A/N: Hey guys, just another random idea I had, with the Pentatonix cover of 'FourFiveSeconds' stuck in my head. I hope you enjoy it.

Avi's breathing hitches when he sees her. It's her. Kirstie Maldonado. The most beautiful, incredibly talented, perfect girl... that Avi just happens to have a crush on... for months now. He knows he doesn't stand a chance with her, that she is way out of his league... but a guy can dream, right?!

Her long blonde hair bounces as she makes her way up the hall, giggling and chatting with her two ever present best friends, Scott and Mitch. She looks gorgeous as always, dressed in a short black skirt and a bright pink and yellow floral top, with heels that make her look much taller than she really is.

Kirstie and her friends, or 'the trio', as Avi has heard them refer to themselves multiple times in the past, are in all the performance based classes, where Avi's interests lean more towards creative art and craft. He enjoys drawing and sketching much more than getting up in front of people. People... really aren't Avi's cup of tea. At least paper and canvas don't push you around and call you names and laugh at you because you can't string a simple sentence together without stuttering and... and...

Avi sighs. He just isn't good with people. They stress him out and he never knows what to say to them. Kevin is the only real friend Avi has at the school, and he is in his senior year, a grade above Avi. Kevin never gets frustrated when Avi takes a while to finish a sentence, and never makes him feel dim-witted or pathetic when he gets stressed and chooses not to speak at all. Kevin just might be Avi's very favourite human.

Avi snaps back to reality when he realises that Kirstie is only a few steps away from him. The trio is in the same class as Avi for English, and he is standing almost right in the doorway to their classroom. Kirstie's eyes crinkle at the corners as she laughs at something Mitch says, before they stop walking and her gaze lands on Avi. She is smiling and her pink lips are glistening and her beautiful hazel eyes meet Avi's green ones and Avi feels his mouth go dry.

"Hey Avi," Kirstie says, smiling at him. Avi gulps a much needed breathe of air and blinks a couple times to bring himself out of the stupor he's currently in. He notices that Kirstie, Mitch and Scott are grinning at him expectantly and he really wishes he could think of something witty or flirty to say... if only he wasn't him.

Avi knows he won't be able to get any words out without stuttering terribly and making a fool of himself, so instead, he merely smiles and waves pathetically, before pulling the door open and holding it for the girl of his dreams.

"Awwww thanks Avi," Kirstie says, before reaching up and placing a soft hand on Avi's cheek. "Such a gentleman," she adds with a bright smile. Avi's heart skips a beat and his cheeks feel like they're burning. He knows his cheeks must be bright red at that moment and he hopes that no-one else notices. Kirstie takes her hand back and walks past him into the classroom, followed by Mitch and Scott, who both give him huge grins like they know exactly what Avi is feeling and thinking and he's a little freaked out to be honest.

When the trio are all inside, Avi walks through the door, but before he can even make his way to a desk he is shoved forward roughly from behind. Avi sprawls forward, just managing to stop himself from falling onto the floor by grabbing the edge of the teacher's desk. Avi hears laughing and giggling as he stands back up, trying not to let his anxiety get the better of him as he feels his cheeks heat up again in embarrassment.

"Oh, I'm s-sorry A-A-Avi," he hears from the doorway. Avi turns toward the mocking voice and just as he expected, standing there looking smug is his number one tormenter, Eric, flanked by his two buddies Shane and Craig.

"We d-d-didn't see you there, A-A-Avi," Craig adds, chuckling and getting a playful slap on the back from Eric, who was laughing shamelessly.

"Cat got your tongue, A-A-Avi?" Eric asks nastily. Avi drops his sad eyes back down toward the floor in humiliation as he tries to ignore the bullies. Why do they always have to pick on him? And in front of Kirstie?! It's not his fault he stutters.

He makes his way to the second back row and drops down into the chair at a desk next to the wall. The three idiots follow Avi inside and sit in the row behind Kirstie, who Avi notices is looking over at him with sadness tainting her usually bright, cheerful eyes. He feels even worse when he realises that Kirstie obviously feels sorry for him. She probably thinks it's pathetic that he just takes all the insults and abuse they throw at him and never says or does anything to defend himself. Avi sighs and drops his head down onto his folded arms on the desktop.

