Ceemuhrie
The Delawarean Otaku
The smell of old, worn literature filled the silent hall. The only thing to be heard, aside from computer keys clacking, pencils tapping on wooden surfaces and the sound of pages flipping was the librarian 'tsk'ing' noisy students sighing and grumbling about finals and prom dates. A girl with dark, curly hair and eyes as big as the moon was very obviously pestering the boy across the way from her. His auburn brows furrowed as he tried to focus on his studies before he was interrupted.
"Don't you think it's romantic?" The young girl spoke softly, sighing happily after breaking the silence between the two of them. He arched a brow.
"Didd -" Edwin, the boy across from her, paused. He knew she hated being called by her last name. He had audibly sighed before continuing. "Disha... How on Earth can a nursery rhyme be romantic? More so, how in the world can you even romanticize something like a children's nursery rhyme to even begin with? Get your head out of the clouds and stop asking weird things. Also, stop checking out children-themed books on my library card... the librarian keeps looking at me funny when I have to check out books and she sees your titles in there."
His voice was clearly laced with skepticism and a hint of annoyance, but the young girl just smiled anyways. This was their dynamic. Disha knew she was a romantic, overly energetic, country girl with her heart and head in the clouds - heck, everyone at their school knew that; and Edwin was the skeptical and wildly rational city kid who kept his feet sturdily on the ground. You never saw one without the other as Disha and Edwin were the best of friends, albeit, polar opposites. Without missing a beat she leaned forward, pushing down his own book to show the poorly illustrated children's book in her hand.
"Leaving behind everything else to run away and be together? That is super romantic,
you gotta admit it. It's like Romeo and Juliet, but like, Pre-K version. With a prom.
Without feuding families and people dying... you know?"
"Oh, yeah? If there are no feuding families and deaths, is it really Romeo and Juliet? Romeo and Juliet are also very far from any prom inspiration. Furthermore... Pray tell, what'll pieces of cutlery do after running away together, eh? Does it even make sense anatomically how this is possible? Do me a favor, Dish, and do yourself a favor... stop reading nursery rhymes and study for the final next week. Mother Goose won't help you pass Dr. Hank's biology class. I gotta jet. See you tomorrow in homeroom."
"But - " Disha pouted softly as she watched Edwin rise, shrug and wave good-bye to her. She watched his back go further from view until finally he'd left the library. She slumped back, covering her face with the book before checking her watch. She'd have to go back home soon and help her parents at the bakery but she suddenly didn't feel like it. Packing her bags, she began to leave the school's campus, scuffling and dragging her feet.
"Study this, and study that," Disha grumbled. "Stop being weird," she mocked at a lower pitch than her normal voice, rolling her eyes. What was wrong with being romantic? The part that probably made her most upset was trying to open the awkward friend-zone tension between the two in hopes that maybe, just maybe, Edwin would ask her to prom. Or on a date. Or something! She had plenty of offers but none of them had been who she wanted to go with. And here she was - flopping like a coward in hopes that the cynic would ask. As. If.
The sound of a squeaky, crude tune filled the air and Disha winced, turning slowly to see an enthusiastic-looking girl sprinting her way, waving and picking up speed to catch up to her. When she did, Disha noticed the tight white-knuckled grip the girl had on the neck of her violin. That poor instrument, Disha thought with a wry smile. The girl huffed and huffed, trying to catch her breath
"Hey, Kat," Disha said, to give her some breathing time. "How's practice coming along?"
"Well, I don't... think I'll get any better any time soon... before the dance, to be honest.
Any time I go to play a note, it sounds like someone's raking their nails over a chalkboard."
"O-oh, I see... sorry to hear. Does that mean you won't be playing at the dance then?"
"Probably not..." Kat sighed but then patted her chest,
"Oh well, right? There's next year, after all. I'm only a Freshman!"
Disha laughed a bit at her confidence.
"Soooo... any word on getting the prom date of your dreams?" Kat asked coyly.
