Chapter 2.2 - Me? Like Him?

As Rose and Alex were walking to the entrance of the school, they heard their names being shouted behind them. They turned their heads to see a young, energetic girl with neatly braided pigtails waving at them. It was Isabelle, their friend. They met Isabelle in first grade, and they immediately clicked it off. Their classmates knew the trio. They were always together and no matter what.

Rose immediately ran over and hugged Isabelle. During school, she stayed with her grandparents in Pink Stone, but in the summer she went to Switzerland to her parents. So, the first day of school was always special to them.

Alex looked at them and back at the school entrance, which was only a few feet away from him. All the other students went inside already, so they were the only ones outside. He was contemplating whether or not to go inside. If he went inside, then he would not be late, and could easily sneak into his homeroom. He was deep in thought until a teacher came outside and scolded them inside. They immediately and obediently ran inside the school, welcomed by the air-conditioned room. Even though it was September, it was still 70 degrees outside. They quickly went into their homeroom and waited with the other kids against the back walls waiting for their assigned seats.

The desks were neatly arranged in an array with rows of 5 desks and columns of 4 desks, equaling in 20 desks. There were only 16 of them since it was a small homeroom. The desks were facing the chalkboard and the whiteboard, while the teacher's desk was arranged diagonally in a corner next to the chalkboard and windows. The blinds were open, resulting in a bright room illuminated by the warm, morning sun.

"Hello everyone! My name is Ms.Fern and I'm really happy to teach you guys," A fairly young teacher stated. Her hair was in a high ponytail, making her look younger. She also had only a little make-up on. Her clothes were all formal and elegant, and she looked like a rich family's tutor.

"As you guys read on the whiteboard, there will be assigned seats. I've arranged them in a way that I can learn your names." Ms. Fern said as she got out her clipboard. She started calling out the kid's names one by one and pointed to a desk. After a while, everyone was situated. Alex was in a desk only a desk away from the window. Rose was in the desk next to him, while Isabelle sat behind Rose.

As the teacher was taking attendance, Isabelle poked Rose's back with her pencil. Rose turned around with an annoyed expression all over her face.

"What do you want?" Rose asked.

"Do you like him? Isabelle teased.

Rose rolled her eyes as she turned back to the front. Isabelle had been asking the same question ever since she met Alex and Rose. She instantly shipped the duo. Their personalities, their appearances, they just looked like the perfect couple. Rose and Alex were similar in many ways, but also very different. In Isabelle's opinion, couples had to some balance between the similarities and differences. They couldn't be too similar, but they also couldn't be too different.

Rose was very much annoyed at the question. She turned her head to look at Alex, who was looking out the window. Why did Isabelle keep asking her this question? Surely, after their many years of friendship, Isabelle had to know that she only looked Alex as her friend. Actually, maybe even more than a friend, Alex was like an older brother to her. He was only 2 months older than her, and Alex had always taken good care of Rose. Rose also took good care of Alex. They looked out for each other, and would always be there for each other. Sure, he was good-looking, with his dark chestnut hair always neatly combed, and his hazel eyes. She never really thought about his physical features.

Feeling someone was looking at him, he turned around to see Rose's dark brown eyes staring at him, deep in thought. Feeling awkward, he smiled at Rose. His smile could make any girl's heart race, and Rose was no exception. Rose saw him smiling and quickly looked away. For some reason, there was this unknown feeling in her heart. It seemed like her heart was fluttering, trying to find a way out of her chest. Her whole face felt very hot. Thinking she was having a heart attack, she suddenly asked if she could go to the bathroom. The whole class looked at her, but Rose didn't mind.

"Yes, you can go. Make it quick though," Ms.Fern said, with a sweet smile on her face.

Rose immediately rushed out of the classroom and went to the girl's bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, she calmed down. Was what Isabelle said true? Could she really like him?

She looked at her reflection and laughed. Me? Like him? No way. As she was looking at her self, she noticed that her french braid was falling out. She quickly unraveled her waist-long, thick black hair and put it in a ponytail. There were some flyaways, but she didn't care. Her hair was naturally silky, like her mother's, so it was normal for her hair to have some flyaways. She or her mom didn't own any hair straighteners or curlers. Their hair was naturally straight, and Rose's mom didn't trust the gadgets. They also didn't have any hair spray, so Rose just got used to seeing her like this. She quickly walked back to the classroom. As she was about to go in, she saw Alex talking to a girl in front of him. He was shy, so this was a new behavior for him. They were laughing together, and he seemed happy. Suddenly, the weird feeling came back. Instead of it feeling light, her heart seemed to burn in her chest. Pushing these things aside, she entered the classroom avoiding everyone, especially Alex. She sat in her seat and never even looked at Alex for the whole entire time until it was lunchtime. As she was getting out of her seat, she accidentally almost bumped into Alex. Alex smiled at her again. Rose looked at him again, and quickly rushed away, without even saying sorry. Alex was confused. Did he do something wrong? He always smiled when Rose was clumsy, and she didn't seem to have a problem with it. So, why was she avoiding him now?

