A Prince in the Mess of It All

Hallmark Channel has become My Life

When did I become so girly? So what? You look good. I'm wearing a navy blue and gray stripped maxi skirt and a white sleeveless crop top with a navy tank underneath it. My hair is in a half knot and the other half is curled down my back. I finish the look with a long silver necklace and some silver bracelets on my right hand along with a platinum wrist watch on my left hand. I feel like I'm trying too hard. You're actually taking more effort in your appearance. This is far from trying too hard. Thanks, Dyane. I roll my eyes. I hear a knock on the door.

I raise my voice a bit so whoever is behind the door can hear me, "Come in."

"Hey honey. Are you ready?" My mom enters my room looking ready for work. "Wow. What are you all dolled up for? Is something important happening today? Do I need to take off work? It's picture day isn't it. I knew I forgot some--"

"Mom!" I put my hands on her shoulders. "You didn't forget anything. It's not an important day or anything. I just thought I would put more effort in my appearance today more than other days." I laugh. Mom can be a little dramatic and go a little overboard.

"Oh. I feel silly now." She snickers at herself. This is what I love about my mom. She can be over dramatic and then laughs at herself for doing so. "So is it a boy then?" She gives me a knowing look. Ethan. He could never keep his mouth shut. Momma's boy.

"No." I smile at the floor. She gives me a look that says 'Do I look dumb?' "Not all for him, anyway." I say and turn back to the mirror.

"Well, you look beautiful. He'll be stupid if he doesn't see it." She smiles at me in the mirror. I look at my watch and realize I have yet to set it.

"What's the time? I need to set my watch." I pull the dial out and start turning it assuming its only around 7:20 a.m. when she answers.

"7:45." My eyes widen. School starts in 10 minutes.

"I got to go! I'm going to be late." I rush around my room grabbing my earrings off the shelf, my flats from the closet and my purse from behind my bedroom door and rush out. Didn't you forgot something? I turn around and kiss my moms cheek, "Love you." I hear her laugh as I fly down the stairs and out the door.

I arrive at school with three minutes to spare. That's what you get for putting in effort to your appearance. Shut up, Dy. I run to my locker planning to get my books, but my plan changes as soon as I see a figure leaning up against it. Getting closer, I see how tall this person is and know exactly who it is.

"Have you been waiting on me all morning?" He turns around and smiles.

"Hey, sis. I was just here so I could make sure you were here. Mom texted and asked." As he finishes the bell rings. I'm dead. I ignore my brother and I rush down the empty corridor, panicking. I have never been late before.

I bust through the door and nearly fall on my face from stepping on my skirt. Looking up, I see Ms. Dean looking at me with a look of surprise and the whole junior class staring at me. I want to hide and pray that they don't remember this incident. I just smile sheepishly and go sit in my seat.

"Ms. Brown, thank you for joining us seconds late. I would give you detention but this is your first time being late so you've been warned." Ms. Dean states.

"Yes, ma'am." I look down at my desk as she continues on with morning announcements. The students around me go back to listening or ignoring her and I sigh in relief. I zone out and wait for the periods to begin.

*

I head off to World History, palms sweaty with nerves. Chase is going to see us for the first time today. Yes, thank you Captain Obvious. How long did it take you to come to that conclusion? Shut up Dy. I'm nervous. I walk into Mr. Thomas' class and I don't see Chase. Huh. That's odd. Where is bae? No, we aren't calling him that. Fine. I approach my desk and sit down just as I hear someone clear their throat. Shifting in my seat, I turn to look behind me to see none other than Chase. I blush a bit and he smiles. He has great genes.

"Hey pretty girl. What are you dressed up for?" He winks. Oh sweet Moses.

"No reason. Just wanted to put effort in this morning. Plus it's a nice day, so why not dress nice along with it?" You're retarded. He laughs.

"Good point." He nods his head. Why is he sitting behind me today?

"Why did you move?" I ask, he sighs then answers.

"The view is better back here." He grins and at that moment, Mr. Thomas walks in and starts class. I turn around, confused. What does he mean 'better back here'? I feel someones breath near my left ear.

"If you're wondering why, it's so I can look at you without looking creepy." I feel him smile against my ear shell. Both my ears go red hot and I smile. He's so cute. I turn my head to the left so he can hear me.

"Why on God's green Earth would you want to do that?" I whisper, smiling to myself. But I am not ready for his answer.

"Because God broke the mold when He made you." I am stunned beyond belief. My smile widens. Did he just say that? You bet your socks, he did. I'm not wearing socks, Dy. Well your under-roos, then. I mentally face-palm. I am definitely going crazy.

No longer feeling Chase's warm breath near my ear, I release a breath I didn't know I was holding. Today is going to be a long day. At that, I tune back into what Mr. Thomas is saying.

"The Soviet Union. Who can tell me who they were?"

*

"Tracy, there is nothing to tell. Yeah, he said God broke the mold, when He made me and he admitted that he liked looking at me. But that doesn't mean anything." I walk in my house with the phone pressed to my ear.

"Yes, it does. He totally likes you, and I say that you should jump on that bus before it leaves the station." Taryn says in the background. I roll my eyes.

"Listen girls. If he really does like me and is meant for me, then he will stay as long as it takes for him to win me over, okay? I'll see you girls in a few hours at the sleepover. I have homework." We say our goodbyes and hang up. I head up the stairs to my room and start on my math homework.

