After her delightful conversation with her number one best friend — Chris and Stella weren’t on talking terms —her dear Cherry, who she encouraged to ask a special someone out to the dance wholeheartedly, Chrissie, whose green eyes were like the overgrowing scottish thistle, prickly little bastards, set her sight on her date. For someone in the drama club and knew drama better than anyone, the petty happenings at this school were becoming a complete bore to her, getting old and overplayed real fast. Chris was over it and was focused on having a good time. Fuck everyone else, who chose to sulk in other people’s bullshit rather than enjoy their last few months at King’s.
In conclusion, she decided to pick someone who she knew could be the life of the party, if people saw past his demeanor. This wasn’t ‘risking’ her rep and clinging onto the next piece of fuck boi she could find. Though, she was sure some people would think exactly that. Nah, this was her not caring about what everyone had to say and craving for a new experience. Plus, it wasn’t like he was currently taken. So, it wasn’t like she was doing anyone harm by asking him out.
Since it was their last semester, she thought to herself: why not? What did Chrissie have to lose by asking someone she handpicked herself to the dance? People go on blind dates all the time and they come out just fine! Nothing was wrong with playing the field, and it wasn’t like she wanted a boyfriend. Chris was in the mood for nothing more than having fun and this person, she believed, could do just that. Show her a good time.
Kavi Salvador was someone she barely knew, aside from the whispers in the halls, and the pictures, videos, and tweets online. They were at the same parties when she dated Jason, they were sometimes even standing next to each other in the kitchen, while they chatted with entirely different people. Both were popular in their own regards, and held themselves in an arrogantly charming way. If anything, the way he held himself intrigued her because perhaps, they were more similar than either of them realized. She wouldn’t know until she found out herself, pushing all the talk aside. Talk was talk, but there was more to people than what meets the eye.
Even if he was cruel and a man impossible to fix, that had nothing to do with her. Kavi deserved to have a pleasant Valentine’s day, just like everyone else, and maybe it was Chrissie’s job to make him forget all his problems and focus on the now. No point in crying over spilled milk! Hence why Chris refuses to deal with her cousin’s bullshit as Stella chases ‘love’.
With a bounce in her step, there was always a bounce in her step, her hips swaying with each motion, Chris stalked her prey. He seemed too lost in thought to realize there was a girl right on his tail. Refraining from getting his attention, Chris prowled onward until he took a seat by his lonesome self, in the quad.
Smirking, she walked to the table, with absolute no hesitation, and took it upon herself to sit with him. After tossing her bag on the bench, she gradually took out a container of strawberries. While she opened it, the drama queen then started to talk, “Hey stranger. I hope you don’t mind me sitting here! I thought you could use some company, so here I am.” She placed the lid on the table. With one finger, she pushed the glass bowl a little closer to him, “Strawberry?”
Kavi glared at Chrissie as she took a seat at the bench he chose, which was somewhat isolated away from the others. He intentionally wanted to be away from people so he could think in peace and so he didn’t give anyone a reason to get on his nerves — well, more than they already have, that is. Despite this, Chrissie McCoy decided to go out of her way to not only walk the distance but to sit down uninvited. Like yeah sure, Kavi didn’t mind at all. Not like he was trying to be alone or anything like that.
“You did, huh?” He rolled his eyes, shrugging and taking a couple of strawberries. “Lucky for you, I happen to like strawberries,” he noted, taking a bite out of the berry in his hand. “So, what can I do for you, Chrissie? Shouldn’t you be practicing your thespian breathing exercises or someshit like that?”
“Bitch, please.” Chrissie teased, shaking her head in mild irritation, “Even I need a break from belting, dancing, and pretending.” Grabbing one strawberry for herself, she placed it in her mouth, sucking it for a second, before graciously chomping it. After swallowing, Chris grinned, “Well, well, well. Aren’t you a rather impatient one?” she playfully tilted her head, in an almost creepy kind of way. Waving in the air, she alluded to her objective by giving a little giggle, “I just wanted to know if you were taken.” She purposely paused and let that last word sit for a bit.
