Love Story - Part Seven

Before they realized what had happened, high school graduation was upon them. It felt as if the two friends had met the day before and the years passed in a whirlwind. She had a boyfriend, rich, charming and handsome and he admired her from up close. Every time she kissed someone else, he felt a pinch in his chest as if his heart would stop. But he desperately wanted to be near her and so wouldn't separate himself from the cause.

They had all been accepted to the same universities and planned on attending together. Her plan was working perfectly as they prepared all summer for the new challenge of college. She could barely contain her excitement on the first day they arrived. Her scholarship in tow and all her hopes and dreams resting in one spoiled brat boy who she would find unwilling in college. He just didn't seem to care about school as she did and it wasn't long into their freshman year when he dropped out and went home, causing a long distance relationship and a hardship she had not wished to endure.

Love Story - Part Six

Xander rushed to his room and immediately started working his magic. He secured her a scholarship. He got her a date and managed to find a way to send her some money anonymously for her dress. She would have the best prom money could buy and she would never even know it was from him. Why? He must be crazy! What could possibly make a young man do all this? Love was his answer. He was her admirer from afar and he would do almost anything for her. She didn't know how deeply his love ran, but she often took advantage of his willingness to do everything she asked.

And the night was brilliant.

Love Story - Part Five

Xander was disgusted with himself. He had spent four years helping his best friend shamelessly chase one guy after another. He couldn't believe he had sunk so low. All he knew was that he would do anything to see her happy. But all these games only made her more miserable. He had to do something.

As they sat in her room with their stack of envelopes looking through acceptance letters, he noticed that they all got into the same schools. Most were top of the Ivy league, but with the opening of each happy letter, her face turned more sad.

"How will I ever pay for these schools? I don't know if I can even get a scholarship. Half the ones I applied for turned me down and the other half barely cover the cost of books. I guess they figure I have money somehow." Adrianne was upset beyond consoling.

At that moment, Xander knew what he must do. She would never know about his gift to her, but it would be worth it to see her happy.

"I'm sorry - you must excuse me. I have some family business to attend to." And with that, he exited the room to put his plan in to action.

Love Story - Part Four

His name was Xander. She was becoming good friends with him. They sat next to one another at orientation. Most of their classes were the same. They found themselves spending immense amounts of time together, even if it was coincidental.

And for a while, she enjoyed his company. However, she was beginning to wonder if her socializing with one gentleman was hindering on her chances of finding her rich prince. It didn't matter. She liked him clearly as a friend. And spending time with him made this place less dismal. Adrianne never noticed the jeers coming from other people when he was with her. The whole world disappeared when he was by her side. He made her confident and vibrant and all the things she couldn't be without him.

So her plan to get herself a boyfriend seemed flawless. Adrianne would enlist the help of her new best friend in her plot to find a very wealthy, very intelligent significant other. After their freshman year had passed and again Xander and Adrianne found themselves unpacking their bags to return to school, she took the opportunity to explain her plan.

"Xander, you think everyone has a right to be happy?" she asked. Her tone was earnest.

He smiled at her. "Of course." His thick accent hardly seemed apparent to her. She was so used to it. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I've been thinking. We're sophomores now. We've had time to acclimate ourselves to our surroundings. We are permanent fixtures in the small community in which we exist. And I...well...um...I was wondering if you think it's too early for me to have a boyfriend?" She bit her lip nervously awaiting his answer.

Xander smiled inside and for a moment his heart leaped. He had been attracted to her since the first day he saw her. Although he didn't believe in love at first sight, she had been more than he could have dreamed. She was so down to Earth and honest. Most of all, he thought she was beautiful and intelligent. They had so much fun together. His heart skipped a beat and he hoped he wasn't blushing. He almost forgot her question. Then he regained his senses only long enough to answer.

"I don't see any problems with you deciding to have a boyfriend. If you want to get that serious with someone, I can see the benefits of it. I would love ....."

She was so excited, she cut him off mid-sentence. "So, you'll help me make Todd Sampson my boyfriend!!! You are truly the best friend I ever had!!!!"

Xander's hopes were crushed. Even though it pained him, he would truly do anything to make her happy. So he mustered up the energy to sound happy for her, but he didn't think he succeeded very well.

"Of course - we'll discuss the details later. I'm sure you have a plan. You always do." he replied.

