Love's Sacrifice

"Sissy, pleaseeeeee~~~" Deliah pleaded, using her best puppy eyes. "Will you make those cupcakes for me?" she beamed, her big eyes fluttering adorably. Sarah chuckled softly, glancing at her younger sister. "You do realize that I'm a girl and your adorable tactics won't work on me, right?" she laughed, shaking her head.

"But sissy!" Deliah huffed and sat down beside her sister who was engrossed in a book on the couch. "You know I can barely boil water, only you can save me from culinary disaster!" Sarah nodded, humming her agreement. "Yes, I remember the last time you tried to cook. I was one of the few brave souls who tasted your disaster just half a year ago." she muttered. Deliah playfully hit Sarah's arm and Sarah laughed. "But seriously, Liah." Sarah sat up, closing her book.

"I'm hesitant not because I don't want to help, but this Alex guy, you've only known him for a week and you two aren't even close." she frowned. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Absolutely." Deliah nodded.

"We may have only known each other for a week, but we do say hi to each other when we see each other in the hallway, and he even gave me a ride home the other day." her cheeks turned pink. "I really, really, really like him, sissy." Sarah sighed. "You do understand that giving him the cupcakes is basically telling him you're interested, right?" she warned. "Revealing your feelings makes you vulnerable, and I still have my doubts about Alex. I haven't even seen him before." "Oh sissy!" Deliah exclaimed. "You're missing out then.

Nancy says he's absolutely gorgeous, I'm sure you'll agree with me." she giggled. "And yes, I'm sure. Nancy said Alex has never had a girlfriend and he's not the type to play with people's hearts. He's a good person and I want to do this." Sarah looked at her sister and saw the determination in her eyes, the longing and the desire. How could she not help her sister with her first crush? "Okay." Sarah nodded reluctantly. "But you're paying for the ingredients, okay?" "Yay!!, thank you sissy!"

Deliah threw her arms around Sarah. "You're the best, sissy!" she squealed. Sarah shook her head in amusement and hugged her sister back.

Deliah pointed over to a grocery bag on the table. "And don't worry about the ingredients, I already prepared them."

*********

Sarah, with a touch of skepticism, asked, "You knew I was going to help, didn't you?" Deliah simply smiled and nodded, holding onto the box of beautifully made cupcakes.

As they approached the school gates, Deliah's smile widened and she said, "I knew you wouldn't want to see me struggling in the kitchen and risking setting the house on fire, sissy. Wish me luck!"

Sarah tried to remain cool and pretend not to know Deliah as they passed by their classmates. She just hoped her sister would be okay.

*****

Steve playfully nudged Alex and jokingly asked, "How was your weekend buddy? It's been a week since you returned to Athens, are you already missing those French ladies?"

With an eye roll, Alex responded, "Steve, you need to get a girlfriend. You sound positively deprived and desperate."

David let out a loud laugh when he heard Alex's response and Alex shot him a look. "You too David, you need a love life."

The Aerospace boys headed to their lockers and gathered their books for the day.

"Wish you came clubbing with us, Alex. It would've been fun seeing you squirm as those girls approached you with their short skirts and low cut blouses." Joe told Alex

Alex shuddered at the thought and muttered under his breath, "Pervert."

Philip asked out of curiosity, "So, what did you do if you didn't go clubbing with us?" Alex simply shrugged, "I organized my room a bit and worked on my writing. I was reading the past newsletter and trying out my own style. I'm still working on it."

Henry clicked his tongue, "Already sounding like a nerd, Alex. At least you don't look like one." Alex shrugged, not caring if his actions were considered dorky or not. He had come to accept that he was a nerd on the inside, but with his appearance, nobody would ever believe him.

So what? He liked books, was that a sin too? Steve nudged Alex. "Hey. I think your girlfriend is looking for you." Irritated, Alex turned around, but faltered when he saw Deliah.

