Dating Game

By Christine Cornell

October 17, 2001

For the record, diary, parents are idiots. They keep telling me this pathetic story about how they met. They claim someone had just introduced them, and their eyes met for the first time, and they just knew.... Hormones--I'd buy that--maybe even love at first sight--but that you can look into someone's eyes for the first time and know what he or she is--I'm not buying it. Anyway, pretty soon they were seeing each other all the time, then they got married, and here I am. Either my detection radar is faulty or my high school sucks. Some of the guys are kinda cute, but....

October 25, 2001

Ken Goodman stopped by my locker before chemistry today. Up close he has the most amazing blue eyes. They only look washed out from a distance: when he's closer, they are clear and bright. Anyway, he finally got around to talking about the Halloween Dance and asked me if I'd go with him. I thought the seniors didn't even know we existed! I said "yes," but now I gotta find something to wear. You won't believe the best part, diary. He has his driver's licence and says his dad will lend him the pick-up, so I won't have Mom driving. It's so embarrassing when she shows up for me before the dance is over. Well, not this time.

October 31, 2001

I'm so angry, I can hardly write. Ken Badman showed up for me in his dad's truck: he'd even washed it. We had a great time at the dance. Carol and Jason were there, and we hung out with them some. We danced a lot. The music was a DJ, but he played pretty good stuff and didn't talk too much or do stupid spot dances. Anyway the problem wasn't the dance.

When we left the dance, Ken suggested that since I wasn't due home till midnight, we could drive around for a while and listen to the radio. We drove for a bit, singing along with the radio, when he pulled over on this quiet back road--you know, the road off the 7th line. He acted like he just wanted to fiddle with the radio, but then he started to turn all hands. Too many of them. I pushed him away and said "no," but he wouldn't listen. He was trying to kiss me while one hand wandered up my leg. I said no again, but the jerk wouldn't listen. I told him I needed to step behind the bushes for a minute, and he let me out. I guess he figured there was no place for me to run in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, I went behind some low trees and morphed. Then, I snuck around the back of the pick-up and up to his window. I gave him the full treatment--ears laid back, hackles raised, fangs bared--the whole bit. He lost his mind. He screamed like a bad movie chick and gunned it out of there so fast, I thought the transmission was going to fall out from the way he went through the gears.

I think I may stay home tomorrow just to let him wonder a bit longer whether the werewolf got his date or not. What a hero! No one will believe his story, of course, it being a full moon on Halloween. Everyone'll figure he watches too much tv. For the record, diary, it doesn't pay to date the game.

January 7, 2002

Well diary, first day of classes. The new history teacher looks like he is going to be OK which is a good thing given how little I like human history.

There's a new guy in my classes. I haven't met him yet. I would really hate to change schools, but especially in the middle of the school year. One of his parents must have got a transfer or something.

January 10, 2002

Felix Woods is my new science partner! Carol is so jealous. He's the new guy, and we were assigned as partners today. What do you know--my parents might be right about one thing after all. (Not that I'd tell them that). I took one look at his eyes and thought, "You're one of us aren't you?" It's like he's just a little more awake than the others--alert. Like he's watching for game even when he really isn't hunting. Am I imagining all this 'cause I like him? He really is gorgeous. He's got this thick, black wavy hair and spooky, sexy, green eyes.

January 16, 2002

Today we started working on the experiment for our science projects. We had to pick a lab position at the equipment around the outside edge of the classroom. Felix and I both automatically headed for a corner where we could keep and eye on the room and the door. I was like we had planned it, but neither of us had even said a word. I'm sure he's a werewolf. John, the class idiot, managed to leave the gas to a burner turned on way too long before lighting it. Sure enough, finally lit the thing and took his eyebrows off. I don't know how humans survive without a sense of smell. I guess natural selection takes care of the ones like John.

January 20, 2002

For the record, diary, guys are so dense. I keep waiting for Felix to ask me out, but he doesn't seem to take a hint. We are getting along great. We have the same sense of humour, like the same music and TV shows, and he even likes old horror movies. Not every werewolf can appreciate the humour of "I Was a Teenage Werewolf."

January 31, 2002

I take it back, diary. Felix asked me to the Valentine's Day Dance! He was so cute.

