Who the bloody hell decided that everyone taking an arts elective must perform at the school's annual talent show? What kind of high school even does talent shows anymore? This place is ridiculous! Your music teacher's reminder that the talent show is coming up just brings back all the initial reactions you had about it when he'd first said something back in September. It's the end of February, and spring break is coming up in a hurry. You're so excited to sleep in and mix all day. You could cry.
"Hey Becs, do you wanna collab for the talent show?" Chloe asks, all fire and blue eyes and sex appeal. Oh my god stop. Suddenly you love this school again.
"Oh, Chlo, I-" you trip over the words because you do want to collaborate with her. Goodness, you want to do all kinds of collaborating with her, but the talent show is at the end of the year and ever since you found out you've been working on one final romantic gesture. It's frustrating the hell out of you, but you still think it will be worth it. "I would love to," you start and guilt floods you as soon as her eyes light up. "But I can't. I'm sorry."
The light in her smile dims a bit. "Oh, yeah, of course. I'm sure you've already found someone else to work with. I forgot and I asked too late-"
You cut her off by initiating a hug. It's a rare occurrence and she drops silent immediately. While you don't shrug away from her embrace, you rarely gather the courage to begin one. "Chlo, I promise, I'd love to collaborate with you, but I'm already working on something by myself and I think you're going to love it."
Just like that, her smile's back and her hug is tighter than before. "What're you doing?" She asks, bouncing with her excitement as she pulls back from the hug.
You're such a goner for her, you almost tell her. "It's a surprise." She pouts comically and you laugh. "Stop it, Beale, that's not going to work."
Her grin returns. "It was worth a shot." She loops her arm through yours and the two of you go off to Biology class.