan and was due in a couple of months. Dad was joking the whole day about how Mom's belly looked like a beach ball in her colorful maternity swim suit. By the time I had finished the story, both children were yawning. After I tucked Sarah into bed, I journeyed downstairs into the living room where I found Mom lounging in the recliner with a cup of coffee and a book. She looked up and smiled. “Hey Sweetheart,” she greeted, “I heard this evening's bedtime story,” she said.
I blushed slightly. “I'm sorry Mom,” I said.
“There's nothing to be sorry about honey,” she said. I went over and sat in the chair next to her. “As a matter of fact i'm glad you did,” she said. “Sarah and Ryan didn't get to spend as much time with him as you did, and I think it's wonderful that your trying to pass on some of your memories of him to them,” she said. I could see tears welling in her eyes as she spoke. “God only knows how much we all miss him.”
“The pain is never going to go away is it Mom?” I asked.  She looked at me sadly through her tears. She sat her book and coffee down on the table next to her. “I don't think it ever goes away Sweetheart, but I do think that it gets better as time goes on,” she said, “and you know that we'll see him again, we all will.”
“I know Mom,” I said. I wondered to myself though if it was really true. She smiled and wiped the few tears that were running down her face. “Would you look at that?” she laughed, “i'm acting like a leaky faucet!” We both laughed and talked a while longer about just about everything there was to talk about.  “I suppose I should get to bed,” Mom yawned, “You have work tomorrow don't you?” she asked.
“Ya, but I don't have to go in until three, and I think I might try and get some overtime in too so we have a little extra money at the end of the month,” I yawned. Mom looked at me sadly. “You worry too much about things that you shouldn't worry about yet,” she said.
I rolled my eyes. The same conversation almost every week. I knew that I had to do my part to help my mom. I knew that she couldn't possibly do everything by herself. “Mom, please don't start, I want to help out with the whole money thing, I need to. You know you can't do everything on your own,” I reminded her. She closed her eyes and sighed. “I know Mia, I know, I just wish that there was some other way to do it than make you work all the time,” she looked at me sadly and reached out to grasp my hand. “You're a teenager Mia, you're going to be eighteen in a few months, and you're going off to college, and I just want you to be happy,” she said.
“I know Mom, I know.”
         Mom and I went up to bed together, I hugged her goodnight and walked over to my bedroom, looking in on Sarah and Ryan as I did. I entered my room, closed the door and leaned against the cold hard door. Until then, I hadn't realized how tired I had been. The weekend was going by fast. Tomorrow was Sunday and yet again I had to spend my whole weekend working. No parties. No dates. I knew I was destined to be a social reject. I wandered over to my dresser and opened one of the drawers, pulling out one of my favorite pajama combinations; blue plaid flannel and a black tank top. I tossed them on and threw my regular clothes down the laundry shoot in the corner. I shuffled over to my vanity and plopped down in front of the mirror.
         I looked at myself for a while and cocked my head to one side. I guess I was kind of attractive. Not “America's Next Top Model” beautiful, but I guess you could say that I was my one kind of pretty. Shoulder length reddish-brown hair, big brown eyes, tiny nose that a plastic surgeon would be proud of, and a small mouth with full lips, etc. etc. But there was also my flaws that I always pointed out. I had split ends, my eyes were too big, I thought my nose was too small, and lips too full, not too mention I was taller than many girls in my class, and I was significantly lacking in the chest department if you get my meaning. Both my mom and my best friend Arielle disagreed. Both have said numerous times that I was looking too close at all my flaws and not close enough to my good features. I knew this was true, but no matter how many times I look in the mirror, all I saw were flaws. I brushed my hair and pulled it back in a pony tail.
         I got up from my vanity stool and walked over to my big French doors that led to my own personal balcony. I pulled back the sheer curtains and gazed out over the passing cars on the street below. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a figure staring up at my window.  I turned to get a better look but they were gone. 'I must have imagined it' I thought. Letting the curtains fall back, I flipped the light switch so I was in the dark. I pulled back the covers of my bed and fell back against the cool sheets, grabbed the covers and wrapped them around me and then closing my eyes, I let sleep take over me.