"Sadly, no," Disha sighed. "Kinda bummed, 'cause, like, it's Senior year, wanted to go out with a bang - find love.
Drive across the state for college. All that romanticized movie stuff. But... Maybe Edwin is right.
I gotta get my head outta the clouds."
"Aw, bummer. Cheer up, Dish - that kid doesn't know what he's missing out on. But, in his defense, he's pretty dumb for a smart kid. Maybe you need to spell things out for him! Anyways, gotta run!"
Kat scampered off into the crowd of people and, once again, Disha continued on her path to go back home to the bakery to help her parents. Maybe Kat had a point... Edwin might've had book smarts, but street smarts? None. Zip. Zilch. She couldn't keep dropping subtle hints about prom or romance. She had to be brave and spell it out for that dope.
Somehow that annoyed her.
"Hey, sweetie - you're later than usual. How was school?"
"Eh, was s'alright," Disha grumbled, scuffling into the shop.
A huge sign reading 'Diddle's Dough' ran across the wooden panels as the girl shuffled into the bakery, the smell of breads and baked goods filling the air. The fragrance, though she didn't want to admit it, started making Disha feel better. Until she heard cackling from a boy manning the register her eyes pulling up to meet his as he snickered and grinned at her.
"... and what are YOU laughing at?" Disha grumbled.
"Kat told me Edwin still hasn't asked you to prom with all the hints you've been dropping.
Or even on a date for that matter," he snickered.
"Damnit, Kat!" Disha smacked her own forehead. That girl could not keep a secret from her brother, "It's not that funny, Roger!"
"I think it's hysterical. Hey, hey. If you still don't have a date by the time prom actually gets here,
look into my offer again, yeah? I'll show 'ya a good time."
"You dog...! Edwin will ask me! Or... or... or I'll ask him! Something! I don't know.
You don't have to laugh so much about it though, 'ya jerk.
Work the shop by yourself today, I'm leaving."
Suddenly not feeling the strength or stamina to deal with Roger, Disha rushed to her room. The bitter sting in her eyes told her tears would be coming soon - and the second she was in the safety of her room, she let herself hiccup and sob over the stupidity of not one boy, but two. Roger was cruel, always laughing at the expense of others but Edwin... Edwin was so smart but dumb for not seeing how Disha felt about him! It was all his fault for troubling her like this. She sobbed for what seemed like half the night, when in all actuality, maybe an hour passed.
There was a rapping at the door.
"Disha, honey, come downstairs. There's someone here to see you," her mother called.
"I don't want to see anyone," she said defiantly.
"Honey, you might want to come downstairs. Or at least grab some food."
The mention of food was enough to stir Disha's stomach to open the door. When she did, the faint sound of music filled the hall. Curious. She wandered down the hallway, the music getting louder as she descended the stairs. It was a violin, playing a simple tune - one to a nursery rhyme. Disha's heart skipped. As she reached the base of the stairs, she saw Kat gracefully playing, a soft smile on her face. She looked to the right and saw Roger, chuckling away. This time, a lot less sinister.
And dead center, she saw Edwin. His normal calculated look was softened, his cheeks red and his gaze unsure. He held a poster in his hands, flipping it as Disha moved in closer. The poster read:
Hey, DISH Diddle, I'm over the MOOON for you.
Run away to PROM with this SPOON?
Seeing the picture of a cartoon drawing of a cow jumping over the mood... That's when it hit her. Hey Diddle Diddle. Like the nursery! The Kat and the Fiddle! Everyone at school called Roger a dog and here he was, laughing to see such sport! Disha's eyes watered, Edwin clumsily grinned. He had known all along.
"You think I didn't notice that you checked out every version of 'Hey Diddle Diddle' on my library card?
Or dropped prom hints on me every day for the last two weeks?
I'm smarter than you think, regardless of what you tell Kat."
