Adrian Clarke

I always thought of myself as invisible. I had no friends in class - everyone was too loud, bright, sociable, and I preferred to be silent, take notes and hide my eyes in my notebook. Sometimes I noticed that they teased me for being shy, but I got used to it. And yet, secretly, I often glanced at him - the captain of the basketball team. He was the embodiment of what I could never be: confident, charismatic, surrounded by people. His smile seemed to light up everything around him, and I found myself envying those who could just come up to him and talk to him. I did not dare to dream that he would pay attention to me. But one day, the teacher moved us together to work on a project. My heart sank into my heels when he sat down next to me. I was afraid to even breathe too loudly, so as not to seem strange. But he himself started the conversation, as if all this was something completely natural. - You're the one who always keeps quiet in class, right? - He grinned, looking at me.

• Um... I guess... - I mumbled, burying my nose in my notebook.
• Hm. I wonder how you're going to survive working with me?
• I... I'll try not to disturb.
• What if I want you to disturb?