One of the important days of their school year had finally arrived. Today was the deadline to submit university applications. The first, important step to achieve both of their goals.
Nora had gotten up two hours before her alarm was due to set off. She found herself so restless that out of the blue, she decided to go for a run. After the first three minutes, she was content with a brisk walk. She was good at many things, but sports were not her thing no matter how much she forced herself.
At school, Rafe looked unusually restless too. They took a seat next to each other at the computer lab and looked at their screens.
"Are you ready for this?" she asked.
"I am, sensei."
"God, you really enjoy calling me that."
"It has a ring to it. And it's kind of cool," said Rafe.
"You're a dork."
"That's what you made me into. A nerdy, studious dork," he replied. "With your stupid pencil cases and bananas."
Nora stuck out her tongue at him, her eyes never leaving the application's website.
"This is it," she said. After re-reading everything for a thousandth time, with a sigh, she pressed 'Submit' and sent off the application. She'd done it. Everything else was now up to fate. Four out of the five universities she picked were in London. All the predicted grades, teachers' reports, all the hours logged for extracurricular activities and recommendations from her temp jobs were uploaded online. The personal statement she has been writing and editing throughout the year was submitted. All of this to stand out from the sea of equally hopeful and clever students trying to get a place at a top university.
"Cazzo you're making me nervous," he said. His leg was bouncing, and he ran his hand through his hair aggressively.
"Hurry and click it already, I've submitted mine. Now you're the one making me all nervous," she snapped, glaring at him and his screen. "Just get on with it before you accidentally delete it or something."
"Shit I can't change anything once I submit it," he said, re-reading the application like a maniac.
"Rafe, you've done more than enough. There's nothing you can change now."
With a heavy sigh, he clicked the mouse. A message appeared on his screen with his ID number and confirmation.
"The actual offers will come through by letter to the Headmaster. Miss McGrath will then hand them out to us."
"When will we have the results?"
"Tenth of May." She switched off her computer.
"We have a game that day," Rafe muttered. "Last one of the season."
The bell for lunch had rung, and after a moment, Rafe's usual crowd, except Luke, walked in, asking him to come to lunch.
"We're going out to get food at Chengs. Are you coming?" One of his teammates, Nick, asked.
"Yeah, coming, as long as you're paying. Nora, wanna come? Nick's paying," Rafe asked, ignoring Nick's protests.
She gave him a tight smile. "No. Thanks."
"You guys go ahead, I will catch up."
Nora didn't miss the confused exchange of looks between Hazel, Jack, and Nick.
Rafe turned to her. "Why don't you want to hang out with us for once? They're a fun bunch once you get to know them."
"Rafe, I've been going to school with them longer than you have. I think I know better what kind of bunch they are."
"You know, you should be less judgmental. Get out of your comfort zone. They aren't bad. You can't make up your mind because of one girl." He grabbed his school bag and opened the door for her as they both left the classroom.
"Honestly, Rafe, I am fine without their company. You go on," she said as she looked at the group lingering around outside the school's main doors.
Rafe was about to say something, but in a split second someone shouted, "Heads up!"
Out of nowhere, Luke slammed into Nora, his feet running over hers. She lost her balance and was heading straight for the floor, but Rafe's quick reflexes saved her from the impact.
He held her tightly by the waist and shoved Luke away. "What the fuck is wrong with you, you nearly killed her."
Luke had been trying to catch a rugby ball that flew past them and hit the floor with a hard thud.
"Shit!" He quickly apologised to Nora. "Are you okay? Sorry, didn't see you," he said sheepishly. Miss Gray came out of the classroom and immediately gave Luke and Tom detention for playing rugby in the corridor.
"You okay?" Rafe asked as Nora assured them both that she was absolutely fine. Her left foot on the other hand...
As if reading her thoughts, Rafe immediately reacted. "Luke, let her step on your foot."
His blonde friend looked confused and blinked at both of them. Nora looked at Rafe with newfound adoration.
"Just do it. If you stepped on her foot, it's bad luck if she doesn't return the favour."
"What kind of stupidâ"
"Just do it," Rafe insisted as if he were the one with the weird quirks annoying him. Rafe was still holding her by the waist until she placed a hand on his, giving him a nod of thanks for his rescue. Luke put his right foot forward, and Nora softly pressed on his big, muddy shoe with her own. She mouthed a thank you to him while Luke just looked confused.
"We good now?" he asked. Nora nodded. Luke took the moment to slip away quietly, moping at his newly earned detention.
"Good. So I'll see you later?" Rafe said, nudging her arm. She nodded and began walking towards the library.
"Where are you going? The cafeteria is that way. Please don't tell me you're choosing to study over eating. You told me yourself you need toâ" he straightened up, pushed up invisible glasses up his nose and mimicked her deadpan, strict tone, saying, "âyou need to eat regularly and have a balanced diet. It's the best thing for your body and your mind."
"I don't sound like that!" Nora said, laughing out loud.
"Any of that crap ring a bell?" he said with a grin.
