⭒𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 ⭒

Secret Admirer

12:00PM , Camden High-school

I walked through the school halls, slipping my way through the tight crowds of sweaty students. I made my way to my neatly decorated locker, an abundance of stickers collected on the front. As I turned the knob to the correct code, a familiar voice came from behind me, grabbing my shoulders.

"Hey Jasmine!" Gabriel called out, practically yelling into my ears. I instinctively elbowed his chest, whipping around to turn him. He immediately grabbed his chest, stumbling backwards. "Ahhh, shit!" He groaned. "Gabe! I told you not to scare me like that! See? Look what you've done! Are you okay?" I rolled my eyes, but frowned sympathetically.

"No.. I'm fine! I swear.." He stood up straight, trying to ignore the pain I inflicted on him. "Okay.. whatever." I looked back at my locker, swiftly opening it. "So.. anyways," Gabriel continued. "Do you think you have the math notes? For Johnson's class? I lost it and I was wondering if you'd let me borrow it." I looked through my books, finding a small paper note reading "To: Jasmine".

I grabbed the note, staring at the front. "Jasmine?" Gabriel questioned again, now spotting the note held in my hands. "Yo, what's that?" "I don't know.. I just.. found it in my locker?" I opened the teensy letter, finding a handwritten poem.

A flower so appealing to the senses and eyes
A fragrance so sweet, beautiful
upon the air it lies.
This Jasmine flower in the palm of my hands,
Brings me so much joy that I cannot in truth,
understand.

I slowly cringed, crumbling the note up in my hands. "What a weirdo.." I mumbled. Gabriel's face dropped. "Yeah, that's weird. A secret admirer? I wouldn't expect anyone to like you." I turned, offended. "Excuse me?" I looked him up and down, crossing my arms. "I was just kidding! You know that." He playfully smiled.
"Yeah.. you better be joking."

Lunchtime, 1:10PM

I grabbed my lunch trey, grabbing nothing but a green apple and hard lasagna. I looked over at the tables filled with people I hardly liked. "Jasmine! Jasmine!" A voice called out from within the crowds. I peered over, spotting Jane. Jane has been my platonic soulmate ever since 7th grade. "Hey Jane!" I smiled, making my way over to her table.

Jane took a bite out of her apple. "So, anything new?" "Yeah actually." I slipped out the note from my pocket. "Look at this." I placed it down on the table. Jane leaned over, reading it carefully. "Oh my god. Who's it from?" She looked back up at me curiously. "That's the thing.. I don't know. It doesn't have a name or anything." "Weird. It must be a secret admirer or something." She guessed, resting her head on the palm of her hand. "Yeah, must be." I agreed.

Gabriel suddenly sat next to me, pushing me over playfully. "Guys, look at this!" He smacked down a piece of paper on the middle of the lunch table.

Leah's Birthday ~ 5PM-12PM
9677 Carpenter St.
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

I stared down at the invitation, annoyed. Leah Baker was always a girl I despised. I've started hating her during freshman year, ever since she purposely embarrassed me in front of my ex-crush. She's obnoxious, and self centered. "Okay? What about it?" I sneered, pushing the invitation away. "What? You don't wanna go?" Gabe looked at me. "How could I even go anyways? She didn't even invite me." Jane and Gabe went quiet. "What?" I looked back up,

Jane stared at Gabriel, then at me. "Damn.. that's cold." Jane whispered. I looked at them both, slightly confused. "What are you talking about?" "Well.. Jane invited literally everyone. Even people she didn't really know. You didn't.. get an invitation?" Gabriel spoke. Jane shook her head. "No Gabe, she probably hasn't seen Leah yet today. She'll get one."

I looked away, embarrassed. My voice became low. "I've.. had four classes with her already."
Jane went quiet again. "Oh."

I stood up, grabbing my lunch trey. "Whatever, I don't need to go anyways. You guys can go." To be honest, I was a bit aggravated.. and maybe jealous too. Leah was once again stealing my friends away from me. It looks like i'll be spending my Friday night alone again.