Ryker and Dani were working on their project. Dani had been pasting a picture of a cow on a page. The cow looked weird. "This cow looks like she's had a great night partying." Ryker started laughing almost immediately and Dani joined in a few seconds later. Ryker was smiling. Dani finished pasting the picture on the page. "I think we're done for today." She placed the project back in its folder. She'd decided to bring her phone and it's charger over from when she visited her parents on the weekend. She realized she had a friend request on PaceBook. She glanced at Ryker who was humming something to himself. She knew a lot about him now, and she had the project to thank for that. The friend request was from.... Ryker Talon. Dani felt realization dawn on her. Ryker had sent her friend request. She accepted it on an impulse. Ryker seemed a lot more comfortable around her but was still nervous, like he still stumbled over words.

"I'm really glad we were chosen to be partners," he murmured.

"Me too," Dani replied in a murmur.

"Yeah..."

"Did your friends ever tease you when you had a crush?" Dani noticed that Ryker had visibly blushed. He appeared nervous again.

"I-it's a g-given isn't it? F-friends will a-always tease! W-why do y-you ask anyway?" He replied, stammering. Dani had never know him to stammer that much. She grew nervous. "D-do you h-have a-a crush?" Dani blushed.

"I.... Maybe...no.....?" She replied, looking south-west at the classroom floor. Ryker had also looked away. "But anyway, how do you think the project is going?" Instead of replying Ryker leaned forward and hugged her. Though it was a bit random, Dani liked it. When Ryker realised what he'd done he broke off.

"S-sorry, I don't know what came over me..." He mumbled, rubbing his arm and looking away.

"No, it's fine, I.... liked it." Dani replied and Ryker was smiling again. Ryker didn't appear to know he was smiling. "So... Did you ever like someone. Like, really like t-them?" Ryker continued smiling.

"Well," he began. He was fiddling with his hair, something Dani thought only girls did. She was learning something. "I.... maybe have had.... crushes in the past... well, a crush. I've forgotten her name though." Dani felt her cheeks catch a light. She covered them with her hands.

"What grade was this in? If I may ask."

"Hm.... Maybe grade 9." Dani felt a theory start to form in her head. She thought the theory was garbage though. There's no evidence for that... is there? Dani shook the theory from her head. Ryker had been holding her hand, and their eyes were locked. "I'd never tell my friends, Ben and Tim, when I have crush though. I know how they are. They're the type people to blurt it out to the whole school!"

"Oh I'd hate that. Is that what you denied to them? That you have a crush on someone?" Ryker's expression grew to one of shock.

"YOU HEARD THAT?! HOW MUCH DID YOU HEAR?!"

"I only heard your, 'No! I-I don't!' Nothing else." Ryker sighed in relief, but Dani did take notice of his behaviour. He seemed really terrified when she'd mentioned the denial. Ryker returned to the desk.

"That's so great, Ryker," he muttered to himself. "So cool, no subtlety at all." Dani walked over to him.

"What subtlety?" That should be clue #1. Dani waited for his reply.

"Nothing! Just acting! Heh! Heh!"

"Oh." Though, Dani figured he wasn't acting. "Anyway... Want to go to the 'Great Hall'?" He looked up and seemed to be unconsciously smiling.

"O.K." He said and followed her out. Dani grabbed his hand, to see his reaction and he blushed. They walked in. Dani  went to Kayla and Catherine's table, and Ryker went to Ben and Tim's. Then she noticed that Ryker had turned around and heading toward Dani's table. He moved a chair and placed it next to Dani's. Dani glanced back at Ben and Tim. They weren't sad, in fact they were smirking. "Good Afternoon, Kayla and Catherine. You're Dani's friends right?" Kayla enthusiastically nodded. "My name is Ryker." Dani had looked down at her legs.

"We know," they said in unison. Catherine was giving Dani a sympathetic look.

"As you know I'm Dani's project partner."

"We know." Ryker then proceeded to continuing tot talk with the girls.