You should all feel bad for John, mostly in the later chapters. Dave is an asshole in his teens, he gets better in adult.

Chapter one: Love? Maybe?

John's P.O.V

Okay. So this might be a little weird. But I think im in love. Love like, actual love. Oh wow, where am I going with this? You see, im not a homosexual. Not really I don't think. But there's this guy. Yeah, this guy. He's really tall, and cool, and kind of defiant. But I like that. He can stand up for himself and I can't. Im too scrawny and short and fall over my own feet.

But this guy. He gets all the girls, he might fail a few classes, but he does it while looking cool. Can anyone do that? Well, not anyone I know.

Anyway, back to love.

His name?

Well, his name is Dave Strider. And I am his admirer. And I think I love him.

He is my first actual crush, or love that I've actually had in a long time. There was this girl in second grade, but that didn't last long.

So, why do I bring it up? No real reason. I fantasize about him daily. And When I see him in the halls I blush, but try to hide it. I dream of confessing to him and him saying something cool like "Bro, I've always liked you too. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

I dream of it. But I never do anything about it. Im too scared.

What if he says no?

What if he shoves it back in my face?

So I just keep quiet.

I have friends that are girls, Rose and Jade, Rose finds it obvious of my liking for Dave, but tells me to stay away. I do, I keep my distance. Jade on the other hand, Rose and I decided not to tell Jade.

It was at lunch, we have our own little table im usually first to get food. Food in a private school is pretty expensive, so you have to keep up with money. Going to a private school you have to keep up with money. My father is loaded, a national baker known in various countries. He flies out often to be on TV shows and to cook for famous people.

Rose sits down in the booth and opens her salad. Jade comes up and waves at us both, sitting next to Rose and opening her bottled coke.

The café never has fish, it's like they banned it from the school knowing when I came it would be forbidden.

"No fish?" Rose asks.

"No, I couldn't find any."

"So you're not going to eat?" Jade asks.

"No, I'm going to wait until I get home."

Rose and Jade look at each other and both grab something from their plate and hand it to me. Rose hands me a Swiss roll, and Jade hands me a small strawberry cake. I smile, taking them "You don't have to."

"But we want to," Rose says.

"I'll be right back, I'm going to go get a fork," I get up and head over to the condiments and utensil area, grabbing a fork.

"Hey, can you hand me a fork?" asks a male voice.

I turn and see only my crush, Dave Strider.

I blush a bright pink. He stands tall, taller than my short self anyway. He always wears his aviator shades in class and in lunch. I have never once seen his eyes. He wears his uniform, unbuttoned, and his dress shirt out. He defies all the rules.

"Fork?"

"Uh, sure!"

I grab a fork and hand it to him, he takes it and walks away.

I smile and return to my friends, the smile still on my face. Rose knows why, but Jade is curious.

"Why are you so smiley?" she asks

"Oh no reason."

"Did he even say thank you?" Rose asks, interrupting my thoughts.

I come back to reality and look at her, "Well, no."

"Who?" Jade wants to know.

"It's nobody, and he's an asshole by the way."

I furrow my eyebrows "No he's not, he just probably forgot to say thank you."

"How do you forget to say something that causes you good manners?"

"Who?" Jade is interested.

"It's nothing, drop it." Rose says.

We basically eat in silence now, only Rose and I, but Jade keeps talking about her Chem lab and her career project.

"So what are you going to do your career project John?" Jade asks.

I look up, I know what I want to be, but I don't say it. I shrug. "I don't know, I might just fail it."

"What?! Growing up and finding a job is something that is a must! You must have something in mind, right?"

I don't want to nod, but I do. Now this gets Jade interested.

"Well, what is it? Even if it's just a thought, it could be something much more!"

"Um, a hair dresser?"

Jade and Rose smile, "Aw you want to be hair dresser?" Jade says a little too loudly.

I put my finger to my lips and shush her, "It's only a thought! Now be quiet."

"Why are you ashamed of it?" Rose asks.

"I don't know, most males who go into that field are.. gay."

"And?" Rose asks.

I shrug, "I don't know, I'm not gay."

"There's nothing wrong with a straight male going into that field, so if you presu that im all for it," Rose says.

"Me too!"

Lunch is over and we hear the chimes. We all dump our plates and stack our trays. We say our goodbyes since none of us have the same class next. I walk into the rush of people getting to point A to point B and get to my classroom with ease. I sit in the back, and watch the door for Dave. He sits near the back and usually puts his head down with his ear buds in. He's failing World History, I know this because sometimes I grade the tests.

He comes in and heads back to his seat, already swiftfully getting out his iPod and putting in his ear buds and putting his head down. Class starts and the only thing on my mind is: I wonder what he listens to all during class?

Class is over and I gather my things, moving to my next class. But as I start to move away from my desk all I feel is a hand grab my arm. I turn to see Dave holding my arm. I wonder what he wants, goes along with that thought is a blush.

"Boys bathroom, now." Is all he says and leaves.

My eyes widen and I wonder what this sudden outburst is for, he has never talked to me in the two years I have been at this school. I clutch my binder to my chest and adjust my backpack on my back, heading towards the boys bathroom close-est to this classroom.

I find it and enter, I see Dave standing with his arms crossed over his chest and looking at me through his taunting aviator shades. I gulp and step a little closer to him.

"Why are you always looking at me? For two years I had to put up with your stares and now I want to know, stalker."

My heart collapsed, Stalker? Im not a stalker. I admire you. But I couldn't get the words out. "I-I.."

I hung my head down, wanting to cry, wanting to leave, wanting to disappear.

"Well?"

"I like you, I really like you."

"Oh? Perhaps love?"

I gulp, my eyes watering up, "Yeah.." I say just above a whisper.

He smirks and steps towards me, tilting my head up. Tears roll down my cheeks and he pouts, "Don't cry, I like you too."

"You do?"

"Yeah, come to my house after school and I'll show you how much I like you."

My heart began to flutter. He likes me? He wants me to come to his house? What will he show me? Will he show me my year book picture with a heart around it like I've done to his?

I smile, and he smiled back, "Okay."

Dave gets out a pen and writes his address down on my hand, "I'll see you after school, okay?"

I nod, excited.

Dave leaves, and I slide down onto the bathroom floor, looking at the address, smiling. He likes me.