text: [Themes: love & dating]
  
  "No, not today. Maybe tomorrow," I say to myself it just started to snow and I don't have my skates with me.
  
  I continue my walk my home among the streets, pretty empty at this time. A few people only walking here, going home from work or going gift shopping. Now back to my problem, I still don't have a date to the Winter Dance and by far I don't know who to ask.
  
  "Bah," I say annoyed, but the Dance isn't until next Friday so I have some time before that to find a date, if any.
  
  My apartment isn't much farther now, just over the crosswalk, down the street and around the corner...speaking of which.
  
  > walk over the crosswalk.
  No hurry in running, especially during winter. I slowly walk over the crosswalk, when I see a trucking sliding towards me, out of control, headed towards ME! I start to run, time seems to go slower; the truck closing on me.
  
  Oh no....I'm not gonna make it......Then somebody slams into me pushing us both outta the trucks way. I slam hard onto the other side, breathing heavily...and still alive.
  
  > Unexpected savior
  I stand up dusting my self and picking up my umbrella; my savior doing the same, a girl and it's...RACHEL...my best friend and schoolmate!
  
  "Damn Alice! You trying to get yourself killed?!" she asks looking a bit angry and worried
  
  "No Rachel," I reply to Rachel. "I was just walking over the crosswalk, I didn't even see..or hear the truck coming."
  
  "Yeah because there wasn't anyone on the crosswalk, except you!" she says shaking her head. "Damn, you really scared me."
  
  "Sorry Rachel, thanks for saving me," I say giving her a hug.
  
  "Y.yeah..okay," she replies squeezing back.
  
  "You want to head to my place?" I ask breaking the hug.
  
  "Sure, I got nothing today anyway. Was heading home myself before you showed up," she replies and we start to head towards my home.
  
  > Continue
  I unlock the door to my apartment, hanging my coat on the rack, Rachel's black coat too.
  
  "Oh boy, after that I could use some tea to calm the nerves. How about you Rachel?" I ask her, removing my sweater.
  
  "Huh? Oh..yeah sure," she replies stuttering a bit.
  
  I heat some water and mix two cups with some leaves; making some green tea, calming and sweet.
  
  I give one to Rachel, then sit down in the kitchen and start to drink my own tea. She sits down opposite of me, her tea still in her hands; also her face seeming pale and her hands shaking.
  
  "Why didn't you see the truck coming Alice?" she asks taking a sip of her tea.
  
  I raise an eyebrow to her question, then shrug it off. "I was thinking about something during that time."
  
  "About what?"
  
  "The Winter Dance Night..I..haven't found a date yet...you?"
  
  "Me? No I haven't found a date either."
  
  "Interesting," I say sipping my tea.
  
  "Interesting is that you almost got killed Alice," says Rachel in a slightly angrier tone.
  
  "Well you saved me and I'm still here." I reply looking into her eyes.
  
  "I did, but what if I hadn't been there? Then what would have happened? You need to be more careful Alice!"
  
  "I will, what's the big problem Rachel?" I ask getting confused about Rachel's tone.
  
  "The problem is you have others who care about you and you can't throw you're live away!" says Rachel, practically yelling.
  
  "I'm not throwing my life away...geez it was this one time!" I yell standing up.
  
  "I'm your friend Alice, your friend, best friend and..." she says stopping mid-sentence.
  
  "Your what?! IT'S MY LIVE! What gives you the right to tell me what to do or not?"
  
  "DAMN IT ALICE, I LOVE YOU!" she yells, throwing her cup on the floor. "I...love..you," she says collapsing on the floor sobbing.
  
  "What? Love me? What does she mean?" I think, my anger gone. I walk over the Rachel crouching so were the same height.
  
  "What do you mean you love me?" I ask wrapping my hands around her.
  
  "Love-love, Alice. I've..had these feelings...but I didn't know how would react you...so I've tried to be the best friend I could be...but when I saw you...almost getting hit by the truck..my heart shattered....to know that I could have lost you, before I could tell you how I feel."
  
