As Sarah walked into her classroom on Monday morning, her heart raced with anticipation. It was the first day of school after the September vacation and she couldn't help but wonder if she'd see Alex again. Ever since their trip to the James resort, she had been feeling strange around him, and she wasn't sure why. He was the only other person in school who knew what she really looked like without all the confidence-boosting tricks she had perfected over the years - the glasses, the hair, the slouch, everything. As she caught sight of him walking in, Sarah's stomach did a somersault.
As soon as Alex caught sight of Sarah, his eyes fixated on her form, as if he had been eagerly awaiting this moment. Sarah had been MIA(Missing in action) for four days and had ignored his messages throughout the break, leaving Alex curious and concerned. But when he finally saw her, something was different. It was like he could see right through her, exposing the real Sarah. This realization left her petrified as she knew it would only lead to more problems.
Sarah's anxiety was palpable as she tried to avoid Alex's gaze. She knew he would relentlessly question her until he got the answers he wanted, and that thought was daunting. Alex, sensing Sarah's unease, let out a small sigh and took a seat. He didn't like seeing her so anxious and decided to send her a quick message to break the ice.
To: Sarah Johnson
Hey Sarah, long time no talk! I was starting to worry that you had disappeared off the face of the earth or something. Why haven't you been answering my messages?
From: Alex James
Sarah couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and guilt at Alex's message. She wished he could be more like that mean jerk Matthew McCall. But Alex was different. He was her first friend in a while, and now their relationship was getting complicated. She wasn't quite sure how to navigate it.
To: Alex James
Stop messaging in class
From: Sarah Johnson
Alex read her message and couldn't help but feel disappointed. *She's really bothered by this,* he thought to himself, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. He desperately wanted to know what had happened to Sarah in the past to make her so guarded and distant. Who had hurt her so badly? He hated whoever that person was for breaking someone as perfect as Sarah into a million pieces.
Alex didn't want to pressure Sarah into revealing her story prematurely. He cared about her well-being and knew that whatever had happened to her had caused enough pain to prompt a significant life change. He didn't have all the details and wasn't going to push her to divulge them either.
To: Sarah Johnson
If you're thinking that I'm going to suddenly transform into a detective and starting investigating some things, I'll have you know that I prefer to be a bodyguard.
From: Alex James
As Sarah watched him, she felt a swell of emotion and tears welled up in her eyes. But she managed a small smile, relieved that Alex wasn't like everyone else who had tried to pry into her life.
Sarah realized that Alex had become even more important to her than he already was. He had touched her in many ways, and his understanding nature was what set him apart.
To: Alex James
Thank you.
From: Sarah Johnson
Alex smiled, pleased to have been able to help.
The atmosphere in the meeting room was rather dull until teacher Edison's enthusiastic entrance. With a wide grin on her face, she slammed some papers on the table and exclaimed, "I have greeeeeeat news for you guys today! GREEEEEAT NEWS!" The students perked up, curious about what the teacher had to say. Nathan, however, seemed uninterested and asked bluntly, "What is it, teacher Edison? Is it the time of the year to choose the new Newsletter Editor already?"
Teacher Edison couldn't contain her excitement and responded with a loud clap, "BINGO!" The other students - Julian, Grace, and Amy - also seemed to lose interest upon hearing the news. They knew the position was reserved for the likes of Sarah or Alex, leaving no chance for them.
But this year was different. The position of Newsletter Editor was about to get spicier than usual, and the candidates were none other than Sarah Johnson and Alex James. Teacher Edison's excitement was palpable as she asked the group, "Anybody here knows who's Ian McEwan?"
As the teacher posed the question to the class, Sarah and Alex were quick to raise their hands. "In Between the Sheets," they said in unison. The teacher praised them, clearly impressed. "Alex, you're amazing! You really know your stuff," she said, clapping her hands. Alex looked over at Sarah, surprised but pleased.
"But wait, Sarah also knew the answer," he said, trying to share the credit.
The teacher brushed off his comment and continued on with the lesson. "For those who aren't familiar, Ian McEwan is a contemporary author and 'In Between the Sheets' is one of his famous works. It's an incredible book that achieves so much, and the seven stories within it will grip you with fear," she explained, grinning.
Sarah nodded in agreement, clearly excited about the prospect of studying such a great book.
