It had been three weeks since Alanna's awkward encounter with Helen and she had been doing her best to avoid her. The only time they were in close encounter was when they were in class for a lesson. Other than that Alanna did her best to avoid Helen and so far it was working perfectly. It's not that she was afraid of the girl, she just wasn't looking forward to the confrontation it would lead to. It was like telling her they Ryan has chosen her instead and even she knew she'd never like to hear those words.

It was currently Friday and Alanna was looking forward to a long weekend free of homework, full of sleeping and a lot of baking. She wanted to sharpen her baking skills too even though she preferred cooking to baking. It was all the same trade though so she better be good at everything.

That day for lunch she had made pilau and kachumbari. Ryan had been bugging her about it all week so she'd decided to make it for him. She'd also observed that he had joined Sophia in taking photographs of all the food that she made. She didn't question him though. She had better things to do than question a full grown boy why he was taking pictures of food. Maybe he printed them out and slept with them under his pillow in hope of dreaming with them. That was a funny thought to have.

Alanna was headed back to class having forgotten the kachumari. That's what she gets for packing food in three different containers, bound to forget one. Maybe one of these days she should make Ryan cook them lunch. Another fun idea but she wasn't a looking forward to getting food poisoning so better stick to doing the cooking herself.

As soon as she got back to class, she went to her desk, opened it and grabbed the food. She wanted to hurry back before Ryan decided to make it his personal mission to annoy her for delaying his lunch. One of these days she was going to make that boy pay for treating her like his personal slave. He didn't exactly do that but she didn't like being at his beck and call all the time. What was she? His butler?

Just as Alanna turned to walk out of class the door slammed open making her spin quickly with a surprised yelp. Why did people love sneaking up on her like that? She came face to face with a fuming Helen. Oh boy, someone was in trouble.

"You have been quite the hard person to track Alanna." Helen commented walking closer to her.

You see in movies where the bad guy stalks slowly towards their prey holding a weapon. That's exactly what was happening but instead of a weapon Helen had a clenched fist. Alanna knew Helen would not hit her because they were banned from fighting in school ground unless they wanted to be expelled but you never know what goes on in that girls crazy brain.

"It's been a busy couple of weeks and speaking of busy I'm very hungry so if you'll excuse me I have to go." Alanna excused herself and went to walk past Helen but she blocked her path.

Alanna moved to walk the other way but Helen moved too blocking her way. They did that dance a few times before Alanna gave up and stood still.

"I gave you a task and you failed at it or you succeeded and couldn't face me to tell me that you had because you're jealousy." Helen commented.

Alanna but the inside of her cheek to avoid laughing out loud so as not to aggravate Helen anymore than she already was. This girl was speaking utter nonsense.

"First of all I'm not you're maid so you can't just order me around and second don't you think that if I had succeeded you would already know since Ryan would have already texted you and third if I failed and didn't tell you it's because I was trying to save you're feelings. I'm not as heartless as you are." Alanna replied leaving Helen open mouthed.

She turned to walk away from her but Helen grabbed her hand stopping her.

"You will pay for taking him away from me." Helen warned.

Alanna had been willing to let this whole thing go but one thing she was not about to let happen was allow Helen to threaten her. She yanked her hand away from her bruising hold and turned to face Helen. For a slim girl, Helen sure had the strength to hurt her. Alanna resisted the urge to rub her arm from the pain, she didn't want to show any weakness.

"How did I take him away from you? He was never yours to begin with." Alanna asked.

"Without you in the picture it would have bee easier to get to him." Helen replied defensively.

Alanna couldn't resist anymore so she burst out laughing. A loud obnoxious laughter to piss off Helen even more and make herself feel better. After more than a minute of that Alanna composed herself and put on her bitchy face as if she wasn't just laughing her ass off a few seconds ago.

"Listen Helen and listen to me good. The only reason I'm not wiping the floor with your face for threatening me is because we both have a warning about getting into fights at school. I'll give you a free piece of advice, stop pining over a boy who doesn't want you and focus on what's important. If you're so desperate to be dating someone then actually look for someone who will return your feelings and not someone who you have to chase after. Have some dignity." Alanna advised.

Helen seemed to just get angrier at Alanna's advice. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it back up, after another try without coming up with anything to say she huffed, stomped her foot and walked away.

"You'll pay for this you man stealing bitch." She yelled as she walked out the door.

Alanna dropped down in the closest seat to catch her breath. She was not scared of Helen in the least because she knew she could take her but she seemed crazier than ever and Alanna didn't know to what lengths she would go to to make her pay for "stealing her man". No wrath like a woman scorned they say or whatever it is. Alanna knew there was no way to talk Helen down so she would just have to calm down on her own. Fingers crossed her anger was just in the moment and would fade with time.

"Where is that girl? Doesn't she know how hungry I am?" Alanna heard Ryan mutter to himself in the hallway.

She chuckled to herself and looked up just as Ryan walked in.

He immediately noticed her mood and walked quickly towards her. He kneeled in front of her and took her hands in his.

"Hey babe what's wrong?" Ryan asked her.

"Helen finally caught up to me after successful avoiding her for three whole weeks and it did not go well." Alanna explained liking the way her hands felt encased in Ryans.

"Are you okay? Do I need to beat her up for you? I know it's not right to beat up girls but I'm sure we can talk Sophia into it." Ryan suggested with a serious look in his face meaning he was all business and actually meant what he was saying.