He said, "I know it's still too early, but I just can't wait anymore: will you go to the Valentine's Day Dance with me?"

I was my typically cool and sophisticated self and blurted out "yes" on the spot. Attempting recovery, I added, "Some of the costumes will be pathetic, but it should be fun."

"Nothing like loud music and dancing to celebrate a massacre," he laughed. Only a werewolf would think of a sick joke like that.

February 13, 2002

I'm getting nervous. It's only a dance, but I really want him to like me.

February 14, 2002

Diary dear, what can I say? It was a wonderful night. Felix drove us to the dance in his mom's compact--not the coolest car in the world, but at least it was parentless. He was a complete gentleman and didn't try anything. We danced most of the night. I've never danced with anyone so graceful. When we slow danced together, it seemed right: he didn't step on my feet or drape all over me. Now I know why people take ballroom dancing lessons. When he kissed me good night, it wasn't awkward at all--as if we were meant for each other. Bonus, he's a good kisser.

February 16, 2002

Felix and I went to a movie. We cheered for the monster and laughed every time it grabbed another victim. The people in front of us got so mad.

February 20, 2002

I went for a run last night. I don't know why movie makers have this thing about full moons--give me a clear, moonless winter night anytime. It was magical. There was no wind, so the cold wasn't too bitter. The sky was dense with stars--even the Milky Way was visible. The snow underfoot was powdery and not too deep. I ran for a while and warmed up. I stopped to watch cousin coyote's hunting dance as he pounced on a mouse in an overgrown field. I barked him a greeting, then decided to have some fun and go looking for the old bobcat up in the hills. I found him busy stalking a hare, so I snuck up on him. He was so intent he didn't hear me coming. As he was about to spring on the hare, I snarled and leapt at him. He just about shot out of his skin, he headed for the closest tree so fast! He sat up there spitting at me while I snacked on his hare.

When I got home Mom said Felix had called, so I caught up with him today and told him I had been out for a run. He said, "I went out for a while too--wonderful night wasn't it?" I hoped he was going to say more, but he let it drop there. He must know I'm a werewolf, or he would have found it strange that I would go out alone at night. If he doesn't soon get up the nerve to say something, I'm going to tell him.

April 1st, 2002

Felix is so sly. We were supposed to be acting out Romeo and Juliet in English class today. Ms. Bunk has been trying to get us to read parts for a week now, but every time she asks for volunteers all she sees are the tops of heads suddenly appearing over the edge of books. So, both Felix and I agreed to do the balcony scene for class today. We're reading along, and we finally come face to face, and I give him a big grin, wearing a set of plastic fangs. The class lost it. Then, he grinned, and he was wearing a set too! Ms. Bunk had a fit, and the class was practically hysterical. In the middle of it all, Felix gave me this knowing look: he's a wolf all right, diary, and the game just sat there laughing.

April 11, 2002

Tomorrow's the spring dance, and I'm going to tell Felix. It's so obvious he's one of us, and once it's out in thewe can go for runs together. It'll be great.

April 12, 2002

Diary, I'm crushed. I can hardly write. Things have gone all wrong. How could I have been so completely blinded by someone?

Felix and I went to the dance as we planned, and it was wonderful as usual. We left a little early, so we could park for a while on the way home. We kissed for a bit, and I decided it was a perfect time to tell him.

"Felix," I said, "I've got something I to tell you."

"Not dumping me are you?" He grinned.

"Likely."

"I have something to say too, but you go first."

Perfect, I thought, he was going to tell me anyway. "I'm not exactly what I seem to be --"

"Great," he said. "I've been waiting for the right moment to bring it up. You're one of us aren't you?"

"Yes." Well, that was easy.

"This is wonderful."

"This may sound funny," I confessed, "but I was starting to wonder if I was ever going to meet another werewolf."

"Werewolf!" He backed away. "You're a werewolf!?"

"Of course." What's going on? I thought.

"I'm not going out with a bitch like you!" He sneered. "I thought you were a werecat."

Need I say more, diary? It was not a pretty scene. How could I have been so stupid? Dating the game is one thing, but a cat! A girl's gotta have some standards. I just pray my parents don't find out, or I'll be grounded for ages.

For the record, diary, dating is hell.

A men s fitness workouts to exercise equipment of workouts with dumbells.