The final year of high school is the worst. At the age of eighteen we’re forced to choose what we want to do in the future. Even if we manage to pick something, whether we can even have a chance of achieving it depends on a number. What’s the point of volunteering or sports or clubs, being compassionate and trustworthy if you’re not even looked at past a certain number?

Isaac stared at the test in front of him. He tapped his pencil against the desk and wondered what he should do. He knew what the answers were and he could, to the shock of his teachers, get everything right. But, if he did that, then he wouldn’t have an excuse to see Rosemond anymore. Then again, it wasn’t like he had a chance with her. Three years and she still doesn’t see him as anything more than Delancy’s friend. He looked at the time and did what he had to do.

During the break, Isaac headed down the hall to Diego’s class. The two were chatting away with some others before two people walked up to them.

“Hey, is Delancy dating that guy?” A guy asked, pulling a chair up to the group.

“What guy?” Diego asked.

“The one that she’s always with. The weirdo who keeps talking to himself.”

“Dunno,” said Diego, wanting to end the conversation.

“Can you ask her?”

“It’s not like she would date you,” said Isaac. “I don’t think she’s ever dated anybody.”

“Please. I’ll buy you lunch for a week.”

“Deal,” said Isaac.

“Dude.” Diego said, slapping Isaac’s hand away from the shake.

“A month?”

“Delancy!” Diego gave a quick handshake and ran off to find Delancy.

“Not fair.” Isaac dashed off after realising the situation.

The duo raced down the halls, stopping by the student council room, gym, courtyard, and roof before they found Delancy in the fashion classroom working on her project alone.

“Hi Delancy,” they said in such a tone with such a smile that it was her turn to give them the scared look.

“I don’t have any money. I don’t know the answers to the test. What do you want?”

“Are you single?”

“Are you dating anyone?”

“Say a certain guy who mumbles to himself.”

“What are they offering you?” She asked. Delancy put down the scissors and leaned back into her chair with her arms crossed.

“What are you talking about?” said Diego. “I’m just curious about my best friend’s romantic life. Seventeen years without a boyfriend? Are you into-”

“A month’s lunch,” Isaac interrupted.

“Dude,” Diego said, slapping Isaac again.

“Dude, stop slapping me. You know I bruise easily.” Isaac rubbed his hand before looking at Delancy with hopeful eyes.

“Give me dessert for the entire month and I’ll tell you.”

“Del,” Isaac said. He was looking forward to a month’s worth of cookies.

“Deal,” said Diego.

“Dude.” This time it was Isaac’s turn to slap Diego.

“Your answer Delancy,” Diego said.

“I’m not dating anyone. Who’s asking?” Delancy returned to cutting fabric.

“Ray.”

“Why would Rei care?” Delancy asked. She moved the fabric onto the mannequin. “Isa, hold.”

“Not our Rei,” said Diego, “Ray from the judo team.”

“Oh that guy. Isa, raise it a bit, Diego get me the pins.” Delancy’s fingers tingled as she waited for Diego to place some pins in her empty palm.

“Colour combo seems weird,” Diego said, taking a step back to look at the current work in progress.

“I like it,” said Isaac. “Shape seems a bit weird. Are you going to add another sleeve?”

“Design’s over there.” Delancy nodded towards sketchbook while reshaping the current fabric.

“Ah,” the boys said in unison.

“Looks nice.”

“Better than what I was thinking of.”

“Don’t you have to go get me my month worth of dessert?”

“You know you should start to watch your weight. Let’s start with cutting back on sweets.”

“Diego?”

“On it.” Diego dragged Isaac back to the classroom while he mumbled about his dessert.

Back in the fashion classroom, Eric returned from the bathroom, confused on why some guy was crying about cookies.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Delancy. “I’ll meet you at the pizzeria after my meeting?”

“Sure.”

*

Delancy rushed out of the school after her student council meeting was over. She found Eric sitting by the window scribbling and smiled before she headed inside. Once inside, she saw that there was a medium pizza with only one slice eaten from it.

For once, Eric noticed Delancy as soon as she arrived and gestured to the pizza. “Eat, you’re probably hungry.”

“Thanks for the meal.” Delancy rubbed her hands together trying to find which slice was the largest.

When the two were finished at pizzeria headed over to Eric’s house. Delancy was helping Eric with his homework when their stomach grumbled.

“You hungry?” He asked. He got up from the table and grabbed the leftover pizza.

Delancy was going to take a bite before Isaac’s words from earlier echoed through her mind, you know you should start to watch your weight. Sure he meant it as a joke but when Delancy compared herself to skinny Eric she put down the slice she picked up.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I’m not hungry.”

Eric picked up his pizza and took a large bite, knowing that Delancy was watching. He chewed slowly and brought the pizza close to her, tempting her. “Eat.”

“I’m not hungry.” Delancy pushed the pizza away.

Eric leaned on his arm and waved the pizza in front of Delancy’s face before he brought it to his mouth. “Eat. There’s nothing wrong with your weight if that’s what you’re thinking. Even if you gain weight, there’s more to love right? Now eat.”

“More to love?”

“It’s a saying isn’t it?”

Unable to stand Eric’s pout anymore, Delancy took a bite out of Eric’s slice before picking one up for herself.

“It’s good,” Delancy said.

Eric leaned across the table took a bite from Delancy’s slice with a cheeky smile, he said, “Now we’re even.”

“You have some sauce on your face,” Delancy said.

“Is it gone?” Eric asked after using his tongue to lick the area around her face.

“Not even close.” This time it was her turn to lean over the table, at first she was going to wipe it off but something was bugging her so instead she slapped him with the pizza.

“What was that for?” Eric asked.

“Nothing,” Delancy mumbled and returned to her homework.

The number of times I had that feeling could be counted on one hand. It was simple, one two. The first time was with Emilio. The second time was with Eric. But, if I had to count the number of times I had that feeling per person, I would run out of fingers and toes.