Chapter seven:

The last school bell rang and the entire student body shouted and cheered. School hours are finished and we just can't wait to go to party in the gym. Venus and I planned to meet in my apartment so we could prepare ourselves and she can give me a lift back to school. Mae already made plans with Eddie and they were gone before Venus get to the apartment. I don't know what I am feeling inside my chest, it is just hurting and it feels so hollow, maybe I am really jealous at Mae. I'll never have a boyfriend, I thought, because all the boys that I like are all taken and some are just too high to reach and get in touch to, like Zac Efron and Leon Collins.

Venus knocked at my door and she did my hair and then we put on makeup. Mine is just a powder and a little bit of blush on my cheeks and mascara, she was full of makeup I didn't even recognized her, she's like a model, and that I can never be.

We drove to the school and from the front office I can hear the loud hip hop music on loud speakers. The teachers are also wearing 80's clothes which are weird, because they thought it looks really cool but they look horrible. When we got past through them, Venus turned to me then opened her mouth and pointed at it and she made a sound like she was just about to puke, then we laughed really loud on the hallway through to the gym. The celebration hasn't started yet but when our principal stepped on the stage, the hip hop music was turned down and the whole student body let out a frustrated moan.

After the principal's speech, all the students cheered and the hip hop music was back on. Venus and I were dancing and hot boys were checking us out, probably it is just her. So I excused myself to get a drink and went on the table where the foods and beverages are.

After the song, a group of boys were on the stage and the whole student body cheered. Then the boys get on their instruments and played a rock song. The lead singer and guitarist looks familiar, I looked again and I can see that it is Leon, I was at the back where the foods are so it was hard to make out Leon's face, and he was wearing a really cool black leather jacket.

"Oh my god, it is Leon" I said, I was really happy to see him perform and sing. He was so good.

"He's a legend." A girl beside me said. She is wearing skinny jeans and a really cool tee but it would look better if she wasn't wearing those really big reading glasses and if only she tied her hair. I only wear my reading glasses while reviewing lessons and doing homework because they were blur.

"I know right." I said.

"I'm Catherine," Catherine said.

"I'm K – " she cut me off.

"I know who you are Kayla Watson, you're the smartest girl in this school! And um, the biggest lo – "

"Okay, enough, let's just watch Leon" I said, how dare she, telling me that I am the biggest loser, Oh please, I already know but her, she's just a normal student, like me, she can be the next biggest loser. I was offended, it is alright if higher species like Melissa or Leon saying I'm the biggest loser is alright, but her, a red haired nerd?

After the song is finished, the Richmond High Dance troupe got on the stage and danced their hip hop routine. And after that, the choir sung and got booed by the audience and a girl playing a violin got hit by a shoe. It was horrible that someone has to call 911.

And the rest of it was good and I had a really good time dancing, jumping and cheering with the other students. Why didn't I go to this kind of things before? Usually, I am on my desk reviewing notes and lessons but now, I see why students really want to go to this kind of events at school.

I looked at my watch and it says 11:46 pm, nearly mid night so I decided to go outside and have a breather. I sat on one of the benches and I felt cold. I saw a couple walking together, holding each other's hands. I watched them and felt sad again, will I ever found the love of my life? The couple walked towards me and as they were just a meter away from me I recognized them, it was Mae and Eddie, I wanted to run or hide behind the bench but I was frozen. The night breeze seems harsher now, blowing cold wind and whistling softly and it is ruining my hairdo.

Eddie removed his jacket and covered Mae; I wish I could have a man like Eddie, caring and really nice. He's a total keeper.

Just when thinking about my perfect man, someone had slipped its jacket on my shoulder and I looked behind me and there stood Leon, staring blankly at the sky. I felt my stomach has just turned upside down, I have drunk too many punch. I just wish that I don't act like a dork or I'll blow this very sacred moment and I hope Melissa is not around or she'll ruin this too.

I felt a chill run through my spine and started to speak but Leon beat me to it.

"It's a lovely night, a bit cold though" Leon said, his eyes seems to sparkle in the night and he's really nice to look at.

