The calming breeze of the wind blew against my hair, causing me to shift over to under the bleachers of the football field more. Outside the school had more people residing in it than usual because of today's unusually hot weather.

Today, I decided to buy some snacks from a vending machine instead of getting something better to eat in the lunchroom. I'm not going to risk going inside the cafeteria and get noticed by dozens of people who want to hang out with me.

My friends aren't here to keep me company. Instead, they decided to practice basketball in the gym. If it weren't for the argument between Millicent and Rose that happened today, I would've joined them. That argument made me feel various emotions inside. Someone other than me knows who Millicent is inside—cold and deceiving.

It's a truth that hardly anyone believes. The people who believe that she's glitz and glamor were unfortunately put under her spell. They won't know the harsh reality of her, unless they have been a victim of her wrongful game themselves.

I'm proud of Rose for sprinkling a rare spice into Millicent that hardly anyone else would dare to do—and that spice is reality. There is a ninety-nine percent chance that she'll refuse the truth, but she deserves to know it anyway.

I felt a light tap on my shoulder, directing me to turn around. Rose stood there, her faint smile spreading broader as she saw my face. I motioned her to sit down on lush, green grass that felt as soft as a pillow.

"Hey! Thanks for coming," I greeted her warmly.

"You're welcome!" She chuckled as she plopped herself on the ground.

We spent a couple of minutes gazing at the football players who threw the football from person to person, scoring it inside goal accordingly. The silence between us intensified, getting more awkward by every moment that prevailed.

The only thing that wasn't awkward was the way we were positioned. We are sitting close to each other, but our shoulders aren't touching.

"So, why did you invite me here?" Rose inquired as she wiggled her fingers.

"I was here alone, and I didn't want to be alone," I replied with a shrug. "I know that I should've arranged for this another time since it's lunch now."

"Nah, that's alright. I'm not hungry anyway," she cocked her head towards me, nudging the bag of potato chips beside my legs. "But can we share those Cheetos? I could use something to eat."

"Sure thing," I answered, beaming as my face glistened through the sunlight from above.

I opened the bag of chips and handed it to her. She dug her hand inside the bag and took a handful of Cheeto puffs, the orange dust sticking to her fingers. She pushed the bag onto the grass, separating both of us. I took a few chips and forced them into my mouth, savoring each cheesy, yet salty bite.

"Is this where you usually hang out at lunchtime? I never see you in the lunchroom during lunch period," Rose commented, cracking another chip into her mouth before her gaze turned to me.

"Yep, it is," I answered with a curt sigh. "It's the only place where I can get peace at lunchtime."

"Oh, so you don't like hanging out in the cafeteria because of the people there?" She questioned.

I let an unsure exhale escape my mouth with hesitation. I brushed my hair with a hand, the other holding tightly to my left knee. I've never been open about what my school life actually is. The only people I opened up to about how I actually feel about being popular are my friends, and they don't count because they experience it themselves.

She let go of her bag of chips and wrapped her arm around my neck supportively. I put on an overwhelmed, yet relieved smile as I stared down at the ground. I began to draw circles in the grass, the bristles of it moving pointing up and down.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Rose assured me.

"I will. . . I just need to find the right words to explain it," I sighed. I let a distressed groan escape from my mouth before I muttered anything. "Being popular at school is nice and all, but it does have its disadvantages. People tend to follow me around a lot because they adore me and all. It's overwhelming. . ."

"I see," Rose cocked her head up and down. "But since people love you, they'll want to be with you at all times, especially since you're the basketball star of Westdale."

"I know. . . I love basketball and all, but I never wanted to get popular from it. I just want to be known as a regular guy who plays basketball, not a popular wannabe like most other people," I uttered.

With a steady gaze, Rose unwrapped her arm around my neck and cupped her hand over mine on the grass.

"I never knew that this is how you actually felt about all this. . . Is there a reason why you always stay quiet about it?" She asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know. . . I'm just never open about things," I said wearily. "Maybe I've kept things to myself for too long."

"That's alright. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable," Rose reassured me.

"Thank you for the advice," I acknowledged. "And I'm sorry if this sounded like venting. . . I was in desperate need to get some of this off my chest."

My frown grew broader as my eyes shut, forming a pensive expression plastered across my face.

"No, that's fine. I want to help you, Tyler. . . You are such a nice person with a kind soul, a lot kinder than Millicent," she cooed, her hand gliding from my hand to my arm. "You deserve everything great that this world has to offer."

My hand met hers as I gently placed it off of my upper arm to my lap. We scooted closer to each other, our connection getting tighter than ever.

I can't tell if she's only saying this to make me feel better about myself, or if she means every word she's saying from the bottom of her heart. Either way, her words made my frown turn upside down. I found myself smiling at something that was worth it all.

