-Tristan-
I hadn't been able to sleep for the past couple of nights.
No, I wouldn't consider it insomnia. It was only because a certain someone had i nvaded my mind - every detail on her face, every movement she'd made, every seco nd that had passed back at the dance was still fresh in my mind, even though it had happened days ago.
It might have sounded strange, but I really felt a connection between this girl and myself. Something I hadn't felt with another person in a long time.
They say that if you're thinking of someone, the person in your thoughts may be thinking about you, too. Was that the truth, or was I just an exception? Damn, j ust knowing how often I lay in bed thinking about her, and how she probably didn 't think of me at all, really did suck.
Tossing my backpack on my shoulder, I jogged downstairs and saw Dad reading a ne wspaper on the dining table.
"Morning," I greeted him.
Dad looked up from his paper. "Mornin', son."
I took a ham and an egg and slapped them between the two toasted breads. Mom cam e out from the kitchen and settled two clean plates on the table.
"Oh, Tristan, are you going to school already?" she asked, confusion drawn on he r face. "Why don't you settle down and eat your breakfast first? It's still earl y."
"Nah, this is enough for me," I said, gesturing at my badly arranged sandwich. " I gotta go so I can catch up with the Harris girls."
Mom's olive eyes lit up. "Oh, you will drive them to school?"
Taking a huge bite, I nodded. "Yeah, that's the plan."
"That's great to hear. It's been a long time since you did that with them," she said happily, "honey, you should do that more often now, so those girls won't ha ve trouble catching up the bus. Emilie would surely be grateful."
I snorted at that as I munched. "Right. And while I'm on that, I might as well w ear plate armor in case Kylie starts throwing tantrums on me all the way to scho ol."
Dad casually took a sip from his coffee. "Well, that reminds me of someone," he said, pointing out Mom.
"Arthur." Mom flashed him a warning look.
I grinned. "See? Dad agrees. Anyway, I gotta bounce now. Bye." I leaned to kiss her cheek, had another bite of my sandwich, and took off before she could start freaking out.
Mom and Kylie had really something in common, which might have been why Mom was so fond of her.
Luckily, as soon as I stepped out of the house, Lacey and Kylie were already hea ding out of their lawn. I called them, waving my hands in the air. Lacey noticed me; she waved back and nudged Kylie, who just gave me a scowl in return.
"Hey, beautiful morning, huh?" I said as I leaned on the door of my car parked b eside the curb.
"Yeah, it is," Kylie shot back, "until you came."
"Not talking to you," I ventured. Her face immediately turned red and scrunched up in annoyance. I laughed. "Just kidding."
"Screw you," she muttered. "Let's go, Lacey. We don't have all the time in the w orld to deal with such jerks." She grabbed Lacey's hand and walked away.
"And this jerk decided to be a gentleman for today to offer the two ladies a fan cy ride to school," I called out and smirked. "Only the vehicle isn't that fancy enough, but is certainly much better compared to that smelly old bus."
Lacey pulled Kylie back, saying, "Really? You're gonna drive us to school?"
"Yes."
"Cool, I'm in!" Lacey skipped towards me and turned back to Kylie, gesturing her . "Sis, what are you waiting for? Come on!"
"No, Lacey. That's a deathtrap!" Kylie shouted.
"Oh, please, we are already being offered a fast ride. It'd be such a hassle to walk all the way to the bus stop," Lacey answered. "Just for this once, sis?"
"Don't worry, it would be fine if she won't join us," I told her. "I just want y ou to come with me because there's something I'd like to talk with you while we' re on the way."
At that moment, Kylie marched towards us. "Fine. I'm in," she said, glaring at m e. "Oh, I do apologize if I would sound a bit prying, mister, but I would like t o know what that somethingis all about as well," she added, faking courtesy.
I grinned. "That caught your attention, huh?" I turned around and, to tease her more, I politely opened the front door for her. "Well, ladies fir-"
Kylie threw her bag on the back seat and leaped over the door. Sighing, I rolled my eyes at her ignorance and let Lacey sat beside the driver's seat instead. I entered the other side and started the engine.
"I'm glad you put the top down," Lacey spoke as she pulled on the seatbelt. "I j ust love the feel of the morning breeze."
I twisted to Kylie, who had her arms crossed over her chest.
