"love truly changes everything" Daniel thought as he remembered how he felt before. He remembered how he hated every day because everyone hated him and would call him a nerd. The hurt he felt just going to Maybrooks everyday was inexplicable. Now,all he wanted was to see her everyday and all the pain and hurt would fade away.
He walked into the class and his eyes landed on Tara.
"Hey" He greeted,lightly tapping her.
"Hi" Tara replied with a wide smile. She was so proud of how much Daniel had grown. Barely four months ago,he was so shy that he wouldn't even speak up ,but now,she sees him initiating conversations with classmates."I'm proud of you" She said aloud.
"Thanks" Daniel replied with a confused look.
"Get a room" Leyla shouted as she entered the class with Maxim.
"Not your business,is it?" Tara chuckled.
"Yes,it is" Leyla retorted."You see,my dear boyfriend's the class prefect ,so what he says is the rule in this class" She said.
"Are you gonna allow this,Daniel?" Tara asked,bringing him into her squabble.
"Uhm, I'd rather not interfere" Daniel said softly.
"Of course you wouldn't" Tara smiled lightly.
In the other class,Julian was getting bombarded from all sides.
"You like her?" Eddie asked.
"Is she nice?" Chris and joey asked at the same time.
"Is she thicker when naked" Bruce asked.
"What kind of question is that?" Julian frowned,making the others shut up."But yes" Julian said after a while.
"I knew it" Bruce chuckled."So when are you going to ask Cassandra out?"
"I don't know,man. We're still in the talking phase ,and I don't wanna ruin that"
"Dude,you slept with her"
"And I regret telling you guys that" Julian sighed,raking his hand through his hair."I don't want to take a move if I'm not a hundred percent sure it's the right one"
"It's called a risk for a reason" Eddie started."The worst she can say is no" He lightly punched his shoulder.
"Alright,I'll do it" Julian said. His gaze wandered to the other side of the class where she sat with the other girls. He watched the way her eyes lit up everytime she laughed. Her ear to ear grin filled him with joy ,and selfishly, he wanted her only for himself.Yeah,I'm gonna do it" He said determinedly.
"Alright,take your seats" The teacher came in with an unusually large briefcase."Normally,I'd give you your test scripts,but the school has printed the results on the notice board"
As the teacher finished his last word,the students got up and hurriedly rushed to the notice board. There,they met students in the other class—Daniel's class— also checking out their result.
"Hey Tara" Eddie called."Did well?"
"Yeah,I got a B+" Tara smiled.
"Great job,I got a B-" Eddie replied.
Julian saw an A- next to his name and went back to his class.
"She probably scored the same thing I did or even higher" He thought.
The rest of the day went in a flash as Julian thought of how he was going to ask Cassandra out.He didn't want it to be too simple;else,he feared she would think he wasn't serious.
After the closing bell run,he hurried to the door.
"Hey" He called before she left the class.
"Hey" She replied with a grin."Why are you pouting? Someone punched you?"
"No" Julian chuckled. He wanted to ask her in a secluded place ,but he couldn't do it in his house. He thought of going to hers ,but she would think he just wanted to sleep with her.
"Julian?"
"Uhm,come with me" He said,leading her away from the class.
"Never thought I'd be here again after what happened" Julian thought as he entered the hideout he and Tara found.
"What is this place?"
"Somewhere I can talk to you alone" He started,stilling his nerves."after I told you we should end what we had,I know you don't expect this ,but I like you"
"You like me?" Cassandra asked.
"Yes,in a romantic way. You don't have to give me an answer now" Julian said anxiously as Cassandra stared at him with a confused look.
"Why?" She asked after a while."Why now?"
"I don't understand"
"Back then,you knew I liked you very much even to the point of sleeping with you just so I could talk to you ,but you said I shouldn't. You,Julian, said I should bury those feelings deep inside which I did ,and now,you're saying you like me after the hurt you put me through?"
"I know,but I'm actually serious" Julian said,moving closer to her."Look at me" He cupped her cheeks gently."If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn't have told you to bury your feelings. Your smile fills me with joy even at my lowest ,and you've been the one helping me get over Tara"
"So that's it,huh?" Cassandra snapped,shoving his hands off her cheeks."You're basically using me to get over your ex"
"How?"
"You said I've been helping you get over Tara ,right? So that means what?"
"No, I didn't mean it that way. The truth is I like you romantically ,and I hope you can see me in that same light"
"I don't know,Julian. It took a lot from me to bury those feelings ,and I don't know if being with you is gonna hurt me like it did earlier" Cassandra said sadly as she left the hideout.
"Shit" Julian cursed,raking his blonde hair."All that for nothing" He muttered as he headed home.
"No luck?" Chris called out.
"Yeah" Julian shook his head.
"She didn't say no,right?"
"I guess"
"Well,there's a chance. You just have to prove to her that you won't hurt her again" He said,walking ahead of Julian.
"Great advice except you didn't tell me how to do that" Julian muttered.
However,he took Chris's words to heart. The next few weeks saw him bond with Cassandra on a deeper level. He initiated conversations with her,got her gifts,and even met her parents on one occasion.
Today,he was on her doorstep as she was about to enter the house.
"See you tomorrow?"
"Today's the last day,silly"
"Oh" Julian said sadly."Guess this is it ,huh? We won't see each other for two weeks"
"Maybe not, perhaps we can meet in Spain?" She said with a wide grin before going in.
"Yes!" He said loudly.
For Daniel and Tara,this was just the beginning. Daniel had never been in a relationship and Tara had to teach him the do's and don't's ,but the first thing was how to kiss.
"Don't overthink it,just do it and feel your way through" Tara said as she leaned in for a kiss.
Daniel reciprocated ,and soon after,they were making out wildly in his living room.
"Nice job,you're getting the hang of it" Tara said out of breath.
"This is the end of my famously single life" Daniel said as he leaned in again.