I look away embarrassed and wait for her to continue.
" Well, anyhow Aaron adores you, and he asked me if I know whether you like him, so I am asking."
" I am not really interested," I try to explain awkwardly, without sounding harsh while I look at her apologetically.
A flash of relief washes over her face for just the briefest moment. "Well, anyway, here we are."
We have reached our Science classroom and I know Aaron is in there somewhere. I feel anxious having to deal with this now.
Aaron is staring at me nervously as I walk through the doorway behind Jane, and she nudges me in the ribs with her elbow.
" Ouch!" I whisper and think annoyed that I have just made friends with them, but now I am going to have to create tension. Still when he smiles at me, I smile in return.
Typical Elizabeth, please everyone, why don't you?
Over the next couple of weeks, Jane, Aaron and I hang out together. Sarah and Connell are in fifth year while John and Siobhan have eyes only for each other, so we only meet up with them on the odd occasion.
Aaron is basically a very perceptive person and realizes very soon we would only ever be friends, without me having to tell him directly. This is a great relief, although at times I still see a glimmer of hope in his eyes, especially when it starts to look as if I am not interested in anyone else either.
It is early December and winter is fast approaching. The days are much shorter and bright, cloudless days are infrequent, but it is one of those rare sunny days.
We are standing by our lockers, talking excitedly about the weather. Connell unexpectedly turns toward me and says in his abrupt way, "Elizabeth, seeing as it is such a lovely day, one of the five we experience a year here in Ireland, Jared phoned me and suggested we all go down to the beach this afternoon. Are you up for it?"
Looking up at him bewildered, I step back surprised.
Aaron answers for me, "That sounds great, Connell. I'll tell Siobhan, John, and Sarah."
Why did he ask me specifically and who is Jared, I wonder and am just about to ask Jane when the bell rings and I forget about it. As we walk to our first class, excitement floods through me at the prospect of spending time with my friends, outside of school.
At lunch, we sit on the grass in a circle watching the sky above us intently and suddenly every single one of us is a weather expert, predicting no unexpected rainfall for this afternoon.