Heartbeat

Note From Ethan

I turn the other way so my back is against the locker, where nobody can see the note.

Quickly, I open it.

Alyssa,

I know you've liked me for a while now. The only reason why I don't talk to you more often is because of Cody. He always forces me to stay away from you. I have no idea why, but that will change.

Last year, I realized how pretty you are.

How beautiful your eyes are. They remind me of a deep, mysterious ocean.

How your hair lays on your head so delicately. It's so perfect.

Another thing that just came to me: you are so sweet, so nice, so gentle.

Please believe me. This might sound too fake for you, but I am starting to realize how much I like you.

Don't show this note to anyone, and don't make anything obvious during class.

I just wanted to let you know that I'm not avoiding you. If I could, I would be really good friends with you.

Maybe even more.

If you can, meet me tomorrow after school behind the cafeteria. At the double doors. Nobody uses them, so nobody will see us.

I didn't call you yesterday because I couldn't tell you on the phone what I wanted to tell you.

That I really like you.

I hope I will see you tomorrow (behind the cafeteria).

From, Ethan

I close it.

Smiling, heart beating, I cannot believe what I just read.

I feel like I'm in a dream, but I'm not.

Last year?

I breathe in and out, and can't help smiling. Ethan has liked me for a year.

For a year, we have liked each other.

I can't believe even my thoughts. I grasp them as much as I can, while my heart is twisting like a wrung out towel.

I run to my first period. I'm late.

After Language Arts, I walk to Math, heart pounding. Ethan.

How will he act? Any differently? Will he smile at me, or stare at me?

I stop thinking about it, knowing nothing different will happen.

Walking in, I immediately spot him. In a mesmerizing way, he takes out his notebook.

About to sit down, Mrs. Anderson stops us.

"We are going to start a new seating chart today. You have been very loud lately."

I sit through the first part of telling who sits where.

"Alyssa, you will sit here."

She points to the one of the desks in the back. I obediently go over and put my things down.

"Ethan! You are going to sit next to Alyssa."

I widen my eyes, screaming on the inside. No!

He comes over, very slowly. When he finally reaches me, he sets his book down and glances at me with his dark hazel eyes.

A chill runs down my spine.

The whole class, I'm practically on the edge of my seat, avoiding any contact with him.

By the end of class, my hands are sweating and my lips are dry.

Tomorrow I will meet him behind the cafeteria.