Usuki Singing Stars #52: Scary's Secret Admirer

     Sparkles drew a smiley face on the pink heart she pasted on hers. “I think it’s sweet how our school is decked out for Valentines Day,” said the pink Bruce. “Just one more day until the Day of Love!”

     “Pfft. That pathetic excuse of a holiday was only created to sell heart-shaped atrocities to single-minded n00bs and Snaw,” scoffed Scary.

     Patricia joined her friends and said, “I think Valentines Day is so much fun! The most fun part being the valentines exchange, of course.” The faerie Shoyru then picked up a light purple envelope and, checking the front, handed it to Scary. “Hey Scare, looks like somebody dropped this.”

     Scary stared at the envelope. “Great, yet another reason why this day’s been too insufferable. This must be some kind of scam.” She was prepared to crumple it, but Sparkles grabbed it just in time.

     “Let’s see what’s inside,” Sparkles said, ripping the envelope open. She pulled out a pink piece of paper and skimmed through it, Patricia reaching over her shoulder for a peek.

     Scary, I just wanna say how cool I think you are for always speaking your mind. It takes some real guts to express yourself to everyone. Hope you have a lovely Valentines Day!

     “Oooh, this is juicy!” Sparkles squealed. “It seems to me like somebody around here has a secret admirer!”

     Scary rolled her eyes. “It’s a scam, you dolt. We all know it.”

     “Well whoever they are, they like that you always speak your mind,” said Patricia.

     “That’s what everyone says if they’re trying to compliment me,” said Scary. “It’s not a big deal, nor am I ever bothered to care.”

     Sparkles squealed eagerly as she scanned the halls. “Oh, what if Scare’s admirer was passing by and we didn’t notice them? Or what if they’re still nearby?”

     “So you think they’re invisible?” asked Patricia. “Does Neoschool even have any invisible students?”

     Scary sighed. “I wish I was invisible; it’d help me escape from this never-ending nightmare.”

     “Come on, Scare! This is so much fun,” said Sparkles, nudging her sister playfully. “Just imagine this: somebody else in Neoschool–besides your best friends, of course–like your opinionated stance and your self-confidence! Aren't you dying to know who it is??”

     “No, I’m not,” said Scary flatly, “but if you want to waste your time searching where this weirdo is, go ahead. As long as it’s not that creepy Cybunny, Lola.”

     “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to find your secret admirer by tomorrow,” Sparkles pledged.

     ***

     Scary sat her desk. “Have you given up already?” she asked, craning her neck back towards Sparkles.

     “Nope. Whoever your admirer is has to be one of our Neoschool peers,” said Sparkles. “Therefore, we must keep our eyes peeled for anybody we deem ‘suspicious’.”

     Have fun wasting your time, then, thought Scary, turning back to the front.

     By lunchtime, Sparkles had compiled a list of suspects she believed were Scary’s admirer. “Ooh, this is getting even juicier!” Sparkles cried gleefully.

     “Scary, did you get any new letters today?” asked Patricia.

     “The only thing I got was an ugly Valentine from her.” Scary glared at Sparkles. “Nothing else.”

     Patricia looked at the list and pointed to a name near the end. “Ernie. Isn’t he in our math class?”

     Sparkles nodded. “Remember when he lent a pencil to Scary?” she asked, giggling.

     “Um, no. I thought Scary took it from his desk,” said Patricia. Scary nodded.

     “Well, I’m sure he used one of his pencils to write that note in adorable cursive writing,” said Sparkles.

     Scary stabbed at her apple with her fork. “Now what? Are you going to actually ask Ernie if he’s been stalking me? Or are you just going to continue giggling like a n00b visiting the Advent Calendar?”

     “We’ll go ask him after school,” said Sparkles.

     After the final bang rang, Sparkles and Scary headed to Ernie’s locker. The green Elephante, surprised to see them, asked, “Can I help you two?”

     “Yes, actually.” Sparkles nudged Scary. Refusing to move, Scary stood her ground. Finally Sparkles sighed and stepped forward. “Ernie dear, could you perhaps be a very special somebody's secret admirer?”

     “I’m sorry, what?” Ernie looked around. “And who are you talking about?”

     Scary crossed her arms over her chest. “Nope. He’s not the one, Ms. Wannabe Detective. Smooth.”

     Confused, Ernie gathered his books and walked away. Sparkles shook her head. “To think I believed he could have been the one,” she murmured out loud.

     “Sure you did,” scoffed Scary.

     As the girls walked home, Sparkles rambled on with a list of possible suspects while Scary attempted to tune her out. “I guess we can see if Snaw is your admirer,” Sparkles mused.

     Scary kicked a small rock towards a red Chomby. “Snaw’s too stupid to write a secretive letter, or know how to use a pencil,” she insisted, watching the Chomby rub his leg. “Besides, I already know who this idiot is.”

     “Ooh, dish! Dish!” urged Sparkles

     Scary kicked another rock. “You’re so overdramatic.” She paused to sigh. “I know there’s only one being in all of Neopia who ever bothers to write in cursive writing. That dolt, of course, being you.”

     Sparkles chuckled. “Good, one, Scare! But I’m sure Fyora also writes in cursive---Geo told me.”

     “For starters, that stupid Faerie Queen of yours doesn't know our residential address,” Scary countered. “If she ever does finds out where we leave, we must leave Neopia Central immediately. Secondly, you’re the only dimwit I know who writes in purple pencil …why you do is beyond my comprehension.”

     “There must be others,” said Sparkles, hesitantly.

     Scary rolled her eyes. “Either it was you, or that weirdo who wrote that story about me for that Fanfic Exchange with Snaw. So yeah, it was obviously you, Sparkles.”

     After a moment of awkward silence, Sparkles sighed loudly. “Alright Scare, I confess. I was your secret admirer the whole time! But I-I did it for you!”

     “Yeah, because you know just how much I despise Valentines Day and hearing fake pleasantries from others,” sniffed Scary.

     “I was hoping that, um, the whole secret admirer thing would make you feel less lonely on Valentines Day,” Sparkles insisted. “I mean, it’s the same routine every year: you only get three valentines, then you throw them away, and, by the end the day, you're even more bitter than you were in the morning.”

     “That’s because I hate all this lovey-dovey Valentines garbage,” Scary scoffed, “and what I do with the lacy garbage I get is my choice.” She added in a murmur, “Plus I’m NOT lonely.”

     Sparkles beamed. “That’s a relief! At least that's one less thing I need to worry about.”

     ***

     “So, did you guys figure out who sent Scary the letter?” asked Patricia. It was the next day and the girls were walking to Neoschool. “Was it really Ernie? Or was it somebody else?”

     “It was an idiot who thought they could discreetly drop a ‘mysterious envelope’ in front of me without anybody else noticing.” Scary stomped angrily.

     Sparkles linked arms with Scary. “Whoever they were, I’m sure they just wanted to see Scary happy on the loveliest day of the year.”

     Scary pushed away. “Get away from me,” she scoffed.

     “It’s a shame this mystery may never get its happy ending,” sighed Patricia.

     “That makes two of you.” Scary glared at Sparkles, who just giggled. No matter what happened, Scary’s attitudes toward Valentines Day hadn’t changed; no amount of secret letters would ever deter her away from being proudly miserable on the ‘loveliest day’ of the year!

     The end.

     The End.