         I woke with a start to the screaming of my alarm clock. I groaned and reached out from underneath the warm blankets to shut it off. I hit the off button and brought my cold arm back underneath the warm blanket sanctuary. The clock said that it was 9:00 a.m. But it felt as if I had gone to bed only a few minutes ago. I stared up at the ceiling for a while until I knew that I had to get up. I threw back the covers and swung my legs over the side of my bed and sat up. While I sat on the edge of my bed trying to wake up, I made a mental list of what I had to do today. Wake up Ryan and Sarah, make them breakfast, get them cleaned up and dressed so they could go to Grandma's, pick up house, eat, and then go to work. It seemed like another busy day. I finally got up and stretched. I then proceeded to make my bed.
         After I had made my bed, I laid out my clothes and went to go wake up the runts. I went over to Ryan's room first. I opened the door and yelled. “Ryan wake up it's almost ten, get up!” He groaned in response and I knew he was awake. I walked next door to Sarah's room and quietly opened the door. I crept into her room and gently shook her awake. “Sarah, time to wake up kiddo,” I said. She yawned and batted her little blue eyes open. I smiled at how precious she looked with her black curls strewn  across her pillow.  I left her room and went downstairs to make breakfast. I went into the kitchen and saw a note on the counter:

Dear Mia,
I found out this morning that I am going to be working late again.
You're going to have to pick up Ryan and Sarah from Grandma's.
I left some money on the counter; order a pizza.
Love you lots;
Mom

I sighed. This was the third time in two weeks that she had to work this late. I worried about her sometimes. That one day she might work herself too hard. I picked up the thirty dollars she left on the counter and shoved it in my pocket. A moment later I heard the pitter patter of little feet on the stairs. “Mia, i'm hungry what are we going to eat?” Ryan asked as he came into the kitchen. “I'm hungry too Mia,” Sarah whined.
“Relax you two i'm going to make you something, do you guys want juice?” I asked.
“Yes please,” they said in unison. I poured them some orange juice from the pitcher in the fridge and set them on the kitchen table. They sat down and started to drink their juice. I poured myself a glass and set it on the counter. I started pulling things out of the fridge and cupboards when I heard Ryan trying to scare Sarah. “I saw a vampire last night! He had fangs and everything!” He cried. I went over to the table and hit Ryan in the back of the head.
“What did I tell you about telling Sarah that crap? You know she gets scared easily, and then you go ahead and tell her all that?”
“But Mia! I did see a vampire last night!” Ryan protested.
“Ryan you need to learn how to separate fact from fiction starting now: vampires do not exist!” I said. Ryan glared at me in defiance. “I know what I saw,” he said. I sighed and hugged him.
“I know that you thought you saw something, but the dark plays tricks on your eyes, you see shadows that look like monsters and things that are harmless during the day look dangerous in the dark,” I said. “But Ryan, trust me, there is no such thing as vampires,” I said. “Now how does french toast sound?” I asked.
         After breakfast, I sent the runts upstairs to get ready to go to Grandma's. I was cleaning up in the kitchen when the phone rang. I wrung my hands and walked over to the wall that the phone hung on. “Hello?” I answered.
“Hey Mia, what's going on?”
“Hey Arielle, nothing much actually, I was just cleaning up breakfast and then I am going to take the runts to my grandma's house, how about you?” I asked. I heard a bang in the background and then squeals followed.  I heard Arielle curse. “Mia can you hang on a sec?” she asked. “I have to kill some rodents!” I laughed as I heard her yelling in French. Arielle and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember. From daycare all the way to high school. Her family had moved to the states from France when Arielle was three after her dad had gotten a promotion at his job. Now her dad has a high paying job with a large company. She would be one of the popular kids at school if she wasn't hanging out with me all the time. I was considered a nerd, not because I was ugly, but because I didn't socialize with everyone, I didn't have the latest fashions, and I have never gotten wasted at one of Alec Welse's annual pool parties.
“Sorry about that, Daniel and Micheal, broke one of Mom's lamps in the family room while trying to fly their model plane,” Arielle explained. “You are so lucky that you only have two siblings while I have four little brothers who are all spawn of Satan,” she said.
