"Good morning, Mr. Dacus."

"Good morning, Ms. Wilson," the middle aged brunette teacher beams back.

I take my seat in the third row and wait for the Greek god himself to enter. It is still a bit early, so I shouldn't get too excited just yet.

"So impatient huh Wilson?" Joel bites on a pencil and bounces his knee. He's not wearing eyeliner today of course, but his big brown doe eyes under heavy arched eyebrows continue to give him the same mischievous appeal. He's styled his hair the usual way he does for school, his undercut visible with wild curls on top.

"By the way your knee is bouncing I can tell you're anxious too," I lift an eyebrow and smirk.

He bites down harder and feigns a grimace. "Nah you're trippin'."

"Whatever you say, Larson. Don't forget the pact!" I wink and give a subtle nod to his own goddess as she enters the room with her friends.

He drops the pencil down and straightens up, trying to resist from looking but failing. He stares at her with such adoration, you would think he'd worship her then and there if she gave him the chance.

Holly laughs at something one of her friends says, her giggles chirping out soft and airy. She flips her wispy cloud-like brown hair back and I can almost swear for a second that she looked right back at him.

"Good morning Mr. Dacus," she flashes a bright smile as she passes by his podium.

"Good morning Ms. Jones. Ladies please take your seats."

I nudge Joel encouragingly as Holly makes her way to our aisle.

With manner she carries herself, it'd be more accurate to say she makes the aisle her personal runway. Her polished pink heels click on the shiny grid floor; starch white socks, with a matching glossy pink miniskirt and white short sleeved turtleneck standing as an emblem of high fashion and her everlasting status as the it girl of Willowburg High.

"Uh, hey Holly, you're lookin' super bad today," Joel grins confidently and finger guns her.

"Ahum, excuse me?!" Holly Jones gasps, her bright fuschia lips open in pouty disbelief. She cocks her hip and swings her purse on one hand, the other menacingly clutching her hip.

"Ah what I MEANT was— you look super bad, as in really good! Like way cool, cooler than cool, that's why it's bad, it doesn't actually mean bad,"  he laughs and brushes a hand through his curls nervously.

Holly Jones blows a curl away from her face and rolls her eyes. "You could have just said that, but thanks. I guess." She whirls around and takes her seat two chairs in front of me. One of her nearby gal friends grins super obviously while glancing at Joel and leans in to whisper something, which results in more giggling.

"Oh god, she totally hates me," Joel groans in shame as he buries his face in his hands.

"Not at all! It was just a misunderstanding," I comfort him. "Look, I have an idea. There's a fair going on two weeks from now, you should invite her!"

"Rain, how is she gonna want to go with me after what happened?"

"Joel." I look into his warm eyes intently. "You're a great guy, and sooner or later she's going to see that. We have two weeks until then, every little effort counts. It's not over yet."

Joel chuckles softly and smiles at me. "You're a great gal, you know that?"

"Yeah, but it doesn't hurt to get reminded," I grin.

"Let's see if someone else can remind you," he looks up past me. I follow his gaze to the doorway to see none other than Darren Banks himself.

He strides in, a thumb hinged on the pocket of his faded denim pants. His books press against his formed torso under a baggy meadow green sweater. How do I know his form? Well, let's just say I caught an accidental peek that time he unintentionally pulled his shirt up while taking off his sweater in PE freshman year.

His short, shiny chestnut hair is slicked upwards and backwards at the front into a quiff. His hooded clear blue eyes scan the room, unafraid to observe the crowd and see eyes looking back. He smiles kindly at a girl in the back who waves for his attention. Oh, what I would give if only he could look at me the same way.

"Wilson, wipe away your drool," Joel whispers and cackles.

"Huh? Oh shush, I am not!"

"Are too! Now are you gonna make a move or not?"

I blush and sink into my shoulders. "I— I don't know. Gosh, what would I even say?"

"Tell him: 'damn boy, lookin' mighty fine today!'"

I hug my hips and burst out laughing. "No way! I'm not brave enough to do that. Oh crap—!"

To my embarrassment, I knock down my open pencil case and lunge forward in vain as it topples off the table. And yet.. I don't hear it crash.

"Huh..?" I utter in total confusion, slowly tracing my eyes up the toned beige arm that caught it.

I feel my cheeks go hot when I realize I'm face to face with Darren Banks. Darren Banks!

"Almost dropped something there, didn't you?" He smiles sideways, dimples adorning the sides of his perfect wide lips.

Whoa, I think I might melt. The way his charming blue eyes stare intently into mine makes my heart skip a beat. I can't believe he's standing right here in front of me. How can he be so close?

Several seconds pass and I come to the second realization that I still haven't answered his question.

"I, oh— Thank you! Clumsy me," I brush a curl away from my face and chuckle. "Yeah! I'll be taking that now."

"Hmmhm, you're welcome Rain," he slides the pencil case into my outstretched hand. I blush once more at the soft yet swift brush of his fingertips on my palm.

He looks at me gently once more and smiles before getting up and walking to his seat on the other side of the classroom, diagonal from me.

The bell rings right as he sits down, playing as my cue to finally let out a sigh. I swoon and can't help but gush. Our hands touched!

***

"Our hands touched!" I squeal and do a giddy little dance after shutting my locker. "I mean, it was just for a brief second but oh my gosh. I can't believe we made physical contact."

"My my, and you're not even married! How scandalous," Sloane purrs as she picks some gum out of her mouth and sticks it on the locker behind her.

"Yeah, sure. This is probably the tenth time she's bragged about it this morning!" Joel sighs while pacing in front of us.

"Awh, don't get so annoyed dude. I'm sure it'll get better with—" Sloane's eyes suddenly shift out of focus behind Joel.

"UGH! Please tell me I did NOT just see you put your waddy gum on my locker," Holly Jones grimaces.

Not bothering to move away from the locker, Sloane shrugs. "I guess you didn't, because apparently you couldn't see the horrendous outfit coordination you picked out today."

Everyone's jaw drops, including mine. I quickly shut my mouth in hopes Holly didn't catch me.

"Hah! Whatever, I don't think a goth poser like you would understand quality fashion."

"If that neon pink princess look is what you call quality, then I'd rather gag on a spoon."

Holly's eyes turn into slits as she shakes her head in disgust. "Joel sweety," she places a hand on his arm gently.

Immediately he blushes, his ears starting to turn red. "Yeah?"

"Could you please get this, pathetic excuse you call a friend, away from my locker?"

Joel sucks some air in and nods a "lets scram" motion at Sloane.

She rolls her eyes and steps aside. Holly looks her up and down victoriously as we walk down the hall and begins to open her locker.

"Oh, by the way," Sloane, who I guess isn't finished prodding the heat, whirls around and extends her arms. "I think that wad of gum really goes well with your outfit. It's so choice~!"

"Sloane!" I whisper and drag her away as her cackle echoes down the hallway.

"Why would you do that?" Joel groans in an irritated voice. "If I had any shred of a shot with her before, you just blew it!"

"Oh relax! If anything, I just uncovered the fact that she's a snotty little b-"

"Hey," I interrupt her and shake my head in disapproval. "You're the one who stuck gum on her locker. How'd you expect her to react? Thank you?"

"I didn't know it was her locker!"

"Whatever. Just be careful next time, I don't want this to blow over before it even starts," he sighs.

Sloane rolls her aqua blue eyes. "Fine. I'll be more careful. But that doesn't mean I won't warn you if I sense something's up."

"Fair enough," Joel shrugs.