Triple Drama (5)

She's in my Geography class and I didn't even notice, Daniel thought that day when he entered class after lunch. Nicole was sitting on one of the front seats with Megan. Danny passed her seat but she didn't even look at him. He felt his self-esteem going down.

Mrs. Brown entered the class and everyone grew silent.

"Students, today we will be doing a project. Each of you will be assigned a partner by me. The project..." She droned on but Danny didn't catch any of it. He was staring at Nicole who was listening intently.

"Mr. Clifte, will you please pay attention," Mrs. Brown's stern voice broke through Danny's thoughts. Everyone turned back and looked at him. Some of them snickering. Nicole just took one look at him then turned back again before Danny could read her expression.

"Your grades have hardly been satisfactory." Like I don't know, "And if you want to pass this year, you will need to work hard on this project. It covers 30% of your grade." Then she turned to Nicole. "Miss Stanley, you will be his partner for this project. It would be nice to see him pass in my class."

Nicole looked startled at being called out. Danny couldn't believe it. Not only would he get to spend time with her but he would also get a good grade for it.

"Do I have to be his partner?" Nicole asked. Danny's eyes widened and nearly his mouth too. No girl, he thought, would have rejected me as her partner.

"Sorry Miss Stanley but it would very kind of you to help him." Mrs. Brown sounded a little desperate. She was clearly horrified at the thought of teaching him again next year.

"Now class, I will read out your partners," Mrs. Brown continued without giving Nicole a chance to refuse or come up with an excuse. After assigning everyone partners, Mrs. Brown told the class more about the project then gave everyone time to discuss their topic.

Nicole was doing all the talking but Danny couldn't concentrate. Although Nicole looked completely identical to Aislinn, there was just something different in her beautiful hazel eyes. She reminded Danny of an angel.

It took Danny a minute to realize that Nicole had stopped talking. "Have you even been listening to a word I've said?" Nicole asked, annoyed.

"Sure I have." Danny lied.

Nicole sighed, frustrated. "Whatever. Just meet me in the library after school."

"Why the library? I can't go there." Danny said.

"What's the problem with libraries? Did they kick you out?" Nicole asked skeptically.

"They can't kick a person out who's never gone in." Danny replied.

Nicole looked amazed then recovered. "There's a first time for everything."

"But what if someone sees me there?"

"So?"

Danny looked at her as if she had asked the most stupidest question in the world. "My reputation would be ruined," he said in an obvious tone.

Nicole was so amused at his reply that she couldn't even laugh. "You're impossible." Danny looked confused but the bell rang before he could say anything. Nicole picked up her things and walked over to Megan. Just like last time she walked away and left Danny staring at her.

**********************************************************************

"Yeah and-" Aislinn stopped suddenly. She had been talking to Bree and her friend, Kelly when she saw a familiar figure. It can't be, she thought. But the guy looked too familiar.

"Guys, I'll see you later." Bree and Kelly looked surprised but Aislinn didn't notice as she walked away.

It can't be him. I must be imagining it, she thought but still she had to see it with her own eyes.

He was talking to a red-haired girl. Hair just the same color as mine, Aislinn noticed. Her back was to her so Aislinn couldn't see her face. The girl walked away while he started walking in the other direction.

"Reggie, wait!" She called out to him. He stopped and turned towards her. For a moment he looked confused then recognition dawn on his face.

"Aislinn, is that you?" He asked when she caught up to him.

"Yeah, I can't believe you go to Avon High School!"

Reggie laughed. "I was just about to ask you the same thing."

"How come I've never noticed you before in school?" She would surely have noticed him once.

"That's 'cause I mostly ditch school with Bailey."

"She goes to our school too?"

"Yeah."

Aislinn couldn't believe it. Then she suddenly remembered her birthday.

"Hey, I still haven't thanked you for last time we met," she said.

"I didn't do anything or believe me, I'd take credit for it," Reggie said, grinning.

"I don't care whether you think so or not. But I know the perfect way to thank you. Don't say no until you let me complete," Aislinn could see he was about to argue, but then he shut his mouth. Aislinn continued, "Me and my friends are celebrating my seventeenth birthday at Hell Fire on Saturday. Please say you'll come."

Reggie looked really surprised. "Me and Bailey, we going there-"

"Bring Bailey too. I would love to meet her." Aislinn said, cutting him off. She was curious about the girl.

Reggie smiled. "Since you're insisting, I'll be there."

**********************************************************************

There he is, Alex thought. Again. It's frustrating how he always beats me to Aislinn. Aislinn was standing and talking excitedly with the park guy again.

Alex had been trying to get to her all day, but she kept getting away. Alex was 99.9% sure that it was on purpose. The broad dark-haired guy and Aislinn went in different directions. Aislinn didn't seem to be attentive, she was smiling and didn't seem to notice Alex.

This is my chance. Maybe she's lost enough to hear me out, he thought. Sure enough Aislinn didn't notice him until he was right in front of her. She felt tempted to dodge him but she knew he'd find her sooner or later.

"Aislinn, I-" He started to say but she cut him off before he could say anything else.

"Whatever you want to say leave it. I don't know what you have against me," he looked as if he wanted to say something but she didn't give him a chance. "But I want to start fresh. I don't know about you but I want to. So, it's my birthday on Saturday. I would like you to celebrate it with me and my friends at Hell Fire."

