Chapter 1

Rose POV

A lightening strike. A baby shark attack. Winning the lottery.

No. I lined through all the words. Too cliché.

I tapped my pen against my lips.

Rare. What was rare? Meat. I thought with a small laugh. That would go really well in a song.

My pen drew a couple more lines, blackening the words to unrecognizable before I wrote a single word. Love. Now that was rare in my world. The romantic version, at least.

Bae Joo-hyun (Irene), the girl sitting next to me, cleared her throat. It was when I noticed how quiet the classroom was, how I'd slipped into my own space again, shutting out the world around me. I had learned how to keep my head down over the years, how to handle the occasional unwanted attention. I slid my Chemistry textbook over my notebook full of everything but chemistry notes, and slowly raised my head.

Mr.Bang's eyes were on me. "Welcome back to class, Rose." Everyone laughed. "You were writing down the answer, I'm sure," he said "For sure." It was all about acting unfazed, like I had no feelings.

Mr. Bang let it go, just as I hoped he would, and moved on to explaining the lab for the following week and what we'd need to read to prepare for it. Since he'd let me off the hook so easily, I thought I'd be able to slip out unnoticed when class ended, but after the bell rang he called out to me.

"Ms. Park? Give me one minute of your time" I tried to think of a good excuse to leave with the rest of class.

"You owe me at least one minute seeing how the last fifty-five were definitely not spent on me." The last student files out of class and I took a few steps closer. "I'm sorry, Mr. Bang," I said. "Chemistry and I don't get each other."

He sighed. "It's a two-way street and you haven't been doing your part."

"I know. I'll try."

"Yes, you will. If I see your notebook out again in class, it's mine." I held back a groan. How would I make it through fifty-five minutes of torture everyday without a distraction?

"But I need to take notes. Chemistry notes." I couldn't remember the last time I took a single Chemistry notes, let alone multiples ones.

"You can have one sheet of paper, unattached to a book, that you will show me at the end of each period."

I clutched my black-pink notebook to my chest. Inside it lives hundreds of ideas for songs and lyrics, half-finished verses, doodles and sketches. It was my lifeline. "This is cruel and unusual punishment."

He gave me a small laugh. "It's my job to help you pass my class. You've left me no other choice." I could've offered him a list of other choices. "I think we've come to an agreement."

Agreement..... wasn't I would've choose. That implied we both had say in the matter. A better word would've been law, ruling...edict.

"Did you have something else to say" Mr. Bang asked.

"What? Oh. No, I'm good. See you tommorrow." I bowed

"Minus the notebook," he called after me.

I waited for the door to close behind me before I opened the notebook again and wrote down the word edict on the corner of the page. It was good word. Not used enough. In the process of writing, my shoulder slammed into someone nearly sending me flying.

"Watch it, Potato," some senior guy I didn't even recognize said.

-Two Years Later-

People still couldn't let the nickname go. I didn't react, but imagined throwing the pen in my hand like a dart at his back as he walked past.

"You look like you're ready to kill someone" my best friend, Lalisa Manoban, said, falling in step beside me.

"Why do people still remember that stupid little chant Jungkook made up?" I grumbled. A stray peice of my brown hair escaped its hair-tie prison and fell into my eyes. I tucked it behind one ear. "It barley even rhyme."

"I know. I wasn't debating his chant-writing skills. I was saying that kids shouldn't remember it. Still. After over two years, when there's nothing catchy about it."

"I'm sorry," Lisa apologize, linking her arm through mine.

"You don't have to apologize for him. He's not your boyfriend anymore. Anyway, I still don't want you to feel sorry for me."

"Well, I do. It stupid and childish. I think people say it out of habit. Now versus realmy thinking about what they're saying."

I wasn't sure I agreed with that, but decided to drop it.

"Mr. Bang banned my notebook from class." Lisa laughed. "Uh-oh. How are you going to live without on of your limbs?" She asked.

"I don't know, and in Chemistry of all classes. How can anyone be expected to listen in there?" I answer.

"I like Chemistry" she confessed

"Let me rephrase that. How can any normal person be expected to listen in there?" I rephrase.

"Are you calling yourself normal?" I bowed my head, conceding her the win.

We both stop as we reached the form in the sidewalk just passing the whatever building. The pinkish rock landscape that lined the pathway looked especially dusty today. I lifted my white sneaker foot and toed a few rocks off the sidewalk.

The landscape was good for water conservation, but up close, Seoul scenery did little to inspire me. I had to observe it from distance to find notebook-worthy lines. The thought reminded me to look up. The beige buildings and crowd of students weren't much better than the rocks.

"So, take Pizza food for lunch today?" I asked Lisa as Irene, Yeri, and their group of friends walked around us. Lisa bit her lip, her expression suddenly worried. "Taehyung wants to meet me off campus today for our two-month anniversary. Is that okay? I can tell him no."

"Right your two-month anniversary. That's today? I left a gift at home."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "What did you get me? A homemade book about why guys should never be trusted?" I put my hand on my chest and gasped.

"That doesn't sound like something I'll do at all. And the title was How You Know He's A Selfish Pig. But whatever." She laughed

"But I'd would never give you a book like that for Taehyung," I added, nudging Lisa. "I really like Taehyung. You know that, right?" Taehyung was sweet and treated Lisa well. It was her last boyfriend.... Jeon Jungkook, long of stupid chants.... who infires imaginary music. Who is also known as the King in school.

