Story A) page 1: First Sighting

“He’s looking over here again.”

I groaned internally at Stacey’s words.  Why did she always have to attract attention?  Couldn’t I have found a best friend that looked less like a Greek goddess and more like a normal person?  And that was when she is dressed in over-sized hand-me-downs from her sister.  Don’t get me started when she is actually all made-up.

“Did you hear me?” she asks, shaking me slightly.

“Of course I heard you.  I don’t know why you’re surprised.  You look in the mirror every morning don’t you?  For 17 years now.  Nothing has changed.”

I wanted to lay my head on the table, but the tray that held what hardly passed as anything actually edible was in my way.  It was a metaphor for my life.  Not that I mean to sound condescending, I actually love Stacey.  More then I love myself in fact, but that does not prevent emotions such as envy, depression, and annoyance.  No, those I have frequently and today was no exception.  So I settled on resting my head in my palm, dreaming of some island in the tropics and a pina colada.

“He’s not looking at me.  He’s looking at you.” She says happily.

I sit up straight and peer around the cafeteria.  There in the food line stood the new guy, and she was right.  He was staring right at me. 

Why was he looking at me?  I glanced at Stacey who was growing increasingly excited.  Why was she so damn optimistic?  He hadn’t even talked to me and I could already see the wheels turning in her head. 

She’s been trying to set me up with guys the moment we got out of that awkward puberty phase, even though technically Stacey never had one of those.  Nope, only me.  And even if the guys weren’t totally ga-ga for her, which mind you they always are, I absolutely always srefuse.  Because come on, the only thing a guy wants is sex, sex, sex, and wait… nope, more sex.  With a side of video games and a beer.  Call me stereotypical all you want, but it’s the truth.  So this guy was going to be no exception, the only difference is he noticed me before he noticed her.  Because once guys notice her, I am invisible. 

“Stop staring at him, we don’t want him to think we actually want him over here.” I state, turning my attention back to the untouched mound of goo on my tray.

“Too late.” She giggles. 

“He is not coming over her.”

“He is actually.  Be nice.” She whispers, tucking a strand of her golden blonde hair behind her ear.  I rolled my eyes at her and decided to take deep long breaths.  In and out, that was the key.  Maybe he’d walk right on by.  Maybe he wasn’t looking at me at all.  That was the more logical explanation.

“May I sit here?”

His voice was angelic.  And I knew angelic.  It surprised me so much that the normal retorts I keep in my arsenal such as bite me, go stick your head in a toilet somewhere, why are you talking to us, and my personal favorite do us all a favor and stop breathing, completely escaped me.  Luckily Stacey could still think and actually answer.

“Why yes you may!  I am Stacey and this is,”

“Ariel.” He finishes.

How did he know my name?  I look up at him; by this time he was standing in front of us on the other side of the square table.  His blue eyes stood out in stark contrast to his black hair and tan skin.  Boy was he pretty.  And nothing good could come from anything that looked that pretty.