Hope you've enjoyed the story so far. The update is here! :D


Shadee sighed deeply and continued to gaze lovingly at the back of Brandon’s head. His hair looked so soft, so smooth… she almost reached out her hand to touch it, but she thought better of it.



Her mature, grown-up part knew she was stupid and Brandon was definitely not her dream boy. Still there was this crazy attraction that didn’t leave her alone, as far as Shadee was concerned Brandon was a huge, walking magnet and she was just a hopeless piece of metal…

‘Today, class, we’ll do something different!’ rang Miss Dora’s cheerful voice, waking Shadee up from her little daydream ‘I have here eleven pieces of folded paper with numbers on them. They are numbered from 0 to 5: there is one 0, two 1s, two 2s, two 3s, two 4s and two 5s. As you may have guessed, we will be doing a group project!’



Enthusiastic cheers erupted from the front of the class. Nathaniel and Nancy just couldn’t keep the happiness for themselves at the news. What a pair of nerds!

‘Each of you will grab a piece of paper from the bowl and tell me the number written on it. One of you, the one who gets the 0 will be working alone. I’m really sorry for that.’ She added, making a pitiful grimace.

She stood up and offered the bowl to every member of the class. Shadee grabbed a piece of paper with trembling fingers and grinned nervously at Holly. She was so excited to find out who she’s be working with. Hopefully, it was going to be Holly.



Miss Dora returned to her desk after having shared the pieces of paper.
‘Let’s see now what groups you guys have made.’ She smiled; it was fairly obvious she enjoyed this quite a lot ‘Nathaniel?’

‘I have a three, Miss!’ he answered excitedly and craned his neck trying to catch a glimpse of his sister’s paper. She unfolded it quickly and tried to hide it away from her brother for a few more seconds.

‘I have one, Miss Dora!’ she eventually answered.

‘Okay.’ The teacher wrote down Nancy’s number in her notebook ‘Regina?’

With the usual bored expression, Regina unfolded her piece of paper and read the number with raised eyebrows.

‘Ewww! I have a three! Can I change it?’ she asked, looking as though she was about to puke.



‘I’m sorry, dear, but no. You and Nathaniel will make a pair for the project.’

The boy turned around and gave Regina his most dazzling smile, which actually was a perverted grin. Nerd hormones on the loose. Deep down inside though, Shadee was beginning to enjoy this; Regina was getting what she deserved.

‘Ramona?’ Miss Dora continued, ignoring Regina’s disgusted expression.



‘I have a’ she unfolded the paper ‘five, Professor.’

‘Okaaay. Marissa?’

‘Two.’ She was trying to copy Regina’s bored expression, but she looked plainly stupid.



‘Right. Now, Mr Brandon.’ She smiled encouragingly; yet another thing that was clear: Brandon’s charms could even reach the heart of teachers…

‘I have a four, Miss.’ He smiled seductively.

Next, Shichiro got a two and got paired up with Marissa. And poor Jae had the “great” bad luck to have chosen the number “one”, his partner becoming Nancy.

‘Shadee?’ Miss Dora asked, almost having reached the end of the class.

Shadee’s hands had begun to tremble and it seemed that the piece of paper had been glued tightly. Finally she got it to unfold and almost screamed with delight: she had a four! She was going to make the project with none other than Brandon!

After her, Holly got a five and got paired with Ramona. The girl turned to Holly and gave her a warm, friendly smile. Shadee would have had more time to congratulate Holly and feel happy for her, had she not had Brandon as a partner; but she was too ecstatic to think of anyone else but herself…and Brandon…

‘Now that leaves you, Sebastien.’ Miss Dora sighed ‘You have the zero, right?’

‘Yes, Professor.’



Muffled laughter from the cool rows.. Shadee didn’t laugh though. She suddenly didn’t feel as happy as a minute ago. Sadness overwhelmed her and disgust at most of the class: Nathaniel, Nancy, Regina, Marissa, Brandon, Shichiro and Jae, all had turned around to see Sebastien’s reaction. They were grinning with satisfaction that “the emo weirdo” was alone…again.



After the lesson was over, Shadee pulled her guts together and went to Brandon. Regina and Marissa weren’t anywhere near, so it was easier to talk to him.

‘Umm…Brandon?’ she asked shyly, interrupting him from a very interesting discussion he had with Jae about flavored condoms.

‘Yeah, babe.’ He answered and turned to face her, a dazzling smile playing on his lips.

Shadee just couldn’t answer right away. She had to lock this memory somewhere in her mind and keep it forever. He had just called her babe!

‘You know we’ve been paired together for the project and I just wanted to ask you when and where we could meet.’

‘My house is under renovation.’ He pouted ‘We can meet at you place, right?’

Shadee felt her knees give way. Brandon, at her place? In her bedroom? Sitting on her bed?

‘Yeah, sure!’ she said quickly, fearing he would change his mind ‘Today’s Monday, is it okay for Wednesday? Or Thursday?’

‘I think I could squeeze you on Wednesday into my program.’ He thought for a few seconds ‘Wednesday at five. Is it ok, babe?’



‘Yeah.Yeah!’ she answered, trying not to show how excited she was about the whole thing ‘Can you give me your number, please, just in case…’

‘Sure, babe. Here you go, give me a buzz and I’ll add you to my agenda later.’

She floated back to her seat with an unwipeable grin on her face. Holly was smiling too, she seemed genuinely happy for Shadee. As her best friend, she was aware of the girl’s huge crush on Brandon.

The rest of the day faded in a blur of lessons, gym with Holly and then home where Shadee turned all her attention to the little bundle called Caleb.


Tee hee...gimme feedback, please! :bump: