My heart couldn't stop beating as fast as the stars could carry. I was stuck in the middle of the most popular guy at school. "Hey there, Zoe!" the boy said to my shocked face. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! I immediately noticed that he was holding my hands and I tried to dash out of them but alas, he still held them like he was my boyfriend - or such!

"As if, Zoe!" I whispered to myself angrily. I tried leaning against the wall for comfort, but I thought that since he was the most popular guy at my school, I - I just - think it's love that is coming back to me. The boy held my hand again. It was such a warm feeling that I almost fainted to death.

Once again, I tried to back off but every time I did, there was no change. His hand was still holding mines. "I'm -" "DON'T TELL ME, BENJAMIN!" I cut him off like I was being a mad teacher in a flooded lab. But he just stared at me, smiling. "Don't mean to be rude, Zoe," Benjamin replied to me. "But do you like anime?"

"W - wait! How the HECK did you manage to find that information?!!" I shouted at him in shock. "In a graveyard?!!" He was about to tell me when I suddenly cut him off again. "Yea, yea. In LoveHacked. Where MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT GOT HACKED - I MEAN LOVEHACKED!!!" I cried out with a laugh. "Don't you get it? Haha!"

Benjamin was unsure about me. He just stared at me like I was a crazy person screaming around in the hallways. My laughter suddenly died down when I realised where I was. I checked the time. REALLY? We've BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES?!! Mum'll be happy at me. In fact, she'd probably start to wonder where I am and HOST A SEARCH PARTY!!! Ugh! Thanks to Benjamin who literally wasted my whole entire time talking to me! Chatterbox. Liar. Cheater. SOME KIND OF MANIAC PERSON.

"OK, BENJAMIN," I replied loudly. "Can I pretty please with a cherry on top go back to my house? PRETTY PLEASE?" I looked at him with promising and blinking eyes. Benjamin stared at me for like about another half an hour of my time when finally, he said, "Anything for my future girlfriend."

W - WHAT JUST HAPPENED? DID HE JUST SAY "FUTURE GIRLFRIEND"?!! Nah uh! THERE IS NO WAY THAT THAT IS HAPPENING. "EXCUSE ME!!! I WILL GET OUT MY RULER AND W-" I paused and thought for a minute. Come on. My thought is going to be violent. Plus the teacher would probably give me detention the next time I go to school. "Fine. I will think about it tomorrow," I replied. "BUT ONLY TOMORROW. UNDERSTOOD?"

Benjamin shrugged and after a moment finally replied "Yes." So after that ridiculous talk with - the most popular guy at my school, I ran back home, only to find my mum worried sick. "Mum, what's wrong?" I asked her while she was walking up and down of my bedroom when she suddenly saw me and rushed to embrace me with happy tears in her eyes.

"Zoe! Where on earth have you been? I've been looking for you worried sick!" "Yea, Mum. So, today, you wouldn't have believed in my story unless you have heard it," I told her, anxiously. "Yes, sweetie. What's wrong?" my mum asked, concerned to hear my perilous story. "How was school today?" "Yea, it wasn't bad, I guess," I replied, unsure what I wanted to say next.

"So today, I've realised that I have two rivals. But don't be surprised - yet. Both of them are guys." My mum looked at me, suspiciously. "Ok, then what?" "I was going back to my locker to grab my things when suddenly, a guy showed up and you won't believe it! One, he knows me and two, he's like literally the most popular guy at my school! Like literally all the girls surround him as if they all want to be his girlfriend! Like OMG!" I exaggerated in shock while telling my mum my shocking story. "HE EVEN TRIED TO KISS ME!!!" I gave a sudden scream.

This definitely scared mum. I can tell because she has eyes like a monster staring at me with concern. "ALL RIGHT! THEN, WHAT HAPPENED?!!" my mum was shouting at me like a psychopath or serial killer. I couldn't tell the difference. Are serial killers similar to psychopaths? No - it can't be. Or are they both similar? I think. That is. You know what I'm talking about. The thing. Oh my god.

Anyways! "Luckily, I made a dodge and ran away from him only to get to home and here we are," I immediately finished my story but almost forgot that I also moaned at Marcus, who used to be my boyfriend but is now my ex! Ugh. My mum was about to clap at my story when I suddenly cut her off. "Mum. I have one more thing to talk about," I replied. "All right, sweetie. Go ahead," said mum. "All right. This might sound sexy but here goes nothing!" I replied to mum, unsure if it was sexy but yea.

