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I plopped down in my Art class seat in exhaustion, taking the time to take out my books before laying my head on the table.

"Long night?" Joshua chuckled, taking his allocated seat next to me.

I sighed, playing with the chipped wood at the end of the table. "You could say that."

After Harper asked me to the Valentine's Day Dance yesterday, that night I couldn't sleep at all, just fantasising the night to come over and over in my head, replaying how he asked me like a lovestruck teenage girl.

Well you are one, aren't you?

However, my lack of sleep had affected me that morning, and I was so tired I could have made a bed in amongst the paintbrushes.

"I guess Art is a good first period then," Joshua replied, getting out his books. "Very relaxed."

I smiled and turned to face him. "Yeah. At least it's not PE." I shuddered. "That would be terrible."

"Not the sporty type?" He asked, chuckling a little. I shook my head quickly.

"Definitely not the sporty type. I can't play sports to save my life."

"Really?" Joshua asked, twirling his pencil quickly in-between his fingers and raising an eyebrow. "Because I would think otherwise after that time you elbowed me in the field."

I winced and blushed, finally sitting up in the seat. "I'm really sorry about that."

"It's okay." He answered. "I was just joking."

Suddenly, we were plummeted into an awkward silence. I watched all the other teenagers in my class interact and stuff- talking, poking, kissing, I don't know, and couldn't help but hope the teacher would come as quick as she could right now.

It was true, I did feel really bad about elbowing Joshua right in the stomach and sending him tumbling into the grass when Harper and him had that fight, but he was trying to hurt Harper. So, of course, I was kind of obliged to.

"Why were you two fighting that day?" I couldn't help but blurt out. Joshua looked at me, surprised.

"What?" He asked quickly. I shook my head.

"What were you two fighting about?" I repeated. Joshua was silent for a few, torturous seconds, before he finally opened his mouth to speak.

"You."

My eyes widened in surprised. "What?" I asked, disbelief clear in my voice. Joshua blushed a little bit.

"You. We were fighting about you." He concluded.

"Wh- why?"

He sighed. "Because I was talking about how good you looked that day, how much I wanted to speak to you when your hair fell over your shoulder, but that we weren't on good terms, so I couldn't."

My stomach clenched at his sudden confession, but I tried to ignore it. "Th- then what?"

"Then he threw the first punch."

I held my breath. "Oh my gods."

Joshua let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah. But it's okay. It was two months ago."

I shook my head. "It's not. He shouldn't have hit you."

"It's fine, Noelle. Really. I shouldn't have said that, knowing that he liked you."

My heart swelled in my chest as I began coughing- if it was possible- choking on my own spit.

What?

"Woah, are you okay?" Joshua asked, rubbing my back. I nodded, finally coming back to normal.

"He likes me?" I asked again, my face red. Joshua nodded, giving me the 'duh' look.

"Yeah, it's pretty damn obvious."

"Did he tell you that he liked me?" I asked softly, my heart racing. He raised an eyebrow.

"No, but like I said, it's pretty damn obvious."

There it is, Noelle.

He thinks.

Probably isn't true though. He's a player. He doesn't fall for girls, they fall for him.

Like you have stupidly done.

"What? You don't believe me?" Joshua, asked, a grin growing on his face. I shook my head slowly. "So I guess it's okay if I do this then." He mumbled under his breath.

Wait, what?

He stood up from his seat, reaching behind his back and pulling out two pink roses. My eyes widened in surprise as I held my breath tightly.

Oh, gods.

"Noelle- " He began. The class had gone silent, everyone was staring at us now. "I know we just became friends again, but I was hoping, if you're not already going with anybody- if you wanted to go to the dance with me?"

I felt my cheeks flame up, and my stomach fill up with guilt. It was funny, really. For the last few years we had had the dance, nobody asked me. Now, suddenly, in my senior year, not one, but two guys had asked me. And there Joshua was, looking so hopeful and eager, blue eyes shining, that I felt terrible.

"I'm- I'm sorry, Joshua. Harper already asked me."