Isabelle saw this and ran after Rose to their cubbies, where they stored their backpacks and lunchboxes. After getting her lunchbox, she quickly rushed to catch up to Rose.

"What happened back there?" Isabelle asked.

Rose told her everything, explaining with the feeling she felt in her heart. Isabelle was intently listening to Rose, rant on and nodded her head. After Rose was done, Isabelle smirked.

"You definitely like him," she stated, making Rose's cheeks turn red. Even though her skin may be tanned, it was still obvious when she blushed.

"Haha, very funny," Rose replied seriously. "Even if I did like him, why now? I've known him for 6 years. So why now does my heart race."

Isabelle shrugged until she remembered what her mother told her. She was a psychologist and told Rose everything about feelings. She also told Isabelle psychological tricks to mess with someone's mind, so in case she was in trouble, she could use these to her advantage.

"My mom said that since we are growing, our feelings will start to develop," Isabelle responded to Rose as they were making their way toward the cafeteria. "Since feelings develop, we might experience different feelings and thoughts to a person we know. For example, you may have been friends with this girl for a short while then suddenly you start to think she is annoying, those are your feeling developing. That could be what's happening with your feelings towards Alex. We are at the age where we start to experience this, so..." Isabelle finished.

Rose looked at Isabelle, and then behind her to see Alex talking with the same girl from before.

"Since our feelings are changing, can our personalities change as well?" she asked Isabelle.

After thinking for a while, Isabelle replied, "I think so." They entered the cafeteria and sat at a random, empty table.

"Like for example, if someone was shy ever since you met him, and then he suddenly starts to talk to another girl," Rose said as she tracked Alex and the girl walking in.

"Yeah, I guess so," Isabelle replied as she got out her Turkey and Ham Cheese sandwich that was neatly cut into 2 triangles. "Why are you asking?"

When she didn't hear a response, she tracked Rose's eyes to the scene she was seeing. Her introverted friend, laughing with another person. She saw the sour expression on Rose's face and smirked.

"Looks like someone is jealous," she says as she takes a bite out of the sandwich.

"Ha, you wish," Rose retorted as she screamed "Alex! Come sit over here!"

Alex looked at the girl waving her arms like crazy, her long, sleek ponytail was bouncing around behind her. Alex smiled and made his way toward the table, ending the conversation with the girl behind him. As he sat next to Rose, she got out her lunchbox from her lunch bag. Just then, Alex realized that his mom or dad made him lunch. They were in such a hurry that morning.

When she opened her lunch bag, she saw two Nutella sandwiches cut in half and a note from her mom. When Isabelle and Alex saw this, it piqued their curiosity. Claire seldom packs 2 sandwiches for Rose, she always proportions Rose's lunch so she doesn't overeat or under-eat.

Rose opened the note and read it aloud. "Alex's mom called saying she forgot to pack Alex a lunch so the other sandwich is for Alex. Be sure you share this with him. I also packed a 2 small plastic water bottles and 2 yogurts, so you have to share with Alex." Rose finished.

Alex quietly thanked Mrs.Claire. He didn't have lunch money either, so he was worried about being hungry.

Rose quickly put the lunchbox in between them and started eating.

"That was so nice of Mrs.Claire," Isabelle said, speaking for the three of them.

"I know right! I was worried of being hungry. Your mom is really a savior," Alex said as he turned toward Rose smiling.

The feeling in her heart returned, and Rose was feeling very happy for some reason. They continued on eating until they both were full.

"That was probably the most delicious Nutella sandwich I've had," Alex said as he patted his stomach, satisfied.

Rose laughed. Hearing Rose's sweet laughter, Alex's heart quickly raced. Why did he feel this way around her? Ever since last year, his heart would race whenever he was around Rose. Is it because he liked her? He glanced at Rose who was busy laughing with Isabelle. She was really pretty, and his heart raced to see her smile. He looked away, scared of being caught.

"Guys, we have 10 minutes left, should we go outside to the play yard?" Alex asked the girls.

"Sure, let's go!" Isabelle replied as they started packing up.

After they laughed off what they ate, they went back inside when they heard the bell ring. They got back in their seats and went back to learning. The only thing on Alex's mind was why Rose avoided him that morning.

When they got out of school, Isabelle went into her grandparent's car while Rose and Alex started walking to Alex's house. Rose's mom and dad would still be at work, and only Alex's dad would be back at Alex's home, so Rose's parents left Rose in the custody of Bradley's supervision. Since they lived next to each other, it was convenient for both of their families. Rose would even sleep in another bedroom if her parents came home late. She would just get her pajamas and toiletries from her house.

"Why did you avoid me this morning?" he asked Rose, breaking the tranquility of their walk.

Rose looked at him. She couldn't tell him that she might like him! So she quickly made an excuse.

"You know me.....getting flustered easily," she said waving her hands trying to make it believable.

Alex laughed at Rose's gestures. He knew that wasn't the actual reason, but he let it pass. They kept on walking and laughing, not noticing the glare of a girl behind them, watching them leave.

"You will be mine Alex...no matter what...." the girl muttered as she got into her parent's car.