Zara Peters was one of the shyest girls you’ll ever meet. She had long beautiful wavy brunette hair. Her eyes were glistening emerald eyes. They told you to look at them, but they were always hidden behind her tan eyelids.

Matthew Rioup was one of the most popular guys in school. He was perfect with sandy brown hair and shimmering hazel eyes that always twinkled at you. He was everybody’s ‘friend’. He would help everybody with everything.

How these two came together was a total surprise for everybody. They were still getting over the fact that Zara actually existed. Not very many people knew who she was. She was the shyest girl there ever was. She never raised her hand in school and people rarely saw her. She would blend into every one of her classes. Her only friends are her sisters. But her sisters were popular, very unlike her. She loved them to death, but she also hated them to death because people noticed them and not her.

The only reason that they actually met was because they were in the same Spanish II class and he needed help on his homework. Her sisters told him that she was good in Spanish. He didn’t even know who she was. He had to ask them.

“Who’s this Zara that you guys are talking about?” Matt asked Zara’s sisters: Amanda, Elizabeth, and Melanie.

“It’s our sister,” Zara’s twin sister, Elizabeth stated.

“I didn’t know you guys had a sister.”

“Of course we do. Why wouldn’t we?”

“I don’t know. I would think she was also popular like you guys.”

“She may not be popular but she is really sweet. And she thinks you’re really cute.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. So will you go out with our sister for one night? To see if you like her?”

“Sure. Of course I will. She sounds nice. When do you guys want me to go out with her?”

“How about this Friday?”
“Sounds good. Do you want me to ask her out or are you going to tell her?”

“Please, just ask her out. I don’t want her to know that you’re doing a favor for us.”

“But I’m not doing a favor.”

“Sure, you are.”

“Whatever. I’ll just ask her out to bowling. Does that sound good?”

“Yeah, but she’s never been bowling before. She doesn’t know how to bowl.”
“Okay. I’ll just teach her.”

The next day at school, he saw her in Spanish II second period. She sat in the back corner by the teacher when he sat across the room by the door in the front. He walked over to her.

“So, Zara, are you doing anything this Friday?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I think you’re the only Zara in here.”

“Yeah. I guess you’re right. So what were you asking?”

“If you were available this Friday night.”

“Yeah. I’m pretty sure I am.”

“Okay, then. Do you want to go bowling with me?”

“Bowling? I’ve never been bowling before.”

“There’s a first for everything.”

“But I don’t even know how to bowl.”

“Don’t worry about it. I can teach you.”

“Thanks.”

“No, thank you for being so beautiful. I’ll pick you up at 7:00 p.m. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll see you then. Bye for now.”

Zara was just so shocked that as soon she left Spanish, she ran to find her sister Elizabeth. She had to find her. She would appreciate it the most.

“Elizabeth! Elizabeth!” Zara shouted as soon she saw her sister.

“What is it, sis?” Elizabeth asked Zara.

“Matthew Rioup asked me out on a date. I can’t believe it.”

“Really? Is that so?” She sounded surprised, but she already knew that he asked her out because she knows everything.

“Yeah. This Friday. Can you help me out?”

“Sure, of course, lil sis. Where are you guys going to?”

“Bowling. So can you help me?”

“Of course I can. No matter what I’ll help you on your dates to wherever. And with whoever.”

“Thanks sis. That’ll really help me.”

That day at lunch, he asked her to sit with him and his friends.

“Me? Are you asking me to sit with you?” Zara pointed at herself, surprised.

“Yes, you baby.” Matt told her.

“Did you just call me baby?” Zara looked at him, shocked.

“Yeah. I mean. Do you mind?”

“No. No. Not really. It just caught me off guard. Sorry. Sure, I’ll sit with you.” She went and sat down next to him.

“Okay, girl, this is Tim,” points at a big guy with a weird looking haircut, “Bo,” points at a Mexican guy with spiky black hair, “and Geoff.” And points at a big guy with blond hair and blue eyes.

