Homecoming story pt 1
Go big or go home
There's A famous saying in Texas: "Go Big or Go Home".
That was my goal throughout the school year. I was going to go all out. Try new looks, do new things I've never done, and make the most of my school year.
One thing I've never done is to actively engage in and join social activities and events.
What better time than Homecoming?
When it came to homecoming, Texas did not hold back. This was one of the major student events— Second to senior prom—and people went all out for it.
I wasn't sure where all these specific homecoming traditions originated from, but from what I've heard from military kids who came from out of state, their old schools had nothing like the homecomings Texas had.
Since the beginning of the semester and the moment football season started, many of my classmates had already been looking forward to homecoming. Some had already had their dates planned way in advance, whether they were going with a partner, as a group of friends, or flying solo.
In my freshman year, I had no interest in it until I saw exactly how things truly were around here. It looked like lots of fun. And since I decided to go big or go home this year, things were going to be interesting.
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The day when the announcement about this year's homecoming theme came up, I was just sitting in my homeroom class, casually doodling in my sketchbook like usual. The world became silent around me when I was in my creative place.
"Good Afternoon, Panthers!"
The intercom system started its usual announcements. To me, all I heard was "blah blah blah." Now and then, I would catch a few of the announcements they were broadcasting.
"As for homecoming, the student council has decided on a theme for this year's event."
"Shhh shhh." One of the students hushed the class from carrying on their conversations. The classroom went into immediate silence, and the amount of anticipation could be felt. I even stopped what I was doing to have a listen.
"And this year's theme is ..."
The silence was broken when the iconic synthesizer opening to Prince's 1999 started playing.
"PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999!"
The class roared into applause. They were hyped up, and conversations were going on left and right. I'm not going to lie, as much as I was trying to act like this didn't excite me like the rest of the class, it did.
The theme was perfectly timed. It's 1999. This was going to be the last homecoming of the decade, the century, THE MILLENNIUM!
But...who's going to want to go with me?
I didn't want to fly solo or go with a group of friends. If I'm going to do this, I want to go with a partner, whether it be just as friends or more than friends. It would be nice if I could find someone to go with and have that connection like CC and Kenny.
Every day since that homecoming announcement was made, I tried my best to talk and befriend other girls in hopes one would be interested and go with me. TRIED.
Why was this so damn difficult?
I was beginning to think I had been cursed or something. Whenever I had the opportunity to break the ice and talk to someone new, I would freeze up and shy away.
I was hoping the addition of built-up muscle on my shoulders, arms, and even core from swimming would help with my self-confidence. It didn't. That was just superficial.
As for the few girls I did manage to talk to, none of them made that connection the way CC and I did during summer school. Naturally, CC was taken, off limits and was already going with Kenny. It would also be awkward to go as a third wheel.
I'm not doing that.
There were plenty of girls around to ask and pursue that were cute in their own way, but was that just biology talking? All of that was just physical attraction to me. What about that deep connection? That spark of love?
What exactly was Love? I didn't know.
This wasn't something explained in the shows I watched or comics I read, but it did appear. Many times. Even then, how was I supposed to recognize it?
The new girls who started hanging out with the group were pretty cute, too, but their attitudes made them a bit of a turn-off. They were constantly bickering with each other about getting the most attention from either Victor or Boss, like "Pick me, pick me". This appeared desperate. Not exactly the kind of girls I want to be involved with.
One girl that could be a possibility for a homecoming date was Maddie, a petite blonde who was also an alternative rocker type girl (*sigh*). I thought she was pretty damn cool with all her quirkiness. She was on the swim team where we met during practice. We would constantly challenge each other, whether it was whoever finished their laps first or who could hold their breath the longest.
During our bus rides, we would talk about Vampires and werewolves and other kinds of dark fantasy creatures. Maddie was a huge fan and had introduced me to the works of Anne Rice. All I knew from her works was the movie adaptation of "Interview with the Vampire".
The other girl I could think of as a possibility was Lilly. My dear friend, I've known since middle school, with whom I had public speaking.
Wait a minute! What if I actually asked Lilly?
I got a bit anxious just thinking about it. I've known her the longest; she already knows I'm nerdy and awkward as hell. We've already broken the ice, and I'm comfortable talking to her, except when it comes down to expressing feelings.
Why not? Even as friends. The worst thing she can say is "No. It's not my thing." Who knows, maybe she'll say yes?
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Throughout the bus ride after practice, I was mentally rehearsing how I should approach her.
Should I take the direct approach and just ask?
Or should I ask indirectly by bringing it up like a hypothetical situation?
The moment I walked in, I saw Lilly sitting in her usual spot in the back row. She had her backpack on her lap, and she focused on whatever she was doodling.
"Hey, Lilly." I froze immediately the moment I broke her concentration to look up at me.
"Hmm?" She paused the artwork she was doing of a detailed and hyperrealistic Rob Zombie from the Hellbilly Deluxe album on her backpack.
"Holy Fuck! How long have you been working on that?" I pointed to it.
"This? Since yesterday. I've been doing a little at a time."
"That's amazing. AND YOU ARE ONLY USING A PEN?!"
"Yup!"She said proudly.
Here I thought Victor was wicked with a pencil. Lilly is on a whole other level.
I sat there and watched her continue to crosshatch and sketch layers upon layers, making the image pop out in such a way that it looked like a photograph. Becoming distracted for a moment, I attempted to be direct with her.
"So, I...uh.." I froze again. As much as I wanted to be upfront, something was just stopping me from doing so.
Lilly hummed while she continued.
Ok, Indirect approach it is!
"I...was just curious.." My tongue was seizing up trying to get the correct words to come out. "If I were to....(Damnit, get it together)...to ask you about going to homecoming with me. What would you say?"
"Oh." Lilly was shocked for a moment. She brushed a bit of her hair out of her face and adjusted her glasses. She composed herself and seemed cool about it. It didn't look like a big deal to her. Her expression shifted from being curious to pensive and inquisitive.
The longer she sat there without an answer, the more I was getting nervous. I was feeling like the collar of my shirt was tightening, and a bead of sweat formed on the back of my neck.
She tapped her pen on her drawing a few times before saying anything.
"Is...this you asking me?"
I gulped and nodded, unsure of what she would say next.