"Oh!! Edwin Spoon!" Disha wiped her face hastily, dashing toward him for a hug, her arms coiling around his waist. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, chuckling and tangling his hands in her dark, curly locks.
"Of course I'll go to prom with you," she said, pulling him in for the first kiss of many.
"Don't you think it's romantic?" The young girl spoke softly, sighing happily after breaking the silence between the two of them. He arched a brow.
"Didd -" Edwin, the boy across from her, paused. He knew she hated being called by her last name. He had audibly sighed before continuing. "Disha... How on Earth can a nursery rhyme be romantic? More so, how in the world can you even romanticize something like a children's nursery rhyme to even begin with? Get your head out of the clouds and stop asking weird things. Also, stop checking out children-themed books on my library card... the librarian keeps looking at me funny when I have to check out books and she sees your titles in there."
His voice was clearly laced with skepticism and a hint of annoyance, but the young girl just smiled anyways. This was their dynamic. Disha knew she was a romantic, overly energetic, country girl with her heart and head in the clouds - heck, everyone at their school knew that; and Edwin was the skeptical and wildly rational city kid who kept his feet sturdily on the ground. You never saw one without the other as Disha and Edwin were the best of friends, albeit, polar opposites. Without missing a beat she leaned forward, pushing down his own book to show the poorly illustrated children's book in her hand.
"Leaving behind everything else to run away and be together? That is super romantic,
you gotta admit it. It's like Romeo and Juliet, but like, Pre-K version. With a prom.
Without feuding families and people dying... you know?"
"Oh, yeah? If there are no feuding families and deaths, is it really Romeo and Juliet? Romeo and Juliet are also very far from any prom inspiration. Furthermore... Pray tell, what'll pieces of cutlery do after running away together, eh? Does it even make sense anatomically how this is possible? Do me a favor, Dish, and do yourself a favor... stop reading nursery rhymes and study for the final next week. Mother Goose won't help you pass Dr. Hank's biology class. I gotta jet. See you tomorrow in homeroom."
"But - " Disha pouted softly as she watched Edwin rise, shrug and wave good-bye to her. She watched his back go further from view until finally he'd left the library. She slumped back, covering her face with the book before checking her watch. She'd have to go back home soon and help her parents at the bakery but she suddenly didn't feel like it. Packing her bags, she began to leave the school's campus, scuffling and dragging her feet.
"Study this, and study that," Disha grumbled. "Stop being weird," she mocked at a lower pitch than her normal voice, rolling her eyes. What was wrong with being romantic? The part that probably made her most upset was trying to open the awkward friend-zone tension between the two in hopes that maybe, just maybe, Edwin would ask her to prom. Or on a date. Or something! She had plenty of offers but none of them had been who she wanted to go with. And here she was - flopping like a coward in hopes that the cynic would ask. As. If.
The sound of a squeaky, crude tune filled the air and Disha winced, turning slowly to see an enthusiastic-looking girl sprinting her way, waving and picking up speed to catch up to her. When she did, Disha noticed the tight white-knuckled grip the girl had on the neck of her violin. That poor instrument, Disha thought with a wry smile. The girl huffed and huffed, trying to catch her breath
"Hey, Kat," Disha said, to give her some breathing time. "How's practice coming along?"
"Well, I don't... think I'll get any better any time soon... before the dance, to be honest.
Any time I go to play a note, it sounds like someone's raking their nails over a chalkboard."
"O-oh, I see... sorry to hear. Does that mean you won't be playing at the dance then?"
"Probably not..." Kat sighed but then patted her chest,
"Oh well, right? There's next year, after all. I'm only a Freshman!"
Disha laughed a bit at her confidence.
"Soooo... any word on getting the prom date of your dreams?" Kat asked coyly.
"Sadly, no," Disha sighed. "Kinda bummed, 'cause, like, it's Senior year, wanted to go out with a bang - find love.
Drive across the state for college. All that romanticized movie stuff. But... Maybe Edwin is right.
