***Also Unedited***
             I stared blankly at the teacher's back, too lost in my own dark memory to focus on what he was teaching. Luckily the bell soon rang. and it school was over. I hurriedly packed my bag and headed home.
           On my way, I continued to remember the worst night of my life.     That night was a terrible night for everyone. I was later taken to the hospital and the doctor told my aunt that I was suffering from a shock and that my blood pressure had risen.
            Aunt Maggie was terrified and because of that, she didn't let me see my parents burnt bodies. Not that I wanted to anyways. The mere images in my head were too horrifying.
            During their funeral a lot of friends and family came. We buried three bodies that day. My mom's, dad's, and paternal grandmother's. The poor lady's heart just couldn't take the news.
           My other grandmother didn't attend because she was all the way in Africa. When she came back she didn't leave her home for two months and everyone was worried. Especially for me. After the death of my parents it was like I became temporarily mute. I didn't speak, I didn't eat, I didn't even do well in school.
           My teachers were complaining of my grades but I didn't seem to care. Aunt Maggie did try her best to act tough but I could see right through her exterior. She tried so hard to cheer me up but it seemed impossible.
             She decided to take care of me and brought all my stuff from home to her place. I moved in completely. It took nearly three months before I started fully speaking and till date, I regret all the tough times I out my aunt through. At least all is better now.
             I sighed and wiped away the tears that were on my cheeks. I hadn't even realized I was crying. Unlocking the door, I headed to my room and slumped onto my bed, taking deep breaths to calm myself down. I rolled out of bed and began to search under the bed for the brown box.
             Once I found it, I blew off the thick layer of dust over it. I coughed lightly as I opened the box, revealing the stash of envelopes. There were cobwebs all over them and even they were already having that old paper smell. I sighed in sadness.
             I never got to see my secret admirer and ever since that day, I never saw another envelope again. I lost a lot of things that year. Myself, my grandmother, my parents, good grades, and an admirer.
          I opened one of the envelopes and grazed my fingers over the beautiful cursive handwriting. I missed the time I actually felt like a girl. You know, have a boy actually like me.
             I closed the box and pushed it back under my bed. The main reason I brought them back was because of Nicolas. Call me crazy but I actually kinda believe that he's my secret admirer. Yeah, and I'm cupid. I scolded my consciousness for being so negative but even I'm unsure.
             Last night after he told me to leave, Lilian came back soon after. She handed me another 400notes and I thanked her. I made a mental promise to not collect any more money from her till the end of next week though because she is paying me much more than I'm supposed to get.
           Anyway, Nicolas' words kept ringing in my head;

        " Why did you come here? Why now?"
            He seemed pretty hurt when he said those words and I can't help but relate him to the secret admirer. Maybe he's the one I was supposed to meet at the park. But then Nicolas never noticed me. He still doesn't even though I babysit him.
         He sits with the class jerks (popular kids) and doesn't do a thing when they bully me. He just watched or simply ignores. That's why I don't distinguish him from the jerks.
              So there's a 99% chance that he's not the secret admirer and a 1% chance that he is.  Lame, I know. But it's true. What are the odds that he , a sinfully handsome bad boy would like me? A boringly boring girl.
               But I have to find out. This girl's got some questions and she needs answers. I pick up my phone and dial a number that may know all the answers to my questions.
            " Hey gumdrop. How was your night? Did you dream about me?" He teased. I smiled knowing he's the one person I could almost freely talk to other than family.
             " Yes and No. Can you please come over?" I asked him.
           " You want me to come over?" He asks sounding confused. I don't blame him this is the first time I'm also inviting someone over.
           " Yes so please come over. I need to ask you something." I tell him almost desperately.
        " Alright. See you in 5." He says and hangs up.
           My room isn't messy so I don't need to clear it or anything. I waited patiently for him to come hoping he'd have the answers to my questions. There was only one question however, how do I even start?
              " Hey Jasper, did Nicolas have a crush on me like a year ago?" I asked pretending my blonde friend was in front of me.
               " Ugh, No,no no. That won't do."  I groaned. I heard the sound of a car and looked out the window. That's way earlier than five. I wonder if he was close by.
             I quickly ran downstairs and unlocked the door. There stood my handsome friend in a sky-blue t-shirt, black jeans and black jacket. He had a frown on his face and his arms were folded.
          " What?" I asked confused by his change of mood. He sounded cheery over the phone.
        " You didn't wait for me after school. I said I'd always walk you home." He pouted. I felt my lips slightly curl at his words.
          " Well, I'm sorry I forgot. Please come in." I apologised, opening the door even wider.
            He walks in and wraps his arms around me in a tight hug.
           " It's okay gumdrop. But don't do that again. You had me worried. I saw how sad you looked when you left. Nice place by the way." He says getting in.
         I looked at him shocked. He cares? He cares. I smiled as I watched him sit on the couch.
          " I'm sorry. I guess I  was too deep in thought." I apologized.
           " Yeah no kidding. You didn't even turn back when I called you." He stated.
           " Forgive me. I didn't mean to ignore you." I said looking down at my feet in shame.
          Jasper tilts my chin up so I'm looking into his grey orbs.
           " It's alright gumdrop. Besides you can't feel bad anymore." He says.
            " Why?"
         " Because silly. We already hugged it out. Do I really need to explain how this works?" He asks in playful frustration, moving his fingers between the both of us.
          I giggled, placing a glass of water and some orange flavoured soda on the table in front of him. He takes a sip out of the soda and smiles.
          " Thank you."
              " It's alright."I smile back taking a seat beside him.
             " So not that I don't wanna hang...but why am I here?" He asks and I sigh. It's time to get my answers.
               " Okay. I just need you to answer a question for me"
              " Okay. I don't know much about chemistry if that's what you wanna know and I'm currently having a beef with Mrs Samuels so literature is out of the question. And don't ask what happened." He frown at the last part.
             " What I wanna ask has nothing to do with school." I chuckle and he releases a breath of relief.
               " I just wanted to know whether you and Nicolas go to the Almond park." I ask shyly. He gives me a look and hesitates before answering.
             " Well, we don't really go often but there was a time we went. That was like a year ago." He says and I perk up.
           " And what did you go there to do?" I ask him and he frowns.
         He seemed nervous. As though he didn't want to tell me anything.
               " Why do you want to know?" He asks and I fiddle with my fingers.
          " For personal reasons." I say and he sighs before rubbing his face.
             " Just promise you won't tell anyone?" He asks seriously and I draw an invisible X on my heart.
             " I promise" I say and he sighs.
         " Nicolas and I went to Almond park....to uhm...to see a girl I like."
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        How's this one? I really hope you like it because...well, I had a hard time deciding who should say what. Hehe. Please don't forget to VOTE, SHARE and COMMENT. I really need to know your opinion on this chapter.