Catherine McMillan

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Today is the day! We’ll finally present our projects that we’ve worked hard on for the past weeks. Sleepless nights and a lot of efforts and sacrifices have been really made for this. I was walking along the hallway and saw Dylan.

“Good morning Dylan.”, I called to him as he spotted and approached me.

“G-good morning C-Catherine.”, he replied. Huh? What’s with the crappy voice early in the morning? Suddenly, a hand landed on my head. I turned around and saw Michael.

“Good Morning Catherine!”

“G-good morning.”, I replied. Wait, now I’m having this crappy voice. Honestly, these recent days, whenever Michael was around, I would suddenly get nervous. I don’t know why though. I never felt like this around him. Oh well, he’s full of idiocy. Who’d fall for a guy like him anyway?

“Are you ready for today’s presentation?”, Michael asked and I nodded in response.

“Well, let’s go. Mr. Geogeo will be mad if we were late.”

“Wait, Mr. Geogeo?”, I asked.

“Yeah. He’s our geography teacher and I... forgot his name anyway.”, he replied. I laughed so hard that my stomach started to hurt.

“What?”, he asked in an irritated voice.

“Nothing. You’re really bad at giving nicknames.”, I replied.

“Shut up. Let’s go.”, he replied. I walked behind him. Was he blushing? I could have sworn I saw his face red.

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Dylan Wilson

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There they go. They get along well. They would make a good couple. Hold on a second. Couple?! No way. Michael Collins is the worst boyfriend a girl could have! Well, bitches consider him a prince but more like a slutty prince. I was looking at Catherine’s face when she was having that conversation with Michael. She looked happy. I’ve never seen her smile like that before. She looked cute. I’m no match. I’m a loser. Wait, what am I saying?! It’s like I’m saying I actually like Catherine. No. That’s totally not happening. Well, I think I did like her before but I’m not crossing the line!

“So you’re just going to let her go?”. I turned around and saw Stacy.

“What are you saying all of a sudden?”, I asked.

“Nothing.”, she said, “Let’s go or we’ll be late for Geography.”. I followed her. I know that Stacy loves me.

PAST

Dylan went to Stacy’s house last Sunday for their project.

Stacy: Dylan?

Dylan: What is it? You already done with your part of the project?

Stacy: Look at me.

Dylan: (looks at Stacy) What is it?

Stacy: I love you.

Dylan: Wait. What?!

Stacy: (kisses Dylan on the lips.)

Dylan was shocked that he was unable to move. They kissed and after a few seconds, Stacy distanced herself from Dylan.

Stacy: I know you like Catherine.

Dylan: (blush) No I don’t!

Stacy: It’s so obvious Dylan! It’s written all over your face. Honestly, I’ve had a crush on you since junior high. I’ve kept it to myself because I knew it was impossible for my feelings to reach you. But I never gave it up. I took a strand of hope and made my way to the top. In no time, I became popular. Remember me from before? I had braces on, my hair was always braided, and I wore glasses. I was the worst looking person on earth. I even had acne before. I gave all of my efforts into making myself beautiful so that you would notice me. The nerd I once was is now history. Up until now, I still love you.

Dylan: (looks down on the floor) I’m sorry.

Stacy: (starts to cry) I knew you would say that.

Dylan: (looks at Stacy in shock) Stacy...

Stacy: I knew... right from the beginning that you would say that. Thanks by the way. Thanks for that time... when you helped me tend the flowers of the school garden. It was because of that, that I started to like you. I thought, “maybe popular people are nice.”.

Dylan: I don’t know what to say.

Stacy: (stands up and looks out the window) You don’t have to. I just wanted to say these things to you already since it’s already bothering me so much.

Dylan: (speechless)

Stacy: Don’t worry Dylan. From now on, I’ll support you with Catherine. (smiles at him)

Dylan: Wait, what?!

PRESENT

I couldn’t she’d confess like that out of the blue. So she was the nerd whom everybody bullied during junior high. We entered the classroom and saw Catherine talking with Michael. I went to my seat and our teacher went in.

“Okay class. Time to present your projects! Would anyone volunteer?”, he asked.

“We will!”, Catherine raised her hand.

“Okay then. Please come here in front.”. Catherine and Michael went in front. They made Asia and did the report. I noticed, she talked a lot about Japan. Does she like it there? Well, there’s nothing special in that country. It’s full of ‘kawaii’ and stupid people wearing costumes. So what does she like about Japan then? I’ve been there for like a million times thanks to my dad’s meetings. After a few minutes, they were already done. It was our turn and we went in front. I looked at Catherine and she looked back at me. She gave me a thumbs up and that made me happy and determined. So I did my best to report and we somehow managed to pull it off.

“Well, it looks like everybody already presented. Let’s have an early dismissal today. Goodbye.”, the teacher said as he walked out of the classroom.

“Good job out there.”, someone said. I looked around and saw Catherine approaching me.

“Nah. I think I did horrible.”

“I think you did well though.”, she said.

“By the way, do you like Japan? I noticed you really talked a lot about Japan.”, I just had to ask. Way to go Dylan.

“Like? More like love it! It’s my dreamland. I love it there even though I’ve never been there before. I know someday I will be there and I will go around all cities and provinces of Japan. I’ll go to all tourist spots and more! Oh my. When it comes to Japan, I never stop blabbering. I’m sorry.”