She was so caught up in her excitement that she didn't notice the complete sadness in his eyes. Xander felt his heart ripped from his chest. Maybe he should have made a move in the "more than friends" direction when they were younger. All he knew now is that he had lost his chance.

Love Story - Part Three

So her motives weren't the most pure. Is that really all that mattered? As she huffed up another flight of stairs to her room, she wondered if she wasn't being petty. Then he caught her eye - the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. He ran his hand through his tender brown hair. His blue eyes were startling. She was smitten for the first time in a long time. But she had promised herself no crushes. They had only served to do exactly what they intended, crush her. She couldn't be smooshed on the floor and expect any guy to want her. So, she quickly looked away and ducked into her room, practically tripping over her bags in the attempt to hurry.

She seemed to catch some man's attention because she heard a deep, accented voice behind her.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She dared not look in case it was the gorgeous gentleman. She couldn't bare if she had made a fool of herself in front of such a sexy man.

"I'm fine - just a little clumsy. It runs in my family actually. We're all clumsy. Not that we've been so clumsy to need anything fixed with surgery or had any broken bones. Well, that's not true. I have had my tonsils out, but I guess that's not clumsiness that causes that. And my sister did break her finger once, but it was because her friend shut it in the car door. I'm not sure if that's clumsy or just absent-mindedness. Anyway, it really doesn't ...."

Her rant was cut short as she felt him take her hand. Her heart fluttered. He was a gentleman. At last, her dream may be coming true. She turned to look at him and was greeted by a complete surprise. This was not her dream man as she had assumed. This young man had an out of control hairdo, big, black-rimmed glasses and .... BRACES!!! Oh, if only she had looked first.

"Do you always talk that fast?" He asked.

"Only when I'm nervous. It's not easy being a scholarship student in a place like this. I'm just waiting to be made fun of." She replied.

"I hear you." He replied in his thick accent. "But I think that I have more cause for alarm than you. Look at me. I scream outcast. Please someone pick on me. Especially when only half the school can understand what you say."

She chuckled under her breath. He was funny. Perhaps he would make a good friend, at the least. Adrianne couldn't see herself settling for a scholarship student. It just couldn't be justified in her brain. She was bright and in her mind, deserved exactly what she had come here for. But nothing said she couldn't have a friend.

He helped her to her feet and assisted her with her bags. After she sat down on her bed, he took a spot at her desk chair. They talked and laughed for at least a few hours before parting, on the premise that she needed to unpack. Adrianne began to feel hopeful that this wasn't the worst place on the planet. She may just survive four years at this high school.

Love Story - Part Two

She felt the weight of her bags as she trudged up the steep stairs, one in each hand. If only she had a man in a black suit to assist her with all her trappings, maybe she could get to her room a little faster, settle in a little sooner and start school with a little more cheer. However, she was not one to fantasize about such things. She could not be led astray by such fantasies.

She had come to this school for two reasons. One was to get the best education she could afford with a little charity. This boarding school was known to filter into the best ivy league schools and these students got coveted scholarship spots, not that most of the students who went to this school needed a scholarship.

The second objective in choosing to attend this prestigious boarding school was to find a prestigious boyfriend with a lot of prestigious money. She figured that it wouldn't be long before she could find her way into this group of stuck up students. And even if she had to settle for the nerdy outcast or the quiet, shy one, she was going to make the best of what they had to offer. At the same time, this would improve her status and maybe, even if for a short time, she could live beyond what her current circumstances could never even allow her to dream.

Love Story - Part One

It was a brisk morning when they approached the front of the school. The large red brick building was almost dreary-looking against the grey sky. Adrianne could hardly believe she was there. She had worked so hard to get into the school and even harder to get the scholarship to pay for it. Even though her mother never wanted her to go, she never let her opinion sway her perseverance to achieve her dreams. This school was the portal to her future.
As she stood gaping at the tall oak doors, suitcases at the foot of the steps with her, something broke her entranced thoughts.

"Excuse me - you're totally in the way!" Said a voice behind her.

She turned to put a name to the character to which she was blocking. She was obviously not a scholarship student with her fresh off the runway designer shoes. Behind her was a man in a sleek black suit who was attempting to balance all of her various cases. Adrianne suddenly felt sorry that she had prolonged his torture. As she stepped out of the way, the girl looked her up and down and turned up her nose.

"I'm not sure why they ever decided to take on tacky charity cases." And with that, the rich girl swaggered up the stairs and into the building.