JT felt dizzy and lightheaded. It took him a second to realize that the reason was because he wasn't breathing. Taking deep breaths slowly, he edged out into the hallway.

Paige was standing by her locker talking to Terri and Hazel. All three girls were smiling and chatting as they fixed their hair and reapplied their makeup.

JT felt Toby nudging him from behind.

"Go!"

"Okay, okay, lemme just get myself ready."

"You've been saying that all day. Just go up to her already. Spinner told you that she likes you, although I don't know why we're trusting him, so you don't have anything to worry about." Toby pushed him again and JT stumbled out into the hallway. This was it. He couldn't back down now.

Slowly, he walked down the hall towards the girls, stuffing his hands into his pockets to keep them from shaking. Paige looked up when he was a few feet away and although she looked away quickly, he could tell by the way that she stood up taller that she knew he was watching her.

"Hello, ladies," JT said, noticing a slight tremor in his voice. Paige looked surprised while the others stared at him disdainfully.

"Yes?" Hazel said, zipping up her purse then crossing her arms.

"Uh, I-I just wanted t-to talk to Paige in p-private," JT stammered.

Terri glanced at Paige. "I think whatever you have to say can be said in front of all of us."

JT took his hands out of his pocket and began ringing them nervously. "O-okay. If you insist." He looked at Paige whose face was apprehensive and curious. Taking a deep breath he blurted out, "Wilyugoimesatdi?"

"Okay, slower and in English please," Hazel said. "I know it's difficult for you."

"Will you go out with me this Saturday?" JT repeated clearly.

Terri and Hazel looked at each other then burst out laughing.

"You are just never going to give up, aren't you?" Terri said with a grin. "She's never going to go out with you. Just because Spinner and her aren't together doesn't mean she's going to stoop to that level."

"Yeah, come on Paige, let's get to class before he gets anymore crazy ideas," Hazel added, tugging on her friend's sleeve.

But Paige didn't budge. She was staring at JT who stared right back at her.

"Paige? Hello?" Hazel said slowly.

Paige turned her head to her friends who were watching her expectantly. "No."

"No, what?" Terri asked, confused.

"No, I'm not going to follow you guys to class. I've been doing too much following."

"What are you saying?" Hazel crossed her arms. "You can't tell me—you're not going to say yes to him, are you?" Terri laughed.

"I don't have to tell you guys anything. I'm Paige Michaelchuck. I'm the leader, the trend-setter, the one that everyone looks up to. I'm not some loser who needs approval from anyone else, including her friends."

JT felt a flutter of hope.

"Paige—" Hazel began.

"You know what? I'm going to start a new trend where I will date whoever I wanna date, no matter how much of a loser he is," Paige said heatedly.

JT paused not sure whether to be elated or insulted.

"I like JT. That's right, I like him. He's cute, nice, funny and has always been there for me." Paige paused to take a breath. "And I will go out with him on Saturday." With that, she grabbed JT's arm and stalked off in the opposite direction admist many stares. They turned a corner then went into the stairwell where Paige froze and slumped against the wall.

"Please tell me I didn't just do that," she murmured.

"Uh, you didn't do that?" JT replied as helpfully as he could.

"But I did," she moaned. "They're going to hate me forever."

"No they won't," JT told her confidently. "Who could hate you for that long?"

Paige couldn't help but smile. "At least I got something out of the deal. I mean, not that you're a thing or anything…oh you know what I mean."

JT grinned. "I'm pretty impressed, Paige. Never expected you to do something like that. It was pretty awesome. And all for me!"

Paige shoved him teasingly. "Don't let it go to your head. They were just bothering me because they were trying to make my decisions for me."

JT was aware of Paige's arm lingering on his. A smile played across her face.

"So Saturday. Where are you taking me?"

JT shrugged. "I dunno. I spent so much time worrying over whether you would say yes I didn't really think about it." He thought for a second. "Well we've already been to the mall and the movies on our first, er, 'date'."

"Well surprise me then," Paige said. She took his hand in hers and JT felt a tingle race from his hand all the way up his arm. "Just nowhere in public please."

JT felt his heart sink. "Oh, um, okay."

Paige laughed at the dismay on his face. "I'm kidding!"

"Oh," he replied, smiling in relief. "Good. You're keeping me on my toes. I like that in a woman—"

Suddenly Paige leaned in to kiss him on the lips. When she finally pulled away, JT was speechless for a few seconds before managing to say, "I like that in a woman too."

Then he pushed open the door to the stairwell and led Paige out into the hallway, and walked her to class. They got many stares as they strolled along hand in hand but neither one cared.

When they reached Paige's classroom, she kissed JT on the cheek then said good bye with Terri and Hazel watching openmouthed.

JT turned around walked calmly down the hall then upon reaching the doors, he leapt into the air with his fists raised.

"YES!" he shouted, then continued on to his next class, a permanent grin on his face for the rest of the day.