Broken Strings

H O W I T A L L S T A R T E D

Twenty-Years Ago

Andrew hesitated. He raised his hand to knock on the door but then stopped. He had been debating whether or not he should knock for the past five minutes.

He was sure he could convince her that he just came by to wish her a Merry Christmas and tell her to have a good break.

That sounded kinda stupid though.

But Andrew Hayes was desperate, very desperate.

She hadn't agreed to go on a date with him all semester long. She'd turned down every single advance he'd ever made.

But then again, his advances consisted of walking her to class, buying her coffee and stealing the cookies out of her lunch when she wasn't looking.

He wasn't sure if it'd be different this time.

Letting out a long sigh, he knocked. Twice.

He crossed his fingers as the door opened, slowly. His mouth parted and his eyes widened. Every time, all the time, she managed to take his breath away. He wasn't sure why or how.

She just did.

"Um, hi?" He smiled at her, acting like he wasn't nervous. He was though, he was extremely nervous.

He mentally palmed his forehead. Um, hey? That was a great start. It was no wonder she hadn't agreed to go on a date with him all semester.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Anisha raised an eyebrow, surprised to see Andrew knocking on her door, a little past ten at night.

Clearly, she hadn't been expecting any visitors considering the fact she was dressed in her gray Mickey Mouse pajamas and her hair in a messy bun.

She had planned on spending her night studying, cramming, for her OChem final. There was a list of reactions she hadn't even started memorizing yet.

Andrew gave her a small nod, smirking as he eyed her outfit.

He sure as fuck didn't feel as confident as he was acting to be.

He had to get that date.

"I just got out of Physics. I finished my final a little early and I thought I'd visit my favorite study buddy." He gave her a smile, an easy kind of smile, enough to make her swoon.

He simpered again, looking at her Mickey Mouse pajamas as then back at her as she quickly looked away, a tinge of red coloring her cheeks. "Nice outfit."

Anisha folded her arms across her chest. "Shut up. My mom bought them for me." She looked back at him. There was a hint of tease in his sparkly blue eyes. She gave him a smirk of her own and narrowed her eyes at him. "Besides, I'm not the one who has Batman underwear."

"And how do you know what kind of underwear I have?" He smiled, slyly this time. His raised an eyebrow at her, teasing her, watching as her eyes widened and she shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips.

"I'm just kidding Anisha. But you know, if wanted to see me in my..."

"Don't you dare finish that sentence." Anisha punched his arm, trying to hide the fact that she was blushing furiously.

"Ouch! You're always hitting me." Andrew pretended like her small punch hurt as he continued to rub his arm.

"What did you get on the Econ final?" She tried to make it sound like she wasn't too eager. Anisha slightly hoped he had failed. Not like failed, failed. But just like a lower grade than her.