Could this actually be love?

Denise has always been a quiet girl. She was a bit shy and found it hard to make new friends. Her home situation didn't make it any easier. Her parents argued a lot and there was often a tense atmosphere in the house.

Denise tried to shut herself off from the world around her.

She went to school, came home and locked herself in her room.

Denise didn't fare much better at school.

She was bullied by a group of popular girls.

They laughed at her attire and her quiet demeanour.

Denise felt miserable and unhappy.

She wanted so much to fit in, but it seemed like that would never happen.

One day something unexpected happened.
Denise got the ball thrown hard against her head during gym class.

She fell to the floor and felt dizzy.

When she opened her eyes, she saw someone standing next to her.

It was the boy who always bullied her, Jayson.

He looked at her with concern and offered to take her to the nurse.

Denise was surprised.

She never expected Jayson to be so nice.

She began to see him differently and slowly but surely developed feelings for him.

He was still mean to her, but she couldn't stop thinking about him.

One day Denise walked by the library and saw that Jayson was studying there.

She decided to go in and ask him if they could work together on a project for school.

Jayson agreed and they began collaborating on the project.

While working they started talking and Denise told him about her home situation and the bullying at school.

Jayson listened intently and said he was sorry he had treated her this way.

He also told her that he himself had problems at home and that was why he was so mean to others. Denise and Jayson started spending more and more time together.

They talked about anything and everything.

Denise finally felt understood and loved.

She was in love with Jayson, but she didn't dare say it.

She was afraid he would reject her because she was so different.

One day Denise walked home and saw Jayson standing at her door.

He brought a bunch of flowers and said he liked her.

Denise was overjoyed and said she was in love with him too.

Denise never thought she would fall in love with her bully..