*******

Avi is busy sketching when the bell signalling the end of the school day rings and the classroom is filled with the clamour of students packing up their equipment in their haste to leave for the day. Avi takes his time packing away his charcoal pencils and sketch book, knowing that he won't be leaving the school for a while yet anyway.

Swinging his backpack up onto his shoulder, Avi wanders outside the building and heads over towards the performing arts block as he does every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

Kevin lives three doors down from Avi and they always walk home together, as they always have done. It just means that on Tuesday and Thursday Avi has to wait an extra hour and a half for Kevin to finish band practice... which coincidentally are the same afternoons that Kirstie and the rest of the trio have theatre practice. Which means Avi really doesn't mind the extra time he has to spend at school.

One afternoon, a few weeks into the school year, whist wandering aimlessly around the school waiting for Kevin, Avi happened to walk behind the performing arts building and found a really nice garden area with lots of big trees and benches. One of the elm trees on the side of the hill was formed just right, so that if Avi climbed up into the first section where the branches began to split off in all directions he could sit comfortably and draw or read or whatever he felt like doing to pass the time. It became his special spot... and coincidentally, that tree just happened to face the wall of high windows of the small practice theatre where Kirstie has class.

Avi heads to his special tree, climbs up as he always does and gets comfortable. He pulls out his slightly smaller sketch book and opens it up to a new page. Taking out a pencil, Avi settles back and looks into the theatre building. Avi couldn't help the smile that appeared every time he saw Kirstie. There is something about Kirstie that draws Avi to her. Apart from the fact that she is absolutely stunning, she seems to exude happiness and life and fun... and Avi soaks it up every chance he gets.

Kirstie laughs at something Scott said, and Avi watches as she playfully shoves him and says something back to him through her pretty lopsided grin. Avi feels his own smile growing, as he looks down at his sketchbook and begins to draw.

*******

Avi is just about done shading in parts of his current sketch, when he hears a voice that makes him freeze in trepidation. Eric. Shit.

"You're such a dick, Shane!" Eric yells, his voice getting closer to Avi. Why are they near the performing arts building? Avi knows for a fact that they have basketball practice until at least 4:30pm... so why are they here?

Avi checks his phone, 4:16pm. They must have been let out of practice early. This is not good. Usually they can't do too much to him because there are always lots of people around, or Kevin is with him... and they seem to be scared of Kevin. Luckily they don't realise that Kev is just a big teddy bear and the opposite of violent.

Avi quickly shoves his phone back into his jeans pocket and makes sure his beanie is on straight, as he seems to do when he's stressed. Avi twists around in his current spot in the tree, and the three jocks are heading towards him. Avi's heart rate speeds up and he feels his hands begin to tremble as his breathing becomes a little less steady. Maybe they won't see him? It could work? Avi looks over his shoulder again quickly, before hunkering down in the tree... they are getting closer.

"Yo, Eric! Give me my fucking ball, man," Shane yells, sounded pissed off.

"You want this?" Eric replies, teasingly, "Come and take it!"

"Just give him the ball Eric, don't be such a dick," Craig says in Shane's defence.

Avi could hear the boys' footfalls crunching on the dead leaves. They must be so close... Avi takes a deep breath and holds it, trying not to let his panic overcome him. He hopes they can't see him...

"Shit! Guys, check this out!" Eric calls. Avi can hear heavy footsteps heading in his direction. He steels his expression and tries to act calm and collected. It's too late to make a run for it and it would be a bad plan to climb higher in the tree because they would just follow him and drag him down.

"Hey, A-A-Avi," Eric says, stopping only a few feet from the base of the tree Avi is perched in. "Whatcha doing here, loser?" Avi just stares at the larger, taller boy, trying to act as if the bullies' words don't hurt.

"You know he can't talk, Eric! The guy's a retard," Shane says laughing and gesturing towards Avi.

"Hey what have you got there A-A-Avi?" Craig asks. Avi gulps and clutches his sketch book closer to his chest. He can't let them see what he's drawn. His life will be ruined. She can't know...

Avi leans back slightly, trying to keep as much distance from the jocks as he can.