“Guys, this is Zara.” He points at her. “How do you pronounce your name?”

“Like you’re saying Sara. My parents just like the spelling with a Z because it looks sophisticated. The exact same reason that they named my twin sister Elizabeth. My parents are weird like that.” She looked up at them. They looked bored, like they didn’t care. So she just looked down at her food and stopped talking.

“That’s very interesting, girl.” Matt said as he wrapped his arm around her. “But I have a question for you. Would you like to sit with us tomorrow?”

“Me? Sit with you people?” She looked up, surprised. “Sure. That would be awesome.”

“Well, I’m glad you liked that, baby girl.” He gave her a kiss.

She didn‘t know what to expect from their first kiss. She didn‘t know it would be that sweet or romantic. Well, kind of romantic.

“So, will you officially be my girl now?” he asked her.

“Um, sure. Of course I will.” She couldn’t believe that not only did she get a guy to ask her out on a date but also a guy to ask her to be his girl. She’s had a guy ask her to be their girlfriend or to go with them, but never to be their girl. She felt so special, she didn’t even notice that Geoff was staring at her.

“Tim, you say.” She asked Tim. “What’s your full name?”

“Tim Dimmick, ma’am.” Tim replied.

“That’s a nice name.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“And you,” she turned to Bo. “What’s your full name?”

“Bo Carollus, Zara.”

“I like that name Bo. It’s pretty.”

“Thanks. My parents thought it was cool, too, apparently. Otherwise they wouldn’t have named me that.”

“Yeah. That’s a good point there.” She turned to Geoff. “So, Geoff, what is your full name?”

“My full name?” Geoff turned to her. He stared into her eyes. She looked away from them, but still looked at him. “My name is Geoffrey Molten Seay.”

“I was just asking for your last name, but your middle name is good too. I don’t really like the name Geoff so I’ll just call you Molten from now on. Is that okay with you?”

“Anything for Matt’s girl.” He winked at her. She turned away from him and looked up at Matt. He looked so cute, so innocent. And yet she knew more than he probably would ever want her to know. There’s also some stuff that he shouldn’t know. Like her ex-boyfriend. She’ll tell him eventually. Eventually, if he didn’t find out before.

“Matt, are you done eating?” She asked him.

“Yeah, girl. I’m done. Why?” Matt told her.

“Can we, um, go to the Ag building? I want to get, um, something to drink.”

“Okay, girl. I’m coming.” He got up and dumped their trash. She went with him because Molten was scaring her.

When they got to the Ag building, she started talking to him.

“Matt, I have to tell you this. Molten is really scaring me. He was like staring at me the whole time I was there and then he winked at me.”

“Girl, it’s alright. He does that to every body, even to us sometimes.”

“Do you guys ever wonder if he’s gay?”

“Sometimes, until he reminds us about his girlfriend.”

“He has a girlfriend?” She sounded so surprised.

“Yeah. She’s from here but home-schooled, I think.”

“Is she pretty?”

He wrapped his arms around her waist, standing in front of her. “Yeah, but not as pretty as you.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, standing in front of her. He bent over and kissed her again.

“Is she as hot as I am?”

“To tell you the truth, girl. I don’t think any girl can be as hot as you.”

“Really? Are you telling the truth?”

“Of course, I am, girl. Would I lie to you?”

“I don’t know. I can’t trust you yet. We just started going out today.” She walked out of his arms. “Let’s just see what happens.” That’s when the bell rang. “Bye, Matt. See you later.”

She ran off to get to class on time, leaving him just standing there.

Chapter 2

He slowly walked to class. He got there barely on time. He didn’t care. He was thinking too hard to care at all. What was he gonna do? He had to gain her trust in order for the plan to work out right.

‘The plan?’ he asked himself. ‘How can I go through such a horrible plan with such a sweet girl?’

He thought to himself for awhile while the teacher was explaining stuff on the board about the Government and Economics. He finally got it.

He got a piece of paper out and wrote down something. After he finished he folded it up and put it in his pocket.

