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What the hell am I supposed to say to that?

I search through every romance novel I’ve ever read and somehow forget every single word ever written.

“Do you have plans after school?” he asks.

“What?”

A smile pulls at his lips.

“I was wondering if I could take you out.”

I stare at him blankly.

“Maybe for ice cream?” he adds with a smirk.

I just stare at him.

“She’s completely free!” Chiara announces loudly.

I whip my head toward her in horror.

“Perfect.” Damiano grins, his eyes staying on mine. “Pick you up at five?”

“Okay,” I answer weakly, like it’s a question instead of an actual response.

His smile widens.

Then he grabs his lunch tray and walks over to the football table, where somehow, after only three days, he already seems to know everybody.

And I’m left staring after him with my mouth slightly open, trying to understand what the hell just happened.

“Oh my God!” Chiara squeals beside me. “You’re going on a date!”

“Oh God,” I whisper in panic.

Chiara grabs my shoulders dramatically.

“Don’t worry. I have the perfect outfit for you.”

I think I’m having a heart attack.

At five, the doorbell rings, and suddenly it feels like a nest of hummingbirds has taken over my stomach.

“Nora!” my mother yells from downstairs. “There’s a boy here to see you!”

“Oh God.”

I stare at myself in the mirror and immediately panic.

Chiara forced me into a floral dress and spent twenty minutes trying to convince me to wear heels before I finally refused. Unfortunately, she won the makeup argument.

As I stare at my reflection, I barely recognize myself.

My brown eyes somehow look bigger.

My lips fuller.

“I don’t know…” I glance nervously at Chiara. “Maybe this is a mistake.”