After class, many girls tried to talk to Raymond and ended up succeeding. It turned out that he wasn't the snob they thought he would be, and he proved to be a fun person just as he had promised.
As Raymond sat surrounded by girls, Mirabel walked over to his seat and offered her hand for a handshake.
"Hi. Since we're both new here, let's be friends and get along," Mirabel suggested.
"Sure, I'd love that," Raymond agreed with a smile.
"Do you want to eat lunch together?" Mirabel asked.
"Okay, I'll meet you in the cafeteria during lunchtime," Raymond confirmed.
As the school day ended, Rosie was packing up her things to head home when Raymond tapped her on the shoulder from behind.
"Hi. Can I have your phone number?" he asked, holding out his phone.
"Why?" Rosie replied, surprised.
Raymond gave her a look that said 'Isn't it obvious?' and said, "Because I want to be friends?"
"I'd rather not," Rosie replied quickly.
"Why not? You know, we're going to see each other pretty often. I heard you live right next to Desmond," Raymond pointed out.
"So?" Rosie retorted.
"I plan to visit often," Raymond said with a grin.
"Okay," Rosie responded, sounding uninterested.
"Just okay? Don't you want to know why I want your number?" Raymond asked, feeling a little hurt.
"Why do you want my number?" Rosie asked skeptically.
"You flirted with me back then, don't you remember? When you smiled at me?" Raymond said, trying to jog her memory.
"It was just a friendly smile," Rosie protested.
"A friendly smile, and you don't even want to be friends with me?" Raymond pressed.
"That's right," Rosie affirmed.
"Come on, I promise not to disturb you with texts or calls," Raymond pleaded.
"You're already disturbing me," Rosie stated firmly.
"Okay, I'm sorry. Can I please have your number?" Raymond asked again.
"No," Rosie replied.
"Please?" Raymond continued to plead.
"No," Rosie repeated.
"Pretty please?" Raymond didn't seem to be giving up anytime soon.
Rosie let out a sigh of exasperation before reluctantly calling out her phone number.
"Thank you," Raymond said before leaving the classroom to meet up with Desmond.
"Yo, I got her number," Raymond exclaimed as soon as he met up with Desmond.
"Really? Let me see it," Desmond said excitedly.
After confirming that the number was genuine, Desmond couldn't believe that Raymond had managed to get Rosie's number so easily.
"Yeah. It wasn't that difficult," Raymond replied with a smile.
Checking the time on his phone, Raymond said, "I have to go now. I have a dinner date tonight."
"Wait, with a guy?" Desmond asked, teasingly.
"You know it's a girl," Raymond laughed.
"Sarah?" Desmond inquired.
"Yeah. It's just a thirty-minute dinner. Wanna hang out at an arcade tonight? How about 8 pm?" Raymond suggested.
"Sure, I'll be there by 8. Enjoy your dinner date," Desmond replied.
"See you later," Raymond said before leaving.
Later that evening, after Rosie had finished taking her bath and changed into her cute pink pajamas, she lay down on her bed, facing the ceiling.
"Why? Just why? Why the hell hasn't he texted or called me?" Rosie thought to herself, irritated and eager to hear from Raymond.
In her opinion, when a guy asks a girl for her phone number, he should call or text her within twenty-four hours.
Despite trying to deny it, Rosie couldn't help but be interested in Raymond. She wanted to get to know him better and maybe even be friends with him.
"He seems like a cool guy," Rosie thought to herself.
Just as she was losing hope, her phone beeped, indicating a new message had come in. Rosie's heart skipped a beat, hoping it was Raymond, but to her disappointment, it was only Desmond.
Rosie read Desmond's message out loud. "Are you busy? Wanna come over for a quick snack? I'm bored."
"Sure. I'll be there in five minutes," Rosie replied to his text.
Seven minutes later, she arrived at Desmond's house.
"Home alone again?" she asked, as Desmond spread his arms out for a hug.
"As you can see," Desmond said with a chuckle.
"Haven't you confronted your parents?" Rosie asked with concern.
"Nope. I'm used to it and I like this lifestyle too," Desmond replied nonchalantly.
"Forget about it. That's not why I called you here," Desmond said as he walked to the kitchen and returned with two cans of cola.
"Should we stay here or go to my room?" Desmond asked.
"Let's stay here," Rosie said, and Desmond sat down next to her.
"So... what's good?" Desmond laughed, and Rosie joined in.
"Cute," Desmond remarked.
"What's cute? Me?" Rosie asked, feeling a little nervous.
"No, not you. Your lips," Desmond replied with a grin.
"Oh, I thought you called me cute. Am I not cute?" Rosie asked playfully.
"No, you're not," Desmond countered.
"Yes, I am. If my lips are cute, everything else about me is cute too," Rosie retorted.
"Yes, you are," Desmond finally admitted as he leaned forward to kiss her.
"Is this why you called me here?" Rosie teased Desmond after their lips parted.
"Maybe," Desmond replied mischievously as he pulled her towards him for another kiss.
"I missed your body so much. It's been a while," Desmond remarked as he brushed away a few strands of Rosie's hair that were covering her amber eyes.
"Uh, we saw each other today and the day before, and the day before that, and..." Rosie began to say before Desmond interrupted her.
"You know what I mean," Desmond said with a grin.
Rosie giggled, and Desmond leaned in to kiss her again. They kissed for a few more seconds, with Rosie lying on the couch and Desmond on top of her with his hands around her neck.
Their moment was interrupted by the sound of Desmond's phone ringing. It was Raymond calling.
"Oh no! I forgot," Desmond exclaimed after looking at his phone.
"Forgot what?" Rosie asked, sitting up.
"I was supposed to meet a friend at the arcade at eight, but it's already 10 minutes past that," Desmond replied, sounding worried.
"Then text your friend and let him know you'll be a few minutes late," Rosie suggested.
"He called me just now," Desmond said, checking his phone again.
"Well, text him and get moving. I should probably head home too," Rosie said as she stood up and gathered her things.
"Okay. I'll see you later then," Desmond said as he walked Rosie to the door.
"See you later," Rosie replied before walking out.
As she walked home, Rosie couldn't help but think about Desmond and their brief interaction.
"I love how he kisses my lips."