He was walking out of class later when he saw Zara.

“Hey, Zara, girl. Zara! Over here!” He called to her.

She turned around to face him, not realizing that he was behind her ‘til she turned around and there he was. She just couldn’t believe how hot he looked. She slowly walked over to him.

He put his arm her and brought her close to him. “Hey, girl? I have a very important question for you.”

“What is it, Matt?” Zara looked up at him.

“What would you like to eat for dinner tonight?”

“Tonight?” Zara looked confused.

“Yeah. Well, I was kind of wondering if you’d like to go out a couple of days early because I just can’t wait to show Devine how much I like my new girl?”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Of course I am. K. So, where will it be, baby girl?”

“How about you make it a surprise?”

“A surprise? That I can do. I’ll pick you up at 18:30. Is that okay?”

“Yeah. Is your dad in the military?”

“Nope.”

“Then how do you know military time?”

“Girl, I hang out with Geoff. Remember, he’s obsessed with the Marines.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Okay. I forgot. You just met him today. Okay, listen. His dad was in the Marines. His grandfather was in the Marines. His uncle was in the Marines. His brother is the Marines. Girl, he has Marine material written all over him.”

“Okay. That explains a lot. But it still doesn’t explain why he’s so scary and creepy.”

“Girl. Nobody can explain that.”

“I didn’t think so. But at least people can try.”

“People have been trying to explain him for years.”

“I would expect so.”

“So, girl, what class do you have now?”

“I have STP. Why?”

“I know you have STP, but who’s your teacher?”

“Mrs. Meeks. Why?”

“Would you like me to walk you there?”

“If you want to.”

“Then I will.” He took hold of her hand and lead her up the steps and to her classroom. She got there just as the doodle bell rang. He gave her a quick kiss.

“Bye, girl. I’ve got to get to Coach Quiz’s office or he’ll get pissed and make me run more than I need to.” He gave her another quick kiss and ran off.

Everybody in her class was staring at her when she walked in. She didn’t know what was going when some of the preps asked if she would sit with them. She was gonna say yes when she saw her friend Amanda Stacy sitting by herself. Zara couldn’t leave Amanda sitting over there all alone.

“Sorry, losers. I’ve got to sit with a friend that’s there for me no matter what. Yeah. You heard me. A friend. Something you don’t have.” She walked off.

She walked over to Amanda and sat down next to her. She couldn’t remember the last time that she had actually told the preps off. She told Amanda what had happened and Amanda thought that it was awesome.

“So how are you and Chris doing?” Zara asked her.

“We’re doing good. Did you hear the latest news?”

“No, what?”

“You know, Geoff, right?”

“Yeah. What about him?”

“You know Kyle right?”

“No. Who’s Kyle?”
“He’s this really sweet guy that everybody think is gay. Well, now we know.”

“Know what? What’s going on?”

“Well, it was said that Geoff’s girlfriend dumped him. I never believed that he had a girlfriend in the first place.”

“Please continue your story, Stacy. What’s going on?”

“Well, this is weird to say. Since I did go out with him once.”

“Yes, but what about him. What’s going on?!”
“Geoff asked Kyle out!”

“What?!?”

“Yep. And Kyle said yes.”

“He said yes? Molten is going out with a guy! That’s hilarious!” Zara started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“Well, I just met Molten today and I asked Matt if he was gay. I already knew that he was gay. But Matt said he wasn‘t so sure since Geoff had a girlfriend.”
“Yeah. I thought everybody knew.”
“So when did this happen?”

“Just now. Between classes.”

“Molten asked a guy out and I missed it? Damn it. Damn Matt. That was a once in a lifetime moment and I missed it! Damn it.” She couldn’t stop laughing.

“Heh. There’s always a chance that they could break up and he ask another guy out.”

“Knowing Molten? I couldn’t stand him for a lunch period, yet alone for a relationship. I don’t think they’ll make it.”

“I agree with you on that. I mean I actually went out with him for almost a month before I found out that Chris liked me. He was kind of too weird for me.”

