The bell for lunch had just begun its shrill cry, a sound usually drowned out by the thunder of backpacks and scraping chairs. But in this particular corridor, already emptied and echoing, it was just a backdrop to the frantic hammering of a heart. Tarzzan was there, leaning against a bank of lockers, his laughter booming as he recounted some chaotic story to a couple of his friends.

He was popular, rich, and handsome. Oh, God, how handsome he was. His skin was a sun-kissed tan even in the depths of winter, a canvas for his dark, unruly curls and even darker, expressive eyes. The muscles defined under his school shirt weren't the product of careful gym sessions but of sheer, restless energy. And his lips, always curved in a smirk or a full-blown, dazzling smile, seemed designed for laughter and trouble in equal measure.

From the other side of the social divide, she watched. She was cute and calm, part of a small, steady friend group that didn't draw much attention. Her eyes, however, had a habit of finding Tarzzan. But she felt, with the certainty of a fundamental law of the universe, that someone like him could never truly look at someone like her.

But today, a strange courage took hold. As his friends peeled away toward the cafeteria, she moved, her steps quick and quiet. She cornered him just before he could follow.

"Tarzzan," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

He turned, his dark brown eyes landing on her, a flicker of mild surprise in them. She thrust a cream-colored envelope into his hands, her fingers brushing against his for a fleeting, electric second.

Then, she ran. Her cheeks burned with a blush so intense she could feel the heat in her temples.

Little did she know how Tarzzan smiled after she left. It wasn't his usual loud grin. It was slow, genuine, and entirely private. He looked down at the envelope, a soft, almost wondering curve on his full lips as he traced the edge of it with his thumb.

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the day. When she appeared, hugging her books to her chest, he pushed himself off the wall and walked over, cutting through the crowd with an easy confidence.

"So," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Where do we go for our date?"