As they walked downstairs, the dance floor was packed with people. There was barely any room to walk. Rafe took her by the hand and guided her through the crowd, making sure she wasn't squashed or shoved. One guy bumped hard into Norah. Glaring at the culprit, he wrapped a protective arm around her. Walking so close to her, he could feel her silky hair brush against his arm. She smelled of jasmine and mint.

Would he look desperate if he just turned her around and kissed her?

Probably.

There was a crowd outside the club, most were out for a cigarette break. Rafe led Norah away from prying eyes as they walked few meters away from the club. He swayed slightly, that last shot of tequila kicking in.

"Don't get into trouble," she cautioned in her teacher mode. He smirked and pulled her close by the waist.

"Worried for me?" He asked quietly. She began to doing up the buttons on his coat.

"Always."

Rafe couldn't get enough of her. Her lips looked so kissable. Those dark eyes that usually glare back had kindness buried deep beneath them. He loved everything about her. The way she got worried by biting her lip or sucked on the tip of her thumb when she was reading. The way her eyes sparkled when she was talking about her favourite novel. The way her long skirt would sway around her perky butt and the way her long hair always shined like silk.

He held her tight and leaned in for a kiss. His lips were met by her two cold, soft fingers. His heart dropped.

"Rafe, I can't, I'm sorry," she whimpered and ran the back of her hand across his cheek.

"Why? I- We- On the dance floor just now-"

"I know but... it would've been a mistake."

Rafe tore his eyes away from her lips and looked into her eyes intensely, desperately trying to see what she's thinking. What is she feeling? This girl was a fucking enigma.

"Don't tell me you felt nothing for me."

She gave him a shy smile. "I thought I could not fall in love with you."

"What moron told you that?" He asked incredulously.

"You did," she said with a chuckle. "Remember? In the library when we were establishing rules."

He groaned. But how would he have known this little cute bookworm would worm her way into his heart? He assumed she would be one of those shy, awkward girls who never had attention from guys and would become obsessed with him.

"I was an idiot back then," he said. "You can't tell me I haven't changed a little. And you do like me." He flashed her a haughty smile.

"You're a little too busy for me at the moment."

He smile dropped. "What do you mean?"

"Well, there's Maria, then there's Amy, then there's Hazel. And about half a dozen other girls who I prefer not to know about."

"I'm not dating them. You know I had broken up with her. And Hazel? That was just a couple of drunken kisses at a house party. I was having a difficult time here in the beginning, remember? I was getting so drunk I could've as well made out with my shoe and not known the difference. Honestly," he said with a smile and gave her a light squeeze. He liked the feel of her petite frame in his arms. Having her so close to him sent a jolt in his nether regions, and he tried his best to keep his mind out of R rated thoughts.

"Isn't that what you're doing with me now? Coming out here for another drunken kiss? Just with a girl who is so good at being immune to your charms?"

"Dio. You're not immune to my charms," he said.

Norah frowned and pushed away slightly from him. He didn't want to let go. "Rafe, I will not join the list of girls who entertain you whilst you're here. I'm happy and content being your friend and tutor. Let's not ruin what we have. If you have some urges, there's plenty of girls inside."

He let out a frustrated sigh. "Jesus. Norah, I don't want you for one night. Or one party. I want you to be my girlfriend."

She looked surprised and took a moment to gather her thoughts. "I'm not ready for a relationship at this point. We have mock exams coming up soon..."

"Oh cazzo. Is that all that matters? Can't you stop thinking about school for once in your life?"

"No. My academic success is the only thing that's important to me right now."

"You're lying. You're scared of being with me. Why?"

"Because you play with girls' hearts. I won't let you do that to me. Why can't we just be as we are now?"

"Because I like you and I want you. I don't want you as my friend. Or a tutor. I will not hurt you!"

"You're drunk," she murmured and looked past him. "Benny!" She shouted, waving her arm for him to come over. The anger inside him was laced with hurt. Somewhere in the back of his mind he wished it was him going back to Norah's instead of Benny.

Frustration was building up inside his chest. He was laying down all the cards. He was exposing his feelings in what he thought was a romantic prose, but Norah brushed him off as if he was an annoying kid in the store asking for a toy and she was the exasperated mum who promised she'd buy it for him next time. He was literally clinging onto her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, as the cab stopped next to her. Benny gave him a quick wave and got in. Norah took the moment of distraction to quickly kiss Rafe on the cheek. "See you in school."

His heart sinking and his mood dampening, he watched the car speed away into the pitch darkness. He kicked a pebble on the road and swore.

The last time he'd earnestly confessed his love was to a girl in first grade. But she was so uncomfortable and embarrassed at his unexpected outburst of emotion that she threw a box of crayons at him and ran away crying.

And out of the two romantic confessions in this life, this was worse.