I watched in regret as his face fell. Indignant whispers ran around the class, and my stomach clenched. He nodded hesitantly in defeat.

"That's- that's okay." He took a deep breath, and my heart broke as he put the roses away, tucking them into his pocket. "Sorry for asking."

I shook my head. "No, I'm really sorry Joshua. I am."

He nodded and turned away, just as the teacher walked in.

Relieved for the distraction, I turned around and tried to involve myself in the class, but my mind kept drifting off to Harper and Joshua, gently tracing the outlines of the bandages that still adorned my hands.

I hate this.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I had never really given Harper credit to his insane basketball skills until I watched him at practice that same day, after school.

Or how good he looked when he was playing.

He was probably the fastest on the team, and was definitely the one who scored the most, weaving around the other players easily. I couldn't help but notice the muscles in his arms move when he dribbled the ball, flexing in his sleeveless basketball uniform. Watching him play was like magic, he was so amazing. I guess, in a way, he was Voldemort.

Not like I ever doubted that.

Finally, his practice was over. Harper noticed me, bid goodbye to his teammates with that weird 'boy-clap-on-the-back' thing, then made his way up the stands to me, smirking.

"Waiting for me, baby doll?" He called out.

I frowned as he approached me, sticking my tongue out. "I just need a ride home. I don't feel like walking."

"Excuses, babe. I know you love me." He sighed dramatically, putting a hand over his heart.

"Don't call me babe." I retorted as he took the seat next to me, slinging an arm over my shoulder.

"Ew." I wrinkled my nose. "You smell." I shoved his arm away.

"Like manliness." He answered, trying to pull me into a hug. I laughed, shoving his chest away from me before groaning good-humouredly and wiping my hands on my jeans.

"And you're sweaty!" I yelled, jumping up from the seat and running down the stands. "Go take a shower!"

"Is that how you talk to the guy who's giving you a ride home?" He stated, nevertheless following me down the stands and pausing outside the boy's changing room, running a hand through his sweaty hair sexily.

Oh, gods.

Oh, gods.

He is killing me.

"Sorry," I stuck my tongue out. "Go take your shower."

He chuckled, winked, and went inside the changing room.

As soon as he was gone, I felt someone roughly bump into me from behind. I stumbled forward, before turning around, only to be greeted by the boys (who I assumed were on the basketball team with Harper due to the uniforms) looking at me apologetically. I recognised a few, but I only knew Axel by name.

"Sorry," Axel sheepishly grinned. "Arthur over here- " he clapped a boy with brown hair- who was extremely good looking, may I add, on the shoulder. "Has no idea how to stand. Ironic how he's on the basketball team."

I awkwardly nodded and turned around to face the closed door of their changing room.

Don't talk to me again. Please don't.

Social interaction and I mix as much as Kronos and Percy Jackson.

Not a lot.

Of course, God had to hate me in that exact moment.

"So... how long till you realise you've got our basketball captain completely wrapped around your finger?" An unfamiliar voice called. I turned around to face the group of boys, sighing in exasperation.

"Don't you guys have to shower and stuff?" I responded.

The boy- I assume who asked the question- let's call him Bob- rolled his eyes and took a seat on one of the benches next to him. "Seriously, babe. Everyone sees it but you."

Why, whenever I talk to someone, the conversation is about Harper?

I groaned. "He doesn't like me, okay? He likes Bethany."

Another boy frowned- Simon, I think. "That could be true, too. Dude, he's always hanging out with her."

I sighed sadly, taking a seat next to Bob on the bench. "See? Point proven."

"Woah... " Bob began. "You like him?"

How does he know?

Maybe because you're terrible at hiding your feelings.

I blushed. "I- I never said that."

"Aw, it's okay, little redhead." Simon patted me on the head and sat on the other side of me. "I'll threaten him to ask you out soon."

I frowned as all the boys around me laughed. "Hey. I'm not that small."

"Really?" Axel raised an eyebrow. "How tall are you?"

"Five-foot-four." I mumbled.

Damn it. I shouldn't have said that.

"Awww!" Bob cooed. "You precious little soul!" He hugged me.

