Chapter 8

When the class was over, all the students left school talking and laughing with their friends. Coming out from the last classroom of the hall, a young girl with her brown hair up in a ponytail walked fast to the exit, where a slender boy was waiting.

''The driver has parked across the street'', he said. ''I'll go with you, okay?''

''I've told you before. Why do you insist? You have no chance with Katherine. I bet she doesn't even know you go to the same school as her''.

''Dear Deirdre, let me tell you something about the matters of the heart'', the young man said as he sat on the back seat of the luxurious car next to his friend. ''Love at first sight… It doesn't always happen this way. Sometimes it takes a while to win someone's heart''.

''Perhaps…'', she said looking at the window with melancholic eyes. ''I'm just trying to protect you from the disappointment''. She was sure that her friend was right. She really hoped he was, because she also desired to win someone's heart, though he showed no interest in her. They reached a big house and rang the doorbell. After a minute, in front of them stood an angel with golden curls and light blue eyes.

''Thank you, Deidre'', she said with her sweet voice as she took the books she gave her.

''Don't mention it. My family's library is famous, so I'm glad I can help you with your project. Do you know Andy?'', she asked throwing a side look at her friend.

''Oh, yeah… Hey, how are you?'', the girl asked him and he tried to look nonchalant.

''Fine. You?'', he said and she gave him a smile.

''Well…'', Deirdre said. ''You can keep the books for as long as you need and return them later, okay?''

''Deal''. After they said goodbye, they took the road back home.

''Do you believe me now? It is never going to happen''.

''We'll see'', said Andy, who would never admit defeat. After the driver left him at his home, he headed to Deirdre's house. Basically, it was not just a house but a villa by the sea at the end of town. She and her brother, Patrick, grew up in luxury among housemaids, drivers, nannies and gardeners. Out of all those people, Deirdre preferred Paul.

Paul was a kind young man, with brown hair and eyes, strong arms and a warm smile. He had been working as a gardener for a few months and since she saw him, she had not managed to get him out of her mind. Her teenage heart beat faster everytime she was at his presence, just like now, as she walked at the path leading to her doorstep and passed by him looking shyly at his side.

''Hi'', she said.

''Oh hello, Miss Deirdre. How was school today?''

''Okay'', she replied and hurried home. She went upstairs, closed the door of her bedroom, left the school bag on her desk and sat on the perch of the window. Out in the garden, Paul was trimming the rosebuds and the girl was secretly watching him. 'He's so unlike everyone else!', she thought whenever she compared him to all the other boys she knew.

Even though Paul didn't need this job, he was willing to work hard so he would help financially his family. This had made a great impression on her, because until then, the fact that there were people less fortunate than her had never crossed her mind, since her parents had made sure she lived in a bubble. Meeting Paul caused her to question everything and begin to understand more of the world around her. They had talked several times but the beauty of his face and soul conquered her at once. Gazing from above with a smile on her lips she felt really happy.

Teenage love… A feeling she hoped it would last forever.

To her, it was love at first sight. To him though, it meant nothing special. Paul saw her as a little girl and he could never imagine the dreams she had for her first love. He liked her but it was impossible to see her this way and not just because she was his boss's daughter. According to Paul, Deirdre belonged to a different world. Her life had nothing to do with his reality. As much as he enjoyed their conversations, it was a fact that they had nothing in common. Of course, those thoughts did not even exist in his mind, because it was full of more important matters, like taking care of his siblings.

After his parents had died, he and his younger siblings remained under the care of his uncle. Their father's brother was wealthy enough and did not mind to raise them but his wife was absolutely against it. She had no intention to look after three orphans and it got even worse when she had her own children.

Paul was a teenager when he lost his parents, so he was old enough to see from her point of view. Nevertheless, what he could not comprehend, was how she could show no interest in his siblings, who were so young the day their parents died. His sister was just a couple of months old when she took her in her arms and it would be so easy for her to treat the child as her own.

That never happened though. She never was a second mother to them and that really hurt them all. They found solace only in each other. Although Paul was only a boy, he became a parent to his siblings, took care of them, protected and raised them as his parents would. The two children in their big brother's face saw the person who stood by their side whenever they needed and ran to him every time they wanted to feel some love and kindness.