PAPER WHITE, TWILIGHT, & COBALT BLUE

He was Ray Carter–no doubt about it. The infamous Ray Carter of Fram Hill.

Lily mentally slapped herself and could really see a red scorching handprint on her face. She surrendered, extended a hand to him, and shook his. "I'm Lily. Lily McQueen but I still want to call you Snow White though. It fits."

Ray shifted his weight from right to left. "Okay. I get it. You think I'm the palest human on Earth. That sounds quite like I'm dead." He put some hand quotes when he said "dead". "At least, don't call me Paper White. It's... I don't know." He did the hand quotes again.

That just got Lily to smile.

And he smiled back, showing off a perfect set of teeth. And those eyes--

"What?" He asked, "Something wrong with my pale face?"

She realized that her staring got him a bit conscious. "No. It's just that I notice your eyes aren't blue, are they?" She leaned in closer to him and had to stand, tiptoed.

"Hmm... I don't know. My eyes have always been my eyes. Just eyes. I haven't really given them much thought. Sophie said that my eyes remind her of cobalt blue." He stared back at her, making sure they were at eye level with each other. "What do you think?"

She paused, thought about it, and then realized that her face had gotten closer to his--so close she could already feel her face blushing. She awkwardly stepped back from him. "Uhm... I also don't know, but you remind me of freaky vampires in movies."

"Funny. Do I look like Edward Cullen to you? Good lord, I hate Twilight."

Interesting that he thought of Twilight first. She laughed unexpectedly but had to compose herself soon right after. "Yeah, funny because you don't look like him. What I mean is that you remind me of those vampires in Underworld movies. Do you hate those movies too?"

What she really meant was that Ray Carter had eyes of the most beautiful blue. His eyes had the most beautiful or cobalt or electric blue she had ever seen.

She stepped away further from him because she suddenly felt awkward by their nearness to each other's spaces.

"I should go." For the second time that afternoon, she started her way back to The Bugle Office's direction, thinking she could start the survey again from there.

However, Ray was quick and said, "Let's go somewhere."

That got her to stop in her tracks. What to say? Think. Quick! Say no. "I--"

He added, "I know a place. Nickel Penny. You familiar with it?"

Turning back to look at him, she answered, "I heard of it but I've never been there. It's a diner Jean keeps on mentioning whenever we're in the town square."

"Are you serious? It's the best place in town! It's just around Concord. You should check the place out. What time will you be out after school?" He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I can meet you there. I can wait."

Lily hesitated to trust his intentions; her propensity to doubt surfaced.

Hands in his jeans pocket, that leather jacket, and an unruly mop of hair, Ray Carter stood there in front of her, and she found the picture agreeable to her liking. Why not go to Nickel Penny? This was actually the first time that a guy asked her out, ever, not that he was asking her on a date but whatever. It felt fresh and she felt good. What's the danger?

"Okay. I'm out by five. I'm sure it will not hurt to try the place. I'm starved." The third time and praying the last time, she turned her back to leave, didn't try to take another look or wait for him to call her attention again. She fixed her eyes straight to The Bugle office.

He shouted, "I'll be there. Look for Nickel Penny in Concord!"

She shouted back. "I know. Now get lost and leave me alone, will you?!"

She didn't notice the sudden flutter of her heart because what she currently had in mind was the milkshakes and food better be good at Nickel Penny. She was rather hungry, and what her heart was feeling that moment only came second in her priority list.

What am I doing? This guy just appears when I least expect it. Out of nowhere. And why am I excited?

Another shout came not a minute later, fainter but still clear with the tone of amusement. "Hey, Stiff! Did you know that Marlowe Hall is a rendezvous spot for lovers?!"

It was only then that Lily acknowledged the sudden flutter of her heart because her answer escaped her.

***