Richmond Dillamond and the first kiss?

Passage five

Wednesday 28th September

Dear diary

Permission to write about amazing stuff that has happened over this past week? Sure, Rich. Well let's start from Monday, because I am ordinary. So you know I was meant to be hanging out with Keira's friends at lunch, yeah? Yeah. It went exactly as I thought it would! Better even. Her friends told me that I'm cute and that I have great potential to become a professional reader some day, since I told them how many books I've read, 127 to be precise. Not including 'The art of not being a dick' because I still haven't finished it. Not had that much time due to the fact I've actually been socialising and chatting with friends over 'Facebook'. It's a social network. Keira signed me up on facebook and if I'm honest I still haven't fully figured it out yet. Anyway back to last Monday lunchtime. I now remember all their names. Robbie, the flirt. Hannah, the musician. Fletcher, the artist; and Sasha, the mentalist. They are all really friendly, especially Sasha. She kept giving me this weird smile that suggested more than friendship. Still debating about accepting her on facebook. Change subject. Fletcher has such a great taste in artists; Warhol, Van Gough, Da Vinci, etc. I loved talking to him. I loved talking to all of them really. Hannah is so pretty! Robbie wouldn't stop flirting with my sister though. In one way it was cute to see him try and 'woo' her, but then again I did want to shout "back off" or something. I felt so relaxed with them really though. I've carried on sitting with them at lunchtimes since that day.

Last Friday was such a laugh. 'Such a laugh?' aha my new way of writing/talking makes me chuckle sometimes. So anyway, Fletcher was just talking to Sasha about 'The Black Keys' new album while Hannah and I listened, when all of a sudden, Robbie jumps on our table in the lunch hall and starts to sing as loud as he can to Keira. I think he thought he was serenading her but Keira didn't take it too seriously. She just laughed. A lot. I hadn't seen her laugh that much since Dad came back from the hairdressers last Christmas practically bald. All he asked for was a slight trim at the back. Shortly after Robbie begun, he was caught by the headmaster. We all found it rather hilarious. Then something weird happened that could well possibly have made a great difference to my life. Sasha turned to me after Robbie had been whisked off by two prefects, and asked me about Bella.

"So I hear you have a crush on the wonderful, Bella Harper?"

"Oooohh..." - rest of table except Keira (She just smiled)

"Who told you? Whoever it was, is a liar. Aha."

"Rich, It doesn't matter if you do? I think it's sweet. Have you tried talking to her?" (Keira laughed)

"Na, Sasha. Rich won't even go near her. He's too scared."

"I'm not scared. I'm just waiting for the right moment..."

"Hey, look Bella's sitting on the table in the corner. She's only with one other person. Just go up to her and say hi."

"But what about if that other person is her boyfriend?"

"Rich..?"

"yeah..?"

"That's a girl." (Whole table laughed)

"Oh... awkward aha"

"Seriously, Rich just go up to her. She won't hurt you. If she tells you to go away, then there's plenty more fish in the sea. Fletcher's single..."

"Oi! I ain't gay aha. Na, go for it mate. She'll think you're awesome."

"Okay then..."

"Woooo! Go Rich!" Hannah and Fletcher patted me on the back. Sasha and Keira just cheered for me.

~~~~~

"Hi. My name's Richmond." her back was facing me. Her hair looked so beautiful.

"Urm.. Do I know you?" She turned around and looked up. Her eyes sparkled.

"I'm the guy that got beat up by Johnny not to long ago? Aha"

"Oh yeah, I remember you aha. How's your eye doing?"

"It's alright actually, thanks. Can I sit with you?"

"Yeah sure."

"I'll see you later, Bella."

"Bye, Alexa." - Bella's friend that was also sitting at the table. The one that still looks like a boy, in my opinion.

I turned round quickly to look at my friends before I sat down. They were all putting their thumbs up and smiling at me. It made me feel good inside.

"My name's Bella."

"I like that name. It's really pretty, unlike mine."

"Aha thanks. What year you in?"

"Year 10."

"Oh wait, are you Kylie and Keira's younger brother?"

"Yeah. I'm guessing you know them then."

"They're in my textiles class. I've heard Kylie talk about you before. Not in a nice way though..."

"Me and Kylie don't really see eye to eye. Sibling rivalry I suppose." I was proud to use that phrase I researched.

"I wouldn't know what that's like. I'm an only child."

"Do you enjoy that?"

"Not really. It's proper boring at times."

"Do you have any hobbies?"

"Listening to music Is a big passion of mine. Arctic monkeys is my favourite group."

"Mine too. I love their new song, 'R U Mine?'"

"Yeah! It's so good. You're actually not that bad as Kylie says you are."

"I'll take that as compliment. Thank you."

She just smiled. Her lips looked so kissable. I had to resist the temptation though, because I didn't want to mess anything up. This was going great.

"Not being rude, but why did you come over?"

"Because... urm... aha... urm.. because I wanted to find out what shampoo you used. Your hair looks so soft." Bella laughed. Her face was so adorable.

"Dove, head and shoulders. Aha, you are funny, Richmond."

"Thanks. And you can call me, Rich."

"You can still call me Bella, Rich." That heart felt smile returned.

-End of lunch bell rings-

"aha. Well I better go now. It was nice talking to you."

"You too. Add me on me facebook or something."

"Sure. Bye."

"See ya."

My friends waited for me by our lunch table so we could all walk to our next lessons together. That's what friends do. That's what my friends do. I appreciate it. Keira hung her arm over my shoulder and kissed my cheek.

"How did it go? Was she nice?"

"Keira..."

"Yeah..?"

"She was blooming perfect!"

"Arww... My little nugget has fallen madly in love." Keira nudged her fist through my hair like I was five years old. I found it cute.

"I'm not in love. Not yet anyway. She said I could add her on Facebook tonight."

"Well done mate. Knew you'd pull." Fletcher had a cheeky grin sprawled across his well-moisturised face.

"Pull?"

"Means to get a date, Rich." Hannah reassured me.

"Oh... we're not dating?"

"You will soon. I just know it." I was surprised to hear Sasha say that. I don't know why. It just doesn't seem like something she'd say.

I simply smiled to hide my awkwardness.

Since Friday, Bella and I haven't stopped talking on Facebook. I even have her phone number now! I I think it's serious between me and Bella. Oh what am I saying? I'm younger than her. She'll think I'm too immature. Well then that means I'm going to have to prove I'm not. Can't wait to have another dream of us again tonight.

Love, Rich x