It all started at summer camp

"Are you coming tonight?"

I blinked as I read the message out loud for the second time.

I stared at those four words in utter shock.

No freaking way!!

"Are you really sure Adams sent you that?" My brother, Casey asked from the opposite couch.

"But his name is shown clearly on my phone that the message was sent from him. By the way, how could you have heard me with those loud headphones on?".

Casey looked up from the comic magazine he was reading.

"Everyone knows Adams is a nerdy nerd who rarely talks to people."

"Wow" I rolled my eyes and picked up my Chemistry homework resting on my chest. "Nice way to talk about your friend, Casey!!" 

"Well I'm not lying. And, how on earth did he get your number? And how did you get his?"

Great! Over protectiveness in five….four….three…two…. 

Taking my homework, I stood up to stretch.

"Calm your ass down, big wolf! We exchanged numbers at summer camp last week when Mr McMotton made us take everybody's number in case any of us gets lost"

"That still doesn't explain why he wants to go out with you. You know you aren't allowed to date until you're thirty".

I smiled and turned to walk upstairs to my room.

"Dad and mum will not approve of you banishing me to spinsterhood, Casey. By the way, how is Sara doing?"

I didn't need to look behind me to know how tomato faced he already was.

"Piss off, Lauren!" A cushion pillow hit my shoulder and I laughed, running up the stairs. "I swear, you are as annoying as your purple sweater" He yelled.

I giggled as I ran down to my room.

Sara is a girl Casey met at his University. He gets all red-faced whenever I mention her. I haven’t met her yet but with the so many things I've heard about her from Casey, I’m sure she’s a nice lady. I still don't get why he won't grow some balls and ask her out though.

Whimp!

I flopped down on my red bean bag and stared at the text again.

Has he finally figured out I like him?

 I thought, blush creeping on my face.

 It feels like a dream that Adams is finally texting me. 

I have been secretly crushing on him since third grade and though he rarely looks towards my direction, I cannot help but want to see him everytime.

The joy that I felt when McMotton made us exchange numbers.

Bless you, Mr M!

Of course I know Adams is almost anti-social. He always excludes himself from gatherings or extra curricular activities despite being so brilliant. He is mostly in company of Casey and some other guys. He wears baggy hoodie to classes and his Harry Potter glasses makes him look so…. Harry Potter-ish.

But there's something about him that is just so.... captivating.

Is it his brown eyes?

Or his blonde coloured skin?

Or his dark and full hair?

And the muscles threatening to rip his shirt?

Oh my god...Those muscles!!

A message popped into my phone.

Adams > Lauren: MEET ME AT JOANNAS CAFÉ. 7PM. DON’T BE LATE.

A scream of excitement threatened to pour out of me.

Ohmygosh!! This is really happening!!! Sam gotta hear this.

I quickly checked the time.

6:30pm.

Lauren > Sam: YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT JUST HAPPENED

Sam > Lauren: I’LL BE THERE IN FIVE!!

**********************************

I felt like pulling off my hair from the root. I’m dead for sure now.

Dead.

Gone.

Bonkers.

Jesus Christ!! All I wanted was a nice quiet night drowned in Calculus. That wasn’t so much to ask, was it?

An annoying laugh rang from behind me and I felt a slap on my back.

“Jeez!! For heck's sake, stop being a wussy, Adams. It’s just Lauren.” Noah managed to say amidst laughs.

A piece of popcorn flew from opposite and landed on his shoulder.

“He is just scared he’ll fall in love!! You know how he acts around her” Great winked, surrounded by packets of popcorns.

Isn’t that the fifth bag he’s devouring?

Noah snorted and jumped over the sofa and plopping on it. “No need to freak out, man! It is just a harmless text”

I raised an eyebrow “No need to freak out, you say? NO NEED TO FREAK OUT?? You do know how protective Casey is of her? What if he finds out???”. I jumped up and started pacing. “He will skin me alive for sure”.

John looked up at Great from his phone. “I told you doing that dare for him was a bad idea”.

“Oh common!!! I’m getting sick of this game of hide and seek between them” Great said, rolling his eyes. 

“And we all know Adams will grow old before having the guts to ask Lauren out” Noah added

I opened my mouth to counter him but John beat me to it.

“Don’t even try to deny it. The secret staring….”

“The blushing when you see her…”

“Pretending to avoid her…”

Noah wriggled in his seat, making kissing faces at me.

I gazed at the trio, dumbfounded.

Struggling to find words, I stammer “but I….I….She isn’t really my…unno…type and…and…”

Great threw a piece of popcorn into his mouth and pointed at the clock. “You have ten minutes to get to Joannas, bro”

I huffed and turned towards my room. My only safe place.

Of course I like Lauren. Ever since summer camp.

The way she smile smoothly and walk with grace.

The way she shies away when complimented.

Despite being a rich kid, she is so down to earth and lovely.

And beautiful too.

Very beautiful.

But then……

I'm am but a nerd. That's is what people whisper when they think I am not listening

Does she see me as a nerd like others?

I pull of my glasses and stare at them.

Am I good enough?

I don’t have enough money like she does. Is she okay with that?

“Hey!!”

Noah, Great and John came circling me.

“We know you are scared and all. But you’ll be fine. And I’m pretty sure Lauren likes you too” John patted my shoulder.

“Really?” I could feel hope surfacing.

“Yeah. Really. Now go before you keep the poor girl waiting” Noah laughed.

“But Casey…”

“…will understand. Now go!!!”

I took a deep breath and rushed towards the door, my heart beating fast.

It has been beating fast the since the first time her hands brushed mine.

It all happened in a millisecond but I felt it all.

I felt it all at summer camp.