I laughed. “Well Ryan and Sarah aren't entirely innocent you know.”
“Well they're better behaved than Daniel, Micheal, Guy, and Adrien,” she said. “But I didn't call to talk to you about our pests that we call brothers and sisters,” she said. “You will not believe it but there's a new night club opening up this Friday, and your best friend has gotten two exclusive VIP passes to the grand opening!” She bragged.
“That's great!” I congratulated. “So who are you going to take?” I asked. There was silence on the other end. “Arielle?” I asked.
“I am taking you Mia,” she replied.
“That's really nice of you Arielle, but I just told my mom last night that I was going to try to get some overtime in so we would have some extra money at the end of the month,” I said.
“Mia, you're going,” she said. “I already talked to your mom last night and she thought that it would be a good idea for you to get out,” she said.  I stood there dumbfounded. Was I actually being forced to go out and have fun? “Well I guess if you guys think that-”
“Yes we do, we both agree that you work too hard and you need to get out and live a little, c'est la vie mon amie!” She said.
“Fine I'll go,” I sighed. I heard squeals on the other end and glass shattering. “I take it that you have to go now?” I asked.
“You know it,” she groaned.
         We said our goodbyes and I hung up the phone. I looked up at the kitchen clock and went to the bottom of he stairs. “Ryan! Sarah! Come on I have to take you to Grandma's!”  I turned back to the kitchen and grabbed my car keys from the hook on the wall. I heard the runts running down the stairs behind me. “Mia how long are we going to be at Grandma's today?” Ryan asked.
“Just until I get off work and then we're going to pick up pizza on the way home,” I said.
“Is Mommy working late again Mia?” Sarah asked.
“I'm afraid so kiddo.” I grabbed my coat from the front closet and slipped it on. I handed Ryan and Sarah theirs. “Alright everyone get in the car,” I ordered. I herded the kids out and locked the door behind me. The drive to my grandma's house was a quick one. The kids were busy fighting over a radio station and by the time they finally agreed on one, we were at Grandma's. I pulled into the driveway and before I could turn the car off, Ryan and Sarah had already made a beeline for the front door. Before they could ring the doorbell, the door flew open and Grandma gave them huge bear hugs. “How are my little munchkins!” Grandma cooed. I chuckled as I got out of the car. Grandma Ellen was my mom's mom and quite possibly our favorite grandma. Grandma Marcie, who was my dad's mom wasn't the nicest person in the world. I got up to the front porch and waited to receive my bear hug. Grandma shoved Ryan and Sarah in the house telling them there was cookies and milk on the counter waiting for them and then looked up to me. “There's my Mia, come here and give your grams some sugar,” she ordered. I laughed. “Hey Grams, how are you?” I asked.
“I'm better now that you're here, I haven't seen you for ages!” She said.
“I know Grams, but i've been really busy lately with school and work,” I said.
“Poor thing, why don't you come in for a cookie, I just baked them a little while ago,” she said.
I sighed remembering how good Grandma's cookies were. “I really wish I could Grandma, but I have to get to work,” I said.
She looked at me sadly. “You work too hard sweetie, but then again if you didn't I don't think your mom could ever do it by herself,” she said. “Speaking of which, when is Coraline coming to pick up the children?” she asked.
“Mom's working late again tonight,” I said. “But I am going to pick them up around eight,” I said. Grandma smiled sadly. “Alright sweetie, but don't work too hard okay?” she gave me another hug and I jumped down from the porch and got into my car. “Love you Grams!” I called from the car.
“Love you Mia!” She called back.
         The drive to work was longer than I expected due to heavy traffic three blocks from the bookstore that I worked at. I got there two minutes before I had to start my shift. I ran in and quickly punched in with a minute to spare. Arielle, who also worked there was already stocking shelves. She saw that I had just came in and ran over to me. “You will not believe it, but we have struck gold my friend,” she said enthusiastically.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“The most gorgeous guy walked in about ten minutes ago, and when I say gorgeous, I mean god like!”
