I fell in love with Richard. He was the type of person that everyone expects to never have a love life at all, because he was too busy with his achievements. Seriously. I've heard he's rejected loads of girls for that reason. His personality annoys me very much, since he is the total cutie yet refuses to talk of nothing but politics and current events.

My friends (Ana and Charlotte)finally drag me for "extra help" on my acting monologue for the spring musical and a monologue competition every week or so. He wasn't an actor, but he was very good at public-speaking, which made up for his lack of emotion and creativity.

"No way. I'm not talking to him, even if it was for a life-or-death matter," I say to them in vain. They literally pulled me to the room Richard was in and waited anxiously for my performance. I took a big breath and performed. It was terrible, but he had the patience to help me with it. We practice for what seemed like hours. Then the unexpected happened.

« So... I heard there were rumors that you like someone... » Richard brought up.

I laugh nervously. One minute, he was talking about my monologue, the next minute he was inquiring of my love life. « Well, that's pretty vague. »

His face is serious. Can't he get a joke? "Do you like me?"

Of course I liked him. Why not? Even if I didn't like him, being his girlfriend definitely earns a lot of brownie points. The problem is confessing. "Of course. I like you as a friend," I casually reply.

"No. I mean romantically."

Of course, I knew he was talking about being infatuated about him. Who wouldn't daydream about being taken to a dinner date with a guy like him? He's one of those guys that everyone loves, even the guys. "Why are you asking me this?"

He stares at me like he usually does. The questioning look. He did that a lot. It wasn't an expression as simple as trying to figure out if I needed a ride or something like that; it was deeper. Like he was trying to look through me. "Because I like you."

"Me? Are you joking?" I blush furiously. "You mean as a friend, right?"
"No. I'm asking you out."

I choke up. I have been waiting for months for that reply. I feel tears coming up. I don't know if it's from joy or if I am having a mental breakdown. "I'll think about it."

He stares at me some more, and I bend down. His striking brown eyes glance at me up and down. He walks out, but pauses to close the door. "Tell me by tomorrow."

You can expect what happened. "Richard, wait up!" I hunt him down after his practice for his speech. He pretended not to know what I was going to say. "What?"

"Yes."

His eyes widen. "Really?" His stern expression morphed into the happiest face I have ever seen, like the pictures where he was posing with his best friends.
I smile back. "Really."

This is how I fell in love with Richard.