His Heartwarming Secret

"Girls, guess what? Ethan asked me out last night! Can you believe it?"

"No way!"

"Oh my gosh, finally!"

"Ethan grew some balls. It's about god damn time."

I clutch my gym bag to my chest, weaving my way through the crowd in the girls changing room. Half of the girls are undressed, parading around in their underwear without a care in the world. The conversation in the locker rooms always gives me a headache if I listen too long which isn't a surprise considering all the girls ever talk about is boys.

The latest discussion is Ethan and Melissa.

Ethan has been crushing on Melissa, the girls captain of the football team for months before he'd finally asked her out. Apparently their first date is going to be at Melissa's pool party she's hosting on the weekend.

That doesn't sound like much of a date to me . . .

I'm a hopeless romantic who spends endless hours watching stereotypical love movies on Netflix. Every single time a couple split, I blubber like a baby even though I predict it happening from the start. My ice cream or popcorn bowl always ended up mingling with my tears. . . Gross.

My idea of a first date would be something intimate yet simple. A chance for both of you to get to know each other without the presence of several others.

Somewhere quiet and romantic?

A restaurant maybe.

of eating like a starved pig in front of your crush.

toilet cubicles and enter the free one, locking the door behind me. This is where I change every PE lesson. It's small, cramped and smelly but it's out of sight and I'd choose that any day over everyone seeing my SpongeBob SquarePants underwear. I'm ashamed to admit I also have the matching bra on.

quickly change into my gym clothes, a bright red shirt with the words HEYWOOD HIGH printed on the back in block white letters. I opted for the size that was two sizes bigger as showing what little shape I have

wearing red and white stripe shorts completed with white socks and my trusty old converse. The entire school basically looks like the human version of Where's

let out an annoyed breath, rolling her

onto the grass in a childish manner. She craved the students attention and respect by acting laid back however times like this proved she's the

a line is formed and I join the end of it, keeping my distance from the two girls giggling on the end. Mrs

points at me, causing my heart rate to speed up. I hold my hand up half heartedly, looking incredibly awkward. She gives me

"Go get the class

gym keys at me and they land in a heap on the

"You were supposed to catch them," Mrs Hollins sighs, shaking her head. I bite my cheek hard,

with embarrassment and I resist making eye contact. I clutch the keys tightly, feeling the cold

"Quieten down

the first key inside the lock, no luck. There's around ten different keys and I glance down at them before sighing heavily. It takes me a

front of me to stop myself falling. I can barely make out any shapes in here so what hope do I have in finding the

like some help?"

on my side. I wince and feel around, grabbing a metal pole from underneath me that's poking into my back. Pain flares up my body and I clench my jaw, the frustration beginning to

Mrs Hollins, blinking back the tears in my eyes

cuts in and I

"Hello?"

voice calls out again. I can vaguely make out his outline,

timid. I hear him walk towards me, the shadow of his outstretched hand inches away from my face. I stare at it, feeling a blush

"Take my hand, I don't