High School Sweethearts

Darrin ran backward past the library, football in his outstretched arms, light as a dancer, quick as a whip. That's what the coach always said. Paula watched from the doorway of the library, popping her trident gum. The cinnamon stung her lips, sending a flush through them and touching them with a natural pink hue. She silently admired Darrin's perfect snap as the ball sailed past her and into the principal's lunch tray, scattering his macaroni and cheese with a wet splattering as he walked out of the cafeteria. Everyone scattered as his massive jowly cheeks puffed out like a sleeping hound dog when he tried not to scream obscenities at the rough-housing seniors.

Paula held herself with the aloof confidence of a girl used to getting what she wanted. Unfortunately for her, Darrin's girlfriend, Chantelle, wasn't exactly accustomed to hearing no either, and Prom was right around the corner. As Paula stalked the halls of Uncle Sam Senior High School, she had one singular purpose: make Darrin hers. She knew it was what the rest of her entire life's happiness rested upon.

Chantelle had wedged herself in first year and had shown no signs of budging, no matter what was thrown at her. In fact, every one of Paula's brilliant plans seemed to bring them closer together. Chantelle stood at the top of the stairs, a gaggle of cooing girls crowded around her, the lead cheerleader, laughing and gossiping about her and Darrin's impending Prom date. The sycophants were all insisting she would be crowned Prom Queen, while she casually countered that wouldn't be the case and hungrily ate up their compliments and decrees.

Paula had two checkboxes on her agenda for the day. She should probably have more, as the end of the year was drawing nearer than she would like to admit, but some plans needed time to breathe. First thing was first, though, and this task would require a little risk to herself, but with significant risk comes the sweetest rewards.

Paula went straight into the classroom at the end of the hall, near where the cheer squad was gaggling. Sure to be quick about it; there could be no telling how long they would even be there. Asking Mrs Barons, the hall overseer, for a chair, Paula had a big banner advertising the Prom date and theme, ❤ True Love ❤. She was pulling it out of her backpack as she talked over Mrs Barons and went on with her plan, regardless of the answer. It was obviously not a one-person job, but Paula was ever the determined young lady. So Mrs Barons just let her be. Paula climbed up on the chair and tried to tape one end to the top of the door frame.

She was close enough to the stairs that she could hear when they decided to leave and start walking down, Chantelle in front as usual - the moment of truth had come. She let her heel dip off the edge, unbalancing her body and the chair; she flailed as wide as possible, practically spring-boarding off the toppling primary-colored plastic chair and into the cheerleaders.

They started to fall like red, white, and blue dominoes. Paula landed on her back, with her head just peeking into the stairwell, and could see the jumble of crying, agonized bodies. Avoiding kicking feet as the topmost cheerleader attempted to rouse herself as well, Paula tried to hide the smile on her face but was worried the gape of horror she tried to portray looked more like a gleam of triumph.

Paula's work here was done. She was slightly hurt but would walk it off; she yelled into the classroom.

"Mrs Barons, Mrs Barons, The whole cheer squad just fell down the stairs; you have to come help, please, quick!!!"

Then practically skipped off to go find Charlie, or at least she would have if she hadn't twisted her damned ankle. He was out on the field with Darrin, which was perfect. This would set the stage for Paula's second task of the day. Getting Charlie, Darrin's best friend, to ask her to Prom. She imagined that would really get things set into motion. The idea was that when Darrin finally would finally see how desirable Paula was and how Chantelle was just a broken-down thing of the past, he would come to his senses.

Fast forward to Prom, you could say Paula got precisely what she planned for.

Charlie, now wrapped around her finger, showed up to escort her to Prom in the group limo; she was last to get picked up since she was last to be asked, but it was everything she could have dreamed. Well, almost everything; Chantelle was there, with a broken arm. All that mattered in Paula's heart was that Darrin was sitting right across from her. She could envision him sweeping her off her feet at their wedding, holding their first child.

The group exploded out of the limo at the Grand Central Steak House, girls fussing over how much their dresses had wrinkled already. All running straight into the bathroom to check hair and makeup. Well, those who could run. Two girls were on crutches. A cloud of young women were practically living in the rest area, waiting for knocks on the door from their companions before vacating the space to make way for the new glass gazers.

The entire football team was out there; two limos were actually caravanning here for the football and cheer team from Uncle Sam Senior High School, and the second group consisting of the rest of the cheer squad pressed in, forcing the rest of the women not part of their loud, flashy group to exit the bathroom. Paula thought it was almost fortunate that three girls were too injured to make it today, or they wouldn't all fit in the bathroom.

She didn't have to hide her smug smile as she touched up in the mirror since everyone who had made it had the same sly look on their face for one reason or another. Everyone rallied around Chantelle, which was really grinding Paula's gears, but she couldn't let it show. Some talking about how beautiful she looked, some lamenting the cast on her arm, the only thing Paula took solace in, and some assuring her tonight would be her night.

As everyone was dousing their lips in gloss, and perfume clouded the air, a barely audible knock came from the door. It had only been about ten minutes, and since there was a forty-minute wait, no one paid it any mind at first, so Charlie leaned in the door, shielding his eyes, and using his most official voice, announced, "Will all ladies from Uncle Sam Senior High please exit stage, right? You are needed in the lobby!"

An excited wave shot through the group as makeup was tossed back into purses, and girls started running out the door excitedly. The atmosphere only intensified as shrieks of delight were being emitted from the girls as they left. Paula had no idea what was going on, but a cold lump formed in the pit of her stomach. There was so much planning and plotting all year long, so much whining to her mother and father when she had found the perfect dress.

She and Chantelle finished and tried to exit simultaneously, but with the cast on her arm, they couldn't both fit. Begrudgingly, Paula had to let Chantelle walk ahead of her. As soon as Chantelle walked out, the whole football team burst into song. They were not great, and their rendition of "Perfect" was cringe-worthy, but no one cared; everyone in the restaurant had their phones out, snapping photos and recording. They had taken over the whole front of the nicest steakhouse in town, lined up, holding their cell phones with candlelight on the screens, while they crooned away.

Chantelle burst into tears, hands shaking, leaping up and down, one arm frozen in its cast position, her heavy princess ball gown flouncing around her gracefully, hair high to heaven bouncing away. She was screaming, "Yes, yes, yes!"

It was difficult for Paula even to see what was causing the scene, but in between leaps, she saw Darrin was waiting down on one knee, with his class ring placed in a velvet-lined box and was presenting it to her while singing his heart out like a fool.

Paula didn't say a word, though FUCK, FUCK, FUCK was running laps in her mind, and she didn't cry. She slipped silently past the scene and took Charlie's hand. Pulling him towards her, she kissed him so deeply that the few people around them took note and made cat-call noises at them. It wasn't much, but she had to take what she could get.

The plan had to change that day. Paula would no longer live solely to acquire Darrin. Clearly, it just wasn't working. He was in love with Chantelle or thought he was. The plan was now to keep as close of contact with Darrin as possible. So Charlie would be the next best option. Charlie had been Darrin's best friend since childhood. They did everything together. They would even be getting married together… at least, that was the plan.

K.B. Silver