Lillian walks into the class smiling
"Hay Lilly," said Reuben.
"Oh hi Rubby" said Lillian.
"You just coming?" asked Saraphina.
"Yeah, I got delayed at home" said Lillian.
"Oh come have a seat" Reuben moves so as to create space for her to sit, Lillian sits down and smiled at him.
"Thanks" she said, Reuben didn't reply, he just kept staring at her, she tried to hold his gave but started blushing, she turns away.
"What?!!!" She asked
"Nothing, I just realized you are really beautiful" she smiles.
"Was I not beautiful before?"
"Oh you are beautiful of cause, but you just keep getting even more beautiful everytime I see you"
"Thanks" she said, "you know you're quite the sweet talker"
"Actually I think you mean I'm quite the truth sayer" she smiles.
"I know I can't win you in a battle of words, so I won't bother arguing"
"If you don't think you can win me, then what will you say about Saraphina"
"And what does that mean?" Asked Saraphina.
"Nothing, just that I also know I stand no chance against you in a tug of words" said Reuben.
"Well, I've not really had to argue with Saraphina about anything so I don't know how good she is" Reuben smiles.
"Believe me, she's good"
While all this was happening, Dennis sat on his seat and watched, he had managed to squeeze his way into their last study group at Lillian's house but that was all, now they were chating and laughing and he wasn't among.
"Perhaps I was just a one time stand" he thought.
What is annoying him isn't the fact that they were chatting and laughing without him, every other students were either reading, sleeping or discussing with someone else, what was really annoying him was the fact that it was Reuben that they were chatting with. Dennis has never been a fan of Reuben, to him Reuben was just the thing he wanted to be, or rather Reuben was the stepping stone hindering him from getting what he wants, from as long as he could remember, he has always liked Saraphina, even when people were avoiding her saying she was a wierdo he has never thought of her as such, to him she was astonishing, but Saraphina never gave him attention, with all her cleverness and smartness, even with her nickname "detective" she never knew he had a crush on her, he tried his best to get close to her but she was too busy babysitting Reuben to notice him. Eventually he decided to let it go and then Lillian showed up, she was even more beautiful than Saraphina and what's more she was placed as his seatmate giving him the Golden opportunity to get her to notice him.
He wanted to believe that it was fate that brought Lillian as replacement for Saraphina but what happened, even Lillian ignored him and started associating with Reuben, the more he thinks about it, the more angry he gets.
"By the way Lilly, Saraphina and I were going out tomorrow, would you mind joining us?" Asked Reuben.
"Of cause, I don't mind" said Lillian.
"Can I come too?" Asked Dennis before he could even realize it, they turned to look at him. "I mean if you don't mind, I will be free tomorrow too so if it isn't much of a weight can I tag along" they all stared at him silent for a while
"Nevermind" said Dennis ashamed "forget I said anything, I wasn't thinking straight"
"Don't get the wrong idea, of cause it's fine if you come along, we're just surprised that you are associating with us this much, you've always been known for keeping your distance" said Reuben. Dennis was silent. Saraphina smiles.
"Let's meet up at the school gate by dawn" said Saraphina "Don't be late Dennis" she smiles at him.
"I won't" replied Dennis.
Later that day, Dennis was the first to come out, after waiting for a bit, Lillian showed up,
"There aren't here yet?" Asked Lillian.
"I've seen anyone yet" said Dennis. He looks at Lillian, she looks beautiful in her blue dress, her face had a soft oval shape, balanced and symmetrical in a way that made everything sit where it should. Her eyes were large and clear, set perfectly apart, framed by long lashes that made them stand out without trying too hard, her brows were naturally shaped giving her expression a natural elegance, her lips were full but well shaped, with a natural curve that made even a neutral expression look slightly inviting. In a few words she was simply breathtaking, and yet he stood there staring at her and not being able to say anything.
He tried to get his mind off her the more he tries to look away the more he found himself staring at her even more.
"You look beautiful" he manages to whisper out. Lillian turns to face him.
"Sorry, I didn't quite get you the first time"
"Oh nevermind, I just think you look so beautiful" Lillian turns away without saying a word.
"Well she has never been the most hospitable to me anyway" he thought.
"Thanks, you look quite handsome yourself" he turns to face her surprise
"What" asked Lillian.
"Nothing, nevermind" he smiled at himself.
"She thinks I look handsome" he thought. He turns to face her.
"Excuse me Lillian, can I ask you a question?" Lillian turns to face him.
"The answer is yes" said Lillian.