"If you must know," she said dryly, looking back, "I'm paired up with William for the Economics project. So we'll study in the library and then grab a quick snack together."
Rafe looked at her in confusion. "William? William Manuel?"
"No, Shakespeare, actually," she replied.
"As in your crush William?"
She let out a frustrated growl and pushed him toward the entrance doors. "Not my crush. My classmate. Go away if you're planning on making fun of me again."
She noticed that Rafe's entire mood soured. "What the hell does he need you for? He's just as much of a nerd as you are! Let him do the work."
"I see what's going on Rafe, and you have nothing to worry about."
"You do?"
"Yes. I'm still your tutor Rafe. It's just William and I have to work together on this project; it's not like I'm teaching him. We'll finish it in two days. You and I will still have our regular lessons, so don't worry. It's not going to interfere with our schedule. I have it all figured out. I love how dedicated you are," she said, giving his arm a squeeze.
He looked at her with some bewilderment. "You are so dense sometimes."
Nora frowned. "What?"
"Just...never mind. Don't tire yourself out."
She shook her head in amusement. "Just go to lunch and stop worrying. I'll see you after school."
"Oh wait, by the way," he said with a grin, tugging her arm back to him. "It's my birthday next week. I'm celebrating. Will you come?"
That took her by surprise. So he was a Capricorn. That explained the confidence almost to the point of arrogance.
"I thought you were broke," she said, remembering that he owed her a lot for her tutoring. And not just money. Her nerves too.
"Yes, thank you for reminding me," he said dryly. "It's being organised for me. You coming?"
"Rafe, you know I don't go to parties. I don't like your crowd," she said. "You don't need me there."
"Nora, of course, I need you there. You're my sensei," he said it as if being a sensei was like being the centre of the universe. "And don't you want to meet my brother?"
She stopped. "He's coming?"
"Yes, he's the one organising this whole thing. We chatted on the phone, and he said if I can't have my 18th birthday in London, he'll bring London here. I mean, obviously compared to the standards of how I throw parties, this will be subpar, but it's better than nothing. This is my eighteenth, for god's sake."
"Rafe, I had my eighteenth birthday in the pub. With fish and chips and a beer. In Buckinghamshire."
"If you think that makes me feel better, it really doesn't," he said, looking like he was going to sulk.
"Where will the party be?"
"Vodka Rev."
Nora did want to meet Rafe's brother, partly out of curiosity and admiration. She still had high hopes to start her law career in the very firm that belonged to Rafe's brother, Emile. But to go to a party with Rafe's friends? Everyone getting loud and drunk, girls stepping on your feet with high heels, deafening music, the sticky floors of a bar and the smell of people's breath after shots...
"You look like I've just invited you to check out the sewers..." he said.
She snapped out of her thoughts. "I'll think about it, okay?"
"Won't take no for an answer. I already invited Benny and Simon. Simon won't be in town, but Benny is coming. So, stop playing hard to get," Rafe said, poking her side. She smacked his arm.
"Ciao," he said and sauntered off.
Nora imagined Benny being over the moon for getting invited to the party. He needed a night out. He'd been sulky ever since that nasty incident with the car paint, and no amount of persuading would make him report it to the police or the headmaster.
Slightly flustered from that sexy wink of his, Nora went to meet William. Throughout their study session, she mulled over her decision to go. As a good friend, she should go. She would want Rafe to come if it was her birthday - he'd agree to go anywhere for her. And this was the perfect opportunity to make an impression on Emile Ferreira and a good excuse to relax after their uni applications. She was grateful Benny had been invited too. At least she wouldn't be alone.
Rafe and Benny's friendship organically thrived on their shared love of food, and it warmed her that Benny was opening up to someone else besides herself. She heard the boys from Rafe's school were homophobic shits, but Rafe didn't seem bothered by Benny and Simon at all.
"Are you okay? You're really out of it today," Will said, waving his hand in front of her face. As he smiled, there was a dimple on his right cheek.
"Yeah...Sorry....Are you going to Rafe's birthday party?"
"Yep. Are you?" He asked, playing with his eraser. Unlike Rafe, who was always sprawled on his chair, William sat up, his elbows folded on the table as if he were going through an interview, his eyes and demeanour always attentive and polite.
"I guess so...don't really have an excuse not to go...Don't you usually go back to London on the weekends?"
William scratched his cheek and sucked in a breath. "Yeahh I do usually...Kind of hit a rough patch with my girlfriend. I don't even know if I have a girlfriend to go back to. So I'll hang around Berk for a couple of weekends."
"Oh...I see. I'm sorry."
Nora wondered what kind of a girl would want a break from someone as lovely as William, but she decided she didn't know him enough to judge. Her first impression of Rafe had been he was a first-class moron and a jerk. Now she couldn't get enough of him, even if he did annoy her sometimes just for amusement.
"Nah it's cool." William said. "I guess we could use a break. But go to the party for sure. It'll be fun."
Will it really? Nora wondered as she , decided to go, after all. Rafe would never forgive her if she didn't.