New Beginnings

"Waited long?" Jamie asked as he walked up to Kat.

"Just a little while" Kat shrugged.

"I got held up by Mr. Matthews. He was quite impressed with my Maths paper and wondered if I would be interested in a Maths camp this summer"he explained.

"So what did you say?" she asked.

" I told him that I had better things to do than spent my entire summer coop up in a camp studying Maths" he shrugged.

" Speaking of Maths, you are tutoring M. J. starting tomorrow after school " Kat stated.

"Says who?" Jamie was incredulous.

"I did" she said. " Consider it payback for helping you out in baseball this past week."

"But she is so clingy" he whined. "Come on Kat, don't do this to me."

"Live with it. You're doing it coz I promised M.J." she said.

"You drive a hard bargain Kat" He gave up. He knew nobody could persuade her once she was determined. Besides he owe her so he thought perhaps tutoring M. J was the least he could do for her.

"Actually I need another favour from you" she sounded nervous. "Do you know Alexander Jacob Steele?"

Jamie burst out laughing. "Nobody calls him that. He's just Jake to us"

"I take it you do know him" Kat was irritated. "What do you know of him?"

"Why?" he asked. "Don't tell you have a crush on him?"

"Jamie be serious" she scolded. "I don't have patience for your silly jokes. I need to write a piece on him for the school newspaper. So as his friend could you persuade him to talk to me for an interview?"

"I don't know Kat. I'll try but I'm not making any promises Okay " he said.

"Just let me meet him once. That's all I ask for" Kat pleaded.

"Okay I'll see what I can do. Come by tomorrow after school after baseball practice and I'll let you know" Jamie offered.

"Thanks Jamie. I knew I could count on you" she smiled.

"Don't thank me yet. Let me convince him first." he said.

__________________________________________

M. J. had been taking extra classes in Maths for the past one week but her grades still hadn't improved. Lately she definitely felt as if there was something wrong with her. Mr. Matthews was an excellent teacher but no matter how hard she tried, her attention in his lessons was always lacking. Whenever he came near her, all her senses go in hyper alert. Sometimes she would catch him staring at her that made her have goosebumps all over. Maybe it was just her imagination and she was overthinking it but she could not help feeling unease.

"Hey M. J wait up" Jamie shouted as he caught up with her after class.

"Hi Jamie" M.J. said as she tried to steady her rapid heartbeat.

"So 4pm your house after baseball practice. Be prepared" Jamie stated.

"What?" she was incredulous. Maybe she missed something but she did not know what he was talking about.

"4pm I'm tutoring you in Maths at your place" he explained. "Didn't Kat tell you?"

"Oh so you would really help me out" M.J exclaimed. "Thanks Jamie "

"Be warn I'm a hard teacher so tough up" he warned. "Anyway I'm off to my next class. See you later" He rushed off and not a momemt too soon for she felt like swooning right then and there.

She always had a crush on him for as long as she could remember but he always treated her as a pest.She might be the most popular girl in school but he rarely notice her existence. Whenever he came near, her heart rate accelerates, whenever he talks to her, she would become tongue tied. He was Kat's best friend but he was her first love. And he was going to meet her after school. This was going to be the first time she would be in his company without Kat's presence. It was such a treat and she just had to make the best of it. She would never get this chance again.

__________________________________________

"Attention everyone" Mrs. March shouted. "As you all know the Science Fair is just around the corner. So I want all of you to work in a team of twos and come up with a project to display."

Sarah was as excited as everyone was for the fair. She already had a project or two in mind. She just prayed that she end up with a good lab partner.

"I have written your names in chits of paper and placed them in this bowl" Mrs. March explained as she showed them the bowl filled with coloured chits of papers."I will draw out two two names and these would be lab partners for the upcoming fair"

When Sarah's name was called, she never expected her lab partner to be none other than Mike, the boy she secretly liked for so long.

"Hey" he said as he sat down besides her. "Sarah is it? Guess we're stuck together till the fair."

"You know me?" Sarah asked hesitantly.

"Who doesn't? You are Sarah the Science whizzkid" he stated.

Sarah was dumbfounded. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that he knew of her. She had always liked him from afar never having the courage to walk up to him and chat. He was friendly with everyone while she was reserved. They seldom share the same company. She was broken out of her reverie by the sound of Mrs. March voice.

"Remember everyone, the winner is going to receive a full fleged scholarship to the college of his choosing. So everyone do your very best. Show me your potential"

"Hope you don't mind having me as your lab partner" he continued. "I promise I'll work hard and with your brains, winning this would be a piece of cake."

Winning or losing didn't matter to Sarah anymore. All that mattered was that she was going to spent the next few days in his company listening to the sound of his voice. How many nights had she dreamt of this moment. This was a dream come true and she would cherish every minute of it.