"Anyways, so today, I thought that my ex boyfriend wasn't coming to school today because yesterday, I caught him cheating on me on my laptop," I began. "And today, he was super annoying. First, he admits he loves me, second, he tried to kiss me! And third, he pressed his hands on my private part! Like - how?!! How is that?!! Like literally, OMG!!!" My mum stared at me. Oh jeez. Now she definitely thinks I'm a crazy person.

"Sweetie, thank you for telling me. I will report him as soon as I can. Now, come here." my mum began. I followed her instructions and sat next to her. "Trust me, no matter what happens, everything will be all right and I will always be with you. Forever," she whispered to my ear. I rushed to hug her. Awww. Mum hug. Only my parents like her can hug me tightly. And sometimes - my friends.

But anyways, since today is a Tuesday, I was so distracted by my mum that I noticed that I was late for girl guides! I've checked the time earlier and it said: 5:35 in the afternoon! Oh no. I forgot to practise running. Are you serious? AND WE HAVE GIRL GUIDES OFFICIAL CROSS COUNTRY?!! FOR 2020?!! You've gotta be kidding me.

"Ok, mum. I think it's time to stop hugging me. We're late for girl guides," I said quietly to her. My mum checked the time to see if I was right. "Oh, you're right, sweetie! We are late for girl guides! Come on! Pack your things. Your hat, runners and leggings and let's go!" my mum shouted back at me. I quickly did as instructed, grabbed a few snacks on my way and rushed to the door to put on my pink runners. And of course, my runners have shoelaces on them.

"MUM!" I yelled out. "MUM!" "WHAT, SWEETIE?!!" she yelled at me because the TV was on in the other corner. My dad was watching Stranger Things again in the living room. Sorry about that! Anyways, my mum came out of my bedroom to find me trying to tie my shoelaces. "Come! Let me do it!" my mum shouted.

Wow, dirty drama queen. And with every snitch tied on with my backpack on, I was ready to go. "Come on. Out of the door, maniac! You're late for girl guides!" my mum yelled at me, giving me a shove out of the doorstep as I tried to walk down. Woah, mum. I nearly tumbled down because of you! You are controlling my whole entire afternoon! Well, not entire afternoon. First, Marcus. Second, Benjamin. And now - you. Thanks to you, I don't get to be me! Wah!

All right, enough blabbing about me for now until I actually get out of the door. All right, all set! Weeeeeeee! I flung myself out of the house, followed by my mum, holding my cap - and still staring at me with concern. We rushed to the car with my mum in the driver's seat and me (Zoe) next to her.

We drove and drove forever (well - not forever. Let's just say five minutes. Is that fine?) until we finally arrived at Lapis Hill Girl Guides' main entrance. I got out of the car and got my things. "Bye, mum!" I shouted out of the car. "Bye, sweetie! Hope you have fun! And good luck! I love you!" my mum shouted at me with joy. "Awww. I love you too," I sighed as I realised that I was nearly crying with happiness - and sometimes tiredness and exhaustion.

When I arrived at the oval, I checked the time and - phew. 6:00 in the evening. Perfect timing, mum! I was about to wander off when suddenly, I saw Ms Belle, my girl guides leader (and sometimes teacher so that's why I call her that.) and I asked her where everyone else was.

"Um. We should start at 6:10, okay?" she asked with a smile spreading on her face. I nodded and waited for like about - ten minutes exactly - I guess?!! Ok, so once ten minutes was up, I came back from the toilets and all of a sudden, everyone showed up. Like OMG! When I first got here, like not a single person was around and now, almost like a whole stampede of girls has shown up to girl guides! OMG!

"Now, girls, today is very important! We have a cross country run of 2020 today! Exciting, right? I know, girls," Ms Belle replied with a sweet expression. We all nodded - except not being as excited as Ms Belle was. I looked down on the floor, eyes looking as bored as the stars could carry me. Please kill me. I don't want to do this. But now, I guess since we are here, let's go. Yay. It'll be fun. And I could just walk my way through the entire track.

I thought in silence just as all the girls got up and stood on the starting line of the rocky track. Great. Three metres you have to run. Luckily it's only one run. When the teacher finally got her horn at the workshop, she walked up to where we were standing and was about to begin the race.

"Ok first, the checklist! Are you're feet behind the starting line?" she asked all of us as a girl realised that her feet wasn't behind the starting line and immediately fixed her mistake. "Are you're hands below your feet?" Another girl once again has made a mistake. I can see you, Aleho.

"And finally, are you ready?" Heck no. Now I definitely wasn't ready for that question. Wah! My first mistake! Ugh. Thanks, Ms Belle! For correcting that. On me. Affecting me. I followed her instructions and took a deep breath, getting ready to run as Ms Belle yelled in her horn, "3, 2, 1!!!" and with that, she fired her cannon. BOOM!