I reach the cafe where I'm supposed to meet up with Claire and notice her sitting in corner staring idly outside. This familiar scene reminds me of when I first met her.....
Ugh, I'm gonna be late again!! If I don't make it in time, Professor Liz will chew me alive! I'm running as fast as I can towards the classroom. I turn around a corner and crash into someone; we both fall down. A book flies from the person's hands and hits me in the face.
???:....
Ashton: Ow. I'm sorry.
I look up at the person I crashed into and see a girl with short hazel brown hair in front of me, her bright eyes shining beneath her bangs and her skin as white as porcelain. My heart starts beating faster for some reason and it's then that I notice that.... her panties are showing. I turn my face away and cover my mouth with my hand. That pink color though.
Ashton: Um, your uh, panties they are....
She looks down at her skirt and turns as red as a rose. She quickly fixes her clothes and starts gathering her books. Ah, I should help her. I help her gather her books and she rushes off. I keep looking at her back until she vanishes from my sight.
Wait a minute, I totally forgot about my class! I bend down to pick up my notebook and see another notebook lying there. Did she forget to take this? I read the name on the notebook. Claire Blanche, grade 9. Hey we're the same age! 'Political Affairs'? That means she should be in Professor Aiden's class which all the way on the opposite side I'm going but, I should return this to her since she dropped it because of me.
I jump over the fence and run all the way to her classroom, our notebooks in hand. Where is she? Ah, second last bench, right by the window! I approach her to find her looking idly at Professor Aiden. Look at her space out in class. She looks so cute. Eh?! What am I thinking?! I shake my head to get that thought out of my head.
I knock lightly on the window and she looks towards me in surprise. I wave her notebook in front of her. Her eyes widen. She checks her books and realizes that she actually left one with me. She opens the window slightly and I stealthily hand her the book.
Claire: Thank you.
She whispers in return with her sweet voice, a gentle smile on her face.
Ashton:...!
My heart's beating so loudly I can hear it ringing in my ears. Afraid that she might hear it too, I walk away from the window backwards, with an impressed smile on my face. She looks stunned for moment before hurriedly looking back at Professor Aiden. Did that embarrass her? Just as I'm thinking this, my back hits someone.
Ashton: Who-...!!!
I turn to look at a woman in her thirties with her hands on her waist glaring at me.
Ashton: P-Professor Liz! Haha, what are the odds! I was just....
Liz:....
..... I'm dead. If something happens to me, somebody please tell Claire that she looks beyond cute when she smiles.
Liz: What are you doing loitering around here?! How many times must I tell you to be in class on time?!
Ashton: I-
Liz: No excuses! And why is your uniform improper?!
I look at my shirt and notice it not tucked in properly AND it is then that I notice that we've gathered Claire's class's attention. Her classmates are clearly enjoying this. I sneak a glance at Claire and notice her smiling at me, her head propped up on her hand. Our eyes meet and she giggles.
Ashton:...!!!
I've made a fool of myself in front of her! My face turns bright red.... That was the very first time I had blushed....