12 and half years ago.

Alarm from my new Nokia phone kept ringing. If I hadn't bought the latest model with my hard-accumulated pocket money, I'd have chucked the cause of disturbance out the window of my room.

The alarm was soon followed by Mum gliding into the room cause I couldn't hear any steps alerting me of her presence.

"Rose Amelia Tyler!! Do you enjoy racing against time every morning when you get ready for school?!" Mum asked in mock-anger.

"You're a senior and with your grades a solid contender for the Valedictorian of the year!! Do you want to risk losing the opportunity with your laziness?!" Mum spoke with some seriousness.

Yawning widely but looking at her with half-open eyes I begged, "Five more minutes!!"

"Not even two!! Unless you wanna miss blueberry pancakes for breakfast?!"

My stomach rumbled in mutiny. Pouting, I sleep-walked to the bathroom trying to save every minute.

I was late waking up cause I was up late gazing at dry-pressed pink roses, the ones I preserved that were left in my school locker every Friday for the past three months. Those single-stem pink delights were always alone, no letter or memento accompanied them. Whoever was putting them there knew I loved pink roses the most.

Sarah and Hannah would bet with each other if I could without any help manage to find and get "my secret lover" as they called him to ask me for Prom which was still six months away. I would roll my eyes and tut-tut their behavior but my palms would still get all sweaty and I would get anxious cause this was the first time anyone had showed any interest in me.

My studious character and being the teacher's pet may've been some of the reasons why nothing had happened till now. I had witnessed the love my parent's had for each other, one which helps each other grow and not limit, which was the main reason I didn't want to chase something fleeting, even though watching Sarah and Hannah hang out with their boyfriends more sucked big-time.

I applied some lipgloss as soon as I was a little away from home taking the short-cut to school. I didn't want Mum to see me like this cause she'd then not stop asking till she knew everything, but I couldn't afford that since even I didn't know everything. I had to look pretty, smile and be approachable cause anyday soon I was expecting a Prom-posal.

"Hey Princess!! Is that make-up on your face?!" Ryan Rutherford, the yet-untitled-expected Prom King, questioned getting down from his swanky new Mercedes, which was his birthday gift, courtesy his Daddy dearest as he bragged to everyone.

"Why, do I need your permission before putting some on?!" said mutual mockery was after the fact that we were both contending for the Valedictorian spot this year.

"Ooh, she bites!!" Ryan commented at which his fawn brigade- girls who used to fawn over him and guys who wanted to be him followed him, laughed.

"And is looking forward to burning you in debate competition today!!" I retorted before excusing myself.

Ugh, he always brings out the worst in me, especially when I want these six months to have nothing but positivity.

Inner Peace.

Inner Peace.

Today is a Friday. I wanted the rose in my locker to be the reward I enjoy after winning the debate. I prepped in the library with whatever cue cards I had previously made.

Ryan seemed distracted somehow for I actually managed to bring him down better than expected. He was a politician's son. Oratory is in his blood. Frankly speaking, I didn't expect it to be such smooth sailing. Hannah and Sarah cheered from the audience everytime my argument won. My victory seemed unexpected to even the teachers for they smiled wide as everyone does when a dark horse takes lead.

I was on ninth cloud almost running to my locker after the classes were over. My friends chasing me so they could tease once I pulled out the expected gift.

Only there was no rose.

Hannah and Sarah started pulling out books and other stuff from my locker to check maybe it was hidden or something but it wasn't there. Pursing my lips and taking short breaths to calm myself I put everything back.

"Maybe he's going to personally talk to you today so chose not to put it here!!" Sarah tried to perk me up.

"Yeah, totally!! Otherwise no one would put them for three months and randomly stop, right?!" Hannah spoke looking at Sarah for support but my forehead clouded with doubts since we three had not yet managed to find who the person was despite best efforts.

"Yo Tyler!! Shouldn't you treat me since I handed down the debate to you on a platter?!"

"Not now, Rutherford!! Am in no mood to play back and forth with you!!" I snapped at him barely controlling my anger.

Moving Hannah and Sarah aside and blocking me with his palm against my locker, Ryan asked, "Would it take roses to convince you?" cocking his head to his right and staring at me with what I could term as his most serious expression.

"You?!" was all us three could simultaneously exclaim.

"Are you three blinded by my beauty or my kindness?!" Ryan smirked.

"I'll wait for you at Tony's Pizzeria at 7. Don't be late, Rosey!!" with a final smirk he left us all gobsmacked.

Since school was over and we had a lot to digest, we ran to the park which was our meeting ground since childhood as it was the exact distance from our houses for all three of us.

"Ryan Rutherford?!" I almost croaked.

"The upside is that he's smart." Sarah started the discussion.

"He's easy on the eyes!!" Hannah added.

"Ryan Rutherford!!" I repeated.

"If you relent, he'll definitely end up being Valedictorian!!" Sarah continued.

"A successful political career awaits him!!" Hannah predicted.

"Ryan Rutherford!!"

"Yes Rosey, we hear you!!" Both commented looking down at me for I sat at our bench too stunned to say anything else.

"But he's never spoken a proper sentence to me let alone profess love!!" I summarised.

"Boys have their own quirks when it comes to showing they care." Sarah said shrugging her shoulders.

"You can't deny him not relenting was one of the reasons you never backed down. The competition he gave you was the impetus you needed, you've yourself accepted that to us on more than one ocassions." Hannah added.

"We can choose whom we love but we can't choose who loves us, Rosey!!" Sarah advised in her forever sagely tone, she was always emotionally the strongest among us.

"It's upto you whether you choose him or move on!!" Hannah said looking at me with finality,"no matter what you decide we'll always be there."

"If you want we can ask the guys to make it a triple date, if you are worried about going alone!!" Sarah offered.

Releasing the breath I had been unconsciously holding I announced, "I want to do this on my own!!" finally smiling at this incredible turn of events at which both of them screamed with delight.

It was decided I would tell Mom that us three were having a study session and sleepover at Sarah's place so that I could get ready and sneak out and return via their backdoor and none would be the wiser since rotating sleepovers were a monthly thing we did.

Tony's Pizzeria was a 500sq ft, 80yr-old family owned business, serving family recipes, which employed local kids as part-time waiters. The taste and quality of their menu had been the same since they first opened which was the reason behind the loyal customer base.

I would not have ever bet that Ryan would have a date here, even though his Dad was all about strengthening local family-owned businesses and putting money back into the economy, those glitzy difficult to book restaurants were more his scene. Maybe there's a side to him I didn't know cause we never hung out.

Ryan was standing outside Tony's dressed in black denims, blue T-shirt and a brown leather jacket looking self-assured like he was waiting on a predicted win.

Smug much, I muttered, before reaching him and giving him a polite hi and a smile. "Rosey, you look incredible," he complimented appraising me head-to-toe. It made me feel very conscious of myself but it was my first date and I had nothing to compare it with.

Once inside we were seated at the table on the corner which couples preferred. Ryan was beaming like he'd won the lottery while I was looking anywhere but him trying not to ruin our date by falling into old habits of saying something I might regret later.

Ryan snapped his fingers to beckon a waiter.

"Pete, what happened to your face?!" I exclaimed as soon as the beckoned waiter reached our table.

A/N: And the revelations begin!!! How do you like the story so far?

Thoughts and comments please!!

A revelation of my own: I love using dry-pressed flowers as bookmarks and own more than a couple of them. Could be termed as the inspiration behind the characters being in love with flowers!! ;-)

Too cheesy and cliche? I know but the heart wants what the heart wants!!

Don't forget to vote!!