"Give us the book freak," Eric says in a threatening way. Avi shakes his head.

"Look you weirdo, you can either give us the book, or we'll come up there and take it!" Shane growls.

Avi feels his hands begin to tremble more violently. There is no way out of this. He is going to be pummelled. He isn't a fighter, and all three of the thugs are bigger and stronger than he is so there is no way...

"Get the fuck out of the tree!" Eric yells. Avi tenses up as Craig reaches for Avi's right leg. He quickly kicks at the boy's hand, to keep him away, whist franticly trying to keep the other two in his field of vision.

"Oooh, he wants to play rough!" Craig says with a maniacal grin.

Avi stands up, holding his sketchbook to his chest protectively and picks up his backpack with his free hand. "S-s -s-stop," he murmurs, "I-I'll c-c-c c-come d-down." Avi watches nervously as the guy's just laugh at him.

"Come on then, jump!" Eric spits in disgust.

Avi steps onto the edge of the tree branch, and jumps down to land on the grass with practiced ease. He backs up immediately until his back hits the thick tree trunk. The thugs all grin and converge on him. Avi feels as if he is on death row. Why did they have to walk this way? Why were they let out early? Why does the universe hate him?!

Avi flinches as his sketchbook is ripped from his hand by Craig, and hunches in on himself with a grunt as Shane's fist connects with his solar plexus. Avi lets his bag drop onto the grass as he doubles over in pain, just to be shoved back against the tree forcefully and punched again in the same place twice. Avi coughs and wraps his arms around his mid-section, struggling to take a decent breath. He has learnt from bitter experience that there is no use resisting, as it just makes the beating worse.

"Now what do we have here," Eric teases. Avi looks up, to see Eric flicking through his sketchbook. Both Shane and Craig are looking at his drawings over Eric's shoulders and all three of them are chuckling nastily at Avi's work.

"You are such a loser," Craig says, shaking his head at Avi. He nudges Eric with his shoulder, "The freak's in looove! Like he has a chance with her!"

Avi feels sick in the stomach as he fights to keep his bottom lip from quivering. He can't let himself cry. Not now. Not in front of them. Avi takes a deep breath, "G-g-give it b-b-b-back," he says with as much confidence as he can muster. He sounds like a scared child. Avi tries to grab his book back, only to have his arm slapped aside by Craig.

"You know," Eric says with a wry grin, "I know someone who would love to see these drawings. Whaddaya say boys?" Avi feels the colour drain from his face. No... he wouldn't...

"Hell yeah!" "Do it, man!" Eric's two lackeys reply at the same time. Eric snaps the sketchbook closed and flashes an evil grin at Avi.

Avi shakes his head furiously, "N-nn-n-nnn..."

Avi's plea goes unanswered as the three jocks take off sprinting towards the entrance to the theatre. The theatre Kirstie is inside of. To show her Avi's drawings. Shit. Avi has to stop them, or he may as well just lie down and wait for death to take him. It will be the same outcome.

Avi grabs his bag and stumbles after them painfully, half running half limping as fast as he possibly can.

*******

Kirstie looks up as the theatre door is thrown open and bangs loudly against the doorstop. One of those basketball players from her grade shoves his way inside, followed by two other tall guys dressed in the same basketball gear. The three pause just inside the door and seem to be looking for something or someone.

Kirstie flashes a look of confusion across the stage at Scott and Mitch, who both shrug. The entire theatre has gone quiet, and all dozen of the students inside are now staring at the out-of-place teens at the door.

"Uh, what are you guys doing in here?" Scott calls, making the three jocks turn to look at the stage.

The one in front, Ernie or something, she's never really cared to remember his name, spots her and his grin widens... but not in a good way.

"Kirstie!" he yells, rushing up onto the stage. The two other guys follow him, but stop at the first row of seats and drop down to sit next to each other in the front row by the aisle. Kirstie furrows her brows in both annoyance at the guys interrupting their rehearsal, and bewilderment. What on earth do they want with her?

"You have to see this," one of the two jocks says, looking up at Kirstie. "It's so pathetic!"

