Blue sat nestled in her seat, writing her science note admist loud conversations around her. The nonchalant students who sat mostly at the back were busy making the loudest noise while the nerds who sat at the front were busy turning the pages of their books.
"What are you writing?" Freya came over to Blue's seat.
Blue glanced up at her then snorted softly. "I'm trying to complete my science note, and also try to read up for the coming test." Blue answered her.
"Woah, serious student. You must get an A." Freya taunted her, elbowing her as she said that. "I thought you will be going out to the basketball court to showcase your skills. You should be in the team, you know." Freya gave a mocking snarl.
Blue scoffed. "We met after school yesterday when we parted ways." She said shyly.
"You met who after school?"
"Hanson." Blue looked away shyly, trying to conceal her face in the depths of her books. "He asked me out on a date."
"Wait? A date? What date?" Freya was clearly shooked as well as confused.
"You don't like it?" Blue looked up, dropping down her pen.
"No, I mean...," Freya paused, trying to think of something appropriate to say. "Isn't that too fast? Do you even know him? You should at least get to be friends with him."
"But he likes me. I don't see the need of why we should go around in a roller coaster." Blue explained.
"Can you hear yourself? Do you have feelings for him, Blue?" Freya was dazed, she pushed herself to sit on Blue's desk, pushing the books into Blue's thighs.
Blue picked up both books, a text book and her exercise book, then she closed them up. "I think... I do." Blue smiled at that.
Freya sat down beside her, joining her on her seat. "I shouldn't be against your feelings for him or against your proposed relationship. Don't think I am but you certainly need to rethink this, Blue. From the little I know about you, you deserve more than just a plain relationship. You don't just like a person all cause you guys can play basketball. There should be more to that."
"I really do like him, Freya. And, there is absolutely nothing to worry about." Blue assured her. Then, she elbowed Freya playfully. "Common, be happy for me. Stop with that face."
Freya laughed. "Of course, I'm happy for you."
**********
When the weekend was come, Blue was seen with her friend trying a Louise Vuitton, baby pink gown. Asides, her school uniform, she rarely wore gowns. She mostly had her wardrobe stocked with all shades of polos, shorts and trousers. Even her shoes were mostly sneakers and masculine boots. After school hours that day, Freya had taken her to Victoria's shopping mall which was close to the main Town square (a round about), and had pushed her to take the gown after trying out several dresses.
Blue brushed down the edges of the gown as she looked back at her reflection in the mirror for the umpteenth time. She smiled to herself, she looked different like a Barbie girl in pink. Hanson would definitely love her new look.
Freya moved closer to her friend, studying her dress. She looked up at Blue's hair and pulled off hairband letting Blue's hair fall. Next, they moved to the make-up saloon where Blue sat to wear a light make-up.
Blue returned home after she parted ways with Freya. She sneaked into her room from the window. Her aunty was locked up in her room, probably reading up her dairy or doing some accounting. She wore a pair of sneakers, tiptoed to the door and sneaked out of the house again.
*********
Hanson came to pick her up in his black hynudai car. He met her standing outside by the edge of her street, waiting for him.
"Why are you standing here? I was to pick you up from home?" Hanson opened the front door for her to come in.
Blue jumped into the seat, dusting her hair. "Wow, this car is lovely. Who owns this car?" She asked him, ignoring his question.
He smiled at that. "Me. My dad bought it for my eighteenth birthday." He told her.
Her eyes bulged. He was eighteen! How come she never got to ask him that. She was only fifteen, was the age difference eating her up already?
"Really?" She turned to look at the back seat. The car was as good as new.
He nodded, picking a cup of cold ice cream for her. "I bought you a cup of ice cream as I drove down to pick you. I had no idea what you might like. It's vanilla." He told her.
She collected it, smiling down at it. "It's melted." She noticed as she peeled back the nylon seal.
"So sorry about that." He apologized. "It was only three minutes drive, so sorry."
"It's nothing. Stop with the apologizes." She waved it off as she began to scoop it with a plastic spoon.
"I was thinking we play basketball after this." Hanson said to her as he started the car.
Blue nearly swallowed her tongue. Who plays basketball on date in a dress! Her head screamed.
"But I didn't dress for that, you should have told me." She said.
Hanson laughed at that as he glanced at her. "Oh, I must be silly. Let's go somewhere else then." He concluded.
They went down to Greenville's amusement park where they took turns riding horses, next, they went into the horror house and screamed out their lungs. Finally, they sat in the swings watching the evening stars.
"What does your dad do?" Hanson popped the question.
"My dad?" She was bemused by such a question. "My dad is late." She told him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry about that." He apologized. "What happened to him?"
Blue shrugged. "He was involved in a ghastly accident. He received treatments in the local hospital where my mum works at then he got better at one point. Then, one day after a busty day with him in our basement back where we once lived, he died in his sleep. He never woke up." She explained.
Hanson's face went blank. "That must be devastating for you, and awful. I can't imagine how that must have changed your life."
Blue smiled painfully. "My dad was an electrician, he could work magic with his hands on cable wires." She laughed as her hands tried to paint a scene.
Hanson was quiet as he watched her. It was his fault for bringing up such painful memories of her dad. He knew he had to do something. He took her hand that she startled.
"Come with me," he said.
"Where are we going?" She asked him, looking up at him.
They walked over to a stall where they sold teddy bears and he bought one for her.
"Think about me all the time when you look at this." He told her.
Her eyes blurred with tears as she hugged the inanimate object to her chest. It was huge, fluffy, brown with glassy eyes and big ears. It was beautiful.
"Thank you, Hanson." She hugged the creature.
"This is me saying you should be my girlfriend." He turned to stare deep in her eyes.
Blue stared back at his golden eyes, speechless for a while.
She smiled back shyly, as she looked down. Hanson was okay, good, easy to interact with and he made her feel so good. She could do well to enjoy the rest of her days in Greenville high school while he was there with her.
"Yes, I will be your girlfriend." She told him.
He jumped up and screamed into the air. Blue stared wide-eyed as every passersby turned to stare in surprise at him.
"Please, let's play basketball just one time." He begged as he gripped her arm.
Whatever Blue was feeling at that point just died in that instant. She grudgingly gave a weak smile. "Let's do it then." She said.
They drove down to Greenville's public basketball court. She didn't know what to do with her gown, she tied up the edges of her gown, twisted it and tied it into a knot. She patted it, she could manage it.
Hanson took a basketball from the boot of his car and bounced it towards his new girlfriend. Blue stared at it, stupified.
"You have that ball in your car all along?" She asked in utter shock.
Hanson laughed at her nervously as he brushed his dark, black hair. "The reason why I like you so bad is cause you clearly reminded me of how we first met. I want to feel that excitement again." He told her, grinning.
Blue didn't know if she should feel happy or empty hearing that from him. To be sincere, she began to have second thoughts about her new relationship.