“Okay, this coming from the girl who said almost the exact same thing about Zac Efron,” I said. Arielle rolled her eyes and spun me around toward the fiction section. My eyes almost bulged out of my head, for there stood the hottest looking guy I had ever met in my teenage life. There he was around 5'9, thin but he had muscles that weren't big, but weren't small either. Blondish-brown hair that was just above his shoulders and had a slight wave to it. He was pale without looking pasty and had the prettiest green eyes that I had ever seen. He was wearing black jeans and a black button up shirt with a black blazer over it. He looked as if he had stepped off the cover of GQ. “Damn,” I said.
“That's exactly what I said,” Arielle whispered to me. She looked behind her and nudged me hard. “Bitch alert,” she whispered and hurriedly went back to stocking books.
“Mia Caldwel, gaggling at the customers are we?” I knew that squeaky voice anywhere.
“I'm sorry Ms. Denison, I was just going to go and see if that customer needed any assistance,” I said.
“No need Mia, I had just asked him and he says that he is perfectly fine, now please get to work before I put you out of work,” she growled. My boss, Michelle Denison was Satan in heels. In two weeks she had fired half of the workers. Luckily Arielle and I were spared.
“I'm sorry Ms. Denison,” I apologized. She glared at me, turned on her heel and pranced back to her office.
“I hope that you're not going to listen to that cow, and you are going to go over and talk to that guy,” Arielle said.
“I don't know Arielle, guys like that want to go out with girls who are more boobs than brains and who put out on the first date,” I said. Arielle picked up a box of books and shoved them into my arms.
“Just go talk to him before I hit you up alongside the head,” she said and gave me a push.
“I'm going i'm going!” I growled at her.
         As I got closer to god boy, it felt as if my heart were going to explode out of my chest. I dropped the box of books right next to him and began stocking them on the shelf next to him. I felt his gaze on me and I turned to acknowledge him. “Hey, is there anything I can do for you?” I asked meekly. He looked me up and down for a minute and smirked. “You could tell me your name for starters,” he replied. He set the book he was looking at down and looked at me intently. I stood up from where I was kneeling and looked back at him. He was more beautiful up close. “Mia,” I replied, “Yours?” I asked.
He smiled again. “Do you have a last name Mia?” he asked.
“Caldwel,” I said. “Mia Caldwel.”
“Lovely name,” he whispered.
“Do you have a name?” I asked. I started beating myself up inside realizing how stupid that sounded.
Once again he smiled looking slightly amused. “Tristan,” he replied. “Tristan Deveroux.” He smiled again. “You know I think you could help me,” he said. “I have been looking for a good book for a while now and I cannot seem to find one.” I noticed as he spoke that he had a slight British accent. It wasn't like a regular accent, it was very faint. “You've asked the right person, i'm a bit of a book worm myself and I have read almost all of the new fiction books that we've gotten in recently,” I said. “Any genre in particular your looking for?” I asked.
“Preferably something fiction,” he said. “Perhaps something fantasy.” He said. I went over to the new releases section in fiction and began to search for a book. I pulled out three that I enjoyed that he might like. “These are very good, and they are even on sale so that's a plus,” I said. I handed him the three and smiled. “You're a bit of a reader I take it?”
“A bit, I have had a lot of free time during the years, and I find that reading help passes the time,” he said. He read the backs of the books and smiled. “these seem good, but i'm not particularly found of this vampire one here,” he said. He handed me the book.
“Not a fan of vampires?” I asked.
He smirked, “not necessarily.” I smiled,
“well why don't I ring these up for you?” I asked.
“Wonderful,” he said. I made my way to the registers and as I passed Arielle on the way, I grinned at her goofy grin that she had on her face.
         I rang up the two books that I had picked out for him and put them in a small bag. “$10.78 is your total,” I said. He tossed a twenty dollar bill on the counter.
“keep the change,” he said.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Definitely,” he said. “Mia?” he asked.
“Yes?”
“Would you like to go out sometime?” he asked. I froze, was I actually being asked out? What should I do? What should I say?
