Sometimes We Fall In Love

Chapter One

It started out as any normal day. I woke up, and prepared for another day of invisibility. You get used to it after a while. Being alone. You just get on with your life day by day, watching everyone else. Friends. Relationships. Sure, you envy them. You want to feel something. Some emotion. Anything. But you know it won't happen, so you just walk straight past, shoving your thoughts to the back of your mind.

My parents think there's something wrong with me. They constantly tell me to change myself and put myself out there. I've grown so accustomed to being alone that I'm scared of what would happen if I suddenly wasn't. If someone else is in the equation, I'll forever be terrified they'd leave. Everyone leaves. The only person who's always around is yourself.

I haven't always been alone. I used to have friends. I was permanently attached to Jessica Succio in Middle School. Then she got pretty and popular and she left me behind. Now she's the most popular girl in our school, and I'm the most invisible.

My mum worries about me constantly. She stares at me during any family meal; be it breakfast, lunch or dinner; and she always has this sympathetic look on her face. Sometimes you can see her heart breaking.

I'm an only child, so imagine how disappointed my parents were when I turned out to be this loner. I mean, sure I get good grades and do all my homework and I've never had any behavioural issues, but not even my teachers notice me. Well. All except one.

Mr Clark was my English Lit teacher. He was so passionate about his teaching. I've always been fascinated with literature. From Shakespeare to William Golding, I love everything about analysing a text and interpreting it. It's the only lesson I actually contribute in discussions. Mr Clark spoke to my parents and told them he was worried about me because I was sat on my own in the corner. He's the only teacher that's ever actually noticed. Although, lately someone else has been noticing me in English, and I'm not quite sure why.

Nick Porter was the star soccer player at our school and all the girls wanted to date him. He was always hanging around at least twelve girls, all batting their eyelashes at him, but I've never seen him date any of them.

For the first time in 2 years, someone had looked at me in class and smiled. This time it wasn't past me either. I was sat in the corner. There was nobody behind me. The smile was actually directed at me. The most baffling thing was who it came from. Why was Nick smiling at me? The Nick Porter who's cocky as anything?

The bell sounded and I rushed out of the room. Eager to get the quietest seat in the library. As I was about to start up the stairs I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned around to see Nick standing there behind me, smirking and leaning against the wall.

"Hey, you're Lena right?" He sounded so cool and casual and my heart skipped a beat when he said my name, but only because nobody but my parents and Mr Clark had said my name in so long.

"Um, yeah..? Hi Nick..?" I stuttered and Nick could obviously sense my confusion because he stifled a laugh.

"Hey, um, I was just wondering if I could ask you a favour?" He looked around him as if checking nobody was listening.

"Um...sure...what is it?" I was actually rather proud at how collected I was. For someone with next to no social skills, I was doing pretty well at not sounding like an idiot.

"Well...this is kinda embarrassing, but I'm failing English Lit and if I don't get at least a C this term, I won't be allowed to play soccer this season."

"Okay...I'm really sorry to hear that, but how am I supposed to help?"

"Well you're always saying these really smart things in the lessons and Mr Clark suggested I ask you to tutor me?"

"He did what?" I was feeling so embarrassed. How could Mr Clark betray me like that and sign me up for tutoring Nick Porter, without my consent?

"He said you'd be okay with it but if you're not I can ask Sarah Lindbergh." It sounded like I was being challenged into it. I'd missed human contact, I desperately wanted to get to know someone and if I could do it whilst talking about 'Lord Of The Flies' and the themes presented then man was I happy.

"Oh, yeah, no, I can help you. When are you next free?"

"How about this afternoon?"

"Sure, sounds good. But just to be clear you have at least read the book right?" I raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Uhhhh..." Nick was scratching his head in embarrassment.

"Okay, I'll take that as a no. Well I guess we have to start somewhere right?" Nick shifted on his feet and I giggled which made his head lift up as he smiled at me. "Come to 76 Jonagold Lane at 6pm and bring your copy of the book. I'll have you getting higher than a C by the end of term!"

"It's a date." Nick winked and laughed slightly before walking away. I could feel my face going red and a smile forming on my face.

I continued my way towards the library and got out my copy of 'Along Came A Spider' by James Patterson. Crime books were my favourites away from the classics and I was madly opposed to anyone who said the film version of 'Along Came A Spider' was better. I mean sure the casting of Alex Cross was pretty much spot on with Morgan Freeman, but the storyline was changed immensely.

I couldn't stop thinking about my conversation with Nick and how calm I was about it. In my mind every time I've imagined having a conversation with someone, I've always ended up sounding completely foolish.

Someone was noticing me. Hearing the things I was saying. Hearing my thoughts and opinions on the key themes within the book we were reading. Not only were they hearing them, they were impressed by them. And the person that was hearing them, just so happened to be the most popular guy that's ever been a student at my school.