The rest of the week were spent mostly on going to the music store and hanging out with Lara. Occasionally Gabe would join them too but December noticed there was a slight tension whenever they spoke to each other. Knowing that something was definitely up, she casually asked her about it, but Lara only waved her off with a cheerful smile.
December had let the matter drop then. She figured if Lara felt comfortable enough to say anything about it, then the girl would do so.
Despite the things that happened, December admitted she enjoyed her one week holiday.
After that time with Pierre in the garden, who left after receiving a phone call, she walked around a little bit more to find some hidden gems, but it had been futile.
And so did her effort throughout the whole week.
As for Michael, remembering the pressuring matter of wanting to awe him on the tour, December had brought him to the places she and their parents had been to for the most part when they first came here. Even though she was secretly anxious about it, she aimed to impress him, despite his cold nature.
Suffice to say, she was surprised but glad that he had seemed both reluctant and, if not slightly, awed when they walked around town. What was equally surprising was the fact that Michael didn't act like a sore loser and go out of his way to be mean to her, even though he knew he had lost in this.
She had won this time, and it made her heart want to swell in apparent happiness, no matter how trivial it may seem – but she didn't dare show it on her expression, because he could always change his mind.
The new week came, and with it a surprise that was so shocking she could barely form a coherent thought.
She was getting ready for her second class, and after being reprimanded again for being late this morning, December didn't want to further put herself in the 'hit list' of Ms. McLeod, especially since the woman was going to be a substitute for her next class. Just as she was about to close her locker, she let out a small, startled scream when she saw who stood beside her.
"Zach!" She said, a pleasant surprise in her tone as her lips curved upwards.
What is he doing here?
"Hey, December." Zach smiled, showing his dimple.
Glancing at them, it made her want to grin like a fool. He's just so cute. This crush that I have on him is probably going to be the death of me. If I don't stop smiling like a weird person, that is.
"So, uh," He started before continuing, "I meant to call you earlier – way earlier actually but I – "
December made sure she kept her gaze on him, but as she started to notice his face getting flustered a little bit, her heart started to thump a little faster. After all, when a guy gets flustered when he talks to a girl, didn't it mean that he likes her?
For one moment, she dared to hope but decided to squash it down until she knows what he wanted from her.
Speaking of which, she needed to tune in to what he was saying now.
Despite the earlier thought trying to intrude her rational mind, and even though she was fighting it and not let it get to her head, December couldn't erase it as the possibility that he might like her, might actually be true. Still, she managed to catch some of the things he said.
"… anyway I – do you… do you want to go out with me?"
...
...
WHAT?
Multiple things happened at the same time; her ears was sure of what they heard, her mind couldn't quite believe it but her heart took it as a cue to thump faster and possibly louder – maybe that's just her imagination.
And it was a bit odd how she could tune in and noticed those things at that moment when her mind was at war deciding whether this was a dream or not.
Eyes wide, she spluttered, "Wha..uh..wh-what?"
Really, December?!
Wincing, she cleared her throat and gulped inaudibly. "I mean, come again?"
Zachary stared at her for a moment. He thought her reaction was adorable and he couldn't stifle a laugh. He smiled at her and said, "I said, would you like to go out with me?"
Without thinking, she glanced around her and noted that there were no one around to see or hear what just happened. She breathe a sigh of relief and stared at her crush – whom had just asked her out.
Is this real? Am I on some prank show?
As soon as she thought that, she shook the thoughts away.
It could be real, she reasoned with herself. Things like this do happen, although I never thought it'd happen to me. And Zach just asked me out!
She had known Zach since junior year and having seen how he was with his friends and the people around him, she believed he was genuine because that's just who he was. She had no reason to think this entire thing was a prank because she knew Zachary wouldn't do that to anyone.
Giddiness washed over her as the entire situation had finally dawned and processed in her mind, and as her cheeks flushed, a smile bloomed on her face.
Still, out of habit and a little wariness that this might be a dream, she said, "You're really asking me out?"
He nodded and grinned. "Yes, December."
With a shy nod, she bit her smiling lips and said, "Okay."
December couldn't stop smiling, as she walked towards the cafeteria. Her classes with Ms. McLeod were done for the day, and even though she wasn't tardy, Ms. McLeod still picked on her – What is so amusing, Miss Scarborough? Care to share with the class, hmm? – to which December only shook her head, with a bright smile that left everyone to assume anything. Of course, this further deepen whatever dislike the grouchy teacher had towards her.
But December didn't care a single bit, or rather, she couldn't. After all, she was over the moon!
She still felt like it was a dream; half-dazed but still giddy nonetheless because after so long, she finally got asked out.
That sentence could have made her feel a little bit pathetic but December didn't let that dampen her mood.
Because she was finally going out on a date.
With Zachary Wong.
Did that meant they were an item now? She had no idea, and frankly December was afraid to push her luck, as inexperience as she was in this.
Even seeing Karen Joyce' flawless face as she walked past the lockers, sticking a foot out which December realized a little too late, thus making her trip and fall on her face, surprisingly didn't diminish the thought that she was going out on a date with Zach, nor did she felt any burning embarrassment.
Actually, she was embarrassed, but it was as if she had an armour built on her – the pain and humiliating incident felt like a numb sensation which didn't penetrate fully into her system.
When she slowly got up and ignored the laughing faces and smug look on Karen's face and simply had a serene smile on hers, she didn't fail to notice her nemesis' pretty face that was contorted into an ugly sneer as she huffed to her cronies.
"Is she stupid or something?" Miranda wondered out loud.
"Yeah, that's gotta be painful. I mean, did you, like, see that? Did anyone catch that on camera, by the way?"
Murmurs of realization and denial buzzed loudly behind December.
"I would, like, die, if someone ever do that to me!" Harriet's nasal voice could be recognized anywhere.
December could also identify Karen's voice anywhere.
Karen laughed and December imagined her flipping her hair and rolling her eyes right now. "Oh, whatever. A slut like her is not even worth my time. Come on, girls."
Although her knee had suffered a shock of being on the floor suddenly, she tried to walk without showing any limp – it would only give satisfaction to the mean girl – and just thought of who she would find when she reached the cafeteria: her friends, and admittedly Katya.
Despite the Russian girl's mean and unfriendly streak, she was starting to become a little, tiny bit fond of her.
As she neared the café lounge, December failed to notice Karen glaring at her back, and uttering the words that she would have taken seriously, if she only knew the promise that comes with it.
"I'll get you for good, December. Just you wait."
When a couple of students who walked past her looked at her warily and in fear, she just merely schooled her expression into one she had always perfected into: the image of the school's angel and goddess.
A/N: What do you think of this chapter? Feedbacks are greatly appreciated, likes or dislikes included! The following chapter should be ready by next week, if everything goes well :)
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