***NOTE: I PRESENT TO YOU, THE CHAPTER YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!***

Friday (Continuation - At School)

Aphmau's P.O.V.

Being early to class definitely gave me some alone time to think...

And possibly look at Laurance's undeniably, unmistakably flirtatious texts since I woke up.

Cadenza's Boy Version :P

Today 7:12 AM

>>Morning Aph, how was your dreams? Was I in it? ;) But seriously, when do you want to start that Chemistry experiment? See you in school :)

HAHAHAHA! Like I'd ever dream of you :P<<

Anytime today would be fine, see ya!<<

And now the latest Casanova text...

Today 10:08 AM

>>Hey, got another apple to make us "kiss"? ;)

Sorry, bud, ran out of apples, that was about 10 "kisses" for me though. Got your idea, sorry! ;)<<

Sighing, I plopped my phone down unto my desk and look at the door to see a few students rushing in to take their seats; as well as our teacher coming inside.

But none of that meant anything to me except the fact that one certain brunette took the seat right next to me.

Aaron.

Looking to my right as I bit my thumb harshly, Aaron smiles at me as he takes his seat, me doing the same.

"Hey" I reply briefly before sending my attention back to our teacher. I would lie if I would say that Aaron didn't look cute today. Wearing his typical red hoodie which was zipped-up - because obviously, he can't walk around school with his abs blinding fangirls.

***

One hour is a pretty long time, especially if nothing happens except the constant blabber of our teacher about uninteresting topics.

But I couldn't deny one interesting observation...

Aaron was awfully nice to me, it's kinda weird.

"Shoot, my pen ran out of ink!" I mumble to myself as I shake the useless pen in my hands, looking down at the semi-finished 10 item activity before me. Before I knew it, Aaron was extending his hand down to my table and reaching over a black pen. "Here..." He mumbles as I take the pen out of his hands.

"Thanks, Aaron, I'll give it back to you before the subject ends-" I couldn't finish my sentence before he cuts me off, "No, no, no... it's fine, keep it." He smiles yet again as he lightly touches my shoulder. A small smile tugs my lips before I continue with the activity.

***

"Irene, are you kidding me?" I curse as I search my bag for my notebook. First my pen, now this? What's with my stuff today!

"What's wrong?" A deep voice booms silently from beside me, I gave a side-view look at him before staring back to my bag, "Um, it's nothing Aaron... I just-... I just can't find my damn notebook!" I sigh in frustration as I look at Aaron, him giving a warm smile.

"Don't stress, I'll just picture my notes and send it to you." My eyes widened at this, unfolding my arms and looking at him with shock, "Are you serious? You don't need to do that for me, Aaron!" I try my best to keep my voice low to not disturb the class.

Aaron is awfully willing to give me his notes... that's really... sweet! I guess.

"I want to, Aph; it's fine." He answers which was a cue for me to not protest much longer. Yet again I nod and sigh before sending my full attention back to our professor.

***

First, everything was going perfectly with Aaron being nothing but sweet and nice to me.

Then... this happened.

"Okay students, to wrap up today's class, for the remaining 30 minutes; you will be doing a 50-item activity by pairs that involves everything we learned today. You must agree on your answers and you need to work on it together! The last question will involve an opinionated 5-10 sentenced response." Everyone groaned at this, but what he said next made everyone groan more, "Oh and, I will be picking the pairs." He shows his crooked smile before clapping his hands together.

He coughs before starting off with people I don't even know...

But when it was my turn... that's when everything went downhill.

"Aphmau and..." I was silently praying it would be a girl, even Aaron would be fine! "...Travis"

Oh no.

Anyone but him...

Transfer Ivy to this class and make her my partner even... I'd take it!

Just not him.

"Sir! Can I please switch?" The voice that almost made me cry spoke, closing my eyes and letting out a silent short breath that I hoped Aaron would not hear.

"Really, Mr. Valkrum? I would think that you would be honored to be working with a student with such an exemplary standing." He sighs as he eyes Travis. For the first time in years, me and him had eye-contact.

Looking two seats to my left, there he was... bright green eyes looking back at me.

He sighs before looking back at our teacher, "Fine." He mumbles before professor cues us to sit together to do the activity.

Nothing really happened except awkward small talk about the questions and answers and uncomfortable knee-to-knee contact and shoulder-to-shoulder meeting.

