Three friends, Petey, Jonathan, and Sam all sat outside, watching a group of girls build a snowman. They sat in almost painful silence, finally Sam couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, Petey, that snowman bears an uncanny resemblance to you," he quipped.
Petey stared hard at the snowman for a long moment. "I don't see it," he said in all seriousness.
"You know, how the... oh nevermind." Explaining the joke always ruined it.
At that moment, Sam spotted Kristen across the courtyard. He wasn't sure if he wanted to point her out to the others or not. He had noticed Jonathan had been a lot more of a debbie-downer since the incident a few days back. And every time he saw her, it just made it worse. Yeah, best not point her out.
"Hey look! It's Kristen!"
Leave it to Petey. Everyone looked in the direction Petey was pointing. Kristen had stopped in front of the Castle Building to text on her phone. Sam glanced at Jonathan. Yeah, just as he predicted, here comes the doom and gloom.
Petey sighed. "I wish she'd come over here."
"You know she's still mad," Jonathan said glumly.
"It's been almost a week," Sam pointed out, "If she hasn't forgiven us by now, she probably never will."
"But why? What if we just go over there and tell her we're sorry and we won't bother her anymore?" Petey said.
"Won't we though?" Jonathan said, "I mean clearly this guy is not doing her any good."
"Yeah, but she might just have to figure that out on her own," Sam said, "I mean I know it sucks, but if we stay here by ourselves we can't help her, and if we go be her friend again, she won't listen to us. There's not much we can do, but just be there for her. So I agree with Petey... let's go say sorry."
"Great! Let's go!" Petey immediately stood up and took off.
"Petey, wait!" Jonathan called.
"It's no use," Sam said, standing up as well, "Come on."
They followed after the pudgy little sophomore who had already approached Kristen. She did not notice him at first, still engrossed in her phone. However, Petey reached out a hand and tapped her on the shoulder. She started slightly and then looked up. He looked at her sheepish, but hopeful as he began to speak. Kristen didn't say anything as he spoke, probably giving her his best heartfelt apology. Finally he looked up at her, eyes round and pleading. After a moment, Kristen sighed and then gave a small smile. Petey grinned and began to dance in place, probably holding himself back from pouncing on her in one of his bear hugs. However, Kristen scooped him up instead, squeezing him tightly.
Petey waved to Sam and Jonathan who had stopped walking to observe the scene. "It's okay, guys!" he called.
They both smirked at Petey's antics and cautiously moved forward. She had forgiven Petey, but did that forgiveness extend to them? Kristen just stared at them, stone-faced as they approached.
Jonathan spoke first, "Look Kristen, I know you've been under a lot of stress... being in a new relationship and all."
"So if you want us to shut up and stay out of it, we will," Sam said. Jonathan nodded in agreement.
There was a tense moment of silence as Kristen stared at them, arms folded across her chest. Sam and Jonathan didn't move as she did. Suddenly, she flung her arms around both of them in a tight hug, catching them off guard.
"Thank you! Of course I forgive you, I could never be mad at you for too long," she cried.
She released them, her eyes shining as she smiled up at them. "You're my only friends, after all."
"Ah, so you missed us," Jonathan said, "You were lonely without our masculine company and noxious body odor."
"Now don't get cocky," Kristen said, forcing back a smile, "I still had David."
"So you admit David has noxious body odor?" Jonathan asked, smirking.
Kristen narrowed her eyes. Suddenly, before Jonathan knew what was happening, a large ball of snow hit him smack in the face. He staggered backwards, spitting out snow and ice as Kristen brushed off her her mitten. For a moment, no one was sure if it was meant as a vicious attack or not until Kristen's voice loudly declared: "Snowball fight!"
"Yes! Snowball fight!" Petey cried and he immediately picked up some snow and chucked it at Sam, hitting him square in the chest. Sam stared at the spot in the center of his chest, appalled. Then he slowly bent down and packed some snow into a ball and marched over to Kristen and Petey.
