Popularity Love

"C'mon, Kim. You must have liked a popular guy some time in your life." my friend Carmen said to me one day during summer.

We were at her house for a sleepover since my parents were going to Las Vegas for two weeks. Her room was kind of like mine... a total mess. Books and paper everywhere.

"Never have, never will." I said.

Mostly all the guys at school were,lets say, popular. Though most of them weren't, the normal ones who hung out with them, I considered them co-popular. Carmen, the black haired and blue eyed girl had a popular boyfriend, Tomas. He was quarterback of our high school football team. You could say she was popular, but she wasn't. In fact, people barely notice her, unless she's hanging out with Tomas.

"You know why I hate those popular guys. They're selfish and rude and idiotic and... even more idiotic. No offense to Tomas."I added.

"Well, they're not all bad, like Tomas. He's kind and cute and gentle and cute." Carmen said dreamily as she sat on her pink sheeted bed.

"You said cute twice. Besides, before you met Tomas, he treated me like a complete and total bastard, like I was from Mars or something." I
reminded her.

"I know." she said sadly.

After that, we went out for a walk discussing where we should go after taking Macy, Carmen's dog, out for a walk. We decided to go to a movie.

We ran to her house and got our tickets to see the movie. Just before the movie started, we found some seats and sat.Then, a guy, who looked familiar, sat next to me. He stared at me then looked at the screen. When the movie was over, Carmen slipped him a piece of paper. I tried to grab it but it was too late.

"What the heck did you give him?" I asked Carmen on the way back home.

"I gave him your..." Carmen started but she was interrupted by my cell phone ring. I gave her a glare but she smiled.

"Hello?"

"Hey. I'm the guy from the movie theater. Your friend gave me your cell phone number."

"Excuse me for just a minute." I looked at Carmen. "What did you do? I don't even know who he is!" I said in a hushed voice.

"You don't recognize him? His name is Paul, the shy but popular guy, Tomas's friend?" Carmen reminded me."He likes you."

"How do you know?" I asked suspiciously.

"I'm Tomas's girlfriend. He told me."

I put the phone to my ear. "Uh.. Paul, right? Tomas's friend?"

"Yeah. I guess Carmen already told you then. Well, I was wondering if we could... catch a movie tomorrow?" Paul asked.

The words just slipped out of my mouth. "Uh... sure. See you then."

"Wow. You said yes to a date to a popular guy. That's new." Carmen said sarcastically.

"It's not a date. Its just a movie." I protested, but I couldn't help feeling that sarcastic-like person, Carmen, was right.

That night, I was thinking about Paul.Was I really hooked on this guy? Does he truly like me? Then, another thought went to my head. No. It's just a movie. You said yes to be nice.Back and forth I went with these thoughts until I didn't know which was was true.

"You know, he's really nice. He's just shy." Carmen told me the next morning while I was getting ready.

"Oh well. I said yes to be nice." I said.

"Are you sure?" Carmen asked.

"Umm... I don't know." I said as my phone rang.
"Hello?"

"Hey. It's Paul. Umm...want lunch first because I missed breakfast and I'm kind a hungry."

"Okay. I missed breakfast too." I lied. Click.

"What was that?" Carmen said.

"He invited me to lunch. He didn't have breakfast. I feel bad for him." I answered back.

"I'm coming with. I'll call Tomas." Carmen said, amused.

"Yeah... Hey Tomas? Want to go watch a movie with me and Kim and Paul? He asked he out and now we're going to eat lunch together. Wanna come? Okay, great!"

I glanced at her.

"Its a done deal. A double date. The guys will be waiting for us at Shelly's Diner." Carmen said happily.

Around twelve noon, we saw the guys at the entrance to Shelly's Diner. We found a booth that sat four and squished in. Carmen and I on one side and Paul and Tomas on the other. Carmen and Tomas were talking like they were meant to be. They were getting along fine. I couldn't say the same for Paul and myself. We just sat there, looking at each other until Carmen managed to pull Tomas out of the booth and into another one.

"She must think I'm too shy to talk to him since she's here and all."I thought. And sadly, it worked. Paul started to talk.

"So...how long have you been friends with Carmen?" he asked.

"Since pre-school." I answered back, looking away.

"You have to be honest on this question. What is your favorite combo of food that other people think is disgusting? Mine is fries and chocolate milkshake."

"That's great." I said sarcastically. "I refuse to talk to you. I have always been given the impression of popular guys being weird and unkind. Like Tomas before he even saw Carmen. Besides, you are just another boy who wants to tease me." I said and stomped out to the front of the diner.

Carmen got up and followed me. Unfortunately, she talked me into still going into the movie. She has that power.

In the theater Carmen asked how was the jokes he told us on the way to the movie theater.

"His jokes were so stupid." I lied on that. I didn't even pay attention so I don't even know.

Before Carmen could talk anymore, the movie started and it was kind of boring. I fell asleep and my head fell onto Paul's shoulder. He was shocked and jerked his elbow that shook me awake.
Realizing what had happened, I whispered something to him.

"I'm so sorry. It's just this movie is so boring. I-I didn't know that I was going to fall asleep."

"It's okay,geez. I know this movie is kind of boring. You want to go somewhere? I want to show you this place."

"I don't know. My mother says naver go anywhere without a friend. And you are not my friend." I said sourly.

"Well, what if I say if you don't come I won't stop bugging you for the rest of high school." That did it. What can I say, I do not want anyone bugging me for two years. If you do, you're welcome to take my place.

"Where are we going?" I asked him. I didn't completely trust him yet but I tagged along anyway.(I'm so gullible)

"You'll see." He smiled at this.

I followed him to the park. Then, where the trail ends, he pulled back the chain fence. "It was loose." he told me.

He lead me deeper into the forest. We walked for awhile, occasionally spying a rabbit or two. I heard water, like a waterfall. He cleared a path and I saw the most beautiful spot in the world.

There was a freshwater stream and a small cabin, it was his summer fishing area. Flowers and animals were everywhere. Two large rocks were set in by the river. He motioned me to sit.

"I came here after my mother died." he said sadly.

"Oh. I'm sorry." I said. I-I didn't know."

"You remind me of her. The way you act, I mean." he cleared his throat. "I'll understand if you don't like me." he said sadly. "I got shy after my mother died. I was too scared to say anything you at school."

"Don't worry. I do like you. I just never gave you the chance." I confessed, blushing at my own words. This time.. it was true.

He gave me a smile.

We walked back to the movie theater and found out they quit the movie. It got really boring. Apparently it turned into a documentary on rabbits. They just made the title interesting to get money. On the way home,Carmen asked me where he took me.

I looked at him. He shook his head.

"Oh. Uh... nowhere." I said and he offered me his hand. I took it.