He looked across the table at her. Those huge eyes shimmered colours ranging from threads of green to streaks of pure ebony, weaving together to make a whirlpool of depth unknown, pulling him in further and further. Fighting not to visibly struggle, he blinked slowly, and rolled his eyes down to see much the same effect mirrored in the tabletop. He followed the lines of a knot with the tip of his right ring finger, half-heatedly hoping she’d notice and think him deep or sensitive or… something.
His mind wandered to the edge of a familiar precipice and he stepped off with nothing more than a passing thought of what might happen if he didn’t. He found himself courting his true love over a piece of work she’d asked him to help her with, or maybe it was that cup of coffee he’d reigned in the courage to ask her to. Yes, he had asked her over the table and after a shy smile, she had said she might be free the next evening. Then the appointment was set and they had met and chatted, and she was laughing at a simple joke he would have made. And she was just as beautiful this close to him as –
‘Jake?’ interrupted the inconvenient word, ‘are you still with us?’
He looked up; those eyes were fixed on his, an amused look on her face. ‘What?’ The word left his mouth with the simple intent of giving him some time to think.
‘You were a million miles away, I know.’ She flicked her long, slightly tousled, wild brown hair in a bratty way and pouted ridiculously. ‘Am I not interesting enough to keep your mind occupied?’
He lifted an eyebrow just a little and let a wide, lazy grin spread across his face, ‘I was just lost in the thought of how amazingly beautiful you are.’ She groaned and threw a small rubber at him. He caught it and held it up so she could see it, ‘I’m keeping this.’ She stuck her tongue out at him and for the briefest moment, while her eyes were closed, he relapsed. Then he threw the rubber back and braced himself for the ensuing battle.

He placed his hand gently over hers as the bustle of the surrounding customers faded into the background. Their meal had yet to arrive but he had no problem waiting when the company was so good. His fingers traced individual lines across the top of her hand and down to her fingertips. She looked up and smiled at him, retaliating by entwining her fingers with his and proclaiming her victory, ‘Caught you.’
‘Caught me?’ Jake replied, an amused smile lifting the corner of his mouth, his eyes searching hers. ‘I think you’ll find I’ve been on the hunt a little longer than you.’
‘Hmmm,’ she tilted her head to one side and let her long, dark hair provide a stunning backdrop to the conversation, ‘why did you wait so long before asking me out?’
He could feel a little heat rise to his cheeks and was glad of the candlelight and the shadows it danced with.
‘Well, I guess I was just a bit shy and didn’t know if you’d just laugh in my face or something.’
Her expression softened further and he could feel her grip tighten briefly. ‘You know I wouldn’t do that. Besides, who wouldn’t want to go out with you?’
‘You want a list? Or just one or two?’
‘Yeah, you’re right, I can think of a few.’
He sighed comically, ‘And here was me thinking I’d get a confidence boost.’
She smiled again, ‘Nah, afraid not.’ He returned her smile and lifted her hand to his lips –
A small but violent shake of his head brought the classroom back into focus.
‘Wow, you just can’t focus at all today. What’s on your mind?’ There she was again, sitting on his left, her perfume filling his senses to bursting.
‘Nothing. I just… tuned out for a minute. Mr. Arcman is not exactly the most entertaining of teachers.’ He spoke quietly even though the old man was on the other side of the room.
‘Fine, don’t tell me.’ She said, obviously a little put out.
He sighed, ‘Don’t be such a girl.’
She flicked her hair, as she was prone to do when offended, ‘I am a girl.’
He jabbed her in the ribs playfully and she screamed louder than he thought she would. He smiled as their teacher turned an uninterested scowl on them and she blushed furiously. Half the class had looked at her but it was hardly uncommon for someone to yelp during a lesson, and soon the clatter rose to its usual level. She shoved his shoulder as he sniggered quietly.

And so it went. Day after day, month after month, daydreaming beyond his own control. Always about her. Soon she began asking him what he was thinking about, but he avoided the question, or else answered truthfully, making it sound like he was lying – covering something up. And he was.
Eventually she got angry. Still he wouldn’t say. Then, one day, they stopped talking… It broke his heart, but still he couldn’t say what he had wanted to say for years.

They’re no longer friends… They never will be again…

He still daydreams.

But now, when he thinks about her, he cries.