I tapped my pencil on the desk as I waited desperately for class to end. It was AP US History, aka the absolute most boring class in school. It was all memorization, and all about a bunch of old guys running kingdoms and losing and winning wars. History was just honestly not my thing. And it's the period right before lunch, so I'm even more desperate for Mr. Jackson to quit droning on so I can go eat and socialize.

11:30. Only five more minutes of this crap. My gaze shifted from clock to board to door and around again. This had to be the longest five minutes of my life. I stopped tapping my pencil and took in a deep breath to stop myself from going insane. I turn my head to the left to look out the window. I notice a boy looking at me. As soon as he sees me looking in his direction he blushes and looks away. As I get a better look at him, I recognize him. His name is Evan, I believe. We had 3rd period study hall last year. I've seen him at my Jazz Band concerts. He's the one who my brother pushed the other day.

Before I realized it, I was staring back at Evan. He looked back at me again, and I smiled awkwardly, then looked away. I could feel my face getting red. Wow nice way to handle that, Zoe. I looked back at the clock. 11:34. Just one more minute. Thankfully, the crappy bell system worked in my favor, ringing a minute early. As soon as I heard the bell, I stood bolt upright and grabbed my backpack, stuffing my History binder back in, and nearly ran out the door.

My History classroom, unfortunately is all the way on the other side of school, so unless I literally sprint, I have to wait in a huge crowd in order to get to the lunch quad. So, to avoid getting yelled at by faculty, I walk towards the quad and wait as at least 100 kids try to push their way through tiny double doors.

As I'm waiting, I look around me and notice Evan again, who's standing a couple feet away from me. I don't know why I've been noticing him so much today, he's always been there. I've just never really been looking.

Before I know it, I've made it through the stampede of the lunch line and I'm making my way to my lunch table, which has already been taken over by my friends, who are deep in conversation.

"Oh my god, he did not!" My friend Sarah exclaimed. I set my backpack down on the ground and sat down.

"He totally did! I was so weirded out." My other friend Jessie responded, nearly jumping out of her seat.

"Who are we talking about?" I chuckled, glancing between the two of them. Jessie sat back down and flung her hands out, ready to spill some tea.

"So you know that weird kid, Evan?" She said, squinting a little. I felt my face go a little red. What a coincidence, the day I start noticing him, my friends do too?

"Yeah," I said, curious on what she had to say about him.

"Well, today, I got partnered up with him in Physics," she took a moment to groan, "And he was like, totally flirting with me, I was like, so grossed out." I frowned.

"Why? What's wrong with him?" I furrowed my brow and looked at Jessie.

"He's like… weird."

"Have you ever talked to him? Do you even know him?" I started exploding at her, and I have no clue why. I only really started noticing this kid today, but I was so mad at Jessie for talking about him like that.

"Well, no, but why do you care?" She folded her arms and gave a sassy look. I opened my mouth to protest, but closed it. I honestly did not know why I was fighting her.

"Ohh, you like him don't you?" She said elephantly.

"I-" I began.

"Zoe Murphy likes the weird kid, who'd've guessed it." She taunted. I looked desperately to Sarah, who was just laughing along with Jessie.

"I don't like hi-"

" Evan and Zoe sitting in a tree!' Jessie sang elephantly.

"Shut up…" I clenched my fists.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-"

"Shut up Jessie!" I yelled, catching the attention of far too many people in the quad. I looked around at some of the people staring, then grabbed my backpack and walked away. Why had I reacted like that? It's not like I really knew him. I don't even know why I'd just started noticing him today. I'd seen him before. Passing in halls, in classes together. I'd known of him for years before now. So why did just seeing him today made me notice him? Why did-

Before I knew it I was on the floor. Well not quite on the floor, as I was on top of someone. Who that was I had no clue.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to, my mind is just in another place today, I'm-" I exclaimed.

"No no no I'm sorry, I didn't- didn't see where I was going." As I began to stand up, I realized it was none other than Evan himself. Coincidence? Maybe, but at this point I was starting to get suspicious. He stood up first, then offered his cast-free hand, after wiping it off on his shirt. I took it, and stood up. I brushed the dirt off of my shirt. We made eye contact for a few moments before it became awkward, then I took my chance to start a conversation.

"Evan, right?" I brushed part of my hair behind my year

"Evan! I mean, I'm sorry. Yeah, that's my name. Sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"Because you said my name, and then I repeated it and that's just really annoying when people do that, I'm sorry," Evan rambled as he looked down at the floor.

"You say sorry a lot." I smiled and looked down too, trying to catch his gaze again.

"I'm sorry…" He met my gaze for a moment before looking down again. As he took a deep breath, I noticed his hands were shaking. "Y- your name's Zoe, right?"

"Yeah,"

"I've seen you in class before, and at the jazz band concerts. You're really good." He smiled a bit as he continued to look down. I smiled back. I looked at his cast. Written in giant, uppercase letters was the last name I wanted to read: "Connor." Unfortunately, before I could ask, the bell rang right then, so our time together had to come to an end.

"Well, it was nice talking to you."

"You too." I made a split-second decision.

"Here," I said softly, reaching into my back pocket, where I kept a small notebook of song-lyrics and ideas and ripped out a page. I grabbed a pen from my pocket too and quickly scribbled down my phone number. I handed the piece of paper to him. "I'll talk to you later then." He looked a little shocked to be holding the paper, but managed to nod his head. I smiled as I bolted off to my next class.