“I know. I’ll say that they last less than a month?”

“Wanna bet on that?”

“Not even. Like I wanna waste my money on a dumbass like Molten.”

“Why do you keep calling him Molten?” Stacy finally asked because she was bewildered by Zara’s habit.

“I don’t know. I think I just like it better than Geoff. Plus, not that many people know his middle name. So it’ll be like a secret or something.”

“Yeah. I see. Molten is his middle name.”
“Now you’re catching on. Now, is there any other name that you people call him?”

“Let’s see. There’s Flaming Jigglypuff, Psycho, Dumbass, Ge-off, Tubby, and Fat-Man.”

“Yeah. I kind of noticed also that he had, a, a ‘little’ weight problem.”

“Little? Little!” Stacy started laughing. “He has a HUGE weight problem.”
“I know. I was just trying to be polite. You know, I wasn’t trying to be preppy or anything.” Zara scolded Stacy.

“I’m sorry.” Stacy calmed down. “It’s just you didn’t have to have that big tub ball give you a hug or kiss you. Now did you?” Stacy snapped back.

“I’m sorry, Stacy. I didn’t mean to insult you.” Zara apologized.

“It’s okay. I also heard some interesting news about you.”

“What is it?”

“I heard you’re going out with Matt Rioup. Is that true?”

Zara started blushing. “Who’d you hear that from?”

“Someone. So is it true?”

“Yeah. It’s true that I’m going out with Matt Rioup.”

Stacy leaped up and gave Zara a great big hug. “Congratulations, girl! You’ve gotten one of the hottest guy in the school as your boyfriend.”

“Yeah, I know.” She paused and put a curious, like a fishy look on her face. “But isn’t it odd that he asked me out?”

Stacy sat back down. She started thinking too. “It is kind of weird. Do you think he’s up to something?”

“Matt? I don’t know. I did tell him that I couldn’t trust him yet. That we had first started going out.”

“I would have probably have done the same thing considering that we’re both outcasts.”

“Yeah. That’s true. But, maybe nothing is going on.” Zara suggested.

“Zara, it’s Matt Rioup. A football player. A jock. A prep. He’s got to be up to something or he really is into you.”

“Are you saying that it’s impossible to dig me?”

“No, no, no. That’s what I said.” Stacy tried to correct herself. “It’s just, I mean, look at what happened the last time a guy liked you.”

“Hey, leave him out of this. Matt is different. I know he is. I just know he is.”

“Okay, Zara. Whatever. Whatever you want to believe you can believe.”

“Yes. If I want to have a happy relationship with Matt, then I have to tell him about my past eventually, right.”

“Yeah. Eventually. You’re gonna have too.”

Chapter 3

After STP, school was over in just one period. She had her speech all prepared for Matt that night. She had to tell him before things got ugly. And I mean really ugly.

Eighth period went by faster than she had hoped. She rode home with Elizabeth because Amanda had softball practice and Melanie had debate and One-Act practice. Elizabeth said she could get Zara ready for her ‘date’ with Matt that night.

As soon as they got home, they heard a familiar set of little feet pattering down the hallway.

“Mommy! Mommy! You’re home!” the child yelled at Zara as she took him into her arms.

“Yes, dear. I am. I couldn’t wait to see my little darling.” She gave him and Eskimo kiss. “So how is my little Devon today?”

“I made a finger painting today!” She put him down. “I’ll show you.” He pulled her to the kitchen, where her mother was sitting. He showed her the painting.

“Pretty, sweetie. Now, why don’t you go play with Aunt Elizabeth?”

“Okay, Mommy.” He ran to his room.

“Hey, Mom.” Zara asked as she turned to her mom. “How was Devon today?”

“He’s doing good.” her mom answered.

“That’s good. Did you-know-who call?”

Her mom stopped what she was doing and turned to look at her daughter. “Zara, I’m sorry to tell you this. But I don’t think he’s ever gonna call again.”

