On the day of Duke and Viola's second date, Viola was getting very excited. Duke, on the other hand was getting more and more nervous about Viola finding out the truth behind him dating her.
He really did like Viola, but only as friend, he told himself. So if she found out, everything they had would be out the window in a flash.
When seven finally came, he headed off to Viola's room. He knocked on the door and waited a few moments before he saw Viola's smiling face appear.
"Hey," he said. "You ready to go?"
"Yep. See you later Olivia," Viola said as she stepped out of her room.
"Have fun Vi," came Olivia's reply.
When they got to the cinema, they got seats in about the middle row.
A few minutes later, Duke spotted Anna come in with some random guy from school. To his surprise, they chose to sat in the row behind them.
This is it, thought Duke. Now is a perfect opportunity to make Anna jealous. And so with those thoughts in mind, e put an arm round Viola, and whispered something in her ear which made her giggle. She looked up at him, and he slowly brought his lips to hers, and they shared a quick kiss before the movie began. He was quite pleased with himself throughout the movie. He was sure Anna would have seen them before it started, and all through the movie, he kept whispering things in Viola's ear, making her giggle each time.
And he was right. Anna had indeed seen what he was doing, and she didn't like it. Not one bit. She thought that after her break up with Duke, that he would beg for her to take him back, but he had surprised her, and found another girl. Never mind, she would easily get him back.
After the movie, Anna 'accidentally' bumped into Duke as he and Viola were coming out. "Oh, Duke," she said, pretending to be surprised. "Fancy seeing you here!"
"Hi Anna," Duke said, staring at her the whole time. "Oh, um this is Viola," he said, almost forgetting to introduce her to Anna.
"Nice to meet you," Viola said with a smile.
Anna just gave her a small nasty smile before turning her attention back to Duke. "So how's soccer going?" She asked.
"Really good. "We've got a great team this year," he answered.
"I'll have to come and watch you practice someday," she said with a smile.
"Yeah, that'd be great," Duke said.
"Oh, I've been meaning to ask you something," she said. "See, I'm kinda failing English at the moment, and I was hoping you might be able to tutor me." She looked up at him with a smile and batted her lashes at him.
"Yeah, sure I'd love to help you," Duke said happily.
Viola couldn't believe this. His ex girlfriends was flirting with him, and he seemed to be having the time of his life!
"Um, Duke, I need to be back by nine," she said. When he didn't reply, she said it a bit louder, and this time he looked at her. "Oh, right. Yeah, I'll take you back now," he said. Turning to Anna, he said, "just tell me when you want to start."
"Ok, bye Duke," she said with the sweetest smile she could muster.
When they got back to Illyria, Duke began to feel a bit guilty about totally ignoring Viola while he was talking to Anna.
"So," he said. "Did you enjoy the movie tonight?"
"Yeah, it was alright," Viola said.
She seemed a bit distant, so Duke asked if she was alright.
Sighing, she asked the question that had been bugging her since they left the cinema.
"Do you still love her?" She blurted out. "What?" Duke asked.
"It's just that I know you two went out not long ago, and I don't know if you're fully over her yet," Viola said. Oh my god, she knows, Duke thought. But wait, how could she know?
"Of course I'm over her Vi," he lied. He hated lying to her, but he couldn't blow it all yet.
"Really? Because it didn't seem like it tonight," Viola said.
"Trust me, I am. I wouldn't be dating you if I wasn't," he lied again.
Viola nodded. "Ok. Sorry, I tend to jump to conclusions a bit."
By this time they had reached her door.
"Well, I had fun tonight," she said. "Goodnight Duke." She was about to go inside, when he pulled her back and gave her a big hug. "You're a great friend Vi," he said. When he let her go, he lowered his head until head until there lips met. "Goodnight," he whispered as she went into her room.
He only left when the door was completely shut. He didn't know why he kissed her a second time that night. He didn't need to, but he had wanted to. Could this mean he was starting to like her as well as Anna?
Inside her room, Viola was just finishing telling Olivia about the date and what happened with Anna.
"That doesn't sound too good Vi," Olivia said. "Why, do you think he still likes her?" Viola asked.
"I hate to say it, but it sounds like he does from what you told me, and it also sounds like she's trying to get him back."
"But he said he was over her," Viola said. "He wouldn't do this to me would he? I mean, I really like him, but I don't want to go out with someone who doesn't feel the same."
Meanwhile, back in Duke's room, he was telling Andrew and Toby about his date as well. "This is so awesome dude," Toby said excitedly. "Yeah, she totally likes you man," Andrew said. "I mean, why else would she ask you of all people to tutor her? Seriously, you're not that good at English."
Duke thought for a moment. "I no this will sound weird, but I think I'm starting to like Viola," he said. Both boys just stared at him. "You what?" Andrew asked in disbelief.
"Well, who do you like more," Toby asked.
Duke shrugged. "I don't know. I like them both about the same I think."
The next day at soccer practice, Viola went to watch Duke, and to her dismay.
At the end of practice, when all the guys went into the change rooms, Anna spoke to Viola.
"Just so you know, you don't stand a chance with him," she said.
"Excuse me?" Viola asked, quite shocked.
"You heard me," Anna said as she walked off to the change rooms as Duke came out.
"Hey Duke, you were really great out there today," she praised.
"Thanks," he said.
"So I was wondering," Anna went on. "If you could help me in the Library tonight at about eight?"
"Sure. Well, I gotta go, but I'll see you at eight," he said as he walked off.
Viola just sat in the stands, glaring at the spot where Anna had stood. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she jumped when she saw who it was.
"Justin? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Well hello to you to," Justin said. "I just came by, because I heard you were still seeing that Orsino guy. Is this true Viola?"
"Yes, but I don't know why you should care, we broke up. Remember?" Viola said, getting irritated that he couldn't get over the fact that she dumped him.
"Come on Vi," he said. "Why don't you leave him and come back to me?"
"Um, because I hate you," Viola said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Now, now Vi, no need to be a bitch," Justin said.
Viola slapped him and stood up. "You don't call me that, you asshole!"
Justin stood up, and was about to hit her back, when his hand was grabbed by someone behind him. Turning round, his eyes widened in fear when he saw a very angry Duke.
Duke punched him hard in the face, knocking him to the ground. He was going to hit him again, but Viola stopped him.
"Duke, stop." She looked down at Justin whose nose was bleeding heavily. "He knows he's not wanted here any more."
Once Justin had run off, Duke turned to Viola. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" "I'm fine. Thanks. What are you doing back down here anyway?" She asked.
"I came looking for you," he said. "Come on let's go back to my room," he said as he took her hand and led her back up to the school.