Dave McLean had quickly become the talk of Westland High. His good looks and confident demeanor captivated everyone, especially the girls. They couldn't stop whispering about him, their infatuation growing by the day. For Arielle, though, the situation was becoming unbearable. She was constantly around them, forced to listen to their endless chatter about Dave, and every time his name came up, she felt her face flush with emotion. It was a feeling she struggled to control, but the more they spoke about him, the harder it became to hide it.
The excitement in the classroom was palpable as everyone awaited the arrival of Mr. Dave for English class. Arielle could barely breathe, her heart pounding as she tried to calm herself. Brenda,her ever supportive friend, leaned in and whispered, "Just keep calm, babe. He's the one who should be getting flustered, not you."
Arielle nodded, trying to focus, but nothing could ease her nerves. The mere thought of seeing him sent her mind into overdrive. When Dave finally walked into the room, his presence alone quieted the students. He stood tall and cleared his throat, his eyes sweeping across the class. But when his gaze landed on Arielle, it lingered for a moment longer than it should have. Her heart skipped a beat as their eyes locked. She couldn't breathe. But just as quickly, Dave tore his eyes away, realizing he'd crossed a line. He focused back on the lesson, though Arielle could barely concentrate. Her mind was racing, unable to settle after that brief but electrifying exchange.
During the lesson, the attention shifted when Mabel, a bold blonde girl known for her brash personality, stood up. "Mr. Dave, can I have your number?" she asked confidently, a mischievous smile on her lips.
The class fell silent, all eyes on Dave as he hesitated. "Mabel, please sit down. We're in the middle of a lesson," he said calmly, hoping to avoid a scene. But Mabel wasn't having it.
"I'm not sitting down until you give me your number," she declared, her tone challenging.
Dave found himself in a tough spot. He didn't want to offend Mabel, especially considering her father's influence as one of the school's stakeholders. But giving out his personal number was something he wasn't willing to do, no matter the pressure. Arielle could see the discomfort on his face, and before she realized what she was doing, she stood up and spoke with authority.
"Mabel, what you're doing is inappropriate," Arielle said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension. "You're disrupting the class and asking for personal information from a teacher. That's against school rules, and you know it. Sit down, or I'll have to report this to the disciplinary committee."
The entire class was stunned. Mabel, clearly enraged, glared at Arielle before hissing and reluctantly sitting down. She wasn't used to being put in her place, especially not by someone like Arielle. Mabel vowed to find another way to get what she wanted, but for now, she had no choice but to back down.
Dave let out a sigh of relief, grateful for Arielle's intervention. He mouthed a silent "thank you" in her direction, but Arielle, surprisingly, ignored him. Confused, Dave thought, *What's wrong with her?* She had just defended him, yet now she seemed distant. His mind raced as he tried to understand. *What a girl!* he thought, puzzled by her reaction.
For Arielle, however, the moment was a mix of emotions. She felt a surge of jealousy watching the other girls throw themselves at Dave, especially Mabel, who had pushed the limits. Arielle couldn't stand it. She wanted to be the only one Dave noticed. The realization shocked her—her feelings for him ran deeper than she had ever admitted to herself. But despite the confusion, Arielle felt a strange sense of satisfaction after standing up to Mabel.
As the class ended, Dave left the room, and the students erupted into chatter. Some were upset with Arielle for speaking up, but others felt Mabel deserved it. Arielle, however, didn't care what they thought. Her mind was consumed by thoughts of Dave, replaying every word he had spoken, every look he had given her.
It was a free period for Arielle, as she hadn't yet joined any extracurricular activities, while Brenda had music lessons and Collin was off to art class. She decided to head to the library, carrying her books but knowing she wouldn't be able to focus on studying. As she walked through the quiet hallway, she spotted Dave ahead of her. The hallway was mostly empty, with students busy in their respective classes.
Gathering all her courage, Arielle approached him. "Mr. Dave," she called softly, catching his attention.
He turned, slightly surprised to see her alone. "Yes, Arielle?"
"I wanted to ask… Can I have your number?" she asked boldly. Seeing his hesitation, she quickly added, "Think of it as repayment for helping you out earlier with Mabel."
Dave's brow furrowed, caught off guard by her request. He hesitated, knowing he shouldn't be giving out his number to students. But something in the way she looked at him, her calm but determined expression, made it hard to refuse. After a moment, he sighed and pulled out his phone. She handed him hers, and he quickly keyed in his number. She saved it under the name *Dave*—not Mr. Dave, just *Dave.*
Without another word, he handed the phone back and hurried away, not wanting to be seen lingering with a female student. As soon as his number was saved, Arielle felt a rush of excitement. Her face brightened instantly, and she practically floated to the library.
"Good day, Mr. Loma," she greeted the librarian, her voice full of cheer.
"You seem unusually bright today, Arielle," he responded, raising an eyebrow.
Arielle just smiled. She wasn't going to tell anyone—not even Brenda—that she had Mr. Dave's number. She knew if Brenda found out, she'd ask for it too, and Arielle wasn't ready to share. This was her secret, and she planned to keep it that way.
Over the next few weeks, Arielle's obsession with Dave deepened. She started going to great lengths to catch his attention, paying more attention to her appearance than she ever had before. She styled her hair meticulously, wore subtle makeup, and dressed in a way that would make him notice her. It worked. Boys at school began to notice her transformation, including Bowen, the popular basketball player who had always had a crush on her. But she didn't care about any of them. Her mind was consumed by thoughts of Dave.
It wasn't long before she caught Dave staring at her again. This time, it was in the hallway between classes. Their eyes locked, and for a brief moment, everything else disappeared. Arielle felt a surge of confidence she hadn't expected. She smiled at him—a small, knowing smile. Dave's expression was unreadable, but he quickly looked away, the tension between them palpable.
That night, unable to hold back any longer, Arielle sent him a message.
*Hi Dave, it's Arielle. No one else should have your number in Westlands. It's exclusive to me alone.*
Dave read the message and was taken aback. *Feisty,* he thought to himself. Her boldness surprised him, but he couldn't deny the flicker of something he hadn't felt in a long time. He had known for a while that Arielle had a crush on him, but he hadn't acted on it—until now. He couldn't ignore the attraction, though he knew how dangerous it was. She was his student, after all.
Still, he knew he had to confront this situation. The tension between them had reached its peak, and it was time to set things straight.
*Meet me after school tomorrow by the library,* he texted back.
When Arielle read the message, her heart pounded in her chest. It was happening. Finally, Dave had noticed he
r. And tomorrow would be the day everything changed.