I Knew You Before You Noticed Me

Chapter 15

My classes were a blur. All I could think of was the note in her locker, and the overwhelming feeling that I'd just ruined everything. This was Biana Vacker, the girl who could have any guy she wanted wrapped around her finger. I stood no chance.

Math class. With the project over, Biana and I were once again a classroom apart. She didn't look at me or give any indication she noticed my existence, and each second that passed left nails of embarrassment and hurt shooting through my chest.

I made sure I was the first to leave.

Linh must have seen my expression, because she stayed silent the entire walk home. I glued my eyes to the ground, trying to convince myself  it was far more interesting that those teal eyes that were taunting the back of my mind. The music in my ears did nothing to drown out my thoughts.

One day. Two days. Three days, until I had let every bit of hope dissolve.

Never again.

I should've kept my feelings a secret. What was I thinking? What did I expect? For us to have some happy ever after, worthy of a fairy tale, where the princess falls for the prince with nothing but a glance?

I shook that thought out of my head. I didn't want that. I wanted her know me.

I still wanted that.

Linh was careful to avoid the topic. I knew she was guilty. After all, she'd been the one to convince me to express my feelings. But it wasn't her fault. It's not like she wrote the note. I did.

I'd been the one stupid enough to do it.

"Tam."

I froze, my concentration snapping back like a rubber band. I glanced up from my math problems, Biana's crossed arms greeting me like they had the first time she'd ever talked to me.

"Can you meet me after school later?" she asked. I noticed a piece of paper clutched in her hand.

"I don't know," I said, avoiding her eyes. "I have a lot of homework."

"Please?" She sounded desperate. "Just....please?"

My heart pounded. Her voice still covered every rational thought.

I nodded, returning my eyes to my paper. "Yeah. Sure."

She tensed, like she wanted to say something else, but just nodded and walked away.

I put my head in my hands. Why was this so confusing? Why couldn't I have a happy ending like my sister?

I fingered the silver ends of my hair. It seemed I was destined to mess things up.

But I'd talk to her, if that was what she wanted. I'd apologize, I'd do whatever she needed me to. Whatever it took to make it up to her.

No matter what.

***

I found Biana sitting on my usual bench, watching the students file out of school, fingering the strands of her hair in a distracted sort of way. I held my breath and forced myself to look away.

She must have heard me approaching, because she turned and met my eyes. I froze--whatever normality had been a part of me and Biana's relationship before, it was all but gone.

She gave me a small smile and held up her hand. "You forgot something."

I blinked. That wasn't what I had expected. "What?"

"In your note," she said, referring to the paper pinned between her fingers. "You forgot something."

I looked away. "I told you you didn't have to say anything."

"I know." She set the note on the bench and stood, walking over to me. "But you never told me what to do if I liked you back."

I opened my mouth, and closed it again. Her eyes were teasing, nothing like the desperation I had heard earlier. "I figured there wasn't a need to."

"And if there is?"

My breathing was becoming steadily shorter, cut off by the adrenaline now pumping through me.

"Is there?" I asked, trying to squash the hope filling my voice.

"Maybe." Biana looked at her feet, lacing and unlacing her fingers. "I just....you never told me what to do, so I thought I'd ask."

At this point, breathing was no longer necessary.

"Is it bad that I hope there is a reason?" I asked, and immediately wanted to smack myself. Great job, Tam. Way to be subtle.

"No," she said quietly, drawing closer. "I want there to be too. That is, if you haven't given up on me?"

I closed my eyes and stepped back, trying to separate the emotional smoothy in my brain. The hope in her voice was impossible to miss, and just as hard to ignore. I just....I couldn't say no. Not yet.

"Why did you wait so long?" I asked, my eyes still closed. If I looked at her, I was ninety-nine percent sure my brain would shut down.

I heard her shuffle slightly. "I was scared, I guess. Scared of making a mistake again."

"Keefe?" I guessed, finally meeting her eyes. She gave me a small smile and nodded.

"I know I have no right to ask this of you. I made you wait too long, and I wouldn't be surprised if you've already moved on. But, Tam...." She took a deep breath, and I stared at her. "Will you be my boyfriend?"

She might as well have been speaking Chinese for how well I understood her.

"Biana," I said, the English language kicking back in. "You probably don't know this about me, but I can be very stubborn. You can't get rid of me that easily."

She gave a relieved laugh. "Is that a yes?"

"Yeah," I said, tugging on my bangs. "Yeah, I guess it is."

Her smile put the sun to shame, and she threw her arms around me. I stepped back to keep from falling, shock plastered to my face. She pulled away, and suddenly, the belt slowly tightening around my chest loosened.

Linh was right. I couldn't let her get away. 

And I didn't. 

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FINALLY!!!!!

Would you believe this is the first chapter fanfic I've ever written? Probably, cuz it really was kinda dull. But whatever.

Sorry this was so rushed, I was tired. Literally have no words in the English language to describe how bad this was. Anyway, hope you enjoyed!!