Princess Janine goes on a date

Friday 10 October 2008

Brett is a guy in my History class who sits almost behind me, kind of over one row, but we never talk in class because the teacher hates it. So the only time he has ever said anything to me is in the hallways, or for a few minutes before class starts, which is not long because I come all the way from German and we're all usually rushing to get out of her class and get on to where we have to be next.

Anyway we had to work in groups the other day in History and Brett ended up in the same group as me and so we were able to talk more directly, although only about the Spanish-American War, and met eyes. He has very pretty eyes for a guy, bright blue with long lashes like Zac Ephron's (okay, I should not say that). And he wears his hair a little longer than most guys I have seen here, which is also good. And he is taller than me, of course, but not too tall. And-- as I happen to get from overhearing him, actually, he is older than me, by about a month. Which is also good.

On Thursday afternoon he caught up with me after school, which is not that hard to do as I usually hang around the front hall gabbing with other people and Roger knows to not come till the buses have already gone. I was quite stunned to realise he was actually asking me out... for a DATE.

'I know it's not much, just a movie, but it's something to do. So, if I can pick you up around seven....'

'That sounds nice,' I said then. --playing the modest little twit, you know.

We settled the issue of how he could find my house and we separated for last period. In the car on the way home I told Jessy everything. She was quietly impressed with my good fortune and offered to help do my hair. We put it up, mostly, and pulled down two strands on the sides like we usually do with it, but I made a face in the mirror at myself, so she pulled it off to one side and just let the other side have the loose strand which looked more interesting. It was a casual set which meant I could pull on my charcoal-grey sweatshirt over my head. I wore that over a black tanktop with my black twill skirt and navy tights and black pumps with 2" heels-- 5'7"... not too tall for Brett. Also I brought my glasses for the movie in my little black purse. Fortunately he's already seen me wearing them.

Brett arrived at about three minutes before seven and Mother made me open the door. Then there was the awkward moment when everyone had to be introduced, including Lisa who stared up at this nice-looking young man in this house like he was one of the Jonas Brothers. Daddy was up stairs giving J.J. his bath but Jessy hurried up to take over for him for, as Mother said, it is the daddy's prerogative to approve of the daughter's date. I blushed. But Daddy is very easy-going and Brett is very sensible and they talked for a few moments and seemed to accept each other.

Brett seated me in the car as a gentleman should for a lady. I felt very flattered and even unworthy. I have not been on many first dates at all-- I saw Henry somewhat steadily over my second and last year at HOH and before that I only really hung out with people as part of a crowd. I think maybe three times boys came to the house in Norwich to see me... or sometimes Jessy. Before that we were home-schooled in Lewes and met almost no guys at all. The issue of me going off with someone not related to me whom my parents scarcely know has been pretty much nonexistent till now.

Brett is a good driver and his 200SX is kind of old but well-kept. I put on my seatbelt and kept my knees together and watched him shift gears. Even watching Daddy or Mother do it, that is always something that impresses me.

At the theater he stayed a little behind me as a gentleman is supposed to do and stayed standing till I had sat in the row first. As a movie, 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' has the ability to make you question your own existence-- I don't mean it's existential. I mean it's so bad you want to just kill yourself. But being intelligent we both made fun of it and had a pretty good time laughing at either the movie's banality or what we said about it. The place was about two-thirds full-- Chincoteague is never busy at this time of year-- with most of the people our age and younger, with the odd parent into the bargain.

Afterwards we drove up to McDonald's and had hot-fudge ice-cream sundaes. I made a stupid comment about 'watching my figure', the kind of thing any girl says just to alleviate the awkwardness of going out on a lovely date with a really nice guy and then wanting to pig out on sugar-covered milk fat, but it led him to comment on my comment which I really did not need at all. 'At least it's worth watching,' he said. And I blushed (like a stupid twit). How could he watch anything? --I was in a floppy sweatshirt.

When we got home we sat in the car in front of the house and talked-- honestly, that was all, about school and Jessy and me going to HOH and his family's business (feed and supplies-- they sell to Perdue-- enough said). Just after 11.00 we walked up to the door. I made sure there were no curious eyes peeking out from between the curtains anywhere before I leaned in and accepted his kiss-- on the cheek, because that is where he was going with it on his own. That flattered me. A guy is usually willing to kiss you anywhere really, but there's always the suggestion that it's all in code-- if it's on the cheek, does that mean he's showing respect at the beginning of something that might develop, or is it the end of something and you shouldn't get your hopes up, or are you just a sister to him; and if it's on the neck that means something totally different, but if it's on the lips is he just being romantic or taking advantage of a situation that he knows will never repeat itself; and at what point is it all just a test of you for him to see if you pass his expectations? And could a girl develop an ulcer from all this?

Dear Brett, if you are reading.... Well first I hope you're not! --because there's so much in here that will embarrass me! But tender me gently, good cavalier-- you deserve only the best in a lady and I am all too aware of the challenge I have to accept.

And, Brett's friends, if you read this, notice I pass no judgements on him-- I would never 'kiss and tell', but to say that our much-admired gentleman is every bit what we want to believe he is, and all the more to be admired.

And, dear blog-readers, your Princess Janine may be too open and too trusting, but, as you already know too well, she is ever a lady (even if she does want a date to the Homecoming dance... hint, hint, HINT).

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