"Here," Eric says loudly, shoving some kind of large book in her face, "Take a look at what that loser Avi drew!"

Avi? What did this have to do with him? Kirstie gathered that it must have been Avi's sketchbook she was now holding, but why did this obnoxious jock have something that belonged to Avi?

Kirstie thought Avi was a really sweet guy. He was always so nice and kind, plus he was incredibly cute. She often found herself wondering what it would feel like to run her hands through the long curly hair that was always peeking out from under his beanie and forming cute curls that sat on his shoulders. Avi had a great body, from what she could tell anyway, beautiful green eyes that seemed to see right into her soul, and a smile to melt hearts. It was a shame he was so shy. Kirstie was beginning to think that he'd never work up the courage to ask her out...

"Wait," Mitch spoke up, walking toward her and Ernie. "Why do you have Avi's sketchbook?"

"What the fuck does it matter?" the jock sneered at Mitch. Turning back to face Kirstie, "Just look at what the freak has been drawing!" he added, gesturing to the book in frustration.

Kirstie was torn, she really wants to set eyes on what Avi has drawn... especially because it apparently has something to do with her. On the other hand, it seems so wrong to look at someone else's work without their permission, and she doubts that Avi entrusted something so personal to this guy, who seems to despise Avi...

Kirstie looks up as the door bangs open again, and Avi's eyes lock onto hers for a split second, before dropping down to the book in her hands. He looks out of breath and his eyes hold nothing but fear and panic.

"Hey A-A-Avi," the Ernie guy calls mockingly toward Avi. "Glad you could join us! Kirstie here is about to look at your shitty drawings," he says, making the two flunkies with him chuckle.

"N-n-nn-n-noo... p-p-pl-please..." Avi begs, frozen on the spot and looking as if he is going to break down in tears any second.

Kirstie watches Avi's eyes grow wide with panic as Ernie takes a step towards her, grinning mischievously. Avi instantly dashes forward, sprinting down the aisle towards the stage, never taking his eyes off of his precious sketchbook. Just as Avi is nearing the front row, Ernie's annoying team mate kicks his leg out into the aisle, deliberately tripping Avi. The two bullies laugh and high five each other as he crashes to the floor, throwing his hands out in front of him just in time to save his head from colliding with the floorboards. Kirstie feels herself cringe at the loud thud Avi's body makes as it impacts with the hardwood floor. That must have really hurt. Laughter echoes around the small theatre as some of the performance students find Avi's painful dilemma far too entertaining.

Kirstie rushes to the front of the stage to check that Avi is ok, joined swiftly by Scott and Mitch. Kirstie can just make out a deep groan emanating from the injured young man lying sprawled on the floor of the theatre. Poor Avi. Kirstie feels anger welling up inside her.

"Stop it, all of you!" she yells, loud enough to be heard above the commotion. Silence ensues. "That wasn't funny! Can't you see he's hurt!?" Kirstie says in empathy for Avi. Kirstie shakes her head in disgust at her classmates and hugs Avi's book to her chest.

"Why the hell do you care?" Ernie asks, staring at her in disbelief. "He's a retard!"

Kirstie's jaw drops. "Don't you dare call him that!" she retorts furiously. Ernie just glares back at her. She could not believe the hurtful words spewing out of this jock's mouth. She looks down at Avi, who is now sitting Indian style on the floor facing away from everyone, with his head in his hands. Kirstie can tell that he is upset, because she can see him trembling.

"You're a fucking asshole, you know that?!" Scott says, walking right up to the Ernie guy, with Mitch on his heels. "Just get out of here," Scott spits, gesturing towards the doors.

"Screw you Hoying! Y'all are a bunch of pussies," he replies, stalking down off the stage to his waiting team mates.

"Takes one to know one," Mitch adds under his breath, just loud enough for Scott and Kirstie to hear.

The guy who tripped Avi gives the trio the finger, before the three head out of the theatre. Most of the other students have already left, or are currently in the process of leaving.

Kirstie gives Scott and Mitch a worrying look, and motions to herself, then over at Avi. Her friends nod in understanding, before heading to the other side of the theatre to give her some privacy while she talks to Avi.