Kristen pointed at Petey accusingly. "He did it."
Sam nodded. "Thank you." Then he crushed the snowball into the top of Kristen's head. "But you started it!"
Kristen scowled at him then quickly bent down to pack another snowball. As soon as she did, everyone quickly ran for cover. She chose Jonathan for a target, who had not yet found suitable cover. She threw her ball of snow, but it sailed just over his head and hit Petey instead.
Jonathan laughed. "You missed me!" he declared.
"Oh yeah?" Kristen glowered. She raised her other hand, revealing another snowball. He immediately stopped laughing and did not have time to duck as it came smashing into the side of his head.
Jonathan and Kristen glared at each other for a moment then both scrambled to the ground, desperately crafting snowballs as fast as they could. Petey's head popped out over his hiding place, his head still covered with snow. "Who threw that!" he demanded.
"She did!" Jonathan said, pointing to Kristen.
"You guys," Sam said, his head poking out from his hiding spot, "Don't you think that--?" No one got to hear what he thought because his words were suddenly cut off by Petey's snowball after Kristen had successfully dodged it.
Snowballs were flying in all directions, each person getting hit in turn.
Jonathan reared back and sent another snowball flying, hitting Sam in the shoulder. "Ha! And that's for eating all my cereal this morning!"
Sam glared in his direction and tossed his own snow missile at him. He barely dodged it. However, as Jonathan was focused on Sam's attack, he did not notice Kristen creeping up behind him, snow in hand. Sam did, however, and he was determined to keep him distracted.
Jonathan threw another snowball, but missed Sam entirely. Sam began to laugh.
"Funny, is it?" Jonathan asked.
"Yeah--" Sam was cut off by a snowball hitting him directly in the face.
"Laughing now?" Jonathan asked, brushing off his hands, smirking.
Kristen suddenly pounced on him from behind, her arms wrapped around his neck. She began stuffing her handful of ice down his shirt, while simultaneously clinging on to him. Jonathan stumbled around, desperately attempting to reach her with no success. "Kristen!" he screeched.
Sam was cracking up from his hiding spot, practically rolling on the ground. "Yes, yes I am," he answered Jonathan's previous question.
Petey joined in with Sam's laughter as they watched Jonathan flail around, trying to get Kristen off his back. A long string of curses flew from his tongue as he spun around. Kristen just clung to him tightly, laughing herself.
Jonathan suddenly slipped on an ice patch. He was going down! He fell right onto his side with a painful thud. Kristen's grip finally loosened. They both laid on the ground, laughing and groaning. Kristen pushed herself up slightly. "Are you okay?" she asked.
Jonathan was very much conscious of her hand resting on his chest as he stared up at her. "Um, yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Good. Great," he stammered.
She smiled. "Good," she said, "Sorry about that."
Why did she have to have such beautiful eyes? The way she was just looking down at him right now. They were so close. He could practically count every single one of those cute freckles splattered across her nose. And the way her lips were turned up into a smile, it just made her entire face glow. In fact, they were so close, it would't be very hard for him to just lean forward and kiss...
"Kristen!"
Jonathan immediately snapped out of it. Everyone turned to look. David was approaching from down the steps of the Castle Building, wearing his Student Services vest. Jonathan realized what a compromising position he and Kristen were in and quickly sat up.
"David, you're off early," Kristen said, standing up and brushing off her purple coat.
"Yeah, they're actually sending me to work in Activities this week," David said.
"Really?" Kristen asked.
"Oh is it because of the Masquerade Ball that's coming up?" Petey asked, approaching along with Sam.
"The what?" Ana asked, her interest suddenly piqued.
"You haven't heard?" Petey asked, "There's fliers everywhere. It’s supposed to be like super formal. Like with fancy dresses and stuff."
David shrugged. "Just sounds like prom with masks to me."
"Ooh! That sounds like so much fun!" Kristen said, she grabbed David's arm, "We should go."