"You okay there, Kyles?" I said.
She only grunted and looked away. I chuckled and turned my eyes back on the road .
After a moment, Lacey asked, "So, what is it you'd like to talk about?"
"Oh, well, actually I was kinda wondering if you knew the girl who replaced you at the ball," I said on-point.
"What?" Kylie piped.
Out of the corner of my eye, Lacey looked at me in surprise. "Is that it?" she a sked uncertainly.
I nodded. "Yeah. So... do you know her? What's her name?"
The ride immediately went silent. Puckering my eyebrows, I turned to Lacey in cu riosity. She seemed to be shooting strange glances at Kylie. I whipped my head a t the back, and Kylie flashed her eyes on me.
"Eyes on the road, T! Do you want us to get killed?" she exclaimed.
I heaved a sigh and did what she'd said. "What's with you girls being quiet righ t now?" I observed and steered the wheel to the right.
"What's with you asking that question to Lacey?" Kylie snapped back.
"That's apparently none of your business." A smile stretched my lips again. "Unl ess you're getting jealous right now."
"Huh, what makes you think I would get jealous?"
"I know you've got a crush on me."
Kylie laughed. And it wasn't even a ladylike laughter. It was boisterous, half-l aughing, and half-hiccupping. She banged the seat with her fist and managed to c hoke out, "W-what? Me? Having a crush on you?" She cackled even more. "Bless you r delusional heart, T-Tristan. Oh, my God, my ribs. Ouch."
I tightened my grip on the wheel as I felt blood rushing to my face. "Can't you take a joke, Kylie?"
"That's why I'm laughing so hard!" She exhaled noisily. "I practically died! Jes us, I need oxygen."
I decided to ignore her. "So, Lace, can you tell me who she is?" I asked again.
"Excuse me, um, she?"
"I was talking about the anonymous Queen of the ball."
Kylie huffed. "Seriously?"
"Shut up, Kyles."
"Oh, right!" Lacey giggled. "Sorry, my head's in the clouds. I'm such a dummy. U h, about your question... that girl, um..." She took a pause as if she was ponde ring about it. "Actually... I have no idea about that," she mumbled lastly.
"What?"
"I passed out that time, Tristan," she answered, her voice getting stronger as s he went on. "So I really have no memory about that. I-it was the last minute, an d the student council didn't have any choice but to pick a random girl, I guess. .."
My hopes began to fizzle out. I had thought this start would be easy for me.
"I... think that's understandable," I muttered. "Did they mention to you about t he girl's name, though?"
Lacey shook her head. "No, they didn't. I'm-I'm sorry I can't give you enough in formation."
Well, this sucks big time.
I sighed in defeat. "It's all right, Lacey. I think I'll try to find that girl a t school, if I'm lucky enough to spot her around."
"Ooh," Lacey chanted, wiggling her eyebrows. "I think I'm getting something out of it! T, are you interested in that girl?"
"Yeah. She's very beautiful," I said distantly as the girl's face drifted into m y head.
"Oh, gosh. You heard that, Kylie?" she squealed, "Tristan said that yo-she is ve ry beautiful, like, he's just so that into her!"
"What? W-why are you telling me that? I have no idea what you two are talking ab out," Kylie stammered quickly. "T, can you drive a little faster?"
"As you wish." Grinning, I pressed the accelerator hard the car sped up like a b ullet train through the highway, and we reached the school's parking lot in just a snap.
"And we're finally here." I turned the ignition off.
"Wow. Thanks for the ride," Lacey said, taking off the seatbelt. "Let's go, Ky-o h, are you okay?"
I turned around and saw Kylie pressed on the seat like a flat pancake; her face was all white and her hair stood up in every direction.
"TRISTAN, YOU IDIOT!" she shrieked. "I said you drive a little faster! Not a ten-thousand-miles-per-hour faster! You were practically over the speed limit."
"Almost, but not quite, so we're in the clear."
"Whatever. God, that nearly made me throw up." She hopped down over the door and grabbed her bag. "Do that again, and I'll whack you in your freaking esophagus! "
I smiled casually. "Cool. So does that mean you want to ride with me again?"
She made a face and stomped her way to the school entrance.
Well, it seemed like I already screwed up someone's morning.