Tom's PoV

Aneisha looked beautiful. I mean, she always looked beautiful, but now more than ever before, I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

It was a withering December day so, naturally, Mrs King had decided to take the school on a field trip to a team building assault course. Of course, she wasn't actually participating, instead standing aside wearing a warm winder jacket and a smug smile. Mr Flatley, on the other hand, had throw himself wholeheartedly into the course.

"Come on everyone!" he called excited. "This is fun!"

"I can't breathe, Sir!" Roly complained. "I'm sweatin'!"

"It's called exhilaration, Roland," our headmaster replied. "It's wonderful!"

I rolled my eyes, and returned my gaze to Aneisha. She and Lady J were a little ahead of me. The previous obstacle had been a muddy net we had to crawl under and Aneisha had some twigs and a few of leaves in her slightly frizzy hair. There was water dripping from the end of her nose and mud smudged on her face.

She had never looked more perfect.

I had been dying to talk to her every since they had rescued us the previous day, but the time had never seemed right. Of course, I'm sure one would say the time was always right and it was only my cowardice that was getting in my way. And maybe they would be right. But… this wasn't anyone, this was Aneisha. My best friend. And, while it sounds cliché, I was really worried about messing up that friendship when whatever came out of my mouth when I confessed my feelings came out of my mouth. It's fine when you picture a situation in your head; I mean, I've spent hours picturing it. But dreams are rarely reality and I can't afford to mess up here.

"What you doing over here?" Dan asked appearing at my shoulder making me jump.

"I'm trying not to think about the next obstacle."

"And by obstacle, I assume you mean talking to Aneisha," he replied without looking at me. I stumbled and ended up faceplanting in the dirt.

"Hrumph," I snorted into the mud.

"Thought so," Dan laughed helping me up.

"It's hard," I complained. Dan laughed again.

"Yeah, otherwise everyone would be dating."

"But isn't it supposed to be easy with the right one?"

"Where did you get that from?"

"I don't know movies?"

"Tom," he stopped and turned to me. "Listen here."

And he started talking. After a bit I zoned out consumed with rage. He said it wasn't easy and yet he made it sound easy. Then it hit me. Dan always had it easy with the girls. He was handsome and smooth and everybody loved him. Well, not everyone had the ladies throwing themselves at him left right and centre.

"Why are you giving me relationship advice anyway?" I suddenly spat. Dan looked shocked.

"I'm just trying to help you," he stammered. I rolled my eyes.

"And why would I want you're help?"

"Tom… what…?"

"I appreciate your pathetic excuse at friendship but like I said why would I need your help?"

"I don't understand what you're trying to say."

"Yeah? Well, maybe you should focus more on your train wreck of a relationship before trying to ruin mine." And I stormed off, leaving him gaping at my back.