It was yet another beautiful day for this time of year. AHHH, Spring, when the sun always shines, the birds always sing, and everything goes perfectly. And so far, on this bright, shiny afternoon, everything had gone perfectly just like he had planned, now if just one more thing would go like he wanted it to…

Duo Maxwell stood shyly before the sweet girl in front of him. Although he towered over her, it was Duo who felt so small. She was beautiful, charming, smart, and a perfect match for Duo, just like the others had been. Black hair framed her heart shaped face and dark brown eyes glowed with unspoken words of love for him. He waited anxiously for those same words to be spoken by this earth angel standing before him. The words he’d waited his whole school career for. And finally, yes today, was the day he would here them!

She tilted her head up to stare into Duo’s bright eyes, and smiled at him. “AHHHHHHH! I’m sorry Duo, but I am already in love with Oda from the Basketball team.”

Duo couldn’t believe what his ears were telling him…again. He had been turned down by…another…girl. This couldn’t be happening. It was not possible. No, not just another girl, but the 50^th girl in a row. It was a new school record. The girl just smiled again sweetly and turned to skip happily back to her class, not realizing that she had just torn Duo’s hopes and dreams into shreds, Duo could only stand there gaping at where she once stood.

He didn’t have to stand there long, as his gang, who had up until then been hiding in the bushes, came running up to him yelling their congratulations. They started dancing around him in circles, waving flags, which read “Congrads on your 50th”. The whole gang was so proud of their leader.

All the noise finally brought Duo back to reality. He glared at his best friend Solo, who was leading the group in another round of “FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW!!!”. With a speed that was uncanny for a mere mortal, Duo systematically knocked out every one of his friends.

Feeling a bit better now, but not much, he stormed off to class, leaving some of his friends in much pain, and others in need of medical attention….immediately.

Duo sat in class completely ignoring his stupid gym teacher go on with her sex talk. Who needed to hear about that when you couldn’t even get any to begin with! Duo just couldn’t understand what was wrong with him. He had great looks, a gorgeous long braid, sparkling blue-violet eyes, a heart-melting smile and he was a Genius, well at least HE thought so, he told himself it everyday. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he came to realize that he was far too good for all the girls in the stupid school anyway.

Duo started to regain some of his much lost pride and went to stand and leave the class, even though it wasn’t time to go yet. But as he was getting up he just had to look over across the room. There, also ignoring the sex talks, was group of guys pointing at him and laughing. He couldn’t make out much from this far away, but he did manage to hear “braided baka”, “yankees” and the number 50. He immediately knew what they were talking about.

Duo sat back down in his chair mortified, news of his record had already made across the school in…5 minutes? He was going to kill his so-called friends. He already knew people thought him weird because of his braid. That was no news to him. And the “yankees” comment was also old. That was just what people called his little gang. They were well known for their trouble making at their last school. But this was the beginning of High School, it had only been one week, and already everyone knew about his bad luck with the ladies, and his incredible record.

That was it, the final straw, finito, Duo had had it. The next girl who talked to him, and he didn’t care who, or how bad, or how ugly and annoying she may be, he was going to go out with no matter what. She would fall for him…or regret it.

He jumped out of his seat and ran out of the class so fast he didn’t even hear his teacher yelling after him to stop. Not that he would have anyway.

About a half an hour later Duo realized that storming out of the class hadn’t helped him much. The only person of the female persuasion who was wondering the halls was the principal. But Duo had agreed to go out with the first GIRL he talked with, not some ugly, old, wrinkly principal, so it wasn’t upset.

He was now standing in the hallway, watching as the students ran from their classes. There just had to be a girl around here somewhere. With a 2 to 1 ratio of females to guys you’d think he would have seen one already, but OH NO that would be too easy. How could this be happening, he thought, it is like I am cursed. Just as he was about to give up, he felt someone tap his shoulder.

Duo turned around to stare right into soft blue eyes. She was shorter than him (who wasn’t?), had an ok enough face and light cornflower colored hair. Duo thought that she would be perfect. Then, unfortunately, he had to hear her voice. “Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!”. He cringed, and inwardly wondered if his ears had suffered any damage. Nope they were still working, amazing. His mind told him to run away as fast as possible, but his pride told him other things. HE NEEDED TO GO OUT WITH SOMEONE at any cost. So fine, she would do.

“ Oi, the name’s Duo, nice to meet you.”

She smiled at hearing his name. “Oh Duo, it is so nice to meet you too. I’m Relena, I couldn’t help but notice you from down the hall. You are taller than most people in the school, ya know, maybe even taller than Yui himself. And your hands, your feet, your frame they are just perfect. Do you like Basket-Ball?????”

Duo looked around nervously. He couldn’t really follow her conversation much and was a bit confused, but he did recognize Basket-Ball. IF there was one thing he wasn’t, it was someone who was active in sports. But he also wasn’t about to tell Relena that. IF loving Basket-Ball was what made her happy then damn, he would be amazing in sports. “I love it….ummmm….I’m a sportsman!!! Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutttt I am kinda new to Basket-Ball, so don’t’ ask me anything.”

Relena’s smile only widened. “OH!!!!! You do!!!! Well you should play it more, you would be perfect. You just have to join the school team. Come meet me after school on the roof, there is a small Basket-Ball court up there and I could show you some more stuff before you meet my bother and join.”

Duo thought that she was kinda skipping a few steps ahead of him with this Basket-Ball business. But hey if that was what got her to go out with him. GREAT. He’d try it. Besides, she seemed nice enough. It didn’t look like she was turning out to be crazy or anything. Well at least he hoped. He smiled warmly back at her and agreed to meet her there.

Things were finally starting to look up for Duo Maxwell, self-proclaimed Genius.