Chapter 5

I would be lying if I said I did not think of backing out of this silly idea of mine. But I knew it was a lost cause since the moment I told my friends I would not be able to join them for lunch, because I had to work on my assignment with Mikayla Robertson.

Of course, they all looked at me like my brain grew wings. Not like I blamed them though; skipping lunch for assignments was not my style, like at all. The most I could spare was an hour after school with my assignment partner, not an entire lunch period. But in the end, I made up a lame excuse about how I did not want Mikayla doing all the work herself.

Gosh!

Now that I thought about it, that was really a lame excuse. I did not want Mikayla doing all the work herself. Bunny having wings seemed more believable compared to that. But thankfully, they did not ask any further questions. Although, they did seem quite skeptical, but I was too fixated on what I was about to do, to care much about it. And now, here I was, heading behind the bleachers, the voice of reason in my head screaming - what the hell are you doing, Stephanie? But it was too late to back out now.

"Hey, SpongeBob."

"S-Stephanie?"

The surprise on his face was almost comical to watch.

"What are you doing here?" He added, after recovering from his initial surprise at seeing me standing in front of him.

"Isn't it obvious? I am having lunch here," I answered with a tight-lipped smile.

"Huh?"

Seeing his confusion, I decided to skip the sarcasm and just go straight to the point.

"I-know-it-might-come-off-as-weird-but-I-think-I-could-really-use-your-help," I said in a single breath.

"Ok," he drawled.

"Stephanie, you are going to have to use your words if you want me to understand you. You know, words - it is the thing you use to communicate."

"I know what words are," I huffed, to which he simply chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"Ok, ok, sorry. But seriously, you will have to speak a little slower if you want me to understand you."

God, what I was even doing? This was my cue to forget this stupid idea and leave. Yet, I knew I would not do that.

So, taking a deep breath, I said, slower this time, "I need your help, Hawk."

"Yeah, go ahead. Anything, well except for my favorite SpongeBob shirt. I can't give you that."

"No, not that! Definitely not that," I said through a small laugh, something he soon joined in.

"You know that thing you said yesterday?"

"About my horrible middle name?" He questioned, to which I shook my head.

"Not that one. You know...that one...about..."

Why was there not a way to make this less embarrassing? Never in my weirdest thoughts would I have imagined a day would come when I would have to ask for something like this.

Hawk kept staring expectantly at me, oblivious to my inner struggle. Knowing that if I delayed any longer I would probably never get the words out, I just blurted it instead.

"I need you to help me fall in love."

Hawk on his part, stared surprised back at me, opening and closing his mouth, yet no words came out. I would have told him he looked quite funny with that look on his face, but there were other things to be attended to first.

"Yesterday, you said it is possible to learn how to love. I want to learn; I want to fall in love with Bryce."

"Whoa!" He started, looking truly taken aback.

"You know what, this was a stupid idea. I was dumb to think you would be able to help me," I mused, making to leave.

But Hawk was quick to get up from his sitting position, gently grabbing my arm and stopping me from leaving.

"No, It is not stupid at all. I can help you, seriously. You know, you are my first client in this love business, I was just a little surprised That is all. I have almost given up hope of ever finding any clients, and now you came."

"You are so weird," I remarked.

But what else did I expect from him if not laughter?

"Believe me, I get that a lot."

Despite myself, I could not help betraying a smile at that. Although, I got to admit, I did kind of feel bad for him. He was obviously crazy about me, yet here I was asking him to help me fall in love with my ex-boyfriend. He must be going through so much pain right now, yet he was trying to suppress it with a grin.

Poor guy. So, when I placed a hand on his arm saying, "thanks," I meant it.

He deserved appreciation for choosing to ignore his feelings for me so he could help me get Bryce.

At least, maybe the feeling of my hand on his arm would help ease his inner sufferings. From my online searches last night, I learned that even small gestures such as a touch from someone you love, could leave one rolling in glee. I could at least give Hawk this small happiness. I soon retracted my hand, and even though he was still smiling, I could see that he really missed my touch.

"I would help you, Stephanie, but I have a condition," he finally let out after dealing with the after effect of losing my touch.

"Tell me," I answered with a small smile, which his next words were quick to wipe off.

"Date me."

Though I heard him, it was as though my brain did not quite process the information for a few seconds.

But when it finally did, I blurted, "what?"

"I want you to date me, Stephanie," he repeated.

"And in exchange, I will help you fall in love with Bryce."

I do not know how, but I found myself laughing.

"Oh my god! You are so smart, SpongeBob. So, That is your game plan?"

