It all started with a handshake

Zippy

I like him.

I like him. And it's hard to explain. He's the quietest most annoying person I've ever met yet, every time I try to talk to him I just can't. I don't think anyone else can tell but, my feelings scare me. At least with Rocco my body gives cues like 'oh you like him look, you just fainted!' I don't feel that way about Zane. He's just so, him. He talks like a normal person, he looks like a normal person, he even has a pet name for me. I don't know if he still uses it but I sure remember it.

Two months ago.

"Hey Nova." Zane smiled at me as he sat down next to me with his lunch tray.
"Hey Zane. You know I've been thinking," I was going to admit that I liked him, considering I had feelings for him for about 4 years. My mom and his dad were close friends in high school, so of course they almost forced us to be friends. But they didn't have to force it too hard, even as toddlers we got along fine. He did steal my toys every once in a while but what toddler didn't?
"I have been too, I think we should have nicknames for each other. You know what I mean? My dad used to call your mom bunny, what about cute trash? No kitty butt? No that's weird. Ooo angel heart? You know 'cuz you're too nice to people!" He was being so weird about a nick name for me but I loved it.
"I'll let you call me angel heart as long as I'm allowed to call you Zippy.." I stared at him for a couple of seconds with a goofy smile on my face, "You know, 'cuz you're really energetic and fun to be around?"
He smirked and turned away from me, putting his hand over his mouth.
"What did you really want to talk about?" I could hear the smirk on his face along with the embarrassment, his neck was all red.
"I like you." No one said anything for the rest of lunch.

Present.

I hadn't talked to Zane face to face since the thing that happened at lunch. He still texted me every once and a while, but we walked from school together in silence. I tried to always ride with mom in the morning instead of carpooling with Zane's dad and his older sister Jane to avoid the awkward silence and loud comments from Jane. She was always so rude to Zane and that just automatically made me not like her. I don't know how I'm going to see him every Wednesday after school for Scholar Bowl practice without wanting to run away. I'd probably have to carpool with him and his mom after too. These could either be the best or worst Wednesdays of my life.