I frowned even more but let him hug me. "Shut up."

"Baby doll, you ready to- " Harper began, walking out of the changing rooms, before stopping still at the sight of Bob trying to hug me. He raised an eyebrow. "What happened when I was away?"

"Awww!" Bob clapped his hands. "He calls her 'baby doll'! They're so cute together!" He grinned.

I turned to Harper. "Your friends are weird."

"Hey- " Simon protested.

He chuckled. "Your friends are weirder."

True.

I stood up. "Let's go."

"Wait." Axel said, causing me to turn around. "There's a party a week after the dance. You guys in?"

Um, no. Books are better than parties.

"No, that's okay, I'm reading a really good book and- "

"We're in." Harper interrupted. I glared at him.

"You might be, but I'm not." I retorted.

He smirked and put his hand on my shoulder. "Believe me, baby doll. Once I tell Emma- you definitely are."

I shuddered.

That's true. Emma would not hesitate to shop off my head if I didn't go.

And Rhea.

Possibly Laura.

"Fine." I huffed. "Only for you, though."

My eyes widened in surprise at what I had just said. "No- I mean- "

"Aw, thanks, baby doll."

"Let's go." I groaned. "Bye, it was nice to meet you!" I smiled at the boys, waving.

"Bye, Noelle!" They chorused like little boys. I giggled, hugged them all quickly, and followed after Harper into the carpark. I instantly shivered at the cool air, despite my sweater and jeans.

"Aren't you cold?" I called out to Harper, observing his jeans and thin hoodie. He refused to look me in the eye as he unlocked the car quite roughly- so that I was afraid for the sake of the door handle.

"I'm fine, Noelle. Why, what are you going to do? Strip and give me your sweater?" Harper replied bitterly, yanking the door open.

Woah...

Someone isn't happy.

"What happened?" I asked. Despite his foul mood, I noticed that the door he had yanked open first was my one in the front seat. I smiled a little as he opened the door to the driver's side and slipped in.

"Nothing's happened." He growled, starting the car.

This is weird.

One second he's all happy and stuff, and the next it's like a turtle peed on his shoes or something.

Deciding not to push it, we drove in silence for a while. All the time, Harper's jaw was clenched tightly and his green eyes looked like they were on fire. You know, like those cartoons? Except green.

The silence was hollow and deafening, only the whir of the engine breaking through. I tapped my finger absentmindedly, feeling very uncomfortable. Finally, I broke the silence.

"You want to tell me what happened?" I asked Harper, glancing over at him. He didn't spare me a glance.

"Nothing happened, I told you, Noelle."

"Well, obviously something happened. You're not even looking at me."

"And why do I have to look at you?" He retorted quickly.

I pulled back a little, slightly hurt. "Sorry," I mumbled as we pulled into my driveway. Harper didn't say anything. Just as I was getting out of the car, my phone rang.

"Who is that?" Harper blurted out accusingly. "Axel? Jaden? Arthur?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Who is Jaden?"

"The guy who sat next to you." He mumbled darkly.

Ohhh...

So Bob is a Jaden.

Bob suits him better. I'm calling him Bob.

I checked my phone quickly. "Its actually a marketing call... "

Harper shook his head quickly. "Just- bye, Noelle. I'll see you at school."

"Woah, nope." I sat back down in the car quickly. "Not till you tell me what's wrong."

"It doesn't fucking matter." He groaned.

It was my turn to shake my head, giving up. "Fine then. Thanks for the ride." I sighed, getting out of the car and slamming the door shut. I walked up my driveway, not bothering to see if Harper had left yet.

Idiot.

What got him in this mood?

My mood darkened.

Maybe he didn't see Bethany today or something.

I sighed as I got onto my porch. Just as I reached to open the door, I felt someone grab my wrist. I turned to see Harper looking at me apologetically. I gently pulled my hand away and leaned back to rest on the door. The lack of his touch burnt the area where he had held on to me.

"What do you want?" I tried to ask as nicely as possible. He looked down adorably, making me want to just pepper his face with kisses.