"Yeah," I said. A few more minutes of silence, I have made out my mind and I decided to talk to him and tell him about my feelings for him. I still feel nauseated and feeling shy but here it goes,

"You know, I really like you." I stood up and turned to face him. This could be my chance to have a boyfriend, but he's already going out with Melissa, I thought.

"You do?" an unfamiliar hoarse voice said and when I focused on this boy's face it was Carlos, the math geek, and I was shocked, has it been him the whole time? Was I that desperate that I thought this math geek was Leon? I looked around and saw Leon walking back to the gym, without his jacket on.

So, thank God, I wasn't hallucinating. I just apologized to Carlos that I didn't meant what I said and I went back to the Music party, feeling happy and alive, maybe Leon has feeling for me or is it just him being nice?

Anyways I couldn't be bothered right now that I am feeling high and happy. I repeat 'I' am Happy'.

That night was a blast and the next day is Saturday and the school is open for Saturday classes. So I went just to catch up on topics that I didn't understood that much. I worked hard because you don't know when Venus and I could go to parties and go clubbing, I just want to maintain my grades.

The bell rang and it is recess, there not too much people in school today because it is Saturday and last night was really tiring. I was in the oldest room in the school and it was located far east and I have to walk past through Arts and Music center.

I was walking quietly on the hallway when I heard an acoustic guitar playing somewhere. The tune was so calming and sounds good in my ear. I tracked where it was coming from, and I stopped on one of the music rooms and found Leon sitting on the table and strumming guitar notes. I was watching him through the glassed door and I watched him carefully.

After he finished strumming he stopped and then wrote on his music sheet. Then he started again, looking at his music sheet. He strummed more and then he started singing. He's voice is so majestic and so calm, and he's in good tune. I want to sing along but I don't know the words so I stayed quiet in front of the door. I listened to lyrics and the tune; it really fits the words and tone well.

While listening to his music, I didn't even know that I was day dreaming and replaying the scene last night where he offered me his coat, I will never forget that night, I never forget how he said the words 'it's a lovely night, a bit cold though', I will never forget how his eyes sparkled under the moon. I will never –"

"Bang!" Suddenly I heard a loud 'bang' I didn't know if I just imagined it or not and my head hurts and next thing I know I was on the ground, and my hand is on my forehead. Leon had finished writing and making tunes and finally opened the door but I was so consumed on last night' scene and I got hit by the door.

"Oh, are you alright?" Leon immediately helped me to get on my feet.

"Yeah, I'm okay" As soon as you're the one who have hurt me, its okay.

"You sure?" he asked again.

"Yeah,"

"How come, whenever I am near you, you always get hurt?" Leon joked and smiled at him, not the dork-ish smile though, just the normal smile when I am happy.

"I don't know maybe because you're too good-looking" I said dreamily, as the words register in my head, I clasped my hand on my mouth, how could I say that in front of him?

Leon chuckled and it sound so good, it makes my heart melt and my mind shut and just think about him. "Come on, let's get you something to eat."

We walked together and Leon was talking how he didn't notice me in front of the door and he apologized for being such an idiot, of course I object to what he had said, he is not an idiot, I am. I am the one, standing in front of the door without my own self.

We we're heading in the cafeteria and I felt my stomach turn upside down, I remembered my worst nightmare in that hell hole.

The cafeteria was so quiet and only a dozen of people are eating and Leon bought me a slice of pizza and a can of coke, and he bought himself a bag of French fries and a bottle of energy drink. He paid for all of it of course.

We talked about ourselves and most of it, about me; he just keeps on asking questions. And I am starting to wonder if he has feelings for me or maybe he is just interested. But it is not the time to think about that and we just continued to talk, even though talking to my crush is really hard to concentrate, I mean he is just too dreamy.

"So what's your favorite subject?" Leon asked and he was smiling.

"Um, I have two favorite subjects." I said.

"Okay, what are they?" Leon asked.

"Math and Literature."

