He didn't completely know why he was doing this.

Well, yes he did. He's almost in love with this girl.

She was just... Captivating. They'd never talked before he started coming to the library, even though he'd always stare at her. He would notice her while she was talking to her friends in the hallway, or during lunch, or while she was working in class and all of her laser-like focus was on the assignment.

He wanted to hear her beautiful voice be directed at him. He wanted her melodic laugh to ring out because of something he said. He wanted her hazel eyes to have her attention on him. To see that bright smile of hers and know it's because of him, is what he truly wants.

And now he sounds like the creep of the century. Yes, he listens to some of her conversations, he stares at her during class. But she doesn't know, no one does, except his best friend, Patrick, and his parents. It's just an awkward thing to talk about with people, being attracted to someone he's never even formally met. Rick teases him, so does his father, and his mom just thinks it's adorable and romantic.

Since that day when they read together, Caden had come to the library almost every day. Whenever he'd come, he'd look for her, and talk to her. His hope that she maybe-kind of-sorta liked him back would grow every time he saw her cheeks turn pink when he would talk, and her eyes glisten by just looking at him.

It seemed like she was comfortable talking about books, so that was one of his go-to's. Yes, of course he wants to get to know her, so he asks her questions about herself overall, but when she starts to get flustered while he's looking so intently at her he changes the subject to books. Michelle talking about a book is one of the most adorable things he's ever seen or heard.

After about a month of countless library dates (as he likes to think of them), while they were reading one day, he asks the question that's long overdue.

"What's your phone number?"