The 5th Step: A Chance Meeting

When I opened my eyes, I expected a shift from the dark and dim school building, to the bright and refreshing campus.
But what I caught sight of, was much brighter than the sun ever revealed itself for me.

"Pffft- did he just call you Princess Anastasia? Haha, what a guy!"

A girl next to Anastasia pat her on her back. She must be one of her friends.
I hope I will get along with her in the future.
On the other hand, Anastasia seems to be blushing, so cute.

"I-I just went along with what he said. N-nothing important or anything, really!
...mmm"

"Oho~ What did our prince charming say, hmm?"

I-
That's-
err-
I don't know that to say...

"I-err. I just, it was, please understand-"
Damn it. I normally don't get this fumbly with my words.

"Oh, it's okay~. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone, but don't be too late, cutie" , she winked at Anastasia heading to class.

They must be pretty good friends.
And she seems to be nice and friendly, although she seems like a person, who can get a little pushy at times. I might see in the future.
On the other hand...

"Who is this no name boy, Sandy?"

Sandy?

"I will not allow anyone to come too close to my Sandy! Especially not some loser like you!"

Ouch, come on. You don't even know me. Be a bit more considerate please.
"Excuse me-"

"Hey! Please don't just talk to him like that, Ava! I met Zack at the fountain this morning and we were chatting a little. He is a kind person."

I started blushing. She also started blushing, but in a more cute way than I me...obviously...

"Ngnh. I will still not allow him to just stare at your elegant display. Just see the way he looks at you?!"

We both blushed even more after that, but she proceeded to blush off the scale after hearing that.

I quickly snapped myself out of it.
"Oh you little-"
I rolled up my sleeves, ready for action.
But then, suddenly, Anastasia's other friend came back and dragged - Ava was it? - away.

"Almost forgot you, Ayvay. Come on. Classes are starting!"

She really struggles to drag Ava with her. I could maybe help-
No, I am not violent towards women by the way, despite the looks of it.
I just didn't see Ava as a woman the moment I wanted to punch her a little.
Just kidding by the way.

"But-but, what about Sandy?", she sulks.

Sandy, again?

"You know damn right she has no classes right now.
That's why we meet at the campus in the first place, isn't that so Ms. Ava Rose??"

Ava finally gave up putting up a fight.
And while entering the building she threw the coldest and deadliest stare at me, I have ever experienced thus far, whilst the other friend waved and smiled at me, even winking and giving me a thumbs up.

Finally, after all...whatever that was.
I proceeded to turn my head towards Anastasia.

Wait. What was that about-
"Hey!"
I exlaimed a bit loudly from being too tense.

"He-hi..."
She looks away and fiddles with her hair.
Did I do something wrong?!
Why is she not even looking at me?!
Am I such an eyesore that she won't even look at me?!

Note from the future (FN): Man, I was really doubting myself back then, huh.

Ah, now she's looking at me again.
Wow.
Her eyes are so beautiful, a mixture of blue and green. A kind you only see in fiction.
I can see a whole beautiful world in her eyes. So beautiful-

Why can't I stop thinking 'beautiful'?! GNAAA!

FN: She turned her face in embarrassment, she later told me it was so embarassing when I looked so deeply into her eyes, but I couldn't help myself.

"You-you said you would approach me and not stare at me for too long..." , she looks away in embarrassment. 

"Oh-oh right..."
Damn, she remembers when I slipped up?!
Not good, now it's all awkward and it's all because of her friends.

"Guess I approached AND stared at you, huh.
Ahaha"
........

"Mhm..."

FN: She told me she was much more embarrassed than me, because of her friends and the whole situatuion.
And looking back, maybe she was. But at that time I felt like I was the one with the highest pulse on the earth, still jumping between having a seizure and a heart attack.

Okay, okay. Take a deeep breath.
Fwuu. Phew.

"So, what  was  that?" , my voice cracked in disbelief.
What was thaaat? I'm gonna kill myself, AHHH

"Hihihi"
Oh, she's giggling again. What a pleasure.

"My apologies, my acquaintances tend to give off a rather unfriendly, ill-mannered tone." , she bows like a princess.

"It's okay. I was just confused. Especially, because she called you Sandy."

She made a really surprised face

"Ooh! Sorry about that, hehe...my name is actually Sandra. Pleased to meet you, Zack", she smiled at me brightly. 

This was the first moment I heard her real name.
It echoed with her soft, beautiful voice through my head, like she had all day.
It was the first time I was so enticed by someone.
And that affection I already felt toward her would soon turn into something much greater.
Something I could never imagine for myself.

"A chance meeting"
"Alone. Together. Just the two of us"
That was all I could think of in this very moment.

And so, I took a step forward. One step closer to her.
Towards a new future.
A new me.

Chapter 5: End