CHAPTER 1

"He doesn't like me!" Runo tells Julie yet again, "We're friends."

"He does! I just know it!" Julie squeals, "So just go tell him you like him, then you guys can live happily ever after." How Julie made it sound so simple.

"I-I don't like him!" Runo stutters as she feels the blood rise to her cheeks.

"Don't play that game with me, Girl," Julie says with warning, "You can't hide it from me."

She shakes her head knowingly.

"Fine. But don't tell anyone." Runo leans into Julie whispers so very quietly.

"Ah~!" She does a girly scream, "Dan and-"

"Shut up!" Runo shouts cautiously and covers Julie's mouth, "People will hear."

Runo removes her hand, "Oh Sorry..." She grins.

"But you two should just go out already!" Julie moans.

"Julie, "Runo says slowly, patriotically whilst holding her shoulders, "He doesn't like me."

Julie stares at her blankly then laughs, "He does!"

Runo holds her head with her hand and sighs.

"I can prove it~" Julie nudges Runo.

"How?" Runo asks with disbelieve.

"I have a plan." Julie has a mischievous smile on her face.

"Julie...I'm not so sure about this..." Runo and Julie peer round the corner of the corridor as they see Dan approaching.

"It will be fine!" Julie dismisses.

"But," Runo starts, "I don't actually-"

"Never mind that, just go!" Julie shoves Runo out into the corridor in the path of Dan as he draws closer.

Runo mentally curses Julie as Dan shouts, "Hey, Runo!"

He makes his way towards her.

She turns to him, "Hey...Dan." She hesitates.

"You okay?" Dan raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Runo nods.

"Still on for after school?" Dan reminds.

"Y-Well, no..." Runo stutters deciding if she should follow through.

"What, why?!" Dan sounds surprised.

"I-er..." Runo hesitates, "Happen to have a date." She folds her arms and closes her eyes.

"You're kidding right?" Dan says trying to hold in his laughter.

"No," Runo glares at Dan, "I'm not actually."

"What?!" Dan gapes with surprise. Runo stares caught off guard with this reaction.

"Since when did you go on dates?" Dan squints at the thought.

"You make it sound like I'm not a girl!" Runo snaps as she clenches her fists by her sides.

"Whoa...okay, I'm sorry..." Dan backs away playfully.

"Whatever." Runo turns around and goes around the corner of the corridor, back to Julie.

"How did it go? What happened?" Julie quizzes curiously.

"Awful. Nothing," Runo replies shortly and coldly, "How the hell did you talk me into this?" Runo turns to her feeling stupid.

"What did he say?" Julie persists.

"He was like 'What?!'" Runo starts.

"See! He cares, meaning he probably likes you!" Julie explains

"Then he said, 'Since when did you go on dates?'" Runo mimicks Dan, "The nerve of that guy!"

"Runo, Runo, Runo," Julie shakes her head, "You don't know a thing about boys do you?"

"And there's also another problem..." Runo strokes her chin looking as though she's in thought.

"I don't have a frikken date!" Runo shouts in Julie's face.

"Oh relax; I've got this all under control!" Julie says with such a care-free attitude.

"I'm gonna look like a total idiot!" Runo holds her head in despair.

"I'll just get Ace or someone to go on a date with you..." Julie says casually.

"Ace?!" Runo gawks, "It can't be one of Dan's friends?!"

"Why not?"

"Because, Dan will find out that it's all just a lie!" Runo says in a panic.

"Okay, so you go and get a date?" Julie raises an eyebrow.

Runo quietens.

"Just trust me okay girl?" Julie tries to reassure.

"I don't really have a choice..." Runo murmurs.

3:57pm. Runo waits outside a cafe. Julie told her to wait outside at 4:00. Runo felt her stomach churning: 'She better not mess this up'.

"Runo!" A voice calls from behind her. Runo swivels around.

"Ace? Hey!" Runo greets.

"Where's everyone else?" Ace looks around.

"I-I'm not sure..." Runo says unsurely; wondering what Julie has told him.

"Julie said we were all meeting up today, so where is everyone?" Ace wonders.

"That dam Julie..." Runo mutters to herself.

"What?" Ace asks; mishearing Runo.

"Eh, nothing..." Runo laughs nervously.

"Say, you look quite dressed..." Ace eyes Runo making her blush. She was wearing a white, flowery lace, skater dress and her hair was left down in loose curls.

"Well um..." Runo says with embarrassment.

"Maybe we should go inside and wait for the others?" Runo tries to saves this so called 'date'.

"Yeah." Ace nods as they enter the cafe and are seated in one of the leather booths.

"Hey, I'll be right back. Just need the toilet." Runo says quickly as she dashes to the bathroom.

She enters the pearl white cubicles and places her purse near the sink. She opens it and yanks out her phone; she dials a number and puts the phone to her ear.

"JULIE!" Runo almost screams; forgetting she was in a public place.

"Ouch Runo..."

"You said you planned a date?" Runo grits her teeth.

"It is a date!"

"You tricked the poor guy into coming here!" Runo moans.

"I did not!"

"Then why did you tell him we were all meeting up?!" Runo confronts.

"So he would show! I can't just say 'go on a date with Runo'! Besides it's not like the others are actually coming."

"He said I looked 'dressed'!" Runo says irritably.

"Well yeah...I hope you are dressed..."

"Julie!" Runo says with annoyance.

"Alright, alright! But you guys are alone right? So it's practically a date! Where are you anyway?!"

"I'm in the toilets." Runo sighs.

"Girl, just go with it okay?"

"Again...I don't really have a choice..." Runo says with regret.

"Good luck!"

"Whatever..." And with that Runo hangs up and stomps out of the bathroom and back to Ace.

"Hey, is that Dan walking past?" Ace leans right to look past Runo and out of the front window.

"What?!" Runo says alarmingly as she turns to see Dan walking past, "What is he doing here?!"

"Huh?" Ace looks clueless.

"Shall we go and get him?" Ace suggests.

"NO!" Runo raises her voice and interrupts.

"I mean, I'm sure he'll come..." Runo tries to keep composed.

"But why's he walking past? Maybe I should text him?" Ace makes it even more difficult.

"No, I'm on it!" Runo scrambles her purse around to get her phone out. She pretends to text.

"Done..." She sings.

"Are you okay?" Ace asks with confusion.

"Fine, why?" Runo blinks.

"You're acting weird..." Ace raises and eyebrow.

"I-Is that so?" Runo says uneasily.

"Yeah..." Ace nods.

Runo sighs, "Ace, the truth is...I-"

Runo hesitates; dreading having to tell him the truth.

Ace looks at her expectantly.

"Don't tell me..." Ace fills the silence. Runo blinks cluelessly.

"You um..." Ace hesitates.

"You like me?" Ace stares at Runo intently.

"What..." Runo says quietly; processing what he had just said, "Wait, what?!" She raises her voice.