The Nature of Asking Questions

It was a Saturday night about two weeks later, and I was at a party with Krissy, Tim, Bethany, and Jason. The party was at Marissa's house, and it seemed that nearly every member of the senior class was there...and then some. Krissy and I stood next to the bar, although we were not drinking anything. Tim was off dancing with Bethany.

Curious, I asked Krissy, "Are they a couple?"

Krissy snorted. "No. I asked Bethany about that earlier. She said they were just friends."

"Why do you want to know?" inquired Jason, who was still standing with us.

I frowned at his implication. "Simple curiosity excuses any question," I answered.

Jason smiled. "If that's true then I could ask you anything I wanted without fear of repercussion if my questions got a little . . . personal."

Krissy asked, "And why would you ask Janey personal questions, Jason?"

"Oh, no, I wouldn't. I'm just saying, Janey, that curiosity isn't likely to be the motive in asking a question like that."

"Are you trying to ask if I like Timothy?" I asked, my eyebrows raised in incredulity.

"It's a good enough question. You two always hang out together," he replied politely.

"Well, I'll just assume you are simply curious about us, and I'll answer you truthfully. I just like Timothy as a friend."

"Are you sure?" asked Krissy.

"Krissy! You know who I like! How could you ask me that?"

She shrugged it off, then asked, "So then, have you seen him anywhere tonight?"

I hadn't spoken properly to Daniel in the past two weeks...since the last night we worked together. I hadn't seen him outside class, and in class, we simply didn't interact. And all that evening, I had been trying to keep my stomach from flip-flopping as I nervously and surreptitiously scanned the party for Daniel.

"No, but he's bound to show up. His 'girlfriend' wouldn't miss a party this big, especially when it is held at her best friend's house. He goes where she goes . . ." I cringed at the thought.

"Who?" asked Jason.

Just then, Timothy and Bethany reappeared, looking flushed.

"I need a drink," Bethany said breathily.

Timothy grinned at us and said, "I'm still up for dancing. Anyone . . . ?" He reached for my hand and said, "Come on, Janey. Let's dance."

A rowdy, exciting song was playing: "Riot" by Three Days Grace. "Sure!" I said and let him lead me out into the throng of teenagers in various states of sobriety, dancing and jumping up and down to the song.

Timothy and I danced for nearly an hour before finally paying heed to our bodies' demands for rest and refreshment. The truth was, I really loved to dance. Timothy had some pretty slick moves, and he was just so much fun!

When we found some room to sit down at a kitchen table, we looked around for our friends, not seeing any of them. Still a little sweaty and breathless, I said, "That was fun, Timothy."

He looked at me and smiled. "You're killer on the dance floor, Janey."

Suddenly, I felt a little uncomfortable. I remembered what Jason had implied, and for the first time, wondered if it could be true.

Timothy paused, frowning. Then he leaned in towards me and said thoughtfully, "Janey, I wonder if we should go to Homecoming together?"

He sounded strangely disconcerted, which was how I felt. "Do you . . . ? Um, are we . . . ? Um . . ." I stumbled.

Timothy sat back and sighed. He answered the question I couldn't manage to get out, "I don't know honestly. We always hang out together, and it is always a good time . . . I'd just never really thought about it until now, you know?"

"Timothy, neither have I. I was wondering if there was anything between us just now, but only because of something Jason said. I've never really considered it either."

He nodded. "Yeah, Bethany said something to me too. But, I think we're simply good friends who like to hang out. Nothing wrong with that, right?"

"Definitely not!" I grinned. "What is it with everyone wanting to assume that there are always romantic feelings in every relationship?"

"I don't know. They're obsessed!" he said as he laughed. "So, Janey, do you have anyone in mind who you want to go to Homecoming with?"

"No, there's no one," I replied honestly. Daniel was taken, so that leaves . . . no one!

Timothy leaned in again and said, "Janey, I think we should seriously consider going to Homecoming together. We know we're just friends, but we'd have plenty of fun dancing and hanging out watching the dramatic and sordid affairs of our classmates. There's no one I really want to go with either, and really, I don't want to ask someone just for the sake of having a date. She might expect more than I'm willing to give right now."

