"Eli, I need your help."

Fiona stood in front of Eli's homeroom desk, anxiously tapping her fingers on the wood.

"With what?" he asked.

Fiona didn't want to beat around the bush, so she didn't hesitate with her answer. "Paige Michalchuck."

Eli looked surprised, but then twisted his face into a sarcastic smile. "What? Did she tell the whole school that you still sleep with a stuffed animal?"

"No!" Fiona blushed a little. "And I…don't…"

"Then what is it?" He asked, dropping his smile.

Her cheeks returned to their normal coloring. She sighed. "I spilled coffee on her, and while I was helping her clean up," Fiona lowered her voice to a barely audible whisper, "we almost kissed."

Eli's face lit up. "YOU WHA-"

"Shut up, Eli! I said almost. We didn't…we didn't kiss." Her last three words were so quiet, Eli could hardly hear them. "Please, please don't tell Imogen."

Eli touched her hand, partially to stop her persistent tapping, and partially because he wanted her to trust him. "I won't. But is she…"

"Yeah. Yeah she is."

Eli pulled his hand away. "So, what are you going to do about it?"

Fiona sighed. "Nothing. There's nothing I can do. Imogen is my girlfriend, and I barely know Paige."

"Yeah, and I hear she can be a real bitch sometimes anyway." Eli winked at her.

"Class, be seated please."

Fiona stood up and headed towards her seat. "Yeah, totally," she whispered to herself.

x

Paige walked out of the bathroom, trying to process what had just happened. Fiona Coyne spilled coffee on me. She helped me clean up. We almost kissed. Paige stopped. "We almost kissed," she whispered, so quietly that only she could hear. She remembered the look in Fiona's eyes before she leaned in. She wanted to kiss me too. But why didn't she? Guilt? Oh, yeah. She has a girlfriend.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw someone approaching. "What's wrong? You look distressed over something." It was Marco. "And is that," he leaned in slightly and sniffed Paige's scarf, "coffee?"

Paige sighed. "Yes, Marco. It's coffee."

He looked concerned. "What's wrong?"

She shot him a sharp look. "Why do you care?" she snapped.

Marco was taken aback. "Well because I'm like, your best friend. What's your deal?"

"Sorry, Hun. I've had a rough morning." She rubbed her forehead to try and ease her now present headache.

Marco smiled. "And that includes spilling coffee on yourself?"

"I don't need this." She started to swiftly walk past him, in an effort to avoid telling him the embarrassing truth.

"Wait, Paige!" He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her back. "I'm sorry."

She struggled to get free. "Marco let go!"

Marco gave up and dropped her hand. "Fine. Lunch?"

She rubbed her knuckles. "I guess."