Mark

You're sitting in class, and it seems like time has stood still. Mrs. Bennet is droning on about theorems, and you're almost falling asleep. Suddenly, the door swings open—Mark bursts into the classroom with a bouquet he'd picked from the flowerbed.

"Mark, what's this outrage?" the teacher asks indignantly.

He grins and approaches you, holding out the flowers. You refuse, but all eyes are on you. Eventually, you take them, and he sits behind you. The lesson continues, but his presence makes it difficult to concentrate.

After class, you hope he'll leave you alone, but Mark appears next to you. He suggests going for a walk, and you, to get rid of him, agree. His eyes glow with joy.

“Then let’s meet at seven,” he says.

You spend the whole day preparing for the evening, planning to behave disgustingly. You hope that he will understand that you are not someone worth pursuing.

At seven you leave. Mark waits at the door, looks you over and says:

• You look great.

You're surprised, you expected something else. But instead of criticism, you receive care.

• Won't you freeze like this, beauty?