-8(n-a) + 10 (20 + a + z) - (2 + 15 -30) = 2(47 + 1) What? This is boring can we go to the sleepover and talk about Chase. No. This is the last problem of this worksheet and then we are done for the weekend. Ugh.

My phone vibrates. A message from an unknown number flashes across the screen.

'Hey, want to hang out next weekend?'

'Who is this?' I message back, a little creeped out.

'Oh, sorry. This is Chase. :)' I smile. How did he get my number? Who cares? He wants to hang out with us, well you. Say yes, i***t.

'Oh, hi. No worries. How did you get my number?' I reply. You little nincompoop. Why didn't you say yes? I don't want to seem too eager. Whatever. My phone buzzes with his answer.

'I got it from your brother actually. This morning while I was waiting on you by your locker.' He writes. I smile. He waited on us. Aw. Before I can reply, he sends another message.

'I'm sorry I wasn't at lunch, I tried out for the basketball team. I tried to tell you in third period but I got sidetracked. ;)' HE SENT A WINK!! Calm down, Dy. It doesn't mean anything. Friends do that. Get my hopes up for nothing. I just roll my eyes to myself, and reply.

'It's okay. How did it go?' I ask him. Not even a minute later I get a response. I could get use to this. I smile to myself as I read it.

'I made captain. :D' Whoa. We will have basketball captain for a boyfriend. Would you quit?

'That's awesome! :D Congrats!' I reply. I put the phone down and look back at my math homework. I sit up straight as an idea nuzzled it's way into the left side of my brain. I pick up my phone with urgency, almost dropping it in the process. 'Are you good at math?' I message hopeful.

'Yes. How may I be of service, m'lady?' I blush. M'lady? Oh please tell you'll go out with him? He's perfect.

'Thank you kind sir. I'm stuck on an equation.' From there, he assists me with my worksheet. After we finish, I check the time, seeing it's time for me to be at the sleepover and I'm not there. 'I have to go. Thank you again for helping me.'

'Anything for you. I'll talk to you later. :)' I smile, starting to pack for the sleepover.

"Where were you?!" I am greeted by Tracy yelling at me as I walk through her front door.

"Hello to you too." Sarcasm dripping from my words.

"What took you so long? I was going to file a missing persons report. We thought you were in a wreak on the way over here!" She raised her voice, a fierce look on her face.

"I was texting Chase, he helped me with my--"

"Ooh, what did he say?" She cuts me off and I laugh at her for going from one extreme to the other.

"I swear you are bipolar sometimes." She rolls her eyes at me, walking into the living room. Once I enter the room, I see Evelin and Taryn on the velvet divan, and all types of snacks littering the coffee table. I sit my bag down and plop myself in between the two girls and Tracy takes a seat in the Lazy Boy recliner.

"So are you going to tell us what Chase said on the phone?" Evelin asks as she turns to face me, putting her feet up under her. I roll my eyes, reaching to pull my phone out from my butt pocket. As I finish the passcode, it is yanked out of my grip by an over-eager Taryn. Her eyes just centimeters away from the screen, moving side to side as she reads my private messages. I move to take it back, but she's already up and handing the cell over to Tracy.

"Evelin, come here." Taryn commands. I groan, expressing my irritation aloud. Evelin rises from her seat and crouches beside the recliner, reading over Tracy's shoulder. I watch to see their expressions go from smiling to frowning and back again for a good two minutes.

"Are you quite finished?" Before I even finish the question, they all give me the one minute signal. I groan again. These girls will be the death of me. Not if I beat them to it. I start to zone out while looking at the flat screen TV on the fire place mantle. Movement out of the corner my eye catches my attention.

Tracy is typing on my phone, the other girls smiling over her shoulder.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I shoot up like a bullet from my spot and rush over to the three mischievous girls. I stand behind the Lazy Boy, gasping at the sight on the screen. Tracy has changed Chase's name to 'Handsome' with a heart eyes emoji, and she is replying to the question he started our conversation with. I reach down over her head trying to snatch my phone back but fail as Evelin and Taryn both stop me. Tracy hits one final button on the keyboard and I pray it isn't the one that can't be stopped once it's been pressed. I need to pray harder.

"There you go, dear. Now you have a date next weekend." She smiles with an up-to-no-good glint in her eye. I sigh in defeat.

"I'm not going. I'm with you girls next weekend." I say hoping that she will tell him no.

"Plans change. You have never been on a date. You are going on this one." She looks down at my phone again as it vibrates. She smiles. That's not a good sign. Oh, yes it is. "He's picking you up here at 10:00 a.m. and then dropping you off at your house later." She hands my phone back over into my possession. I read the messages over.

'BTW, yes I would love to hang out next weekend. How is next week Saturday for you? :)'

'Great. Where should I pick you up? :D'

'Tracy's house. 17 Franklin Drive. What time should I be ready?'

'How does 10:00 sound?'

'That fine. See you then :)'

';)'

"You girls will be the death of me." They giggle at me as I collapse on the couch. I propel my phone into my bag, taking that as their cue to look through the movies.

"Leap Year, or Miss Congeniality?" Evelin asks. We all look at each other and reply in unison.

"Leap Year!" We giggle together and Evelin pops the disc into the DVD player. We mix our popcorn with regular M&M's to have a sweet and salty flavor. We all settle down in our initial seats and Tracy holds the play button.

"Wait!" Taryn squawks, resulting in Tracy pausing the film in frustration. We all look at her with questioning glances. "I need to pee." We groan in response. She turns red and walks down the hall.

I love our friends, but sometimes, I really wonder about them. Shut up, Dy.