December 5th, 2019

Sitting at my desk, I waited patiently for the final bell of the day to ring. Earlier that day, Tomlin had passed me a note to meet him in his dorm. We'd probably play one of his video games and then he'd tell me to do my homework or something.

Finally, a shrill sound erupted. The bell, finally.

By the time I had dumped my bag off at my dorm, Tomlin had gotten to his dorm. He opened the door for me only seconds after I knocked.

There was a pile of homework on his desk. Of course he's already started on his homework. Nerd.

"I have something to tell you..."

"Didn't you get an award for student of the month for November?"

"Yes, uh... That's not what I was going to say."

"Then what?"

"Just listen."

Music flooded the room. Tomlin mouthed only some lines. I didn't recognize the song until he sang one key line. He fell to his knees and belted in a voice I didn't know he had: "I wanna ruin our friendship... we should be lovers instead."

He kept dancing and singing and when the song finally ended, I was mortified. "Tomlin-"

"What do you say?" His eyes filled with desperate hope.

"No." I ran out of his dorm, shouldering past some guys in my escape. Soon, I was back in my dorm, alone and confused.

How long had Tomlin liked me? I felt bad for not being able to return the feelings, but what could I do?

On the way back to my dorm, I almost ran straight into Enrico. A group of rowdy boys was behind him.

"Watch where you're going," I snapped, though my heart wasn't in it.

"Have you seen anything big, white, and nasty looking?" one of the guys asked. I was sure I had seen him at a party somewhere before.

"Other than you, no." I tried to shoulder my way past them, but someone grabbed my shoulder.

"Come with us. We're going to hunt down the yeti."

"That's old news. You won't find it and, if you do, no one'll care."

"With a group this big, that yeti will be found. And it's not old news," Enrico said. "At least not amongst us guys."

"Well, news flash: I'm not a guy." I whipped my shoulder out of the clamming hand and stormed out of the crowd. "Good luck with that stupid yeti! I hope it eats you all alive!"

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

There was a school dance on Friday. The theme was under the sea. It was the last school dance of the year, 2019.

It was a formal event and I wanted to go with Harvey, but Che would be there and so I went alone.

Harvey wouldn't have liked it anyway. Being in a room full of people he doesn't know isn't his cup of tea.

Everyone piled into the ballroom, which was hardly used, and began to crowd in the middle. I watched as Che and Enrico swayed together with energy. I wanted that.

Would Harvey mind if I danced with someone else? Just for the night? Just for fun?

Most of the girls wore mermaid silhouettes, in compliance with the theme. I was wearing a bow back teal mermaid dress.

Che had told me the dress was ugly—her and her short, v-necked red dress. Now, she looked out of place in the crowd of blues and greens.

Her confidence seemed to keep her afloat.

I stood by the wall for three more songs until someone came up to me. This someone had dark eyes I recognized instantly. Taking a step back, I hoped to God he would leave me alone.

"Someone as pretty as you should have a date," Lucas said.

"I'm good on my own," I said, trying to keep my voice sweet.

"I was to apologize for the way I acted before; I was drunk." Red blossomed on his cheeks.

"It's all good." Just leave me alone now and we'll be good.

"Want to dance? Just one, as an apology."

"Don't take pity on me. I swear, I'm good alone."

"You'll look like a loser here."

My face pinched. "Then I guess I'm a loser." Turning on my white heel, I escaped the ballroom and found myself heading for the boys dorms.

Soon, I was outside Harvey's door. Without hesitation, I knocked and soon the door swung open to reveal Harvey.

"The dance sucked," I said, swallowing my tears so I didn't ruin my mascara.

Harvey enveloped me in a hug. Then, with a gentle voice: "Let's not waste all that time you took getting ready. Want to go out for dinner?"

"Yeah," I said, nestled in his chest. "That would be nice."