Alanna laughed and brushed off his suggestion"No it's okay I handled her without use of physical force. After our last encounter we were banned from fighting within school grounds. If we did we'd both be expelled and I can't afford that right now." Alanna explained.

"Okay I understand. Are you sure you're okay?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah I'm fine just a little shook." Alanna replied.

"Well you can definitely handle Helen if you managed those bullies that day at the market." Ryan said with a proud grin.

Alanna smiled at that memory. It was definitely a fun day putting those idiotic boys in their right place.

"You're right. Now let's go eat some lunch, I'm starving and so are you. Don't want you getting all grumpy on me in the afternoon class." Alanna said and moved to get up but Ryan held her down.

Alanna turned to look at him wondering what he was up to now. He had this looking nervousness on his face and his gaze was unfocused.

"Are you having a seizure or something because if you are I can't carry you out of here?" Alanna asked jokingly but feeling genuinely worried about Ryan.

Ryan laughed at that "No I'm not having a seizure but it'd be fun seeing you trying to carry me out of here."

Alanna slapped his arm playfully "Take that back. Now tell me what's going on in that head of yours."

Ryan looked at her with a small smile on his face and she returned it. Alanna noticed that he was kneeling on one knee like some kind of proposal but she didn't let that phase her because he'd been like that the whole time. It didn't change anything.

"Okay I know you may think it's too soon or have you're reasons as to why it shouldn't happen but I wanted to ask you something. Please says yes." He pleaded.

Alanna's heart started beating faster for some reason and she didn't know why. She had a feeling that whatever Ryan was about to ask him would change both lives forever.

"Okay ask quickly I'm getting all uneasy here not knowing what it is you're gonna ask." Alanna requested feeling even more nervous.

"Here goes nothing. Alanna I have liked you for the longest time, ever since we were kids. You are perfect in your imperfections and you are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen and I would love it if you would do me the pleasure of going on a date with me?" Ryan asked with the most scared look on his face.

Alanna just stared at him eyes wide open and her mouth open in shock. She was definitely not expecting that to happen. Her heart was beating so fast she was sure Ryan could hear it and her mouth was suddenly dry.

"Say something." Ryan pleaded when Alanna had been quiet for too long.

"I don't know what to say." Alanna relied honestly.

This was all so overwhelming for her. She knew she liked Ryan for all the obvious reasons but why did he want to go out with her. It just didn't make sense in her head.

"Say yes." Ryan suggested with a hopeful smile.

"Why?" Alanna asked.

"Why what?"

"Why me?"

"Go on a date with me and I'll show you." Ryan suggested and Alanna laughed.

"I don't know Ryan." Alanna said expressing her uneasiness about the whole thing.

"Why don't you know? We're already great friends why not take that next step." He suggested.

"I'm scared that everything will change and people will start talking and being even more mean to me and to an extension to you too." She replied.

"They can all go to hell. This is about you and me not them. Ill make you a deal. We'll go on this one date and if you hate it I promise to never ask you about this ever again."Ryan bargained.

Alanna contemplated on it for a while weighing the pros and cons of this situation. The pros outweighed the cons so she decided to take a leap of faith and taken this chance.

"Okay I'll go on a date with you." Alanna agreed with a smile on her face.

Ryan beamed at her answer and shot straight up from his kneeling position and started doing that crazy victory dance of his. Alanna just sat there and laughed at his childishness.

"Okay good I'll pick you up tomorrow at four in the afternoon be ready." Ryan said once he was done dancing.

"What do you mean tomorrow? I didn't know it was going to be that soon." Alanna replied freaking out a little.

"Calm down babe it's me. Instead of thinking about it as a date. Think about it as another hangout with just the both of us. That day at the cafe was actually awesome so tomorrow is going to be better." Ryan reassured her.

Alanna took a deep breath and nodded.

"Okay fine now can we go eat." She replied.

"Of course milady." Ryan said doing a fake bow and Alanna got up and they both walked out of the classroom.

Alanna heard Ryan repeat " she said yes" over and over again under his breath with a winning smile on his face as they walked outside to where the rest of the group was. She could see how happy he was about this and was glad she had put that smile on his face. If she was being honest even she was a little excited about what tomorrow would bring for the both of them.

"Where have you two been? It's only twenty minutes till lunch break is over."Sophia asked them as soon as they sat down.

"She said yes." Ryan shouted and as everyone wondered what he was on about Alanna felt like shrinking into her seat and merging together with the wood.

"What's are you talking about?" Tony asked.

"She agreed to go on a date with me." Ryan announced excitedly and everyone at the table cheered while Alanna died more and more of embarrassment.

"Congrats man but you know that Alanna is family now. So you hurt her and we beat the crap out of you brother or not." Sam threatened and the other two boys backed him up.

Alanna felt happy that the boys were that protective of her. She loved them even more for that.

"I'd never hurt my baby. I'd rather chop off my arm first." Ryan promised as he pulled Alanna in to a side hug and kissed her temple.

"You guys will make the cutest couple. Not like Toby and I obviously but spot number two is open." Sophia joked and they all laughed.

Alanna tried not to freak out on the mention of the word couple. They were going on their first date not shacking up together. But Sophia meant it all in good faith so she decided not to take it to seriously.

She was going on her first date ever with the most perfect boy in the world. That was definitely worth a lot of thought and freaking out but she wouldn't do that. She would just let it go with the flow and hopefully it would be the best decision she ever made.

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Another one for you guys. Exciting stuff right. First there was Helen and then the first date. Definitely look forward to the next chapter.

Stay safe. As always. I Love you 3000.