Stacy’s eyes snapped open to the sound of metal clattering on wood. She sat still for a heartbeat, and a soft groan escaped her parted lips, she then closed her eyes and rolled over. Seconds later the sound resounded again and Stacy slapped her hand against her nightstand as she hunted for the familiar polished feel of her cell phone. As she gripped her cellphone her eyes squinted and focused in on the screen, she took in the digits 3:00AM and her face contorted into a firm scowl her lips turned down and her brow furrowed. Stacy pressed her thumb onto the small button at the bottom of her phone, opened up her messages and saw the name “Shelby the best friend ever” surrounded by smiley faces and hearts. Once she saw the name the creases vanished from her forehead and her scowl turned into a small smile.

Stace I think Bryant’s gonna ask you out today, Stacy pulled back and brought the phone closer to her face as reread the message.
Ask me out? For what, Stacy replied back
For HC, Stacy’s forehead creased, her brow furrowed.
Ehh but I barely know him
You too’ll look so cute together though
You think so
I know so
Uhhh, I'll guess I'll say yes
Stacy closed her phone, tossed it back onto her nightstand,wrapped her sheets tightly across her frame, and drifted back to sleep.

The sun hung low in the sky a began to shine light directly into Stacy's bedroom. As the light seeped through her blinds her eyes slipped open, she braced her arms against her bed and sat up.  Stacy swung her legs over the edge of her bed and slipped her feet into the pink bunny slippers on the floor. She gently rubbed her eyes and snatched her phone off of her nightstand. Stacy’s eyes focused in on the screen, her lips set into a firm line, sprang to her feet and ran into the adjacent bathroom.
Stacy shuffled across the bright tile floor, and continued to rub the sleep from her right eye, her left glued to her phone screen. She gently placed her phone on the marble countertop, looked up at the mirror, and saw a myriad of minuscule red welts on her forehead. Stacy’s lips parted once more, her chest rose and fell as she pushed air out of her nose.
Ugh not today
Stacy’s lips parted and released yet another sigh as she pulled out one of the counter drawers and grabbed a bottle of concealer. As she applied the makeup a shrill tone resounded.
“Stacy, the bus is here!”, her mother yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
“Crap”, Stacy quickly threw on a white blouse, leggings, and ran down the stairs. She continued to dab her face as she grabbed her bag and rushed onto the bus. She bounded up the short staircase entryway, and carefully smoothed down her blouse with her hands before directing a curt, “sorry” to the bus driver.
Stacy shuffled through the bus, and her eyes searched for a place to sit.
“Hey Stace sit here”, Stacy’s eyes darted to the left, and her mouth curved up into a smile as she noticed Stephanie's small frame.
“Thanks Steph”, Stacy splurted as she wriggled into the seat while Stephanie shifted her bag to her lap.
“Have you heard? Bryant's gonna ask you out today!”
“Yeah, Shelby told me”
Stephanie's mouth curved upward into a large smile, and her eyes were wide as she spoke, “sooo, what are you gonna tell him”
“I …”
Stephanie quickly Interjected
“I mean you're gonna say yes right I mean you two would just look so cute together we could double date and everything it'd be perfect!”
Stacy’s mouth dipped into a slight frown, and her eyes became unfocused and distant, “ Sure, that'd be cool...”

The bell rang and Stacy snapped out of her daze, and she stared down at the blank paper in front of her,
“crap”, she quickly wrote her name and an incoherent half paragraph on some property of physics, planted her paper on her teacher’s desk and ran out of the room.
“What is wrong with me today?”, she quietly whispered as she wandered through the hall  her hand gently rubbing her forehead as she tried to focus on her next class.
A hand suddenly gripped her shoulder and a voice rang out,
“Hey Stace wait up”
Stacy jerked around her face contorted into a semblance of perplexity, “oh...Hey Franny?”
Franny’s mouth curved into a small frown, and her brow furrowed, “Are you okay you looked a little startled”
“Nah, I'm fine what's up?”
Franny’s mouth curved into a broad smile, “You've heard right, Bryant's gonna ask you out!” Franny’s voice went up an octave as the last phrase came out.
Stacy's face paled, and her lips turned down into a slight frown, “yeah”
“You're totally gonna say yes right then we’ll all have dates for the group pictures!”
Stacy’s eyes became unfocused and her lips were pressed tightly together as she said, “Yeah I will” .

As the final 8th bell rung Stacy stepped out of the main school entrance, looked out across the yard and saw two groups of jumbled forms massed together. Stacy could make out her friends, Bryant, a few of his friends, and some other guys she couldn't quite recognize. As she made her way over to the group her stomach began gurgle and bubble, and a small burp escaped her lips. At the same time she began to feel cold and distant as she took in her friends as they gossiped and fraternized amongst themselves. Her brow furrowed and her nostrils flared.
Bryant stepped out from the crowd, a large poster in hand the words, “HC would be a mystery if you didn’t go with me” and Stacy’s lips upturned into a smile. Stacy’s lips began to form the syllables, “yes’ hung off the edge of her tongue, but as she glanced once more at the people around her as they chanted, “Say yes” the frown returned. Stacy turned to Bryant a spoke,
” I’m sorry you seem like a nice person, but I can't go to homecoming with you” .
With that final statement Stacy swung around and began the long walk home a smile on her face.