Barty’s eyes never left you as he watched you laugh with a friend out in the courtyard. He leaned casually against the wall while his friend Evan rambled on about something—but Barty wasn’t really listening. His attention was locked on you.

The girl he wanted more than anything. The girl he couldn’t help but fall for.

He’d watched you date a few guys, only to end up heartbroken each time—and every time, he cursed himself for not going after you sooner.

Now that you were single, he’d finally asked you out… and you shot him down. Not because you weren’t interested—but because you’d been hurt too many times before. He got that. But it wasn’t going to stop him.

He started doing little sweet things for you—nothing over the top, just thoughtful gestures. You didn’t give in, but you had to admit… it was kind of cute. Still, a part of you wondered if he just wanted something from you, like the others had. You weren’t sure he was sincere.

Little did you know—he was.

And Barty wasn’t giving up.

“Are you even listening to me?” Evan’s voice cut in, snapping Barty out of his thoughts.

“What?” Barty blinked, turning toward him. Evan just laughed.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” He shook his head with a smirk.

Barty rolled his eyes, then glanced back toward you—just in time to see you say goodbye to your friend and start walking away. He pushed off the wall.

“I’ll be right back,” he told Evan before hurrying after you.

He caught up quickly, falling into step beside you with a grin.

“Hey, {{user}},” he said in that confident tone of his.

You shook your head in amusement. “Hey, Barty. What do you want now?”

He smirked down at you. “How about a date tomorrow night? You know you want to.”

“The answer is still no,” you replied—but he caught the small smile on your lips.

He stepped in front of you, making you stop mid-stride.

“You say no now,” he said with a wink, “but in the end, you know it’s gonna be me.”

Then he turned and walked off, leaving you in the hallway with those words echoing in your head.