Hugging the sketchbook, Kirstie steps down from the stage and walks over to Avi's hunched form. He looks so small and vulnerable... she hates the way he is tormented and harassed just because he's different.

Kirstie carefully sits down beside Avi and places the sketchbook on the floor in front of her. She rests her hand on Avi's back gently. She can feel him trembling beneath her hand, and sniffing quietly. Those assholes. She hates them so much for reducing such a wonderful, kind young man down to a quivering mess.

Avi swipes at his eyes and cheeks, trying to wipe away the tears and get his emotions under control. Finally, Avi lifts his head and gazes at Kirstie. His big green eyes shimmer with more unshed tears. She feels terrible. Why were these guys always tormenting him? What did he ever do to deserve such terrible treatment?

*******

Avi groans and squeezes his eyes shut in pain. Everything hurts.

He hears laughter all around him and knows everyone must have seen him trip and fall. He wishes silently that the floor would open up and swallow him, just so he doesn't have to see the pitying looks he is most likely getting from the crowd. He hates his life. The only good thing in it was Kirstie... and now what will she think of him? She'll probably never give him a second glance.

Someone is shouting above him on the stage somewhere and Avi is doing his best to just block everybody out. He can feel warm salty tears beginning to run down his cheeks and into the soft hair Avi is trying to nurture into what he hopes will be a decent beard one day. He gives up. The tiny bit of self-respect he had left just went out the window, so what matters anymore? Most of the students ignore him or pity him... and the rest, like Eric, try make his life as miserable as possible. Any hope he had of one day asking Kirstie to go on a date with him died along with his dignity.

Avi grit his teeth together and pulls himself up to sit with his back to everyone. He drops his head down into his hands and lets his tears fall. He hears Eric call him a retard... in front of Kirstie... and Kirstie yells at him. Kirstie... is standing up for him!? Avi smiles despite his tears. She is so sweet. Wait... does this mean she likes him? Or is she just standing up to Eric because he's being a dick? Why is everything so confusing!?

Avi groans in frustration.

Avi is so deep in thought, he doesn't realise that Kirstie is sitting right beside him until he feels her small hand come to rest on his back. He sniffs quickly and swipes at his eyes to wipe away the tear tracks, knowing all the while that she will still be able to tell that he's been crying. Gathering the few tattered threads of confidence he has left, Avi looks up and is once more awestruck by the girl's natural beauty. Kirstie is so far out of his league. His heart breaks again, knowing he'll never be able to call her his.

Avi smiles sadly as he looks into her hazel eyes and glimpses a mixture of emotions, from sadness to worry to hope to who knows what. "S-sorry," he mutters in apology for... well... everything.

"You have nothing to apologise for, Avi," she says sweetly, a small smile forming on her perfect face. "It's those stupid jocks that should be apologising to you."

Avi feels his heart warm just little, knowing that she still cares about him enough to defend him against his tormenters. He tries to think of something to say that won't make him sound like a blubbering idiot, but she continues...

"That guy, Ernie or something, was trying to get me to look inside this book. He said it was yours," Kirstie says, picking Avi's sketchbook up and holding it carefully in her delicate hands. "Is it yours, Avi?"

His eyes flick to the book, then back to Kirstie. He nods a couple times in response. He still wasn't sure if she had seen his drawings yet. "D-d-di-did y-you look in-inside?"

Kirstie smiles sadly. "No. I really wanted to," she says brightly, in an excited tone of voice, "But it didn't seem right to go looking at your work without your permission." She smiles again. Avi really loves her smile.

Avi smiles in return, and nods again, some of the tension gone from his shoulders. He's glad that his secret is still safe...

"Avi?" Kirstie says, suddenly sounding nervous. Avi looks up and notices that she is chewing on her bottom lip. Avi raises his eyebrows. Kirstie seems to be thinking about how to ask him something...

"Would you mind if I did take a look at your drawings? I promise I won't laugh or judge you or anything like that. And, I mean, it's totally fine if you don't want me to... but I'm really curious now about what is so important to you that I didn't see..."

All of a sudden, Avi feels his heart beating faster than ever. Kirstie wants to see his artwork... but what will she think when she sees it? Avi's hands begin to tremble again and he clasps them together in his lap so that Kirstie hopefully won't notice.

