Two Weeks had passed since Sam had questioned my feelings for Ren.. It was now the Homecoming game and I sat in the stands with the marching band freezing and sweating at the same time... that's the amazing thing about marching band uniforms.... it doesn't matter if it's below the point which water freezes.... you are still going to sweat... intensely.
During the third quarter, my friend Paul walked up to me.
"Hey Jean."
"Hey Paul. What's up?"
"Not much. I was just wondering, have you gotten a date for the dance yet?" He asked.
"No," I answered, "Why?"
"Well neither have I. And since we both don't have dates, I was wondering if you'd be cool with going as friends?"
"Totally! Yeah that'd be really cool. I'm going to Elle and Meghan's house after the game, so say stop by tomorrow round six thirty?"
"Cool, see ya then Jean." He looked down and Mr. L was glaring up at him, "Guess I better get back to the trumpets... before L murders me." He laughed and got up to go back to his section. I'll admit that Paul wasn't my dream homecoming date, but seeing as neither Ren nor Nate had asked me yet and had both had plenty of opportunities, it was the best I would be doing.
After the game, we were back in the band room packing up and changing out of our uniforms, when Ren and Nate came up to me arguing. They both looked like they were in some sort of competition with each other.
"She's going to say yes to me, she doesn't even know you." Ren said to him. Nate pouted his lip and gave him a stern look and said,
"So you think."
"What are you two fighting about now? I swear you two fight more than good vs evil." I said to them.
"Will you go to homecoming with me?" they both said at the same time. They gave each other glares and started at the bickering again with,
"She'll pick me"
"She's gonna say yes to me." and other things like that. I looked back and forth between scared like I was watching a tennis match. With each comment from one, the other would get even angrier. I knew I had to stop this before it got violent. But what was I going to say? Sorry I can't go to homecoming with either of you because I'm going with Paul as friends? But I couldn't say yes to them because I couldn't back down on Paul. It would hurt him too much.
"No." I said. They stopped fighting and both looked at me.
"What?" Ren asked. Nate looked as though that's what he was about to say.
"I can't go with either of you." I continued, "I have," how was I to phrase this? "other plans." so I bent the truth a little. I wasn't lieing... I did have other plans. Other plans for going to the dance with someone else.
"Well then I guess I can get another date." Nate said. He walked away head held high, but I could tell he was upset. I looked to Ren. He looked like he was about to cry.
"Ren are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah Jean." He looked down, "I'm fine. What ever your other plans are, have fun." He turned around, "See ya Monday." I reached out to put my hand on his shoulder, but he started walking away before I reached him. I just stood there with my hand out for I don't know how long. I then realized something. The Berlin's and my family have always gone up to their lake every summer. This summer, Ren and I went to a karaoke club and we sang a duet. I then realized. Ren was Ruffled Romeo. I then realized, my best friend was in love with me.
Later that night at the Gilman's house, I sat on Eleanor's bed while Meghan, Eleanor, Carmen, Brooke and Brittney all talked about their homecoming experience thus far. It seemed as though they didn't even notice my quietness, until Brooke asked me a question and I didn't answer. Not because I didn't want to, I was just off in my own world. My own sad and depressed world, where I turned down a two guys in love with me to go on a date as friends.
"Jeanette, are you okay?" Brooke asked me as she sat down next to me. I came to, and saw that the other girls had all joined around me like it was story time and we were in kindergarten.
"What's wrong Hun?" Carmen asked, placing her hand on my knee. I looked around at them and started to cry.
"Ren and Nate both asked me to homecoming." I sobbed and put my head in my knees as I pulled them to my body. I felt Brooke put her arms around me and all of them started simultaneously saying how great that was, and asking which one I'm going with.
"I'm not going with them." I said. They all looked at me confused. I lifted my head and dried my tears on my shirt sleeve. "I told Paul that we could go as friends. And I can't back down on that."
"Well what did they say when you told them that?" Brittney asked.
"I didn't tell them that. I said I had other plans." I put my head back in my knees and started crying again. All of the girls got on the bed and surrounded me telling me that everything was going to be okay and that Ren and Nate would both forgive me.
The Next day around six thirty the Gilman's door bell rang. Mrs. Gilman opened the door and Paul turned to her.
"You must be Paul." She said. She was a tiny woman with long dark hair like what Eleanor's would look like if she let it grow out. "Come in. The rest of the boys are waiting in the living room." She lead him into the living room where five other boys and Mr. Gilman were sitting. Mr. Gilman was an older man with a mustache and a brown hat that he always wore. At the current moment his eyes were fixed upon Zack Mackavoy and Trevor Christian who were nervously sitting on the couch and both his daughters dates. Paul sat down next to Trevor and put his hands in his lap. They all sat there for a few minutes before Zack got up the nerve to speak.
"Nice weather we're having... and... um... how bout them Lions?" he said to Mr. Gilman,
"I hate football." Mr. Gilman said never taking his eyes off the two boys.
"Oh me too." Trevor agreed quickly trying to get on his good side. Paul let out a cough and cleared his throat as if to say something of importance when Meaghan came down the stairs followed by the rest of us.
"We're ready!" she said. Instantly, Mr. Gilman's expression changed and his attention gravitated to his daughters.
"You look beautiful Meghan dear." he said. "You too Ellie." The twins smiled and giggled.
"Thanks daddy!" they said in unison. We then proceeded to take some pictures and headed of to the dance.
After the dance, Paul walked me back to my dorm and I explained the whole story about Ren and Nate.
"You could have told me you wanted to go with them Jean. I really wouldn't have minded." he reassured me.
"I know, but I would have felt bad if I had. Besides, it's their faults for not asking me sooner." I looked down. We had arrived at my door. Paul put his hand on my shoulder.
"You don't mean that." he said. I looked up at him he wasn't smiling anymore. "Jeanette, I know how you feel about both of them. They've both made it pretty obvious that the feel the same way."
"What are you getting at Paul?"
"Just think about it Jean. That's all, just make sure you're making the right choice before you make it." He hugged me and walked away. When he was about ten feet away he turned around and said, "I'll see ya in band on Monday!" I shook my head and put the key in the door. He was right. I was going to have a choice to make. I couldn't have both Ren and Nate. I was going to have to chose between them. I took off my dress and hung it up in the closet. On the one hand there was Nate, The Hot Italian rock star of my dreams. He was amazing eye candy and could easily be amazing arm candy too. I put on my PJ's and brushed my teeth. On the other hand there was Ren, my gorgeous best friend who has always been there for me through thick and thin. I turned off the light, even though I knew Eleanor would turn it on when she came in... if she came in. I knew I couldn't have both, even if I wanted both. I hopped into bed and put my glasses on the bedside table. I was going to have to chose between the two loves of my life. But not tonight. No, tonight I was going to dream. Dream about a perfect world were I didn't have to chose. A perfect world were I could be completely happy.
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