Alyssa's POV

Heart was thumping loudly, hands were getting sweaty, feet felt like floating. I'm not supposed to be like this, I am a prefect! It's my duty!

I inhaled a bit of air, preparing myself to face one of the toughest class in school, 5 Sapphire.

I walked through the door and thump!

I fell with my face on the floor.

"Haha! Told you this one's gullible!"

A roar of laughter filled the air instantly as I found the thin, transparent string that I tripped on. Its both ends had been tied to the tables placed at either sides of the door.

Angrily, I stood back up and glared at the whole class before beginning to check their appearances, one by one. "This will be reported to the disciplinary teacher, thank you."

Hi, I think that it's time to introduce myself.

I am Alyssa Quinsella Wilson, 16 years old, studying in form 4, in this crappy middle school. Please don't just jump into conclusion, just because I was a prefect, that doesn't make me a nerd... I hope.

I have a straight, waist length, thick, blonde hair and green eyes.

Usually, I would stand straight (even when I'm extremely short) whenever I'm doing my prefect duties. No student scares me, even the seniors.

But this class, however, was just too much for me.

It was just a week ago since we prefects changed our duty schedules, like we always do every 3 months. I was the most unlucky one to be put in charge with this class.

I got lots of warnings and advices from the other prefects that had ever been in charge with this class before.

"Better talk loudly or you'll end up being invisible."

"Oh no, they won't do anything to you, but they'll just purposely ignore your presence if you're not going to act strictly."

"But you got this, Alyssa."

"Yea, everyone listens to you."

And I was like Oh really...?

SO WHY ON EARTH ARE THEY BEING EXTRA RUDE TO ME?!

By they, I didn't mean everyone, though. They're mainly this gang of boys (the ones who pranked me earlier) that kind of disliked me. Why? That's because I was a prefect. Every school troublemakers hate prefects.

"What? You trynna tell me to not wear too much earrings again? Cause I won't listen to you this time," Said a boy from one of the gang. Meet, Ashton, the guy who's obsessed with earrings. I have seen him with his earrings many times before. But I still couldn't manage to count just how many piercings he had.

I rolled my eyes before stretching out my arm to him, gesturing him to give them to me.

Ashton cracked his neck in annoyance, his veins in his forehead were showing as he greeted his teeth. "I'm not giving them to you."

Why are troublemakers so dumb?

"Fine, you can keep them," I shrugged, pulling back my arm. "if you promise to keep them away from your ears as long as you're within school's boundary."

He glared at me for a moment before taking them earrings off and shoving them in his pocket.

I nodded in satisfaction and continued on with another one of the gang members, Steven. He seldoms break the school's dress code. But he likes to vape in class.

I coughed after he blew smoke towards my face as I was giving him a meaningful stare.

"Put that away," I demanded.

"Why should I?" Steven raised his brow challenging-ly.

I walked pass him, knowing that it's useless to argue with him. I'll just report it to the teacher later.

See? Like I told you, no student scares me. But if you might need an explanation for my nervous behaviour earlier (before entering the class), this is it.

Currently standing right in front of me, a tall, muscular, handsome brown-headed boy with light brown eyes, Liam Holden, also one of the gang.

He lazily let me check on him while occasionally yawned as he had probably just woken up.

"You're wasting your time, I'm always problem-less," He muttered just after I finished checking him.

Ignoring him, I walked away, proceeding checking another student.

"Aw, don't say it like that, Liam. Poor girl only wanted to check on you." I looked up to meet Julian's smirking face.

"Bet she's willing to waste her whole time on you, Liam," Snorted Calvin.

I bit on my inner cheeks. Ignore them, Alyssa. Ignore them.

Then there was another snort from Enrique that made me flinch. "Liam, I thought you have good taste in women. But this," He gestured to me. "is super disappointing."

I was shaking with a mixture of fury and holding back my tears.

I know Liam would never like a girl like me, okay? It has already been obvious before it has even been mentioned by anybody.

I felt ridiculous.

As I was about to leave the classroom, I heard him spoke.

"Stop it, guys."

I turned to see Liam. Slightly happy that he somewhat defended me.

But it all went crashing down after he said the next line.

"Who's the bloke that accused me for wanting someone like her, as my girlfriend?"