"Game plan?" He asked, staring confused at me.

But I was not buying it, not after what I knew.

And that was exactly why I said, "oh, come on, Hawk, you know what I mean. I am talking about your plan to win me over?"

"Win you over?"

Why was he repeating everything I said. I had to give it to him though, he really was a good actor; he was killing this whole confused look.

"I did not want to tell you so you would not get embarrassed, but I do not think there's any point hiding it anymore. I know how you feel about me. I caught you earlier when you were lost, staring at me in Mrs. Lashley's class. It is nothing to be ashamed of, really. You are not the only one, throngs of guys stare after me wherever I go, I am used to it. You are a good guy, Hawk, but it is never going to happen between us. I know this whole date me in exchange for teaching you how to love thing, is just your way of getting me to date you. I understand how hard it must be for you to try help me fall in love with someone else despite your feelings for me. But still, you did not have to resort to this, Hawk."

He blinked rapidly when I was done speaking.

"My feelings for you?"

Poor guy, he was reeling in the shock of finding out that I knew of his feelings. But he was the one who forced me to tell him. And--

The rest of my thoughts came to an abrupt halt when I heard him add, "Stephanie, I think you have this all wrong. I do not have any feelings for you."

What? No, he was probably feeling shy and so was trying to deny it.

"Gosh, Hawk, why do you insist on making this conversation awkward? I am sure I saw you staring so intensely at me in class. I might not be a love guru, but I know a whipped guy when I see one."

"Stephanie, I was not staring at you, I was staring at Holland Kathy. I am in love with Holland, she's the one I was staring at."

And that was when it hit me.

Holland!

She was sitting at a position beside me in which someone sitting in Hawk's position, would have to look at my direction to see her. And trust me to think he was staring at me. Oh god, kill me! I could only let out a small, "oh," before finally giving in to how I really felt. "god, this is so embarrassing," I admitted.

"I am sorry I misunderstood you, it is just..."

"It is fine, Stephanie. Besides, such is the life of us super average guys, always staring after girls which we cannot have. It might not be you, but the story is pretty much the same."

His playful smile dimmed at the last part, and I could not help from asking, "then if you are in love with Holland, why do you want to date me?"

"Because you are popular. Have you seen Holland's past boyfriends? They are always super popular guys - Troy Graham, Austin Stratton, Tim Potter, Jeremy Lin, all of them popular jocks, or surprisingly popular academia’s. I do not fall into those categories, Stephanie. I am not a popular guy, heck, I am not even an average guy. I doubt you knew my name before we met yesterday."

Oops, what was I supposed to say in reply to that? So, I chose to remain quiet instead.

"I am just not her type, and I doubt I will ever be - at least not with my current social status. But dating you, Stephanie, that would make me popular, people would be interested in who the queen bee of Ravens High is dating? And even Holland would notice me. I want to be a guy who's popular, a guy who Holland would want to be with, a guy who would walk into a room and people would actually notice. Not a guy who attends the same classes with people for years yet, they do not even know his name. And That is why I want you to date me. I want you to help me become that guy, and in exchange, I will try to help you fall in love with Bryce," he finished.

I did not realize I was laughing until I heard the throaty sound that escaped from my lips.

"Oh my god, you can't be serious. Pretend to date you? That is the most messed up thing I have ever heard. Ok let’s say I decide to do it, what's the guarantee that you will even be able to help me fall in love? That was probably some bullshit you made up yesterday to help me feel better. And now, you expect me to take it so seriously that I will even agree to date you for it? No, SpongeBob, not happening."

A flicker of disappointment flashed through his eyes, but he was quick to brush it off with a smile.

"Well, then, I guess we do not have a deal."

"Yeah, I guess we do not. This was a stupid idea anyway."

And saying that, I walked away, stopping only when I heard him say, "you know, that thing I said about how love can be learnt, I really do believe that."

I did not say anything in reply but just continued with walking. But even then, his words kept ringing over and over in my head again.

'If math can be learnt, then love can't be any different.'

'You know that thing I said about how love can be learnt, I really do believe that.'

'I want you to date me Stephanie, and in exchange I would help you fall in love with Bryce.'

Gosh, how did I get to this point? Date him just so I could fall in love with Bryce. No way! I was not that desperate. If that was what it took to learn love, then I guess I would have to pass. I would get Bryce back. Sooner or later, he will forget all about what happened.

He always did.

Bryce and I would get back together, we always did. Love or not, we would. And I definitely did not need Hawk Gary Moose for that.

Definitely not.