Liam

 

 

I’m heading to fifth period when I feel someone tap me on the shoulder. Inwardly, I groan. It’s probably one of the several girls who have been not-so-subtly flirting with me this week. I’m never rude to people, especially girls, but it’s hard to politely act like I’m not interested. I just want them to go away because I’m in no position to date anyone right now. Not when my heart is set on another girl.

I put on a fake smile and turn around. Asha’s beautiful eyes are not only looking into mine, but they’re crinkled at the corners. She’s smiling at me. I want to pinch myself, because I have to be dreaming.

Asha doesn’t smile at me. At best, she ignores me, but at worst, she glares at me across the dance room because I’m not dancing.

“What’s up?” I say, trying not to sound surprised that she’s here, initiating contact with me, and that she’s smiling, which is crazy out of character for her.

She hooks her thumbs under her backpack straps and glances at the floor before looking back at me. “I’ll go on that date now.”

Everything suddenly fades into nothingness as I watch her. The sounds of lockers slamming, people talking—it’s all gone. The only thing that exists right now is this gorgeous, ambitious girl, and me.

“Really?” I say.

She nods quickly. “Yeah. I mean…if you were serious about it…”

I can tell she’s suddenly self-conscious so I jump in before she worries any longer. “Yes! I was totally serious.”

She smiles up at me, her dark hair falling in soft waves around her face. “Cool. I’m… looking forward to it.”

Her grin melts me. I’m totally out of control when she looks at me like that. She could ask me to walk right off the edge of the Grand Canyon and I’d do it, so  long as she was giving me that smile.

I swallow. “So where are we going?”

She lifts an eyebrow, and I give her a teasing grin. “Well, you technically just asked me out, you see. So the date is up to you now.”

Her mouth falls open and she slaps me on the arm. “So not fair!”

I chuckle. “I’m playing with you. I’ll plan the date.”

“Good,” she says. “Because I have no idea how to do that.”

I take out my phone and unlock it with my thumbprint, then hand it over. “Can I get your number?”

She punches it in, then gives my phone back just as the two-minute warning bell rings. “See you in eighth period,” I say, tucking my phone back in my pocket.

She just grins as she walks away. There’s a pep in her step that she didn’t have before, and it leaves me wondering if she’s got some kind of evil plan up her sleeve.

I certainly hope not.

 

***

 

During dance, Asha leads the girls in the warmup and then the day’s lesson without ever looking at me. I guess I didn’t expect her to, since she always ignores me in class, but I kind of hoped she would at least talk to me. We are officially going on a date, so that makes us something other than enemies now.

I don’t know why she changed her mind, especially since she seemed so annoyed that I asked her out in the first place, but I’ll take it. This girl has been stuck in my brain all day, every day, since I first met her at that sign up table on the first day of class. I love that she’s confident and passionate, and that she works so hard for the things she cares about. She’s hands down the best student in English class, and in dance, she’s more of a teacher than our real teacher. I’ve only ever dated wishy-washy girls who don’t care about anything but the latest Kardashian scandal. I don’t want to date girls like that anymore.

I want to date Asha.

After dinner, I can’t stand the wait any longer. I need to talk to her. I need to confirm that what happened earlier wasn’t just my mind playing jokes on me, and that she really does want to go on a date with me.

I find her number, which she saved in my phone as DANCE IS THE BEST, and chuckle. This girl is something else. I press call.

After four terrifyingly long rings where I worry she won’t answer, she finally does. “Hello?” she says tentatively.

“Hello, I’m calling for Miss Dance is the Best. Have I reached the right number?”

She laughs. “Yes, that’s me.”

I lay back on my bed, reveling in how sweet her voice sounds on the phone. I want to ask about our date, but I don’t want to sound too eager about it, either. “What’s up?”

She takes a second to reply. “You called me.”

“Uh… yes?”

She chuckles. “It’s just weird. Like, guys don’t usually call. I thought you’d text.”

“Would you rather me text?” I ask.

“No,” she says quickly. “Calls are nice. They’re like…retro.”

“I don’t use social media,” I explain. “And I’d way rather hear your voice than read a text.”

Again, she’s quiet. I wonder if she’s blushing. “So when’s our date?” she asks after a beat.

“Friday?” I suggest, hating that the weekend is still five days away.

“What about tomorrow?” she says. “I’ll probably be grounded by Friday.”

“What? But you’re so sweet,” I say, only halfway joking. “Why on earth would you get grounded?”

She sighs. “I’m probably going to fail a major test on Friday… my parents will be pissed.”

“Well that’s no good,” I say.

“Don’t worry, I have a plan.” Her voice is a little conspiratorial, and I can’t lie—it turns me on. I clear my throat and try to change the subject.

“So a Tuesday night date, huh? I can work with that. How late can you stay out?”

“Probably until eleven-ish. My parents aren’t too strict.”

“Awesome,” I say, even though I’m a little nervous. Less than twenty four hours to plan the greatest date she’s ever had will be kind of tricky. But I have to pull it off because I need this girl to want me as much as I want her. “Next question: How early can you go out with me?”

“Um, like after school I guess?” she says. “Maybe around four, because I’d have to change clothes. No… I’ll need more time than that. So like five o’clock.”

“You’ll look hot in anything,” I tell her, using my most flirty voice. “Hell, you can wear your dance clothes and you’ll still be the hottest girl I’ve ever dated.”

She’s quiet again, and this time I know she’s blushing. I love every second of it.

“I’ll text you my address,” she says, a little breathily. “Pick me up at five.”