CHAPTER 1: BUMPS, NOTES, AND ENVELOPES

"What do you mean you said no? He's a pretty good guy." It was the second semester of school and Candice was telling me how Todd has asked her to the Valentine's Day dance. "Why did you say no?"

"I was waiting for Sean to ask me," she told me. "He's been too friendly this week. Thought he would've done it by now." That was typical Candice. She was a flirt but at least she was pretty enough to pull it off. Many guys desired her and I did not blame them but it would've been nice if they told that directly to her and not to me, her best friend. Sad, I know.

"What about you? Any requests yet?" Candice asked as she twisted her blond locks waiting while I took some stuff out of my locker. "Or are you waiting for Johnny to ask you?"

"Shut up please. I'd rather not answer that and besides-" that's when a white envelope that slipped out of my notebook fell on the floor. Candice rapidly took the paper that lay on the floor. "Heather, what's this?" she asked. I didn't answer and I just took the envelope out of her hands. It only had my name on the front, beautifully written in calligraphy. It was too pretty to be written by a boy which scared me a bit. Heck, why was I even assuming it was a boy? "Open it already," Candice said shaking me back to reality. I opened the envelope carefully and took out the little piece of paper that was inside. On one side, there was a black and white picture of a beautiful rose. When I turned it over, carefully scripted were the words:

'A rose to show all the reasons I can't get you out of my head.'

"Oh my God!" was all Candice said. I, on the other hand, was speechless. In fact, the air wasn't getting to my brain. I had forgotten to breathe! So when oxygen finally went inside me, I just said "Oh my God!" and Candice hugged me. "Who do you think it could be?" I asked Candice. "Well, darling, there are thousands of possibilities," she answered as she gestured toward the hall. Truth is there were many guys but none which I thought would do this. Right there the bell rung and Candice hugged me and went to her next class. I finished getting my stuff into the backpack and was about to go to class when I bumped into this guy. Next thing I knew my book bag was on the floor and the guy stood there just staring at me. He looked as if he's seen a ghost. The guy stared while I waited to hear him say something. Since he didn't do a thing, I started to grab my stuff. When I was about to go I turned around and said "Thanks!" but in a bitchy way to make him feel bad. It actually worked, when I said that the guy just looked down and started walking the other way. Knowing I had done a good job with the jerk I continued my way to my next class.