22 FLAMES

Days turned to weeks and weeks to months and I still  can't  believe that Austin and I are in the  same class now. I never miss a chance to steal glances at him secretly. There were times when I ended up staring at him continuously  and was caught by him. Those were one of the  most awkward moments in my life. I don't know if he was aware of my glances at him but  he always  gave a warm smile whenever our eyes met each other.

One day after our first class, I over heard conversation of the girls who sat behind. They spoke about FLAMES.

Rachel turned back and asked them about the method. One girl explained us that, F is for friendship, L was for love, A was for  affection, M was for marriage, E was for enemy.  We need to write down  our name and our crush's name and then strike the common letters. After striking off the common letter, we need to count the number of remaining letters and then strike the letters of the word   FLAME one after the other  and the last letter which remains, gives  the answer.

Rachel looked at me with a wide smile and said, "I'm gonna try it."

During our lunch hour, Rachel  tried my name with Austin's.

"We got F," I said in a low voice.

"Be happy  .... you didn't get enemies," said Rachel with a chuckle.

"Fine, try yours and see," I said to her.

She then  did with her name and Justin's and  got an A.

"What the hell!! affection? This is not true, I'm not  gonna believe this stupid game," she said before she tore the paper into pieces and threw it in dustbin.

One day after school, Justin told me that he wanted to come  to my house, he said that he had something to talk to my father  about few documents.

As we were on our way, we saw Cindy who stood alone near the gate.

"Cindy!" Justin called her name. She looked at our side and gave a smile.

"Why are you alone ?" I asked her.

"My driver didn't come yet," she replied.

"Do you want us to give you a company till your driver comes?!" Justin said to her in a sweet voice, in a voice he never spoke to us. A smile appeared on Cindy's face while a scowl on Rachel's pretty face.

Justin knew Cindy very well as we were in the same school since we were kids. They weren't close but they always spoke to each other whenever they met. Justin always liked her character just like Rachel and I did.

Justin was beside Rachel and I stood between  Rachel and Cindy.

Our attention was shifted to a couple of our class, the guy held the girl's hand. Justin looked at the couple and scoffed.

"I envy that guy," he commented. The girl was beautiful when compared to th guy.

"Do you have anyone you like ?" Cindy questioned  Justin which made my attention shift towards Justin from the couple.

"Well ..... It's  like ...."

Cindy's car arrived before he could complete his sentence. He heaved a sigh of relief when she said that she had to leave.

When I looked at Rachel's face, I could tell that she had  a mini heart attack because of Cindy's question.

"I never thought Cindy would show interest to know about me?" Justin said to himself loud enough for us to hear.

"You don't have to get excited, it was a causal question," came Rachel's voice in irritation.

Before he could reply something, we the our bus arrive and got into the bus. I was thankful that the bus came on time. I didn't want them to start an argument on the road.

A month before our final exams, the students of eleventh standard were given a chance  to select our school pupil leader through votes. After we were given a chance to vote, we came to know that Austin had the highest votes. So he was selected as our school pupil leader. No one were surprised when our principal announced that he was selected. Every student knew that he would be our school president as he was perfect for the role.

The very next day, I came to school early. As I entered the class, I saw Austin who stood near the window.

"Hey!! congratulations," I beamed to which he turned back and looked at me with his killer smile.

"Thankyou," he replied.

"Do you always come early to school ?" I asked him.

"Yes, my father drops me everyday."

Austin's father is one of the top business men in the country. I never saw his father but according to my dad he is a very hardworking man  and a sweet person where as  his mother was a proud lady who spends  his father's money lavishly. I also  heard from my father that his parents often  argue with eachother.

"That's nice," I replied.

No one were in the class and silence fell between us. He didn't speak to me anything, I thought he wanted to be alone. Before I could turn away and leave him alone, he looked caught my gaze upon him and I could only blink my eyes. Once and then twice.

"I always wanted to ask you this question," he said and broke the silence between us.

I  looked at him  quizzically and waited for him to complete his sentence  at the same time my heart lost it's control in anticipation of what he would ask me.

"Why do you like ASA designs?" he asked me  nonchalantly.

I didn't know what made him curious about my obsession with ASA designs. May be he wanted to speak something and ended up picking this topic, I concluded though I wasn't sure.

"I don't know. I just like their designs. May be because I find a passion in their works?" I answered.

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Jessica always wished  to  tell him that how much she liked him. But she was afraid that he might reject her. Not only that, she  was afraid that  things would  turn awkward between them.  She  was  happy just the way they  were. She never  expected him to like her  back at the same time she didn't  want him to reject her  either.