Rishabh's behaviour got weirder and weirder by the passing weeks. Alice found herself getting more and more obsessed by everything he did. How he tried to make conversation with her whenever possible, tried to help her without her asking for it, and kept his eyes on her at lunchtime. At first, she found it annoying. Then she started to wonder if he did that because he liked her.
That lunchtime, Alice found Rishabh looking her way again. The admiring look in his eyes made her feel flattered and queasy at the same time. As she looked around to roll her eyes back towards her food, she found another guy staring at her while having a conversation with his friend. And now his friend started staring at her too. When she tried to look away from them, she found yet another guy staring at her. She was getting more and more uncomfortable. So much so that her cheeks started to burn up, she found her legs getting up and walking away from the canteen. Her newly formed friends (including Matilda who even got up to check on her but was stopped by an Year 13 talking to her about Philosophy Club) were startled at her sudden exit and tried to call after her to check where she was going. But she just kept walking without a response.
By force of habit, she found herself at the door of Miss Cook's classroom again. Remembering her last interaction with Miss Cook when she asked her and her portrait to go to hell, Alice could not bring herself to knock at her classroom door. Just as Alice started to turn back, Miss Cook opened the door suddenly. They were both startled.
"Are you alright?" asked Miss Cook. "You look like you have seen a ghost!"
"Nothing short of it." replied Alice.
"Come in," Miss Cook invited, "the classroom is empty anyway."
Alice hesitated for a moment but then stepped foot into the pavement. "You need to promise me you won't tell anyone." said Alice solemnly.
"Unless I have reason to believe you, or someone else, are in danger, I would do no such thing." replied Miss Cook.
Alice considered for a moment and then relayed upon Miss Cook everything that had happened since that biology lesson.
Miss Cook listened intently, her fingers crossed in her lap, and her head slightly downturned, reminding Alice of Dumbledore. At the end, Miss Cook said, "it seems to me that that guy's actions have made you quite uncomfortable. And so have the other guys staring at you at lunchtime."
Alice nodded. "Do you think he likes me?" she asked, trying to sound as little like a typical high school girl as she could; while also avoiding sharing his name for fear of getting him into trouble.
"Perhaps." said Miss Cook, "the best way to find out would be to ask him directly."
Alice's face turned as white as a sheet of paper at the thought of having such a conversation. "Would that stop the... stuff he's doing?" she asked.
Miss Cook answered, "Probably. If he is as nice a guy as you say he is, he should. But if he doesn't, try to firmly and clearly ask him to stop doing it. If he still doesn't stop, you will need to tell Mrs. Patrick, I'm afraid. But let's hope it doesn't come to that!"
"And what if I like him too but just don't know it yet." asked Alice, "because I don't know the signs, what liking back feels like."
"You'll know it when you like someone." said Miss Cook. "As for the staring," she continued, "you need to let me know if it continues, okay? I will need to inform the Head of Sixth Form if it does because it might lead to a dangerous situation, and we need to ensure the safety of all our students."
Alice gave her an understanding nod. She already felt lighter.