Detention dragged on with Matei still staring at me every now and then. I ignored him the best I could and finally, the bell rang. I grabbed up my backpack and sped out the door, not looking back once. I was almost half-way down the hall before I heard pounding footsteps behind me and a hand wrapped around my wrist, spinning me around. Chocolate-brown eyes met mine and I felt all the air leave my lungs. Matei's face was inches from mine and after a beat, I pulled back from him to get some distance between us.

"Now you're stalking me?" I asked as he released his grip on my wrist.

He smirked down at me, shaking his head.

"Don't need to. I know where you live," he shrugged.

I snorted, biting out sarcastically, "Yeah, and that's not creepy at all,"

He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You're from the orphanage down the street from here," he continued.

I raised an eyebrow at him, strands of my dark hair falling over my shoulder as I hoisted my backpack up higher.

"Well, it's not like it's a very big town," he defended himself and I almost laughed.

I took a step back from him then, ready to turn and leave. But those brown eyes pulled me in, willing me to stay a minute longer.

"So...would...would you like to see a movie Saturday...with me?" he said, a bit of nervous anxiety seeping into his deep voice.

My eyebrows shot to my hairline, shock radiating through me at this question. He...liked me? What?! I thought he couldn't stand me! Wait...no, maybe that was me that couldn't stand him...

"Huh?" I asked dumbly.

He laughed - a melodic sound that filled the empty hallway. A warm scarlet blush tinted my cheeks from embarrassment and I ducked my head so he wouldn't see, my hair fanning around my face like a curtain. A sigh emitted from my lips and finally, I glanced back up at him. Why not?

"Um...uh...yeah, sure..." I shrugged.

Chocolate-brown orbs lit up and a smile found its way on his face.

"So where do you live then?" I asked him, wondering where to meet up at.

His expression changed from playful to cagey in a matter of seconds and he shrugged, trying to cover it up.

"Not far," he responded vaguely.

I got the sense he was hiding something behind those dark eyes of his...and it only made me want to find out just what it was. Ever since I first saw him beside the game shop, I knew he was mysterious. It was...intriguing to say the least. It just made me want to know more about him.

"Really? Well, maybe we can meet up at your place then," I said, smiling widely as he fidgeted.

His eyes widened and I had to hold back a chuckle that threatened to bubble up from my throat.

"Uh...sure, why not?" he replied nervously, the choker necklace at the base of his neck moving up and down with his Adam's apple.

"Cool. I'll pop over to your house," I smiled up at him, pushing a cluster of hair behind my ear.

"Um...actually, why don't I just come to pick you up?" he asked, adorably fumbling over his words.

Drat. I'd just have to find out what he was hiding another way. Try another tactic.

Biting my lip, I nodded, "Sure, that'd be great,"

"Great...well, I'll see you around then, yeah?" he said, relief clear in his eyes as he turned to leave.

"Yeah. See you!" I called to him, scuffing my shoe along the tiled floor absentmindedly before spinning around to head home.

Wow. I had a date with Matei Covaci. Never saw that coming.