No! Noelle! Head in the game!

"I wanted to apologise for being a bastard in the car." He responded. "There was something wrong. It's just- um- "

I looked at him, urging Harper to continue. He was looking up at the roof of my porch.

"It's just- you gave all the guys a hug when they were sweaty from basketball, but you didn't give me one."

I looked at him, shocked. "What?"

He shuffled on his feet. "I thought you liked them better."

My eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me."

All this fuss, the cold silence, the short remarks, the icy tone... because I didn't hug him?

Drama queen.

I found myself strangely touched.

"Oh, gods, Harper. You're like a little kid fighting for attention."

He looked down at me sheepishly.

"I was just teasing you, don't worry. I like you better, okay?" I said slowly. He nodded cautiously.

"Would you like a hug now?"

He nodded again.

I rolled my eyes as I reached up to hug him, my arms wrapping around his torso as his tightly wrapped around mine. His body was warm against mine in the searing cold, and I relished that, breathing in his fresh scent of lemongrass and foreign woodsy smell.

Finally, I pulled away, and this time, instead of the sour expression, he was smiling down at me contently.

Boys.

"You absolute idiot." I sighed, before turning around to open my door.

---------------------------------------------------------------

"How about the red one?"

I spun around to look at Emma, letting my attention drift from the mounds of dresses in my hands. "Are you serious? Emma, what colour is my hair?"

She winced. "Right. Never mind. The mental picture is killing me itself."

I laughed then turned around again to examine the dresses in my hand.

There was only a week till the dance, and Emma and I had gone dress shopping. The dress code for the girls were that the dresses had to be floor-length, to make it fancy I guess (and to stop people like Amanda to walk in wearing near nothing) and it had to be either red, pink, or white, to fit in with the Valentine's Day theme. Emma had already found one, a beautiful vivid red one, but we had yet to find one for me.

"This one?" Emma held up a white dress, very low cut with a giant slit going up the side, the back so low it would almost reveal my butt crack and a corset style top.

I looked at her in horror. "I will look like a prostitute from the 1800's attending her own wedding to embark on a very short lasting marriage."

Emma hesitated, before flinging the dress into a very eager male shop assistant's hands. "You're right. Too slutty. You don't want to come across as desperate."

"Uh huh," I nodded, eyeing the male shop assistant that had caught the dress checking Emma out from behind in her skinny jeans and cream sweater. He had been doing that for some time now.

I heard Emma gasp loudly from behind me. "Noelle!" She yelled.

I turned around quickly. "Yes?"

She held up a light pink dress. The top was encrusted with miniature fake jewels and the bottom, flowing, skirt part of the dress was a silky baby pink. And- I hate to admit it- I gasped.

"Oh my gods." I took it from Emma.

"Go try it on!" She squealed.

I nodded bluntly, before slipping into the changing room. I put it on, turning to see myself in the mirror. I stared in awe. The dress hugged the top part of my body, but the rest flowed out and pooled at my feet. It didn't make my red hair seem abnormal and out of place, just accentuated it. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was on the verge of maybe being called 'pretty'.

I opened the curtain to show Emma. Her jaw immediately dropped. "Noelle, you have to get that."

I grinned. "It looks good?"

She nodded. "Oh yeah."

I grinned even wider then slipped back into the changing room.

Five minutes later, I stepped forward to take my turn at the paying counter. Slightly amused, I laid the dress on the counter in front of the current cashier, who happened to be the guy who had been checking Emma out, and still blatantly did so as Emma stood next to me.

I handed the male shop assistant the wad of my money (technically, my mom's- when she heard that I had agreed to go with Harper to the dance, she had almost cried with joy, shook Maggie by the shoulders, handed me a ton of money for the dress, and even baked us all her cotton candy cupcakes) and watched as he fumbled to hold it as he was so intently staring at Emma, who hadn't noticed yet.

"Do you want me to go get the food?" Emma asked. I nodded.

"Go ahead."

As soon as she left the shop, I turned to watch the boy fold my dress away. He had his eyes focused back on the task at hand. Two minutes later, he handed me my dress in a plastic bag.