"Oh, those are my most hated subjects" Leon said then chuckled, he meant it for a joke and I laughed too, and gave him a light slap on I face, it felt incredibly soft. Then he stopped laughing and looked at me "Literature? Really? Maybe you could help me with my lyrics." He said, his voice is neutral and calm, maybe he is serious, and he wants me to help him.

"Sure, why not, right?" then I laughed nervously, he can't be serious, is he? Us working together to write a song? Just me and Leon. Wow.

"Cool, what do you have every Monday morning?" Leon asked.

"Physics" I totally hate that class, and our teacher is so old, he probably witnessed world war one and two with his own eyes.

"Great, cause every time that you have that period I'll be in that music room where you saw me playing." He said.

"Sure, I don't like that class anyway"

"Cool," he repeated then smiled.

The bell rang and our recess is finished, Leon said that he'll be going home straight away because it is just the music class he wants to attend to and I said I will be going home as well, and he offered me a lift. His car is a shiny black Mazda; I don't know what model it is. The smell is familiar, like his handkerchief and his jacket.

And I accepted his offer and I said I will give him back his jacket and he just wait outside the building in his car. When I got out his car I saw Venus on our building's door, she was just about to ring my doorbell when she saw me.

"Kayla!" Venus smiled then waved at me. I waved back and I looked back at Leon's car. And Leon nodded at Venus through the wind shield.

"Hey, Venus, what are you doing here?" I asked Venus.

"Well, I got bored and I decided to give you a surprise visit and maybe we could go shopping and we'll bring Mae along too." She said nicely.

"Sure, why not? It is not like I am doing anything right now" Then I laughed. I knew it! Good thing I already studied at school before I could go La-di-da-ing with Venus in the Mall.

Leon beeped his horn and I remembered bout his jacket. I bolted inside and hurled upstairs to the third floor. I grabbed Leon's black jacket from my nightstand and touching it again got me replaying the scene last night and this jacket proves that this is not Carlos the Math geek's jacket.

I smelled Leon's jacket for the last time and Venus startled me.

"Hey, you ran really fast you know" she said while breathing heavily. Then she saw Leon's jacket in my hands and near my nose. She actually caught me sniffing it's collar. I was frozen and I blushed. But Venus only smiled.

"You're pretty lucky you know, sniffing your crush's jacket. I wish I could smell Eddie." She said then looked down. And that made me think about Eddie. Mae and Eddie are together, and Venus like Eddie, oh no! This is gonna be a total disaster if Venus knew about them so I just excused myself and hurled down the stairs. I am thinking whether if I should tell Venus that Eddie is already taken two years ago. Oh my God! I am actually witnessing a Love triangle.

Mae and Eddie love each other and Venus like Eddie. Hmm not really a love triangle if Venus only like Eddie, she just like him not love him, I guess. I'll just ask later if our topic of conversation is 'BOYS'.

I handed Leon's jacket through his window and he thanked me for giving it back and I thanked him too, for letting me use it last night. Before he shifted to Drive he said that he'll see me on Monday. Then he took off, I was staring at the road from where he disappeared. I can't believe that this week has gone good. Because Leon lends me his handkerchief and Eddie told me I am not alone and then Leon taking care of me in the clinic, and minus the making out part, I really hate that part, where Melissa just sucked Leon's face. Then on Music festival was fun and Leon gave me his jacket, then this morning, I watched Leon playing his guitar and we talked in the cafeteria.

And I can't believe it, cafeteria was my most hated part of the school but now, it was my favorite because that is where we talked and laughed at each other and he asked if I could help him on his music. And my most favorite part is when Leon drove me home, his car smells like him and the seat is so soft, I wished I lived further so I could stay there longer and I would never want to get off.

I was snapped from dreamland to the reality when a really fast car almost hit me and scared the hell out of me. My heart was skipping from my chest and my hairs are all standing up. 'I cannot die, yet' I thought. I have to get to school on Monday so I could be with Leon.

I walked back to my apartment and I changed and I made an excuse for Mae both being with us. The truth is I didn't ask Mae if she wants to go, I just told Venus that she can't go. We'll never know when Mae started talking about Eddie in front of Venus and Venus will start to hate her, and I don't want my friends fighting each other, because of a boy.