"Timothy! You are a life saver! I thought I was going to have to go as the pathetic new girl who couldn't get a date!" I exclaimed, giving him a quick hug.

At that moment, Jason wandered over to us and sat down. "Hey, where've you two been?"

"Just dancing," I replied.

Jason snorted. "This party is getting boring."

"Well, where's Krissy?" I asked.

"Oh, she left about an hour ago. She said she was feeling sick. Bethany took her home."

Poor Krissy, I thought. I'll have to give her a call first thing tomorrow to see if she's okay.

Timothy, Jason, and I chatted for a short while longer before deciding the party really was a little boring. We walked across the semi-crowded living room towards the front door. Suddenly, some girl whom I vaguely recognized from the school hallways staggered into me as she was laughing with one of her friends. I tripped on the edge of a coffee table, lost my balance, and tumbled to the floor. Jason reached down, grabbing my hand to pull me up, while Timothy said, "Hey, Amanda, watch out!"

"Sorry," she said vaguely and dispassionately as she and her giggling girlfriend plopped down onto a couch. My eyes followed their movements, then noticed a third giggling girl on the sofa of the adjoining side of the coffee table. Karina. Sitting with Daniel. Sitting on Daniel. My stomach turned over on itself, seeing him there, gorgeous as always. He shifted where he sat...Karina was sitting sideways on his lap, an arm swung around his neck.

"Janey, you are always so clumsy!" Karina said as if trying to explain something obvious to someone not bright enough to understand. "Do be more careful!" she said, laughing.

Jason still had me by the hand, and he tugged on my arm slightly, saying, "Come on, Janey. Let's go."

---

Sunday morning, I woke up and ate a hot breakfast with my mom and dad. We always had breakfast together on Sundays. My dad was at work every other morning, and I had school, so this was, and always had been, a special family time. I smiled, realizing that not everything in my life had changed completely.

Afterwards, I picked up the phone and called Krissy. She answered, sounding groggy.

"How are you feeling, Krissy? I heard you felt sick last night?" I asked out of friendly concern.

"Oh, I am okay now. Just tired," she answered, yawning.

"So are you feeling better then? I missed you last night!" I said.

"I'm fine now, like I said," she answered tersely. Then more politely, "Sorry, Janey. I just didn't sleep well. So, uh, did you have fun at the party?"

"It was okay," I said, not wanting Krissy to feel like she had to miss out on anything spectacular. "Timothy and I just danced for awhile, then sat around chatting with Jason."

"Oh," replied Krissy. Then she added, "Well, did you see Daniel there?"

I laughed. "Yeah, I did. It was horrible, but I don't really care."

"Huh? What happened?" she asked avidly.

"Some girl bumped into me and made me trip and fall...right in front of Daniel and Karina!" I explained.

Krissy gasped. She asked, "Are you okay? That must have made you really embarrassed!"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I got over it pretty quickly. Karina tried to laugh at me, but I just ignored her and left with Jason and Timothy."

"That's not like you," she remarked teasingly. "You should have put Karina in her place."

I laughed again. "Trust me, that would be good fun. I just don't want to get into it with her, especially with Daniel right there. I don't want them to think I'm still all hurt by them being together."

"Hmmm," sighed Krissy. "So what about Daniel?"

"What about Daniel?" I asked, confused.

"Did he look at you in any way, or did he say anything?"

"He didn't say anything. I don't think he was looking at me in any way at all, but I'm not sure, because I didn't keep looking at him," I answered.

"So, you stayed calm and you don't care that it happened . . . I think you may actually be getting over him!" Krissy exclaimed. Then, dramatically, in a sort of stage whisper, she asked, "Is there someone else you like instead?"

