Daya was watching me from across the table, prodding her salad in disinterest, her sculpted brows pulled together. The rest of the noisy canteen had faded into a dull buzz, the chatter all blurring into one fuzzy mess. She looked curious, as if she was trying to understand a complicated maths problem. "Uh...Day?" I rose my brows expectantly.

"Huh?" Her foggy eyes cleared up and she looked like she was being woken up from a long sleep, snapping her attention back to the conversation unfolding around us.

I kicked her under the table warningly, causing her to grunt in pain. "Quit it." I hissed under my breath, my eyes darting around nervously.

"I'm trying to picture it." She teased, ignoring the chatter amongst our other friends. "You and..." She glanced over her shoulder, fixing her focus on Theo, his head bowed as he scribbled an essay at lightning speed, his food untouched. "He's cute." She commented. "You don't mind me saying that, right?"

"Why would I mind?" I scoffed, trying to swallow my anxiety, hoping that my other friends wouldn't suddenly decide to listen in. So far, we were safe. They were having a heated debate about who they'd eat first in a famine and it didn't look like they'd be ready to zone out any time soon.

She smirked smugly, "He's your man, isn't he?"

I kicked her again, leaning over the table, my voice dangerously low, "Say it a bit louder, I don't think the lunch ladies heard you."

"Will you relax?" She urged, her eyes still flicking between me and Theo. "I'm trying to decide." She mused, her head cocked to the side.

"Decide what?" I pressed through clenched teeth, desperate for her to just shut up already.

"I would. I definitely would."

"Care to elaborate?" I growled, stabbing my pasta.

"I was just deciding whether I'd ever go for someone like him. He's fucking adorable, don't you think? What am I saying? Of course you agree with me."

"Oh my god, Daya, you're a fucking nightmare."

"Oh, come on, I'm happy for you." She grinned. "Is he a good kisser?"

Yes. "None of your business."

"Does this mean you get discounts on dog food?"

"Daya." I groaned.

"Are you going to tell your parents?" She asked excitedly. "Are you going to tell my parents?"

"What? Why would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, I will. You know I tell them everything."

"Not this." I snapped. "You can't tell anyone about this, Daya, okay? Otherwise I'll tell Tommy about how you fake it during sex."

She gasped, "That is a low blow." She pouted. "Plus, it's not like I do it all the time! He's just..." Her eyes drifted to her boyfriend, laughing at something Phoenix had said. "He's not very good." She admitted. "But he's so happy when he thinks I'm enjoying myself, so I just...Hey, wait, stop changing the subject."

I smiled triumphantly, allowing myself a sneaky glance over her shoulder. He was sat on his own in the corner, pressing his glasses up his nose, chewing on the end of his pen in concentration. His eyes landed on me and he blushed, smiling shyly. I smiled back.

"Oh my god, that was adorable." Daya squealed, finally making an effort to keep her voice under control. "He's so shy."

"Stop staring at him like a creep." I whispered.

"Oh, is that why he's blushing?"

"Probably. He blushes at everything, it's really-" I stopped dead, slamming my hands over my lips, sealing them tightly shut. It's really cute. I couldn't say that, not to Daya. She wouldn't shut up about it.

She smirked, "Really what?"

"Nothing." I grumbled.

"I'm going over there." She announced, grabbing the edges of her tray and making a move to stand up.

I hastily snatched her sleeve, yanking her back down, "No, you're not." I insisted.

"Ashamed, are we?" She rose her brows challengingly.

"No, it's not..." I trailed off. Why was I so afraid to be seen with him? "Just don't. Please?"

Her eyes flicked back to Theo, then me. In a flash, she'd stood up, her backpack slung over her shoulder as she marched over to him. I cursed under my breath, ignoring the others' confused questions as I chased after her. But I was too late, by the time I'd reached her side, she'd already slid into the seat opposite Theo, smiling brightly, "Hi." She greeted.

His eyes widened at being addressed by someone like Daya. Sure, he had me, but aside from that, the only attention he received from the 'popular crowd' was insults and violence. His eyes drifted onto me, his composure visibly relaxing as I nervously collapsed into the seat beside Daya. "H-Hey." He replied in confusion, shutting his book and stuffing it into his backpack.

"So, what's it like being a jock whore?" Daya asked teasingly, reaching over the table to steal one of Theo's forgotten fries.

His cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson as I glared at my friend, "Daya!" I scolded.

"What?" She giggled, "I'm kidding!"

"Y-You told her?" Theo asked shyly, pushing his tray across the table for Daya to finish after she reached for another handful of food.

"I'm sorry." I sighed heavily. "I didn't mean to, it just...came out." I apologised. "I swear, no one else will find out." I reached over the table, brushing my hand lightly against his, interlocking our pinkies.

He glanced down at the small gesture, smiling lightly. "Okay, you two are adorable." Daya decided, "We came over because Luca wanted to ask you on a date."

"I did?" I frowned at her, earning myself a stomp on the foot. I winced, nodding hastily, "Right, yeah." I laughed nervously. "Uh...so, do you want to?"

"Well, you haven't actually asked him yet." Daya scoffed, shuffling away as she stuffed her mouth with chips, trying to get a clear view of the scene unfolding.

I huffed in annoyance, "Theo...d'you, uh..." I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, "D'you maybe wanna go on a date? Like...with me...obviously." I added stupidly, mentally rolling my eyes at how bad I was at this. I was a good flirter. But clearly when it came to someone I really liked, I was shit at it. "I mean, you don't have to, it's totally fine if you think it's a dumb idea because it kind of is, I just thought that, y'know, since-"

"Luca." He cut me off, grinning at my flustered state. "I-I'd love to."

I let out a tight breath, sighing in relief as my face melted into a warm smile, "That's...that's great. How's Friday?"

"Fine." He giggled, tightening his pinky around mine, trying to reassure me and calm down my erratically beating heart. He was evidently finding amusement in how apprehensive I was for his reply. Perhaps, aside from his family, he'd never had someone who really cared about him.

"I'll text you." I cleared my throat, straightening my posture and broadening my shoulders in an attempt to look more manly and pretend I hadn't just made a fool of myself.

He nodded in acknowledgement, "O-Okay, Luca."

"I should go." Before anyone sees me with you. I immediately felt guilty for thinking something so judgemental. He needed a friend, someone he could trust, someone who wouldn't screw him over. I claimed to be there for him, yet tried to hide our relationship from my closest friends.

"Yeah." He agreed, smothering his disappointed expression. "S-See you later."

"Bye." I smiled, giving his pinky one last squeeze before pushing away from the sticky table and gliding away, Daya following me.

"Oh my god, Luca, I've never seen you like that, you're usually so smooth and flirty." Daya cooed, "You must really like him."

"Shut up." I grumbled in embarrassment, wishing I could just take back every ounce of weakness I'd let out back there.

"Aww, it's sweet. Even a big jock like you can get mushy and cute."

I got sick of her awes and punched her playfully on the shoulder.