So there it was, I was going to the school dance with stinky Bertha and according to the Snowball Dance rules, I wasn’t allowed to say no to whoever asked me first.

“GOD WHY DID SHE HAVE TO ASK MEEEEEEE?!” I screamed within the confines of my own head.

Well, she didn’t actually ask; it was more like she TOLD me I was going with her. I guess in the world of bullies, the word ‘told’ is the same thing as ‘ask’.

Later that day, while I was going from one class to another, I ran into Stacks. She looked harassed and angry, but when she spotted me it was as if the gray clouds had evaporated and allowed the sun to shine down upon her.

“Hey Stacks!” I said when the two of us nearly collided.

“Oh hi Alvin,” she said and blew a hair out of her eyes.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah,” She said with a sigh, “just had another run in with my English teacher. I think she has it in for me.”

“Really? Sorry to hear that.” I said, trying to sound like I cared, but if the truth be known, seeing Stacks right then had reminded me of something that guy at the restaurant, Mr. Rawnwe had said. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you. It seems you have stolen my daughters’ heart.”

I’d been mulling over those words in the back of my mind ever since, trying to make sense of them.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked, purposefully not making eye contact.

She shifted her weight to one foot and readjusted her arm load of books on the opposite hip, “Sure.”

“That guy at the restaurant, the one that runs the place… uh,” I grunted as I tried to remember that guy’s name, “Mr. Rawnwe” I said with a triumphant snap of my fingers, “Is he your dad?” As soon as I got the words out, my mouth went dry with the thought that someone like Stacks might have the hots for me.

She smiled knowingly and I knew in that moment, that I had guessed right. “Well, he’s not my real dad, if that is what you mean. He’s my step dad. He married my mom a couple years ago.” She said and then asked, “How did you even guess?”

I shrugged, “Oh well, you had said that your dad makes you work there and I just assumed that he must work there too.” I said, hoping she would buy that excuse because I didn’t want to tell her what he had said to me.

Thankfully, two other girls walked up and rudely pushed their way between Stacks and me. Back in California I probably would have said something equally rude to them, but instead I took that opportunity to make my escape.

“Oh man!” I groaned into my locker as I deposited some books and collected the ones I’d need next. Mumbling to myself I said, “Stacks likes me?” It was both an exhilarating and horrendous thought. I didn’t have a clue what to do or say to her. A day before I didn’t even know we were friends and now to learn that she likes me?

I closed my locker as I mumbled to myself, “Man, I wish Gary was here. He’d know what I should do.” And in that instant I decided, that I’d call him the first chance I got. After all, he did say I could call him collect anytime I needed too.