The rest of that week goes by smoothly. Hayden and I make small talk, and Kian seems to be improving even more than before. It's like he's developing a sense of humor or something.

I make it through the weekend without dying, but that's because Caylen and I decided that we'd just stay home and hang out. We didn't really feel like dying anytime soon. We definitely weren't going to stay in the house all the time, but when we needed to go somewhere, we'd have to get there quick, with no stopping. So basically, next time we wanted to leave the house, we'd sprint the whole way.

Monday comes and I get my cast taken off. It feels amazing! It's like being released from prison! At least, I imagine this is what it feels like. But I'm free! And I don't know what to do with myself!

It's on Tuesday that Hayden almost asks me to the dance.

---------------------------------------------

I walk into Mrs. Blaise's science classroom that day and take my seat next to Hayden.

The first thing I see is a yellow sticky note stuck to the table.

On Monday, May 1st, class will be held in room F2 17 due to minor construction.

-Mrs. Blaise

I look up and realize that every table has a sticky note stuck to it. They're probably just reminders that will stay up until May 2nd.

Hayden sits next to me and the bell rings for class to start.

"Hey," he says.

"Hi." I cross my legs. I don't need him noticing the cast removal any sooner than needed. That'll just bring up what he wrote on it, which I'd really not talk about.

"How's your day going?"

"Pretty good."

"That's great. Mine is going well, too."

"Good to know." Why are we speaking so awkwardly?

"Natalie?" Mrs. Blaise calls.

I perk up and look at her. "Yes?"

"Would you come write the definition of meiosis on the board in your own words?"

I nod and stand up. So much for keeping my ankle hidden from Hayden.

I pick up the dry erase marker write the definition of meiosis in my own words. I can feel Hayden's eyes on me the whole time. Once I turn around and head back to my seat, I see that he is, indeed, looking at me.

Once I'm sitting down in my seat, he says, "Your cast is gone!"

"Yes it is."

"So is the declaration of my good looks."

"And Kian's," I point out. I glance at Kian from the corner of my eye. He's writing on his paper, but a smirk is clearly plastered on his face.

"Right," Hayden says awkwardly. "If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to hear you say it again."

I grab my backpack from the floor and put it on my shoulders. Hayden laughs quietly.

"Come on, Natalie."

"Not again, Hayden. It's not cool."

"Do it."

"Actually, it is too much trouble, okay?"

"It really shouldn't be."

"I didn't want to the first time, so I won't do it now."

"Well, since your cast is no longer proclaiming this truth, I need to hear you say it, since you're no longer wearing it."

"Why does it matter?" I ask. "I'd die if someone called me beautiful."

"Oh really?"

"Hayden Young! Don't you dare!" Again, I feel an itch at the mention of his last name. I choose to ignore it, because this situation is really drastic.

"Natalie Cace," he says, "you are beautiful."

"No!"

"You are very beautiful."

"I am not!"

"You are too."

"Don't say that! I don't like it!"

"I'm quite aware of that."

"Please, Hayden!"

"No. Not until you accept it."

"Why should I accept a lie?"

"Because it's a truthful lie."

"Not even!"

"You looks are exquisite! I can't even tell what your background is!"

"I'm Asian."

"Wait," he says. "Seriously?"

"Yes. Don't mention the eyes. I like them the size they are."

"Not just the eyes, Natalie. Your nose, and your skin isn't even hardly dark! In fact, it's kinda pale. At least it's not as bad as-"

"Don't go there, Hayden. There's nothing wrong with fair skin."

"Sorry, beauty."

"Shut it."

"Or not."

"You're making me sad."

"You should be happy that I'm complimenting you."

"No, I should be upset that you're being racist."

"Ouch."

"And that's what I'm doing, so there."

"You're still beautiful."

"Can I slap you?"

"Yes please."

I give him a funny look, and he laughs.

"I'm sorry, Natalie," he says. "Please forgive me."

I don't say anything.

"Please? Do you forgive me?"

"No."

"That's not nice."

"Why are you always driving me insane?"

"Maybe you're embarrassed."

"Maybe?!"

"Maybe you like it though," he says.

I give him the death glare. Then I glance at Kian, who is smiling only a little. I can barely even see it. But he sure is pushing awfully hard on his pencil.

"No, Hayden. I'm pretty sure you just annoy the living crap out of me."

"I'm sorry." He wasn't being sarcastic that time. He sounded sincere. "Really, Natalie. I'm asking for forgiveness."

"Hayden, you can't just bug people, ask for forgiveness, and then do it again."

"Ok. Thanks. Forgiveness?"

"Just this once. You better not need it again."

"Okay. Thank you."

We actually do our work for a while, and it's five minutes to the end of class when Hayden looks up at the clock.

"Hey, Natalie," he says.

"What?" I stretch the word out in a very annoyed sort of way.

"You know that having a healed ankle means you can dance, right?"

Oh no. Oh no. No. No, no, no, no, no.

"I was wondering," he says, "if-"

"Hang on," I say, putting my finger up. I clutch my stomach as if I'm about to puke, and I look eat Kian for help. His look in return just tells me that he knew this was coming, but he has no way to offer help.

I already have my backpack on, so I just drop my pencil and run from the classroom with my hand over my mouth. At least the teacher would think I was leaving to puke. I'm not sure if Hayden will buy it, because I acted perfectly fine up until that moment. But there's no way he's asking me to that dance.

I hang out in the hall until the bell rings, and when the door to the class opens, I run behind the staircase and hide. I watch as Hayden walks out, looks around, and then walks away. I walk back to the classroom as Kian comes out.

He approaches me and hands me the paper and pencil I left in the classroom.

"Thanks," I say.

"You okay?" he asks jokingly.

"Yes," I say. "Just had a little emergency there."

He smiles, and turns to walk away.

"Kian," I walk up to his side. "Can we...can we hang out again this Friday?"

"Yes," he says. "Same time, same place. Gotta go."

He quickens his pace in the opposite direction of where I need to go, so I head to my next class, slightly disturbed, but a little satisfied as well.