“It’s alright, Mom.” Zara responded back, not looking at her mom. “I kind of figured he wouldn’t after he walked out on me.” She started walking toward her room. “I’m going on a date with another guy tonight. Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t get too involved again. I learned my lesson again.”

“Thanks, dear. And remember, some guys just want you for sex. Don’t let this new guy be that guy.”

“I know. I’ll be careful.”

Zara walked to her room, where Elizabeth was playing with Devon.

“Elizabeth, can you help me pick out a good outfit?” she asked her sister.

“Sure, but what kind of style do you want?”

“How about Casual? That would look good, right?”

“Yeah. I believe it would. Let’s have Devon help us pick it out, shall we?”

“Yeah.” Zara picked up Devon and brought him to her closet. “Devon, what should Mommy wear tonight?”

“Pink!” he shouted as he pointed at a pink camisole.

“That looks good, dear. But I need some pants, too.”
“How about those, Mommy?” he pointed at her favorite pair of jeans, black and flared.

“How’d you know I wanted those, sweetie?” She gave him a kiss on his cheek.

“Because I know Mommy.”

“Thanks, sweetie. Sweetie, why don’t you visit with Nanny.” He ran toward the kitchen, where her mother was still making dinner.

She put on the outfit that her son had picked out and it actually looked good. She wasn’t surprised because he’s growing up around all girls. His only male role-model isn’t here very much, that not even his own daughters see him very much.

She walked downstairs and three was Matt, just sitting there and waiting in the living room. He had roses for her. He got up as soon as he saw her.

“I got these just for you, girl.” He gave her a peck on the lips.

“Thanks, Matt. Um, did you see a little boy when you were here?”

“Yeah. He’s so adorable. He told me his name was Devon. Who does he belong to?”

“He’s, um, mine.” She looked up at him and gave him the ‘I’m sorry look.’

“He’s yours?” He looked down at her, surprised.

“Yeah. His full name is Devon Ruesgh. He was named after his father.”

“My ex-boyfriend from when I was a freshman. He graduated a couple years ago. He used to call all the time, but not very much anymore.” She looked like she was crying, but she knew not to cry over such dumbasses such as Double D.

He put his arm around her. “It’s alright, girl. I’m here for you now.”

She looked up at him. “Thanks, Matt. But I trust guys anymore when they say that because Double D used to say that all the time.”

“Well, I’m a man of my word.”

“So was he.”

“Girl, how about we just leave?”

“Sounds good. We better get going before we get into a big fight before our first date.”

He started chuckling. “Yeah, you’re right. We better get going.”

He walked her out the door and helped her into his black Dodge Neon. He walked around to the driver’s side and got in.

“Where did you want to go again?” He asked as he started the car.

“I said for you to surprise me. So, what will you surprise me with tonight?”

“Okay. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He started off.

“Where are we going?”

“We are going to someplace special. They have the cheapest prices in town and the best food, too.”

She looked at him, confused and dazed. “I didn’t know that was possible in this little-bitsy town. Where are we going?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“Because then it wouldn’t be a surprise. Would it, girl?”

“I guess not.”

“Will you do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Will you put this blindfold on for me?” He handed her a black handkerchief.

“What is this for?”

“So that it will really be a surprise.”

“Okay, I guess. But I still won’t trust me. And you better not try anything with me or I will kill you.” She put the handkerchief on, reluctantly, but eventually.

Before she knew it, he stopped the car and turn it off. She tried to take off the handkerchief but he stopped her.

“Don’t want to ruin the surprise, now do we?”

“I guess we don’t.”

He got out and went around to help her out. He lead her up the stairs then opened the door. “Okay. Now you take it off.” She took the handkerchief and couldn’t believe what she saw.

It was his house, but covered in flowers and candles everywhere.

“I hope you don’t mind me making you dinner. I thought this might be a lot more memorable first date than a fancy restaurant. Plus I’m not that rich.” He chuckled at himself.

“Ha. Ha. Very funny.” She told him.