An awkward silence took over the room like a thick fog. I exchanged glances with both the guys before I sat back down at the computer and carried on typing. The guys picked up the tissue and tried to dab the stain away, but by now it was already dry.

“Just leave it. I’ll buy a new one.” I said monotonously. I was annoyed. I originally was quite happy that Mandy had called them because I was too nervous to. They arrived (which shocked me enough) and actually contributed slightly to the work and I thought everything was going to be fine. Now I have this to deal with. Sam was about to kiss me and Conor shoved him out of the way and now we’re all sat here in silence.

“I’m really sorry!” Sam said, regret obvious in his voice. “It was Conor’s fault, he-” Sam’s sentence suddenly stopped and I heard a huge thump. I looked round to see Sam on the floor beside my bed, clutching his face. Conor had a huge smirk on his face.

“You’re kidding me, right?” I said to Conor, my arms folded across my chest. The smirk slowly faded and he looked down at the bed like a child that had been scolded by his parents. I walked over to Sam and helped him up. “Come on, I’ll get you some ice for that.” I put my arm around Sam as I walked him downstairs. I stopped in the kitchen and he sat down on a chair at the dining table. I went to the freezer and grabbed a load of ice from the bag and put it in a tea towel, wrapping it up before handing it to Sam.

“I don’t want to be cheeky, but is there still a chance I could get a shirt? The smell of Ribena on me is making feel a little ill.” Sam smiled.

“Of course, I’ll have a look now! Just wait here.” I said happily as I walked out. I saw Sam wince as the freezing cold ice pack touched his face. I walked back upstairs and into my brother’s room where I searched the entire place for a shirt. Finally, after looking in the last set of draws, I came across a couple. I picked the one I thought looked best and walked back down to Sam, throwing the grey polo shirt with white lining on the sleeves over to him.

“Thanks babe.” He said and I took in a short sharp breath. Did he just call me babe? My head spun. Stupid I know; it’s only Sam - the most popular and hottest guy in our year… Well, joint with Conor… who I have to work with on our coursework, who tried to kiss me and now just called me babe! “Can you hold this?” He handed me the cold and now slightly damp tea towel and grabbed the bottom of his shirt, lifting it up to take it off. Instantly I turned away so I couldn’t see him. It’s not that I didn’t want to, let’s get that straight, but after this coursework he’ll pretend I don’t exist for the rest of my life so there is no point looking at him and taking in the sights when I’m just going to have to forget all about him again.

“You done?” I questioned after a minute, still turned around.

“Of course!” He laughed. I smiled a little at his laugh and turned around to see him mere inches from me. I held my breath in anticipation. “Why’d you turn around?” He questioned.

“I- I was being polite.” I lied. I mean I was being polite, but we all know what I was thinking.

“Thank you.” He replied, his eyes not moving from mine. “Most girls would have just stared. I appreciate that. You’re a nice girl, you know?” That same breath was still held in and I wasn’t planning on letting it out any time soon.

“T-Thank you.” I said simply. My body was frozen to the spot. My skin felt goosepimply without him even touching it, it was a weird feeling. I never had guys talk to me, let alone have them this close to me. Why was he being so nice to me? Maybe he likes me? No, don’t be silly Beth. He’s a popular guy with popular, pretty friends… He could have any girl in the school and he wouldn’t pick you.

“You know, I thought working in this group would have been the worst thing but it’s actually great, minus Conor.” As Sam spoke I couldn’t help but look at him wearing my brother’s old shirt. It never fit my brother that well and he only wore it when he went out to impress girls. However, on Sam, this shirt fit perfectly. His muscular frame was quite noticeable with the tight material hugging it, the sleeves stopping half way down his biceps, so you could still see them. He definitely worked out and he always had to wear clothes that showed him off. This shirt did that perfectly.

“Yeah.” I said back, lapping up the sight in front of me. “Wait, what?” It suddenly hit me. ‘Great minus Conor’ meant me. He was saying I was great. I internally screamed and thousands of replies to this comment went round in my head but nothing seemed to be good enough to say to someone so different to me.

“I’m saying you’re great, Beth.” He said in a laugh. I bit my lips together and looked down at the floor, running my fingers through my hair.

“Thank you, but you don’t need to try and be nice to me.” I said and instantly regretted it. Now it makes me sound like I’m really insecure. I mean, I am but I didn’t need him to know that! He put his hand under my chin and lifted my head up so my eyes met his again.

“I’m not faking anything. I meant what I said!” He said, trying his best to make me believe him. I went to open my mouth to reply but I was interrupted.

“What’s taking you guys so long?” Conor walked into the kitchen and stood still, shocked. Sam and I slowly looked over to Conor, his eyes narrowed, jaw clenched and body tensed.

“Conor, I-” Sam began but Conor wasn’t having any of it. He stormed over to him and pushed him to the side.

“Do you guys just want me to leave? I’m obviously in the way of something here!” Conor said, his voice raised. He glared at Sam and didn’t look away. Sam squared up to him.

“Not my fault you’re jealous!” Sam snarled. Before I had time to react, Conor grabbed Sam by the scruff of the shirt and stormed towards the front door. Conor flung the front door open and threw Sam out of the house before walking out. I ran outside and saw Conor was about to hit Sam while he was on the floor so I quickly got in front of Conor and pushed him back a bit.

“Conor, just leave it.” I said as if I was in a movie. What was it about seeing me and Sam together made him so annoyed?

“No I won’t leave it! He needs to be taught a lesson instead of getting with every girl he ever works with!” I couldn’t help it, I let out a laugh. Conor seemed serious, but what he doesn’t realise is that Sam is never going to get with me! I’m one of those girls everyone forgets! Conor looked down at me confused.

“You think Sam would actually go for me? Please! I couldn’t even attract flies. No guy in the world would go for me! I’m too busy blending into the background for them to notice me!” I shook my head. I saw Conor’s body loosen and he seemed to calm down, he looked over my shoulder at Sam and then back at me.

“Well that’s where you’re wrong!” Conor said to me, a sympathetic smile on his face. “Cos I know two people that like you…”

Oh…