Haden Merrick

Chapter One - Please Don't, We're In A Library

''Holy shit!'' My best friend, Joanne exclaims in pure excitement before clamping her mouth shut as she takes a seat beside Seth.

To say the least, Joanne and I have been best friends ever since we were kids. However, there are times when I feel like I'd want to beat the crap out of her but nevertheless, I love her with all my heart: she's my partner in crime. It was always the two of us wherever we go and when we were in high school, people even called us lesbians because of how close we are yet we stood proud, not denying anything even though my mum didn't like the thought of us being a couple. Don't blame her, she's pretty religious.

I still remember the day of Joanne's 18th birthday and I wasn't allowed to go because our mums thought we were going to run away and elope in Vegas. It was wild how I ended up jumping from my bedroom window and broke my arm in the process. That was how it all came out, Joanne and I weren't a couple. We weren't lesbians, we were just fooling and messing around with people because we knew, regardless of gender and of preferences, love is love.

When I was a tad bit younger, I was never the angelic daughter despite my name being beauty. People thought I'd grow to become graceful like the Disney princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast but they were disappointed as soon as they found out how much of a daredevil I was. Joanne was no different, like I said . . . my partner in crime. My mum has always been religious and I still remember it vividly how she would drag me to church every Sunday and how much I dreaded for it to end.

On a hot Sunday afternoon, I couldn't stand the fact of hearing another preach. So, I lied. I lied in a church saying I needed to go to the restroom when I was making a run for it through the backdoor with Joanne. We got caught, it was thrilling but we were kids, we didn't know how foolish we were acting. We were just following our instincts, no matter how embarrassed my mum was for a moment when people kept talking about her daughter; they thought I was a product of bad luck because I was nothing like my mother.

''Joanne, what the hell?'' Seth moves his hand over to cover Joanne's mouth.

Seth, on the other hand, is our second partner in crime. We both met Seth when we were freshmen and he was too. There are two stories about Seth and how we managed to be friends, considering the fact how attractive he might be to the eyes of ours and others. It started a bit funny with Seth playing basketball and ended up hitting Joanne's head with a ball—Joanne being the drama queen she is, she fainted and we had to take her to the hospital.

I still remember how it all went with Joanne asking him, 'are you an angel?' before grabbing onto his hand to only hear him utter, 'I'm gay.' and that was all it all started. Seth grew closer to us and now we're inseparable, even though I still hear Joanne complain about Seth being beautiful and gay is a problem for her because she knew she'd never have a chance.

Joanne pulls Seth closer to her before whispering in his ear which causes his eyes to widen, ''You what?!''

''Please don't, we're in a library.'' I close my eyes in embarrassment as soon as we hear people shushing us but Joanne is like a woman made out of steel, she starts to lean forward in order to talk to me.

''I saw Haden,'' Joanne says, excitedly. ''He is the most beautiful human being,''

''No, no, no, we're not having this conversation right now. Please don't distract me,'' I look away from both Joanne and Seth before turning to write down my notes, trying my best to ignore Joanne and Seth whispering to each other about Haden: making my heart boil in defeat. There's just something about Haden that makes me want to drop everything I'm doing and listen about him. ''Okay, you got me. What's up?''

''I knew you couldn't resist,'' Joanne laughs which earns us another shush from a different group, ''Jeez, sorry! I can't contain my excitement. Give this girl a little space,'' She adds, rolling her eyes in annoyance before grabbing onto my hand.

''Tell me. Tell me, tell me, tell me.'' I grin, waiting for her to continue.

Haden Merrick or more preferably known as 'my future boyfriend' is a senior. The thing is, I've had a crush on him ever since I laid eyes on him and the moment our eyes meet, it felt like fireworks and dancing kangaroos. Even though, disappointingly, he has never noticed me. I thought our gaze meant something or that he would at least be like 'oh hey, you're that girl I was looking at' but no, unfortunately, whenever our paths cross, he'd just walk away. He'd just pretend I wasn't there.

Not that he was pretending. He really didn't see me. Ever.

''So, he was outside near the vending machine and then his dollar dropped. When he went to pick it up,'' Joanne giggles excitingly which causes Seth to cover her mouth once again, ''sorry, where was I? Right, when he bent down to pick it up, I was in a total bliss. Belle, how can you not ask him out already? Imagine being able to grab that ass. He has a good damn ass!''

''Joanne!'' Both Seth and I pull her over to shut her up, grabbing other people's

turns to look at me, ''Are you done? I think we should get out of here

before putting a few books in my bag and pick up the rest to hold it near my chest

to see?'' Seth turns around, walking ahead of us before lifting his shirt up to reveal his toned back and butt. There's no need of denying how great Seth is and how nearly beautiful he is to Haden but there's just one thing in the way of ever having that kind of relationship with him, his sexuality. He doesn't exactly like girls but his eyes doesn't exactly light up when

''Belle, you have got to confess!'' Joanne stops me, standing in front of

fear of rejection,'' I continue to walk with Joanne trailing behind me and Seth walking beside me. ''In fact, I

you not look in the mirror every morning? You're beautiful—he'd be stupid to reject you. He's already stupid that doesn't notice you. I mean, Seth . . . as a guy, do you think Belle is beautiful? Do you think she's

seeing

the truth because what's the worse that could happen? Uh, hello? Rejection? It's better that he doesn't notice or know about him than having

point, Belle.

There's no rush,'' Seth

crossing her arms and begins to pout which causes Seth to laugh before slowly pinching her

freeze and immediately turn to look for where that voice came from. Both Seth and Joanne stops as well before their eyes widen in surprise and Joanne begins to slap Seth a few times in

''Yo, Haden!'' The guy says, making his way

his perfectly straight teeth and they begin to have a conversation as he constantly shows what's written in his book. Once in awhile, Haden would laugh as they continue to walk, slowly getting out of view. Even by staring at his back, I can tell how perfectly carved

his head and both of my best

reject me. Believe it or not, our eyes locked . . . one time. One time! And, he didn't even look at me twice. Maybe, I'm not his type. Maybe, I should move on or maybe, I should get a different hairstyle. Should I wear extensions? Does he like girls with long hair? Does he not like girls with hazel eyes? Does he want taller girls? I don't know, I have these questions stuck in my head and

''Mirabel, you look fine.'' Seth cuts in,

Exactly. Fine!''

causes Seth to clear his throat, ''We all know you have a nice body. Have you even looked at your breasts or your butt? They're good, they're firm. That's your power. Moving on, let's see your face. You look pretty, you're very pretty. You have high cheekbones and

''Exactly, I'd date you.'' Seth says, ''If

for a little while. Why don't we kiss and make love already?' that's a pretty great start.'' Joanne laughs, giving

The three of us continue to laugh as we both walk, Haden

to finish. B, I'll see you at home and Seth, I'll see you tomorrow? Peace!'' She pecks on our cheeks before running away, holding her books tightly to her chest until she's out

Seth turns to look down at me, ''Come on. I'll drive you

if I take the cab home—he lives on campus while Joanne and I live out of

trouble. I thought I can stay over tonight? Besides, I'm going to be living there as well.'' He replies, taking his car keys out of his bag before gesturing me to follow him

I want?'' I turn

both enter the car and as he

cooking. You're