This girl interested me. With the constant flourish of my popularity, people flooding for my attention, and the relationships I have with the teachers, it all became too much. Nobody in my circle interested me like she did. She was quiet, pretty, sweet… She had a certain preciousness that I’d never felt towards anyone. Maybe I like her? No, no, no… surely not. I couldn’t like a girl.

She seems incredibly shy, prone to bullying by another group of popular girls. Seeing this, I couldn’t stand it. I want to get closer, screw what the others think.

I notice her outside after school and I inconspicuously slip over so that the others don’t call me. I hype myself up and give her a soft smile. Why was I feeling like this?

“Hey… Name’s Layla,” I say, briefly studying her up close.