• If I were playing a game of cards
    And I had the queen of hearts in my deck,
    I would cross out the hearts and the queen and write: Misty Cole in big black letters.
    Because not only was she high monarch of Olympia High's hallways,
    But she was the absoloute monarch of Dylan Foggs heart.
    Only the guy girls would kill for.
    Including me.
    Maybe it was just pure jealousy that pumped heat into my face whenever she passed by. Don't get me wrong though, Misty is a really nice person...
    But she has everything I want, from a lime green volkswagen beetle, to Dylan.
    But after what happened just a few months ago, I never want anything of hers...
    ...Especially Dylan.




    "Did you hear?"
    I twisted on the splintery picnic tables that dotted the courtyard of Olympia High School. Stefanie jabbed me with her pencil again until I swung around and faced her, half annoyed and half out of curiosity.
    "What? Something about Misty again I bet"
    "Yeah...well...sort of..." Stefanie said twisting her thick brown hair around her fingers, "Her and Dylan broke up"
    I nearly coughed up my water after that.
    Sure wasn't expecting it, that's for sure...
    "B-broke up? Why?"
    "I dunno. Something happened. But Misty isn't spilling, not even to April"
    I frowned. April was Misty's best friend, if Misty didn't tell April then it had to be something serious. I ransacked my mind of all possible things that could've happened but the peices just wouldn't fit into Dylan's puzzle. He was a nice guy; polite, friendly, easygoing. What happened?
    Stefanie jabbed me with her pencil again and I jumped--almost falling backwards into Misty as she sat next to me.
    "Oh, hey Misty" I said ignoring Stefanie when she rolled her eyes.
    "Hey Rebekka" Misty said smiling softly, "Mind if I sit with you?"
    My eyes scanned the other empty seats in the courtyard and they instantly spotted Dylan sitting off by himself.
    "Why don't you sit with Dyl--"
    Another pencil jab.
    This time harder.
    "Uh...never mind" I mumbled quickly and focused my attention on lunch.
    "It's alright, I know we were like the...the...star couple" Misty said wincing, "But...I have my reasons"
    "What are the reasons?" Stefanie pressed.
    Misty lowered her face so that her crimson curls covered it completely. At first I thought she might be crying and I shot Stefanie a look but when she looked up again, she looked more as if she'd been beaten than crying.
    "I wish I could tell you..." she murmured, "I really wish I could..."
    She stood up at that moment and hurried off back into the building leaving Stefanie and I dumbfounded.














    Chapter 2

    By the end of third period, we were having a terentual downpour.
    Typical Washington weather.
    Stefanie and I sat together under the pavillion today to keep dry, while the others hung out in the rain, kicking water from the puddles at each other or just getting wet for the hell of it. From our spot on the raised roofed platform, we could see Misty sitting by herself under the schools brick awning. She was staring fixedly at Dylan as he stood off with some of his friends. I felt a twinge of saddness for her as she turned and went back inside. I scanned the crowd for April, and caught her with a group of other girls.
    Some friend she was.
    "Lets go in an sit with Misty," I said, "She's all alone"
    Stefanie snorted, "I'm not sitting with her"
    "At least bring her back here"
    Stefanie sighed loudly and stood to go. I stayed where I was under the pavillion and watched as the rain fell through the trees, making big fat drops and landing with a spalt on the ground. So caught up in nature was I, that I didn't notice Dylan striding over to me and take a seat silently beside me.
    "He Bekka"
    I jumped and gasped.
    "D-Dylan?" I ask and he smiles.
    "Yeah, uh, mind if I call you Bekka?"
    "It's fine with me" I reply, savouring my new nickname.
    "Well, I uh...wanted to ask you something"
    My hands began to feel clammy and I could feel my face heat. Dylan Fogg wants to ask Rebekka Dristan something?
    I had to be dreaming...
    "Well I was wondering if...if...you wanted to...hang out tomorrow night?"
    I bit my lip and nodded, "Yeah, um...what sounds good?"
    "Maybe a walk through the woods?"
    "Anything sounds good to me..." I said as Stefanie and Misty came sauntering over to the table.
    "Ok. But hey, you walk home right?"
    "Yeah" I said, my face practiclly on fire.
    "I'll give ya a ride today" he said flashing me another grin, "Wait outside for me after school"
    He went after his group of friends leaving me clammy and blushing. Stefanies eyes widened like saucers when Dylan dashed off.
    "What was that about?"
    "He...wanted to...know if I was doing anything tomorrow" I said.
    "No way! Oh my--"
    Misty, who was standing silent the entire time gasped loud enough for Stefanie and I to turn.
    She raced off back into the building.
    April, looking over her shoulder followed.
    Stefanie's eyebrows arched in curiosity
    and I was to caught up in my fantasy to care.


