The Test [#1]

Chapter 7: Daniel

I can't believe Lissa's here. I had just been thinking about her when she showed up.

I just love her so much.

Of course, she's already made tons of friends. They all love her as well. We were walking back to the rooms when I stop her.

Her bright blue eyes were shining again. She smiles at me. "Are you okay?"

"Don't tell me this is some dream, Lissa. I don't want to wake up."

She takes my hand, making my heart skip a beat. "I'm real, Daniel. I think if this were a dream, we would know by now."

I pull her in for a hug, wanting to cry again. She wraps her arms around my neck.

"You know I love you, right?" I whisper softly.

I don't know why I just said that. Except I felt like I really had to say it. I brace myself to see how she responds.

"You know what?" she whispers back. "I think I love you, too."

Then she pulls away and looks me in the eyes. "But I need more time. I've never had a real boyfriend before and I don't want to ruin things the first time. I'm just not ready."

I look at her beautiful face for a while before nodding. "I respect your decisions, Lissa. I'll wait decades if I have to. As long as you're mine."

Her smile grows wider. "It probably won't take that long. But I promise when I'm ready, I'll let you know."

We head back to the room, holding hands. We've always held hands. It's nothing new. But everyone thinks of it more differently than we do.

"My guess is you're sharing a bed?" Diana, a tall girl, with green eyes and brown hair, asks.

Lissa cocks her head and her smile slightly fades. "No," she says flatly, letting go of my hand.

Diana smiles. "He acted like he was taken. I'm just glad I get to meet the girl who has him so dazed all the time."

"It's barely been a day," I snap. "And we're just friends."

She nods. "Right," she says sarcastically. "Because all friends hold hands and make out in the hallway."

Lissa isn't getting mad. I can tell. She's in too much of a good mood to let Diana get to her. She smiles kindly. "Well, we've never really kissed before," she says. "But we hold hands all the time. It's really nothing new."

Diana smiles. "I think I'm gonna like you. You're pretty cool."

She laughs. "Yeah. You're pretty cool, too."

I go over to my stuff. Surprised at how quickly this blew over.

They start talking about shoes and clothes and how they're never going to be able to go shopping again.

Honestly, Lissa never really goes shopping. But when she does, she gets everything. And it's kind of cool to watch a girl buy stuff. Then think she needs more. Soon, you'll see she's bought almost the whole store.

I hadn't realized they asked me a question. "What?" I say distractedly.

"How did you guys meet?" Diana asks me.

I realized Lissa had gone into the bathroom.

"My family moved here from Mexico when I was four. Lissa and I went to the same school. And we didn't like each other at all. But we were stuck in detention together one day and something changed."

Diana laughs. "That's a nice way to make friends."

I smile. "She's different."

She nods. "Definitely."

Before I asked her what she meant, Lissa walks out of the bathroom. She had changed into pajamas. She looks great.

Diana and she continue whatever conversation they were having before Lissa went to go get changed.

I lay down on my back and stare out the window until finally, I fall asleep.
~•~
Some guy named One walks up to me and Lissa while we were eating breakfast.

"How do you like your food?" he asks.

We smile at him. "It's great. Thanks."

He freezes when he sees Lissa. His already dark eyes, darken even more. "What's your name?" he demands.

"Clarissa," she says slowly. "Clarissa Stevens."

His eyes slightly widened and he seemed to look fazed. But then he recovers himself and gives a small nod. "Very well."

"That was weird," I tell her.

She nods, looking at his back. "That was very weird."

She probably knows something. We always tell each other everything. But in our own time. I don't want to rush her.

I'm just really glad she's here.

HEY!!! SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN FOREVER. BUT I STILL HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!!