"Excuse?"
"You wanted to know if I had a boyfriend right, yes I do"
"But I haven't said anything yet" said Dennis.
"Was that not what you wanted to ask me?"
"Well it is but how did you know?" He asked surprised.
"Just an educated guess " said Lillian, she looks away.
"That was close " she thought. Dennis looks at her surprise.
"Was it that obvious?" He asked.
"Was what that obvious?" Asked Lillian
"You know what am talking about, was it that obvious,? Did you know all along that I was....." Just then Reuben and Saraphina arrived.
"Sorry for taking so long hope you didn't wait long?" said Reuben.
"We are all here now so it doesn't matter, let's go " said Lillian.
"I've called a taxi, it should be here any minute from now ". Said Saraphina.
The ride from the school gate to the beach took them thirty minutes. When they got there Reuben came out, stretches his hands sideways and smiled.
"Here we are, time to have some fun" he yells out.
"Tone it down will you, we don't want people staring at us" said Saraphina.
"Yes ma'am " said Reuben. Lillian smiles.
"Ruby, can I talk to you?" Asked Lillian.
"Sure, What's it?" Reuben asked curious.
"I meant alone"
"Be right back " said Reuben to Saraphina. they both walk away. Saraphina and Dennis stood there silent watching as they walked away.
"They are awfully close recently, aren't they" said Dennis
"What do you mean?"
"Son tell me you haven't noticed, afterall you're the detective, nothing goes by you unnoticed"
"If you have something to say then just say it and stop beating around the bush"
"I mean they seem so attached recently, it's almost as if they are a couple"
"Well that's because they are a couple " said Saraphina.
"Oh I never knew, how long have they been dating?"
"Why do you care?"
"Nothing actually, it's just that this is the first time I'm hearing about it, how long have you known"
"From the very start" Dennis smiles
"Leave it to the class detective to figure it out in an instant" Saraphina smiles, she turns to face him.
"I also know that you have a crush on her" said Saraphina. Dennis was caught of guard. He looks at her surprised.
"What _ what are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me, I know you've had your eyes on Lillian from the very start, I know that the reason you started associating with us was to get closer to Lillian " she smiles "too bad for you, Ruby got her first " Dennis smiles sadly.
"Yeah you are right, perhaps I'm just unlucky, Reuben always gets what i want, it's as if everything I desire is being given to him in a golden platter " Saraphina looks at him confused.
"Don't be so down about it, it's just a girl" she said.
"You're right, sorry" said Dennis, Saraphina walks away,
"Now what's keeping those two so long " Dennis watch as she walks away.
"So much for being super sensitive " thought Dennis "it's funny, with all her super sensitivity one would think she'd pick up on the fact that am crushing on her. she couldn't tell that I once had a crush on her " he smiles.
"Oh well it doesn't matter " he walks after her.
"So where are we going?" Reuben asked Lillian.
"Come on, don't tell me that you are tired of being with me already?"
"Not really, it's just that Saraphina and Dennis are waiting for us"
"Well let them wait, I just wanted to have a lone time with you"
"Oh I see" said Reuben. "That means you didn't have anything private to tell me right?"
"No I don't, hope you aren't angry?" Reuben smiles, he walked close to her held her face in his hand then brought his face closer to the extent that he could feel her breath on his face, Lillian was silent, she kept her gaze on him, he draws nearer and nearer, she closed her eyes waiting for the moment their lips would touch but then he let go of her face, she opens her eyes and saw him smiling.
"Angry? I can't possibly be angry at you?" He whispered in her ears. Lillian looks at him a bit disappointed, he had taken her by surprise, holding her face in his hands, looking straight into her eyes and drawing nearer only to whisper to her that he isn't angry.
"Oh that's nice" she replied, not knowing what to say.
"Are you disappointed?" Asked Reuben.
"About what?" Asked Lillian feigning ignorance.
"About this" he kissed her, she stood there transfixed.
"For someone who could read minds I sure do get caught off guard Very often" she thought. Reuben smiles.
"Thanks" said Reuben.
"For what?" Asked Lillian.
"For accepting to date me, it means a lot to me" said Reuben. Lillian stares at him, normally when he says stuff like this she would ransack through his head to know if he was lying, but this time she refused to do, she believed him even without reading his mind.
"Thanks you too, this means a lot to me as well" she said.
"There you are, I was beginning to think you actually got lost?" Said Saraphina, walking up to them.
"Oops looks like we got caught " said Reuben smiling. Lillian smiles back.