I froze, as the boys turned to me and laughed. Liam, however was looking kind of surprised after seeing me. Maybe he thought that I had left. Maybe he didn't mean to let me hear that. But whatever. It'll just be as same.

Holding my breath, I walked quickly without bending my head, I wouldn't want my tears dripping on the floor. But mostly because bending my head would make me look weak.

Yes, I am Alyssa Wilson. And I am currently in love with Liam Holden.

I sighed. He will never like someone like me.

💖

Liam's POV

I immediately turned the air conditioner to its maximum as soon as I started the car engine.

Students were happily walking out from the school, while some (including my friends) were going to stay till dawn to play football on the school field, despites the current weather. While I, miserably, was forced to come home earlier.

Introducing myself, I'm Liam Holden, 17 years old.

My parents would have allowed me to stay longer at school... If it's not because of this girl.

And there she went...

Alyssa Quinsella Wilson was race walking towards my car, not daring to look at me in the eyes. I unlocked the car for her to get in.

"You're 10 minutes late," I said.

She seemed like she was hesitating before answering back. "I got prefects duty."

And with a very tiny voice, she muttered under her breath "... Sorry"

I pulled out from the parking lot and began driving. "You know,"

"All this prefect things are useless, you should just stop."

What I meant to say was, if all these prefect duties are just gonna be a burden for her, she might as well just stop. I wouldn't like to see her fall ill just because of some stupid duties that won't bring any benefit for her. Actually, this whole thing about her being late did not bug me.

... But she does not need to know that.

From the corner of my eyes, Alyssa did not give any response. She just continued on looking in front, spacing out, probably didn't even notice the heavy traffic jam we're going through.

Well, I can't be satisfied by that.

"Sending you home is just so bothersome," I ran my fingers through my hair. "I could've been on the field with them by now if it wasn't for you."

Alyssa was my next door neighbour. She moved in since last year. And since I had my driving licence, her parents suggested that I could lend a help to give her a ride to school and back home.

Originally, I was supposed to get paid. But I did not see a need in that because our destination is the same anyways. The monthly gas price would just be the same whether she comes along or not.

I waited for a moment for her to respond. Any moment now, she will say sorry again... Like always.

But I was wrong. Unintentionally, I turned my head, quickly enough to produce a crack sound, after hearing a sniff from her. She wiped the tears that had been swimming in her eyes with the back of her palm.

It was as though my heart was shattered into billions of pieces. Why is she so easy to break? Is she really this fragile? What did I say? Or which?

I tried hard to keep a straight face while driving away from the main road and took a turn to the road that would take us to the McDonald's.

Her round eyes stared at me when I turned off the engine after finding a nice spot to park.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I stared back at her, trying hard to keep my face straight.

"What? I want Mcflurry ice cream. So if you're just going to sit there then oka-" Damn it! Damn myself! Why can't I just say what I want to say without adding anything that could spoil the mood?

I could feel my mouth still opening awkwardly, not wanting to continue the last part.

In my gladness, Alyssa smiled. "I want some too."

And at that very moment, my heart felt so light, I wondered why.

She went out of the car and we walked our way towards the McDonald's, side by side.

I stole a glance of her now happier face. I swear she knew how I felt. And I swear that her feelings for me were not just something that anyone should feel towards a guy next door, who's also your driver.

We enjoyed our Mcflurry's on a table for two. We didn't talk as much as we usually do, but I could sense her staring at me when I'm not looking, and that's actually quite relieving. Or else I would feel guilty for also stealing a lot of glances from her.

The memory of this morning, where I attempted to defend her, flashed back in my mind. My friends laughing at her, her slightly hurt face, the way she put on a brave face and walked away. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to add that unnecessary last part. Oh God, I'm so weak.

I'm Liam Holden, and the word love did not exist in my dictionary. It was not supposed to be, at least.

But I can't lie, Alyssa is really something.

She was busy dabbing her lips with a tissue the next time I glanced at her. She always does that in between eating. And I admit, that side of her is pretty amusing.

I can't help but to let out a little sigh as I looked outside through the glass wall where our table was leaning against. Alyssa lifted her head up, curiously looking at me.

Pretending to not notice her, I let my eyes wander towards the people passing by. Couples linking their hands while chatting happily without a care of the world. She will never notice that I like her.