I was a teenager when I started fantasizing about love. I used to read all the fairytale love stories and imagine being a part of them. I used to hope for a prince Charming to come find me and give me the love I was wishing for. But the reality is different. I saw people fall in love and break up easily. I saw different stories and different love between people. So, my teenage fantasy started falling down. Just when I thought I would never find someone to be my prince Charming, I met him. He was attractive not just his features but his personality. For someone who loves to challenge herself, he would be really interesting. He was hard to approach but not cold. He was just silent and would keep his distance from everyone. I wanted to befriend him because he was interesting. He didn't let his guard down though. He wouldn't speak unless it's something he needed to answer. He would not ask for help and try to figure them out himself. I knew it when I first laid my eyes on him that I would definitely make a mistake with him. I knew I need to keep my curiosity under control and keep my distance with him. But I just couldn't allow myself to not try things out and keep all the thoughts inside my head. So despite having all the red flags in my head, I still did it anyway. I approached him.

I was this popular girl of the school who could befriend anyone. My studies were good and my communication was good enough to be known by everyone at school. But, I was not the typical school popular girl with rich background and good figure. I was popular for my carefree attitude and ability to make anyone open up to me. I was known to be best friend with all the popular figures in our school. Well, it was true. I was my teachers' favorite and that gave me every reason to get cocky. I would do mistakes and get away with them. There were people who envy me. There were people who thought I was hateful. Well, people can think whatever they want to think and I don't do anything to please anyone. My days were just so plain and I started getting bored to go to school. So I started new hobbies that I don't share out and only the ones really close to me knew about them. I started trying out many things just for fun. But soon I came to a stage where nothing seem fun anymore. Just when I started getting bored out of life, a new transfer student showed up in our school.

He was a year senior to me. Word has that he never takes to anyone and has no friends in the school but is very handsome. Well, who doesn't like handsome guys? So curiosity made me know about this handsome loner. He was everything the rumours said. He was handsome with a likable face. Tall enough to make me look short while I, myself, was not a short person. He would only concentrate on his books and didn't even know anyone from his class. He was kind enough to help some junior girls with their doubts in library though he didn't know them. What really got to me was the fact that he didn't even glance at their faces throughout this so called doubts clarification. So if you ask me, I would only say "He's definitely interesting".

My best friends, Mona and Monica, who happened to be twin sisters made a bet with me. If I managed to befriend this handsome loner, I could get any favor from them for 3 times each. Both Mona and Monica were from good background. Though they have every thing they want in her hands, they were humble and kind. While Mona is the Smarty pants of the both, Monica is the funniest, optimistic girl. They make a great duo. We clicked together somehow. I don't even know how I got lucky and made them my friends one the first day of school but I swear that day made my life whole lot better. They were the support I never knew I needed. We stuck together through everything in our lives. They know completely about me and my weakness for challenges. So when they dared me to befriend him, I didn't hesitate.

One day while I was searching for a book on history, I saw "the handsome loner" Whom I need to befriend in the library. Since the opportunity presented itself, I didn't waste anytime. I found my book and went to his table. He was so engrossed in some math. I knocked on the table making him look up at me. "Is this seat occupied? " I asked. He shook his head and continued his session. I sat down opposite to him and started my own book. By the time our reading completed, the library was pretty much empty. I saw him standing up so, I didn't wanted to let this chance slip. I knocked on the table again grabbing his attention towards my hand. "What's your name? " I asked not looking at his face. "Ryan" He spoke and I looked up now. "Nice meeting you, Ryan. I'm Ria. " I extended my hand standing up. He looked at my hand and then at my face. Slowly reaching to my hand, he held the tip of one finger and said "Nice meeting you too". I didn't know what else to say. So I just spoke what came to my mind. " I just wanted to know your name. Nothing else." He looked at me, confused. Flashing a smile at him, I moved from the table and left the building not looking back. Was I nervous just now? No way. How can I, Ria adamson, be nervous to socialize?

I didn't realise my friends we're looking at me while I was busy questioning myself. "So, how did it go? " Monica asked looking genuinely curious. " Judging by her behavior, she must have failed " Stated miss. Smarty pants. "How do you know everything Mona? " I asked not liking the fact that she could just tell it by looking at my face. "You are a open book Ria. Not really fun. " Stated going back to her books while our innocent Monica was trying to console me for failing for the first time. I could easily start a conversation with anyone on our first meeting. This is the first time I felt nervous before someone. I don't like this feeling.

I went to library for the next one week but couldn't find him anywhere. I went to the school terrace for some breather. When ever I have something on my mind, I go to high places. It helps me feel free again. I was on the wall, standing and closing my eyes. Feeling the fresh air hit my face, I stood there like that for some time. I heard some footsteps on stairs. Since everyone in the school know me, I thought no one would disturb me. But suddenly a hand pulled me down from the wall, I fell on someone. Who the hell is this? I lift my face up to see who dared to drag me down, only to see the face I was searching for the whole week.

