There she is, the girl of my dreams. Her back park slung over her shoulder as she walks beside her friends. As she laughs, her eyes shine bright with joy, but all I can see is her lips. Oh how I’ve stared at those lips wondering what they taste like. Probably strawberries.

A gust of wind blows sending her long brown hair waving behind her. And a piece of paper falls from the opening of her bag, which was left accidentally open too far. Following behind I bend down to pick it up.

It’s our Chemistry quiz from last week. In the corner is a big red C-. As I read the letter an idea forms in my head. I can offer to tutor her! I have top scores in Chemistry. That will give us time together, and she’ll surely fall in love. It’s a foolproof plan!

I run up and tap her on the shoulder. She turns and as her eyes fall on me my brain goes completely blank. “You dropped this,” I manage to mutter as I thrust out the paper.

She sees the C- and grabs the paper quickly, shoving it into her bag. She starts to turn away-

Oh no, my chance is disappearing. I panic, “Wait!” As she turns back, I blurt out, “A C minus isn’t very good, you need help to get a better grade.”

Her face turns red with embarrassment as I now realize she put the paper away quickly so her friends wouldn’t see her grade. Her eyes blaze with fury, and I remember that I forgot to offer to tutor her.

“Are you calling me stupid? Get lost dork! Come on let’s get away from this creep.” She spins and runs off with her friends.

At first I’m numb with shock. My dream encounter went to nightmare in two seconds. Feeling returns like pins and needles from having a limb fall asleep. What did I do? Why did I have to say it like that?

As another gust of wind blows I feel a chill on my lips. Raising my hand, I touch my cold lonely lips, knowing that they will never touch hers.