This Thing Called Love

Debbie stared in mocking disdain as she watched Nick talk to his ex-girlfriend, Jessica from a distance. The sight of them talking with their heads close to each other made her stomach churn in repugnance.

Oblivious to her best friend, Jan, who has been watching the whole spectacle and is now chuckling uncontrollably, Debbie finally managed to pry her eyes away and stared murderously at her best friend. “I don’t see anything funny,” she snapped.

Jan rolled her eyes. “Aw, come on, Deb! I see jealousy written all over your face! Why don’t you just admit it? You have the thing for Nick.”

Debbie lit a cigarette, pretending to be bored. “Thing? What thing?”

Jan crossed her arms and looked at her best friend squarely in the eye. “Don’t play dumb with me. I know you too well. You are in love with Nick. Otherwise you won’t be looking at his ex-girlfriend with daggers in your eyes.”

“I hate cheerleaders.” Debbie muttered sarcastically as Jessica happens to be a cheerleader. When that only issued another burst of laughter from Jan, she gritted her teeth. “Would you please cut it out? Seriously, cheerleaders are just a bunch of superficial snobs. I couldn’t see why Nick is still hung up with his ex. I mean, she’s already going out with Jack who happens to be the dumbest jock on the planet.”

Jan went howling with laughter. “And you tell me you’re not in love? You’re already guilty as sin. Actually, I can make a nice song out of this.” She started humming. “Oh, this thing called love… Shakes me, rocks me to the heavens above!”

Debbie placed her hands over her ears and rolled her eyes. “Oh please, spare me! Love is for wimps. What crazy idea make you think I’m in love? It’s a disgusting emotion to have.”

Jan pondered for a moment. “Well, I don’t think you felt the same way when you did a painting of him.”

Debbie gasped. “You’ve snooped into my portfolio!” When Jan nodded, she sighed. “I could kill you, you know that? He wasn’t aware that I was doing a sketch of him in the library. I felt like such a stalker then.”

“Ask him out to the dance on Friday. It’s worth a shot.”

Debbie hesitated and mulled over the thought. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’ll just laugh at my face. He won’t be caught dead going to the dance with me even if I’m the last woman alive on this planet.” As she said the words, she became keenly aware of how apart their worlds are. Nick is a bright, hardworking student and a brilliant writer for the school newspaper. While she, on the other hand, comes from the other side of the tracks known as Loserville. She’s a nobody, a drifter and a twisted artist whereas Nick is well-known in the academic circles with a promising future in a reputable university.

Their being Physics Lab partners was like some random joke played out by the hands of fate. Only Debbie saw it to her advantage at first—a ticket to get her grades up and pass the subject without a single hitch. It was awkward at first as she knew Nick was repulsed by the idea of having her as a lab partner and she never cared less. She could vividly remember her first conversation with Nick at that time. “I know you do not like me and I do not like you too. We’re just thrown in this together so we either act like civilized individuals and learn to cope with each other or regard each other as total morons.” She said bluntly. She had always managed to speak what’s on her mind without any inhibitions and that statement must have triggered something within Nick because since then he has been regarding her like a normal human being and not like some creature from Planet X.

They started spending more time together when they had to work on their major Physics project. The casual conversations about school, hobbies and favorites slowly evolved encompassing to more profound subjects such as ambition, ideals, religion, political views and anything to do with life in general. Debbie was surprised that she found herself opening up to Nick, telling him things that she had never told anyone alive. It just felt so easy talking with him as if they can just talk anything under the sun and she can just manage to be herself without fear of being judged nor scorned. Nick has never been prejudiced. In fact he finds their talks very interesting and Debbie never thought she can possibly interest someone with her personal views and perspective. She remembered asking him one day about what he thinks of her. “You probably think I’m some weirdo on the loose.” Nick only chuckled and shook his head. “No you’re not. Far from it. You dress quite differently but that’s just the exterior. You may have this misanthropic view on life but you’re different in a groovy kind of way. Very unconventional and interesting.” He smiled and Debbie was struck dumb at the sincerity of it. For the first time in her life, she felt unexpectedly flustered, tongue-tied and there were like tiny hundred butterflies fluttering crazily in her stomach. She rarely receives compliments especially from guys and she never thought a simple smile could be so arresting to the point of evincing a rollercoaster reaction from her.  And from that moment on, she knew she’s doomed to kingdom heaven as she couldn’t seem to get Nick out of her bloody mind.
    
“And why won’t he come with you to the dance?” Jan arched an eyebrow, interrupting her momentary reverie. “I mean, I don’t see anything wrong. After all, you’re single…he’s single… It’s senior year and I see no harm in just trying out one single dance for Pete’s sake.”

“Well it’s because I’m just simply not his type. He prefers blonde cheerleaders like his ex over degenerated rejects like me,” Debbie snapped.  “And please let’s just drop this okay? It makes me want to puke already.”

-Next Day-

Debbie nervously smoothed her hair as she watched Nick approach the bank of lockers towards his. It’s now or never, she thought as she inhaled a big gulp of air and mustered up all her courage. She’s been thinking about what Jan had said yesterday and decided to take her word for it. After all, it’s just a stupid dance. It’s not like I’m proposing marriage. Just have to make this quick.

“Hi Nick,” she greeted as she stopped by his locker. Her heart almost triple-hammered as Nick raised his head and fixed a pair of blue eyes on her face. God, he has the most riveting blue eyes, she thought faintly.

