Things are getting a little... unsettling, with Dani.

This morning, during English class, Dani flopped down on her seat next to me, and downright stared at me for who knows how long. I know that she did that to get my attention. She's weird that way, I know.

I mean, I didn't really mind the staring, really, I actually find it flattering. In fact, Dani actually made me realize that I can't even stare back at her without feeling anxious.

I guess it's safe to say that I'm afraid of her.

Because honestly, being afraid of her also made me realize that I have to deal with personal problems on my own. I guess you could say that I'm still figuring myself out. It's frustrating, to be in this state, because all I wanted was to go through my last year of high school in a heartbeat. But hey, that's not happening if I keep on thinking about her.

Dani's strawberry-scented shampoo smells so good, that I involuntarily breathe in, and I caught myself doing so. I had a full three seconds of panic, my eyes narrowed when I felt her shoulder against mine. Next thing I know, she was beside me, literally beside me, because she decided to push her desk closer.

She was so close, that it made me feel so overwhelmed.

"So are we presenting now, or what?" She asked, her light brown eyes staring into my blue ones. I blinked, and quickly kept my cool by simply pushing my glasses up to my nose.

My hand shook. Great. Hopefully she didn't notice how nervous I get around her.

"Pardon?" I asked, because I literally didn't know what else to say. The least that I could do was ask her to repeat what she said to give myself a bit of time to let my brain function properly.

"Our project." Dani explained, and revealing a flash drive on her palm. "The oh-so-dramatic video that we made last night. Are we presenting it?"

I sighed, and looked around. Almost everyone was still working on their project, and had their desks huddled around their partners. Ms Shatilla was giving pointers, and reminding us of our rubrics, but mostly scolding students for having their phones out.

"I think we should present this in class." Dani said softly.

"Now?" I asked her in bewilderment, my hand closing in on a pencil on our desk tightly.

Dani noticed this, and gently tapped my hand. She stared at me like I was a bomb, and when she took the pencil away, she sighed in relief.

"I thought you were gonna break my favourite mechanical pencil for a second there." She said, chuckling. "But yeah, now. Because, why not?"

"Dani, I can't." I said desperately. "It's embarrassing, okay?"

"But the video held raw emotion." Dani explained, grinning now. "I bet we could get an A."

"Yeah, no doubt we'll get an A. But the video is also personal." I told her sternly.

"They don't know that." Dani whispered. "We could say that we made a skit, and applied the objectives-"

"Let's say we do that." I cut her off, and took the flash drive. "It's kind of unfair, don't you think? I mean, we only have footage of me talking my heart out- What about you?" I pressed my index finger on her shoulder. "Why don't we record you as well?"

"I kind of did already." Dani replied, and smiling at me sheepishly.

"Wait. What?"

"I recorded myself. Then, I edited the video, so it looked like we're having an emotional conversation back and forth... And so on." Dani explained, now grinning. "I think I did a pretty good job, if I say so myself."

"Can I see it?" I asked. "Can I see it before we present it in class?"

Dani groaned in complaint.

"Fine."

So, I raised my hand to get Ms Shatilla's attention, and asked her if Dani and I could go to the computer lab. Ms Shatilla nodded her head and told us to get back to class five minutes before the bell rings.

"Aren't you cold?" I asked Dani, as we make our way to the computer lab. I can't help but notice her outfit, which consist of a spaghetti strap floral blouse, which exposed her shoulders, and a bit of her cleavage...

"Wow. Deja vu." She said, grinning at me. "But nah. I'm actually pretty hot."

I snorted a laugh. Of course.

"You do know that spaghetti straps are against the dress code, right?" I reminded her.

"Yes. I know." Dani replied, rolling her eyes. "What about you? Your shoulders are exposed, aren't you violating any laws?" Dani reached out and poked my right shoulder that was exposed because of my oversized, dark blue, fuzzy sweater.

"Your hand is cold!" I complained, slapping her hand away with a pout. "And no, this is called being stylish." I continued, as I adjusted my sweater so the neckline was on my right shoulder.

"So you're saying that my style is slutty?" Dani asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I didn't say that!" I exclaimed, and shaking my head at her. "I actually like your style. It's just... It's distracting." I admitted, my voice almost a whisper.

"Ooh lala~" Dani said in a sing-song voice and burst out laughing. "I'll take that as a compliment, then."

I gave out a huff, and pushed my glasses up my nose, and hid my blush from her by looking away. I shouldn't have said anything.

The computer lab was empty, thank god. I wouldn't want anyone to steal a glance on our screen and watch me cry.

"Ready to be amazed?" Dani asked, as she logged on and inserted the flash drive to open up the video file.

"I'm actually scared."

"Don't be." Dani said, as the video started playing.