"Here."

"Thanks," I replied, ready to step away.

"Wait- " he stopped me. I raised an eyebrow at him, expecting what was coming next.

"Um- do you know that blonde girl?" He asked anxiously.

"Yes, why?" I teased.

"Um, could you, maybe, give me her number?"

I bit my lip and smiled sadly at him. "Sorry. She's my best friend. And next time before you check random girls out blatantly obviously, consider the fact that they might have a boyfriend."

And with that and a flourish of my wrist, I stalked out of the store, feeling all sassy and stuff, desperately hoping that I wouldn't trip over and ruin the effect.

By the time I reached the food court, Emma was already sat down, a taco for me and her set down on the table. I took the seat opposite her, grinning. She raised an eyebrow.

"What are you so happy about?" She questioned.

I opened my mouth, ready to tell her of my epic-ness, when my phone rang. I picked it up quickly, not bothering to check the contact.

"Hello?"

"Hi, baby doll." Harper's voice rang through. I rolled my eyes and watched as Emma squealed in excitement. Whether it was because Harper had called me or she was excited to eat the taco, I may never know.

"Hey, why are you calling?" I asked.

"What? I can't call my favourite little princess?"

I frowned. "You sound like a pedophile."

"Anyway. Um, I was wondering, uh- what colour is your dress for the dance?" He asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Light pink. Why?"

"Cool. Because girls like it when their date's suit matches and shit, right?"

"Um- "

"Good. Bye!"

Harper hung up the phone. I stared at it for a second before awkwardly slipping it back into my pocket. Emma squealed again.

"That's adorable!"

"What?" I asked.

"He cares about what you think... oh, gods, that is cute." She sighed.

"How did you- " I asked.

"Your phone. It was on speaker."

"Right."

We both took a bite from our tacos. Emma set hers down, her blonde hair almost dipping into the salsa.

"You know he really likes you, right?" She continued.

I groaned and slapped my hand on the table. "Why does everyone think that?"

"It's true! Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

"Oh gods," I groaned. "Emma, you know he is a player right?" I spooned some guacamole into my mouth.

Guacamole. I want to hug whoever invented it.

Emma shook her head. "You mean was a player."

I looked up at her, ignoring my guacamole for a second. "What?"

"Noelle, when do you think was the last time Harper slept with someone?"

I shook my head. "I don't really- "

"October. It's February now. Max told me."

What?

"And what do you think happened in October, Noelle?" She asked again, putting down her taco.

Wow. This is getting serious.

"You two became friends. Let that sink in for a moment."

I did, and my heart began to race.

"The last time he kissed a girl? Noelle, that was in December when he kissed you." She surged on sternly, gripping my wrist. "And how many times have you turned around in class to see him staring at you already? Or how many simple, kind, gestures he does for you and no one else? Maybe whenever any guy stares or you or gets close to you- he always gets into a mood afterwards and glares that guy down? Or when always, all the time, he finds an excuse to be touching you. An arm around your shoulder, holding your hand, playing with your fingers, hugging you, kissing you on the cheek. And whenever you enter the room he seems to instantly brighten up, and as soon as you leave he's all sullen again. Tell me, how can you explain that apart from fucking liking you?"

I stared at her in awe.

I recalled the last few months. From when he let me sleep next to him on the bleachers, to when he gave me a piggy-back on the beach then forced me to kiss him on the cheek afterwards. From that time when he got in that fight with Joshua because he was looking at me, to that heart-stopping night where he kissed me in Japan. Or even that other day when he got jealous that I didn't hug him. As well as that, all the time people were nagging me, telling me that he liked me and I always brushed them off, laughing and disbelieving, always thinking that they didn't know better, that they were lying.

All this time, I was the lie.

I turned to Emma, my eyes wide, finally accepting something that I was stupid enough to not accept months ago, something that suddenly seemed so blatantly selfish and obvious at the same time, something that made my heart soar and pump heat and adrenaline through my blood.

"You're- you're right. Emma, he does like me."

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