I realized Lisa was staring as me, still worried. "Of course you can go to lunch with Taehyung," I said. "Don't worry about me. Have fun."

"You could come with us if...."

I was tempted to make her finish that sentence. To accept her invitation just to be funny, but I put her out of her misery.

"No. I don't want to go on your anniversary lunch. Please. I have a book to write... Two-Month Anniversary Are The Start Of Forever. Chapter One: At Sixty days, you'll know it's real if he whisks you away from the drudgery of high school and takes you to the Amusement Park"

"We're not going to the Amusement Park."

"Uh-oh. Only one chapter in and it's not looking good for you."

Lisa's brown eyes glinted. "Joked all you want, but I think it's romantic."

I grabbed her hand and squeezed. "I know. It adorable."

"You'll be okay here" she pointed across the commons.

"Maybe you should hang out with Irene, Yeri and their group?" I shrugged. The idea didn't thrill me. I say next to Irene in Chemistry and sometimes we'd talk. Like when she'd ask what the homework assignment was or for me to scoot my backpack off of her binder. And Yeri hadn't said even that much to me.

I look down at my outfit. Today I was wearing an over sized button-down that I found at a thrift store. The front of the shirt was tucked in my skinny jeans. On my feet were Mesh White Sneakers. My look was maybe not that trendy, and I might would stand out in a group like Irene where they were all perfectly put together in their slim-fitting jeans and tank tops. Too revealing.

I help up my notebook and nodded at Lisa. "It okay. This will be my chance to work on a new song. You know I don't get any time alone at home." Lisa nodded. Then, out of the corner of my eye. I saw him. I froze

Jung Yoon Oh (NCT Jaehyun). He was in the middle of a group of other senior guys on a bench, his hoodie zipped up, his earbuds in, staring into space. Like he was present and not present. A feeling I could relate to.

Lisa followed my gaze and sighed "You should talk to him, you know."

I laughed feeling my cheeks warm up. "You remember what happened the last time I tried that."

"You got nervous. That what happened."

"I couldn't say anything. Nothing at all. He and his cool hair and his whatever clothes he wears scared me," I finished in a whisper.

Lisa tilted her head while she looked at him as if disagreeing with my assessment of his appearance. "You must need practice. Let's start with someone you haven't been pining over for the last two years."

I have not been pining over Jaehyun..." I trailed off when she leveled me with her knowing stare. She was right. I had been pining.

Jaehyun was probably the coolest guy I knew.... Well, I didn't really know him, but that probably made him more cool. He was a year older than us. He wore his dark hair with a slip of bangs revealing part of his forehead and his clothes consisted of hoodies, caps, mask, rip jeans, a contrast that made me unable to put him in a category.

"Double date with me and Taehyung next Friday!!" Lisa announced suddenly. "I'll find you a date."

"Pass."

"Come on. It's been awhile since you've been on a date."

"That's because I'm awkward and it weird and it's not fun at all for me or the poor soul who agrees to go out with me."

"That's not true". I crossed my arms.

"You just need to go out more than once.... or twice..... with someone so they are see how fun you are ," Lisa arugued, adjusting her backpack straps.

"You're not awkward with me."

"I'm totally awkward with you but you're not under pressure to eventually kiss me, so you put up with it." Lisa laughed and shook her head.

"That now why I put up with it. I put up with it because I like you, no homo. We just have to find a guy who can be yourself around."

I put my hand over my heart. "And in a cold was day, Lisa started on the impossible quest of finding a suitor for her best friend. It would be a lifelong quest. One that would test both her determination and her faith. It would lead her to the brink of insanity, and..."

"Stop," Lisa interrupted, bumping my shoulder with hers. "It's that kind of attitude that will make this impossible."

"That's exactly what I've been trying to say."

"No, I'm not going to accept that. You'll see. The right guy for you is out there." I sighed, my gaze drifting over to Jaehyun again. "Lisa, seriously, I'm fine. No more setups."

"Fine no more setups. But be open or you might miss something in front of you."

I flung my arms out to the sides. Is there anyone more open than me?" Lisa gave me skeptical look. She started to answer when a loud voice called out across the grass. "There she is! Happy Anniversary My Baby!!" Lisa cheeks brightened and she turned towards Taehyung.

He jogged the rest of the distance sepreating them, and lifted her into a hug. They look gorgeous together, both brownish-darkish hair, pale skin. It was weird seeing Taehyung at our school. He went to high school across town and I associated him with after-school and weekend events.

"Hey, Rose," he said to me as he put Lisa down. "Are you coming with us?" His invitation seemed sincere. He really was a nice guy.

"Yeah, is that cool? I heard you were paying and I said, I'm in." Lisa laughed

"Great," Taehyung said.

"It was a joke, Taehyunggie," Lisa said making Taehyung blush.

"Oh" was all he said

"Yes, I'm not a charity case." I was beginning to think they though i was.

"No, of course not. I just feel had for not letting you know earlier," Lisa said. Taehyung nodded. "It was a surprise."

"You guys are going to run out of time to actually eat and have fun if you keep coddling me. Go. Have fun. And..... uh... congratulations.... I recently read a book about how two-month anniversaries are the start of forever."

"Really? Cool," Taehyung said. Lisa rolled her eyes and smacked my arm. "Be good." I stood on the path alone now, watching the groups of students around me talking and laughing. Lisa's worry was unfounded. I was actually fine alone.

Sometimes I preferred that way.

-TBC-