A blurry image of me appeared, then the camera focused on my teary-eyed, and flustered face. The background was white, like I'm in a blank space. And when I spoke, my voice echoed, like I was all alone in a tunnel.

"I don't think I want to be out there, expressing my feelings." Me on the video said, sniffing and my smile shaking. I was looking directly at the camera. And what I said formed letters like subtitles.

Then, Dani appeared behind me, walking towards me closer, but stopped, and sighed.

"Why not?" She said on the video.

"Wait hold on-" I interrupted the video and hit the space button to pause. "How did you do this? How-"

"Skills." Was all Dani said. "Now shush. Just watch the video." She hit the space button again, and the video continued.

"I've never been good at showing them" Me on the video whispered.

"You've opened up to me before... What's stopping you?" Dani asked.

"I think I'm not ready. I think I still need to grow up."

"You're one of the most matured people I know."

"Somewhere, someone knows how I feel."

"I know how you feel."

"I'm not the kind of person that would directly act on feeling."

"I don't mind. At least you're there."

"Sometimes I feel like it's wrong to keep all of these things wound up inside me."

"It is." Dani said. "Talk to me."

"It's not good for you" I said.

"Don't push me away." Dani objected.

"It's not right."

"I'm your friend. I have the right the care."

"What would it be like to be free and open like... Like other people?" I asked the camera.

"But you're not like other people. I like that about you."

"I'm jealous of those who can, and I just want to be like them."

"No. No you don't. You're perfect just the way you are."

"I wanted to know how to feel- how to feel like I'm important."

"You're important to me. You're just too anxious to notice."

"I tried so hard to matter in everyone's lives."

"You don't have to. If you do, then you're just putting on a façade. And honestly, without it, you become more wonderful. You're a wonderful person."

"I guess I'm just lonely."

"If you look carefully, you'll notice that you're not alone."

"I guess I'm just stubborn."

"We all are. But yes, yes you are."

"I just don't want them to worry."

"Have some courage."

"Or, I don't want to be shown as vulnerable."

"Facing your vulnerable self, makes you learn a lot about yourself. Think of it as a journey. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable."

"It hurts."

"You can do it."

"It hurts so bad."

"I'll be there to ease the pain." Dani walked closer. "As a true friend, I'll be there for you."

Then my broken smile was shown, a smile so painful that I almost looked away. Slowly, my image faded out, but not completely. Dani's image appeared right beside mine, and both of us stared right into the camera.

My voice and Dani's echoed when we said,

"Don't be afraid to let someone know."

The video ended.

I stared at the blank screen, my hands digging on my knees. Dani nudged me. Her chuckle brought me back to reality.

"So. Pretty cool, huh?" Dani asked, grinning at me. "I cut some of your words out. You know, to make people cry."

"It's fucking depressing." I commented. "Is that how depressed I am? Am I depressed?"

"You're pretty messed up, yeah." Dani agreed. "But hey, like I said, I'll be there for you. Get it? From Friends? The song? Oh god never mind."

"I like how you can joke about this." I said, turning to face her. Our knees touched, and I gave her a genuine smile.

"Because it's not a big deal." Dani said. "Well, it is to you, but don't you realize that I'm here?" Dani held my hand, and I stared at it. "You're too stressed out. Share your stress with me, even if that means that you'll turn into a bitch."

I laughed.

"I'm serious, Mave." Dani said, chuckling and now gripping my hand. "I don't mind."

I stared at her for a long time, and decided to lean forward and give her a kiss on the cheek. I didn't know how I got the courage to do that, but my lips lingered on her skin for a moment, before I pulled away slowly.

But Dani touched my cheek, and I stopped. She was so close. Too close. She looked at me as if she's looking for something, as if she's studying me. Then, Dani simply tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

It was so sweet that I blushed pretty hard. I cleared my throat, and both of us quickly pulled away from each other.

"Come on, let's go back and present this thing." I said, now standing up from my seat, and walked towards the door, distancing myself away from her. It was getting too hot over there.

"Yes. Right. Okay." Dani said, her head hanging low while she gathered the flash drive.

She followed me, and together we walked back to class. I glanced at her sideways, and bit my lip.

"Hey, Dani?"

"Hey, Maverick?"

"Do you want to maybe, you know, grab some hot chocolate later?" I asked.

"Is it a date?" Dani blurted out.

"N-no."

"Then, no thank you." She said, smirking at me.

She entered the class, leaving me in the hallways with my mouth hanging open, my breath taken away. For god's sake, how can she do that to me?

Dani's head popped out of the door, and I watched her laugh at me.

"Alright, I'm kidding. I'd be happy to get hot chocolate with you." She said, grabbing my hand and pulling me in to class.

Then, she let go, and I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

***

Unedited