"Really?" David asked disdainfully, "I mean all it is is basically a suped-up party with a bunch of people we don't know in fancy dress that nobody's comfortable in, only there to make out or beyond in the parking lot and hallways."
"Oh come on, there's so much more to it than that," Kristen said, "There's dancing, and music, and food, and dressing up is always fun, uncomfortable or not."
David raised an eyebrow. Kristen leaned her head on his shoulder. "Please?" she asked.
David heaved a sigh. "It's in less than two weeks. Do you have time to get ready?"
"Yes! Yes! Thank you! You're the best!" Kristen hugged him tightly while he rolled his eyes slightly. Kristen looked at Jonathan, Sam, and Petey, "Will you guys come?"
"Ha! That's a laugh, us getting dates," Sam said.
"You don't need a date to come to a dance," Kristen said.
"I bet I could find somebody!" Petey declared, smiling with determination, "Somebody nice, and warm, and gentle, and friendly, with a nice b--"
"Yeah okay, you do that, big guy," David said, looking slightly disturbed.
"Good for you, Petey," Kristen said, grinning, "What about you, Jonathan?"
Jonathan stared at her at a complete loss for words. Go to a dance only to revel in Kristen wrapped up in David's arms for an entire night? It was bad enough just seeing them holding hands at that moment. How could he even think about getting a date when Kristen was right there in front of him? But no. She was taken, and he was not going to interfere. Why did this have to happen to him?
"Stag actually sounds good," Sam said suddenly, nodding at the prospect, "Yeah, maybe I will go. Jonathan can come as my side-kick. Right?"
Sam looked at Jonathan expectantly. Jonathan snapped out of his misery and nodded maybe a little too enthusiastically. "Oh yeah! Sounds great!" he declared.
"Yay!" Kristen cried, "This will be so much fun!"
"Whoopee," David said with fake enthusiasm, then he looked at Kristen, "Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah. Let's go. See you guys, later!" She waved to her three friends as David led her away.
After they were gone, Petey turned to the other two. "I actually have a class in like ten minutes on the other side of campus, I should probably go too," he said, "See ya!"
They waved as Petey practically skipped off, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as he went. As soon as Petey was out of earshot, Sam turned to Jonathan, sternly. "Okay, what just happened back there?"
Jonathan wrinkled his brow. "What?"
"Everything! The laying in the snow, the not answering her question about the dance!"
Jonathan rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "What are you talking about? I just slipped and fell. You saw what happened. And when you slip and fall, you end up laying on the ground. What's the big deal?"
"Yeah, but not everyone stares into each other's eyes like they want to have them right there right now," Sam said.
"Excuse you. Even if that were true, I would never!" Jonathan said, frowning.
"Okay, so why didn't you answer her question about the dance?"
"I just didn't know how to answer, alright?" Jonathan answered, "I didn't know how to tell her that there was no girl out there that could interest me."
"Really? So it had nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that the girl you actually wanted to take was already taken?"
"No, Sam! I told you, there's no girl out there that could possibly interest me. The only girl that could ever interest me would have to be fun, and nice, and who cared about everybody, and who might be a little clumsy, but in a good way. She'd also be sweet, and funny, and eternally optimistic. And she would have the most beautiful eyes. The kind that... you could just get lost in... But you know what? She's not for me! Those girls have their own boyfriends already! Boyfriends who are complete jerk-wads! So there's nothing I can do and there's nothing out there to interest me!"
Sam just watched Jonathan as he ranted. Jonathan sighed and stared at the ground. "Has it been that obvious?" he asked quietly.
"Well, your face turns redder than a cherry every time you see her and you can never take your eyes off her," Sam replied, "I'd say it's pretty obvious."
Jonathan sighed once more. "Not to her though... And it's going to stay that way, alright?"
"But--"
"Alright?" Jonathan repeated firmly.
Sam hesitated before finally agreeing. "Alright."
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