Cato and Clove - Our story

Back to the start - Cato

We have maths. I'm in Miss Lilly's class 4L. I have one earphone in waiting for her to start the lesson. We're learning decimals. I'm 10 this year. I didn't want to come to school. We didn't have long enough holidays. Suddenly the classroom door opens just as Miss Lilly starts the lesson just my luck. Still I don't want to listen so I put my headphone back in, stair at the board and try to look like I care about what's going on.

"Girls and boys. We have a new student" Mrs Evens says
Oh great a new student. Who knows what could happen. I look up just to see who it is. The new students a girl. She is beautiful, wearing a deep purple dress with a black ribbon in her hair.
"Do you want to introduce yourself" Miss Lilly asks her
"Um ok. I'm Clove and I moved here from near the graphite mines" She says
"Well Clove I'm Miss Lilly and this is my class we all are here to make make you feel welcome." Miss Lilly says

Cloves goes and sits in the empty desk across from me. I want to talk to her and lunch. I don't know how. I try to listen but I just can't sit still. My headphone is out now so there isn't anything to distract me. Anything but Clove. She catches me looking at her once, she waves I wave back but then focus on the lesson agin.

Lunch comes. I walk into the cafeteria and see Clove is already there sitting alone. I go through the lunch line and collect my food. Egg sandwich and chocolate milk. I take a deep breath in, gather my courage and sit next to her.
"Hi" I say
"Hi" Clove says
"Umm, I um, got to go" I stammer
"Oh ok I'll see you tomorrow then" she says

Why did I get so nervous talking to her? Do I like her? I'll sort it out after school. I go and sit with a group of my friends
They start up a conversation I don't listen though, I'm still thinking about my conversation with Clove.
"Cato, Cato! Earth to Cato" my best friend waves his hand in front of my face.
"Felix can I talk to you outside" I ask
"Yeah sure" He says back
We make our way out side and I'm planning to tell him about my convocation about Clove.
" hey I have a question about the homework" I say
"Yeah what about it? It's really easy this week" Felix says
" yeah I know." I say
He says something when I don't reply I snap.
"I don't even know how to talk to a girl!" I scream
"Tell me what happen" He says with a sigh
So I tell him.
"You know the new girl right" I begin
"Yeah Clove or something" he says
"Yeah Clove" I take a deep breath I'm to far in now I have to keep going
"I had a really awkward conversation with her. I wanted to talk to her but when I did I couldn't say anything" I say
"Do you like her?" Felix asks
"I don't know" I answer

I'm walking to my next class every step feels like an eternity I keep checking the clock. How long till we go home? The I see Clove. She seems to be everywhere today. She's glancing up at the clock face in the crowded hallway way. I think she looks up just enough to see the two boys who bumped into her on either side. And me. Who talked to her at lunch, I just stops as the rest of the school rushes past me while she stares at me, watching her fall. It seems to move in slow. The rest of the school kids start to move around us. I quickly turn and walk the other way.