Thanks for all the support so far :)

-000-

So this is it.

I think what I'm most apprehensive about is everyone's reaction... I mean, I refrained from telling Cass and jenny because... well I don't know, just because, maybe for once I wanted the attention. I wanted to surprise everyone. I think that for once in my life I wanted everyone to look at me and I wanted to be the center of attention.

But this change in my thoughts must be somehow connected to the owner of the hand that was gracefully placed in mine. So gentle but yet firm enough to make me feel safe.

He picked me up around the corner from my place... he was being a gentleman. And I love it.

"Are you okay?" I heard will ask me as we were coming through the front gates of our school.

I took a breath in before looking at his beautiful eyes and answering honestly. "I'm great." I gave his hand a squeeze and his grin went wider.

"What do you think Cass will say about..." he gestured to our entwined hands. I smiled, "I don't care what she says."

He laughed. It was so cute when his smile seemed to touch his eyes.

We walked a bit until we got to the main hall where we had to part for our classes. I gave him a hug and stayed in his arms for a second before pulling away and giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"Have I told you that you look beautiful?" he asked me.

I smiled, "not today."

He pulled me back into his embrace, "well..." he kissed my hair, "you do."

"Your not bad either." I said into his shirt.

He suddenly pulled back to look into my face, "not bad?" he asked, pretending to be offended.

I smiled innocently, "what?"

He laughed, "well I guess compared to you I must look like crap."

"But a cute crap." I said.

He looked confused, "okay, but honestly, a cute crap? A cute crap? What the hell? Craps cant be...cute?" he said, laughing.

"Well, your cute, scratch the crap part."

"Alright, whatever makes you happy." he said defeated.

"I'll see you later." I said, turning around and walking down the hall.

"Love you, Alyss." he said and went the other way.

God he is adorable.

After the coffee shop, well, after Will asked me out we walked to the park and just talked, mucking around and telling stories.

It's funny, that even though we had been only going out for, what, 10 minutes? It felt like we had been together for ages.

I guess its because we had grown up together and all our friendship and stuff was coming together. I no longer felt nervous around him; I could look at him and not shy away. I could lie on his chest and not feel self-conscious at all.

We kissed. A few times.

Just little sweet ones when we had run out of things to say. But we didn't have a whole make out date; we mainly talked about useless things. Like how the hell clouds float. I mean, seriously, how do they?

But yeah, I have to say that afternoon was up there in my top 10.

I walked into my English class and took a seat at the back as usual. The class was already pretty full but our teacher hadn't come yet.

"Hey Alyss." Cass sighed as she plonked her stuff next to my and fell onto a chair.

I was surprised by her lack of energy, "hey. Are you okay? What's up?" I asked, concerned because she had her head in her hands.

I put a hand comfortingly on her shoulder, "Cass? What's wrong?"

Reluctantly she lifted her hands from her face and looked up. She looked like she hadn't slept at all last night and her eyes were slightly puffy from crying.

"Oh my god! Cassandra!" I said, wrapping my arms around her. "Who the hell made you cry!?" I demanded. "Cause I'm going to kick their little..."

A small laugh escaped her lips at my rant. "You do have to worry about it... its nothing, I shouldn't be upset anyway." she wiped her eyes with the back of her hands and sat up a bit straighter.

"Cass, tell me." I said.

She shrugged, as if trying to convince herself that it was nothing, "I just... Horace...you know..." she didn't know where to start.

I looked up and noticed the teacher wasn't in the classroom yet, so I grabbed my books and Cassandra's hand, pulling her up form the chair.

"Come on, let's go to the toilets, well just wag." I said.

She looked grateful and willingly followed.

The bell went just as we entered the toilets/change rooms. Cass sunk down onto a bench and I sat opposite her.

"You know I've always...had a...on Horace."

"You've always been obsessed with Horace..." I corrected her.

"I'm not obsessed!" she defended lamely.

I smiled, "no, you are. Not a bad thing." I assured her.

She just continued, "well...everyone knows now but he's going out with Pauline..."

"PAULINE!?" I yelled in surprise.

She just nodded.

"Pauline, Pauline?" I asked.

"Yes, Pauline." she said.

I was bewildered. Pauline was a...well she was nice but she's just... high maintenance... if you know what I mean.

I looked sympathetically at my best friend. "Well, look, this sucks but... you and Horace weren't..."

She snapped up, "I know! That's why I'm don't know why I'm upset. I mean its not like we were dating or even close but still I always thought that maybe..." she trailed off.

I stood up and moved next to her, "you know," I said, placing an arm over her shoulders, "she could have just asked him and he didn't want to be mean. It will probably be over by the end of the day." I assured her.

She looked a bit happier now and her eyes were no longer watering.

"But I guess this wouldn't be the best time to bring it up..." I said.

"Bring what up?" she asked, eager for gossip.

I couldn't keep it in any longer; a huge grin broke out across my face. "I'm going out with Will!...sorry..." I added on the end.

Her eyes opened wide with surprise, "oh! Oh my god! Yay! Alyss! It what you've always wanted!" she hugged me in her excitement. "Don't say sorry! I'm just being stupid." she said.

I just smiled, happy my friend approved.

"Okay, okay." said Cass, settling down. "Start from the beginning."

-000-

Everyone knew, everyone was happy and Horace was making me sick.

Him and Pauline were all over each other at lunch. I could only imagine how Cass felt and I noticed her longer then necessary toilet visits. I just sat with will, laying my head on his shoulder and holding his hand while we made jokes and talked.

Gilan was telling some story using his whole body to get the point across and everyone was laughing at him. Horace, when he managed to have a break with Pauline, said to all of us, "don't forget tomorrow night! It's going to be awesome!" he said.

I just then remembered his party. Will looked at me, questioning with his eyes.

"What?" I asked.

"Can I pick you up?"

I kept looking at him, confused.

"To take you to Horace's." he said, laughing at my haze.

"Oh yeah. Um, I would love you to." I smiled. He leaned down and kissed me on the lips. The kiss lasted a bit longer than usual but only subtle.

"Oooo! Look at the new love birds!" Gilan cooed.

I broke away from will, going a little red. "Shut up." I mumbled.

-000-

Good?

Next comes the party.

Review if you want me to continue because well... I'm not sure if I should.