  "Guess that's why you're not very talkative towards boys or dating any?"
  
  ".....Guess....so," says Rachel, teary-eyed.
  
  I guess that's why Rachel's always so caring, sweet and playful. I wonder if it would be bad if I was with Rachel...guess not if I'm planning to do this.
  
  I lean in kissing Rachel on the cheek.
  
  "Did..you..just?" she asks, shocked and stopped crying.
  
  "Yeah...I guess you're not the only one....who isn't social around boys...guess we know why."
  
  Rachel immediately goes from gloomy to sunny, grabbing me by my shirt and pulling me into a deep, raw kiss on the lips.
  
  "Woah..slow down Cassandra," I say breaking the kiss.
  
  "Sorry," she replies blushing. "Sorry about your cup."
  
  "It's okay," I say, grabbing a brush to clean it up.
  
  "I wonder how would the other students react to this? Or how would they find out?"
  
  "Oh..I got an idea, if you're willing to go along," I say, a mischievous smile on my face.
  
  > ....
  We arrive at the dance about twenty minutes after it has started, by car. Rachel wearing a black dress, her hair loose. My dress a violet-bluish one, my hair also loose.
  
  "So you're ready for this?" I ask her, stepping outta the car.
  
  "Definitely, especially the look on Jack's and Steve's face," she replies locking the car.
  
  "What you don't like them?"
  
  "Yeah, their liking is equal to getting hit by snow; both are just so...childish."
  
  "Speaking of which, there they are," I say, Jack and Steve sitting outside, laughing and drinking punch.
  
  "OH HEY! Look it's Alice and Rachel. Where are you're dates ladies?" asks Jack.
  
  "Yeah, shouldn't you bring be with a date on these occasions...if you need any me and Jack here would oblige," says Steve giggling like a baboon.
  
  "Oh don't worry, my dates closer than you think," I reply a grin on my face.
  
  "Mine too, if you wanna know who? Then come inside, you'll find out who it is during the dance," replies Rachel grinning.
  
  "Alright," replies Jack raising his hands up, "I gotta see the dudes, who asked you two..so I can win you from them."
  
  "Good luck!" I reply entering with Rachel, Jack and Steve behind me.
  
  We enter the Dance, loud music banging, many boys and girls dancing like crazy, some together, some alone. Soon the song ends, with the guitarist coming up to the mic.
  
  "Alright, thank y'all, this next song is for couples only; so if you're single, buzz off," he says going back to his guitar. Some people start to leave; mostly guys with a few girls also leaving the dance floor. The rest start to dance to a slow lovely melody, performed by the band.
  
  "So where are your dates..shouldn't they ask you to dance?" asks Jack a goofy smile on his face.
  
  "Why yes, I suppose you're right. Dear Rachel, care to dance? I ask Rachel, offering my hand out.
  
  "Why yes, my dear Alice. I would love to dance," she replies taking my hand.
  
  We settle into a steady rhythm, her hands on my shoulders, my hands on her waist.
  
  "DUDE?!" I hear Jack say.
  
  "I know, what the..." replies Steve to him.
  
  The song lasts for seven more minutes, me and Rachel twirling and spinning through the crowd, getting some confused looks by some of the other couples dancing.
  
  As soon as the song ends me and Rachel kiss passionately, ending any doubts that were faking this.
  
  > Ending - Rachel
  "Hey Alice, you've been waiting for me?" asks Rachel coming outta school.
  
  "Yeah kinda....my class ended ten minutes earlier so, I thought I'd wait for you so we can go get some lunch together."
  
  "Staying outta trouble?" asks Rachel a grin on her face.
  
  "Yeah..no car crashes or bricks have fallen onto me," I reply smiling.
  
  "Ok..now you're teasing me," says Rachel giving me a slight slap on my hand.
  
  "No..this is teasing," I say pulling Rachel into a deep kiss.
  
  Fin