“Something wrong, Debbie?” Nick asked and a shadow of concern lingered on his face.

Debbie laughed lightly, “No, of course not. I came by just to ask you about the dance. I’m just thinking if you’d consider going with me. I mean, I never really go to school dances coz I find them stupid but since it’s our last year in high school, I’ve decided to give it a try.”

Nick gaped, not seeming to have heard her correctly. Then finally he cleared his throat. “You know, I would like to but you see, ah, I’ve already said yes to Jessica. She and Jack just had a major fight and she’s been distraught over it, hence, she wanted me to accompany her.”

She couldn’t believe her ears. “And so you decided to come to her rescue and save the damsel from distress. How romantic,” she spat out scathingly.

He frowned and narrowed his eyes at her. “Just what the heck are you trying to say, Debbie?”

Debbie was on the verge of tears. “I never thought you can be so stupid, Nick. Jessica is using you as a scapegoat. She can’t go to the dance with Jack and so she calls on you. And you like a lovesick puppy barks at her command right away.”

Nick’s eyes are now flashing with anger. “Don’t you dare talk that way about Jessica! You have no idea about what we’ve been through.”

“Oh yeah?” Debbie’s voice rose to an indignant pitch. “I don’t have to be psychic to know that she dumped you over a dumb football player like Jack because she’s a cheerleader. And you know what, forget it. Forget I even mention the stupid dance in the first place!” She pivoted on her heel and darted out of the hallway, nearly tripping over the steps of the school main entrance. It is only then that Debbie felt her tears starting to trickle down incessantly.

-Friday: The Day of the Dance-

Debbie stared sullenly onto the easel, her mind restless and wandering. “Damn it Debbie, focus!” she chided. For the past couple of hours, she has just been smearing blotches of paint onto her easel with no definitive pattern in mind. She gazed at the clock and wondered that the dance would most probably be in its full swing by now. Jan managed to get a date to the dance by asking out the lead guitarist of their band. Jan had wanted to do the same for Debbie but she flatly refused. Debbie insisted on not going. When Jan was about to back out as well Debbie swore and told her she won’t be speaking to her for the rest of her life if she did that. She just wanted Jan to enjoy the night and not sulk in with her misery.

“I hope Jan’s having a great time.” She sighed. “And as for me, well, I learned a valuable lesson. Love is a bitch and a very stupid emotion to have. I’m right after all. It’s only made for wimps. I swear I’ll never ever fall in l—“  

“Talking to yourself again?” A bemused voice came out from her bedroom doorstep. Debbie swung her head towards the voice and nearly swooned. “Nick! What on devil’s name are you doing here?”

Nick smiled slyly. “Well, your dad let me in. By the way you look beautiful without all the dark makeup that you usually wear to school.” His long sleeves have been rolled up to his elbows and his sports coat was flung lazily over his shoulder. Nevertheless, the overall effect was very appealing.

“Funny my dad did not tell me you’re here.” She looked away so Nick wouldn’t see her blushing to the roots of her hair.

“I told him I want to surprise you.”

“Well then, you’ve surprised me already okay? What do you want?” Debbie demanded, her hands on her hips.

Nick inched his way closer to where she’s standing by the easel. “I remember someone calling me stupid just a few days ago because I’m a lovesick puppy.” He started to say. “And you know what? She’s right.” Debbie could only stare at him in surprise so he continued with his discourse. “I was devastated when Jessica and I broke up and I have never really learned to let go of her, I guess because of pride. I was so blinded and very stubborn. I overlooked all her flaws but today is an exception.” He paused to organize what he’s about to say next. “When she and I went to the dance together, I understood already that she’s just with me to make Jack jealous. From there on, I saw her for who she really is. And this lady who called me stupid a few days ago has made me see that and I didn’t even listen,” he said softly.

“And what are you planning to do with this lady then?” she smirked, her eyes beckoning to Nick in a challenging manner.

Nick inched closer till he was very close to her. “Well, first, since I wasn’t able to take her to the dance I think I can ask her to dance with me then right in her bedroom. After all, I owe it to her for asking me out first to the dance.” He laughed as Debbie tried to whack him. “Afterwards, I will have to ask her out.”

“Can you please be honest with me on this one? Are you sure with what you’re saying? Are you hearing yourself?”

He grinned and chuckled. “Yes I can hear myself perfectly fine. After all, it’s not everyday I get to meet a lady who admits to not liking me at first in front of my face, who calls me stupid and who asks me out to the dance by herself even though she hasn’t been to one.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re different, Debbie. I have never met anyone like you.”

Debbie couldn’t say a word. Her heart was so constricted with emotion she thought she might faint. “Do you have any idea that we’ll make the oddest couple?”

Nick shrugged. “So? Odd is nice. It’s about time we put a stop to the clichés and stereotypes. Ever heard of opposites attract?”

She giggled. “You have a point.” She looked searchingly into Nick’s eyes. “So are you going to kiss me now?”

He threw his head back in laughter. “That’s just what I love about you. You always have to blurt out whatever’s on your mind.” Then he tilted her chin and brushed his lips softly against hers.

“Hmm, is that all you can do?” She murmured teasingly. Suddenly all words died out from her throat as he tightened his embrace and assaulted her lips with a mind-blowing kiss…