"Am I not welcome here, Alex?" Deliah asked hesitantly, looking at the Aerospace boys. Steve quickly reassured her, "No, no, no! You're welcome here. Absolutely welcome." Confused, Deliah scratched her head and asked, "Is there a problem here that I don't know of?" Alex replied, "No. Nothing's wrong." He offered a polite smile.

"Is everything okay, Deliah?"

Deliah nodded and blushed lightly. She held up a box of cupcakes she made for Alex. "Well, uh, I made some cupcakes for you, Alex. In return for that ride home last Friday."

"You drove her home last Friday?" David blurted. Alex cleared his throat awkwardly and took the box, thanking Deliah.

He was impressed by how delectable and well-made the cupcakes looked. "Uhm thank you Deliah, cupcakes looks so delicious." Deliah reddened and she looked and at feet. "No problem." She smiled and shifted her weight from one feet to another awkwardly, waiting for him to say more.

Alex was at a loss for what to do next, but Henry stepped in. "Uhm Deliah, Alex is a bit shy to say it, but he's asking if you want to go out with him on Saturday?" Deliah beamed.

"Wow, I'd love to, Alex."

Alex mentally smacked himself and Henry grinned in triumph, high-fiving Philip. Alex scratched his head awkwardly and nodded. "So uh okay. I'll...I'll pick you up on Saturday afternoon then. Around four?"

"I'll be ready Alex!" Deliah pinked and blushed cutely. "See you!" she darted off cutely to find her friends. Some of the other students who had seen what happened began talking about the potential Del-Lex couple.

Alex snapped his head towards Henry accusingly. "Henry!!!!" he groaned.

"What?" Henry protested. "You have to do that someday! I'm just speeding up the process! You've got to admit she's cute and you don't mind her as a girlfriend right? You've got to have one some day!"

Alex sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. True, he did want to have a girlfriend someday. But was this the way to go? Was she the one?

******

"Sarah!!!!" Deliah burst through the doors. "Mom! Dad! Guess what!!!"

Sarah looked up from her book and Mrs. Johnson poked her head out from the kitchen. Mr. Johnson blinked as he tore his eyes away from his soccer match on TV. "What?" they chorused together.

"Alex asked me out on a date today!!!!" Deliah squealed. She ran to hug a pillow on the couch and twirled around with it like she was dancing. "Yay!!!"

Mr. Johnson shook his head in amusement and returned his eyes to the soccer match just as the ball went into the goal net. "GOAL!" he pumped his fists in the air. He felt someone eyeing him from the corner of his eye and saw his wife frowning disapprovingly at him.

He grinned sheepishly. "Girl stuff, you handle right?"

Mrs. Johnson shook her head and turned her attention to Deliah. "He did, sweetie?" she smiled. Deliah nodded happily.

"Wow, that's fantastic news! But don't you remember your dad and I have plans for Saturday? We're going to pay a visit to Granny. And, of course, Sarah has her piano recital that same day. We won't be able to attend, so I thought you could be there to support your sister and give her someone to cheer her on."

"Oh." Deliah blinked.

But Mom, I can't miss my date. It means just as much to me as Sarah's recital means to her." Mrs Johnson gave Deliah a look of disapproval. "Deliah, are you really comparing a simple date to your sister's big performance?"

Sarah quickly set aside her book and rose to her feet. "Mom, it's alright. I'll play even if there's no audience. I play the piano because I love it, not for the applause."

"I'm so sorry, Sissy," Deliah said apologetically.

Sarah patted her sister's head. "No worries. You go enjoy your date with that your Alex and tell me all about it when you get back. By the way, have you thought about what you're going to wear?"

Deliah's face lit up. "Yes! I have to start figuring that out!" She ran up the stairs to her room, full of excitement. Sarah smiled, but with a hint of sadness. It was just another small sacrifice she made for her sister.

Mrs Johnson watched her daughter and let out a gentle sigh. I wish you didn't always have to put your sister first before yourself, Sarah.