mi
get the chance to gaze upon h
tched the bus and sprinted to schoo
s to crawl along its route, wasting precious minu
m standing at the stairs, his clique surrounding him. My infat
vous system disorganized; I had
hool, my heart pounded, simultaneously performing rounds of somersaults. I longed to see him. I
of my room. But it was also a place where I could find him
and began strolling
ught a gli
ept through my lun
i
pha
ruled my
his usual entourage. His dark blonde hair, a tousled
ulpted by the immaculate on
part, a hearty l
hose
uivered, my
er behind
nce through the gap
ike his, so it automatically faded into the background. I refused to
erflies straight to my stomach. Even from this distance, I could see the glin
reeping up my neck. I could stay here all
gaggle of girls in matching jackets squealed thei
av
oo-tight t-shirt, swaggered by, earbuds j
des, the aching lungs - all of it was worth it just to catch a glimpse of him. He was more than just a pretty face; he was a masterpiece, a
as a wonde
Stefano dreamily, my min
" she whined. "Running to school, skipping the
say that!" I protes
a jerk who bullies people! H
mmered, trying to fi
all this trouble
ignoring
ly explain how thi
u see it, it's pretty, and you want it. But once you
. "He's j
She f
hed. "
ittle above a whisper. "His arms, those eyes.
forget those lips. Babara- p
yes. "He's ju
"Remember when he was making
shed. "That w
elf retorted. "He's a player, Camila.
to find the right word.
You know what's mysterious? Why do you keep drooling o
't help it. He's like
head. "You'r
e than just a crush. He was a fantas
ust so
. "You're
most beautiful boy I had ever seen. His smile, when he fin
Greek god,"
. "More like a Greek Adonis.
I just wish I co
laughed. "Yo
. "You'r
But I knew it was impossible. He was out of m
leader uniform, sauntered, pranced, catwalked, swayed, you-name-it, into view,
a smug grin spreading across her fa
aight for Stefano, her hips swaying with rhythm. She was smilin
eart
hing I was not. And she was with Stefano,
d into his arms. Her laughter sounded l
his shoulder. Stefano wrapped his arm around her wais
her neck, peppering kisses over it. Barbara giggled, her voice a
ezed, and my
at her. Throwing herself
y heart continued to squeeze with jealousy. I wanted Stefano to
y out of my league. He would never look at
tive to it," My
his fault. Barbara is ju
kissing the hell out of her, you'd think she's air, gripping her bum, fondling
joying himself with Barbara, and the tho
ut of my spiteful thoughts. I watched as Barbara, her fa
leaped in excitement. But this was only short-lived. My eyes fe
y books. I gritted my teeth in anger. It was hard
nsume anymore
mportant stuff. School.
that declaration
s with the word "impor
arry all five of my textbooks to class. I h
day, was held up the stairs. The
ht of it gave
. I can walk p
s, a quick duck through the art room door, and then freedom in the Chemistry laboratory. Just a few more minutes o
of me, and I knew I was getting dangerously close to his scent. The last time I had walked
look, don't look," I told myself, but it was easier said than done. I was so
r. I landed with a painful thud, my head hitting the ground hard. The world seemed to slow down as I fell, my heart pound
nd my ankle ached. I tried to sit up, but the pain was too i
ooked up to see Barbara kneeli
he screamed. "My foot
ought. "Like seriously? Was that the best sh
tbooks lying on top of Barbara's sneakers. It really couldn't
ing myself for the torrent of insults, a
lost the abili
or, gawking at him lik
eathe, Camila. Breath
tore my gaze away from Stephano and fo
m s
ng when Barbara whined. "Steffy
always Steffy to her, narrowing his e
ay from me!" Barbara continue
Stephano sa
choed in my head, but it felt distant, like it wasn't meant for me, even thoug
y from her feet,"
away from where Barbara had kicked it. I wished I could disapp
mand that made my
her
eard, but the look in Stepha
g of the horror I wou