“For Valentines.” Chris added. A bright simper never breaking from her face, masking her agenda by asking one of the most talked about boys at King’s to a dance celebrating friendship.
His eyes fell on Chrissie as he thought for a quick moment. He knew exactly what kind of game she was playing at. It was a similar one he liked to play. Realizing that, he half-chuckled lowly and spoke.”That would be a no to both,”” he gave her a half-smirk. “Why? Are you interested?” He asked her, matching her in this little game of hers. “For the Valentine’s Dance, I mean.”
“Oh, I mean.” Keeping a coy grin on, she leaned forward and cooed, “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t interested.” She took another bite into her strawberry, pulling the leaf off, before sitting back up. Shrugging to herself, placing the leaf on a napkin, she acknowledged the truth of their realities, “I’m single, you’re single. I’m not looking, I’m sure you’re still caught up with your little mermaid. I don’t see any losses with us going together, do you?”
Kavi weighed his options and the pros and cons of accepting her offer. He was annoyed that the faculty decided to exclude “love interests” from being an option. Of course, even if it was an option, he had to face facts that he and Ariel weren’t together anymore. They were just friends, so there was a lot of truth to what Chrissie said. As much as he hated to admit it, what was the harm? But then again, something was eating at him and it wasn’t the tartness of the berries, either.
“Out of all the single guys here, why me?” He asked her as he didn’t want to mince words. “I mean, I’m flattered you weren’t repulsed by me like most have been lately, but you know you won’t be making any friends by going with me, right?” He had to laugh at how much that specific truth hurt him. Of course, Kavi would never show it.
“Why should I care? In ten years, I’m sure there will only be a handful of friends I’ll still be in contact with.” This insecurity he was emitting was new for Chris to experience. She never saw this side of him, but it must be the feeling of heartbreak and exile that was putting him down in the dumps. “You want my honest-to-god opinion? You look like someone I can drink with and share laughs with. I really don’t care what others have to say or think. I want to enjoy myself, and NOT sit in my own guilt because I got dumped by someone who didn’t want me for me. I don’t know you, which is even better! That means we have a lot to discover. I’m less likely to be bored to tears if I think you have a lot going on in here.” She knocked on her head to symbolize her noggin or well, his.
He tried to warn her. He thought she would want to save her reputation from being seen with him, but like many others he knew, she clearly didn’t care what others thought of her, something that Kavi should do more of. He had to admit it was refreshing for someone to look at him like he wasn’t the shitstain everyone else kept saying he was. “Then I guess it’s a date.” He offered her a smirk, leaning forward a few inches if not to just get a little more comfortable. “But tell me this: was I your first choice?” Kavi had to ask.
Leaning in as well, breaking the distance, she beamed, batting her eyes in a kittenish way. She let her breath lightly touch his lips and whispered, “No. Ariana was, but I can kiss her any day I want.” As she backed up, she winked at him, honestly not surprised at all he said yes. Who could resist her? Rummaging through her bag, she pulled out a small notepad and feathery pen, scribbled down her number, slid it toward him, and then sweetly demanded, “Wear pink.”
He wasn’t sure exactly why she did that but he wasn’t complaining in all honesty. Chrissie smelled nice because of the strawberries. Smiling, he took the paper with her phone number and pocketed it into his jacket pocket. “Fine but I’m keeping the strawberries.” He more told her than asking for her permission. “You know, since I like them so much,” he teased as he took a bite into one without breaking eye contact with her.
“Aren’t you clever.” As their conversation came to an end, and she had no other reason to be in the quad anymore, Chrissie got up and threw her bag over her shoulder, keeping eye contact with him, just as much as he was doing with her, “Until next time, Kavi.”
As she walked away, she looked over her shoulder towards him still watching her, and exclaimed, with her high octave voice, “I like your smile!” And with that, the Drama queen sashayed away. It was nice seeing him get some life back in his face. He looked better when he was happy.