I immediately stood up looking at the idiot who dragged me. Ryan looked at me as if I'm the one in fault here. "Why did you do that? " I asked, keeping my hands on my hip and looking serious. "What were you doing on the wall? Do you know it's dangerous?" He countered, looking down at me. " I do it all ways. It's not that dangerous either. I would break a leg on the maximum. " I said. "And that's not considered dangerous? Are you sane? " He asked, raising an eyebrow at my answer. Dude thought I would do something silly here? Funny. "What's that to you anyway? " I asked, smirking. "I.... I... " He trailed off. "You were concerned? " I said finding it odd. He's someone who lived as if the whole school was not talking about him. He didn't even look at people , let alone make friends. Now he's concerned about some random girl on a terrace wall? What should I think of this situation? He didn't speak anything else and started turning back to leave. You don't get away without answering my questions.

"Hey Ryan, stop! " I shouted, grabbing his hand and turning him to face me again. He didn't say anything though. He just looked at me with a question mark face. "You know me, don't you? " I said it more like a statement than a question. He nodded, taking his hand back from my grip. "Why are you not coming to the library anymore? " I need to know if I'm making him uncomfortable or anything. When you want to befriend someone, first thing you need to do is to keep them at ease in your presence. "Library is crowded these days. I can't concentrate in crowds. " Oh, so I'm not the one he's uncomfortable with. "What are you doing here at this time? I thought senior year students have a extra class Or something?" He looked at my eyes for the first time. He's got these dark eyes that somehow makes you feel enchanted. He's got really beautiful eyes. His face is a piece of art. "I don't go to extra classes. " He spoke looking into my eyes. I flashed him a smile revealing my dimple on my right cheek. His eyes lingering on my dimple, he said "I come here to study instead of library. " So, he was in my place all the time. "Can I share the space with you here? I don't feel like going to library either " I asked, giving him my most adorable face. He simply looked at me. "Is that a No? " I said, giving him my pitiful face. I never got a NO for this face. He simply nodded and turned around sitting down far away from me. I popped a quick thank you and came back to my classroom. The girls should know about this.

We spent our time doing our works. There's only silence most of the time. The only noise would be me talking to someone on my mobile. Ryan was not at all interested in what I was doing. He would just look at me when I enter the space and leave the space. All the other time, it's me checking him out. Days became weeks and I came to an understanding that Ryan likes my company but was too shy to even talk to anyone. I would ask him any doubts and he would answer them very precisely. He's got a beautiful handwriting too. It's been a month since we fell into this dynamic. Now I became busy with my science project. We had a science expo in which all the schools in our zone would compete. I was very interested in this and started keeping all my focus on my project that I had no time to visit my study mate on terrace.

--The day of science expo--

Somehow I couldn't find time for any of my usual activities. People came first for me most of the time. But I think it's more interesting to do some science stuff than keep up with the boring old gossips all the time. So here I am today, with my close friends, in the expo's final round. We tried something different this time. Every expo we would follow our teachers ideas. This time we tried something totally different. We tried to create a model that a Neanderthal man using some epoxy resin and gave it some many designs using different stuff with it. I was hoping to make an impression this time. I was explaining the species to some students while Mona is doing some stuff that made our project attract the crowd. The expo continued in a blur of people, students and teachers alike. It was finally the time for the Staff to announce the winner.

We held our breath awaiting the moment. The announcers occupied the stage and a couple of guests gave some words of wisdom that I obviously didn't manage to pay attention to. "Finally the best part of the day is here. After much discussion, the judges came to a conclusion as to who the winner this time is. But before that let me tell me something. The projects this time are amazing and exceeded our expectations. Some of you blew our minds. So we have the list of people we made it to the list. The third winner of Science Expo - 50 is Daniel and group from XYZ school. The second winner is Henry and group from Aby high school. Finally the unexpected final winner of science expo - 50 is "The Neanderthal" of Mona and group of Modern high school. Congratulations winners. "

We blinked. Finally we made it. The first group of girls to ever win the interschool science expo. Monica squealed. Mona and I hugged each other, jumping and giggling like crazy people. We went onto the stage to receive our prize. I was so happy. We're looking at the crowd with eyes filled with tears and face lit up with happiness. Suddenly I saw a certain tall figures turning back from the crowd. I can recognise Ryan even from his back. The back felt so much like Ryan. Suddenly my heart started to race. Getting down as fast as I could, I ran through the crowd in the direction of the familiar figure. By the time I could make it out of the crowd, he's gone.