Ah! Yes, I took a long time AGAIN. Well, I have a good excuse AGAIN. I was doing A.P. English work and S.A.T. prep stuff... yeah. Okay. I'll shut up. AND YES! Connie's last name is MOREAU. NOT MONREAU. SORRY FOLKS. Aw gosh, thanks for the positive reviews. =] I larve [my word for 3] you guys.

Chapter 4: remember to breathe

by dashboard confessional. Go download & listen to it while reading this.

-------------------------- Adam Banks'POV -----------------------------------

[recap] My arm kept getting closer to Michelle's... [/recap]

I didn't realize that my arm was getting closer to hers until Charlie turned around to pass back some papers. She didn't move her arm either, so I used my right hand to get papers for the both of us AND pass the stack back. Does this mean something?

She turned around and looked at me very shyly and said, "thanks".

"For what?" What a stupid question. FOR THE PAPER YOU IDIOT!

"Um, for the homework sheet," Michelle replied.

I could feel my face getting hot so I quickly responded with a "No Prob."

"This teacher is so boring," she whispered.

I turned around and gave Michelle a smile, because she wanted to make conversation with me.

"Yeah, she's a dead beet alright."

"She IS history. She shouldn't teach it!" I guess she forgot that it was really quiet in the classroom, because the teacher suddenly whacked her pointer-stick-thing on our table.

"Flirting, are we? Care to let the rest of the class in on your discussion? Clearly, it has nothing to do with the assignment. Class, please thank your... classmates...narrows eyes... for the extra homework assignment. The research paper will be due the day after tomorrow. I'll write down what you need to include on the board. Now, pay attention!"

If I had to pick my most embarrassing moment, this would definitely be near the top of the list. Yeah, I'm pretty sure the rest of the class hates me. OH NO! I hope they're not mad at Michelle, too. I looked over at her and her face was completely red.

"Nice going Banks. You know, SOME of us actually have a life. I don't know how they do things on Varsity, but at OUR level, we work like dogs. BIG, SMELLY, FEROCIOUS dogs. I tell yah..."

"Uh, thanks Goldberg. Sorry guys..."

The bell rang and as I got up to put my backpack on; it hit Michelle's hand and she dropped her books on the floor.

"Let me get that."

She just took her books from my hand and walked away. Why is my life suddenly like a romantic comedy? Wait, did I just think about it being romantic? I slapped myself on the forehead for thinking too much and I heard the guys laughing at me.

"Banks, Banks, Banks."

"Shut up Fulton."

"My man, don't stress out too much over the ladies. You've got to be smooth. Ok? Think, me, but with a white boy attitude. What you need is a coach."

"Russ, I already have a coach."

"No no no. Not your preppy hockey coach. A style coach. To teach you the do's and don'ts with the ladies. How 'bout it?"

"No thanks. It's not like I've never been on a date with anyone. It's just that... I've never had a commitment. And also, what are you talking about? I don't even like her."

"Hey, all I said was that you needed help with the ladies. I never said anything about a 'her'. So there's a 'her' you're thinking about, huh? Come on, tell me."

"It's no one. Look guys, I'm sorry you have to do more work. So, uhh, I'll catch up with you guys later. I have practice."

"Ok cake-eater."

---------------------- end of Adam's POV-------------------------------

After he left, four of the guys were talking about him while they walked to their dorms.

"He likes her real bad." Mendoza emphasized real.

"Yah think? I never knew he could be that obvious. I wonder if she knows."

"Hey ya'll. I think Banks-y likes Michelle," Dwayne piped in.

"That's what we JUST said, cowboy. So you think she doesn't, huh Kenny? Maybe I should talk to her. Talk some sense into the girl." Russ offered.

"Maybe I should. I think we get along pretty well."

"I said talk some SENSE into her, amigo. Not talk her to death. I'll do it."

Ten Minutes Later

"'Ey Michelle! Wait up!"

Michelle turned around and came face to face with Russ Tyler. He was out of breath and panting, because he was not used to running; skating fast out on the ice was completely different.

"Oh, hi, Russ. Is something wrong?"

"Now why would you think that?"

"Because you're... oh, nevermind. Yes?"

"I know you feel bad about making us do extra work on top of our other studies and on top of our hockey practice, but don't. It's not entirely your fault. It's Adams' too."

"Well..."

"Speaking of Adam, I notice you two are getting...oh, I don't know, closer?"

"Actually, we're just partners and..." He cut her off.

"Because it seems like you two like each other. Ain't that cute?"

While Russ said this, they both 'rounded the corner and Michelle glanced up to see something further ahead of her. It was Adam. He was surrounded by a few freshmen girls who were probably drooling over him, because they've seen him play in many of the hockey games.

"Uh, Russ. There's something wrong with your theory." She pointed to where Adam stood.

As this happened, Adam looked up away from his adoring fans to where the two were. He became aware of Michelle's stare and he returned the gaze.

"Well... I..." Russ stuttered.

"Yeah, nice try, Russ. Bye."

---------------------------Adam Banks' POV-------------------------------

I spotted Michelle walk away after she looked at me and said something to Russ. I figured that it had something to do with me, so I tried to break free from the fence around me.

"Um, pardon me ladies. I have to get to practice."

"OKAY ADAM! HAVE FUN! PRACTICE HARD! WE'LL SEE YOU LATER!"

Oh God, I hope not.

"Hey Tyler! Slow down, man!"

"Banks-y, nice of you to want to talk to such a lowly J.V."

"Very funny. So, what was that all about?"

"What was what all about?"

"That thing. You and Michelle just now."

"Me and her? Ok, there's nothing going on between us. We're just friends. Chill."

"I know that! I mean, why did she walk away when she saw me?"

"Well, I have no idea. BUT I can assure you that there's nothing going on with us."

"I said I know!"

"Hey hey hey, calm down. Woo hoo hoo, someone sounds a little jealous of something that's not even going on. You know, I told her that you liked her."

"YOU WHAT!?!?!"

"You're welcome. No need to thank me. Besides, you're late for practice!"

"Oh shit! We'll talk later!!!" And with that he ran off towards the hockey stadium.

The Next Day...

----------- Adam Banks' POV-----------------------------------------------

"Michelle!" I yelled so that she could hear me before she walked into her next class.

She turned around and said, "Hi, Adam."

"Look, sorry I didn't go down to study hall today. I skipped, because Coach wanted me to practice more with the Varsity."

[OH BY THE WAY! The reason he has to talk to her NOW and not during "history" class is because they don't have that class today. It's block schedule, meaning, they have half their classes on certain days.]

"Oh, umm, yeah. I was...umm... waiting."

"Hey, since it's due tomorrow, we kind of have to work on it... like right now."

"I didn't think you'd r-really...umm... care about it," she stumbled over her words.

"Michelle... I care about... my work." I think that sounded a bit suggestive and implying. I hope she didn't think about what I said too much. I'm such an idiot!

"Yeah... Well, do you want to go to the library?"

"Sure, let's go." She didn't seem to friendly today or yesterday, for that matter. I wonder what's bugging her.

OH MY GOODNESS. I AM SO SORRY! I was actually going to write more but it's really quite late right now. The next one will come out tomorrow. I PROMISE!!!!!!! If I wrote what I was going to write tomorrow, then this would be REALLY REALLY long. So, please, stay tuned! 333333333333