If Avi could just reveal his feelings for the girl, maybe the drawings wouldn't seem so... stalker-ish.

"Avi?"

Avi looks back at Kirstie, holding his sketchbook like it's some kind of treasure to be protected, and his mind is made up. He takes a deep breath, and nods. "O-ok."

"Really?! Are you sure?"

Avi can't help but grin at the girl. She looks so cute when she's excited. "Y-yeah. I-I'm sure."

"Thanks sooo much," she gushes with a huge grin. Avi holds his breath as Kirstie puts the book in her lap and flips open the sketchbook. Avi stares at Kirstie's face as she studies the first drawing. It's a charcoal sketch of her smiling face. She inhales sharply and her grin fades. Avi drops his gaze to the floor in front of him. Shit. She hates it. He knew he shouldn't have let her look at his artwork. It's not even that good.

"Oh Avi," Kirstie says, finally raising her eyes away from the page. Avi glances up out of the corner of his eyes warily. "It's beautiful!" she says, eyes misty with tears of what Avi hopes are happiness. Avi stares in shock. She actually likes it? Kirstie flips to the next drawing, and the next, and the next.

"You're so talented!" she says, gaze never leaving the pages of the book. "You make me look so pretty..."

Avi gulps, wondering how she feels about him sketching her so many times. He really hopes she thinks of him drawing her in appreciation of her beauty... and not as a creepy stalker who is obsessed with her.

Half way through the book, Kirstie finally reaches the last sketch. It's the one he just finished, barely ten minutes ago. It feels like so much longer.

"This... is from today..." she says, noticing that the hairstyle and clothing match how she currently looks. She looks over at Avi for confirmation, and he nods slowly.

Kirstie closes the sketchbook and carefully places it on the floor, before skirting over to sit facing Avi on the floor. She reaches out and takes Avi's large hands in her much smaller ones and holds them gently. Avi's skin tingles, and he can't help but smile at the sensation.

"Avi, can I ask you a question?" she asks timidly, looking up at Avi from under her long eyelashes. Avi feels his breathing quicken and his palms start to sweat. Not trusting his voice, he nods again.

Kirstie smiles. "Avi, do you like me?" There it is. On the table. Avi feels his brain go into overdrive. Should he tell Kirstie how he feels? Confess to his feelings? It's kind of obvious from the few dozen sketches that he definitely feels something for the girl. It's only fair that he tells her the truth... even if he feels foolish, stuttering over his words.

Avi takes a deep breath and looks into Kirstie's eyes. "K-Ki-Kirstie," Avi pauses, trying to calm down enough to get the words out. Kirstie waits patiently, for which he is incredibly grateful. He just needs to say those four little words... the words that he has been wanting to say to her for so long. "I really l-like you." Avi's cheeks are on fire and he knows he's blushing horribly.

"You do?" Kirstie asks, a huge grin on her face. Avi nods his head vigorously. "Because I really like you too! I've liked you for so long, I just didn't know if you liked me back!"

"I-I've li-liked you since the f-first t-t-time I s-saw you," Avi replies, proud that he said all that with minimal stuttering. Avi and Kirstie just sit there, wearing matching grins. Avi feels happier than he's been in years. It's time he asks Kirstie to finally be his. It's now or never. Just five more little words.

"K-Kirstie? W-will you b-be my g-g-girlfriend?"

"Yes! Yes, of course I will," she says, beaming. Avi chuckles at the girl's excitement, as she throws herself at Avi and pulls him into a tight hug. Avi hugs her back, basking in the warmth and happiness emanating from HIS GIRLFRIEND!

Kirstie pulls back slightly, and after only a seconds' hesitation, leans in and kisses Avi sweetly on the lips.

She tastes of raspberries and her lips are so soft and Avi feels like he is floating and if he was to die right now he would be happy. He could barely get his head around the fact that she had agreed to be his, but she did and it was perfect.

Kirstie gazes into his eyes and in her gaze Avi sees that his life is about to get a whole lot more interesting... and he is looking forward to every second of it!

A/N: Thanks again for reading! I love comments - so please leave as many as you like