#Snapped *on hold*

Salma Caveata

They say that California is renowned for its beautiful weathers and equally beautiful bodies, I guess I wasn't there the day they decided that.

Don't get me wrong, in my 20 years of life I have done my fair share of trying to live up to the normal expectation of beauty, but it wasn't 'til I met Frank that anyone had hope for me.

Frank was charming, handsome, and devastatingly breathtaking at six foot four. The day he walked into my job I thought the ice cream I was scooping was going to melt in my hand from the heat coming off my cheeks. I couldn't mutter a squeak as he wrapped his arms around the California blonde bombshell that came in with him, hardly affording me a glance as he cupped his hands around her impressive chest. She giggled air while I blushed, my eyes instinctively dropping down to my mosquito bites. As I murmured their total, I watched him reach into his pocket and toss me a twenty, not even waiting for the change before grabbing up the playboy bunny in a fit of passion. As I stood watching him toss her into a cherry red jeep waiting outside, I couldn't help but wish it was me.

I didn't have to wait a week to see him again, this time it was with a brunette, her s curves emphasized by the barely there clothing. She held him firmly to her backside as she breathlessly ordered a sundae, emphasizing how much she enjoyed bananas as I rolled my eyes behind the counter. I glanced through the glass at the way she guided his hand up and down her side, his large hands gripping firmly wherever she led him. I felt my breath fogging the glass seconds before she caught me.

"You are going to melt the ice cream with your heavy breathing kid." Her ruby red lips curled into a snarl as I hit my head on the glass door.

I pulled slowly out from the serving space, the radiation from my burgundy face causing me to gasp out a pathetic sorry. I ran over to the register and quickly added their total, listening for him to approach. I could feel him staring down at my five foot figure as I pointed at the total on the register.

"Take the cones outside Marina, I'll be right behind you." His voice was commanding and I locked my knees in place to keep from falling over.

He waited until he confirmed she was in the jeep and then turned back to me with a dashing smile. Pulling his wallet out Frank handed me a twenty, this time waiting patiently for his change.

"What's your name?"

I opened my mouth to answer and nothing came out. I blushed as I struggled to remember my name under his intense gaze. A million fires had ignited around me and the man who caused them was staring at me like I was a buffoon. I had never felt this way and having been so sheltered by my strict parents, I had no idea how to react.

"That's an interesting name." He was mocking me, and it was all I could to keep from bursting into tears. I wasn't just immature physically; I was emotionally stunted from years of being the other girl, the one that no one notices in the backdrop, and no one wanted in the forefront.

"Here's your change, thank you for coming to Baskin Robbins. Please come again." I murmured the standard response as quickly as my tongue allowed and turned to run away to find a hole to hide in.

"Wait!" My face scrunched into a brown ball of wrinkles as I imagined him spotting toilet paper stuck to my shoe or a brown spot from me unconsciously sitting on the chocolate ice cream tub again. I turned hesitantly wishing I was someone way cooler than me at the moment.

He smiled a dashing row of glowing teeth and held up a dollar bill, swinging it lightly before dropping it in the tip jar. Winking in a terribly cheesy way, I couldn't help but think there was something about him that made it look good. Frank kept his eyes on me 'til he hit the door, and then turned with a charming apology back to the fuming Betty Boop.