Because of You

4.0

"Hey, do you think you could help me? I honestly don't know what we're doing." Brooke admitted quietly with a blush as she gestured to the math textbook. She was sitting beside Kyle, a dark haired, cute boy with slightly tousled hair, with a good taste in clothes.

Kyle nodded as he turned to face Brooke. "Alright, it's simple, no problem. So, first of all, you just have to use the formula-" He began explaining, but Brooke was too busy staring at the way his mouth moved as he spoke, his eyes fixed attentively at the textbook, how he was so interested in his math work.

Brooke watched as he wrote out the formula on a paper, giving it to her as he smiled an adorable lopsided smile. "There you go, just tell me if you need more help." He offered helpfully, turning back to his own textbook, continuing to do his work.

She bit her lip as she tried to do her work using the formula, but had no idea what the formula was even for, since she was so focused on Kyle the whole time. She blushed as she was about to ask him for help again, deciding to wait a couple more minutes before asking for help. She turned her head to see if he was busy, and debated whether to just ask him for help.

She extended her arm out and tapped his shoulder, lingering her finger on the fabric of his flannel to get his attention. "Um... Sorry... I wasn't really listening the first time." She admitted, looking at her paper embarrassed.

Kyle let out a short laugh as he pointed his pencil to the formula. "It's alright, don't worry about it. Just fit in the-" He began explaining, Brooke desperately trying to focus on what he was saying, but once again finding herself looking at and observing something new about Kyle. This time she looked at his hair. She liked the way it was slightly tousled, and how it fit his features nicely.

"Tada." He announced, gesturing at the paper. "Got it?" He asked.

Brooke sighed as she shook her head once again. "Sorry..... I was distracted." She muttered, embarrassed.

Kyle let out a small laugh as he ran his hand through his hair. "Man, you get distracted really easily, don't you."

She nodded as she drew tiny doodles on her paper. "Some things are just a lot more interesting." She answered, looking up from her paper to his eyes. She smiled slightly, cocking her head to the side.

"Math is pretty interesting, just pay attention this time." Kyle replied with a smile, turning back to the textbook. Brooke's face fell as she was shot down. She sighed as she reluctantly turned to her textbook, trying to listen to Kyle, but once again failing, this time wondering why he was so serious and focused on math.

-

"Alright, so, I want you to walk up to her, and look her directly in the eye, smile your best 'cute but sexy' smile, and ask her to the Winter Formal." Olivia instructed her brother, Lars. She adjusted the collar of his flannel, and flattened out his white undershirt.

They were in the school cafeteria, watching as Brooke took a seat by herself, her cute little brown paper lunch bag sitting in front of her as she waited for her friends to join her for lunch.

Lars ran a hand through his dark brown hair, smiling nervously as he licked his lips. "Alright, alright. But what if she just shoots me down? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?" He asked, grimacing. He shook out his arms as he pumped himself up for talking to Brooke.

"I think you just shouldn't do it. I don't see the big deal about her. She's not that pretty." Amanda said sassily, rolling her eyes. She was wearing her new boots and dress, that looked similar to Brooke's. She picked at her nails in annoyance as she listened to the two siblings chatter excitedly.

Lars rolled his eyes in response to Amanda. "Says the one who dresses exactly like Brooke." He countered. He looked back towards Olivia, dusting off his skinny jeans, and retied his Vans. "Okay, how do I look?" He asked.

Olivia gave him a big thumbs up in response, giving him a smile. "Perfect. Go get 'er!" She exclaimed, gesturing to where Brooke sat. He nodded in response, psyching himself up as he got ready to talk. "Alright! I'm going-" He announced, beginning to walk.

He made sure to keep his walk casual, yet cool, as he approached the table Brooke sat at. When he got to the table, he sat directly across from Brooke, smiling at her.

"Hey, I'm Lars. You're new here, right? I think we have Chemistry together" He asked, his dimples showing as he smiled brightly. His face blushed slightly as he realized his choice of words. "The class, I mean. Chemistry class." He corrected.

Brooke smiled as she examined Lars' face. He was really cute to her, and she was at a loss for words. She nodded shyly as she took a bite of her sandwich, hoping she wasn't blushing too much. Crossing one leg over the other, she let out a shy small smile. "I'm Brooke." She finally answered.

Lars gestured to a Winter Formal poster hanging on the cafeteria wall, looking directly at Brooke. "So, did anyone tell you about the Winter Formal next week? Are you going?" He asked, trying to contain his excitement as he spoke. He watched as her cheeks turned a darker shade of pink, which was absolutely adorable to him.

"I was thinking about going, but I heard it's a date thing? I don't really have anyone to go with, so, I wasn't sure if I should go." She answered shyly, looking down at the table. Deep down, she was hoping maybe someone would ask her to go, but she really didn't know anyone, and the Winter Formal was a week away.

"Well, maybe we could go together- y'know, as friends?" Lars offered, mentally slapping himself for adding on the last part. Of course he didn't want to go just as friends, he wanted to go as a hot couple. Lars imagined himself walking into the Formal hand in hand with Brooke, everyone's breath taken away as they watched the duo shining and glowing together, the two looking like a perfect couple. But of course, Lars had just ruined that by saying "as friends."

Brooke nodded as she blushed an even darker shade of pink. "How about- you and I go out tomorrow night and talk about this? Maybe we could pick out a matching tie and dress?" She offered, wanting to get to know Lars better. She tucked a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear as she smiled happily. "Then, we can get to know each other better too.

"Alright, it's a date." He replied, once again realizing his choice of words. "I mean, it's a plan? Or I mean, unless you want it to be a date- then it can be?" He corrected, sounding awkward and cute.

Brooke giggled as she watched him stumble on his words, nodding. "It's a date then."

-

Disclaimer: All the names of places, people, and events have been altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent. Namely, me.

Hey guys,

Winter Formal is coming up REALLY quickly. In fact, it's five days away. Are you ready for this? Of course, I've already got my smokin' hot date. Do you? Exciting times are right around the corner, and if things seem calm now, then, things are bound to get dramatic and disastrous soon. Think of it as the calm before a storm.

YOUR EMAILS

Hey so like i saw this really hot dude that plays football talking to B at lunch the other day. I heard she hooked up with everyone on the football team, including him! -xOsweetie44

Dear xOsweetie44, I'm pretty sure that hot football player talking to B was L. L might not play that well on the field, but it seems he's definitely playing his way into B's heart! -GG

Hi gg, so, i was in trig the other day, and I totally saw B and this quiet math nerd talking and idk i think they were flirting? Maybe she's selling drugs to him! -exs46

Dear exs46, Maybe B was just asking for help? Or maybe she's into math nerds? Was he hot? -GG

SIGHTINGS

B and L shopping at the mall together, and later going to SweetBrew Cafe together. K hanging near a seemingly suspicious alley- isn't he a goody-two-shoes? What's our math nerd doing there? O and A at the park, talking on a bench. V and F together, grabbing a drink from Starbucks. No sight of C. Probably partying hard or finding a new boy to play with.

You know you love me,

Gossip Girl