Chapter 63 - Little Teen Crush

It's not that Fallon is being protective of Lady.

He had a lot of experiences of being approached by people with hidden intentions. Because of that, he's wary of those who'd try to do the same to her. It's also not his fault that others are easily intimidated by him. He just had enough of fake smiles at this point. 

"I'm only looking out for her, okay? She gets so upset whenever she loses a potential friend. That Snobby Rich Boy better be worth it. He's not going to get away with it if it turns out that he's only leading her on," Fallon muttered, earning an amused look from Belle.

He just huffed once more, certain that she misunderstood again. She didn't know about what happened to Lady back then. He could still clearly remember how much she moped around after that particular incident. It took a while before he's able to fully cheer her up. 

'That aside, learning more about the new student may not be so bad. I can't deny I'm curious myself. Just who exactly is he?' Fallon wondered. 

---

While the Science teacher is listing down the topics they'll cover for the first semester, Weiss is listing down the possible reasons as to why he likes Lady.

Truth be told, he isn't sure what liking someone entails. He has never done that to anyone before, and deciding to do it to this girl, in particular, has been quite an impulsive decision. Besides, he's not even sure how he has come to that conclusion. So, he's now trying to understand just what it is about her that makes him feel all these emotions.

Thus, the list, An Outline of Why Weiss Likes Lady, was born – 

First of all, her voice is beautiful, mellifluous, and enchanting. It's just like tintinnabulation, but sweeter and more wholesome. 

She's the very first to greet him that day too. She greeted him again when she saw him in the classroom. 

And being greeted twice made Weiss feel all giddy inside.

Her name is cute. Her face is cute. Her smile is cute.

He might be hormonal.

Teenagers are indeed hormonal, though – puberty and all that. But still, it doesn't make sense. If he's hormonal, then he would've decided he liked her as soon as he noticed that she's pretty. 

He had liked her only after her actions. He had liked her since long ago.

Weiss has to modify the title of this list. Now, it's called, Outline of Why Weiss Likes Lady Based on Her Actions.

She waved at him with a welcoming smile.

She asked for his name so ecstatically.

She passed a note to him – voluntarily, and with no ill-will.

She said his name is pretty. 

It turned out that she passed him that paper to compliment him. He had to compliment her back somehow, and that had led to the next thing.

She laughed at something he wrote.

Making her laugh filled his heart with joy and pride. After all those times of being told he's too serious about life, it's finally confirmed that he can be funny too.

She wants to take care of bees someday. 

He's only ever heard of taking care of dogs and cats. She's so original.

She loves her friends. 

In fact, she's been talking about how excited she is for him to meet them. Weiss can't help but melt inside, inspired by how much she cherishes them. 

She's adamant about befriending him, too.

So much so that she declined their classmates' offers to become her seatmate. She really wants to sit next to him in class. 

"Why do you want to sit next to me so bad?" Weiss had asked. 

"Because I wanna be your friend! You don't have anyone else to talk to since you're new, so I'll be here," Lady had said with a huge, ear-splitting grin. 

It's a miracle he didn't faint right then and there. It seems that she hasn't changed at all – still as friendly and amicable as ever.

Other than that, he likes talking with her.

Talking so far had involved going to the same classes for the first until the third period and bonding over silly things – lots of silly things. Because of that, he has come to start liking topics that don't make sense.

She's so full of energy. 

She's so spontaneous.

Kind. Amusing. Driven.

Enter a list of adjectives. 

His extensive vocabulary can't find the perfect words to completely describe Lady - she's just indescribable. With that, a realization struck Weiss.

'She's so… She's so… Lady.'

It seems that he has lost track of his own list. He should probably get a grip. It has only been a day. Certainly, he cannot be this taken and enamored by her.

Weiss glances at Lady. 

She's listening to the teacher – to the brief summary of the topics they'll be covering. Her face scrunches up in distaste at most of them. She's tapping her fingers rhythmically on her desk. He wonders what she's thinking.

Lady catches Weiss staring. 

She tilts her head to the front of the classroom, whispering, "Pay attention." He huffs, hesitating for a moment before whispering back, "No". She sticks her tongue out at him. "Immature," his lips spell. She glares halfheartedly. He grins cheekily.

Indeed, Weiss definitely likes Lady. 

He concluded that as her gaze shifted back to the front of the classroom. His cheeks burn up and turn red at the thought, his heartbeat pounding just a little. 

'Is this what liking a girl means?'

And then, 'Is this wrong?'

For now, Weiss needs more information about liking girls.

---

Weiss slips out of class during the fifth period while Lady is not looking.

She had been distracted by their other classmates. He had taken that opportunity to leave, disappearing as soon as he reached the corner of the hallway.

"Weiss?" she called, whipping her head around but only to find him gone. 

She frowns. Maybe he's gone to another class, she thought. With that in mind, she continues on her way. That's until she realized something.

'Now, hold up for a sec.' 

Lady stopped half-step.

---

"Well, well~ He's come to visit!" the school librarian greets as Weiss enters.

He grins in reply. She's in the middle of rubbing her make-up off with a wet towel at the moment. While she does so, she peers at him through the mirror in front of her and offers a grin of her own.

"Father sent me a message…" he started, walking up to her desk and pulling out his handkerchief before handing it over to her.

"You can finish up with this."

She rubs her face with the wet towel one last time before he accepts his handkerchief. Patting his head affectionately, she then said, "Thank you, honey. Now, what did your father say?"

"He just confirmed that he'll pick you up during lunch," he replied, taking out his cellphone and showing her the text message.

She nodded at that. 

The next few minutes were spent in silence. He simply watched from the side as the school librarian removed all remaining traces of her make-up. 

Eventually, the old woman is wiped away to reveal a youthful-looking face.

"Are you sure that no one will recognize you?" he asked, speaking up again. 

"Don't be such a worry-wart. It'll give you wrinkles," she answered, tucking his handkerchief into her purse and snickering at his unimpressed expression. 

"I'm not being a worry-wart, Mom."

"No one has noticed me for years, Weiss. I'll be fine."

"But students might get suspicious-"

"Oh, no they won't. There's a reason why I told your father to pick me up during lunch. Barely any student comes on the second day, and I've ensured that those who might will not. Have a little faith in me, will you?"

Weiss sighs. 

He pulls a nearby chair. As he sits on it, he says, "I'm just making sure. I do have faith in you."

His mother observes his countenance. She then gets up and drags her chair around the desk so she can sit next to him. 

"The air's a little heavy now, isn't it?" she muttered as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. 

He leans into her touch. She embraces him. 

"How's your second day here, dear? I'm sorry we had to pull you out during the opening ceremony," his mother took her turn to interrogate.

"It's alright. I think… I think I made a friend," he responded, much to her surprise and delight.

"Why, that's wonderful! Who's he? What's he like?"

"W-Well, it's a she... a-and she's nice."

Weiss flushes.

It doesn't help that his mother is giving him a look now. He feels more heat flood his face. 

"Wait…" she blurted out, pulling away from him, then laughed. 

"Oh, darling, you're so red! 

She pinches his cheeks, understanding what's going on immediately. With an excited smile, she sing-songs, "My baby has a crush~!"

"Mom!" he exclaimed, covering his face in embarrassment.

Weiss is starting to regret this. 

He had thought that approaching his mother would give him more information on liking girls. This was so important to him that he even decided to skip a class. Now, though, he learned that he was wrong.

So very wrong.