Free Present Perfect by Alison G. Bailey

enough for him.”
    “Amanda, do you like Noah?” She asked.
    “That’s a stupid question, of course, I like him. We’re best friends.”
    “You know what I mean. Do you like him , like him?”
    “Noah’s my best friend and he means the world to me.”
    I wasn’t about to tell Beth what my feelings were for Noah. I was confused about them myself. I realized I couldn’t have him, but I didn’t want anyone else to have him either. I knew it was stupid and unfair, but it was how I felt.
    “Fine. I don’t get you,” she paused. “Why don’t you ask a guy and come? It’ll be fun.” Picking up her backpack, she stood. “Look, I got to run to my locker before class. At least think about going to the dance.”
    I watched as Beth walked away and into the main building. I wasn’t mad at her for wanting to go out with Noah. Every girl in this school wanted to. I was hurt and angry with Noah. I couldn’t remember ever being angry with him before. I didn’t understand why he hadn’t said anything to me about this date. We told each other everything. What had changed?
    Maybe I should go to this dance. It might help me to see them together on an actual date. I had no idea who to ask. I certainly didn’t want to give a guy the wrong impression. I just needed a date for this dance that was all, nothing else. The dance was in a week, anyone would at this point.
    I looked around the courtyard hoping my ‘ date ’ would magically appear. After seeing my prospects were slim to none, I sat, looking down as if the answer was written in the concrete.
    Getting ready to head back to class, I picked up my backpack, glanced up, and there was my answer, sitting right across from me.
    “Hey!” No response. “Hey!”
    Vincent looked over each of his shoulders to see if anyone was behind him. “Are you speaking to me?” He asked.
    Vincent Chamberlin was the smartest kid in the sophomore class, probably in the entire school actually. He was also a nerd and awkward as hell, but nice and harmless.
    “Of course. Who else would I be speaking to?”
    “Practically anyone besides me,” he said.
    “Do you have plans this Friday night?”
    “Seriously?” He paused, looking up as if his social schedule was written in the clouds. “No.”
    “You want to go to this dance thing?”
    “Are you asking me out on a date?”
    “Technically.”
    “Well…um…let me think about this for a minute. No one has ever asked me this question before.” He rested his chin between his thumb and index finger, running them up and down his jawline as he pondered my question. “You and I have known each other since kindergarten. Although, you haven’t really spoken to me since then or even acknowledge my existence.”
    I couldn’t help my eye roll. Vincent was actually going to make me work for this. “I’m shy, what can I say. Yes or no?”
    “Yes. It would be an honor to escort you to the dance. What time shall I pick you up?”
    “Do you know where I live?”
    “I’m not sure,” he said.
    I stood. “I’ll meet you at the dance. No sense in cluttering your mind with my address.”
    “Wouldn’t you like to go out to dinner before the dance?”
    “I’d love to, but I think I’ll be so excited and nervous that if I ate before, I might spew all over you.” Vincent’s face scrunched up in disgust. Leaning towards him for emphasis, I continued, “You wouldn’t want my spew dripping off of you, would you?”
    He leaned away, shaking his head rapidly. “I’ll meet you at the dance.”

     
    Masochist -someone who obtains pleasure from receiving punishment, aka Amanda Marie Kelly. I wasn’t even a good masochist, because no pleasure would be received from what I was about to do.
    I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the day on anything except the impending Noah and Beth date. I needed and wanted to know why Noah kept it a secret from me. I was meeting him after school today.
    I signed up to work on the school paper again this