Short Stories

I Like You

Tyler shoots a glance at me in the middle of math class. As I turn my head to look at him, he sticks out his tongue and makes himself look like he has four chins. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't contain my laughter. I snort and Tyler nearly falls out of his chair. 

"Tyler and Emma, can you hold off on the talking for a while? You need to do your work," the teacher says sternly. We look at each other, blushing, as the whole class turns around to look at us. 

A few minutes later, the bell rings and we begin to pack up. I sling my backpack over my shoulders and wait for him to get ready. After he puts all of his papers back into his folder, we leave to go to our last period, study lab. 

As soon as we make it into the hallway, he sees some of his other friends. I break away from him, knowing it is my time to leave. We are math friends, and math friends only. We never see each other outside of that one class. 

As we both walk our separate ways, we turn around and make faces at each other. I smile happily and go to my locker. I'm still grinning when my friend Serenity comes and finds me. 

"Why are you so smiley?" she asks, laughing at me. I shrug then slam my locker closed. She follows me, obviously determined to get an answer. 

"Hello? Could this maybe be about Tyler?" she asks. She waggles her eyebrows and winks. 

"What do you mean?" 

"You obviously like him!" she squeals. I shove my hand on her mouth to shut her up. 

"Maybe I do. But there's no way he likes me. We don't even talk outside of our math class." She stares at my heated cheeks and laughs. 

"He totally likes you! You guys never shut up in there," she begins, watching me. I roll my eyes and call out bye before we part and I push open the front door of the school. 

Twenty minutes later, when I'm home and making myself some hot chocolate, I feel my phone vibrate. I see that I got a facetime from Tyler.  I quickly fix my hair and makeup before I answer; 

After a long conversation, we decided we should hang out the next day. When he hangs up, I scream. I finally admit to myself that I like him. 

After school the next day, we go to our school's football game. We cling to each other the whole time, finally not afraid to be seen together. After we leave to walk me home, he stops dead in his tracks. 

"Woah," he says. I stop and turn to look at him. 

"What? Are you okay?" I ask nervously. 

"I'm better than okay. I think I'm in love!" he says. He runs up to where I'm standing, pulls me into a big hug, and spins me around in his arms. I laugh and blush, sure he's just trying to be funny. He sets me down gently and I stare into his eyes. 

There's not one speck of a joke in them. 

"I like you. A lot...Will you go out with me?" he asks apprehensively. 

I whisper yes a million times and he hugs me again. 

We walk home together into the night, his warm hand in mine.