"Are you busy?"

This question was posed to him so often, during lunch, after school, at the dorm. He was ashamed to say that he was bored by it. He knew his friends all had things they wanted to talk to him about but he had other plans... sometimes. He would lie more often now, telling the others he wasn't free when really all he was doing was having a quiet cup of tea. But when she asked him, he could never say 'no'. He won't lie; she did intimidate him slightly when they first started living at the dorm together. But through the tragedies and events experienced together and with the rest of the dorm members, everyone became closer and her 'shell' resided. He found that despite her air of dominance, she was a sensitive woman who would shy away and blush as other girls did (although she only showed that pretty pink hue to him). She was the most popular girl in school, smart and beautiful; everyone either wanted her or wanted to be her. And he was glad that she spoke to him, that she had time for him, that she maybe loved him?

He had passed another test with the highest marks in his year, people gathered around him to tell him how smart he was, like he didn't already know. When the crowd dispersed he left to find her in her usual place by the school notice board. His plain face turned to a smile when he saw her there, smoothing her skirt and tightening her ribbon in the reflection of the display glass.

She was surprised to see him but asked the same question as always, tugging her red curls lightly;

"Are you busy?"