I wish I could talk to Vylad right now.

***

Thank Irene that was finally over! Once class was dismissed, Aaron immediately sent me his notes which I briefly thanked him for.

Reading through the notes briefly, I exited class; yet I snapped outta my phone once I see blond hair leaning beside the classroom's door frame.

"Hey Garroth!" I greet, he didn't reply which was surprising... he seemed... distant.

"Hmm? Oh h-hey, Aph!" He slightly smiles as he looks inside the room. "Who are you waiting for? Aaron?" I ask as I look the same way he's looking. "Not quite, I need to head to my next class with Travis." Gulping, I briefly close my eyes.

"Um...-it se-seems that hi-him and Aaron are still...-ta-talking." I stutter as I look down at my shoes. Good gracious Garroth seems distant because not at all did he notice my uncomfortability. "Seems so, I'll just wait over here. See you around, Aph!" Garroth slightly cheers as he extends a sweet smile to me. I greet the same way before leaving.

Why does Garroth seem so distant?

Aaron's P.O.V.

After 2 more hours of 2 more boring subjects... it's time.

Laurance and I talked about it this morning, we will officially confess to Aphmau at lunch period.

Walking going to an empty open classroom with my friend and current competition was weird. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that me and him both like Aphmau in that kind of way, let alone add Garroth. Who's next, Dante and Travis?

"You nervous, Falconclaw?" Laurance enters the dark room as he switches open the lights, revealing a bright room with tables everywhere. Scoffing, I replied, "Never"

"Don't get too cocky..." He warns as he eyes me, taking a seat on a desk, resting his feet on the chair. "All we have to do is send one text to Aphmau." He announces as he waves his phone in my face.

Typing away, his message was cut short the second before he presses send.

"Hey Laurance, Aaron." Oh, dear Irene... Why the realm are you here Garroth?

"Garroth!" I greet rather loudly as I shoot a nervous eye at Laurance who had his phone behind his back and eyes utterly wide. "What are you doing here, buddy?" I ask cautiously as I take a step to him.

"I couldn't find Dante and Travis at the cafeteria, and I saw you two dorks walking over here; now let me ask the same question... what are you doing here?" He highlights the 'you' as he eyes both of us.

Unknowingly, I look over at Laurance who seemed to already hit send at his phone behind his back.

"Well you see... um-" I stutter as I check Laurance for a back-up; but what he said next made me question everything we talked about, "Y-You know what, Garroth, you can stay here with us!" He says landing on the floor and bringing Garroth further inside.

What just happened?

Zane's P.O.V.

"Brendan, you got an A+ in Math?" Nicole gasps as Zoey pats his shoulder sympathetically. "Is that so hard to believe?" Brendan sighs as he bangs his head on the table, erupting laughter from Kenmur and Kiki. "Yes, it is." Vylad responds and Cadenza joins in laughter as I nod.

Beside me, Aphmau was staring down at her phone. With a blush forming on her cheeks and wide eyes. "Guys, I'm just going to get s-something from the vending machine." She announces over the whole group's laughter and allows her to go.

I knew I would regret this...

But... curiosity killed the cat...

Yet satisfaction brought it back, right?

Her phone was left down at the desk two inches beside my view, right at the peripheral! I was tempted, the light shined and it was calling me...

Oh dammit!

I swiftly bent down and squinted my eyes to get a better view of the text...

It's from...

'Cadenza's Male Version :P'?

Who the realm is that?

Looking up to see Cadenza's laughing face in front of me, I thought, who is Cadenza's male-

Laurance!

Wait, Laurance? Why does he need to talk to Aphmau?

>>Hey cutie, meet up at Room 104 in 15, yeah? I need to tell you something ;)

More importantly... why did it seem that I wanted to choke and kill Laurance at this very moment?

Sorry, Cadenza...

I bent back to my place before Aphmau could come back.

Once she did, I was conflicted...

Should I confront her or not?

Oh dammit!

"Aph, why does Laurance want to meet up with you?" I said rather loudly, making Kawaii~Chan hear what I just said. "WHAT? LAURANCE~KUN WANTS TO MEET UP WITH APHMAU~SENPAI?!" Kawaii~Chan squeals, making everyone in the group turn to me and Aph with wide-eyes.

"Hold up! My brother wants to meet up with you? Yes! Score 2 for Laurmau!" Cadenza celebrates which made Nicole almost blabber about Garmau.