She had said that very quickly and walked away before Alex could even react. He stared after her for a good ten seconds before he could move again. What, he thought, just happened right now?

Aislinn had no idea why she had thought about inviting him to her birthday, but somehow it seemed like the right thing to do. I hope so, she thought.

**********************************************************************

Nicole hurried to the library, pushing her way through the students in her way. As soon as final bell rang, everybody almost raced to exit door. It's as if they would die if they stayed any longer, she thought, forcing her way though. She was a little late because Miss Barbara had asked her to carry some books. The students in her way were making her even more late.

She finally reached the library. She hoped Daniel hadn't been waiting for long. She looked around but she didn't see him anywhere. A few students were only to be seen. Nicole went to different sections of the library until she came to the last section. She was surprised to see that someone was reading a book there. Something about the guy seemed familiar to Nicole. He was wearing round black framed glass and was intently reading a novel. His blond brown hair hid his face. With a start, she realized who it was.

No way, she thought, amazed. It can't be!

"Daniel? Is that really you?" She asked, stepping forward for a closer look. He had been reading so intently that he literally jumped at his name. He looked up and his face was completely panicked. It was so strange to see him like that. He always kept his cool. He looks so cute without that obnoxious attitude, she thought. Suddenly, she realized that she had just called Daniel cute. Wait, she thought. I can't have just called him cute, did I?

Looking more closely, she saw the name of the book. It was 'Sense and Sensibility' by Jane Austen.

"You read Jane Austen's books?" She asked, amused.

"What? I - um - no. I - I was just, you know, looking around." He was stammering and his face was becoming completely red. He looked like a boy who had just been caught stealing from a cookie jar. It was too amusing.

"Sure, you were," Nicole said, skeptically. "And you wear glasses too?"

His eyes widened and he raised his hand to his face as if to see if he really was wearing glasses. He actually seemed surprised that he was. His expression was so comical that Nicole bit her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud. He quickly removed them. "No, I don't." He said, too quickly. "These are just for, you know, fun." He lied straight out.

"I can't believe that you're a fan of Jane Austen." Nicole said, deciding to excuse the glasses, for now. "No offense, but you don't even look like you've ever heard the name Jane Austen before."

"Shh... Not so loud!" Danny whispered loudly. He looked around to see if anyone had heard. No one was even near them. Thank God, I picked this section, he thought relieved. "Okay, so I read Jane Austen's dumb old books," his arms threw up in frustration. "Happy?"

"Sheesh, what's with the attitude. It's not bad if you do."

"Yes, it is." He answered immediately.

"Why?" She asked, amused and confused at the same time.

"Because it's girly," he stated, as-a-matter-of-factually. Nicole's eyebrows raised as she gave him a what-the-hell-did-you-just-say look.

Daniel sighed dramatically. For a smart girl, she sure is clueless, he thought. "If anyone found out that I read this stuff, my whole social life meaning my whole and only life would be ruined forever. I would never live it down. Speaking of which," his eyes suddenly narrowed down on her. "You'd better not tell anyone about this."

"Why would I agree to that," Nicole asked him, simply.

He looked shocked for a moment then his shock changed to anger. He looked at her, threateningly and stepped close to her until he was only a few inches away from her.

"Don't. Tell. Anyone. Understand?" He growled, drawing out each word separately.

Nicole froze for a moment. No guy had ever come this near to her. In an instant, she became angry. She pushed him away with her hand. "Don't come any closer than that and you don't order me around, got it?" She warned him, her voice commanding.

Daniel looked shocked then suddenly his expression became apologetic. His feelings sure change fast, Nicole thought, confused by his sudden mood changes.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out. "I shouldn't have done that. But please don't tell anyone." He looked her, pleading. He looked like a little boy again. Nicole already felt herself soften. Curse my soft heart, she scolded herself.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." She said. He looked relieved. Nicole couldn't help but tease him, just a little bit more. "Your deep dark little secret is safe with me." She added, grinning.

Surprisingly, he didn't become annoyed or angry instead he looked grateful. "Thanks. No one would let me forget it." Nicole rolled her eyes then looked at her wrist watch.

"We've already wasted a lot of time so let's just get started already."

"Do we have to?" Danny looked bored even at the mention of it. Nicole sensed problem. Desperate time call for drastic measures, she thought.

"Listen, I want an A+ on this assignment and I promise you that if you don't cooperate, I will tell everyone that you're a book nerd with round glasses." Her voice was both determined and threatening. Daniel looked at her in complete disbelief.

"I can't believe that someone like you can blackmail people," he said, shaking his head but a grin appeared when he looked at her. "I'm impressed."

Nicole rolled her eyes. "Get to work. Now." She ordered.

Soon, they started working. All thought Danny had been light-hearted about the threat, Nicole could see that he was taking it seriously. He looked serious for the first time and quietly did all the research. Nicole smiled in satisfaction. This guy was full of surprises.

**********************************************************************

Note to all Readers-

Okay, I know how boring the previous chapter was, but believe me it was important and I had to write it sooner or later. If I didn't, the story would completely stop. So anyway to make it up to you, this chapter is definitely a good one. I hope you think so too. Please comment and don't stop reading.

Check out the other article, "A Dream or Reality?", it's really interesting. And please don't stop reading. The story is just getting better and I've planned a whole lot of surprises for you. Enjoy!