I gotta get my head outta the clouds."
"Aw, bummer. Cheer up, Dish - that kid doesn't know what he's missing out on. But, in his defense, he's pretty dumb for a smart kid. Maybe you need to spell things out for him! Anyways, gotta run!"
Kat scampered off into the crowd of people and, once again, Disha continued on her path to go back home to the bakery to help her parents. Maybe Kat had a point... Edwin might've had book smarts, but street smarts? None. Zip. Zilch. She couldn't keep dropping subtle hints about prom or romance. She had to be brave and spell it out for that dope.
Somehow that annoyed her.
"Hey, sweetie - you're later than usual. How was school?"
"Eh, was s'alright," Disha grumbled, scuffling into the shop.
A huge sign reading 'Diddle's Dough' ran across the wooden panels as the girl shuffled into the bakery, the smell of breads and baked goods filling the air. The fragrance, though she didn't want to admit it, started making Disha feel better. Until she heard cackling from a boy manning the register her eyes pulling up to meet his as he snickered and grinned at her.
"... and what are YOU laughing at?" Disha grumbled.
"Kat told me Edwin still hasn't asked you to prom with all the hints you've been dropping.
Or even on a date for that matter," he snickered.
"Damnit, Kat!" Disha smacked her own forehead. That girl could not keep a secret from her brother, "It's not that funny, Roger!"
"I think it's hysterical. Hey, hey. If you still don't have a date by the time prom actually gets here,
look into my offer again, yeah? I'll show 'ya a good time."
"You dog...! Edwin will ask me! Or... or... or I'll ask him! Something! I don't know.
You don't have to laugh so much about it though, 'ya jerk.
Work the shop by yourself today, I'm leaving."
Suddenly not feeling the strength or stamina to deal with Roger, Disha rushed to her room. The bitter sting in her eyes told her tears would be coming soon - and the second she was in the safety of her room, she let herself hiccup and sob over the stupidity of not one boy, but two. Roger was cruel, always laughing at the expense of others but Edwin... Edwin was so smart but dumb for not seeing how Disha felt about him! It was all his fault for troubling her like this. She sobbed for what seemed like half the night, when in all actuality, maybe an hour passed.
There was a rapping at the door.
"Disha, honey, come downstairs. There's someone here to see you," her mother called.
"I don't want to see anyone," she said defiantly.
"Honey, you might want to come downstairs. Or at least grab some food."
The mention of food was enough to stir Disha's stomach to open the door. When she did, the faint sound of music filled the hall. Curious. She wandered down the hallway, the music getting louder as she descended the stairs. It was a violin, playing a simple tune - one to a nursery rhyme. Disha's heart skipped. As she reached the base of the stairs, she saw Kat gracefully playing, a soft smile on her face. She looked to the right and saw Roger, chuckling away. This time, a lot less sinister.
And dead center, she saw Edwin. His normal calculated look was softened, his cheeks red and his gaze unsure. He held a poster in his hands, flipping it as Disha moved in closer. The poster read:
Hey, DISH Diddle, I'm over the MOOON for you.
Run away to PROM with this SPOON?
Seeing the picture of a cartoon drawing of a cow jumping over the mood... That's when it hit her. Hey Diddle Diddle. Like the nursery! The Kat and the Fiddle! Everyone at school called Roger a dog and here he was, laughing to see such sport! Disha's eyes watered, Edwin clumsily grinned. He had known all along.
"You think I didn't notice that you checked out every version of 'Hey Diddle Diddle' on my library card?
Or dropped prom hints on me every day for the last two weeks?
I'm smarter than you think, regardless of what you tell Kat."
"Oh!! Edwin Spoon!" Disha wiped her face hastily, dashing toward him for a hug, her arms coiling around his waist. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, chuckling and tangling his hands in her dark, curly locks.
"Of course I'll go to prom with you," she said, pulling him in for the first kiss of many.
