DALTON'S POV
"You're losing your popularity, man. You need to be popular if you're going to be on the Track team. You, me, and the guys are the talk of the school because we are the first people going to state. We play football or soccer, but this is all you've got! You need to do something to become more popular, or you're off the team," David says.
"Like what?" I ask.
"Get a girlfriend," Cole says.
"That's it?" I ask.
"Not just any girl, though. A popular," Dana says. He points in the direction of the cheerleaders.
"Either one of them or a team captain of a girls' sports team," Gabe says.
"Okay...." Why? I've never really liked their type. I don't think I want to do this.
"Remember, if you don't do this, you're off the team," David says.
"We're doing this for your own good, Dalton," Will says and they leave. I look over at the cheerleaders. Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo. That one. What was her name, again? Y/N! That's it! It was Y/N! I just stare right at her. Maybe she'll come to me so I can talk to her.
Y/N'S POV
"Y/N! Dalton Rapattoni is staring at you," my best friend, Sydney, says.
"Huh?" I ask and turn in the direction she gestured with the tilt of her head. I am met by the icy blue eyes I can't really see, but know all too well.
"I've liked him for so long! Does he like me, too?" I ask everyone and they giggle.
"Why don't you go ask him?" Molly asks and I look back over at him. I nod and start to leave, knowing she didn't really mean it. I take a deep breath and approach him.
"Hey, Dalton."
"Hey, Y/N," he says and flashes a breathtaking grin in my direction.
"I-Is there any reason you were watching the cheer squad practice?" I ask.
"Nah. I wasn't really watching the squad. I was just watching someone in particular," he says and looks at me.
"Y-You were watching me?" I ask and he nods, blushing a little.
DALTON'S POV
I hope it looks like I'm flustered. I'm trying to make it look realistic. I hope it does.
"W-Will you go out with me?" I ask and her eyes light up as she nods and hugs me. I hug her back.
"So, I know cheer practice is over now, and track got cut short. Do you want to go some place?" I ask and she nods. She turns around and gives a look to her cheer squad that says 'Oh my God. What is going on?' I smile and bring her to my car.
*two months later*
"Hey, Dal," Y/N says and hugs me from behind as I shut my locker. I quickly pull away at the sudden warmth I feel.
"What's wrong?" she asks, disappointed.
"N-Nothing. You just surprised me."
"Oh. Okay. We better get to class," she says and takes my hand. The same warmth surges through me and I close my eyes for a brief moment, absorbing the feeling. What is going on? I never felt this when she touched me before.
"Hey, Y/N?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever get a really..... warm, kind of feeling when we touch?" I ask her and she smiles.
"Yeah. That's how I know something," she says.
"What is it that you know?" I ask, smiling. What is it that I'm feeling.
"It's how I know that I..... I love you, Dalton," she says, looking down. She loves me? I-I love her? Without thinking, I lean down and kiss her. She pulls back, startled.
"I thought you didn't want to kiss each other," she says. I had told her that when we first started going out so she wouldn't try anything because I didn't like her.
"I-I.... Um....."
"Dal, Whats going on?" she asks.
"I'm in love with you. I didn't used to be, but now I realize that I am."
"What do you mean?"
Y/N'S POV
"What are you saying?"
"Nothing. I just know now that I love you," he says.
"Okay.... Let's get to class. I'll see you at lunch."
*at lunch*
I walk into the cafeteria and see Dal talking to his friends.
"I'll see you guys later," I say to the cheer squad and walk toward their table. All of their backs are facing me.
"So. Track season is over. You can break up with Y/N now. You don't need to be popular anymore," David says.
"What? Dalton, what are they talking about?" I ask and he turns around, his eyes going wide.
"He asked you out so he could be more popular. He's popular now, so he doesn't need to date you anymore," Dana says.
"So all of this was a lie? You told me that you love me and you kissed me just to make it seem like this was real? I am in love with you Dalton! I can't believe you'd do that to me," I say and storm out. I hear footsteps running after me. I pick up my pace and get onto the track. I wrap my arms around myself and break down. Tear after tear starts flowing down my face.
"Y/N?" Dalton's all-too familiar voice asks.
"Get away from me! You lying son of a-"
"I love you, Y/N! I really do! Yes, I only asked you out because the guys were going to kick me off of the team if I didn't. I didn't know who you were. I didn't think it would get this far. I didn't think you'd like me at all. But we started going out, and I started to feel different. I started getting nervous about what I should wear and say and do. I started getting eager for when we would go out together. I started getting a warm sensation at your touch," he says.
"That's why you were so weird this morning," I guess and he nods.
"This morning, I realized that those feelings are because I love you," he says and I search his face for any sign that he may be lying. I see tears forming in his eyes.
"Dalton?" I ask after I turn away from him.
"Yes, Y/N?" he asks, and I can hear the desperation behind it.
"I love you. And I believe you," I turn around and see his eyes light up as mine had when he asked me to be his. That made me know. I jump into his arms and he kisses me.
"Who knew your friends were match makers?" I ask, smiling.
"To hell with that. I picked a good one," he says and he kisses me again. I laugh and he starts to chuckle as well.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
