Roses

Chapter 5

"Liam... You really mean it?"

I nod, hands in my pockets, nervous.

"Yes... I really mean it. I love you, Angela. Since the first time we met. Remember? We were so little."

She blushes. She is so cute when she blushes.

"I do... I love you too."

She looks down, embarrassed. Then, she glances at me. The expression in her eyes are indecipherable. Her right hand gently touches my cheek.

Don't faint, I say to myself.

She approaches her face from mine. Are we going to have our first kiss? I'm nervous. I dreamed about this for so long! I lean towards her. Our lips are almost touching...

Suddenly, a uninterrupted and annoying sound ruins this moment. I refrain myself from letting out a scream of frustration.

Gosh darn it!

"Noooooo..." I let out with a sigh.

My mom knocks at my door before opening it.

"Wake up, honey! I made you blue waffles! Oh, dear, what kind of face is that?!"

"For once, I had a beautiful dream, Mom... It changes from the nightmares I always do. But that stupid alarm had to ruin everything."

I sit near them, just in case. I can hear that Matthew brag about his money and the new car his daddy just bought him yesterday and that makes me wanna punch him. Maybe it's jealousy, I don't know. I mean, we have problems with money at home. And the guy is bragging over there. He can have everything he wants. All the girls want to be his girlfriend. But he has to go after the girl I love more than my own life — fact that she will probably never know. And the way he talks to her... I think he has something in mind. Probably a date-this-untouchable-and-super-shy-girl bet or something. I don't want her to get hurt, especially if it's by him. Gosh, all these thoughts make me feel more depressed.

"You know, you could have been in this brand new car thats belongs to me if you had accepted to go on a date with me..."

Angela sighs with exasperation.

"Listen. I don't care about your Lamborghini..."

"Actually, it's the new Ferrari..."

"Whatever" she interrupts him. "I just want to finish this book in peace and..."

"I always get what I want" he says in an almost aggressive tone.

One more word and that guy's dead.

Fortunately before someone gets hurt — and that would be Matthew —, Angela stands up and her eyes meet mine. She starts blushing a little. She stands in front of me, which makes Matthew frowns but he didn't make a move, glaring at me.

"Can I sit there?" she asks timidly.

I smile.

"C'mon, Angela. We know each since we were kids. What do you want me to say?"

Then, I start talking with Matthew's arrogant voice.

"No, Rapunzel, you can't sit there, because this whole table belongs to my me."

She laughs softly. It sounds like a sweet melody to my ears. Remembering my dream of this morning, I start to blush intensively, hoping she doesn't notice it. Fortunately, she looks at her phone.

"Oh... Never mind. I have a class in a few minutes." she says.

"It's okay. Me too."

I take her to her class — I can almost feel Matthew's look behind me, but I don't care.

"See you later?" she asks.

Am I crazy or she sounded hopeful? But then I think: That's probably because she doesn't want to be attacked again, not because she has feelings for you, dummy.

"Of course, Angela."

She smiles at me and enter the classroom.

"By the way, you know, that Matthew guy..."

She sighs.

"Not him! What do you want to know?"

I kick in a pebble.

"I don't know. You like him?"

"Are you serious?" she exclaims. "He is a jerk! I thought you already knew that."

I chuckle, amused to see her pissed off that way.

"Of course I do. I just wanted to hear it from you."

She laughs.

"I told him many times to leave me alone, but he won't."

"I know."

She gives me a serious look.

"You know... We know each other since we were kids, but we never talked that much."

"What do you mean?" I question her, but deep down, I know what she means. We walk home together, but we don't discuss often. She is too shy and so am I. Sometimes, we just tell each other anecdotes, but that's all. I guess that evening when she got attacked brought us closer.

"Mmmm... I don't know. When two people know each other for more than ten years and walk home together, we could think that they are best friends. But we don't talk often... You understand?"

I nod.

"Yeah, I do."

"I'm sorry for being too shy" she says, blushing. "I mean, that's because..." she blushes harder. "Anyways, I hope we can get to know each other better. And I don't say that because you saved me. I just thought about it today, that's all."

"Yeah, it's okay."

Before entering her house, she narrows her eyes.

"You know, Liam, I think you're kinda mysterious. I mean, we never really know what's on your mind. You know, if there's anything, you can always count on me."