    "He's driving you home?!" Stefanie squealed, "Oh this is too good!"
    I stood under the brick pavillion and forced back a smile, "I guess..."
    "Well, I got to go now" Stefanie said flinging her bag over her shoulder, "I'll call you later. Be sure to tell me everything"
    I blushed again flicking a strand of my hair back and watched as Stefanie ran up the walkway and around the corner.
    "Rebekka"
    The voice, so weak and full of...of fear made me shudder as I turned. Misty Cole stood behind me, a peice of paper in her hand and terror written on her face.
    "Misty? What's wrong?"
    "If Dylan...If..." she took a deep breath, "Just, if anything happens call me"
    She handed me the peice of paper and I stuck it in my pocket. If anything happens? Like something is gonna happen with Dylan Fogg.
    "What are you talking about?"
    "Rebekka, I wish I could tell you but--"
    "Then do!"
    "I-I can't he'll--"
    "Rebekka?"
    I turned and spied Dylan sitting in his cherry red convertable grinning at me, "Ready Bekka?"
    I sprinted down the walk towards my prince and white horse, not even looking back at Misty. But I did catch sight of her as I climbed in the car. Her expression was something of fear.
    Or horror?
    But mainly disgust.











    Chapter 3

    "So uh...like what happened?"
    Dylan glanced over at me and frowned, "What happened about what?"
    "With you and Misty...I mean"
    He sighed, not taking his eyes off the road for a second and he murmured, "Its...just..."
    "Oh I understand. Sorry"
    "No it's alright," he said quickly, "I know we were like the..."
    "...Star couple?" I finished for him, "Yeah"
    We sped down the forest roads, rain drops falling on our heads and the wind whipping at our faces. Hadn't it been raining, this would've been my little paradise, but even with the gentle sprinkle, it felt like pure heaven sitting there next to Dylan.
    He'd been completely silent over the roar of the engine, and it was just a few moments ago that I broke the silence. I was starting to have the feeling he regreted ever offering me a ride when he said suddenly,
    "You're a really cool person Bekka"
    I must've been blushing really hard because he looked over at me and laughed.
    "Blushing eh?"
    "I-I wasn't expecting that" I said rubbing at my cheeks.
    Like that'll help any.
    "I was wondering...Bekka" he said stopping outside my house, "If...you...wanted to like...go out?"
    That was it.
    My life was complete.
    I felt my head nod, but the world around me was a spinning vortex. I saw his releived smile.
    I saw him climb out the car.
    I watched him open the door for me.
    And I felt that strange force pick me out the car and make myself walk up to my house. I turned around once to see him back in the drivers seat.
    A quick wave goodbye was the only thing I controlled for that minute and ten seconds.
    And yes, I counted.
    It took me a minute to find my keys and after finding them, I jabbed them in the lock and burst in the door, dropping my wet coat and bag in a clump by the door.
    "Bekka?" my mom called from the kitchen but I raced into the living room, snatched up the phone and dialed Stefanies number. It seemed ages before she finally picked up and I was still to shocked to speak at first.
    "Hello?"
    "Stef, its..its...me"
    "Me?" laughed Stefanie, "You're lucky you're my best friend and I know your voice"
    "Something happened..."
    "What?" Stefanie asked, turning into all seriousness.
    "Dylan...wants to go out"
    Dead silence.
    Then an ear peircing scream.
    "No way!!!! What happened??? Details!"
    I explained the car ride and what he had said and Stefanie squealed with excitement through the whole retelling.
    "And that's it" I finished, "Is it...official?"
    "What are you talking about, of course its official!"
    "Rebekka Dristan" my mom said standing in the doorway with a half smirk, "You just got in, dear"
    I sighed, "I gotta call you later Stef"
    I hung up the phone and stood.
    Misty's phone number fell out my pocket.
    I let it.
    And I left it.