"And to add some spice to this year's editor selection, the chosen student will get the chance to interview Ian McEwan himself when he comes to our school in just a few weeks! It's a fabulous opportunity for anyone who's a fan of his work," the teacher added.
Sarah gasped with delight, meeting Alex's excited gaze.
In a hushed tone, she breathed out "Ian McEwan!" and Alex couldn't help but beam back at her. This was it, the moment they had been waiting for. Teacher Edison was about to reveal the candidates for the Newsletter Editor position.
"Now, for the moment we've all been waiting for," Teacher Edison announced with a grin. "We have not one, but two amazing candidates for the Newsletter Editor position this year."
Alex couldn't resist stealing a quick glance at Sarah, noticing her fingers crossed tightly under the table. In his mind, there was no competition. Sarah was the clear winner for the job, and he silently hoped that she would get it.
Suddenly, Teacher Edison broke the silence, "First up, we have Sarah Johnson!"
Alex couldn't help but chuckle softly as he watched Sarah's face light up with extreme delight. Her beaming smile spread to the rest of the committee, and he could tell just how much she wanted this.
"And the second person..... Alex James!" Teacher Edison clapped. "Well done getting into one of the two candidates, Alex!"
Alex was taken aback and blinked several times. "Me?"
"Yes, you!" Teacher Edison beamed at him. "You're the principal's son, and I think you'll fit this role perfectly. But enough about that, you and Sarah have one final test to go through before we choose our new editor."
Sarah shot a quick glance at Alex and saw the stunned expression on his face. "Don't worry, she's not biased," she whispered. "You write really well."
But not as well as you, he thought inwardly. Nonetheless, the opportunity to meet Ian McEwan in real life was too good to pass up, so he listened intently to Teacher Edison's next words.
"You two are to submit a 10,000 word essay on any topic of your choice by the end of the Wednesday after next," Teacher Edison demanded. "We will announce the new editor on Thursday, and the lucky one will get to interview Ian McEwan on Sunday! Exciting, isn't it?"
Sarah bit her lip to contain her joy as she stared at the table, eagerly anticipating the challenge ahead.
After three long years of waiting, Sarah had finally reached her senior year in high school, and with it came the opportunity to vie for the coveted Editor post. She had dreamed of this moment for so long that she could almost taste the victory. However, she knew it wouldn't be an easy feat, especially since she was up against Alex - a fierce competitor who shared her passion for writing.
As the others filed out of the room, Alex playfully elbowed her and flashed a grin. "So, Sarah Johnson, are you ready to duke it out for this one?" he joked. "I know you're probably going to win, but I won't give up without a fight. This is my favorite writer we're talking about here!"
Sarah chuckled softly, shaking her head in amusement. She understood Alex's drive and determination all too well - after all, she felt the same burning desire to come out on top. The stage was set, and the battle for the Editor position was about to begin.
"Sarah!" Alex exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face. Sarah looked up, anticipating one of his wild ideas.
"I propose a little wager, a bet, a challenge, if you will." Alex leaned in, locking eyes with her. Sarah felt vulnerable under his gaze, but also curious about what he had in mind. "What kind of challenge?" she asked tentatively.
"It's for the Newsletter Editor position," Alex explained, "but let's make it more interesting. Whoever gets the position also gets to ask the other person for a favor, any favor, as long as it's within reason and physically possible. What do you say?"
Sarah's interest was piqued. "You have my attention," she said, her eyes widening in curiosity.
Alex smirked. "I thought I might," he teased, playfully poking her forehead. Sarah swatted his hand away, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"So, do we have a deal?" Alex asked, extending his hand for a handshake. Sarah hesitated for a moment before finally grasping his hand firmly.
"You're on."
"You know what, Alex James? You're so going to shake it up in the cafeteria dressed as a banana in pyjamas!" Sarah teased, a playful glint in her eye.
Alex couldn't help but roll his eyes and chuckle at her antics. "Is that the best you can come up with, Sarah Johnson?" he teased, giving her a friendly nudge. "I have a feeling I could come up with something even better for you."
Sarah raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Oh really? Well, I suggest you watch your back then, Alex James," she warned, but couldn't help but smile at him.
Despite their friendly competition, Alex knew he didn't really care about winning. What he enjoyed most was spending time with Sarah and sharing moments like these, where they could laugh and tease each other without a care in the world.