Shy

Kit

I scrunch my hair in my hand as I focus on my biology work. Why I had decided to undertake 4 A-levels in my second year is beyond me, but I had.

A rolled up piece of paper flies past me and I ignore it, knowing that a bunch of giggling girls sit behind me. Another paper bomb flies past me on the other side of my head and I exhale sharply, irritated by the lack of respect.

A third ball of paper lands on my desk and I drop my pencil, looking at it in disdain. I pick it up, along with the other two balls and drop them in the bin. I walk back to my desk and get back to my work. A shadow looms next to me and Joanna, a friend of Michael's, smiles at me. I frown slightly, not entirely sure why she's here.

"Hey Kit. How're you?" She asks disinterestedly and I don't bother responding, merely nodding and waiting for what she wants.

"Caroline wanted me to give this to you." She says, handing over a folded piece of paper. I glance at it and reluctantly take it.

She leans against the desk, smiling at me and I frown even more, fidgeting with my fingers.

"Was there anything else?" I ask and she laughs a little bit too enthusiastically, her hand brushing my arm.

"You're so funny." She says, walking back to her desk.

"And funerals are hysterical." I mutter to myself, not entirely sure what had just happened or what was so funny.

I sigh and gingerly open the piece of paper, knowing if it's from Caroline, it's not something I want to read.

"Go to the winter dance with me?"

I cringe, slowly folding the paper again and placing it in front of me.

I'd like to write 'No thank you', fold it into a paper plane and send it right back to her but I'm afraid that would be insensitive.

How do you break it to someone that you've met your soulmate and the thought of slow-dancing with another girl is repulsive? I groan quietly and instead focus on my biology work.

The dance is only 2 weeks away and people are frantically searching for someone to go with. Michael asked Kia two days ago by presenting her with a pot that he had made at his mum's pottery class. He'd painted 'Will you go to winter formal with' on it, but he'd run out of room so he just had to point at himself.

Kia nearly wet herself laughing and now has the pot proudly displayed in her room.

In truth, I'm a little envious of Kia and Michael. I know Clara will be there, but I want her to be there with me.

Class comes to an end and I pack up my work, dreading having to speak with Caroline. She's waiting for me outside the room and I suck in a breath as she watches me expectantly.

"Hey Caroline." I mumble, watching the floor intensely.

"Hey Kit! So, did you get my note? I'm sorry it wasn't in person but I was just so nervous and I thought maybe you'd ask me but it's kind of close now and I just thought I'd ask you and now I'm rambling." She babbles and I glance at her, horrified. She doesn't seem to notice how uncomfortable I am and I frown.

"Caroline, I'm sorry," I begin, shaking my head and her face falls.

"Oh, no, that's okay, are you going with someone else?" She asks and I hesitate.

"Sort of." I admit, not really feeling the need to explain my predicament.

She doesn't look satisfied with my answer but I can't give her anything else.

"I'm really sorry to disappoint you, I'm sure there's a lot of guys who'd love to go with you." I say, my gaze wandering to the wall opposite as I try to reassure her.

"But not you." She says sadly and I shake my head. She sighs and smiles.

"Well, you might change your mind.." She starts but I don't want to lead her on.

"No, Caroline. There's someone else." I state and she frowns. She opens her mouth to say something but I interrupt.

"Sorry, I have another class to get to. I'll see you later." I say, squeezing past her quickly and lightly jogging down the corridor.

God that was awkward.