Loving Adam

Chapter 7

"There she is!" Laura screams in excitement when she sees me in school the next day. "The famous Paris Hart."

I look at her weird. "What's with you?"

"Oh please, you don't have to be so modest," she gives me a hug, "I am so proud of you, babe." 

She literally squeezes me in her arms.

"I really don't know what you're talking about..."

"What - are you serious?" she looks at me, surprised. 

"Yes."

"Your speech went viral in social media, dummy! Look!" she shows me her phone. "They put your speech up on YouTube and lots of people shared them on Twitter. There's even a hashtag for it, #LoveIsEasy."

"Wh.. What?" I grab her phone, "Let me see."

"Your video was watched by 4 million people or something. You're famous!"

"Oh wow," I can't help not to feel excited.

I can't wait to hear everything! Tell me all about it in class, okay?" she grabs my hand.

As we're walking, I notice people are looking at me. Some people I don't know even smile at me. When we finally get to class, the teacher congratulates me in front of the whole class.

"Good morning, Magnolia High," Mrs. Chen's voice is up on the speaker, "Teachers, please take some time to listen to this announcement as I have a very exciting news today."

My teacher stops talking and we all listen to the announcement.

"I am happy to inform that a student from Magnolia High was voted the Best Speech at the Annual Education Summit yesterday. I was told by the committee this morning that her speech, titled Love is Easy, has been watched by 4 million people online and the Education Minister himself has requested high schools across the nation to play the video in their classrooms. I would like to congratulate Paris Hart, who has made all of us proud, and definitely famous."

The class broke. My classmates start clapping their hands and some whistle and shout, "Paris! Paris! Paris!"

I know my cheeks have turned rosy red. I smile from ear to ear.

#

"So you'll do it?" Mrs. Chen asks.

I nod, "Yes, okay."

"Excellent. I'll see you then, Miss Hart. Good day."

I step outside of Mrs. Chen's office. It turns out that the Mayor has asked me to become one of the guest speakers in an event at the City Hall tomorrow.

Everything still feels like a dream to me. I mean, one moment I was crying my eyes out on the plane, and one moment I am the-

I stop in front of the big glass window. Just right outside, Adam is walking with his teammates toward the soccer field.

He catches me looking at him.

He smiles.

I look away.

#

Laura and I are sitting on the cafeteria, on one of the outdoor benches. She's having lunch while I practice for my speech at the City Hall today. 

"Oh, did you hear?" Laura says, "Adam has a new girlfriend."

I almost choked on air.

"What?"

"Remember the new girl in our geography class? The one who thought you were the teacher?"

I remember. And I also remember what the tall girl with long legs said in the dressing room about Adam and the new girl in geography.

"They're together now," Laura says, munching on her pistachios. "I saw them holding hands this morning. Oh there they are, actually."

I look up. It's true. Adam is walking with that new girl I saw in geography class. 

She has this sweet look about her. Her silky plum hair falls perfectly above her shoulders. She also has this smooth fair skin and a pair of long, lean legs that remind me of those ballerina's.

"I heard she's a ballerina," Laura says.

See?

They look absolutely beautiful together. They're like one of those couples you watch on E! News and made you wonder whether they're even human beings. How can they look like that? They've got to be gods and goddesses.

"I need to go," I say to Laura. "I need to practice my speech somewhere quiet."

"Okay. Do you want me to accompany you to city hall later?"

I shake my head, "It's fine. It's gonna be boring. I'm just going to do my speech and leave."

"Okay then. Good luck."

I leave the bench, feeling slightly weird.

Like I'm about to burst into tears again.

#

My speech must have gone quite well because the audience was clapping for what feels like a long time and the Mayor himself stood up and told me she really liked it. 

As I step out of the city hall, I was thinking of calling my dad to come pick me up when I see a familiar face.

Adam is standing in front of the building, leaning against his car.

I stop at my track. 

He smirks and walks toward me.

"Hi Hart," he says, standing right in front of me.

"Why are you here?" I ask.

"I'm picking you up," he says, "I figured you need a lift home."

"No, my dad is picking me up."

"Not according to him. So I went to your house and he told me where you were."

"You went to my hou-"

"Oh look that's Paris!" suddenly a woman says from behind us, "Hello! My name is Rose. I just want to say I loved your speech so much. I cried! You are such an inspiration!"

"Oh thank you," I smile, "Thank you, ma'am, you're too kind."

"I have a daughter that's just about your age. I told her about you. I hope she will become like you," she smiles, "Oh, is this the boyfriend?" she looks at Adam, "How handsome. You're a lucky guy, you know."

"Thank you ma'am," Adam says, "Yes, I am."

I can't believe this.

"Oh that's my friend Helen! She wanted to meet you also! Helen! Look, it's Paris Hart!"

Three more ladies are walking toward us.

"This is Paris Hart and her boyfriend. Oh I'm sorry son, I didn't catch your name..."

"Adam," he smiles.

"Oh... How wonderful!" the other woman says, "You two look so good together."

I can't speak anymore. Adam goes right ahead and takes charge of the situation. "Thank you, ma'am. We're doing our best."

"Oh, you're already doing your best!" Rose says, "I'd kill to have one of you as my children...." 

"Actually we really have to go now," Adam says, wrapping his hand around my waist. "It was really nice to meet you all."

He pulls me away from the group and open his car door for me.

"Get in the car before more of your fans come out and we'll never leave," he says.

#