Editor’s note: The Osceola News-Gazette is recognizing some local talented young writers whose tales and poetry were winning works in the Osceola Library System’s literary magazine. We will be publishing the writings in each publication for weeks to come. We hope you enjoy!
RINGGGGGG!
“Yes!” thought Danielle as she jumped to her feet and ran out of math class. She stopped at her locker to get her science book when her best friend Ruth walked up to her.
“Hey, Danny!” Ruth said. Ruth was a blond who had blue eyes that almost demanded attention. Danielle was the exact opposite with her brown hair and green-ish, brownish eyes.
“Hey Ro, how was science?” asked Danielle. She had heard rumors about a project, but she needed to know for sure.
“It was okay. We have a research project due next Friday.” ( I knew it , thought Danellie.) “We have to do it with a partner and Mrs. Smith gets to choose. I’m partnered with Nancy.”
“Oh, okay,” said Danielle. “See you after class!” said Ruth with a smile and a wave.
“See you then,” Danielle yelled and started walking toward the 10th grade science lab.
She knocked on the door and Eric opened it, smiled, and let her in. Danielle’s crush on Eric had been going strong since they met in the 6th grade, and every time he laughed at a joke she made, got within three feet of her, or smiled at her, her face became radioactive and it felt like her heart did flips in her stomach as she scrambled to say something. “Every time,” Danielle thought. “Every. Flippin Time.” Instead of giggling at the sight of him (like she usually did), she managed a smile, a wave, and made it to her seat without a major calamity.
She didn’t really listen to her science teacher—Daneille had always hated science class— until she heard, “Your partners are . . .” Mrs. Smith read off a list of partners and when she called Danielle’s name she said, “Danny, you and Eric will work together.”
Danielle immediately whipped around to find Eric smiling at her. She waved and turned around trying to settle the panic when Mrs. Smith said, “With the remaining time in class, I want you and your partner to discuss the project.” And, with that, everyone scattered.
“Hi,” Danielle said as she tried to smooth out her hair without it being too obvious (which she was epicly failing at).
“What’s up,” Eric said as he flashed his famous picture-worthy smile at her.
“Nothin much,” Danielle managed to say as she decided it was best to shove the rest of her panic to the back of her head as her heart did some flips, which was not helping the situation. “How about we meet at the bleachers tomorrow after school at 3?”
“Sure, that sounds good . . . see you there,” Eric said.
That evening, Daneille called Ruth for their daily Facetime call.
“Soooo . . . who did Mrs. Smith partner you with?” Ruth asked.
“She teamed me up with Eric,” Daneille said. She let Ruth process that little bit of information before she added, “We’re going to meet tomorrow at 3.”
“Oooooooo-” “No . . . just no.” “Yes. Yes. YES!” Ruth said with so much excitement.
Daneille thought that her head would explode.
“You know what, I’m going to call this scheme . . . ‘Project Valentine!’” Ruth said practically jumping in her chair.
“Bye Ro,” Daneille said. But before she could hang up Ruth said, “WAIT, DANNY DON’T HA-”
“She’s crazy,” said Daneille as she sat her phone down on her bed and decided that she needed to go to bed. It was getting late and she didn’t want to get her hopes up. But . . . what if he did like her?
The next day after school, Eric waved to Danielle as she approached the bleachers, trying her hardest to look unexcited.
“Hi,” said Danielle as she climbed up the bleachers, set her stuff down, and took a seat next to Eric.
Eric shifted on the bleachers to face her and smiled. “I really need to see a doctor,” thought Danielle as her heart did flips in her stomach.
“Let’s get started,” said Danielle as she tried to hide her face behind her hair.
“Ok, but . . .” Eric reached his hand into his backpack and pulled out two chocolate bars. “I brought snacks,” Eric said as he placed a chocolate bar in her hand and opened his chocolate bar and started eating.
They ended up working for about two hours nonstop.
On Danielle’s third chocolate bar, Eric stopped her mid-laugh and said, “Hold on, you have chocolate on your face.”
As soon as he touched her face there was something else lit inside of her and she knew he felt it because his hand now cupped her cheek and he was no longer focusing on her eyes. He was looking at her lips. He was so close that she could feel his warm breath on her cheeks. He leaned in a tiny bit closer and Danielle thought that this couldn’t be happening. Was he about to kiss her? Why her, out of the other girls in the school? Why would . . .
Her thought was interrupted by his kiss. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck, hoping that this moment would last forever. But, since Daneille didn’t possess the powers of the universe to slow down— or better yet, freeze— time, Eric pulled away and smiled.
Danielle shyly looked down and a thought came to her. “Hey, how did you know my favorite brand of chocolate?” Daneille held up her empty wrapper to show Eric.
“I didn’t know. Ruth gave them to me,” Eric said.
“What? Why would Ruth give you my favorite chocolate?” Daneille asked. “I’m not sure, but she knows I’ve liked you for a long time and she winked when she said this was for our special ‘project’ together,” Eric said.
Danielle remembered her last Facetime call with Ruth, when suddenly her mischievous friend appeared at the foot of the bleachers, and declared her victory with a wink: “What’s a valentine without chocolate?”
The End