We continued to get closer, our bare arms now touching. My heart began to pound quickly against my chest as my knees grew weak. My entire body began to tingle as I began to pull in, only before being interrupted by the loud voice of someone familiar.

Landon.

"Hey, Tyler, coach wants to meet us before next period starts—" He shouted enthusiastically before noticing what was happening between Rose and I. His lips puckered into a grimace as he realized the huge interruption he made. "Did I. . . interrupt anything? If I did I'm—"

"No, you didn't interrupt anything at all!" Rose intervened, her cheeks flushing redder than a ripe tomato. "Tyler, you should get going. I'll see you later on,"

The cherry hue on her cheeks started to vanish as she flashed me a small smile. I waved at her as she began her journey back inside the school building, not far from the football field. I then cocked my head towards Landon. He nervously clutched his fingers together, but put on a smirk after.

"So, what has been going on here?" He asked, lightly patting on my bare back.

"Just some things. . ." I blurted out while getting up from the floor.

"Yeah, sure," Landon chuckled as he motioned me to the back entrance of the school building.

***

"What happened earlier?" Elijah questioned.

Apparently, Landon told him about what happened earlier during our lunch period. Because the two of them are desperate to know, they planned for us to hang out at a fast food restaurant in town after basketball practice.

It's not that I was petrified to tell them anything. I just don't want them to assume anything. By knowing those two, they'd definitely take the situation as something else. Rose and I nearly kissed. There is a ninety-nine percent chance that they'd ask me millions of questions about one thing.

"Guys, don't worry about it," I muttered.

"You don't have to say it if you don't want to, but Elijah and I wouldn't have to die of curiosity if you don't tell us," Landon chimed.

I bit my lip, my hesitated gaze turning to the lady that worked at the restaurant who motioned me to take our orders. I pressed the tip of my sneakers against the tiled floor as I got up from my seat.

I gently grabbed the three bags that contained our orders in them and shuffled back to our table. I collapsed in my chair as I let an exhale escape my mouth.

"Fine, I'll say it now," I gave in.

Elijah and Landon's lips twitched into curious smiles as they set their hands on the table from their orders.

"Rose and I were just hanging out earlier. We're not dating or anything, if that's what you thought," My voice trailed off.

I purposely left out the part where we almost kissed. I know that it would've been better if I told them, but to avoid the endless amount of excited energy that they'll give, it's best to keep it to myself.

"I've noticed that you two have been talking with each other. You seem a bit happy around her, and you usually don't like being around other people," Elijah proclaimed while poking a straw into his drink. "Do you. . . like her?"

"Yeah, do you like her?" Landon challenged after taking a small bite of his cheeseburger.

My mouth refused to open as I tried to mutter out words that I struggled to say. I never thought of an answer to this question, especially since I now have to come up with an honest answer.

After we officially met at Millicent's birthday party, I felt that there was something different about Rose. It wasn't the way she looked or how she talked—it was something on the inside that matters most. It was her personality, and her positive vibe which most popular students in the popular clique lack.

She had my back when I felt down today and she understood what I'm going through. I know that a lot of people wouldn't do that.

Rose is the perfect example of what I want in a girl. I've had countless girls have obsessive crushes on me, especially ones from the popular clique. Without hesitating, I always refused because I knew who they were underneath.

"Maybe I do. . ." My voice trailed off.

"I'll take that as a yes," Elijah insisted, a smirk spreading across his lips.

A blush crept up my cheek, signalizing me to make an attempt to hide it. Landon and Elijah chuckled to themselves as they took sips of their drinks.

"She is nice after all," Landon said as he dusted his hands. "She had the guts to take down Millicent, the fakest person in the entire grade."

"I know," I beamed with a relieved smile.

"Do you plan on going to prom with her?" Elijah asked. "You don't have a date, and prom is coming soon."

My hand crept on the tip of my chin as I raised an eyebrow. I never thought about taking anyone, especially Rose to prom until now. Earlier this school year, I planned to not go to prom with anyone and to hang out with my friends. But now, tables have turned since I met someone who is good enough for me to take to prom.

"I'll take her to prom," I answered. "But only if she wants to go with me. . ."

"I'm sure that she'll want to come with you," Elijah reassured me, wrapping an arm around my neck before he gave me a pat on the back.

"Yeah, why wouldn't she want to come with you?" Landon added.

"You're right," I proclaimed after dipping a french fry into a miniature ketchup pack. "Thanks for the support, guys."

"No problem, Ty," Elijah chuckled.

Outside, I'm smiling continuously. On the inside, I'm doing a happy dance. I'm excited to attend prom with Rose if she wants to go with me. All I can do right now is keep my fingers crossed.

Containing all my excitement will be challenging, but well-worth the wait.