“Sure,” I squeaked. He smiled liking he was enjoying this. He pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket. “I'll give you mine if you give me yours,” he said. He smirked this time showing his brilliant white teeth that would make a dentist beam with happiness.
“Okay,” I said. “Give me a sec.” I rummaged under the counter and found a scrap piece of paper and wrote down my cell phone and home number. I gave it to him and he gave me his. “It was a pleasure to meet you Mia, I hope we can get together sometime.” He pulled out a pair of expensive looking sunglasses, slid them on and grabbed his sack. I watched him walk out to a black Mercedes. I turned to see Arielle standing next to me. “I hope you know that I hate you right now,” she said sighing. She watched him dreamily as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Okay now what is this god's name anyway?” she asked. “What did you guys talk about? I want details!” She pleaded. I rolled my eyes and couldn't help smiling. “His name is Tristan Deveroux,” I started.
“Oh my God his name is even sexy!” Arielle cried. I laughed.
“And I suggested some books, and then...”
“And then what?” she asked.
“And then he asked me out,” I said. Arielle's eyes got big and she squealed in delight.
“Omg, do you know what this means?” she asked.
“What?'
“He likes you, and if you show up somewhere public with Tristan, people like Chantal will lighten up on you! Possibly even induct you into the C.P.P.P.W.M.!”
“And that would stand for what?” I asked.
“ Cult of Pretty Preppy People With Money.” She replied.
“Okay I think you're blowing this way out of proportion,” I said. I went back over to fiction with Arielle still trailing behind me and continued stocking books. “You know i'm right Mia,” she continued. “Tristan is way hotter than all of the other guys at school combined,” she said. I knew she had a point there. “Just don't let them induct you into their evil cult,” Arielle warned.
“Don't worry Arielle,” I said as I stacked a book, “I won't.”
         After I got off work a few hours later, I stopped by Grandma's to pick up Ryan and Sarah. Afterwards,  we stopped by the pizzeria closest to our house and grabbed a large supreme and breadsticks. Once again the runts were busy arguing over the radio station and finally decided on one when we were only a few blocks from home. “Did you guys have fun at Grandma's?” I asked.
“Uh huh, we had cookies and milk, and we watched a movie, and then we played with play dough that Grandma made and we actually got to eat it Mia!” Sarah exclaimed.
“Sounds like you guys had quite a night!” I said. They both nodded in agreement. We pulled into the driveway and I turned the car off. “Okay, Ryan you hold the pizza and Sarah you can carry the breadsticks,” I said. I handed them their designated items and they jumped out of the car and ran to the front door. I followed them up to the door, unlocked it and pushed it open for them. They walked in and went and sat the food on the table. “Hey wash up before you eat!”I called after them. I kicked off my shoes and plopped down on the sofa in the living room. I opened my purse and dug around for the piece of paper with Tristan's number on it. I found it and took a good look. Would I even call it? Would he even call me? I groaned and shoved the number back in my bag. I had only had this number for a few hours and already I was waiting anxiously by the phone. I got up from the couch and went into the kitchen where I could already hear Ryan and Sarah digging in the food.
         It was about 9:30 by the time I had gotten the runts to bed. I had just finished the remainder of my homework and showered. As I lay there in bed, I thought of Tristan and worried some more about whether or not he would call or if  I would have guts enough to call him. I kept thinking about this even as I drifted into sleep.
         I left the next morning at my usual time after I had made sure that Ryan and Sarah had met the bus on time. I had crept into Mom's room earlier that morning to see if she was still sleeping. I smiled as I heard her snore like a savage bear.
         I got to school just as the first bell rang signaling classes were starting. I made it to my first period art class just as the tardy bell rang. I went over and sat by Arielle at a table in the back. “So has Tristan called yet?” she whispered as she began drawing a banana from the fruit bowl at our table.
“Not yet, but it's only been one day so i'm not worried...much,” I said.
“Relax, he's going to call,” she said. “If he doesn't, i'll pound his face in,” she promised. I laughed and we continued sketching.
