Two Months Ago
"I'm not a bottom!" I groaned as me and my friends sat at our usual lunch table.
Daniel, a chubby kid with an olive complexion, glasses, and a striped shirt, munched on tater tots.
"Well, how else do you explain it? You keep going on and on about how dominant she is. Not really helping your case, buddy."
Jack, tall and stylish with a caramel complexion and a home-packed lunch, nodded in agreement.
"It's really not. If I hear you say you want her to crush your skull one more time, I'll do it myself."
I smirked, leaning in. "Kinky, dude."
Daniel chucked a tater tot at my face. "Just go ask her out already."
I looked across the cafeteria at her. Flynn Salson. 6'4" with tanned skin and long curly brown hair cascading down her back. A powerful Amazon of a woman, with the attitude to match. I've had a crush on her since middle school, but every attempt to talk to her ended in complete failure.
She sat in the center of the lunchroom, devouring tacos like she owned the world. Even the way she ate was dominant. Most people were afraid of her. Not me. I was just... romantically intimidated.
"Okay," I said, trying to hype myself up. "I'm gonna ask her out."
"Well?" Daniel raised an eyebrow. "You going?"
I stared at him, trying to will my legs to move. "The mind is willing, but the body is terrified."
They both groaned. Jack yanked me out of my seat and shoved me toward her table.
"You're my friend, Isaac, and I love you—but you're driving me freakin' crazy. Just go!"
My heart pounded. My legs felt like jelly. I stumbled forward like some kind of bow-legged flamingo. I tried to lean on her table, real suave-like.
"Hey—"
Swoop. Bam!
I slipped and slammed my head against her table.
The cafeteria went silent.
Jack gave me a thumbs up. Daniel rubbed his temples.
"I'm okay," I muttered, sliding into the seat across from her, ignoring the stares.
Flynn looked at me out of the corner of her eye. "You okay?" she asked, still holding her taco.
My heart squeezed. "Yeah. I'm cool. Very hard-headed."
She went back to eating. Unbothered. I cleared my throat.
"So... uh... I was wondering—"
She turned to me, those green eyes cutting right through my soul.
"What? I'm eating."
I nodded quickly. "Right, yeah. I'll get to the point. Me and my friends are hitting the mall Friday. Our favorite shop's having a remodeling sale. So... do you wanna come with us? With me?"
Damn it, I cursed internally. I didn't mean to say the "with me" part out loud.
She swallowed her taco, looking me over.
"Why should I?"
A fair question. We'd barely talked before this, and those conversations weren't exactly deep.
"Well... it'd be fun—"
"Not interested."
She stood to leave. Desperation surged, and I grabbed her hand without thinking.
"Wait—!"
She glared so hard I swear my soul left my body.
I let go immediately. "Sorry! I didn't mean to touch you—I just mean... you can think about it. I'm not forcing you or anything. I just thought... it'd be fun. They've got retro games. Like, from the late 2000s. Ten bucks."
She gave me a bored look. Then walked away.
I sighed, resisting the urge to faceplant onto the table.
"You any good at math?"
I blinked and looked up. Flynn was standing over me.
"What?"
She slammed her hand on the table, boxing me in. "I said—are you good at math?"
She leaned closer, and I nearly fainted.
"Yes. I'm an A and B student," I stammered.
She smirked. "Good. Here's how this is gonna go: I'll go to your little shopping spree, and in return—you tutor me in math. Got it?"
I nodded like an idiot. "Yes. I—uh—yeah. I can do that."
She straightened up, towering over me. "Good. When is it?"
"F-F-Friday," I said, still dazed.
She turned to leave, a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips.
I walked back to our table, red-faced and lightheaded.
"So?" Jack asked. "How'd it go?"
I just grinned.
Daniel waved a hand in front of my face. "Yo! Earth to Isaac!"
"She's coming with us," I finally said, still in shock. "To the retro shop sale."
Jack frowned. "Wait, we never said anything about inviting her!"
Daniel chucked another tater tot at me. "Yeah, ya dingus! Now you're gonna be too distracted to get all the good stuff!"
I sighed. "Yeah... that was kind of an accident. I'll buy you guys something as an apology."
I smiled. I couldn't believe it. I actually made progress.
"Could've been worse," I added. "She could've shoved a taco in my face."
Jack grinned. "Could've been even worse than that. She could've used a kebab."
I smirked. "Oh, hardy har har. Just shut up and help me think of ways to impress her."
Out of earshot, Flynn leaned against the wall, listening to the boys brainstorm.
An excited smile tugged at her lips.
"Finally," she whispered.