He's Desperate

6-Do You Like Her?

AFTER A WEEK PUBLIC HOLIDAY, Darren stepped into the white car. He dropped his bag on the left seat. He put on a Bluetooth earphone on his right ear and kept his head relaxed. He listened to a piece of foreign music which cooled his nerves and make him think good things.

As his driver drove, he sighted the environment through the glass until they appear into the school environment. As he stood out from the car, many students were getting around him. They were yelling:
   
  "He has arrived!"
     
   "Darren has arrived"
   
  "Wooo! He looks cuter just after some days away! Oh my goodness!"
    
  "He looked great in his uniform!"

Darren does feel irritated with them. He just kept walking. Many students gathered him.

Lily stood by, she didn't know who they were yelling at in amazement. She tried to get in the midst, struggling to see. Suddenly the students started to give way for her.
 
   "That's a new student too..." One said

     " That's his partner"

She burst out in front of Darren. She looked him wide-eyed in shock. Darren stood dead and stare at her too. The students gathered them in a cycle this time. She couldn't get this moment, why is she here with him? and why is he looking at her?. Her nervousness came over her again.
 
   "Wooo... They are superb together!"
   
  " My gosh!"
 
   " I heard they're both Smith"
 
  " I'm jealous!" One cried out in disgust.

In curiosity, Gina walked downstairs to see why the students gathered. As she reached, her eyes caught Darren and then Lily both staring at themselves. Something seemed like hatred grew up against Lily just sudden.

Dave came over too. He went into the cycle. He broke their attention.
    
"Hi, Darren!"

Darren turned to him. His facial expression didn't change, he went towards Dave and walked past him. The students were mad at him for making him leave, they enjoyed staring at his handsome delicate face.

Justin came up to Lily.
 
   "Hi Lily"
 
   "Hi" her voice was quiet
 
   "What happened?"
 
   "I don't know too"
   
  " Why is he staring at you that way"
   
  " I don't know..". She sighed and walked past him and Justin followed her.

During class, Lily wasn't comfortable. Her nervousness came worst that she kept fucking up on her works, she does feel Darren was still staring at her but he wasn't.

Gina didn't concentrate the morning class, she sat by gazing at Darren often, Justin noticed it, It made him sick.
    
One of the teachers came in.
    
" You're having Oral English Gina". Said the teacher.
Gina stood up.
   
  "Ma I have a partner," she said
   
  "Do we have new first-class money?"
   
  " Yes. His name is Darren" she pointed. Darren still sat by.
   
  " Oh, Darren. Can you please stand?"
First, he thought of the way she said politely, and second, he was up to stand before she said.
    
"Welcome to Louis Alexander cute boy," she said. "Come on, let's go to our class"
She left so as Gina followed. Darren sat back for some seconds before he went along.

The other students hanged around. Some playing games, some chatting, and some singing. Lily was inside the class concentrating on a book. But as time goes on, she went outside too. She met other students in a great mood. She became timid as always, she was afraid of their often gaze.

Her eyes caught Justin, he was sitting alone on a two-seater bench. She went to him and sat beside him. He didn't notice until she called his name. He was not too alarmed but a bit.
    
"What class did Gina and Darren attend?" she asked
    
"premium classes met for first-class money," he said
    
   " Really?"
   
  " Yeah. The second class money attends on Thursdays and Fridays" he shrugged.
    
"But you've not been attending," she said with perception.
   
  "It just started today since the whole  term"
   
  " What of Third class?" She asked
    
  " They don't attend any premium classes," he said and kept silent.
    
She noticed him for a second. "Is everything ok with you?" She felt that tenderness for him. His eyes were pessimistic and she isn't fine with it.
    
  "Not really," he said.
    
"What is it?" She gave a full gaze. He went in a brief thought before he turned to her.
    
  "I like Gina," he said. He discovered he was not shy talking to Lily. "But she doesn't."  He admits she was his closest friend he could express his feelings.

     "I noticed it." She said. "Go ahead and tell her"

     " she isn't paying me attention. She once hit me with her hand..."
 
   " Oh my!... She hit you?" She gave a shocking look.
   
  "Yes, she did".    
   
    " she's such an arrogant person?"
   
  "I know she is..but I still like her. . ."
She felt his feelings. She'd been on that situation back then in her former school. She liked a boy called David, he was a senior, but he wasn't giving her attention he'd like someone else. She wished to tell the story but as Mr Dee has Said, 'Don't talk about your self...' Have to keep calm
 
   "Just be patient... Give her some space, She would come into her right senses one day, she could come to you," she said.
   
  " I don't think so..."
   
  "Come on Justin... don't say that.."
   
  " I think she liked someone else," he said.

When she heard him say that she knew it would be so difficult to get her.
    
  "Who?"
    
  "I think Darren, the new boy". He said.

She gave a sudden impact. She didn't know why she was shocked. It seems it was about something else. Justin observed her.
   
  "Do you like him too?"
    
  "Why say so? I don't" she said abruptly.
    
"What do you think I can do?" Justin asked. In his eyes, he was hopeless.
   
  "Matter of time everything would be fine. Do believe you would get her... Do you have that belief?"

With worried eyes, he searched her face for a moment, and then, realizing he had no choice to say something positive.
    
   "I believe," he said quietly. Lily smiled and held his hand softly.

After the premium class, Gina tried to put her self busy, she isn't making any attempt to leave because Darren still sat by. Her heart was beating unnecessary. She thought of what to start up with him but everything she thought about wasn't making sense.

When Darren stood up she did too, she made sure he was out before taking her pace. He was about to go downstairs when she said "Hi". He stopped without turning to her. That moment it looked like the ground should take her off.
   
  "Hi," she said again expecting him to reply instead he didn't, he only spun to face her. This made her feel sick.

She came up with a chipper grin but his face remained distant.
     "Let's have dinner tonight" she beseeched
With the way he looked, she knew he would decline the offer.
    
  "Not interested" he mumbled and turned away.
   
  "Darren wait!" She thought she wouldn't let him go if he wouldn't accept her offer. He stood dead again. "please . . . I will like to. . . eat with you . . . I've got a lot to say to you.".

He remained motionless not looking at her for what seemed a short time.
    
   "I don't eat with girls. Am sorry". He said.

She felt somehow relieved with the way he apologized and at the same time embarrassed. She watched him go downstairs with his book held in his hand.
    
    "But he's really cute . . . " She muttered after he was gone.

Dave ran up to Darren as he was coming by. He was giggling and Darren wonders what was funny.
 
   "How was class?" He said in the midst of his open teeth.
    
"Fine"  Darren replied. He learned for the first time he was free with Dave; he was going to be his close friend as he thought.
    
  "Let's take a rest before closing period." He said and they sat on the chairs behind the locker room. Dave kept talking, from topics to topics trying to make him laugh still he wasn't. Darren just kept his gaze at a plant which had a purple flower on its top.
   
  "Yes! That reminds me!" Dave suddenly said. " Why were you staring at Lily lately?"

Darren turned to him in a jerk, he thought of what to say but he ended up staring away. Dave searched his face, trying to read his expression.
   
  "Do you like her?"

Darren looked at him this time with wide eyes that Dave thought he was going to eat him up.
   
  "Sorry . . . I was only. . . joking . . . " He stammered. When he looked at him again, Darren had stood up. As he was about to say further he went off. " Am sorry!" He yelled that his voice echoed through the air.