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As the baby store hummed with the chatter of the teenage customers (if they could really be called that when they weren't buying anything) and the soft rustle of merchandise being pulled off of shelves, James led Natalia towards the nappy aisle, a worried expression still etched onto his face. As he turned to look towards her, almost biting his lip with nerves, Natalia decided to lighten the mood. "Lovely place for a secret conversation you've chosen, James," she laughed, gesturing to the surrounding shelter of nappies.
James chuckled softly, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "You're telling me you don't normally surround yourself with baby underwear when you need a covert gossip session?" he quipped, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
Natalia's eyes widened in surprise, a genuine laugh escaping her lips at James's unexpected use of sarcasm. "Touché," she replied, a smile tugging at her lips as she regarded her classmate with newfound appreciation. "Alright, James, what's on your mind? You seem unusually witty today."
James took a deep breath, his nerves fluttering in his chest as he prepared to broach the topic that had been weighing heavily on his mind. "Natalia, I need your help," he began, his voice tinged with vulnerability.
Natalia's expression softened, concern flickering in her eyes as she looked at James with genuine sympathy. "Oh, gosh! Of course, James. What's wrong?" she asked, her tone gentle and reassuring.
James hesitated for a moment before plunging ahead, his words tumbling out in a rush of emotion. "It's Abigail," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm... I'm in love with her, Natalia. But, truly. Crazily! And I don't know how to tell her. I need your help."
Natalia's heart clenched at the raw honesty of James's words. She reached out and squeezed his hand gently, offering him a reassuring smile.
"James, that's... that's wonderful," Natalia replied, her voice filled with genuine warmth. "And I'm honoured that you trust me to help you, especially given my reputation for being the school klutz."
James shook his head with a smile, gratitude shining in his eyes as he leaned in closer. "You're not a klutz, Natalia," he started, until she shot him a knowing look. He continued, "Okay, maybe you are, but you're a wonderful person, and nobody knows Abigail like you do. I need to know... how do I ask her out? What do I say?"
Natalia's mind raced as she considered James's questions, her heart aching for him. The truth was she had never heard of Abigail liking anybody. She had wondered whether the girl might actually be asexual. It was always possible that she was a lesbian, but if she were, she would have surely told Natalia by now – and Natalia would have been much offended that Abigail hadn't made a move on her.