"You checked my phone, Zane?!" Aphmau rages as she pushes me lightly. "I'm sorry! I was just curious!" I defend as I look at the rest of the group, who gave me a raise of an eyebrow; Jeffory even laughing briefly.

"Aphmau, honey, don't keep him waiting... you better go." Lucinda says suggestively as Aphmau blushes a bit.

The next thing I said surprised me in so much ways...

"Hey, you want me to go with you?" Another round of eyebrow-raising from the group and yet another brief laugh from Jeffory for me. Yay.

"What?!" I protest as I look at all of them, "Fine. Just don't be a third wheel." I smile at Aphmau's response before both of us stood up.

"Ro'Meave, be grateful I'm nervous about this and definitely needs a person to be with. Because if you look at my phone again, you'll be sorry." She glares as we walk out of the cafeteria, me chuckling a bit at her reaction.

Aphmau's P.O.V.

"Hey Aph!" Laurance stands up from the desk after Garroth gently hits his shoulder for him to notice me. "Hey Laurance-... wait, Aa-Aaron, Ga-Garroth? What are you doing here?" I slightly blush and panic, I could feel Zane rolling his eyes right now.

"Wait, Aphmau? Laurance, she was coming?" Garroth asks, surprised. I sorta frown at this. What's happening?

"I could ask the same question to mask-boy over here." Aaron says as he crosses his arms and eyes Zane, "Unlike you, I'm more conservative, 6-pack!" Zane growls as he takes a step closer to Aaron, which I stopped him from.

"Why are you all here?!" I ask to every single one of them. Glaring my eyes off.

Garroth continues to sit on the desk beside the table Laurance was sitting on not two minutes ago. Laurance and Aaron are both in front of me beside each other, Laurance more directly in front of me and Aaron more directly in front of Zane, who was beside me.

Aaron and Laurance eye each other for a second, me doing the same to Garroth, Zane looking at all of us.

"You know what, let's just get this over with..." Aaron sighs as he eyes Garroth. For a minute, I saw sympathy, but why would he look at Garroth like that?

I was about to ask him what he was talking about but he started speaking again.

"Aphmau, I like you... will you go out with me?" Wait what?! Is he serious? Garroth had the same expression too because he suddenly jolted up from his seat and went to Aaron, grabbing his shoulder abruptly so he'd face him.

"Woah, woah, buddy!" He says as he eyes him, before sending his attention to me.

"Wait what? No Aph, go out with me... I liked you since the beginning of high school." He protests which made my face go crimson... he liked me since the start?

"Don't listen to these nutjobs. Aphmau you are so beautiful that it would make any guy flip, and I really want to ask you this... will you go out on a date with me?" Laurance says in a charming tone.

Oh Irene, Laurance is getting so close to me right now... I could feel my face heat up!

This must be a dream, right? If it is, then I don't want to wake up. THE THREE HOTTEST BOYS IN MY SCHOOL WANTS TO ASK ME OUT! Not to mention that I have a huge crush on them.

But... I can't say yes to all of them. Oh my Irene what will I do? Is it Garroth, Laurance, or Aaron?

Out of stupid stress... I made the biggest mistake of my life.

I grabbed the person to my right absent-mindedly, "Sorry, but I like someone else." I blurted out.

I saw the boys' mouth agape, I was confused for a moment then it hit me... I slowly tilted my head to the right, there I saw; I was holding Zane's arm and I see faint blush on his cheeks- Wait, why is he blushing? It doesn't matter, all that matters is this is my BIGGEST REGRET.

Not only did I waste my chance of being with one of my life-long crushes... The worst part is, I SAID I LIKE ZANE RO'MEAVE, MY. BEST. FRIEND!

~~~~~

Heh... Heh... What could I possibly say in this Author's Note?! So okay... BYE!

Aphmau: Dream... remember your announcement?

OH YEAH! RIGHT! THANKS APH!

So yeah. I will try my best to get a chapter up every week. I already have the full overview of the plot and what's to happen in every chapter. So it'll be easier to compose the whole thing.

UH... I might take you on an emotional journey and pulls your heartstrings *shrug*

Reader: Wait what-

OKAYYY! SO PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, COMMENT, SHARE AND ADD THIS TO YOUR LIBRARY!

BYEEEE!

Reader: But- *cricket noises*