Played By Strings Of Fate

10th String - This Is Why I Hate Social Gatherings

Well, not until I turned around abruptly and dropped my plates onto an expensive-looking gown and a loud gasp was heard.

My mouth went agape in shock.

"My food!" I screamed in disbelief. I then looked at the person who had ran into me and I felt my hunger go down a notch.

Someone was not enjoying the party, and it wasn't me.

A girl was fuming with anger and I swear I could see the smoke coming out of her nose. I was stuck to my spot, not daring to move or speak.

The woman in front of me looked absolutely terrifying and it was a miracle she wasn't yelling at me.

And again, I spoke too soon.

"What did you do?!" she shrieked, eyeing her now ruined gown before glaring at me.

I spilled my food all over you, duh.

I swallowed, now aware of the fact that the music playing in the background all night had stopped and I felt every pair of eyes on us.

Before I had the chance to answer, I was pulled away from the scene and I was too distracted by the person glaring at me to even acknowledge who had abducted me.

I thought back to what happened. I didn't even get to taste anything.

I was too busy thinking about my poor exotic seafood that I didn't notice that I was taken outside. When I recovered, I looked up the person who had pulled me away from Maleficent.

It was Clark.

He didn't say anything but he had let me go. He wasn't looking at me either so I couldn't really tell if he was mad or not. I stared down at my heel covered feet in embarrassment. I was only here because Clark took me with him and I caused him shame. I'm sure everybody knows now that I was with Clark and that would sprout wanted comments about him.

"You don't have to go." Clark said, breaking the silence and surprising me greatly.

I didn't think he'd talk to me so soon. After all, I had just humiliated him in front of all his celebrity friends. Plus, he's been ignoring me for the whole time we've been here.

The space between my eyebrows furrowed, "You're not angry?"

He sighed, "We're going to talk about that later. Once I clear things up with Jesse."

My jaw dropped, "He already knows?" I questioned in disbelief.

Clark frowned, "Not the point."

My shoulders sagged, "This is why I hate social gatherings." I muttered.

A moment of silence passed before Clark broke it again, "You're not obligated to go, yenno."

"What are you even talking about?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"The date. You don't have to go if you don't want to." he explained, pocketing his hands and walking forward slowly. I followed suit.

I thought for a bit, trying to understand what he was telling me.

Ah! I get it!

Did he mean the date with the bastard I bumped into this afternoon?

I nodded, "Yeah, I know." I replied, looking at the sky. When he didn't answer, I looked at him to find him wearing a look of confusion.

I chuckled at his bewilderment, "I thought about it and I figured that there was nothing wrong with going." I explained to him, "I'm pretty sure the guy's harmless and I haven't been on a date in like..." I paused, thinking, "Well, I've never been on a date." I said sheepishly.

He blinked at me, "Never?" he repeated.

I stared at him, feeling offended, "Are you trying to say something?"

"What?" he asked, confused at first then realisation struck him, "No! I didn't mean it like that." he defended.

I stared at him suspiciously before shrugging, "Right."

It didn't matter. I'm not the only teenager who has never been on a date before. I'm sure there were a lot of girls like. Some may even be older. It was perfectly normal. Nothing's wrong with it.

"Aren't first dates supposed to be...I dunno, special?" Clark asked, an unreadable look in his eyes.

I tilted my head in confusion, "Was yours?" I asked him instead.

He looked taken aback with my question. Like he wasn't expecting it.

I wasn't just asking him if his first date was special because I didn't know how first dates went. I was asking him because I truly wanted to know.

He looked uneasy for a second but responded anyway, "Yeah, sure it was."

A sinking feeling made its way into my stomach and I know it wasn't from the lunch I had eaten at school this afternoon.

I didn't know what I was expecting. Was I really expecting him to say that it was just like a normal date? That it wasn't anything special?

Clark is famous and he meets millions of girls. He meets models and actresses all the time. Not to mention we haven't talked to each other for two years.

Back in Year 10, he had his first love and I didn't know about it. I wasn't even sure it was his first love but she was the only one that people talked about. Clark was popular and he never liked anyone before so when word got out that he was in love, things went a little out of control. Word flew by so fast and it had surprised me.

But it was different then, and it's different now.

Back then, I wasn't in love with Clark when he deliberately told the whole school who he liked so it was okay. It had shocked me but that's it.

Now though, thinking about his 'special' first date with an unknown girl, it didn't shock me. It had hurt me and I know exactly why.

I'm in love with Clark. I'm still in love with him. I don't want to feel jealous or hurt because I'm not even his girlfriend and I have no right to feel this way. But it still hurts me.

"I see." I nodded absentmindedly, my voice coming out smooth, considering the fact that I was shaking.

Clark stared down at me intently and I was afraid he would notice my feelings for him.

Thank God he was dense.

"Are you sure you want this guy to be your first date?"

I scratched the back of my head, "It's not like I really have a choice now, do I? Well actually I do, but its fine. I don't mind anymore. He was the first person to ask me out so I guess he deserves to be the guy I go on my first date with."

Clark's face fell, "But you don't even know his name!"

I raised an eyebrow at him, "How come you're more conflicted with this than I am?"

His eyes widened, "I-I'm not conflicted," he cleared his throat, "I'm just looking out for you. He could be some sort of serial killer for all we know." he crossed his arms, "And knowing your luck, it's probable."

I opened my mouth to tell him otherwise but then I realise that he is correct.

"I guess we'll find out." I said simply, not knowing what to say.

He had a point. Nobody has ever asked me out before and suddenly this guy hits on me?

"Does that mean you're going?"

I nodded, "I am."

He sighed and I couldn't help but feel hopeful. What was I supposed to think? I was in love with him. Was it so wrong for me to think that he might be a little jealous?

And of course, I was wrong.

"Just be careful okay? Ring me at once if he does something inappropriate."

He was only worried. Who wouldn't? To him, I'm his best friend who will be hanging out with another guy for the first time and it wasn't him. We both don't know who he is so we can't really tell if I should be careful or not.

Looks like we're going to find out.