A/N: The first chapter of my new story, I Think I like Him! Yes, again, I am using real names and real places. ^^ However, personalities are completely made up. =O Or just modified.

Chapter One: Sit With Me?

I exit the bathroom, eyes red-rimmed and wet. He’s walking down the hallway with one of his lacrosse buddies. He breaks away and walks over to me. Why am I walking over to her? Feet, stop!

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

I look up, blush, drop my saline eye drops, and don’t pick them up. “Nothing. I’m fine,” I tell him, forcing a smile.

He studies my face. Bends down and picks up my drops. Hands them to me. “No. You’re not. Tell me what’s wrong.”

I’m incredulous, with reason. He’s never cared before--or has he? “You don’t care. You want what every jock wants: a vulnerable girl.” Tears shimmer to the surface of my eyes.

“No. I care. A lot. Please, tell me,” he practically begs. “I want to know.”

Sigh. “Fine.” Why does he care about me so much? Why am I so fluttery now? “My friend and I had an argument, and now she hates me. Everyone sides with her. They want me out of their lunch table. So I cried in the bathroom rather than eating lunch. Happy now?”

Frown. “No.” Thinking, he stares at me more. His eyes make me uncomfortable. Like they know everything about me and more that I don’t even know. “Sit with me,” he offers.

Shock courses through my system. “Why? Why do you care so much?”

He ignores my question entirely. “Come on, Matilda. We both know you have no one else to sit with. Besides, everyone’ll love you. I promise.”

“Who sits with you?”

What does it matter to her who I sit with? “Uh... Amy, Amber, Anthony, Mark, Joe, Zach, and me. Why?”

“I wanted to make sure I’d have a chance of being liked. If you sat with jerks, I’d say no,” I explain, rubbing my eyes. Damn. Crying makes contacts hurt.

“Hey, Sam!” a voice calls down the hallway. “My mom’s here. You coming?”

“Yeah, be a sec!” He turns to me, smiling. “It’ll be okay. Amy and Amber went through this, too. That’s why they’re with us. See you tomorrow?” He turns away and sprints down the hallway, stopping to wave.

I wave back, smiling. He turns the corner and disappears.

Hearts, Chari!