“Ah, it’s okay. Wow. It’s hard to think that a bully in the past actually loves those kind of stuff.”, I said.

“I know. I loved that country ever since I was little. I saw a cartoon and it was so nice. Then I watched more on those anime stuff and I got more interested in Japan. I researched a bit about it and they have an interesting culture and hobby. Honestly, I want to be Japanese. They are so cool and amazing! Dang it! Why did I have to be born as an American anyway? It’s frustrating.”, she asked.

“I think because you won’t be able to really appreciate Japan if you weren’t born as a foreigner.”, I replied. She just stared at me like I had something on my face.

“Really? I never thought of that. Well, thank God I was born an American then.”, she said as she smiled at me.

“Hey Catherine! It’s finally over. Remember our promise?”, Michael asked her.

“Promise?”, she asked. By the looks of it, she forgot.

“Promise! You promised that you’d hang out with me after the project’s done.”, he told her in the hopes that she would remember. Then Catherine’s face made the oh-yeah-I-remember look.

“Oh yeah. I remember! Well, let’s go after school then. Will that be okay?”, she asked.

“Sounds cool to me. Well, I still have English next. See you later Catherine.”, he said as he exited the room.

“Hey Catherine! Since we have vacant period today, wanna hang out?”, Stacy asked.

“Sure! It’s been a long time since I spent time with you guys. Let’s hang out at the oak tree!”, Catherine replied.

“Okay. Let’s go.”, Stacy said and I followed both of them. We arrived at the oak tree and I lied down on the grass and both of them sat on the bench.

“So how are you Catherine? I see that you’ve become close to Michael.”, Stacy asked.

“I’m fine and well, yeah. Michael and I became good friends. He’s a nice and sweet guy.”

“Oh really?”, Stacy replied as she looked at me from the corner of her eyes and smirked. What was that supposed to mean? Did she just tell me something?

“Yeah. He also introduced me to his family last Sunday. It was really nerve wrecking and I managed to pull it off in the end.”

“Wow. That’s new.”, I talked. Both of them looked at me in surprise.

“What is?”, Catherine asked.

“Michael Collins never once introduced his girlfriends or girl friends to his family. I’m guessing you’re the first one.”, I told them.

“So that means, Michael likes you!”, Stacy screamed.

“Stacy! Shut it!.”, Catherine begged.

“Sorry. It’s just news to me.”

“Don’t tell this to anyone. Got that? Or else... you know what I can do Stacy.”, Catherine said.

“No problem. My mouth is sealed.”, Stacy said.

“Well it better be.”, Catherine replied.

“I also think Michael is serious about you. I don’t know what’s going on but I think he’s planning on something.”, I told them. What am I saying all of a sudden?! I’m really starting to get irritated.

“What’s with that irritated voice Dylan?”, Catherine asked. I think I made her angry.

“I’m not irritated.”

“Well it’s clearly written all over your face!”, Catherine said. She stood up and walked away.

“Geez. Talk about being grumpy.”

“Dylan! What did you do that for?”, Stacy asked.

“Did what?”, I asked.

“That!”, she said as she pointed to the direction where Catherine ran off to.

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”, I replied.

“Well obviously you did and it’s obvious that you’re jealous. Now go and apologize.”, she demanded. I got up and started to walk.

“Fine and for the record, I’m not jealous.”. I looked for Catherine around the hallways. Jealous? How can I be jealous? I’m her friend for Pete’s sake! What has that got to do with being jealous? Sure I like her but only as a friend. I don’t like her in a romantic way. I just feel so irritated when I hear his name or when Catherine talks about him, or when I see her with him. I mean, come on! That’s not jealousy, right? Maybe I just... miss her. We haven’t had time to hang out lately and when she’s around, all she talks about is that stupid prince of the sluts. It’s just so annoying. I walked around and didn’t see her anywhere. Classes ended and I didn’t see her. God, where did she run off to? Stacy’s gonna kill me if I don’t apologize to Catherine. I sighed of the thought of being killed. I still wanna go to college, go to work, get married, have a battalion of kids, and grow old with my future wife. Wait, what am I saying? Such stupid things at a time like this. I’m still in high school and I thought of those stuff already? Pff... what a wimp. I passed by the bleachers and saw Catherine sitting alone.

“Ca –“, I was about to call out when Michael sat beside her. I became speechless. I didn’t want to disturb them so I just went home.

Catherine McMillan

“Practice is done.”, Michael said as he sat beside me.

“So, let’s go? There’s this ice cream shop I wanna go to.”, I asked and he nodded.

“Wait for me. I’ll go get changed.”, he said as he got up and went to the boys locker room. I waited for about five minutes and he came out.

“Sorry I took so long. I had to take a quick shower.”, he apologized.

“You’ve only been there for five minutes.”, I told him.

“You actually counted?”, he asked. Crap! Curse me and my stupid mouth!

“I ah.... I just guessed?”, I replied.

“Oh. So, let’s go?”, he asked and I nodded. Sigh, good thing he didn’t notice. Well, I hope this will be a walk in the park. I’ll just have to enjoy myself with Michael so I will forget what happened this morning.