Chapter Two

Quite how I managed to find my way to the sixth form block that morning I don’t know. This was my first day in year 12 after all, I wasn’t used to being here. I was normally in the main school building with all the other pre-GCSE kids. Yet somehow, despite feeling as though I’d suddenly been transported to a completely different planet, I found myself not only in the sixth form block, but also in the right classroom.

I flopped down into the chair next to Chris. He’d saved me a seat – I should have known he would. I was still up on cloud nine and knew there was no way I’d be able to concentrate on…what class was it again? Oh yeah, performing arts, Chris’ favourite subject. He was the class clown, and loved to be the centre of attention.

He turned to look at me, a disapproving expression on his face. "And what time do you call this young lady?" he teased, tapping the face of his watch. "Lucky for you old Mr. Griffith isn’t here yet."

"Mr Griffith? I thought he had a breakdown?" I threw my bag down on the desk, and started playing absent mindedly with a strand of my hair, still grinning ear to ear.

"Really?" he asked, playfully placing a hand on my knee. "I didn’t know that…what are you looking so happy about anyway?"

"Nothing," I said coyly, not wanting to give away my feelings just yet.

"That smile’s not nothing! I’ve not seen a smile that wide on you since I told you David had split with his girlfriend."

I pulled a face in disgust. "Urgh! What did I ever see in David Blake?"

"I thought he was the one and only object of your desires?"

I waved a hand dismissivly. "He’s like, so last year!"

He turned to face me, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. "So if you’re not interested in David anymore, you must have your eye on somebody new. And judging by that smile I’d say you bumped into him on the way to class."

I could feel my face burning red with embarrassment at him guessing my secret so quickly. "Maybe..." I giggled, "…or maybe not…"

"I knew it!" he squealed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "So who is it? Is he cute?" He clapped his hands together. "Oooh, this is fun, let me guess! Is it that guy John from the upper sixth?"

"No way!" I spluttered. "He’s got way too much facial hair for my liking, imagine the stubble rash! Why would I even remotely like him?"

Chris frowned. "I thought he was supposed to be cute? I mean…I overheard some girls the other day saying they thought he was…"

"Yeah, but he’s so gay."

"Is he?" Chris looked surprised. "Hmm…so if it isn’t him, who else is there?"

"I didn’t actually say there was anyone, did I? You’re just jumping to conclusions."

"Oh come on, Sophie. How long have we known each other? I can tell you’ve got your eye on someone, and you know I’ll find out who it is eventually. You may as well just tell me now."

I sighed. I didn’t know why my love life was always of such interest to my friends. So I hadn’t had many dates in high school. That was no crime, was it? And anyway, Chris was hardly Mr. Popularity when it came to dating.

It wasn’t as though I didn’t want a boyfriend, because I did. And it wasn’t like I never got asked out. But trying to find a guy I liked, and who liked me back, was proving to be mission impossible. What could I say? I didn’t want second best. He had to be nothing less than perfect, and if he was, then I simply wasn’t interested.

"There really is no new guy," I lied.

Chris frowned, not looking convinced. "So why the smile?"

"Because…" I was desperately searching for an excuse to cover up now. "Just because…I’m so happy to be back at school with all my best friends around me!"

"You spent all summer with us!"

"Fine, don’t believe me then," I said, turning my back on him and pretending to be in a mood. "That’s all you’re getting out of me though."

I know it sounds stupid, but I really wasn’t ready to tell him about Ben yet. What was there to tell anyway? That I’d walked right into a guy on the way to class and instantly fallen in love with him? I was having difficulty believing it myself, I needed to get my head around it a bit more before I started telling anyone else.

I really didn’t understand how I could feel that strongly about him after just one meeting. But people always say that when you met "the one" you’d know. And with Ben I just knew. It sounded stupid, I knew that, and I couldn’t explain how I knew, but I did. It was like fate or something. The sort of feeling that only comes around once in a lifetime, and when it does you have to grab it with both hands before it slips away from you.

Oooh, I couldn’t wait to see him again! I tried to conjure up an image of him in my mind, that tanned skin, the dark hair, the tall, lean body. Perfect in every way. He was probably in the year above me, he looked a bit older. Wow, imagine dating someone in the upper sixth! So many people would be jealous of me. No doubt all the girls in his year would want to date him, and when they found out he was already taken they’d all bitch about me behind my back. I wouldn’t let it worry me though, because I’d have the man of my dreams. And Ali and Lucy would be so happy for me. In fact, they’d probably be bridesmaids at our wedding…

I must have been a million miles away because I didn’t even notice him walk into class. It wasn’t until Chris nudged me that I broke free from my daydream.

"Hey, check out the new guy."

I followed his gaze towards Ben. And suddenly my heart was beating at a million miles an hour at the sight of him. Thud, thud, thud…so loudly I though my chest would explode.

What was he doing in this class? Damn, he must be in my year after all. That ruined all those older guy fantasies of mine.

I watched closely and cringed as he carefully placed his pile of books on a desk at the front of the class. What was he doing? That was the teacher’s desk, he wasn’t supposed to sit there…didn’t he realise the unwritten rules of school? I started to panic. I had to say something! I had to rescue him from this potentially embarrassing situation.

He stood there for a moment and I hoped he’d notice me as he turned around and scanned the room. Then his eyes finally came to rest on me, and the look on his face turned to one of horror as he froze.

My heart sank. Wasn’t he pleased to see me? I’d been so sure that he felt the same way as I did. What could’ve changed in the space of ten minutes?

He cleared his throat, ready to speak. What was he doing, making an announcement or something?

And it was then that the reality hit me, like a ten-tonne brick.

He wasn’t in my year.

In fact, he wasn’t in the sixth form at all…