

Alexia-------------------------------------------Jake
June 1996AlexiaAlexia smoothed out her dress, looking herself up and down in the mirror. Her fourteen year old self looked back at her through her magnifying glasses, behind which lay those beautiful purple eyes. Her hair was newly washed, the blonde curls smelling of coconut extracts. The dress she wore was picked out for her by her mother: a dark blue piece that was knee length with small sequins lining the bottom. She leaned towards the mirror, pulling a face so she could inspect her make-up. For her first time, she hadn't done that bad of a job, if she must say so herself. She wasn't one for make-up or skirts. She still had her tom-boy traits that she had when she was in primary school.
There was only one person on her mind tonight: Jake. Since he had moved to a different school when they reached the end of the year that they were seven, they had still remained good friends. She thought of his golden eyes, and grinned to herself, her braces catching on the light. She ran her hands over her hair once again, looking herself up and down for what must have been the twentieth time that hour, nodded at herself, and then headed for the door where her friend was waiting for her.
School socials. Possibly
the most awkward social event of everyones life. Alexia was sitting at a table with guys that she did not know. Girls on one side, boys on the other. Despite chatting with the girls next to her, it did bug her that Jake was in her direct line of site. She bit her lip, and tried to concentrate on the conversation, but kept on stealing glances at the back of his neck.
The meal seemed to last for ages, and it was finally time to dance. Alexia made a bee-line straight for Jake, trying to walk with as much glamour as possible in her two inch high heels.
"Jake!" She exclaimed, as if she didn't know he was here. "How are you?"
"I'm good." Jake replied with a sheepish grin. He voice had broken, and he was a head taller than Alexia who was begining to show the signs of adulthood herself. Alexia smiled warmly, and then grabbed his hand and pulled him to the center of the dancefloor, yelling over the music, "come on, lets dance!" The two of them danced awkwardly, until a slow song came on. Somehow, she had her arms around his neck, and he had his arms around her waist.
This is perfect! He's going to kiss me, I know it! It will be a perfect first kiss! Alexia thought to herself, biting her lip to contain her excitement.
"Um, Alexia?"Jake said in her ear over the music.
"Yes Jake?" Alexia replied, already having a picture in her mind of the two of them kissing on the dancefloor as fireworks went off outside.
"Its good that we're still friends, isn't it? We're like siblings, aren't we?" Jake asked.
It took a few seconds for Alexia to reply. The perfect image of the perfect kiss with the perfect guy shattered. "Yeah, you're like my brother" she replied. The loudness of the music drowned out how disappointed she sounded, but she unwrapped her arms from around him. "Yeah, just friends" she said with a smile. "I'm just going to go to the bathroom" she said, thinking of the excuse on the spot. She squeezed her way out of the crowd of dancing couples, and went straight for the door.
The fresh air seemed to cleanse her mind. Siblings.
Siblings. That was all. He would only ever see her as his sister. Something wet dripped down Alexia's cheek, and she wiped the tear away with the back of her hand.
Just friends.