         At lunch Arielle sat by ourselves at our usual table in the cafeteria when I noticed that Chantal Jacobson was staring intently at us. “What do you think she's staring at?” I asked. Arielle looked very uncomfortable. “No idea, maybe we should just head to the library now so we don't hit traffic in the halls,” she said. Just then Chantal stood up and started walking over to our table. “Arielle?” I asked, “what did you do?”
         The scent of lavender overpowered my senses until I thought I was going to suffocate. “Hey there Mia!” Chantal greeted in a fake friendly tone. “Arielle tells me that you have a boyfriend now!”
“Did she now,” I said. It was not a question. I glanced at Arielle and her face was bright red. “I just thought I would come over and say that i'll believe it when I see it,” she said. She had dropped the friendly tone and now her tone was of pure disgust. “If you have a boyfriend then I am the president of the United States,” she laughed. “A social reject like you could never get a boyfriend even if your life depended on it.” she said. I could feel the anger rising in me but I held my tongue. “Later freaks.”    And she pranced back to the popular table to tell of her triumph. “Was that really necessary?” I asked Arielle. “I'm sorry Mia, but she started ragging on you earlier today in chemistry and it kind of just popped out,” she said. “I really am sorry Mia.”
“Don't worry about it,” I said. I have a perfect plan. I stood up and with my head held high, I journeyed over to no man's land. Chantal and her henchmen looked at me as if I had gone insane. “Chantal,” I said sweetly, “I just thought that if you really wanted to meet my boyfriend you could meet us at that new club opening up on Friday,” I said. Chantal's eyes widened. She was not used to being talked back to. I smiled sweetly and walked back to my table. “What the hell did you do?” Arielle asked.
“I don't know, but I think I might have made things worse,” I said.
         I got home that night after school and I knew that I should call Tristan if my plan was to work. As I looked for the number in my bag, the phone rang. I ran from my room to the kitchen and picked up the phone. “Hello?” I answered.
“Hello Mia, This is Tristan Dexeroux, the guy from the book store.”
“Hi Tristan, I was just going to call you,” I said. I heard him chuckle on the other end.
“What a coincidence,” he said.
“Ya, a coincidence,” I agreed.
“Mia, would you care to accompany me this Friday on a date?” Tristan asked.
“I would love to Tristan,” I said, “and I know the perfect place where we can go.”
         For the remaining week at school Chantal couldn't help but remind me of Friday every single day at least once a day. At home, Mom was ecstatic that I was going out on a date, more specifically my first date, and Ryan and Sarah were making kissy faces at me numerous times during the day.          
When Friday finally came,  I was completely excited and I had trouble focusing all day during classes. “So when is he going to pick you up tonight?” she asked.
“Nine,” I said. “I'm sorry i'm not going to the club with you Arielle.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked. “I'm so freaking happy for you!” She squealed. “My best friend has finally got a boyfriend!” She said. She wrapped me in a hug. “I couldn't be happier for you, besides you're going to meet me there so the only thing you're going to be missing is the awesome car ride together."
         After what seemed like a long day, I was finally out of school for the weekend. I got home and Mom was already home cooking dinner. “Hey sweetheart, dinner's almost ready,” she called from the kitchen. I took off my shoes at the door and dropped my bag next to them. I walked into the kitchen and saw Mom making her famous spaghetti. “Are you excited?” she asked happily.
“Nervous is more like it,” I corrected. Mom came over and hugged me.
“My baby is all grown up and going on her first date!” She said. She held me at arms length and looked at me with tears in her eyes. “Mom don't start the waterworks!” I laughed. She laughed, “I really should quit bawling shouldn't I?” We laughed and she went back to her cooking. I noticed that the house was unusually quiet. “Mom where are the runts?” I asked.
“At Grandma's, I figured we could both use the night off tonight,” she smiled. She finished cooking dinner and then for the first time in years, we had a dinner with just the two of us.
         After dinner, I checked the clock and it read 6:00. I hurriedly jumped in the shower and washed my hair with my favorite shampoo and even used conditioner. After that, I blow dryed and curled my hair. I then had the obstacle of picking out what I was going to wear.