I rolled my eyes, thankful that Krissy could not see. "No and no! I don't like anyone else. And I'm not over him at all. I just didn't want to keep looking at him because I would have fallen apart and done or said something really embarrassing." I sighed. "He looked stunning, as always!" I continued, "I think I've just realized that I can't have him, so I'm going to do my best not to fret over him. Hopefully, I'll get over him eventually . . . Uh, that is, as long as I don't have to look at him!"

Krissy chuckled. "Too bad that won't be easy to do! Well, I got to go. See you at school tomorrow."

"Alright. Bye," I said.

---

The next week at school, I continued to settle in and get used to my new life here. The teachers had well-established their routines, we followed their expectations (well, most of us anyway), did homework, and took tests. I still felt uncomfortable at times, being new to a school where all the students had known each other for years. However, I felt at ease with the friends I had made so far.

At lunch, sitting, as always, with Krissy, Tim, Bethany, Jason, Chris, and Anna, I discovered that no one seemed to be able to discuss anything other than Homecoming. Tim, at least, preferred to talk about the upcoming game, but after reassurances that our school would win the Homecoming football game, the conversation always turned back to the dance...and who was going with who.

Chris and Anna told us they were going to go together as they gave each other a shy smile and tentatively slipped their hands into each other's. Krissy and Bethany resolutely, and almost mournfully, declared themselves dateless. Just then, Timothy excused himself to go purchase an extra drink, and the conversation about the dance came to a halt.

When the bell rang, my friends headed to their respective classes. I had no more today since it was an "A" day. I would have enough time to go home, relax for a little while, change, and then go to work. As I made my way out of the cafeteria, Jason caught up to me. I looked at him quizzically because I knew he had a class to get to.

"Hey, Janey," he said, walking astride me. "I know I've got a class, but I only see you at lunch when all our friends are around." He rambled on, "So I just wanted to talk to you real quick..."

"Uh, Jason..." I began.

"Janey, I was hoping you'd go to Homecoming with me," he said rather quickly. If I hadn't already been suspicious of why he wanted to talk to me, I might not have even understood his question.

"Oh, no, I can't," I said apologetically. "I'm sorry..."

"Nevermind," he said tersely, frowning and turning around to begin walking down the hall the other way.

"Wait, Jason!" He didn't even let me explain that I already had a date!

He turned and called back to me, "Forget about it. It's alright. I'll talk to you, um, later then?"

"Yeah . . . I guess," I said, my voice trailing off because he had already disappeared into the throng of bustling students.

I made my way outside to my car. Jason! I definitely had some things to think about!

---

The next day at school was a rather interesting one. In Theatre, we were once again performing the same scenes for our classmates, this time with blocking and without scripts.

We finished early, and the class sat in clustered groups all over the stage, chatting with each other until the bell rang. I was talking to Chris about how he and Anna had figured out they liked each other. Unfortunately, I was sitting very near the unevadable trio: Daniel, Karina, and Zacharias. I could hear every word they were saying, although I tried to make myself block it out.

"And then she said she still had no date for the dance . . ." Chris was saying.

"Oh, I'm not worried," Zacharias was saying to Daniel and Karina. "There's plenty of girls without dates yet. I just have to ask someone."

Helplessly, I looked over and watched them. Daniel had his fingers interlaced with Karina's. She was looking smug, like she always did when Daniel showed her affection. Daniel was grinning at Zacharias in that mischievous, teasing way that I had seen too many times and had found to be terribly tantalizing.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Daniel asked, laughing.

"Oh, I don't know. All I have to do is ask, and any girl would say yes, even if she already had a date," he said with his eyebrows raised.

The arrogant bastard. I snorted in derision.

Three heads swiveled in my direction. Karina's eyes gloated as she met mine, her finger's tightening around Daniel's hand. Daniel looked at me blankly, but then I looked at Zach, who still had an eyebrow raised and was wearing a smirk.

He cajoled, "Hey, Janey, need a date?"

I laughed outright. "With you? No thanks!"

His eyes flashed at my insult, but he grinned anyway. "So much for charity," he snickered. "Are you going to stay at home, sobbing into your pillow because you can't go with Daniel?" He crossed his arms and his smirk reappeared.

