"Oh my Gosh, you two broke up?" I heard Iris feign a laugh but failing terribly, as she dramatically pressed her fingers over her chest, while her hazel eyes glowed. "I'm so sorry to hear that though... But I'm kind of not?" She chirped loudly, not looking very sorry apparently. That was probably the most conversation she had made with me even though she was practically supposed to be my best friend. "Do you get what I mean?"

I took a hesitant moment to answer, unsure of what to say. "I don't,"

"Oh come on, it's so obvious. The height difference... You are so tall for a girl, it's quite embarrassing actually. No offence though, you know you two just didn't look very... cute together..." She struggled to phrase her words in the nicest way possible,  plastering a sympathetic smile. I blinked at her, trying to let her words sink in. "He deserves so much better really." She sighed, sipping on her blueberry soda.

Not having much to say, I shifted uncomfortably on the wooden bench, wrapping my arms around myself, feeling different and unpleased about my own body, something I was never secure of in the first place. It was always, I was too big of a girl and never fit the stereotypical feminine looks. My hopes for my relationship faltered as I looked back at her, and at her frail figure, there was no way I was lovable considering how unattractive I was. I only wanted to feel better by venting out to someone, but Iris didn't seem to understand my point of view. A sharp hurting feeling emerged in my chest from fighting back tears. I sniffled quietly, gulping down the hard bile stuck in my throat. "Why did you forward my texts about him to him?" 

"What?" She excused herself with a scowl. 

"You leaked our private conversations to him."

"Michelle, don't be so dramatic first." She sighed in exasperation, throwing the plastic cup away. "Second, I had no choice. He literally begged me to see my phone, and I couldn't refuse him of course. He's always on my phone... That boy... He actually is kind of obsessed with me," Iris whispered loudly, flipping her long straight hair behind, and then eyed my body before adding. "Maybe... Because I wasn't monstrously tall. It was obvious in those weird explicit pictures... I was very weirded out actually,"

With one last incredulous glance at me, she then pranced away in her heels. I was at a loss for words, I always was, the stinging tears pricking my eyes again. She was probably right. I was way out of his league and should've known before. So the next thing I knew, I stood right in front of the mirror, looking back at myself with utter disgust, holding a sharp tool in my hand. 

"The class is dismissed." The words intervened between my unstopping train of thoughts, as our computer teacher filed out, fifteen minutes in advance.

That was how the day wore off to an end, simultaneously when me and Marilyn exited our programming class, which left us exhausted, for different reasons for both of us. We packed our bags hurriedly, making our way out of the class while chatting about the upcoming tests and assignments. Marilyn had an emergency at home, with her mum feeling unwell so she couldn't stick around for long so I bid her a quick goodbye before she left. 

I adjusted my bag, slowly making my way towards the already crowded lift, trying hard to be unseen and camouflage in between the group of students. 

"Hey wait!" A masculine voice called up, and I pretended I wasn't the target of whoever the source was. I heard approaching steps as I decided to take the long flight of stairs instead of the fully occupied lift. Catching up to me, I saw from the corner of my eyes, a heavily breathing Edward who stopped just by me, to get my attention. "You owed me a favour," He reminded, addressing me.

"I- I can't really talk to you right now..." I shakily replied.

'What do you mean? Why not?"

"Someone would see us, and that wouldn't end well," I voiced my paranoia as I descended the stairs in a hurry.

"Oh this someone should really try me then," He replied, following me beside him. "Actually, I wanted to return your phone that you seemed to have forgotten in class." With that, I halted midway, mentally smacking myself for being so careless.

"I'm so sorry... I don't know what I was thinking..." I trailed off, knitting my fingers together in nervousness. 

"There's nothing to be sorry about, but I'm sorry I won't give it back to you," A very amused smile crept on his face, his wide blue eyes looking challenging.

"Excuse me?"

"Just imagine... I'll be getting access to all the done assignments, and the report writings, I'll be a lucky man," He rasped playfully, but I did not return his gesture. If you could see the look on my face, that would've probably resembled one before breaking down crying. But I wasn't going to do that, not here, not in front of him. I inhaled deeply, and let out a helpless sigh.

"Please give it back, I'll do whatever you want me to," My voice almost cracked in the end, making me appear more wretched. I saw Edward open his mouth to speak, but couldn't form any words, his grin fading away. 

"I didn't mean it that way," He stuttered, extracting my phone and extending his hand for me to take it back. I quietly took it from his hand, tucking it back in my bag and mouthing a small thank you to him in return. 

