The Notes
It started out as just another day at Bayville High. The whole school had been plastered with posters and announcements about the upcoming Valentine’s Day dance. "Big friggin’ deal, yo," Todd muttered to himself as he slouched in his seat. He was already sick of hearing about the dance.
It seemed to him that the principle had already announced it for the five hundredth time that week. When class started, Miss Mackenzie, or Mac as she liked her students to call her, once again informed the students about the event. When she came over to his desk, he thought she was going to send him to the principles office. She handed him an envelope with his name printed on it.
"Todd, I was asked to give this to you," she said. Seeing the look of surprise on his face, she remarked "Maybe it’s from a secret Valentine." Todd ripped open the envelope and found a note and two tickets to the dance. The note read "BE READY TO SEE RED BY 6 P.M. FRIDAY NIGHT."
Todd had to read the brief message again and still could not believe it. **This has got to be a joke,** he thought to himself, not hearing the muffled giggle from nearby. **But what if it’s for real? And just who is it that would want to go with me?
**
THE NOTES pt. 2
For the rest of the day, Todd was in a daze. Just who was the person who sent the note and tickets? If he had turned around and looked over his left shoulder, he would have seen the answer.
Octavia Goldwater and her friend/room-mate Raven Bloodstone sat about two seats away. Tavia had to muffle a delighted giggle when she saw Todd sit up in surprise at the contents of the envelope. When the bell rang for lunch and he still sat there, she tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey bud. Want to have lunch with me?" she asked. She was one of the most popular girls at Bayville, but she had the honor of being one of his and the Brotherhood’s friends.
From the day she first came to Bayville, she had offered her friendship to them. Earlier in the week, she had been having lunch with them and the conversation had turned to Duncan and the upcoming dance. "I’d rather go with Todd than a jerk like Duncan," she said before taking a swig of her Dr. Pepper. Her comment caused Todd to choke a little, but she just laughed. "Well, it’s true, bud. Only airheads like Jean find guys like him attractive."
That sarcastic comment started them all to start snickering and laughing. "Don’t be surprised if I send you tickets to Prom or something, Todd. You’re a lot cuter than he is!" That made him start blushing furiously and earned him some teasing from Pietro.
"Toad and Tavia sittin’ in a tree-" Pietro started before she threw a candy wrapper at him. "Oh, shut up! You’re just jealous because Todd beat you to me," she said giving Todd a sultry look. "I still love you guys, each and every one of you. Life was utter dullsville before I came here and met you all."
Later that evening, Todd remembered that day in the lunchroom. At the time, he thought she had been kidding. Now he wasn’t so sure. Was she really the one who had sent the tickets? He would find out in a couple of days.
THE NOTES pt. 3
Friday, the day of the dance, had arrived and Todd was scared to death. Ever since he had gotten the note, he had wondered if it were real or just a joke. The day had seemed to pass so slowly, but then the final bell rang. School was over for the weekend. He realized then that the mystery would be solved once and for all in only three hours. When he opened his locker, another envelope fell out. Inside was some cash and another note. This one read: "LADY IN RED, FLOWER OF WHITE. SHE’LL MEET YOU AT SIX TONIGHT."
He heard Tavia behind him reading the note to herself. "Hmm. Sounds like she wants a white corsage. I know where you could get one. Go to Castleberry’s and tell them you want a white orchid wrist corsage. They can get one in about ten or fifteen minutes." She smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. "I’ll see you later, bud. Maybe we can all get together later at Charlie’s for a Dumpster Special." She left, knowing full well that he was checking her out. "Well? Tell me all about it!" "He got the note and I told him where to get the corsage. So far, so good," Tavia said with a grin. "Yeah, just wait until he sees the clothes I left for him. He’ll freak!"
Todd had gone to the florist that Tavia had suggested and was halfway up the driveway of the Brotherhood’s house when he saw the clothes Raven had left for him. She had left a sharp looking sport jacket, slacks, shirt and shoes. He nearly dropped the box with the corsage when he saw them.
Pinned to the plastic bag was another note. This one read: "ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE, JEAN MAY BE A DITZ, BUT O LIKES YOU." The small dig at Jean made him grin as he read it. He looked at his watch just then. "Oh shit! It’s nearly five!" he said as he ran into the house and upstairs to his room. He carefully laid the box aside before he hurried to get ready. He had just slipped on the jacket and was looking at himself in the mirror when Pietro wolf-whistled from the doorway.
"Looks like the frog just may become a prince after all," he said as Todd combed his hair. "Looking good, man" Lance said as paused for a moment to check his own hair and clothes. Todd did like how he looked in the clothes. He became more and more nervous as the clock neared six. Just about that time, headlights splashed the front of the house as a van pulled into the drive.
Since there was not a street light outside, he couldn’t tell who was driving. "Oh, man. I’m so nervous, yo," he said as the doorbell rang. "It’s gonna be fine. Just relax." Lance answered the door and stepped aside to let their visitor in. Todd could only stand and stare. Tavia walked in wearing a gown of scarlet silk. "Happy Valentine’s Day, Todd," she said. He only stared until Freddie poked him in the ribs, and then he remembered the corsage. He slipped the corsage onto her wrist and she smiled. "C’mon bud. We got a dance to go to." Raven was in the van dressed in her white silk dress that was identical to Tavia’s.
"Come on!" she called from the driver’s side window. They all soon piled into the van, fighting for space and laughing. When they arrived at the gym, Todd took Tavia’ hand and felt her squeeze his. This was starting to be the most perfect night of his life. "Ready for this?" she asked. The entire place was decorated and a live band was playing some good dance music. When he admitted that he didn’t know how to dance, she smiled and said, "Then I’ll teach you." He soon had the basics down. "See, it’s easy," she said. The last song of the evening was a slow one. As he held her close, he asked her something that he’d wanted to ask for awhile.
"Tavia, will you be my girlfriend?" "I’d love to be your girl," she said. Then she did something he had never expected. She kissed him very gently and yet passionately. "Happy Valentine’s, Tavia," he said. "Happy Valentine’s Day, bud."