I shook my head. He was outrageous! I wanted to run and hide or yell at him, but I sighed resignedly. I knew Daniel was a lost cause. I already had a date and someone else who had asked me out, so he couldn't rile me up! Calmly, I said, "No, Zach, I will be at the dance with my date. Stop making insinuations about me that you couldn't possibly know the truth about." I couldn't help adding, "And shut up! With your mouth, I seriously doubt any girl would say yes to going to Homecoming with you."

I rolled my eyes when he opened his mouth to retort. "Shut it, I said!" I turned away, linking my arm with Chris' as we headed toward the door, knowing the bell was about to ring.

"Sorry about that!" I said apologetically. "So what did you say to Anna after that?"

"That's all right," he said congenially. "I said I didn't have a date either. Then I just sort of asked her if she wanted to go. She said, 'Sure!' and then she kissed me!"

"That sounds sweet." I smiled.

The bell rang, and Chris said, "Well, we'll see you in a little bit at lunch."

"Yeah, sure thing." I went outside to the court yard to look for Timothy.

I found him playing hackey sack again. I joined in for awhile, but then Derek and Scott had to run to the library to finish an assignment for their next class.

Timothy and I sat down on a cement bench.

"Did you tell any of our friends that we are going to the dance together?" he asked.

"No, not yet. You?"

"Nah, but I guess we should tell them at lunch. They will probably get the wrong idea, so it'd be better if we could sort it out at the beginning."

"They won't believe us, anyway," I stated. "Most of them seem to think we like each other."

"Yeah, they'll make of it what they will," he agreed. "We'll just tell them then and get it over with."

"Fine by me."

We headed into lunch. Jason looked uncomfortable. I smiled at him encouragingly, and he smiled back hesitantly.

Once our usual group had assembled and were settled down eating their lunches, Timothy announced nonchalantly, "I have a date for Homecoming."

I chimed in, "So do I!"

"Who?" gasped several of them at once.

"Janey," he answered.

Simultaneously, I said, "Timothy."

At the news, Chris and Anna grinned and whistled. Krissy simply looked surprised. Bethany and Jason both said, "What?"

Jason was looking at Timothy and not at me. Bethany was looking at Krissy and began whispering conspiratorially in her ear. Timothy just shrugged and said, "Well, that's settled then."

I just laughed, a little overwhelmed by the absurdity of the situation. It was kind of amusing how big of a deal our friends seemed to think it was. I felt only a little remorseful for Jason's sake, but I planned to smooth things over with him as soon as possible.

The rest of the lunch went rather quietly. When the bell rang, I started walking with Jason as he headed out. It was a "B" day, and we both had our final class of the day in the same corridor.

He nodded to me and said, "I was right . . . that night . . . at the party, wasn't I?"

"Jason," I began, "I'm really sorry about yesterday. I wanted to tell you that I already had a date."

He shrugged and said, "I guess I should have known."

"Jason, I'm really flattered that you asked me to go with you."

He tensed up, not looking at me, and quickened his pace.

I matched it. "Jason, Timothy and I are just friends," I added, hoping this news would assuage him.

Jason stopped walking and finally looking at me. "What are you saying? Are you just trying to make me not feel like such a dunce for asking you out? You are going to Homecoming with him. Clearly..."

"Listen, Jason, please? Timothy and I have kind of an agreement to go together as friends. That's all it is. If I hadn't already promised to go..."

This time he cut me off. "Would you have said yes to me?"

Remembering my thoughts last night about Jason and how he was actually fairly good looking and he seemed nice, I answered truthfully, "Yes."

He gave me a wary smile. "I like you, Janey. I wish we could test 'us' out, but you are already going with Timothy. That's cool. Maybe we can share a dance together at least?"

"Definitely." I smiled, strangely excited by the thought.

We parted ways when he reached his classroom. I headed down a few doors to my own. I walked in and sat in my usual desk, next to Krissy, whose face looked stony. She glared at me, then turned her head away to stare at nothing.

"Krissy?" I asked tentatively. She ignored me.