We climbed down the remaining stairs in silence, and he quietly tagged along not leaving my side for a moment. As I walked, I saw him from the corner of my eye, and I tried to compare my and his height differences. Was it because he was a little taller than me, that he thought I was worth being nice to? I did prevent to keep a straight posture in case my figure would come off as a little too big. Nevertheless, I didn't know how to feel about that.

Pushing my thoughts aside, I finally made it to the big gates at the very end of the open field and sprinted towards the entrance. I quickly paced out to find the bus, far cruising down the road, and too late to catch up. I grumbled in annoyance, cursing myself and Edward under my breath. 

"Are you always this quiet or, do you secretly hate me?" He questioned again, his intrusion catching me off guard.

"I'm always like this," I silently answered, not knowing what else to say. 

"Well, that's relieving to hear." He lightly scratched the back of his slightly long curly hair that almost touched the nape of his neck, before he looked back at me. "I mean kind of..."

"I missed my bus just because of you," I accused trying to muster a very serious expression, yet he didn't seem fazed in the slightest. 

"That's great. It means we can spend more time, getting to know each other." He teasingly smiled, and I had half a mind to put him into place. We barely met and he was already getting the wrong idea with me.

"Edward... I need to go home," I deadpanned, and his smile only grew.

"Oh, you remember my name. That's cute." 

This endless back and forth seemed to go on forever, and I almost gave up. "Don't you have a place to go or are you gonna spend the entire day here?" I asked grumpily plopping down on one of the waiting benches. He walked towards me slowly, his feet scrunching on the dead leaves, taking a seat right beside me.

"Of course I have. Just thought I'd give you some company." He simply looked into the horizon of the setting sun, and for the first time I analysed his features, and to say I was awestruck by them seemed a bit of an understatement. His sun-kissed hair blew in the light wind of the chilly evening, and the golden glow accentuated his blue irises.

I quickly composed myself before he could catch me staring. "Why? Why do you have to give me this company?"

"Loneliness can be a little too accompanying than someone's presence. And I don't think you'd want that kind of company. Especially with your incriminating thoughts," He answered, not really looking at me, but instead tracing a stray stone around the pavement with his shoe, his eyes fixated on the ground. I turn my head towards him, the curtain of my black hair, blocking my view. I pluck them away, to give him a curious look.

Before I could speak, he continued. "So do you want a ride or not?"

"You have a ride?" I asked, flustered.

"Of course. Where are you headed to?"

"I'll manage, don't worry."

"Michelle you could always make it up to me by helping me with my assignments. I wouldn't mind really," He replied with amusement, jiggling the keys in his long index finger. 

"No, I can't do this." I swiftly got up from the bench, worried, I looked around the area to ensure no one was watching our encounter. I paced back towards the gate, heading outside and waiting for a bus, any bus to appear magically and just teleport me to my home in my cosy bedroom so I could blast Taylor Swift while reading fanfictions online. 

Twenty minutes. Twenty long agonizing minutes until I waited for a bus that headed to my route but nothing came. My feet ached from standing for so long, all the while Edward just patiently stood there, waiting for me to either give up or spend the night at university. 

I switched on my phone to realise it was dead, thanks to my incessant screen time on writing poetry on Wattpad since I seemed to have lost some of my poetry diaries elsewhere. I looked at him tiredly, weighing the consequences of my agreement. Even if he had bad intentions and would want to kill me in his car, I'd honestly wouldn't even bother at this point. Might as well just die instead of studying any more Calculus. 

"Fine," I announced exasperatedly and followed him towards the white car. I could stop. I should stop, but I didn't. He gave me a satisfied look, probably proud of himself at that point, as he opened the passenger door for me to take a seat. I stifled a very amused smile at the whole situation. 

I gave him my street address credentials. Not the specific ones, just the one which was far enough for someone to not eye-stalk my flat.

"Holy crap. We even live in the same place. Well almost." He smiled smugly.

"Yeah, holy crap."

Next thing we knew, he was accelerating his car on the chilly empty streets with the wind caressing past my open hair. The CD player in the vintage car played August by Taylor Swift, filling the car with a reminiscent melody, and I shook my head slightly at the choice.

"You listen to Taylor too?" I couldn't help but ask.

"All hopeless romantic people do," he rasped, his eyes fixed on the road. "Plus, I'm a sucker for beautiful lyricism and poetry, so I absolutely do obsess over Evermore and Folklore."

This was where I couldn't stop my creeping shy smile, and for the first time today, I felt a sense of ease.