It was early March when I first laid eyes on Joshua Dean. He walked into my algebra class as a new student, pale and slender with a mop of styled brown hair that was neatly trimmed. I remember catching my breath when he turned from the teacher to face the class and take his seat, as he had the most wondrous blue eyes that reminded me of the way ice looks at night. He was beautiful, I thought, with an ease to his movements that betrayed a quiet confidence. I remembered to breathe after Joshua sat down in his assigned desk, to the side of me and two rows over. For the rest of class I remember trying to hide my subtle glances towards him behind the length of my dark hair, which fell just past the shoulder. It was hard to look away from him, and I'm sure I learned nothing of algebra for the next forty-five minutes.
During lunch that same day I learned from the rumor mill that Joshua's family had just moved from the east coast, from somewhere in upstate New York. It wasn't hard, all the girls were talking about him, and gossip traveled fast in our small Minnesota town. As my friends were discussing the 'gorgeous new boy' I spotted him, sitting at one of the lunch tables alone. It must be hard, I thought, to arrive at a new school with only three months left in the school year and not know a soul. I noticed he had a tray of food but only picked at it with his fingers, never actually eating.
"Em." I heard my friend Sarah, say. All my friends call me that, short for Emily.
"Huh?" I replied, suddenly distracted from staring at Joshua.
"Are you even listening to me? I asked you if Rob has asked you to prom yet. It's just over a month away."
"Oh, um, no, not yet. I heard from his sister that he wanted to ask Justine, so..."
"Oh my god." Sarah sighed. "Justine is such a slut."
I mumbled some sort of agreement as Sarah went back to gossiping with the others at the table. I'd had a crush on Rob Snyder for the better part of the school year, but I knew he'd never ask me to prom. I was sure I wasn't pretty enough for him, with my pasty Norwegian skin and lanky frame. I never tanned, only burned, and my mother often joked that I was all elbows, knees, and sharp angles. But now, now Rob Snyder was the furthest thing from my mind; my crush on him ended the moment Joshua Dean walked into my algebra class. Later that day I found out he was in my biology class as well. Great. Like I didn't have a hard enough time concentrating on bio already.
~ ~
March in Minnesota is somewhat miserable, as it's our snowiest month. Heavy wet snow that clings to everything; a dreary grey cloud cover is nearly constant. I remember the first sunny day we'd had in a while because Joshua didn't come to school that day. I figured he'd ditched to do something better in the nice weather, but I was disappointed. I'd made a habit of watching him, both in class as well as when he'd sit by his lonesome at lunch. The other girls had quickly forgotten him as it was clear that Joshua preferred to be alone, with no attempts to make friends. A couple of girls had asked him out but he refused their advances; they now joked that he was either gay or a prude, but I still couldn't stop staring at his beautiful face whenever I saw him.
The clouds returned the next day and so did Joshua. As chance would have it, both of our biology partners were out sick and the teacher told Joshua and I to sit together for the day's lab project. It was bad enough that we were dissecting a worm, which was totally disgusting, but I was now panicked. What would I say to him? I desperately wanted to make a good impression.
"Hello." Joshua said as I nervously sat next to him at his lab table. My breath failed me. His voice, even in just that one word, was so melodic. I clumsily almost slipped off the front of the chair, but I felt Joshua's hand suddenly grab my bicep and prevent me from flopping to the floor on my butt. I was surprised, because his skin felt so cold.
I regained my seat, and my composure, as best I could. "Um, hi." I said back. "Thanks."
"My name is Joshua." he said, sliding the tray with the gross little worm in it closer to us.
"I'm Emily. But you can just call me Em."
"Yes, I know who you are. I've seen you watching me these past days."
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. Oh my god. I was so embarrassed. I tried to hide it by tilting my head and letting my long hair cover my face somewhat.
He must have noticed me blushing, because he issued me the most charming little grin. "It's okay. I don't mind, really. I've enjoyed your attentions. Do you want to make the incision, or should I?"
I blinked, completely flustered. "What?"
Joshua indicated the worm tray with a slender finger. "I think we're supposed to locate certain organs."
I looked at the dead worm. "Oh, yeah. You go ahead. I'm sort of...squeamish."
He took the scalpel and began cutting easily. "You don't have a boyfriend, do you." he asked, though it came out as a statement.
"No, why?" I asked, still embarrassed that he had noticed me looking at him since his arrival. I figured he took me for a total goon.
"Because I've noticed you don't really spend any time with one particular boy."
"Have you been watching me too?" I asked, slightly defensive.
That charming little grin returned to his face, "Maybe."
I made the mistake of looking down at the worm's guts and quickly looked away. Joshua's face seemed the better option, and he was looking right back. I was afraid I'd melt into a puddle of goo right in my chair.
"Um, no. No, I don't have a boyfriend." I managed to murmur.
"That's good. Would you like to go to the prom with me?" He asked the question without even a twinge of doubt in his voice or expression. He was so confident....
I swallowed. It was all I could manage to do.
One of his dark tapered eyebrows lifted. "Are you okay, Emily? Is it the worm?"
"The worm?" I asked. I had completely forgotten even where I even was. This boy, this most beautiful of boys, had just asked me to the prom. The last thing on my mind was some cut-open worm! "Oh, no. I mean. I'm fine. And please, just call me 'Em'."
"I prefer your full name." he stated simply.