         After trying on and taking off clothes for an hour, I finally decided on an outfit that I had borrowed from Arielle a few days ago in case I had nothing else to wear. A black flowing halter top and knee length turquoise ruffled skirt with black espadrilles. Not the most practical winter wear, but according to Arielle, it looked good and thats all that really mattered. I spritzed some of my favorite cherry blossom perfume on and put on some earrings. I looked in the mirror and determined that I was finally ready.
         The doorbell rang and I grabbed my purse and walked downstairs. “Mia you look wonderful baby!” Mom said. There were tears already welling in her eyes.
I laughed, “Mom wait until Tristan and I leave, then you can cry,” I said. She laughed and wiped away the few tears that were falling. I went to the door and with a deep breath, opened it.
          Tristan looked handsome as ever in a red button up dress shirt and black jeans. He wore an expensive looking leather jacket. “Hello Mia,” he greeted.
“Hello Tristan.” He smiled, showing his teeth. A shiver ran up my spine. Tristan looked past me at my mom. “And who is this charming lady?” he asked. I turned to look at my mom who was turning a deep shade of red. “This is my mom Coraline,” I said. Tristan walked past me and took my mom's hand in his. “A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Caldwel,” he said.
“Oh please, call me Coraline,” she said.
“All right Coraline, what time would you like your daughter to be home this evening?” he asked.
“Oh, you two just go and have fun, it's not everyday that Mia goes out and has fun,” Mom said.
Tristan smiled. “Very well,” he said. He turned towards me. “Shall we?” he asked.
“We shall,” I answered. He escorted me out the door and out to his black Mercedes. He brought me over to the passenger side and opened the door for me and then after I got it in, closed it. He went around to the driver's side and got in. “Your mother seems very nice,” he noted.
“Yes, she rarely gets angry you know, which is more than I can say about a lot of parents,” I said.  Tristan laughed, “Yes I suppose you're right,” he said. On the way to the club we talked about numerous things. Hobbies, books, music, etc., etc. “How old are you Tristan?” I asked. “I know I should have asked earlier, but I hadn't really thought too much about it until now,” I said.  There was a brief pause before Tristan smirked. “I'm nineteen,” he said. “And you are about eighteen are you not?”
“Seventeen,” I said.
“Well then, we aren't that different in age then are we?” he asked.
“No, I was just worried that you might be in your twenties with kids or something,” I said. “I don't really know all that much about you.”
“Fair enough,” he laughed.
         We got to the club at around ten. The sign out front read "Nightstorm" in neon letters. There was a line three blocks long to get in. Tristan parked his car and got out to open the door for me. I got out and scanned the crowds for any sign of Arielle. Finally I spotted her. “Hey Mia!” Arielle called.
“That's my friend Arielle,” I explained. We crossed the street and joined her in her place in line that was close to the front. “Hey Arielle, do you have the VIP passes?” I asked. She smiled and pulled out three passes. “How did you get the third one?” I asked.
She grinned, “Mia, I have got major connections that you don't know about,” she said.
“Arielle I would like you to meet Tristan Deveroux, Tristan this is Arielle Debourge.” Arielle smiled sheepishly. “Nice to meet you,” she said extending her hand. Tristan took her hand in his and made a slight bow. “The pleasure is all mine,” he said. “I hope that the rest of Mia's friends are as pretty as you,” he said. Arielle started giggling like an idiot and I couldn't help but laugh.
“I think we're up you guys,” I said. We made it to the front of the line and Arielle showed the three passes to the bouncer. He waved us through and as the doors were opened we were met with the booming club music and colorful strobe lights. “Not bad don't you think?” I asked.
Tristan shrugged, “Not bad,” he said.
“Arielle?” I asked. But she was already dancing with some random guy that she had just met. “Tristan offered me his hand. “Care to dance?” he asked.
“I would love to,” I said. I offered a little smile to show that I appreciated him asking. We moved to the middle of the dance floor and began swaying to the music. I inhaled the fresh scent of Tristan's cologne which was spicy and warm and reminded me somewhat of the beach. I felt connected to Tristan, more so than I had felt towards a lot of other people that I had known much longer than Tristan. I closed my eyes and savored the moment while I  felt Tristan pressing his cold soft lips against my neck.

To be continued....